"Sis, honestly…"
Kiana muttered, staring at the spot where Bianca had vanished.
But there was nothing she could do—big sister would do whatever she wanted.
Besides, Kiana would never admit she'd used her Authority of Consciousness to make the Traveler say that line!
She turned her gaze to Ningguang.
The august Tianquan, brows knit, ordered the Millelith to disperse the crowd and calm them in orderly fashion.
In no time, the Jingtai Platform regained its Order.
Proof enough of the Tianquan's formidable skill.
"Zhongli, which part of this dragon do you think would taste best?"
Kiana tapped her lip, nudged Zhongli with her elbow, and teased, eyeing the corpse.
To her surprise, Zhongli actually pondered the question seriously.
"By universal reason, the body of Rex Lapis is, sentimentally and logically, unfit to be made into cuisine."
After a moment he shook his head.
Not only would Liyue's people never tolerate their God's desecration…
…but Zhongli felt that dragon form had no meat at all—one bite would shatter the sturdiest teeth.
Not far off, Mei—cradled in Kevin's arms—gazed at the dragon, eyes flickering.
She itched to collect a tissue sample… Ever since her last lecture tour, when Dr. Mobius had casually hinted at hidden truths of the world, Mei had grown fascinated by such matters.
"How can you speak such disrespect of the Rex Lapis…?"
Workhorse Na whispered to Kiana and Zhongli, so low no outsider might hear.
If any Liyue folk heard, they'd be thrown in jail and executed on the spot!
Zhongli closed his mouth at once, saying no more about the remains.
Kiana zipped an imaginary zipper across her lips and nodded.
Beside Workhorse Na, Hu Tao studied Rex Lapis's corpse, chin in hand, lost in thought.
At first grief filled her, but on reflection—shouldn't Wangsheng Funeral Parlor (Genshin Impact) preside over the funeral of a fallen deity?
Imagining the lucrative commission, her sorrow vanished while she drafted a grand, unprecedented rite in her mind.
Its name: the Rite of Parting.
"Such a handsome dragon… really dead?"
Sake Kiana murmured, dim-eyed.
Reborn, she had never seen vibrant life expire before her; her tender heart couldn't help but ache.
Equally kind Pretty Cure Na bit her lip, wearing the same sorrow.
Little Moonlight sensed the gloom, her Tail twitching uneasily, ears flattened—utterly subdued.
The older Nanas moved to comfort them.
And sighed within.
They'd come for a lively festival, expecting carefree fun in another world…
…only to walk straight into catastrophe. Once Ningguang had settled the populace, she dismissed the ordinary citizens.
With the crowds gone, Ningguang approached Kiana's group.
Her gaze swept over them and settled on Hu Tao.
"Hall Master Hu, may I entrust Wangsheng Funeral Parlor (Genshin Impact) with the Rex Lapis's farewell?"
"Of course! I'll give His Majesty the grandest burial ever!"
Hu Tao thumped her chest in promise.
"Then I thank you."
She inclined her head and strode to the Rex Lapis's remains.
Ningguang issued swift orders; the Millelith brought out a wooden cart.
Channeling her power, she lifted the corpse gently onto the cart.
Done, she glanced at Kiana and the others still present.
"We should leave. What follows is not for our eyes."
Astute Hu Tao guessed Ningguang's intent and led the way out.
"A-hem, sisters, let's go—I'll show you around Liyue Harbor."
Workhorse Na scratched her cheek, embarrassed.
She'd wanted the group to see how majestic the Rex Lapis was, yet the supposedly invincible deity had fallen.
"Fine, let's tour a bit."
Void Hunter Na figured too much meddling in a nation's crisis might anger the authorities.
It would ruin their relaxing vacation.
And she feared the youngest two Nanas might be traumatized.
So the party left the Jingtai Platform.
Before departing, Kiana tilted her head toward the weary Ningguang.
A melodious voice echoed in Ningguang's mind.
"Tianquan Ningguang—across Liyue, even all Teyvat, who could slay Morax in silence? Don't lose your head, hmm?"
"!!!"
Ningguang jerked her gaze toward Kiana—
—but the spot was empty.
Eyes grave, she stared at the Rex Lapis's remains, lost in thought.
The reminder had struck home.
The Rex Lapis of the histories had carved his divinity through the wars of gods; to ambush him without a sound should be impossible.
Among the Seven she knew, none possessed such power.
Nor could any revived demon God of old.
They had been mere stepping-stones to his triumph.
Perhaps… other possibilities glimmered in her mind.
She might already glimpse a few…
But for now, the Exuvia must be hidden away, lest covetous eyes take interest.
"The Rex Lapis must have had his reasons."
Softly spoken, she ordered servants to veil the Exuvia with cloth and, when none watched, transport it to the Golden House—Liyue's mint. Meanwhile Hu Tao and Zhongli returned to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor (Genshin Impact) to prepare the Rite of Parting.
Workhorse Na stayed with her sisters; Hu Tao, footing the bill, told her simply to enjoy herself.
Send the receipt to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor (Genshin Impact).
The girls toured Liyue Harbor under Workhorse Na's guidance.
But with the Rex Lapis slain, every shop had closed its doors.
"Then… let's walk outside the harbor?"
Workhorse Na's ear-tips reddened as she sought the opinion of the white-haired flock.
With the Group Owner around, danger felt impossible in Teyvat.
Unanimous, they let Workhorse Na lead.
A tide of white hair, Mei tucked among them, set grandly out for their first stop: Dihua Marsh.
Passers-by only found the sight curious, sparing an extra glance and nothing more.
Finding it troublesome, Kiana constantly wielded her Authority of Consciousness to nudge their perception—
—making them accept these many Kianas as sisters or cousins, nothing odd about it.
Meanwhile, in the universe of the allogene…
Qlipoth gazed at a star-field as dark as Ixes and fell silent.
The sector brimmed with ominous, silent breath of annihilation.
Yet in that lifeless void a single planet still stood, faint life pulsing within—and one being there caught His favor.
With a hum, amber radiance flared from what might have been Qlipoth's head.
The shelled world (Teyvat) gained one more layer: a hard crystal wall upon its outermost sphere.
Then Qlipoth vanished, returning by the same path to His own cosmos.
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