On one side, Lin Ze was busy picking out exquisite outfits for Teyvat's number-one Pyro DPS.
On the other side—
Teyvat's number-one Pyro DPS herself.
"My family's consultant… is actually the Geo Archon?"
Staring at the transparent panel where the diary updated in real time, Hu Tao's expression was indescribably complicated.
Who was the Geo Archon?
The Lord of Geo. Rex Lapis. The Martial God. The God of Wealth. One of the Seven who ruled the mortal realm.
Morax.
And who was Zhongli?
The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's consultant.
A man who never carried Mora.
A man whose every expense was charged directly to the parlor's account.
The owner of an alternative bargaining technique—where the more he negotiated, the higher the price climbed.
A man whose arrival made merchants happier than seeing their own fathers.
And now she was being told—
That Zhongli was the Geo Archon himself?
Who could explain to her why a god who literally was the God of Wealth never carried Mora?!
Fine, not carrying Mora was one thing—but why did all his bills have to be charged to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?!
Zhongli's salary had already been docked hundreds of years into the future.
At this rate, by the time her descendants inherited the parlor, Zhongli would still be its consultant.
Hu Tao wasn't the only one feeling conflicted.
At the Jade Chamber, Keqing, the Yuheng Star, wore an equally spectacular expression.
Zhongli is the Geo Archon?
Wait—this… this doesn't add up.
Didn't Zhongli support human governance just like I do?
Didn't he openly agree with my ideas?
Hold on… if Zhongli really is Rex Lapis, then doesn't that mean—
Her lips curved upward before she even realized it.
If Zhongli truly was the Geo Archon—
Then that meant Rex Lapis not only approved of her beliefs, but strongly supported them!
And the diary made it crystal clear.
He was already preparing to fake his death and relinquish authority—right at the Rite of Descension!
No, Keqing. Don't smile.
You can't show it. Don't let Ningguang laugh at you.
She muttered to herself internally, sneaking a glance at Ningguang.
Despite her efforts, the corners of her mouth refused to cooperate, stubbornly lifting upward on their own.
Compared to Keqing, Ningguang was far more composed.
After a brief moment of confusion—processing the fact that Zhongli was the Geo Archon wandering the mortal realm—she quickly reviewed her own tenure as the Tianquan, ensuring she hadn't committed any grave missteps.
Then, inevitably, her attention settled on one crucial point.
The Geo Archon… faking his death and relinquishing power.
She cast a subtle glance at Keqing, who was still smiling without realizing it. Ningguang could tell at a glance what Keqing was thinking.
With a quiet sigh, she rubbed her temple.
Rex Lapis stepping down and ushering Liyue into an era of human governance was something Keqing had long dreamed of.
Keqing's happiness was understandable.
But—
Could Liyue truly shoulder the burden of a godless era?
Ningguang was skeptical.
Especially since Rex Lapis planned to relinquish power through a staged death, turning Liyue into a nation without a god in the eyes of the world.
How would other nations treat Liyue then?
Look at Mondstadt next door.
Their Anemo Archon still existed—he simply hadn't appeared for centuries.
And yet the Fatui still pushed them around relentlessly.
No.
Preparations had to begin early.
They knew Rex Lapis wasn't truly dead—but ordinary people, and other nations, wouldn't necessarily know that.
Even with the diary copies in circulation, those unaware of the truth would still make up the vast majority.
As these thoughts settled in, Ningguang's expression gradually grew solemn.
"Yelan will need some time before bringing Mr. Lin Ze here," Ningguang said calmly.
"Before that—Keqing, let's discuss this."
"If Rex Lapis truly relinquishes authority, and Liyue enters an era of human governance as a godless nation…"
"How should Liyue establish itself firmly within Teyvat?"
"You know Mondstadt's current situation as well as I do."
Hearing Ningguang's words, Keqing froze—then grew serious as well.
Ningguang was right.
Keqing had always hoped for a Liyue governed by humans—one where people stood on their own rather than relying excessively on Rex Lapis.
But she had never imagined that Rex Lapis would choose to relinquish power through such a decisive, irreversible method.
Many things would need to be considered in advance.
"A god…" Keqing said slowly.
"At the very least, Liyue must possess god-level military deterrence."
"Achieving that in a short time… will be extremely difficult."
As one of the Liyue Qixing, Keqing oversaw land and construction—but her political instincts were razor-sharp.
No one who reached the position of Qixing lacked that.
Especially not Keqing, an infamous workaholic.
"I'm inclined to gather intelligence from Lin Ze once we meet him—about the world he came from."
"We take what's useful. Discard what isn't. Leave behind what doesn't suit Liyue."
"And Lin Ze's Black Flag power is extraordinary. Perhaps through him, we can help establish god-level deterrence."
"Better yet—secure Lin Ze himself."
As she spoke, Keqing suddenly thought of something and gave Ningguang a slow, deliberate once-over.
"Speaking of which… Ningguang, you're not exactly young anymore, are you?"
Her lips curled into a teasing smile.
Tianquan Ningguang—
Wealth beyond measure. Bright eyes and graceful bearing. Beauty that shames peach blossoms and apricot blooms. Keen sight and sharp hearing, capable of handling hundreds of matters at once.
That verse was known by nearly everyone in Liyue.
"Oh?"
Ningguang narrowed her eyes slightly.
So Keqing was thinking that far ahead?
Still, Ningguang had no intention of involving herself personally.
"I've heard that our Yuheng Star has been under pressure from her family to marry lately."
"Compared to me… wouldn't Keqing be the more suitable candidate?"
She had no plans of marrying herself—but Keqing's suggestion wasn't bad.
Why not redirect it?
And besides—Keqing had indeed been urged to marry. Ningguang knew this much.
Keqing simply had enough authority at home to brush it aside.
"Me? I don't have any intention of dating right now."
Keqing shook her head quickly, flustered.
"I don't either," Ningguang replied with a shrug.
With that, the two of them tacitly dropped the topic and returned to discussing Liyue's future—its path toward human governance, and the plans required to sustain it.
Morax is walking among mortals… and plans to hand authority over to humans?
Staring at the transparent panel, Nahida blinked.
Her large, watery eyes were filled with even larger confusion.
Why would Morax make such a decision?
Was this what it meant to be a qualified god?
Every action guided by divine intent—something she, an unqualified god, couldn't possibly understand.
…Or perhaps—
Could she simply skip straight to the step where she relinquished authority completely?
After all, she'd never truly held power to begin with.
Would that make her a qualified god too?
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