Chapter 146. Prelude to Guizhong's Revival
After listening to Futsu Mitama's account, Beidou's brows lifted slightly. She truly had not expected Inazuma's internal situation to have escalated so quickly.
The Resistance under Kokomi had expanded to such a scale in so short a time that the Tenryou Commission—one of the Three Commissions personally established by the Raiden Shogun—had resorted to allying with the Fatui to suppress it.
For a moment, the sea breeze seemed sharper. Then—
"Tsk tsk tsk tsk."
Instead of concern, an unmistakable gleam of excitement surfaced in Beidou's eyes.
"This is truly exciting," she said with undisguised interest. "To be honest, if Liyue weren't so busy—"
She folded her arms and grinned.
"I might even drop you off in Inazuma and stay to join in on the fun."
She was genuinely intrigued. Not because she held strong convictions about the Resistance's cause, but because she had a decent relationship with Kokomi and Gorou. And now—two Retainers of the Raiden Shogun had left Inazuma, only to hear that the Tenryou Commission and the Fatui were preparing suppression efforts.
And the two Retainers were hurrying back.
If there was nothing strange about that, Beidou would eat her own hat. How could Retainers of the Raiden Shogun assist the Resistance against the Tenryou Commission—an institution personally established by the Shogun herself?
The political state of Inazuma was…absurd.
But Beidou was a Liyue native. If Inazuma itself was not in a panic, why should she be?
What she saw now was far simpler: Futsu Mitama and Yae Miko were about to stir up waves.
And as Captain of The Crux Fleet, the spirit of adventure ran in her blood.
Frankly speaking—she wanted in. After all, if something truly went wrong, there were still two Retainers of the Raiden Shogun and the entire Resistance to shoulder responsibility.
What could possibly happen?
"Oh?" Yae Miko's eyes brightened ever so slightly. Beidou's strength was undeniable. If she could be drawn into the fold, the Resistance's high-end combat power would immediately rise.
But Beidou waved her hand, laughing.
"Don't look at me like that. I already said, Liyue is too busy. As a friend, the most I can do is safely send you back to Inazuma. For anything beyond that—I'm willing, but unable."
Her tone turned lighter, but there was truth within it.
"Liyue is undergoing a once-in-a-millennium reform. I'm still waiting for Lord of Geo to praise me at the next Rite of Descension."
She knew that look in Yae Miko's eyes all too well. Ningguang wore a similar expression whenever she spotted "talent." Whenever that gaze appeared, someone was about to have a difficult time.
At least, that was Beidou's interpretation.
"Anyway," she continued, shifting the topic, "when do you plan to leave? You're in luck. I'm relatively free these days. Compress it within four days. Liyue isn't particularly busy right now, and I can personally send you off. If it's after four days, I'll have to assign someone else to take you to Inazuma."
Futsu Mitama inwardly acknowledged their fortune.
Keqing had also mentioned that matters in Liyue were nearing completion. The Abyss Order's issue had just been handled. The Fatui had retrieved what belonged to them and made no further movements.
Though the harbor bustled as always, the overall situation was a rare lull amid activity.
"We'll leave within two days," Futsu Mitama said decisively. "After we settle one final matter."
"Yes," he added calmly. "Most affairs in Liyue are concluded. Only one remains.
Once that is resolved, we can return to Inazuma without concern."
Indeed, within a short time he had accomplished much—meeting Tartaglia for intelligence, traveling to the Guiyan Assembly for forging materials, bringing Aila down from Mt. Aocang, arranging their passage with Beidou.
"The last thing?" Beidou's interest sharpened. "What is it? Maybe I can help. In Liyue, whether big or small, legitimate or otherwise—I can lend a hand."
She thumped her chest confidently. Within Liyue's waters and beyond them, she had her own channels.
Futsu Mitama smiled faintly and shook his head.
"It won't be easy. It concerns an Adeptus. And it's extremely important. If that one knew, he would take it very seriously."
Beidou paused. "That one."
For a brief moment, realization flickered across her face.
Could he possibly mean…Lord of Geo? What sort of Adeptus-related matter would warrant such gravity?
Beidou did not deeply understand the adeptus. She only knew they were Liyue's ancient guardians, and that the nation's long peace owed much to their existence. As for the so-called era of humans and adeptus—if Lord of Geo believed it possible, then it likely was.
"Mitama no Anchan," she said, leaning forward slightly, "now you must tell me."
Her curiosity had been thoroughly ignited.
But Futsu Mitama merely smiled and remained silent. No matter how Beidou probed, he offered nothing more. He simply stated that the matter had not yet succeeded. If it did, Ningguang would certainly learn of it—and by extension, so would she.
Why rush?
But Beidou was not someone who surrendered to silence. She was the uncrowned Dragon King of the seas. If her curiosity was stirred, did he truly think he could suppress it so easily?
The surrounding crew glanced at Futsu Mitama with sympathetic expressions. This would not end well.
"Lads!" Beidou suddenly roared. "Bring out the wine!"
Before Futsu Mitama could react, she hooked an arm around him, laughing loudly.
"You've piqued my curiosity and think you can just walk away? Dream on! Today, either you fall, or I fall! If you win, not only will your fare be waived—I'll personally teach your maid a few techniques."
She tilted her head, grin widening.
"A unique secret technique. One that's only passed to direct disciples. If you lose~ under limited conditions, you tell me the secret."
Futsu Mitama hesitated. He was a winemaker. Yet he did not particularly enjoy drinking. In his previous life and this one, he rarely drank more than a sip.
But Beidou's personal guidance—That was no small temptation.
He himself did not care much. But Aila was different. Though an Adeptus Disciple, she primarily trained adeptal arts. Her close-quarters combat, while solid, was not her strength.
Beidou, however, was extraordinary. She had once slain the abyssal beast upon the open sea.
How powerful this abyssal beast had been, Futsu Mitama did not know.
But Beidou herself was undeniably formidable.
Even he and Shenhe—both having stepped into the Adeptus realm—would not find it easy to defeat her outright.
"Alright."
He agreed. They would compete in drink. Yet inwardly, Futsu Mitama felt a trace of apology.
The Chat Group was now Level 4.His physique had long since surpassed ordinary limits. From any rational perspective, outdrinking Beidou should not be difficult.
"Hahahahaha! Splendid!" Beidou laughed heartily at his immediate acceptance. "Don't worry—even if you lose, I'll still guide your little maid."
She glanced toward Aila, her expression softening slightly.
"For some reason, I'm quite fond of her. If it weren't for you—and for the fact that she's an Adeptus Disciple—I would've dragged her onto my ship as First Mate."
Beidou's laughter rang across the deck, bright and unrestrained.
Futsu Mitama's expression stiffened ever so slightly. For reasons he could not quite explain, Aila seemed to possess an extraordinary affinity with women. Almost every woman who met her treated her with particular warmth.
It was similar to little Klee—was this some inexplicable fortune of destiny?
Yet before he could dwell further on it, the cheers of the crew surged like rolling waves.
The banquet began in full.
On the deck of The Crux, wine jars were opened one after another. The scent of strong liquor mixed with sea wind, laughter, and the rhythm of boots against wood. Sailors shouted, cups clashed, and the mood rose like a tide beneath the moon.
Meanwhile, within the Chat Group, discussion had already erupted.
[Yae Miko: "Oh my~ I didn't expect a drinking session to start so suddenly."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Drinking? What happened?"]
[Azhdaha: "It's still morning, isn't it? Why are they drinking?"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Learning from Venti?"]
[Venti: "Hey! Don't spread rumors!!! Futsu Mitama doesn't touch a drop of alcohol."]
[Zhongli: "Indeed, on normal days he drinks tea. Why is he drinking alcohol today?"]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "Eh? Futsu Mitama doesn't drink? But he's a winemaker."]
[Venti: "Wait?! A winemaker?! What kind of wine! Let me taste it!"]
[Albedo: "Speaking of which, it seems to be true. Futsu Mitama is indeed a winemaker, but that's old news."]
[Klee: "Eh? Klee doesn't know."]
[Yae Miko: "The little fellow's wine business is quite good. I checked before I left Inazuma; the International Chamber of Commerce is waiting for him to return."]
[Aila: "The wine Young Master brews is from a secret recipe obtained through the Sign-in system. The wine tastes very good, and if consumed for a long time, it also has miraculous effects."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Miraculous effects? What kind of effects? Although I can't drink it now, the soldiers in the army prefer to drink. If it truly has an effect, then I would like to purchase a batch."]
[Aila: "Eh? Did we not mention it?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "It seems we didn't mention it, after all, we went through a lot after entrusting the wine to the International Chamber of Commerce."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "After joining this Chat Group, things have indeed become more numerous, but you were initially targeted by the Fatui, and it seems that was because of this matter."]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "Ah~"]
[Yae Miko: "It does seem so. In that case, the mystery from back then is solved. I was quite puzzled why the Fatui didn't target the exceptionally talented little maid, but instead targeted the unremarkable Futsu Mitama."]
[Yae Miko: "Later, I learned that that Dottore had some methods. He obtained something from that wine, which piqued his interest, and he wanted to capture Futsu Mitama."]
[Keqing: "There's such a past story?!"]
[Guizhong: "Astonishing, tell us quickly! What happened back then!! I'm quite curious."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "How about you tell us what exactly the effects of that wine are?"]
[Venti: "Does it taste good? Is it exceptionally good? I'm really looking forward to it!"]
[Aila: "I took a small sip, and the taste is indeed good, but my tongue and throat felt a bit numb."]
[Futsu Mitama: "@Venti, it's no worse than dandelion wine or apple cider. As for the effects, simply put, drinking it for a long time can slightly enhance one's physique and grant partial Electro Element immunity."]
[Shenhe: "This wine has such miraculous effects? I'm very curious."]
[Venti: "I want to drink it!"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Compared to that, Futsu Mitama, are you alright with drinking like this?! Such a large bowl of wine, you just drank it all?!"]
On deck, Futsu Mitama raised another bowl and emptied it in one breath.
Wine burned down his throat, sharp and fierce.
His cheeks were flushed. Yet his mind remained clear.
[Futsu Mitama: "I'm fine! I'm super brave!!! I'm super good at drinking!!! Beidou wants to beat me! That's simply wishful thinking!!!"]
[Klee: "Ohh, that's like uncles said when drunk" ]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Slightly enhancing physique and granting partial Electro Element immunity, this—this truly lives up to being an item obtained through the Sign-in system. This alone could be passed down as a family heirloom."]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "I just asked Thoma, and he said that the International Chamber of Commerce has already sold out of this wine. Even the nobles in Ritou and Inazuma City can't get any more supply."]
[Futsu Mitama: "What?! Sold out?! I left a lot of wine for the International Chamber of Commerce!! That fast?! No, there's another reason to return to Inazuma quickly."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Yes! You must return to Inazuma quickly!!"]
[Yae Miko: "There are too many people outside coveting your body; returning to Inazuma is the best choice."]
[Zhongli: "Compared to that, let's first revive the God of Dust, Guizhong, before returning to Inazuma. Director Hu and I have finished handling things and are now on our way back. If all goes well, tonight will be the time to revive Guizhong."]
The deck seemed to quiet for a fleeting instant within the Group's silent space.
[Futsu Mitama: "Hmm, I thought so too, Mr. Zhongli, I'll have to trouble you to make the preparations."]
[Albedo: "Has it finally come to this day?"]
[Azhdaha: "Alas, although I'm quite happy inside, I'm still worried there might be risks."]
[Guizhong: "Hahahaha, don't worry about me. If it really doesn't work out, I can always return to the Memory of Dust. I think that's quite good too. After all, I can still see Liyue thousands of years later, and all of you group members. I truly feel very happy."]
[Keqing: "No, the era of humans and Adeptus has just begun; you still have much more to see."]
[Shenhe: "Yes, if you are revived, my master and the others will definitely be very happy."]
[Guizhong: "Alright, alright Don't say anymore I will try my best to revive and see this mortal world again."]
—
Night fell fully.
Liyue Harbor glittered beneath countless lanterns. Commerce did not cease with the sun; instead, it bloomed anew beneath moonlight.
On The Crux, the drinking contest that had begun in the morning finally neared its end.
"Drink!!! I can still drink!!!~~~"
Beidou clung to Futsu Mitama's shoulders, laughter loud and fearless, the scent of alcohol heavy upon her breath. Her cheeks were red, eyes bright but unfocused.
"Big Sis!"
"Big Sis!!!"
The crew roared, half-drunk themselves, cheering their captain as if witnessing a legendary battle.
Wine splashed. Bowls clattered.
Futsu Mitama's face was flushed as well, though his gaze remained clear. He attempted to gently pry Beidou off, but her strength—even drunk—was astonishing. The arms of a sea captain who had cleaved through abyssal beasts were not so easily escaped.
She leaned fully against him, pressing close, making it nearly impossible for Aila to separate them. From morning until now, Beidou had not collapsed—only entered a state of exuberant drunkenness.
That alone spoke of her terrifying physique.
Now, however, her speech began to blur slightly. She was approaching her limit.
Futsu Mitama silently finished another bowl. His constitution had long since surpassed the ordinary. After a full day of drinking, he felt only slight dizziness. To truly make him drunk—It might take five days.
Not far away, Shenhe, Kuki Shinobu, and Aila remained composed.
They did not join the feast. Inazuma awaited, and with it, conflict.
Kuki Shinobu exchanged talisman techniques with Shenhe. Her foundation originated from Adeptus arts, and she sought refinement.
Aila, newly begun on her talisman path, listened carefully. Compared to Director Hu of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, her grasp was still shallow.
Thus Shenhe, who had cultivated talisman arts for years under Cloud Retainer, offered calm instruction beneath the lantern glow.
After all, the three of them were geniuss in their own right. Though their paths diverged—one shaped by Adeptus orthodoxy, one refined through shrine traditions, and one newly stepping upon the threshold of talismanic study—each possessed sharp perception and unique insight. As they exchanged techniques and interpretations beneath the lantern glow, sparks of understanding passed silently between them. What had once seemed obscure became clarified; what had been imperfect gained refinement. By the time their discussion drew to a close, each had advanced a step further along their respective paths.
As for Yae Miko—She stood at a distance, watching the spectacle with evident amusement, occasionally clapping, clearly enjoying the unfolding drama.
By the time the final jar was emptied, gains had been made on all sides.
Beidou had lost the contest.
Futsu Mitama remained standing.
And somewhere in Liyue Harbor, preparations for a miracle were quietly reaching completion.
—
At last, deep into the night, Beidou's towering figure wavered.
Her laughter faltered. Her bowl slipped from her grasp.
With a heavy thud, she collapsed onto the deck.
Futsu Mitama reacted instantly, stepping forward to catch her before she struck the planks too harshly. Even in slumber, the captain of The Crux felt solid as iron.
"Hoo hoo hoo~"
Her snores rolled out like distant thunder over the sea.
Futsu Mitama's mouth twitched faintly.
He lifted his gaze toward the first mate—the only one among the core crew still sober—and said evenly, "Captain Beidou is in your hands."
"Yes."
The first mate's reply was steady, yet his eyes carried both admiration and unease.
Since the day he first joined The Crux, he had never once witnessed anyone drink Captain Beidou under the table.
Never.
Under his direction, two female crew members stepped forward and carefully supported their unconscious captain, guiding her toward the interior cabins of the ship.
Thus concluded Futsu Mitama's mission.
He had successfully gotten Beidou drunk.
Rubbing his temples, he exhaled slowly. After consuming such a vast quantity of liquor, even his extraordinary constitution could not entirely ignore the consequences.
He needed to find the restroom.
Immediately.
"Clap, clap, clap~"
Light applause sounded from nearby. Yae Miko withdrew her hands, a trace of nostalgia lingering in her violet eyes.
"Amazing, little one. I did not expect your drinking prowess to be so formidable. If it were centuries ago, among the yokai, you would surely have been a legendary figure."
Drinking contests were hardly exclusive to Mondstadt.
In ancient Inazuma, when yokai gathered for grand banquets beneath scarlet maple leaves and lantern-lit skies, there existed a title known as the "King of Wine."
The rules were simple to the point of crudeness.
Whoever drank the most without collapsing claimed the crown for the day.
No trickery. No elegance. Only endurance.
Under such rules, those who stood unshaken became the brightest presence at the feast.
Watching Futsu Mitama and Beidou match bowl for bowl stirred something old within Yae Miko's memory—the bygone era when yokai and humans shared the land of thunder.
It had been a time of coexistence. A time before the calamity five hundred years ago.
When disaster descended, most yokai perished in sacrifice. Many humans vanished as well.
Five centuries later, only scattered remnants of yokai remained.
Humanity, however, flourished.
In that sense, humans were indeed terrifying.
"You flatter me," Futsu Mitama replied calmly.
He offered no further commentary and instead walked toward Aila and the others, preparing to disembark.
Beidou was down. The objective was complete.
What remained now was Zhongli's signal.
On The Crux, provisions were never lacking. Beidou's generosity was as renowned as her blade. Even those who abstained from drinking had enjoyed delicacies prepared by the fleet's skilled chefs.
Thus, beneath gazes filled with awe and faint apprehension, Futsu Mitama and his companions were escorted off the ship.
Even now, he walked without a stagger.
No slurred speech. No blurred vision.
How much had he consumed today?
Some crew members exchanged uneasy glances.
Even legendary yokai of Inazuma were said to grow drunk.
Could Futsu Mitama truly be human?
Regardless, the tale would spread.
The story of how Captain Beidou of The Crux Fleet had been defeated in a drinking contest by a man named Futsu Mitama—and how he had remained entirely unaffected—would travel with merchant caravans and seafarers alike.
Beidou's reputation crossed borders.
So too, now, would his.
—
After disembarking, Futsu Mitama opened the Chat Group.
The atmosphere within was unexpectedly light.
Guizhong, on the eve of her resurrection, did not display wild excitement. Instead, she was composed.
Raiden Makoto, Maha Rukkhadevata, Venti, and Azhdaha conversed idly.
Zhongli, Keqing, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and Kamisato Ayaka remained silent—clearly observing without speaking.
[Futsu Mitama: "We're ready to set off, @Zhongli."]
[Venti: "Done drinking? Are you drunk, Futsu Mitama?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "What do you think?"]
[Venti: "It seems the captain named Beidou has collapsed. Amazing. You drank all day and didn't get drunk. Hmm~ next time, I'll treat you to a drink?"]
[Raiden Makoto: "You drunken bard, stop trying to corrupt Futsu Mitama. I admit your drinking is impressive, but do not lead Inazuma's future pillar astray."]
[Venti: "The more I look at him, the more I like him."]
[Venti: "Talent. Strength. Love of freedom. And exceptional drinking ability."]
[Venti: "It would be a pity if he didn't become the Anemo Archon!"]
[Azhdaha: "I object! What benefit is there in becoming the Anemo Archon? He is the successor designated by Morax!"]
[Yae Miko: "You two truly never tire of this debate."]
[Guizhong: "Hahahahaha~ Watching this every day is quite amusing."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "I agree. Though Mr. Zhongli has yet to speak."]
[Futsu Mitama: "He's likely occupied. Where should we go next? We just left The Crux. Should we return home first?"]
[Albedo: "After such excessive drinking, rest would be wise. There is no word from Mr. Zhongli yet."]
[Zhongli: "I'm here."]
[Guizhong: "Oh! Mr. Zhongli!"]
[Zhongli: "Everything is prepared. Here are my coordinates."]
A location marker appeared within the group. It lay not far from Liyue Harbor—no more than a short journey.
[Futsu Mitama: "Understood. We'll arrive in about ten minutes. Do we need to bring anything?"]
[Zhongli: "No. The condensed resin and the special husk doll are ready. But how are you, Futsu Mitama? I have been occupied all day and could not monitor the group."]
[Aila: "Young Master is fine. The scent of alcohol is strong, but otherwise unharmed."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Clear-headed. No visible impairment. Though his tolerance defies common sense."]
[Zhongli: "Good. Come quickly. Today is the day the God of Dust returns."]
[Azhdaha: "Can we livestream it?"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Seconded."]
[Raiden Makoto: "I would like to watch as well."]
[Guizhong: "No livestreaming, please~"]
[Guizhong: "If it fails, would you not all laugh at me?"]
[Albedo: "Failure is theoretically impossible. The condensed resin enhances the soul. The special husk doll bears the recognition of two Archons."]
[Albedo: "Both the Anemo and Electro Archons have approved it."]
[Venti: "Correct."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Ei has seen it as well? That is unsurprising."]
[Azhdaha: "Theory is theory. Unexpected variables exist."]
[Guizhong: "Azhdaha, do not jinx me."]
[Azhdaha: "Very well. When you return, visit me at Mt. Hulao."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Why not simply livestream after her resurrection? I am curious to see the woman who moved Rex Lapis's heart."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "me too"]
[Venti: "ditto"]
[Guizhong: "You are all so mean~ I am not that beautiful."]
[Azhdaha: "In my memory, she was exceptional. A temperament similar to Director Hu."]
[Albedo: "Eh?"]
[Klee: "Really?! Like Sister Hu Tao?! Then Guizhong is also a saint?!"]
[Guizhong: "I am not a saint I am merely an Demon God"]
[Zhongli: "…"]
The teasing dissolved the tension that had quietly built.
Futsu Mitama and the others advanced toward Zhongli's location. Fifteen minutes later, they reached a broad mountainside overlooking Liyue Harbor.
Lantern lights shimmered below like scattered stars.
Upon arrival, Shenhe and Yae Miko's expressions shifted subtly.
A formation had been established here. Its outer appearance suggested soul nourishment, yet beneath that lay something deeper—complex, layered, ancient.
Neither could fully discern its core structure. And that alone spoke volumes.
Shenhe remained composed. Zhongli possessed vast knowledge, and the legacy of the Geo Archon ran deep within Liyue.
Some secrets were bound to surpass her expertise.
"You've arrived." Zhongli turned, his voice steady as stone. "It is not yet time. We must wait a little longer."
Futsu Mitama's brow lifted slightly.
"Don't tell me…we are waiting until midnight again?"
Zhongli smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"What is the principle behind this?" Futsu Mitama asked.
Midnight once more.
At Starsnatch Cliff, Venti had also waited for the turning of the day before donning divinity. Was there truly a hidden law governing this hour?
Before Zhongli could answer, Yae Miko spoke.
"Teyvat operates on a twenty-four-hour cycle. When each day reaches its end—midnight—certain mysterious and powerful beings awaken. In Inazuma, ancient texts record this phenomenon. Though the cause remains unknown."
"That is why, at every midnight, a mysterious force manifests upon the continent of Teyvat."
Yae Miko's gaze lingered on Zhongli.
"Mr. Zhongli…do you intend to make use of that power?"
Zhongli shook his head slightly. Then, after the faintest pause, he nodded.
It was a gesture that answered everything—and nothing. This matter touched upon a forbidden boundary. He understood the principle. He understood the method. Yet it was not something that could be spoken aloud.
Yae Miko's expression tightened imperceptibly. She did not pursue the question.
Futsu Mitama blinked, a vague recollection surfacing in his mind—something about midnight and unseen forces, something he had once encountered before.
He dismissed the thought. Speculation was unnecessary. He would wait.
Zhongli—Rex Lapis—extended his hand. The Memory of Dust trembled lightly, then flew into his palm.
"… "
He lowered his gaze toward Liyue Harbor below. Lanterns shimmered like constellations cast upon the earth. A tide of emotion stirred in his amber eyes—nostalgia, regret, resolve.
He knew the path before him. Before preparing this ritual, he had asked Guizhong a question. With the Chat Group's assistance, how much had she recovered?
Her answer had been measured.
At first, her soul power had recovered swiftly.
Then the progress slowed.
Now, it had stabilized—gaining only a trace each day.
Four or five days had passed. The increase was negligible.
At this rate, unless she were granted administrative authority—or unless the Chat Group evolved further—it would take nearly a thousand years before the conditions for perfect resurrection were met.
A thousand years.
If this were the era immediately following the Archon War, Zhongli would have waited without hesitation. But now—
Teyvat stood at the threshold of change. The currents beneath its surface were shifting. Even he could not clearly foresee the next millennium. Thus, he had sought out Venti in Mondstadt and asked for the Power of Time.
Venti had succeeded. Though he himself endured a year-long seal, the creation of condensed resin marked success.
Zhongli, Albedo, and Venti had privately discussed the possibility.
Condensed resin combined with the special husk doll.
The conclusion: a ninety percent probability of resurrection.Ten percent remained uncertain.
For resurrecting an Archon had never been attempted. That ten percent now weighed upon Zhongli's heart. To minimize the risk, he had prepared extensively.
This grand formation consumed vast materials. During its construction, he had even invited the Adeptus to inspect it.
Formations were not his greatest strength.
Among the Adeptus were masters whose expertise far surpassed his own. Though they were unaware of the ritual's true purpose, they assisted him in completing it.
Its scale rivaled the formation once used to seal Azhdaha.
Zhongli placed more than twenty condensed resins atop the Memory of Dust.
A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes.
"All Guizhong needs to do," he said softly, "is unlock the Memory of Dust from within."
With a wave of his hand, he set the special husk doll at the very center of the formation.
"Is there anything we need to do?" Futsu Mitama asked.
Surely they would not simply stand and observe.
"When Guizhong emerges," Zhongli replied calmly, "Futsu Mitama, please transfer my administrator authority to her. The administrator position temporarily enhances one's power."
"Her soul is too weak. She may not be able to digest the condensed resin. I will use the administrator authority to strengthen her soul temporarily, allowing her to absorb at least one. Once she absorbs the first, the rest will follow."
Futsu Mitama nodded. He would not hesitate.
"Now," Zhongli concluded, "we wait."
Time passed.
One minute remained until midnight.
That single minute stretched endlessly.
Even Futsu Mitama felt his breathing grow heavy.
What if he trembled? What if he mis-clicked?
Midnight arrived.
Click.
The Memory of Dust opened precisely at that instant.
"The hour has come. Activate the formation."
Golden light ignited within Zhongli's eyes. A pressure vast as mountains surged outward.
The grand formation awakened. Midnight's unseen force was drawn into its structure. In an instant, the world shifted.
The formation enveloped them all and pulled them into a different layer of existence.
"Where are we?!" Yae Miko exclaimed.
The surroundings were unchanged in form—yet muted, dimmed, as though viewed through veiled glass.
She was shocked.
"A consciousness space?! This formation not only nourishes the soul—it simulates a consciousness space! This…this must be the work of the Adeptus!"
Shenhe felt it as well. Within the formation, she sensed her master's aura.
So Cloud Retainer had participated.
Aila's pupils flickered.
She understood the term.
An Archon's consciousness space—an independent mental domain.
Raiden Makoto had spoken of it before.
This was no crude imitation. This was a layered, stabilized pseudo-consciousness realm.
Even Albedo's alchemical simulations would pale beside it.
Only Kuki Shinobu remained relatively composed. If Zhongli intended to resurrect Guizhong, naturally he would enlist the Adeptus. There was no cause for surprise.
Futsu Mitama said nothing. His gaze fixed upon the Memory of Dust. As it opened, a translucent figure emerged.
Gentle. Smiling.
As though whispering—I have returned.
Zhongli's eyes softened.
Long time no see, old friend.
Guizhong saw him. Her lips curved upward. Her mouth opened slightly, as if to speak.
No sound came.
The condensed resins began to flow into her form.
But—It was not enough.
Her soul was too weak.
Even within the soul-nourishing formation, a single condensed resin melted slowly, resisting dissolution.
The most feared outcome had manifested. Her consciousness was too fragile.
Without this simulated consciousness space, merely attempting absorption might have caused her to disperse.
[Ding!]
[Group Announcement: Zhongli's administrator status for "Teyvat Continental Family" has been revoked.]
[Group Announcement: Guizhong has become the administrator of "Teyvat Continental Family".]
Futsu Mitama acted instantly.
"Buzz—!!!"
A resonance filled the space. Guizhong's once near-transparent form solidified at the edges.
Zhongli exhaled silently.
When he had first gained administrator authority, he had felt a surge of strength comparable to receiving the Gnosis itself.
That was the lifeline he now offered her.
Guizhong closed her eyes.
Under the administrator's augmentation, she began to digest the first condensed resin.
This was the original version signed by Sangonomiya Kokomi.
Not a reproduction.
The resin dissolved. Soul energy surged into her. Her figure grew clearer.
The first was absorbed. The second began to melt.
They watched in silence. Within the Chat Group, urgency erupted.
[Azhdaha: "Urgent! Urgent! Urgent!!!!"]
[Raiden Makoto: "Remain calm. Zhongli's administrator status has been revoked—they've begun."]
[Venti: "What's happening?! Report!"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Live update, please."]
[Shenhe: "Difficult to describe."]
[Yae Miko: "It is progressing smoothly. The condensed resin is being absorbed."]
[Aila: "Her condition improves visibly. If no accident occurs, she will soon communicate."]
[Futsu Mitama: "You nearly scared me. I almost transferred administrator authority to Albedo by mistake."]
[Albedo: "…"]
[Klee: "Eh?"]
[Albedo: "Klee, why are you still awake?"]
[Klee: "Klee is worried about Big Sister Guizhong."]
[Azhdaha: "What a good child. Do not worry."]
[Zhongli: "The situation is stable."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Mr. Zhongli has returned."]
[Zhongli: "I invited several Adeptus through the Talisman of Everlasting Morality to assist in forming this array. Its functions include simulating consciousness space, nourishing the soul, calming the mind, isolating aura, and slowing time flow."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Talisman of Everlasting Morality…you truly spared no expense."]
'Yeah truly no expense. You just need a second to craft it, right?'
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "But was it not used once already? Can it be used again?"]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "Records state it is a one-time Adeptus artifact."]
[Azhdaha: "Ah—could it be that your ancestors were given two Talismans of Talisman of Everlasting Morality?"]
[Zhongli: "No, I obtained it from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, specifically from Director Hu." ]
[Keqing: "Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? That is indeed possible. Its founding can be traced back to the era of the Archon War." ]
[Keqing: "Director Hu has never concerned herself with so-called Adeptus connections, for according to the intelligence I possess. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is, in essence, equivalent to an Adeptus legacy." ]
[Azhdaha: "That is correct. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has always held great importance. The entities they face are often vengeful spirits and peculiar malevolent beings. In those years, the land of Liyue was far from tranquil. Demon God remnants lingered, stirring calamity across the realm—troubles even the Adeptus found difficult to quell." ]
[Azhdaha: "It was amid such turmoil that the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor came into being. They guided the departed to their rightful destination, maintaining the boundary between life and death. For that reason, the Adeptus held them in high esteem and bestowed upon them their legacy, allowing it to endure to this day." ]
[Azhdaha: "As for whether Morax personally granted the talisman of everlasting morality…I cannot say. But judging from the present circumstances, he most likely did." ]
[Azhdaha: "Well done, Zhongli." ]
[Zhongli: "It was but a small matter. You are too generous with your praise." ]
[Venti: "Ehe A small matter, you say You saved Rex Lapis's wife." ]
[Raiden Makoto: "Indeed. It would hardly be fitting if Rex Lapis offered no reward in return." ]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "chuckles softly" ]
[Azhdaha: "If Morax neglects to reward you, then I shall. When he joins the Chat Group, I will personally inform him of your deeds." ]
[Zhongli: "There is no need for that." ]
Outside.
Zhongli, who had appeared composed only moments before, now revealed a faintly complicated expression. For a long while, he could only release a quiet sigh.
His gaze shifted toward the center.
Guizhong had finished absorbing the condensed resin. The fragile wisp of her soul, once so tenuous that even a stray breeze might scatter it, now shimmered with stability. It no longer trembled at the edge of dissolution.
Yet a soul without a vessel could not remain long in the mortal world.
The true moment had arrived.
All eyes fell upon the special husk doll.
This was the item Guizhong had obtained through a sign-in—an object that embodied the possibility of a god's return. Zhongli, Albedo, Raiden Ei, and Yae Miko had carefully recorded its structure and data. Should its principal material be uncovered, recreating something similar would pose no difficulty.
But therein lay the problem. What was its core material? None knew.
Even Venti, who found the object faintly familiar, could not place where he had encountered such craftsmanship.
For now, speculation was meaningless.
Silence gathered as every gaze fixed upon the special husk doll, awaiting the transformation that would follow once Guizhong's soul entered it.
Guizhong did not disappoint. She slowly opened her eyes.
Her gaze lingered upon Zhongli, then passed over Futsu Mitama and the others behind him.
A gentle smile curved her lips.
Without uttering a single word, she surged forward. The instant her soul neared the special husk doll, she felt it—a tremendous pull, as though destiny itself were drawing her inward.
When she had first encountered it, her soul had been no more than a frail remnant, incapable of withstanding such force.
But now, strengthened by the condensed resin absorbed through her authority as administrator, she possessed the stability required.
She entered the special husk doll.
"Swish—!!"
The moment her soul merged with it, the world responded.
The wooden husk trembled.
Its form blurred, light fracturing across its surface. The rigid contours dissolved, reshaping, refining. In but a few breaths, the puppet vanished.
In its place stood a petite young girl.
At the same time, the wind stirred.
Light golden dust rose and swirled about her, circling in quiet radiance. Yae Miko narrowed her eyes slightly, intent upon memorizing every detail.
"This…is a god's divine power."
For this was no mere phenomenon. It was the miracle of the first god to return to this world.
Shenhe gazed at the drifting dust, her voice solemn.
"God of Dust — Haagentus. According to my master, after her death, her divine power should have erupted into catastrophe. The sand and dust could have shrouded more than half of Liyue's sky."
"But in the end…she, who loved her people as her own children, chose not to let her power become disaster. Instead, she allowed it to dissipate quietly."
"Like a handful of dust…scattering across the land of Liyue."
As Shenhe spoke, the divine power intensified.
With Guizhong at its center, golden sand surged outward in widening tides. Her eyes remained closed. She was utterly unaware of the upheaval unfolding.
The grand formation strained. It had been constructed to simulate the inner realm of a god's consciousness—to nurture and stabilize a soul. It had not been designed to confine a resurrected deity.
The dust expanded.
Light golden sand filled the sky, spreading outward at astonishing speed—reaching beyond the formation, beyond the mountains, toward Liyue Harbor itself.
In mere seconds, hundreds of miles lay beneath a drifting veil of dust.
And this was far from Guizhong's limit.
—
Zhongli looked toward the sky.
He made no move to intervene. There were moments when restraint carried greater meaning than control.
Across Liyue, the Adeptus felt it. That familiar, impossible fluctuation.
Expressions changed.
Disbelief surfaced.
For that power belonged to the long-deceased God of Dust — Guizhong.
How could the divine authority of one who had perished reappear?
This defied reason. Yet the fluctuation did not feel hollow. It pulsed with vitality.
Not an echo. Not an imitation.
These are Rebirth.
Throughout the land, Adeptus who had once fought in the Archon War set aside their tasks.
Those in seclusion emerged from hidden abodes. All turned toward the source of the disturbance.
If Guizhong had truly returned, it would herald immeasurable joy. If someone dared manipulate her lingering power—The consequences would be beyond terror.
As swiftly as it arose, the sky-filling storm subsided. The golden dust receded, vanishing as though it had never been.
Within the formation, Guizhong slowly opened her eyes.
Starlight shimmered within them.
She looked at Zhongli, who stood not far away, his presence utterly concealed. Yet concealment was meaningless.
She had already recognized him. No disguise could veil what had endured for millennia.
"Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant, Mister Zhongli."
Her voice rang clear—lively and bright, unchanged from the days of the Archon War thousands of years past.
She blinked, a playful smile forming.
"This humble one, Guizhong, offers her greetings."
With that, the newly resurrected God of Dust bowed gracefully.
Zhongli stood in silence. A long sigh escaped him. Within it lay relief. And the faint, inevitable weariness of days yet to come.
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