Nekomata yawned as she walked over to the truck and saw Nicole, Anby, Billy, Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, and several others from the Public Security Bureau.
They were about to head back to New Eridu together.
Nekomata looked around and didn't see Sam Li.
"Nicole, Anby, where's Sam Li? Isn't he coming back with us?"
Hearing this, Nicole also glanced around. Sure enough, Sam Li was nowhere to be seen.
Then, Nicole looked at Billy.
"I asked you to wake Sam Li up. You didn't forget, did you?"
Billy quickly explained.
"Nicole, I saw Sam Li get up! It's weird—he was just here with me. How did he disappear so suddenly?"
As he spoke, Billy ran around the truck but still couldn't find Sam Li.
Piper's voice came from the truck cab.
"Are you ready? Hurry up and get in—we'll be back in the city soon."
Billy quickly called out.
"Wait! Sam Li is missing. Don't leave yet—I'll go look for him."
Nicole, Nekomata, and Soldier 11 also spread out through the town to search for Sam Li.
Seth looked at Zhu Yuan.
"Captain, let's go help too. We can't leave without Sam Li."
"Alright. Seth, you stay here and keep an eye on Perlman. The rest of us will search."
Seth hesitated for a moment.
While everyone was searching for Sam Li,
Sam Li was walking alone through the streets of Calydon Town, glancing around as he walked.
Everywhere he looked, buildings lay in ruins.
Through the broken architecture, traces of the old civilization's former glory could still be glimpsed.
Sam Li stopped near a cluster of abandoned buildings—right where Caesar had planned to build a school.
He had chosen this spot to place the second Seven Heavenly Gods Statue.
Sam Li called up the system in his mind and opened the system shop. Before him appeared a variety of items:
Seven Heavenly Gods Statue - Geo, Qunyu Pavilion, Shen Yu Xian Ming, five-star weapons...
he selected the Seven Heavenly Gods Statue and exchanged for it.
"Ding, congratulations, host! Seven Heavenly Gods Statue - Geo successfully exchanged!"
"This purchase cost 200,000 system points. Remaining balance: 33,700 system points."
"Ding, congratulations, host! Seven Heavenly Gods Statue ×1 obtained. Please select a placement location within 24 hours..."
As the system notification sounded,
Sam Li's personal panel also refreshed:
[System]: Strongest Role-Playing System
[System Points]: 33,700
[Current World]: Zenless Zone Zero
[Current Character]: Geo Archon - Morax (Zhongli)
[Current Role Progress]: 42%
[Abilities]: Spearmanship - Geo Rain, Jade Shield (Enhanced), Geo Ridge
[Weapon]: Vortex Vanquisher
[Items]: Teyvat Fried Egg ×1, Seven Heavenly Gods Statue ×1
[Shop]: Seven Heavenly Gods Statue, Qunyu Pavilion, Azhdaha Dragon King (Bangboo), Dust Song Pot...
Sam Li focused his mind and immediately took the Seven Heavenly Gods Statue out of his inventory.
a small stone statue of a god floated quietly in his palm, radiating a golden glow.
Within the golden light,
a small divine figure sat cross-legged on a throne—one hand resting in front of them, the other holding a small meteorite...
Sam Li could sense clearly that the figure on the statue was himself.
With the appearance of the statue,
the surrounding Geo elements seemed to respond, quickly gathering toward Sam Li, thickening the ambient elemental energy.
With experience from the first statue,
Sam Li was more skilled this time. Placing the statue caused little disturbance; amid the shimmer of golden light, he positioned the Seven Heavenly Gods Statue in the center of the square.
"Ding, system notification: Seven Heavenly Gods Statue successfully placed—"
"Ding, system notification: Congratulations, host! Role progress +1% (current progress: 42%)—"
Standing before the statue,
Sam Li could sense its foundation piercing deep into the earth, breaking through the world's barriers and connecting with the leylines of Teyvat.
With this second statue,
the connection between Zenless Zone Zero and Teyvat had grown even stronger.
Previously, with only one statue, even the Azhdaha Dragon King had been able to follow the leylines here. Now, with two statues, more and more beings from Teyvat might arrive through the same path.
what kind of impact would it have on this world?
Would it bring hope for salvation?
Or the destruction of the Abyss?
Sam Li didn't know yet.
But he had the confidence to face whatever came.
Sam Li glanced at the statue one last time, then turned and headed in the direction where he had agreed to meet Nicole and the others.
It was time to return to New Eridu.
just as he entered another street, he heard the others calling out.
"Sam Li, it's time to go! If you town, we can always come back. But this time, we really have to leave."
Sam Li saw Nicole, Anby, and Nekomata.
Nekomata ran over excitedly.
"Meow! Nicole, we found Sam Li!"
Nicole walked over, puzzled.
"Sam Li, where did you go just now?"
Sam Li answered calmly.
"Just went to place something. Don't worry—it's done. We can go now."
Nicole pulled Sam Li into Piper's truck.
Along with them were Qingyi, Zhu Yuan, Seth, Jane, and the wanted criminal Perlman.
Perlman still hadn't given up—he kept trying to bribe Zhu Yuan and Qingyi with Dennies, begging them to let him go.
Qingyi finally lost patience.
"Seth, are you wearing socks?"
Qingyi replied seriously.
"Lend me one. We'll use it to gag Perlman—that way he'll be quiet."
Of course, he didn't want to lose a sock, but he also didn't want to listen to Perlman's constant whining.
Reluctantly, he took one off and stuffed it in Perlman's mouth.
Perlman still struggled.
"No, no—wait! I haven't finished! I haven't been tried yet—you can't—mmph!"
But how could he resist Seth?
Before he could say another word, Seth shoved the sock in his mouth.
The truck instantly grew quiet.
Perlman could only cry in frustration.