Recaps

Xiu Yuan convinced Morax that the hostile humans below posed a danger to Liyue, despite Morax's reluctance to kill them. Morax crushed them all, weeping as he did so.

• Xiu Yuan urged Morax to kill the humans, warning that their anger and knowledge of his name could endanger Liyue.
• Xiu Yuan explained that humans could use information and rumors to create hidden threats, and reminded Morax that Liyue's people might admit vulnerable refugees.
• Morax struggled to accept that the humans had to die, since they were not his enemies in the same way as rival Demon Gods.
• Xiu Yuan insisted that Morax had to eliminate threats to protect Liyue's people.
• Morax raised masses of stone and crushed the humans, shedding a tear.

After Morax was forced to slaughter innocent people, he confessed to Xiu Yuan that he could no longer bear the war and proposed attacking Celestia. Xiu Yuan explained why that plan could not work and left Morax with the grim duty of protecting Liyue above all else.

• Morax agonized over massacring innocent humans and told Xiu Yuan he did not want to keep doing it.
• Morax suggested that the Demon Gods unite to attack Celestia and end the war.
• Xiu Yuan said he could fight only two of Celestia's opponents alone and that rallying enough Demon Gods was too dangerous and unlikely.
• Xiu Yuan told Morax that war left them no mercy to spare and that protecting their own people was all they could do.
• Xiu Yuan invited Morax to return, and Morax quietly agreed.

Morax returned to Mt. Tianheng and learned that Ganyu had accidentally choked a Demon God to death, then found her exercising in embarrassment. After inspecting the battlefield, he returned to discover that Xiu Yuan had left for a while.

• The Adepti told Morax that they had defeated the invading Demon God, and Cloud Retainer explained that it had choked to death on Ganyu.
• Morax went behind Mt. Tianheng and found Ganyu exercising, unwilling to return after the embarrassing incident.
• Mountain Shaper directed Morax to the battlefield, where he found the dead Six-Armed Ape and saw the wound Ganyu had emerged through.
• Morax returned to Mt. Tianheng and learned that Xiu Yuan had gone out and would not return for some time.

Xiu Yuan discovered that the karmic debt had forced the Abyss inside him into hiding, leaving him in a precarious balance and able to hear the debt’s thoughts when he removed his mask. He suspected his strength as a Demon God would make the ninth life’s lone calamity especially severe, and the chapter ended with an author’s note asking readers to support the novel and not stockpile chapters.

• Xiu Yuan removed his mask and found that the Abyss had stopped eroding his face and body.
• Xiu Yuan overheard the karmic debt discussing how it planned to devour the hidden Abyss and eventually take over his body.
• Xiu Yuan realized the mask suppressed the karmic debt’s voices and concluded that the Abyss was hiding from it, creating a balance that favored him.
• Xiu Yuan connected the increasingly severe disasters in his earlier lives to his starting strength and feared what the lone calamity would bring in his ninth life as a powerful Demon God.
• The author asked readers for gifts and regular readership, warning that prolonged chapter stockpiling could threaten the novel’s continuation.

Xiu Yuan continued mentoring Morax and the Adepti while planning to improve Liyue and make sure Ganyu would not have to bear its burdens alone. He called Morax over and conjured a beautiful mask, leaving its purpose unrevealed.

• Xiu Yuan decided to observe the karmic-debt manifestations more closely in the future, but kept his focus on steadying Morax and improving Liyue.
• Xiu Yuan returned to Mt. Tianheng and continued teaching the Adepti and Morax while Ganyu struggled to lose weight amid the abundant food around her.
• Xiu Yuan reflected on Ganyu's loneliness and unrecognized labor, and resolved that her efforts would not go unrewarded in this life.
• Xiu Yuan considered how his guidance had spared Morax from painful mistakes and called him over to receive something.
• Xiu Yuan produced an exquisite mask in a burst of golden light.

Xiu Yuan gave Morax a mask that calmed his grief and concealed his emotions, and Morax went on to subdue many Demon Gods during the Archon War. While Xiu Yuan strengthened the seal trapping Osial and guarded Liyue’s miners at The Chasm, he heard a strange sound from within it.

• Xiu Yuan gave Morax the Aspect of the Immovable Profound Stone and warned him not to show weakness in battle.
• Morax wore the mask in battle and subdued the Fire Fox Demon God and many former acquaintances, while Orobashi fled Liyue.
• Morax sealed Osial and nearby Demon Gods beneath Guyun Stone Forest, and Xiu Yuan reinforced the seabed with most of his divine power.
• Xiu Yuan watched over Liyue’s miners at The Chasm while Morax protected Liyue from Demon Gods.
• Xiu Yuan heard a strange sound coming from within The Chasm.

Xiu Yuan reached Azhdaha deep beneath the Chasm and gave the ancient dragon king eyes so he could see the world for the first time. Azhdaha remained stunned by the sight as Xiu Yuan asked whether the world was beautiful.

• The Chasm shook as Xiu Yuan sent a message through the rock, but the miners calmed one another by trusting that Rex Lapis would protect them.
• Xiu Yuan met Azhdaha, who explained that he had lived underground since ancient times and had no need for eyes because he navigated by hearing.
• Xiu Yuan painted an eye on Azhdaha, and the dragon king froze as he saw the world for the first time in thousands of years.
• Xiu Yuan painted Azhdaha a second eye and told him that the world was beautiful.

Xiu Yuan freed Azhdaha from the darkness underground, and Azhdaha pledged to protect Liyue alongside him. Xiu Yuan explained how he had restricted mining in the Chasm to prevent the Erosion that once drove Azhdaha to attack Liyue.

• Azhdaha saw the world for the first time and thanked Xiu Yuan for giving him a second life.
• Azhdaha learned that Xiu Yuan was known as the Dark Night King and vowed to protect Liyue with him.
• Xiu Yuan asked Azhdaha about mining in the Chasm, and Azhdaha welcomed the people of Liyue to mine there.
• Xiu Yuan recalled that Erosion had erased Azhdaha's memories of his contract with Morax and caused his past attack on Liyue.
• Xiu Yuan explained that he had reduced Chasm mining to once a month, slowing it enough to prevent Azhdaha's Erosion from recurring.

Xiu Yuan returned to Mt. Tianheng with Azhdaha, and Ganyu mistook the approaching stone dragon for a Demon God attacking Liyue. After the group revealed they had staged the encounter to test her resolve, Xiu Yuan arranged for Azhdaha to keep her company and suggested that Azhdaha and Morax spar.

• Xiu Yuan escorted everyone back to Liyue, then returned to Mt. Tianheng with Azhdaha, who marveled at the world during their week-long journey.
• Ganyu saw Azhdaha approaching and, despite her terror, stood her ground and claimed she had killed a Demon God before.
• Xiu Yuan, Morax, Cloud Retainer, and the others revealed that they had staged the encounter to see how Ganyu would react to a Demon God attacking Liyue.
• Ganyu realized she had been tricked, burst into tears, and ran to the foot of Mt. Tianheng to sulk.
• Azhdaha offered to stay with Ganyu, and Xiu Yuan corrected him about her name before suggesting that Morax spar with Azhdaha.
• Azhdaha agreed to spar with Morax after explaining that he was not the meteorite Morax had mistaken him for.

Morax was crushed in a fight with Azhdaha, who used five elements and the battlefield to overcome him. After Morax challenged Azhdaha to face Xiu Yuan, Xiu Yuan appeared and summoned a massive rock cube from the sky to begin their fight.

• Azhdaha used water, lightning, rock, and fire to defeat Morax and leave him battered.
• Azhdaha explained that Xiu Yuan had given him eyes that let him unleash his full strength.
• Morax congratulated Azhdaha but vowed to win next time, then told him that Xiu Yuan was stronger and might defeat him in one move.
• Azhdaha insisted on sparring with Xiu Yuan, who appeared and asked whether he was sure.
• Xiu Yuan pointed to the sky, where an enormous cube of rock broke through the clouds toward Azhdaha.

Xiu Yuan defeated Azhdaha with a medium-sized Planet Befall, leaving Azhdaha submissive and Morax stunned by the attack's power. After Xiu Yuan warned that a large Planet Befall could destroy the area, he vanished, while Morax abandoned any hope of matching him.

• Azhdaha tried to stop the falling Planet Befall with lightning-infused ice and earth spheres, then shielded himself with barriers of five elements.
• Planet Befall broke through Azhdaha's barriers and blasted him onto his side, but Xiu Yuan said he had controlled its force.
• Azhdaha got back up, accepted his defeat, and asked whether Xiu Yuan had held back.
• Xiu Yuan explained that the attack had been medium-sized and that a large Planet Befall could create another Chasm.
• Morax realized he lacked the divine power to use Planet Befall at that scale, and Xiu Yuan vanished.

After half a year of training, Ganyu had slimmed down and Morax had grown stronger by sparring with Azhdaha. Xiu Yuan told Morax it was time to expand Liyue, then pointed him north toward a grassland of Glaze Lilies, leaving Morax to consider how they could claim territory without slaughter.

• Xiu Yuan planned to leave Azhdaha guarding their home once Ganyu was ready, so the others could expand Liyue.
• After six months, Ganyu had lost weight, taken human form, and joined battles against Demon Gods with a bow Xiu Yuan made for her.
• Morax made steady progress sparring with Azhdaha, while grasping a tenth of Planet Befall.
• Xiu Yuan served Morax tea and said Liyue needed to expand to qualify for a place among the Seven.
• Morax reluctantly agreed to expand Liyue, and Xiu Yuan directed him north to a Glaze Lily grassland without explaining further.

Morax found Guizhong, the Demon God of Dust, in a peaceful meadow northeast of Mt. Tianheng. After she teased him for being wary despite her lack of hostility, she introduced herself and welcomed him.

• Morax followed Xiu Yuan's directions to a meadow filled with glaze lilies and discovered houses nearby.
• Guizhong approached Morax, and he drew his Long Spear when he sensed her Demon God aura.
• Guizhong said she knew Morax would not attack her because she had watched him fight, and she explained that her power was faint and his shield was better for defense.
• Morax put away his spear and raised his golden shield before Guizhong introduced herself as the Demon God of Dust and welcomed him.

Morax learned that Guizhong shared the northern grassland with Marchosius and a powerful Demon God who protected it from the shadows, whom he realized was Xiu Yuan. Guizhong revealed that Xiu Yuan had said a trustworthy outside Demon God would be allowed to enter and take over protecting the land, and she believed Morax was that chosen Demon God.

• Morax asked Guizhong how she had kept her people safe in the peaceful grassland, and she told him that two other Demon Gods lived there.
• Guizhong identified one as Marchosius, a skilled cook, and described the unnamed second Demon God as a powerful protector who acted from the shadows.
• Morax connected Xiu Yuan’s advice about the Glaze Lily grassland to Guizhong’s account and concluded that Xiu Yuan had been protecting the region.
• Morax asked why he had entered without being challenged, and Guizhong explained that Xiu Yuan had promised to leave if a trustworthy Demon God arrived.
• Guizhong said Morax was the chosen Demon God and trusted him to protect the land, leaving him to ask why she trusted him.

Guizhong invited Morax to join her in building a nation that combined his strength with her mechanical knowledge, and Morax accepted. Guizhong gave him a glowing stone lock as the token of their pact, leaving their partnership newly formed.

• Guizhong told Morax she saw the sorrow behind his mask when he killed Demon Gods and their people.
• Guizhong explained that, though she was weak, she could develop mechanisms and believed wisdom and technology could help protect ordinary people.
• Guizhong proposed that she and Morax build a nation together, sharing the burden of protecting its people.
• Morax said he believed in Guizhong and accepted her proposal.
• Guizhong presented Morax with a glowing stone lock containing her wisdom as the token of their pact.

Xiu Yuan helped refugees settle on the Guili Plains and protected them until his karmic debt made intervention impossible. He arranged for Morax to meet Guizhong and stay to protect the region, but worried that the alliance they formed would attract enemies he could not fight.

• Morax examined the Memory of Dust Guizhong had made, then went with her to meet Marchosius and her people.
• For six months, Xiu Yuan repeatedly visited the empty meadow and waited for Guizhong to appear.
• Xiu Yuan protected refugees settling on the Guili Plains by restraining invading Demon Gods and throwing them into the sea.
• Guizhong arrived, gained the people’s trust, and settled on the plains with Marchosius.
• When protecting the region began triggering his karmic debt, Xiu Yuan guided Guizhong and Morax toward joining forces and left Morax to protect the plains.
• Xiu Yuan worried that Morax, Guizhong, Marchosius, and Azhdaha would draw the other Demon Gods’ attention, while he would be unable to intervene.

Xiu Yuan explained that Morax should expand Liyue by cooperating with Guizhong rather than conquering her territory. Morax agreed to negotiate a shared name for the plains and planned to move some people there from Liyue.

• Morax asked Xiu Yuan whether he had been protecting Guizhong’s territory and learned that the land had been prepared for Morax to take over.
• Xiu Yuan explained that cooperation could expand Morax’s territory without slaughter, since Guizhong and her people posed no threat if they remained allies.
• Morax worried that making the plains part of Liyue would violate his contract with Guizhong, but Xiu Yuan suggested they choose a separate name for the territory together.
• Morax understood that he could govern both Liyue and the plains, then hurried to discuss a name with Guizhong.
• Xiu Yuan stopped Morax and advised him to move some Liyue residents to the plains, and Morax agreed.

Xiu Yuan realized the Adepti’s battle near Tianqiu Valley could put Qiqi in danger, so he found her in a cave and healed her broken leg. He secretly followed her home, then left once she was safe.

• Xiu Yuan remembered Qiqi’s origin and rushed toward the battle near Tianqiu Valley.
• Xiu Yuan deflected an attack from a cave and found Qiqi hiding inside.
• Xiu Yuan healed Qiqi’s broken leg and introduced himself as Xiu Yuan.
• Qiqi offered Xiu Yuan violetgrass, bringing back memories of their past together.
• Xiu Yuan escorted Qiqi out of the cave, vanished from her sight, and secretly followed her home.

Xiu Yuan kept his distance from those he had once known, though he remained in the world to protect it and hoped to save Qiqi from becoming a zombie. As the Guili Plains settlement took shape, Guizhong, Cloud Retainer, and Morax discussed a weapon design and wondered about Xiu Yuan, while Guizhong encouraged Morax to show more emotion.

• Xiu Yuan secretly watched the Adepti and Ganyu defeat a Demon God, then returned to Mt. Tianheng and saw people setting out for the Guili Plains.
• Morax and Guizhong named the Glaze Lily grassland the Guili Plains by combining parts of Guizhong's and Zhongli's names.
• Cloud Retainer explained that Xiu Yuan had rejected Guizhong's mechanical design because it fired too slowly and was difficult to conceal.
• Morax told Guizhong that he had never seen Xiu Yuan's face because Xiu Yuan had always worn a mask.
• Marchosius brought bamboo shoot soup, and Guizhong told Morax that he should let more expression show on his face.

Morax learned from Cloud Retainer that Guizhong liked him and had been trying to cheer him up and help bear his burdens. Realizing he had hurt her, he set off after her.

• Guizhong and Cloud Retainer reminisced about Morax’s stern first impression while he reflected on how he had lost his happiness and emotional expression.
• Guizhong and Cloud Retainer posed together as the “Cloud Retainer-Guizhong Beast,” but Morax called their display silly, and Guizhong ran away in tears.
• Cloud Retainer told Morax that Guizhong liked him and explained how she worried about him and studied Mechanism Arts to help protect him.
• Morax realized his words had hurt Guizhong, put away the Aspect of the Immovable Profound Stone, and walked after her.

Guizhong vented her hurt over Morax calling her stupid while Cloud Retainer comforted her. Morax came to apologize, and Guizhong forgave him, leaving them on warmer terms.

• Guizhong threw stones into the river and told Cloud Retainer she was done trying to make Morax happy.
• Cloud Retainer comforted Guizhong and left the two of them alone when Morax arrived.
• Morax apologized for calling Guizhong stupid and for any other hurtful things he had said.
• Guizhong cried, accepted Morax's apology, and reassured him that she forgave him.
• Morax smiled with relief, and Guizhong froze at seeing him smile for the first time.

Morax asked Xiu Yuan for advice after Guizhong fled in embarrassment, but admitted he did not know whether he liked her. Xiu Yuan told him to give his heart time and observe people in love, leaving Morax to find his own answer.

• Guizhong blushed and hurried away, and Morax left after she was gone.
• Morax explained the encounter to Xiu Yuan and said he had always thought of Guizhong as an ally and friend.
• Xiu Yuan explained how Guizhong had grown fond of Morax by observing his strength, gentleness, and care for Liyue.
• Xiu Yuan told Morax that only his own heart could decide whether he liked Guizhong.
• Morax agreed to observe loving couples in Liyue to better understand his feelings.

Xiu Yuan responded to Liyue’s plea for help when hordes of tiny, slippery monsters invaded the city. He used electricity to flush them from their hiding places, then told the evacuated people they could return home.

• Morax observed Guizhong’s different sides and concluded that she was a strange person while he and the Adepti expanded their territory.
• When monsters invaded Liyue, Xiu Yuan heard the people’s cries for help and sent the Long Spear with instructions for them to evacuate to the southeastern beach.
• Xiu Yuan discovered that the monsters were weak, dark-blue creatures whose slime conducted electricity, and used shocks to kill them and expose those hiding in corners.
• After four hours, Xiu Yuan cleared the city and told the people on the beach they could return home.

While searching for Havria, Xiu Yuan found a ruined village near Stone Gate and felt its eerie presence drawing him in. He escaped before the presence and his karmic debt could assimilate him, leaving the source of the village’s ominous influence unknown.

• Xiu Yuan wandered north of the Guili Plains, reflecting on the flood he believed Chi had caused and the danger of confronting it.
• Xiu Yuan reached what he thought was Stone Gate and discovered a village filled with skeletons and rotting, mold-covered houses.
• Xiu Yuan heard the voices of his karmic debt despite wearing his mask and felt a strange desire to remain in the village.
• Xiu Yuan sensed a presence of ill omen, death, slaughter, and pestilence, then hurried away as the voices and sensations faded.

After six months of strange peace, Xiu Yuan and Liyue’s leaders sensed a vast alliance of Demon Gods and Demon God Retainers converging on Liyue. The chapter ended as the overwhelming force charged toward the city.

• Xiu Yuan fled the place whose powerful pull had nearly overcome him and returned empty-handed.
• Morax mastered Planet Befall and became strong enough to fight Azhdaha evenly.
• Guizhong invented the Guizhong Ballista, a weapon capable of killing ordinary Demon Gods, though it could not be mass-produced.
• Morax grew closer to Guizhong while Liyue and the Guili Plains enjoyed six months without Demon God attacks.
• Zhongli told Xiu Yuan that the absence of attacks was unnatural, and Xiu Yuan suspected their enemies were uniting against Liyue.
• Morax, the Adepti, Azhdaha, and the others sensed countless Demon Gods and tens of thousands of Demon God Retainers approaching Liyue.