Morax

Biodata

Power Progression

Morax’s development is documented through improved techniques, combat strength, and Archon status rather than a numbered cultivation ladder.

Background / History

Earlier Lifetimes

In Xiu Yuan’s first life, Morax lives in a mortal body under the name Zhongli. Xiu Yuan identifies him as Rex Lapis and recognizes his desire to step down from godhood, approaching him to arrange matters surrounding his departure 5.

The fourth-life account credits Morax with defeating Golden Roc’s master, liberating the enslaved Yaksha, and giving him the name Xiao. Xiao subsequently contracts to protect Liyue for a thousand years. Morax wins Liyue’s Archon War with the adepti’s assistance and seals fallen Demon Gods beneath rock, though their lingering resentment continues producing monsters and evil spirits 37.

Ninth Life: Meeting Xiu Yuan

Before meeting Xiu Yuan, Morax spends thousands of years wandering Teyvat, enjoying its scenery, and seeking occasional sparring partners. His overwhelming natural strength leaves him little reason to refine his techniques or fight with lethal intent 164.

Morax challenges Xiu Yuan upon sensing his strength, but loses when Xiu Yuan exploits his surprise at seeing one person wield both Electro and Geo. A subsequent match is bound by a contract requiring Morax to acknowledge Xiu Yuan as his elder brother if defeated. Morax resists for five days before surrendering 151 154 155.

Xiu Yuan then redirects his training toward precise stone manipulation and layered attacks. Morax’s difficulty learning the Demon-Scale Long Spear undermines his arrogance, while Xiu Yuan’s demonstration of Planet Befall exposes how far his own understanding of Geo still has to develop 159 160 164 165.

Living as Zhongli and Founding Liyue

Morax initially considers humans little different from other animals. To challenge that belief, Xiu Yuan has him adopt the human name Zhongli, conceal his Geo powers, and enter a fishing village as a wounded stranger. Their intended five-year stay becomes an education in mortal life 166 168.

The villagers’ unsolicited kindness gives Morax an unfamiliar sense of warmth. Over three years of fishing, shore gathering, and tending vegetable fields, he becomes more measured and increasingly reluctant to solve problems through fighting. His attachment to the villagers becomes unmistakable when elders risk their lives during a flood 170 176 178.

After helping save the village, Morax resolves to protect its inhabitants despite knowing he will eventually outlive them. Xiu Yuan raises the mountain identified as Mt. Tianheng, and Morax proposes Liyue as the settlement’s name. The villagers honor Morax as Rex Lapis and Xiu Yuan as the Dark Night King 179 180 188 300.

Government and the Archon War

Morax becomes Liyue’s public ruler while Xiu Yuan supplies most of its early development plans from behind the scenes. They share a home atop Mt. Tianheng. Morax also insists that Liyue remember Xiu Yuan’s contributions, eventually accepting Lantern Rite as a way to commemorate him 181 183.

Growing conflict forces Morax to defend Liyue against Demon Gods while managing refugees and internal disputes. At the war’s outset, he has never killed an opponent and still struggles to execute enemies who beg for mercy. Xiu Yuan’s criticism, an opponent’s suicide, and the escalating danger to Liyue gradually change his approach 186 194 196 197 198 199.

His most painful turning point comes after killing a rival god whose followers attack him. Xiu Yuan persuades him that their hatred could become a hidden threat to Liyue, and Morax crushes them with stone while shedding a tear. He subsequently asks whether attacking Celestia could offer an alternative to such slaughter, but Xiu Yuan rejects the proposal 202 203 204.

Guili Plains and Military Expansion

Sparring with Azhdaha accelerates Morax’s growth. When territorial expansion becomes necessary, Xiu Yuan directs him to Guizhong’s Glaze Lily grassland and explains that cooperation can achieve what conquest would otherwise require. Morax agrees to negotiate a shared territorial name without violating his contract with Guizhong 212 214 215 219.

The alliance expands his responsibilities to the Guili Plains. Guizhong’s affection initially leaves him bewildered, but he gradually pays closer attention to her and recognizes her determination to share the burden of defending their people 222 224 225 237 238.

Morax fights Eligor’s coalition, slays and seals the weakened Chi beneath Qingce Village, equips the newly formed Thousand Rock Corps, and leads Liyue’s forces toward Dragonspine. After the campaign, he develops trust in the five Yakshas Xiu Yuan has brought into Liyue’s service 228 229 238 239 240 248 249.

Loss, Memory Erasure, and Archonhood

Xiu Yuan’s departure leaves Morax deeply helpless. When Guizhong and Marchosius are later killed, he refuses to believe his brother responsible and breaks his promise not to search for him. He questions Barbatos in Mondstadt before returning to discover both companions alive again, now ordinary humans without divine power 252 253 263 264 265 266.

Xiu Yuan subsequently disappears from everyone’s memories. Morax notices a blank name in a written wish and senses that he has forgotten someone important, but others’ altered recollections lead him to accept Xiu Yuan’s deeds as his own. After the Archon War, he is selected for The Seven and fails to recognize Xiu Yuan on Celestia beyond a vague feeling of familiarity 273 274 277.

Marriage and the Corrosion Crisis

After establishing the Liyue Qixing, Morax travels the world with Guizhong. They return seventy years after the Archon War having married privately, with only the stars and sea witnessing their vows. Their belated wedding feast is held on Mt. Tianheng with close companions and the other six gods 284 285.

A strange force later enters the Ley Lines, corrupts Azhdaha, and proves capable of consuming divine power. Morax helps organize the Seven’s response and prepares Jueyun Karst as a refuge, but released Demon Gods and vast numbers of sea monsters overwhelm Liyue’s defenses 288 291 293 297.

Finding Liyue and Jueyun Karst devastated, Morax discovers Guizhong alive while the corrupting force begins consuming him. A familiar box restores his memories of Xiu Yuan. His brother answers his plea, comforts him, and restores the world; afterward, Morax finds that Celestia, the Gnoses, and the box have disappeared 300 301.

In the second finale, Xiu Yuan restores Morax’s Archon War peak through time manipulation. Morax then visits Celestia seeking the Heavenly Principles at Xiu Yuan’s urging, only to return angrily after finding her absent 332 334.

Appearance

• Youthful form: Appears as a young Zhongli when Xiu Yuan first encounters him in the ninth life 151.
• Expression: War gradually replaces his youthful innocence with a colder, often expressionless demeanor 199 221 222.
• Battle mask: Wears the golden mask given to him by Xiu Yuan whenever he goes into battle 207 208.
• Restored presence: Returning to his Archon War peak changes his aura from composed and steady to savage 332.

Personality

Young Morax is proud, cheerful, competitive, and fond of impressive-looking techniques. He seeks strong opponents enthusiastically and refuses to surrender even after days of punishment. Xiu Yuan’s superior skill humbles him without entirely extinguishing his competitive spirit 151 155 157 160 212.

His kindness is initially obscured by his shallow understanding of humans. Living among villagers teaches him affection, gratitude, and the pain of anticipated loss. As ruler, he cannot easily turn away destitute refugees and struggles intensely with killing defeated enemies or their followers 166 170 178 180 186 196 204.

War makes him colder and more decisive, but does not erase his gentleness. Guizhong and Cloud Retainer recognize the tenderness beneath his distant expression, and his followers serve him willingly rather than through coercion. Only with Xiu Yuan does he freely abandon his public composure and show his dependence, grief, and vulnerability 221 222 252 301.

Abilities & Skills

Geo Manipulation

Morax possesses immense Geo power from birth and can shape stone into weapons, barriers, creatures, and terrain 151 164.

• Stone control: Moves surrounding rocks, raises spikes, and constructs walls 151 155 196.
• Rock creatures: Creates Rock Sharks, Rock Eagles, Rock Whales, and a rock Kite Bird; the latter can be transformed into a spear 151 154 229.
• Terrain shaping: Reshapes Jueyun Karst for defense and creates two mountains while aiding Inazuma 291 293.
• Sealing: Seals the Chi beneath Qingce Village and Demon Gods at Guyun Stone Forest 238 293.
• Limit: His early constructs emphasize spectacle over efficiency, a weakness Xiu Yuan specifically targets in training 154 164.

Geo Shield

His golden shield withstands sustained elemental and physical punishment 154 155.

• Remains intact after Xiu Yuan’s barrage lasting more than ten minutes 154.
• Suffers only minor cracking after roughly sixty or seventy Guizhong Ballista shots 237.
• Can be broken by sufficiently powerful or coordinated attacks, including Azhdaha’s assault and the five Yakshas’ combination attack 212 251.
• Does not make him immune to the corrosion crisis: once it breaks, he must avoid attacks that could infect him 295.

Demon-Scale Long Spear

A technique devised by Xiu Yuan and named by Morax, built from independently controlled stone components 159 160.

• The demonstrated design combines an initial spear strike, an explosion, and a converging attack by the scattered fragments 158 159.
• Morax initially struggles with the precision required to fit and control its individual pieces 159 161.
• He later uses an explosive spear and directs its fragments against Eligor’s allies and retainers 229.

Archery and Weapon Adaptation

Morax learns to adapt his weapons to an opponent rather than depend exclusively on his spear 198.

• Uses bows at range, blades or spears at closer distances, and daggers or unarmed combat against fast close-range fighters 198.
• Fires arrows carrying concealed secondary force capable of penetrating defenses 196.
• Splits a giant arrow into more than a hundred projectiles, then conceals a faster, highly penetrating arrow within the volley 229.
• Personally teaches spearmanship to the Thousand Rock Corps 239.

Planet Befall

An exceptionally powerful Geo technique developed by Xiu Yuan and gradually learned by Morax 164 204 214.

• Uses it against the Demon Gods released from Guyun Stone Forest 293.
• Annihilates two surviving Demon Gods near Jueyun Karst with his final strike 300.
• Limit: Repeated use consumes substantial divine power; two strikes after aiding Inazuma leave him significantly depleted 293.

Divine Crafting and Support

Morax can imbue creations and other beings with his distinctive divine power 181 239 288.

• Mora: Only his divine power produces genuine Mora; currency made by other Geo-wielding gods is identifiable as counterfeit 181.
• Military equipment: Creates divine-power-infused Dryad Armor and Rock Spears for the Thousand Rock Corps 239.
• Support: Temporarily restores Azhdaha’s reason by supplying divine power, but cannot stop the force consuming him 288.

Combat Feats

Government and Leadership

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Rock Spears and longbow — Regular combat weapons; the spear is his stated favorite for its reach and balance of offense and defense 151 196 239.
• Golden mask / Aspect of the Immovable Profound Stone — Given by Xiu Yuan before Morax adopts it for every battle, concealing the gentleness enemies might exploit 207 208.
• Gnosis — Missing after Xiu Yuan restores the world in the first finale; Xiu Yuan later goes to Snezhnaya to retrieve Morax’s Gnosis in the second finale 301 334.
• Storage Space — Holds the box purchased with Guizhong that triggers the return of his erased memories; the box disappears after the restoration 300 301.

Relationships

• Xiu Yuan — Elder brother by contract, mentor, fellow founder of Liyue, and Morax’s greatest source of reassurance. He reshapes Morax’s fighting style and understanding of humanity; Morax’s two recorded contract violations both involve him 154 155 186 252 265.
• Guizhong — Ally, friend, and eventual wife. Her affection grows from observing his strength and hidden gentleness; their marriage follows worldwide travels together 219 224 285.
• Marchosius — Trusted Demon God companion associated with the Guili Plains. Welcomes Morax with a meal; his death alongside Guizhong helps drive Morax’s search for Xiu Yuan 219 265 273.
• Azhdaha — Close friend, defender of Liyue, and challenging sparring partner. Morax later supplies him with divine power and seals him when corruption makes him dangerous 212 214 228 288.
• The Adepti — Military allies and followers entrusted with Liyue’s defense. They help administer the nation and select the first Liyue Qixing 195 228 265 284.
• Ganyu — Ally who supports battles and administration. She assists Morax and the Yakshas with extensive family records, then volunteers as the Qixing’s secretary 214 249 284.
• The Five Yakshas — Trusted subordinates whose reliability, strength, and concern for Liyue earn Morax’s praise. In the ninth life, Xiu Yuan brings them into Liyue’s service 248 249 251.
• Xiao / Golden Roc — In the fourth-life account, Morax frees and renames him, receiving his thousand-year pledge to protect Liyue 37.
• Barbatos and the other Archons — Initially fellow territorial rulers and later close comrades. Morax invites all six to his wedding feast and consults them during the Ley Line crisis 265 285 288.

Notable Quotes

“Yes. I want to protect this land, this village, and these people.” 179

“But that’s all right. At least they’ll live out the rest of their lives in safety. As long as I’m alive, they’ll never have to live in fear again.” 180

“This is the one thing I must get to the bottom of, even if it means breaking the contract.” 265

Trivia

• Morax initially says he does not drink tea, but enjoys the mild tea Xiu Yuan offers him; Guizhong later describes him as fond of tea, flowers, birds, and collecting art 214 301.
• He declines an extravagant public wedding celebration, preferring a private feast on Mt. Tianheng 285.
• The ninth-life villagers give him the title Rex Lapis before his formal selection for The Seven, although his introductory passage associates the honorific with later Archonhood 151 180 188 277.
• Mt. Tianheng’s creation differs between the historical account and the altered ninth life: the former credits Morax, while the latter explicitly credits Xiu Yuan 152 179 300.