Watching Osial lower his head in submission, Zhongli's expression turned complex.
The beings known as gods were born powerful, born proud.
Rarely did deities stand together—their pride kept them apart.
Only those like Zhongli, Marchosius, and Guizhong, who shared common ideals, would form alliances.
The other exception was when facing an insurmountable enemy, forcing them into reluctant cooperation.
But now, Osial had chosen to submit.
Were there gods who bowed to others?
Perhaps, but they could be counted on one hand.
While deities bore the duty of loving humanity, they could choose how to express that love.
Their affection for mankind did not preclude territorial disputes.
They could show tenderness toward humans while still guarding their unyielding pride—especially when it came to bowing to another.
Osial was far weaker than Zhongli.
Even after being sealed beneath Guyun Stone Forest for millennia, Osial had never yielded. He had bided his time, waiting.
Yes, he feared death—but that fear had never meant surrendering to Morax.
Would he submit just because Morax could crush him effortlessly?
Never.
He would rather die.
Yet now, Osial had lowered his head.
Not even Morax's overwhelming strength had broken his pride.
But when faced with the impending death of his last loyal follower—his wife—he relented.
It wasn't Morax who had humbled him.
Nor was it the golden-armored deity who shattered his defiance.
It was the specter of Beisht's death that finally eroded the ancient grudge he held against Morax.
Even gods had hearts.
Osial could not stand by and watch Beisht perish.
Though he could not see the distant battle, the dread surging through their bond could not be ignored.
Beisht was in mortal danger—on the brink of annihilation.
This terror eclipsed even his own fear of death.
"Morax, I... beg of you!"
No one could fathom the storm raging in Osial's heart.
Not even Zhongli, standing beside him, could fully grasp it.
But he understood enough.
To break the pride of one born arrogant was no small feat.
And when it happened, it signaled utter defeat.
Zhongli's heart weighed heavy.
Too many gods had fallen in the land of Liyue.
Their lingering hatred had poisoned the earth, breeding plagues that ravaged the people.
The scarred land had only been healed by Marchosius's sacrifice, the tireless efforts of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's ancestors, and the combined labor of mortals and adepti alike.
The sole reason Osial had been spared back then was the fear that his death would taint the seas, crippling the livelihoods of those who depended on them.
Given the chance, Zhongli would have slain him without hesitation.
Mercy to an enemy was cruelty to oneself.
Zhongli exhaled slowly.
As he had said—even gods had emotions.
"I do not require your submission, nor do I demand service in exchange," Zhongli said calmly. "But I shall impose three conditions. Reflect on your sins and seek atonement."
Osial's emotions plummeted into despair—then soared just as swiftly.
He had never expected Morax to say this.
He had assumed the victor, the one holding his weakness hostage, would demand servitude, exploitation.
But Morax had done none of that.
Was it because he held no value to Morax?
Or was it something else?
All he felt was the vastness of Morax's mercy.
Morax was a true god.
His wrath had once painted the skies with blood.
Yet his compassion now revealed the measure of a divine being.
"I submit!"
Osial bowed his head deeply.
Now he saw—gods were not merely distinguished by power.
There were heights of character he had never imagined.
And in this, he was utterly humbled.
"The contract is forged. Should either party break it, they shall suffer the Wrath of the Rock."
"The rest... is for you to settle."
Zhongli withdrew his gaze, along with the talismans corroded by seawater upon the stone spears.
With a single step, he vanished.
Osial watched him go, then—with a surge of divine power—raced toward Beisht's location.
BOOM!
Deep beneath the ocean.
The golden-armored deity's colossal blade had already pierced Beisht's body.
The sheer force of the strike pinned her to the seabed like a nail driven through flesh.
Agony wracked Beisht, her screams echoing through the waters.
Her serpentine form thrashed violently, coiling around the blade like a worm impaled upon a spike, struggling to wrench it free.
The golden deity remained silent.
Only his wrist shifted slightly.
Another crushing pressure descended.
The seabed shattered, rocks exploding upward as the blade drove Beisht another hundred meters deeper.
The fresh wave of pain sharpened her mind to unbearable clarity.
She fought to regain control—but like a wounded animal flinching from pain, her body would not obey.
High above, Ningguang frowned slightly.
The golden deity lifted his gaze toward the horizon.
A god's aura had emerged.
"Osial?" Keqing's brow furrowed.
Osial's presence was approaching rapidly.
Had he broken free?
The commotion at Guyun Stone Forest had been minimal—how had he escaped?
"If he seeks battle, we shall slay him." Ningguang's tone was as casual as if discussing the crushing of ants.
Indeed, the old Liyue had once feared the fallout of a god's death—the corruption of their remnants.
But no longer.
Such concerns could now be mitigated through purification, albeit time-consuming.
One path led to permanent resolution—a temporary expenditure of effort.
The other was negotiation—a bloodless solution.
But if talks failed, Liyue would not hesitate to choose the former!
Keqing glanced at her phone. "The Emperor permitted his release. He believes Osial can be reasoned with. Hold back—don't kill Beisht."
"Understood."
Ningguang smiled faintly and waved a hand.
The golden deity eased his pressure—though the blade remained lodged in Beisht's flesh, leaving her helpless.
Moments later, Osial arrived.
"Why are you here?! Run! Flee!"
At the sight of Osial, Beisht's panic flared anew.
"Calm yourself. It's alright now!" Osial's voice was frantic.
After a brief reassurance, he wasted no time in explanation.
His five heads breached the surface.
Under the watchful eyes of countless spectators—and the millions watching the live stream—the towering figure, once as unyielding as a mountain, lowered his heads toward the Jade Chamber.
"Osial, God of the Vortex, hereby repents! Henceforth, I submit to Liyue's will, to atone for my past sins!"
Ningguang's eyes widened in surprise.
Keqing raised an eyebrow, equally stunned.
A god—now bowing to mortals.
Though humanity now wielded power surpassing the divine, gods were still beings of higher order.
This was unprecedented in all of history!
"Have we just made history?" Ningguang mused, glancing at Keqing.
Keqing, still slightly dazed, nodded. "Circumstances aside... yes, we have."
Xiangling caring for the spiritless Marchosius didn't count as submission.
She treated him as family, while he—driven by instinct—adored the skilled young chef, aiding her like an elder helping a junior.
But Osial's surrender was genuine.
Absolute obedience!
In terms of strength, Osial wouldn't even rank among Liyue's top five now.
Ningguang or Keqing alone could slay him.
Yet this moment carried political weight.
This was no trivial matter—it was akin to an enemy general defecting to the opposing side.
His usefulness might be limited, but his surrender alone held immense significance.
It marked a new chapter in Liyue's history—another leap toward the future!
"Release her," Ningguang commanded.
"As you will."
The golden deity withdrew his blade.
Beisht collapsed, limp, upon the ruined seabed.
Her grievous wounds left her speechless.
Osial rushed to her side, healing her while explaining hurriedly.
When he finished, Beisht's emotions churned.
Joy—that she had chosen well.
Shame—that her plight had shattered his pride.
"I—"
"No more words." Osial shook his head.
Even the once-ruthless god now showed rare tenderness.
"Let us atone. With the time we have left, we shall repay our sins. Compared to those who perished... we are fortunate indeed."
From the cliffs of Guyun Stone Forest, Zhongli gave a faint nod.
It seemed Osial's surrender was sincere.
His sins were many—but with a god's lifespan, he had time to make amends.
Aboard the new Crux Fleet flagship.
Beidou remarked sourly, "See this, lads? Money talks! Summoning a golden deity rivaling the Emperor just like that!"
"So majestic!" Gorou's eyes sparkled with admiration.
The golden-armored warrior embodied his dream—a divine general, mighty and unyielding.
"If only I had a card like that..." Gorou sighed wistfully.
"You want one too?"
Yae Miko's eye twitched.
Was Osial truly weak?
Not at all!
He was only "weak" compared to supreme deities like Morax.
But that golden-armored warrior?
That was a being of true divine might!
A chill ran down Yae's spine.
Had she not visited the publishing house that day... had she not gone to check on the author's new manuscript...
She might never have realized how much the world had changed!
The Liyue Qixing, in status, were equivalent to Inazuma's Tri-Commission.
Yet now, a single command from Ningguang could summon a warrior rivaling the Raiden Shogun!
The revelation shook Yae to her core.
Though she had heard of the card shop's wonders, witnessing it firsthand was another matter entirely.
The golden deity's aura alone had made her—a great youkai—feel uneasy.
In that warrior's world, demons were oppressed.
Thus, his divine presence naturally suppressed youkai.
Yae had felt it keenly—like a blade hovering at her throat.
Terrifying!
She could evade the Musou no Hitotachi only because she knew Ei's techniques inside out.
But against this golden warrior?
She stood no chance.
Which meant—Ningguang alone could rival a nation.
The golden warrior could hold off Ei, while Ningguang wielded her own arsenal.
Her card setup was no secret—a deliberate display of the Qixing's newfound dominance.
She also possessed the [Immortal Jade Silk Armor], a formidable defense.
Her offensive tools included the [Immortal's Canvas] and the [Annihilating Buddha's Hand].
In a conflict, the golden warrior could stall Ei while Ningguang crushed Inazuma single-handedly.
Those in power must think ahead.
The higher the position, the broader the perspective needed.
Ningguang wouldn't attack Inazuma without cause.
But what if someone else with similar power decided to strike?
A nation that forgets war courts disaster.
Others refrain from attacking only until they choose otherwise!
Weakness invites aggression—not by your will, but by theirs.
This was why so many craved strength.
In a world of supernatural power, might dictated justice!
Even in a modern world, a nation's voice only carried weight if backed by strength.
Yae refused to fall behind.
Not just now—but from the moment she learned the truth, she had resolved to keep pace.
Ei, the reclusive shut-in, might not grasp it yet.
But Yae would act unilaterally if needed.
Her goal wasn't personal power—but the future of the land she cherished.
To prevent the day when foreign forces kicked down Inazuma's gates, forcing a belated awakening!
The seven nations maintained a delicate balance.
Even the arrogant Fatui dared not provoke outright war.
But if that balance shattered, chaos would follow.
Suppressing her thoughts, Yae turned to Beidou.
"Captain Beidou, how long until we reach Liyue Harbor?"
Beidou, mid-conversation with her stream, glanced back.
"Nothing left for us here. Full speed ahead!"
"Aye!"
As the Crux Fleet sailed on, the Jade Chamber remained.
Ningguang and Keqing drafted an official announcement—both for the digital network and print.
A proclamation of celebration.
Liyue had resolved a historical grievance—an old enemy now pledging allegiance.
Moreover, the Rite of Descension was in two months.
Zhongli had no interest in presiding, but the Qixing would proceed.
The ceremony had evolved—no longer summoning the Emperor, but commemorating him as an annual festival.
Unlike Mondstadt, which had forgotten Dvalin and deepened his suffering, Liyue would never repeat that mistake.
Countless festivals honored the adepti—their deeds forever remembered.
As the Qixing deliberated, Ganyu stole a moment to text Lu Heng.
"Shenhe's condition?" Lu Heng pondered.
"Hmm..."
He glanced up—Navia was stirring.
Replying to Ganyu could wait.
For now, he tended to the waking woman.
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T/N:
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