The moment the massive vine-wrought Ethereal turned to stone, a system notification chimed in Sam Li's mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have successfully slain Notoriety Ethereal - Vine of Heaven ×1. Reward: 30,000 system points.]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. Role-playing progress +2%.]
As always, golden light appeared out of thin air and bathed Sam Li, a warm radiance that stood in stark contrast to the Hollow's chill, bringing a comforting sense of peace.
More importantly, as his role-playing progress increased again, he could feel his power strengthen.
His perception and control over the Geo element had clearly improved.
He could even faintly sense meteors beyond the sky—
As if, with just a gesture, he could summon them to rain destruction upon the Hollow.
Sam Li raised his hand in an attempt.
It must be that his progress wasn't sufficient yet. His grasp of the Geo element hadn't reached the threshold required to call down celestial meteors.
In the next moment, Sam Li turned his attention to the character details panel in his mind, now updated.
[Host]: Sam Li
[System]: Strongest Role-Playing System
[System Points]: 223,700
[Current World]: Zenless Zone Zero
[Current Role-Playing Character]: Geo Archon - Morax (Zhongli)
[Current Role-Playing Progress]: 33%
[Abilities]: Spear Technique - Geo Rain, Jade Shield (Enhanced), Stone Ridge
[Weapon]: Vortex Vanquisher
[Items]: Teyvat Omelette ×1
[Shop]: Seven Heavenly Statue, Qunyu Pavilion, Azhdaha (Bangboo), Serenitea Pot…
...
Sam Li had been in this world for two months, yet had never spent any system points. Now, he finally had enough—200,000 points, just what he needed to redeem a Seven Heavenly Statue.
Without hesitation, he accessed the system shop.
[Seven Heavenly Statue - Geo]: 200,000 system points
[Qunyu Pavilion]: 100,000 system points
[Sinking Jade Immortal Tea (tea leaves)]: 1,000 system points
...
Sam Li noticed that the shop's items weren't fixed.
Over time, new items like the tea leaves would occasionally appear.
If only the tea had shown up earlier, he definitely would've tried some.
But right now, his eyes were locked on the Seven Heavenly Statue in his mind.
He had finally gathered enough points.
Without any hesitation, Sam Li confirmed the exchange.
[Ding! Exchange for Seven Heavenly Statue - Geo successful!]
[200,000 system points consumed. Remaining balance: 23,700 system points.]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained: Seven Heavenly Statue ×1. Please select a placement location within 24 hours...]
The next instant, as Sam Li opened his hand, a small rock-carved statue appeared, quietly hovering in his palm.
Golden light glowed from it…
At the center of that light was a stone throne inscribed with golden patterns. Seated cross-legged on it was a miniature archon.
One hand rested in front of him; the other held a tiny meteorite…
Though the face was obscured, Sam Li could instinctively tell—the little archon on the throne was himself.
It might look small now,
But once thrown, the statue would instantly expand into a towering monument, heavier than mountains.
Not only that.
The moment it appeared in his palm, Sam Li felt his sensitivity and command over the Geo element surge.
With just a thought,
He could sense a battle taking place kilometers away through the earth's Geo energy.
A fox-eared girl wielding a tachi was fighting a massive human-faced, beast-bodied Ethereal—
It was Hoshimi Miyabi, the head of Hollow Special Operations Unit 6, whom he'd seen once upon arriving...
And that wasn't the only fight.
Elsewhere, over a dozen experts wielding various weapons were besieging a massive serpentine Ethereal...
In yet another direction,
The ones battling were none other than Soldier 11 and Anby—the people he had been searching for.
They were up against two powerful Ethereal beasts.
And even from this distance, Sam Li could sense that a high-ranking Ethereal lay hidden within the building near Soldier 11 and Anby's location.
The moment he grasped the full picture of the chaos unfolding inside the Hollow,
Even Sam Li couldn't help but sigh—
The place had descended into utter bedlam.
He wanted to rush to support Soldier 11 and Anby.
But battles elsewhere were also nearing their climax. Without reinforcements, any of them could fall in this Hollow.
At that moment,
Sam Li stood there holding the Seven Heavenly Statue, feeling as if he had truly become Morax.
Compassion welled up in him.
He wanted to save Soldier 11 and Anby,
But he also couldn't abandon the Special Operations Unit 6 and the others defending New Eridu.
After a brief moment,
Sam Li took a deep breath.
"Then I shall place the Seven Heavenly Statue here."
With a single thought,
The intricate patterns on the statue lit up, flaring into an even more brilliant golden glow.
Wrapped in light, Sam Li was slowly lifted into the air.
Then, he reached out and gently raised the statue skyward.
Bathed in golden radiance,
The small statue began drifting out of his hand, growing larger as it floated higher and higher.
The farther it rose,
The more immense it became.
In just moments,
A colossal golden god statue took form in the sky, surrounded by glowing Geo energy.
As it appeared,
The once-dense Ether seemed to scatter, quickly thinning…
The once hyperactive Ether was subdued by the warm golden light, becoming tame and quiet…
In mere seconds,
The space around the statue had stabilized. No longer corroding its surroundings, it was now nearly indistinguishable from the area outside the Hollow.
Seeing this,
Sam Li nodded in satisfaction.
Just as he'd hoped—
The Seven Heavenly Statue could suppress the Ether and stabilize the Hollow.
And that stabilizing influence
Was continuing to spread outward from the statue's center. It wouldn't be long before the entire Hollow was under its control.
Even the far-off battlefields—
Hollow Special Operations Unit 6, Soldier 11 and Anby's locations… despite the distance, were already being affected.
The Ether's concentration was decreasing, its energy weakening.
Those colossal Ethereal beasts were being suppressed,
No longer able to unleash their full power.