Chapter Summaries

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.

Xiu Yuan’s shadow defeated the Seven Archons repeatedly, then gave them Gnoses and ordered them to forbid technological development. After the gods departed, Xiu Yuan received a choice between remaining in his ninth lifetime and beginning the tenth and final reincarnation.

• Xiu Yuan watched his shadow battle the Seven Archons while discussing how thoroughly they should be defeated with the Lord of the Underworld.
• The shadow fought the Seven Archons for eight days, repeatedly restoring them after defeat until they became terrified and refused to continue.
• The shadow gave each Archon a Gnosis, explained its role, and ordered them to rule the mortal world while forbidding technological development.
• The Seven Archons accepted the order and left Celestia, while Morax wondered why the shadow seemed familiar.
• Xiu Yuan received a system prompt asking him to remain in the ninth lifetime or return to system space and begin the final reincarnation.

Kazuha and Beidou shared wine aboard the ship, and Kazuha revealed that he wanted to use his deceased friend's empty Vision as the prize in the Southern Cross Martial Arts Tournament. He hoped someone without a Vision might awaken it and help him understand what Visions mean to the gods.

• Beidou brought Kazuha wine, and he drank exactly five cups from the teacup his old friend had given him before refusing more.
• Beidou learned that Kazuha cherished the teacup because it came from the friend whose empty Vision he carried.
• Kazuha asked Beidou to make the empty Vision the prize for the Southern Cross Martial Arts Tournament.
• Kazuha explained that his friend had died challenging the Raiden Shogun to save him, and that he wanted to learn whether the empty Vision could awaken again.
• Beidou agreed to make the tournament open only to people without Visions and accepted the empty Vision from Kazuha.

As the Resistance Army advanced on Narukami Island, Kazuha drew on memories of his deceased friend Xiu Yuan and blocked the Raiden Shogun’s strike. He picked up his fallen Vision as the Traveler was pulled into the Plane of Euthymia.

• After learning that Kujou Takayuki had concealed the Tenryou Commission’s collusion with the Fatui, Sangonomiya Kokomi prepared the Resistance Army to attack Tenshukaku.
• When Kujou Sara and the Traveler entered Tenshukaku to reveal the truth, Kokomi launched the Resistance Army’s assault on Narukami Island.
• Kokomi ordered Kazuha and Gorou to lead soldiers through the Shogunate blockade, and they fought their way toward Tenshukaku.
• Kazuha remembered Xiu Yuan and resolved not to flee again, awakening his Vision and blocking the Raiden Shogun’s strike before knocking her blade aside.
• After the Raiden Shogun sent Kazuha flying and his Vision went dark, Gorou led the Resistance Army forward while the Traveler challenged the Shogun and was pulled into the Plane of Euthymia.
• Kazuha picked up his fallen Vision and said he had felt Xiu Yuan’s strength in the strike that blocked the Musou no Hitotachi.

Inazuma’s annual Sakura Festival gathered people from across the islands to honor Sasayuri, whose statue stood in the cherry grove. Kitsune Saiguu, Zebu, Chiyo, Yae Miko, and Baal held their traditional picnic beneath the statue, where Xiu Yuan’s faint figure watched them play Karuta.

• People from Watatsumi Island and Yashiori Island arrived early on Narukami Island to claim spots in the cherry grove.
• The festival honored Sasayuri, and the crowd upheld unwritten rules against littering and disparaging him.
• Kitsune Saiguu, Zebu, Chiyo, Yae Miko, and Baal gathered beneath Sasayuri’s statue and set out food and tea for Xiu Yuan.
• Kitsune Saiguu arranged the Karuta cards, and Zebu insisted she would win after the others teased her about her past losses.
• Xiu Yuan’s faint figure appeared beside the group, sipped tea, and silently watched them begin the game.

After completing all nine lifetimes, Xiu Yuan faced the system’s final choice and decided to remain in the Ninth Lifetime. He left the Lord of the Underworld behind, still questioning what Xiu Yuan’s commitment to doing right truly meant.

• Xiu Yuan learned he had seven days to choose between staying in the Ninth Lifetime and beginning a tenth lifetime, or face erasure.
• After reasoning that the first option must serve a purpose, Xiu Yuan chose to remain in the Ninth Lifetime and confirmed his decision.
• The system announced its self-destruction and fell silent.
• Xiu Yuan told the Lord of the Underworld he would leave and let Ei take over, then explained that he helped others because he believed it was right.
• Xiu Yuan vanished, leaving the Lord of the Underworld to wonder whether doing what was right meant abandoning himself for others.