After leaving Celestia, Lin Ze couldn't help but sigh in amazement.
Those two Thrones… they really knew how to play the game.
And their strength was no joke either. The waters ran deep—far deeper than most would ever imagine.
Where did the Throne in the Abyss come from?
Where did the Throne above Celestia originate?
And that method of pinning a world bubble to the Imaginary Tree—where did that even come from?
With the level of power Heavenly Principles currently possessed, that feat alone should have been impossible.
[This trip to Celestia was seriously worth it.]
[I even saw those humans who ascended to godhood—turns out they're alive and well. For a moment I thought they were all gone.]
[Met Heavenly Principles too. Cleared up a lot of doubts… though I promised the Sustainer I wouldn't talk about it.]
[Otherwise I'd be flexing so hard right now.]
[Still, at least I can safely take out things that don't belong to this world anymore.]
[Heavenly Principles already approved—no need to worry about throwing hands later.]
[Right? Heavenly Principles.]
Heavenly Principles: Sigh… I knew he'd show off somehow.
At least he's keeping his word.
Sustainer: Should I go remind him again?
Heavenly Principles: No need. Just keep an eye on him.
If he goes to the Abyss, notify me immediately.
Ningguang: I wonder if Heavenly Principles will allow Gnoses to circulate…
The Tsaritsa: So Heavenly Principles possesses this too…
We need to accelerate things. Why are they still so slow?
Not long after Lin Ze returned to his villa, Ningguang, Keqing, and Ganyu showed up again.
This time, Lin Ze truly hadn't expected it—but he still let them in.
Before he could even finish closing the gate, Ningguang raised her hand and set up a barrier.
"Well?" she asked urgently.
"What did Heavenly Principles say?"
She had been waiting so long she felt like flowers were about to wilt on her head.
She'd already prepared herself to stay up all night—yet Lin Ze came back this fast.
The matter of the Gnosis was simply too important. Even if Keqing's analysis made sense, as long as there was a sliver of hope, Ningguang wouldn't give it up.
"Heavenly Principles said this," Lin Ze replied calmly.
"The Gnoses I create can be distributed freely."
"But if someone uses one to ascend in an alternative way, that newly born god will be immediately taken to Celestia."
What a neat little scheme.
If someone ascended, Heavenly Principles would just collect them and put them to work repairing spatial rifts.
No need to spend Celestia's own power either—those Gnoses were made using Lin Ze's strength.
If possible, Heavenly Principles would probably love for him to mass-produce Gnoses and let the people of Teyvat ascend in batches.
Free labor. Reduced burden.
Perfect for continuing her grand chess match against the Abyssal Throne.
Ningguang's eyes lit up.
"Then what if a Gnosis is used as a weapon instead?"
Lin Ze nodded.
"I asked that too."
"Heavenly Principles doesn't care—as long as you don't go overboard and shatter Teyvat."
"Without a true master, even a Gnosis-weapon doesn't have enough authority to destroy the world."
"But she did say—use it sparingly."
"She loves humanity. Just like the other Archons."
"She doesn't want excessive casualties."
Lin Ze relayed Heavenly Principles' response word for word.
As for Khaenri'ah—
Heavenly Principles had explained that as well.
Khaenri'ah's location was special. A subterranean nation that inadvertently discovered Abyssal power, then began developing technology based on it.
They were gradually corrupted, manipulated, and swayed.
That was why the purge happened.
Heavenly Principles loved humans—
but once they embraced the Abyss, they were no longer considered human.
And loving monsters? That wasn't happening.
As for Khaenri'ah's civilians—
Even children had Abyssal power secretly implanted within them.
The curse that turned them into hilichurls wasn't Heavenly Principles' doing—it was Abyssal power being partially stripped away.
Both Thrones were badly wounded back then.
Khaenri'ah, however, was at its peak.
That imbalance led to tragedy.
"That's enough… more than enough."
Ningguang was visibly excited now.
Even if weapons forged from Gnoses couldn't be used frequently—that didn't matter.
One was enough.
Even if Rex Lapis truly fell, Liyue would still possess the power to deter every other nation.
"Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Lin Ze," she said sincerely.
"We won't disturb you any further. Sweet dreams."
Her breathing steadied after a few deep breaths, and she left with Keqing in high spirits.
This was it.
The Gnosis plan was almost certainly going to work.
As for Rex Lapis—
They trusted his judgment.
After all, if Heavenly Principles didn't object, why would he?
Ganyu, however, wasn't as cheerful.
She walked alone through Liyue Harbor after seeing them off.
Rex Lapis was going to fake his death and relinquish authority.
If all went well, Ningguang would soon acquire multiple Gnoses.
So…
Did Liyue still need her as the Qixing's secretary?
Once Liyue fully entered the era of human governance, did it still need a half-adeptus like her?
Should I return to my master…
and live secluded in the mountains like the other adepti?
Questions piled up in her heart.
No one answered them.
The more she thought, the more confused she became.
By the time the sun rose, Ganyu finally snapped out of it.
It was late.
Time to go to work at Yujing Terrace.
"…This sunrise doesn't seem that amazing," she muttered.
"Why do so many people like watching it?"
She wasn't the only one who hadn't slept.
Lin Ze was awake too, standing by the sea, watching the sun climb over the horizon.
Everyone said watching the sunrise by the sea was romantic.
He'd stayed up on a whim to see it for himself—
And honestly?
It wasn't that impressive.
Scratching his head, Lin Ze turned back inside and retrieved the system reward he'd received last night.
A pillow.
A body pillow.
Printed on both sides with a cocogoat.
Who it was didn't matter.
What mattered was—
He liked it.
As long as no one found out, it didn't exist.
Right?
As for whether Lin Ze liked Ganyu…
Well.
He felt it was only fair to admit—
He didn't like her.
He was just… tempted.
Honest man.
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