Recaps

After being separated from Morax, Xiu Yuan settled in Qingce Village, where he learned the karmic debt had deliberately eased its assault to make him use the mask. A chipped teacup stirred his fading memories, and as the Archon War neared its end, he suddenly remembered the truth of his Ninth Lifetime.

• Morax watched helplessly as Xiu Yuan disappeared, leaving the others in Liyue without knowing where he had gone.
• In Qingce Village, Xiu Yuan heard the karmic debt explain that it was slowly eroding his mind to force him to use the mask and strengthen it through the backlash.
• Xiu Yuan decided to avoid using the mask and settled into a quiet life in Qingce Village, where the karmic debt's invasion eased.
• When Xiu Yuan dropped and chipped his teacup, the damage awakened memories of his past reincarnations and renewed his resolve to go back.
• Xiu Yuan checked the passing years, realized the Archon War was almost over, and suddenly remembered everything about his Ninth Lifetime.

Xiu Yuan struggled to choose between risking the mask’s power to protect Guizhong and Marchosius or waiting safely for the Archon War to end so he could return. The chapter left him overwhelmed and silent, with his hair turned white.

• Xiu Yuan debated using the mask’s power, fearing its karmic backlash could make him lose control.
• Xiu Yuan considered whether dying would complete or fail his mission to participate in the Archon War, and concluded he likely had to survive until the war ended.
• Xiu Yuan worried that Guizhong and Marchosius would face judgment after the war, while Guizhong’s death could cause Morax severe erosion.
• Xiu Yuan weighed his longing to return and marry Shenhe against the danger to his friends and the grief Morax would suffer.
• Xiu Yuan’s hair turned white, and he sat silently, staring blankly.

Xiu Yuan used the Evil Spirit's power to break open the Underworld around Qingce Village, transforming the region into a lifeless realm filled with wandering souls. He realized he had succeeded in opening its gates, leaving him surrounded by souls who seemed to recognize him as their king.

• Xiu Yuan chose to risk everything and activated his mask to draw on the Evil Spirit's power.
• Xiu Yuan gathered the evil power into a black sphere and hurled it into the void.
• Cracks spread through the void and shattered it, turning the landscape around Qingce Village into a barren realm beneath an eerie green sky.
• Xiu Yuan sensed countless souls gathering around him and realized they were willing to submit to him.
• Xiu Yuan understood that his power had opened the Underworld in the place of extreme yin.

Xiu Yuan killed Marchosius and Guizhong in Liyue, then slew the Great Serpent and armored invaders on Watatsumi Island before searching for Havria’s soul. As he searched the dead for souls to reincarnate, the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, Ruler of Death, appeared before him.

• Xiu Yuan appeared in the Guili Plains and killed Marchosius in front of the humans he had been preparing dinner for.
• Guizhong confronted Xiu Yuan, sensed she had met him before, and he killed her as well.
• Xiu Yuan crossed into Inazuma and killed the Great Serpent and the armored humans on Watatsumi Island while sparing ordinary people.
• Xiu Yuan returned to Qingce Village and searched among the dead for Havria’s soul so he could reincarnate her and the others as humans.
• The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, Ruler of Death, appeared behind Xiu Yuan as he searched.

Xiu Yuan fought the Ruler of Death above the sealed section of the Underworld while battling the karmic debt overwhelming his mind. He wounded her with his Abyss-infused blade, but she unleashed a blast and hurled deadly crimson spheres at him.

• The Ruler of Death sealed the torn-open section of the Underworld, trapping the souls inside as karmic debt drove Xiu Yuan toward attacking her.
• Xiu Yuan unleashed his evil spirit power and struck the Ruler of Death, who barely blocked the blow with a shield.
• Xiu Yuan and the Ruler of Death clashed at high speed, and he cut her arm and sent evil spirit power and the Abyss corroding her body.
• The Ruler of Death erupted with dark purple energy, stopping Xiu Yuan's charge and throwing two deep crimson spheres at him.
• Xiu Yuan narrowly dodged the spheres, one of which rapidly rotted a piece of dried wood into dust.

Xiu Yuan fought the Ruler of Death, then confronted the other rulers and the Heavenly Principles, accusing them of engineering the Demon God war to secure control of Teyvat. After summoning five Torch Dragons and five Planet Befall meteors, he removed his mask and asked the Heavenly Principles whether the little bird still sang in hell.

• Xiu Yuan exploited the Ruler of Death's Abyssal corruption to wound her, but an immense force blasted him into a crater.
• The Rulers of Life, Death, Time, and Space appeared alongside the Heavenly Principles.
• Xiu Yuan summoned five Planet Befall meteors and five Torch Dragons as he prepared to fight the rulers.
• Xiu Yuan accused the Heavenly Principles of creating the Demon God war to select powerful servants, eliminate other Demon Gods, and prevent rival forces from taking Teyvat.
• Xiu Yuan removed his mask, revealing his restored face, and softly asked the Heavenly Principles, “Does the little bird still sing in hell?”

Xiu Yuan unleashed five enormous, dragon-breath-infused Planet Befall meteors against the Heavenly Principles and the four rulers, believing his final gamble had failed when they survived. He revealed a delayed second explosion timed for when they lowered their defenses, then detonated the meteors and challenged the Heavenly Principles to die with him.

• Xiu Yuan sent five colossal Planet Befall meteors crashing down, each wreathed in Torch Dragon breath.
• The Ruler of Space and the Ruler of Death strengthened the barriers while the Heavenly Principles, Time, and Life shielded themselves from the attack.
• The meteors shattered the innermost barrier but left the women unharmed, and they dismissed Xiu Yuan's attack as insufficient.
• Golden light began shining from chains on the meteors, and the Heavenly Principles realized Xiu Yuan had waited for their Protective Barrier to fall before triggering a second explosion.
• Xiu Yuan mocked the frightened Heavenly Principles, clenched his hand, and detonated all five meteors.

After the five largest Planet Befall meteors devastated the battlefield, Xiu Yuan faced the wounded Heavenly Principles and revealed that he knew why the Archon War had been started. He named himself the Lord of the Underworld and prepared to fight her after answering her question about how he learned the truth.

• The five largest Planet Befall meteors shattered the second and third Barriers, but a new golden Barrier contained the explosion and left countless souls drifting outside the physical world.
• Xiu Yuan teased the wounded Heavenly Principles, who sensed that he had changed and asked who he was.
• The Heavenly Principles wondered how Xiu Yuan knew that she and humanity came from beyond the world and understood the reasons behind the Archon War.
• Xiu Yuan named himself the Lord of the Underworld and offered the Heavenly Principles one question before challenging her strength.
• The Heavenly Principles asked Xiu Yuan how he had learned all of this.

The Lord of the Underworld revealed that the karmic debts had manipulated Xiu Yuan for centuries to create a chance to kill the Heavenly Principles. After absorbing the Underworld’s souls, he destroyed her and was left feeling empty.

• The Lord of the Underworld told the Heavenly Principles that Xiu Yuan had long suspected her identity and that his account of the Archon War had been speculation.
• The Lord of the Underworld explained that the karmic debts had spent eight lifetimes trying to break Xiu Yuan and had manipulated him in the ninth to keep the Heavenly Principles unaware of him.
• The Lord of the Underworld gathered the Underworld’s souls to fuel their revenge, while Guizhong and Marchosius received physical bodies and the Great Serpent chose to join him.
• The Lord of the Underworld absorbed the Great Serpent and the other souls, then vanished before the Heavenly Principles could attack.
• The Lord of the Underworld touched the Heavenly Principles’ face and dissolved her into particles, then gazed at the sky and wondered whether revenge felt empty.

Bosacius heard repeated claims that Guizhong and Marchosius had been killed, but he and the other Adepti dismissed them as rumors. Curious despite their disbelief, Bosacius and Cloud Retainer headed to the Guili Plains to check on them.

• A Thousand Rock Corps member reported that a man claimed Guizhong and Marchosius had been killed, and Bosacius ordered him locked up.
• A second man pleaded with Bosacius to save Guizhong and Marchosius, saying he had found them covered in blood with wounds in their bodies.
• Bosacius questioned the man, but concluded he could not help and allowed the Thousand Rock Corps to take him away.
• Bosacius told the Adepti and Yakshas about the two men, and they scoffed at the claims because none had sensed an invasion.
• Cloud Retainer decided to visit Guizhong, and Bosacius joined her so he could enjoy Marchosius's cooking.

Bosacius and Cloud Retainer found Guizhong and Marchosius dead in the Guili Plains, and their fury drew Morax to the scene. Morax discovered Guizhong’s body and collapsed into grief, guilt, and confusion over her death.

• Bosacius and Cloud Retainer rushed to the Guili Plains after sensing something was wrong.
• Bosacius and Cloud Retainer found Guizhong and Marchosius dead, their chests pierced.
• Their rage spread across the region, prompting Morax and the Adepti and Yakshas to head for the Guili Plains.
• Morax arrived and saw Guizhong and Marchosius lying dead beside Bosacius and Cloud Retainer.
• Morax touched Guizhong’s cheek, remembered their time together, and sank into overwhelming grief.

Morax and the Adepti discovered that Guizhong and Marchosius had died on the Guili Plains, and an eyewitness described a black-coated killer wearing a strange mask. Morax rejected the suggestion that Brother Xiu Yuan was responsible, then broke down beside Guizhong as rain fell over the plains.

• Morax arrived with the Adepti and Yakshas, found Guizhong and Marchosius dead, and demanded to know who had killed them.
• A frightened eyewitness said the killer wore a black coat and strange mask and had pierced Marchosius with a hand.
• Morax recognized the description as pointing to Brother Xiu Yuan, seized the witness, and accused him of lying and trying to drive a wedge between them.
• The Adepti and Yakshas pulled Morax away, and he collapsed beside Guizhong, weeping as Bosacius mourned Marchosius.
• Rain fell over the Guili Plains and washed the blood from a Glaze Lily, revealing its original radiance.

After Guizhong and Marchosius were killed, Morax broke his contract and set out to find Xiu Yuan for an explanation. He questioned Barbatos in Mondstadt, then sensed Azhdaha's aura as he reached the third great nation.

• Morax built stone houses for Guizhong and Marchosius and told the others he would find Xiu Yuan.
• Morax ordered the Adepti and Yakshas to remain in Liyue with Azhdaha, then broke his contract and flew away.
• Morax entered Mondstadt and asked Barbatos whether he had seen someone wearing a black coat and a mask.
• Barbatos said he had not seen that person, and Morax left after asking about Barbatos and his nation.
• Morax considered Mondstadt a suitable land for Xiu Yuan to seize, but continued searching for him.
• Morax sensed Azhdaha's aura after reaching the third great nation.

Morax reunited with Guizhong and learned that she and Marchosius had been killed by a masked figure he suspected was Xiu Yuan. Guizhong and Marchosius had returned as ordinary humans without divine power, leaving the Adepti and Yakshas stunned.

• Morax rushed back to Liyue and found Guizhong and Marchosius alive with the Adepti and Yakshas.
• Morax embraced Guizhong and wept with relief before asking what had happened.
• Guizhong said a strange figure in a fully smiling black mask had killed her and Marchosius, and Morax recognized the description as Xiu Yuan’s mask.
• The Adepti and Yakshas recalled that Xiu Yuan’s mask had changed to a full smile before he disappeared.
• Guizhong called the masked figure a good man and revealed that she and Marchosius had returned without divine power, as ordinary humans.

Guizhong and the others learned that Xiu Yuan, Morax’s elder brother and Liyue’s second god, had killed and revived Guizhong and Marchosius to protect them from the reckoning after the Archon War. Morax searched Qingce Village for Xiu Yuan but found no trace of him.

• Guizhong reasoned that the masked man had revived her and Marchosius as mortals so they could survive the Archon War’s aftermath.
• Morax revealed that the man was Xiu Yuan, the Dark Night King, Liyue’s second god, and his elder brother.
• Morax told Guizhong that Xiu Yuan had stopped a flood that threatened Liyue and the Guili Plains, and Cloud Retainer confirmed that Xiu Yuan had taught her Mechanism Arts.
• Guizhong recalled waking near Qingce Village after her death, and Morax rushed there to look for Xiu Yuan.
• Morax searched Qingce Village but found nothing unusual and returned empty-handed.

Xiu Yuan woke in Celestia and learned that the Karmic Debt had killed Heavenly Principles, taken her authority, and saved him from the revenge he feared. The Lord of the Underworld left Xiu Yuan as Teyvat’s new supreme ruler, though Xiu Yuan struggled to believe what had happened.

• Xiu Yuan woke in Celestia and mistook the Lord of the Underworld, who looked like him, for a threat.
• The Lord of the Underworld restored Xiu Yuan’s memories of the Karmic Debt’s long plan and its role in the events of his ninth lifetime.
• Xiu Yuan realized the Karmic Debt had helped him grow stronger and had restrained its revenge even when Heavenly Principles was within reach.
• The Lord of the Underworld confirmed that it had killed Heavenly Principles, taken over Xiu Yuan’s body, and claimed her authority.
• The Lord of the Underworld told Xiu Yuan that he was now Teyvat’s supreme ruler while it governed the Underworld.

After becoming the Heavenly Principles, Xiu Yuan used his new powers to destroy Khaenri'ah and prevent future calamities. Before ending his ninth lifetime, he erased himself from everyone’s memories so Morax would not suffer erosion when he left.

• Xiu Yuan explored his new powers and realized he could observe all of Teyvat and control life, death, space, time, and Celestia.
• Xiu Yuan discussed the remaining issues with the Lord of the Underworld and decided Khaenri'ah had to be destroyed before it could threaten the world.
• Xiu Yuan teleported to Khaenri'ah and destroyed it, preventing its people from being corrupted by the Abyss.
• Xiu Yuan told Morax that this was his final condition and used his authority to erase himself from the memories of everyone who knew him.

Morax remained troubled by Xiu Yuan’s disappearance, but Guizhong encouraged him to celebrate Liyue’s Lantern Rite. They joined the festival in disguise, and the chapter ended with Morax and Guizhong looking over the peaceful, bustling city.

• Guizhong reminded Morax that it was the Lantern Rite and reassured him that Xiu Yuan would return.
• Morax remembered that Xiu Yuan had inspired the festival, then prepared tea and decided to celebrate with the others.
• Morax and the Adepti took mortal forms and entered Liyue to enjoy the festivities.
• Bosacius challenged Golden Roc to a fish-catching contest, lost, and demanded another round.
• Morax and Guizhong strolled through the decorated streets, taking in the happy crowds and Liyue’s prosperity.

Guizhong and Morax visited a craftsman's shop, where Guizhong admired a carved wooden box that reminded Morax of something familiar. After Guizhong persuaded Morax not to buy everything, they asked the owner about the box's value, and Morax proposed a price.

• Guizhong stopped outside a quiet shop filled with handcrafted toys, and Morax took her inside.
• Morax picked up a cherry blossom-carved wooden box, and Guizhong admired it.
• Morax offered to buy everything, but Guizhong persuaded him to purchase only the box so other shopkeepers would not be harmed.
• The owner said he had made the box over three or four months and had no set prices for his work.
• Morax suggested paying a thousand Mora for the box.

Morax bought Guizhong a beautiful wooden box, and the two spent Lantern Rite sampling Liyue’s food with the Yakshas and Adepti. The gathering ended with everyone celebrating together at Wangshu Inn.

• Morax paid the shopkeeper one thousand Mora for the wooden box, delighting Guizhong.
• Morax and Guizhong headed to the food street and joined the Yakshas, who recommended Almond Tofu.
• Guizhong called over Cloud Retainer, Ganyu, and the other Adepti, while Skybracer explained that Marchosius was sampling every dish to recreate it.
• The group moved to a private room at Wangshu Inn, ordered dozens of dishes, and toasted to a happy Lantern Rite.

Morax discovered that a name had vanished from his written wish and realized he could no longer remember an important person he hoped would return and join The Seven. As others recalled meeting him, their accounts seemed to restore Morax’s hazy memories, though Xiu Yuan had disappeared from everyone’s recollections.

• Morax wrote a wish for Liyue’s peace and prosperity and for Brother Xiu Yuan to return, conquer Mondstadt with him, and join The Seven.
• Morax found that the name in his wish had gone blank and could not remember who he meant, even when Guizhong and the others asked about the missing person.
• Guizhong suggested Morax should remember the person’s appearance and deeds, but Morax said he had forgotten everything about him.
• Morax asked Ganyu and Cloud Retainer how they had first met him, and their familiar accounts made his hazy memories seem clearer.
• The narration explained that Xiu Yuan had vanished from everyone’s memories, causing those who shared experiences with him to accept Morax as the one who had brought them to Liyue.

Morax struggled to remember the person whose name had been erased from his Sea Lantern wish, but Guizhong and the others convinced him the blank honored fallen friends. As Liyue celebrated Lantern Rite, Xiu Yuan watched with the Lord of the Underworld and chose to remain forgotten rather than return and cause Morax grief.

• Morax searched his memories for the person named in his wish, but Guizhong and the others reassured him that the blank space commemorated friends lost in the Archon War.
• Guizhong invited everyone to begin Lantern Rite, and Morax released the Sea Lantern bearing his wish for Liyue's prosperity and the unnamed person's return.
• The Adepti and Yakshas released their lanterns as Liyue's people watched the sky together.
• At Celestia, the Lord of the Underworld challenged Xiu Yuan's choice to leave without saying goodbye, while Xiu Yuan said returning would bring Morax grief and worsen his Erosion.
• The Lord of the Underworld left in frustration, and Xiu Yuan stayed to watch the final Lantern Rite of his Ninth Lifetime.

Xiu Yuan learned that the Lord of the Underworld had given Guizhong the power to guide departed souls to Wuwang Hill, with orders not to guide those stubbornly attached to the living world. Xiu Yuan then shared the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s funeral customs, which the Lord of the Underworld enthusiastically agreed to adopt.

• Xiu Yuan returned to Celestia and learned that the Lord of the Underworld had sent Guizhong a dream, giving her the power to guide departed souls to Wuwang Hill.
• The Lord of the Underworld revealed that Guizhong was forbidden to guide the stubborn, including Xiu Yuan if he died and refused to let go of the living world.
• Xiu Yuan admitted he did not know why he felt so protective of Guizhong, then recalled the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s rules and customs.
• Xiu Yuan explained the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s funeral rites to the Lord of the Underworld, who praised the ideas and agreed to adopt them.

Xiu Yuan split off a shadow to protect Teyvat after he completed his mission and asked the Lord of the Underworld to become the next Heavenly Principles if the shadow disappeared. The Lord of the Underworld agreed to hold the title, while Xiu Yuan planned to warn The Seven against technological development and contact with the abyss.

• Xiu Yuan created a shadow carrying his powers except the Heavenly Principles and said he wanted it to remain in Teyvat after he ended his nine reincarnations.
• Xiu Yuan asked the Lord of the Underworld to inherit the Heavenly Principles if the system took the shadow away.
• The Lord of the Underworld refused at first, saying he wanted to remain the god of the underworld and enjoy a peaceful life.
• Xiu Yuan persuaded the Lord of the Underworld that he only needed to hold the title and protect Teyvat through his presence, and the Lord agreed.
• Xiu Yuan planned to tell The Seven about specific taboos and use the threat of calamity to make them abandon technological development.

After the Archon War, Xiu Yuan summoned the seven victorious Demon Gods to Celestia and offered them a chance to challenge him without consequences. They agreed, waited for Baal to bring her combat-focused younger sister Zebu, and prepared to fight as Xiu Yuan invited them to attack.

• The seven Demon Gods arrived at Celestia, where Morax briefly found Xiu Yuan familiar before dismissing the feeling.
• Xiu Yuan sealed Celestia and offered the Demon Gods a chance to challenge him, promising no punishment and healing for any injuries.
• Barbatos asked Morax whether they should accept, and the seven Demon Gods discussed the offer before unanimously agreeing to challenge Xiu Yuan.
• Baal asked to have her younger sister take her place, and Xiu Yuan agreed; Baal then left to fetch her.
• Baal returned with Zebu, and the Demon Gods declared themselves ready before Xiu Yuan told them to attack.