Chapter Summaries

Zhongli reminded Yucheng that Ningguang could be in danger if the Doctor attacked while he was away, and urged Yucheng to stay by her side. Yucheng persuaded Azhdaha to protect Ningguang by offering him exclusive meals in the Jade Chamber, then hinted that Azhdaha would need to change his appearance.

• Zhongli recounted how Guizhong died when four sea gods attacked the Guili Plains while Morax was away, and how the survivors later moved south to present-day Liyue Harbor.
• Zhongli warned Yucheng that he could not protect everyone in Liyue at every moment and advised him to remain with Ningguang.
• Yucheng offered Azhdaha luxurious meals in the Jade Chamber if he stayed there to protect Ningguang.
• Azhdaha accepted the arrangement on the condition that he receive whatever Ningguang ate, and Zhongli agreed to explain his absence to Hu Tao.
• Yucheng warned Azhdaha that he might need to change his appearance to avoid attracting attention in the Jade Chamber, and Azhdaha asked what appearance he meant.

Yucheng introduced Azhdaha, disguised as a tiny dog named Tuotuo, as Ningguang’s bodyguard while keeping his identity secret. He took the pregnant Ningguang out of the Jade Chamber for a stroll in Lisha Suburbs, leaving Azhdaha to head for the kitchen.

• Ningguang and Keqing mistook miniature Azhdaha for an ugly puppy, and Yucheng stopped him from revealing himself when he took offense.
• Yucheng told Ningguang that Tuotuo was a bodyguard he had enlisted to protect her from powerful threats.
• Ningguang guessed that Tuotuo might be Rex Lapis, while Yucheng kept the truth about his strength and friend secret.
• Ningguang asked Yucheng to take her somewhere outside the Jade Chamber, and they chose Lisha Suburbs to avoid crowds.
• Yucheng teleported himself and Ningguang away, while Azhdaha followed a scent toward the Jade Chamber’s kitchen.

Yucheng accompanied the pregnant Ningguang on an outing through Lisha Suburbs, where she tried to relax but soon began assessing the region’s development prospects. Their trip ended when Yucheng spotted a familiar purple figure on a nearby mountain peak.

• Ningguang told Yucheng that the countryside felt more relaxing than the Jade Chamber and explained that her former secretaries had moved on to higher positions.
• Yucheng and Ningguang toured the ruins of Qingxu Pool, Lingju Pass, and Dunyu Ruins while Ningguang considered developing Lisha Suburbs.
• Ningguang concluded that developing Lisha Suburbs would require enormous investment because of its terrain, limited farmland, and monsters.
• Yucheng urged Ningguang to stop thinking about work and took her toward a mountain near Luhua Pool.
• Yucheng spotted a familiar small purple figure on a nearby peak.

Yucheng reunited with Qiqi after more than seven years and discovered that her memory had faded so much she no longer recognized him. He reminded her of their friendship, and Qiqi began searching her notebook for his name.

• The chapter explained that Baizhu's Elixir of Immortality had let dying patients live as zombies temporarily, but many later chose to have Hu Tao send them on their way.
• Yucheng watched Qiqi gather Violetgrass from a cliff and teleported away after Ningguang stayed behind.
• When Qiqi reached for the Violetgrass, Yucheng took it and lifted her from the cliff, then used the incantation that ended her Edict.
• Qiqi asked who Yucheng was, and he felt hurt when he realized she had forgotten him despite their past friendship.
• Yucheng introduced himself as Qiqi's friend and told her to check her notebook, so Qiqi searched through its pages for his name.

Yucheng repaid Qiqi for saving his life by using the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to restore her to life. Qiqi regained her memories and emotions, while Yucheng collapsed from the effort but said he was all right.

• Qiqi found Yucheng's name in her notebook and asked him for Coconut Milk, so he left to buy her some and asked her to protect Ningguang.
• Qiqi questioned Ningguang's appearance, and Ningguang explained that she was Ningguang without her usual makeup.
• Yucheng returned with Coconut Milk and told Qiqi that she had saved his life when she carried him to Bubu Pharmacy years earlier.
• Yucheng used the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to restore Qiqi's heartbeat, circulation, warmth, and mental clarity.
• Qiqi regained her memories and began wailing, then caught Yucheng when he collapsed from the effort.

After Yucheng resurrected Qiqi, she rediscovered the sensations of being alive, while rumors about her transformation drew powerful people to Bubu Pharmacy seeking the secret to immortality. The resulting crowd blocked patients from care until Keqing intervened and cleared the entrance.

• Yucheng took Ningguang back to the Jade Chamber and left Qiqi to enjoy her new life, trusting her surviving adeptal energy and combat experience to keep her safe.
• Qiqi returned to Bubu Pharmacy smiling and greeted Gui, who panicked and told Baizhu that something unclean had happened to her.
• Hu Tao examined Qiqi and confirmed she was alive; Zhongli offered no explanation, only admiringly remarking, “How wonderful.”
• Rumors about Qiqi’s transformation spread through Liyue Harbor, and visitors pressured Baizhu for a possible immortality medicine while Qiqi kept her promise to Yucheng and stayed silent.
• The crowds outside Bubu Pharmacy obstructed patients, so Keqing confronted them and threatened to have the Millelith inspect their homes, making them disperse.

Keqing arranged for Baizhu and Qiqi to meet Ningguang publicly at the Jade Chamber, discouraging Liyue’s powerful figures from pursuing Qiqi’s supposed miracle. After examining Ningguang’s pregnancy, Baizhu explained that he sought immortality so he could end the painful contract passed down through the Mount Yaoguang lineage and become Changsheng’s final contract holder.

• Keqing told Baizhu that Ningguang had invited him and Qiqi to the Jade Chamber, and urged him to bring Qiqi openly.
• News of Ningguang’s invitation spread through Liyue Harbor, and the wealthy merchants and dignitaries abandoned their plans to challenge her.
• Baizhu and Qiqi traveled to the Jade Chamber amid a crowd of onlookers, where Baizhu discovered that Ningguang was heavily pregnant and Yucheng was with her.
• Baizhu examined Ningguang and found that she and her unborn son were in excellent health.
• Yucheng remarked on Baizhu’s declining health, and Baizhu explained that he sought immortality to end his lineage’s contract and become Changsheng’s final contract holder.

At the end of her journey, Lumine learned that Paimon was the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles and had originally intended to use her. After recalling their years together, Lumine agreed to hear Paimon’s account of Teyvat’s history before making her choice, and the story ended with the revelation that the Death Ruler had also recognized forbidden knowledge’s power.

• Aether asked Lumine to choose between joining the Abyss Order and stopping him alongside Paimon, whom he identified as the culprit behind their separation.
• Paimon regained her sacred appearance, admitted she had once wanted to use Lumine, and apologized for involving the travelers in Teyvat’s conflicts.
• Lumine recalled their journey together and agreed to give Paimon a chance to explain herself before she chose a side.
• Paimon explained that Phanes and the Four Shades defeated the Seven Sovereigns, then later fought Nibelung after he returned empowered by forbidden knowledge.
• After Heavenly Principles failed to eradicate forbidden knowledge, the Space Ruler sealed it at the edges of the shattered world, while Apep and the Death Ruler recognized its potential against Heavenly Principles.

The Death Ruler, empowered by Nibelung’s death, began plotting to use forbidden knowledge against Phanes while hiding his disobedience. He manipulated the Goddess of Flowers into helping King Deshret access forbidden knowledge, and the chapter ended as Khaenri’ah obtained it too.

• After Nibelung fell, the Death Ruler grew stronger and began considering how forbidden knowledge might help him challenge Phanes, but he waited for a chance to test it through someone else.
• Phanes punished humanity and the Seelie race, cursed the Seelies, and banished his wife Nab-Malikata after destroying Vindagnyr.
• Seeking revenge against Phanes, Nab-Malikata worked with the Death Ruler to use her life to open a passage to a shattered world, allowing King Deshret to obtain forbidden knowledge.
• King Deshret researched forbidden knowledge, causing Eleazar, Withering Zones, and madness to spread through Sumeru; Greater Lord Rukkhadevata suppressed the disaster while Deshret arranged for Apep to swallow him.
• As Sumeru’s crisis was contained, the ancient kingdom of Khaenri’ah beneath it also obtained forbidden knowledge.

The chapter explained that Khaenri'ah's forbidden biological experiments unleashed the Cataclysm, prompting the Heavenly Principles, their Shades, and the Archons to battle its monsters. After Khaenri'ah was destroyed and the survivors helped contain the disaster, an unexpected turn occurred as the Heavenly Principles sealed the source of Forbidden Knowledge.

• Khaenri'ah's scholars, including Rhinedottir, used Forbidden Knowledge to create living beings, and their experiments unleashed monsters across Teyvat five hundred years ago.
• The Heavenly Principles summoned six Archons and descended on Khaenri'ah with the Four Shades, while Greater Lord Rukkhadevata worked to protect Irminsul.
• The Heavenly Principles sent the Space Ruler to stop the blond siblings from fleeing Teyvat, beginning the events of Genshin Impact.
• Raiden Makoto died fighting the monsters, and the Time Ruler used her power to bring the Sacred Sakura to Inazuma.
• Egeria died in Vourukasha Oasis, and Simurgh and Zurvan helped the Pari use the Amrita Pool and Harvisptokhm to purify the defilement.
• The Heavenly Principles and their allies defeated the monsters and destroyed Khaenri'ah, but an unexpected turn came as they sealed the source of Forbidden Knowledge.

The Death Ruler ambushed and killed Phanes, then seized control as the new Heavenly Principles. He forced the Archons to submit and cursed Khaenri'ah, transforming its people and their descendants into monsters and giving rise to the Hilichurl race.

• The Death Ruler pierced Phanes's heart with forbidden knowledge and took control of his body.
• The Death Ruler killed the Time Ruler, while the Life Ruler submitted and the Space Ruler escaped after Aether was blasted onto Khaenri'ah's soil.
• The Death Ruler declared himself the Heavenly Principles and threatened the Archons into keeping Phanes's death secret.
• The new Heavenly Principles cursed Khaenri'ah and its descendants, turning many people into monsters and creating the Hilichurl race.

After the Cataclysm, Aether joined the Abyss Order while the Space Ruler escaped the Death Ruler and began seeking allies against him. Five hundred years later, she awakened Lumine and arranged for her to meet Paimon, setting her on a journey to find Aether.

• Aether awoke to Khaenri'ah's ruin, blamed the Archons, and traveled with Dainsleif before joining the Abyss Order and becoming its prince.
• The Space Ruler escaped the Death Ruler with the Time Ruler's authority, but her body regressed and her power nearly ran out.
• The Space Ruler sought allies against the usurper, while the Tsaritsa strengthened Snezhnaya and gathered Khaenri'ah's survivors and other outcasts.
• The Space Ruler decided to use Lumine, an outlander beyond Irminsul's records, to gather support in secret.
• Lumine awoke after five hundred years, fished Paimon from the sea, and set out with her to find her brother.

Paimon revealed why Aether and Lumine were essential to the coming war against the Heavenly Principles and explained that leaving Teyvat required permission from Celestia. Lumine asked whether Paimon had spoken to Yucheng, and Paimon answered with a knowing smile.

• Lumine accepted Paimon's account of the Death Ruler's role in Khaenri'ah, while Aether struggled to believe that his long-held reasons for revenge were wrong.
• Paimon explained that she had chosen Lumine because she was from beyond Teyvat and later recognized her ability to purify Abyssal power and wield multiple elements.
• Aether tried to leave with Lumine, but Paimon told them the only exit from Teyvat was at Celestia, where they would need the Heavenly Principles' permission.
• Paimon said Snezhnaya, the Abyss Order, and Khaenri'ah's survivors were preparing to rebel, and that victory was impossible without Aether and Lumine, who stood outside Teyvat's laws.
• Lumine warned Aether that using Abyssal power on a large scale could doom Teyvat, then asked Paimon whether she had discussed the coming conflict with Yucheng.
• Paimon smiled meaningfully and told Lumine to guess whether she had spoken with Yucheng.

Snezhnaya ascended as an entire nation and openly rebelled against Celestia, while Paimon revealed her return and attacked the Life Ruler. The Life Ruler re-formed and called for a purge of humanity, then tried to persuade Paimon to join him by invoking her role in past purges.

• The Tsaritsa led Snezhnaya’s forces and citizens in an ascent powered by seven Gnoses, challenging Celestia as the Statues of the Seven shattered and revealed Celestia to the world.
• The Life Ruler sent four Skyfrost Nails against Snezhnaya, but Pierro shattered all four with his scepter.
• Paimon ambushed the Life Ruler, crushed his forbidden-knowledge heart, and declared that the Heavenly Principles were usurpers impersonating their rightful predecessors.
• The Life Ruler re-formed from black water as three new, chaotic Sustainers joined him, and he proposed eliminating 99.9 percent of humanity.
• The Life Ruler urged Paimon to submit and help lead the new Sustainers, reminding her that she had once personally deployed Skyfrost Nails during human purges.

Yucheng intervened when the Dark Rulers threatened another purge, then summoned the Seven Archons and Seven Dragon Sovereigns to confront them. Paimon broadcast the gathering across Teyvat, revealing several Archons’ identities to stunned viewers.

• Paimon accused the Dark Rulers of causing disasters, and the Life Ruler threatened to eliminate 99.9% of humanity.
• Yucheng appeared and used Chibaku Tensei to trap the four Dark Rulers, but the Life Ruler broke free and dropped the sphere toward Snezhnaya City.
• The Tsaritsa shielded Snezhnaya City, and Yucheng used Kamui to draw the sphere into his Kamui Dimension.
• Yucheng used the Summoning Technique to bring the six Archons and Seven Dragon Sovereigns to the battlefield.
• Paimon’s broadcast showed the gathering to Teyvat, and Barbara recognized Barbatos as the drunken Bard while Hu Tao recognized Rex Lapis as her Guest Consultant.

Yucheng and Teyvat’s assembled Archons and Dragon Sovereigns confronted the Four Dark Rulers, but the Plague Ruler’s self-destruction unleashed a monster-making rain across the nations. As people fought to defend their homes, the Life Ruler opened a portal and sent out more monsters, prompting Albedo to recognize him as his master.

• The Life Ruler revealed that the Dark Rulers planned to use humanity as a source of faith, and the God of War and Pyro Dragon King launched the battle.
• Yucheng used Amenotejikara to isolate one Dark Ruler, and the assembled gods rushed to defeat him.
• The isolated Dark Ruler self-destructed, and Rex Lapis shielded the others as the Plague Ruler’s black rain spread across Teyvat and transformed living creatures into monsters.
• People and adeptus-level fighters across the nations mobilized to defend against the monsters.
• The Life Ruler opened a wormhole and sent out more creatures tainted by forbidden knowledge, and Albedo recognized him as his master.

Albedo struggled to contain a destructive urge and sent Klee away before the Skyfrost Nail crashed down on Dragonspine, triggering an avalanche. On Celestia, Yucheng killed two Dark Rulers, leaving only the Life Ruler, whom he taunted about the Heavenly Principles wanting him dead.

• Albedo warned Klee to leave Dragonspine, then went beneath the Skyfrost Nail to continue his experiment as his destructive urge intensified.
• The Skyfrost Nail slammed down, causing a massive avalanche, and Klee fought monsters while helping evacuate the camp.
• Yucheng used his Truth-Seeking Orbs to kill two Dark Rulers, leaving the Life Ruler as the last one standing.
• The Life Ruler questioned how Yucheng had entered Teyvat, and Yucheng suggested the Heavenly Principles wanted the Life Ruler dead so he could reclaim his Authority of life.

Yucheng and the others defeated the Life Ruler, but the Heavenly Principles emerged from Celestia and suppressed the gods with the authority of laws. As the Heavenly Principles began attacking and summoned figures from black radiance, Zhongli recognized Guizhong among them.

• Yucheng warned the Life Ruler that powerful shadow incarnations with independent minds could become dangerous, then joined the others in killing him.
• After the Life Ruler died, the Heavenly Principles’ power suppressed the Archons’ and dragons’ elemental abilities, while Yucheng and the Abyss users remained unaffected.
• The Heavenly Principles appeared, froze the space where Yucheng had stood with the authority of time, and declared that he would reclaim the Archons’ authorities.
• The Heavenly Principles unleashed crushing force, and Yucheng shielded his allies with Susanoo before escaping as his Perfect Susanoo was destroyed.
• The Heavenly Principles filled the battlefield with figures formed from black radiance, and Zhongli recognized the God of Dust, Guizhong, among them.

The Heavenly Principles resurrected eighty dead gods and Dragon Sovereigns, then forced them to fight the twenty defenders under his laws. Aether and Lumine arrived with Dainsleif and the Abyss Order, and Albedo awakened with god-level power, bringing new forces against the Heavenly Principles.

• The Heavenly Principles revealed that he had gathered powerful souls from the Ley Lines and restored their awareness, including Raiden Makoto, Egeria, and deceased Dragon Sovereigns.
• He commanded sixty-five resurrected powerhouses to attack the defenders, while the Seven Archons and Seven Dragons fought under severe suppression and faced carefully chosen opponents.
• Aether and Lumine arrived at Celestia with their full strength restored, but the Heavenly Principles stopped their attack and sent four gods to fight them.
• Aether summoned seven god-level elemental apostles, who joined Dainsleif and the Abyss Order in their five-hundred-year struggle against the Heavenly Principles.
• Albedo awakened beneath the Skyfrost Nail after monsters empowered him, shattered the Nail, and arrived at Celestia as the Heavenly Principles accused him of being the Life Ruler’s fallback plan.

Yucheng’s side neared defeat after ten days of battle as the Heavenly Principles turned fallen allies into enemies. In Liyue, Ningguang gave birth, and the baby’s cries reached Yucheng at Celestia, giving him the call to counterattack.

• Yucheng’s forces suffered heavy losses, including Dvalin’s death, while the Heavenly Principles reclaimed the souls of fallen fighters.
• Yucheng sent the gravely injured Azhdaha, Dainsleif, and Thunder Dragon King into the Kamui Dimension for Furina to treat.
• Ningguang went into labor while directing Liyue’s defense, and Baizhu and a midwife began preparing for the delivery.
• Ningguang sent the gathered officials back to their posts so Liyue Harbor’s defenses would not be neglected.
• Ningguang gave birth, and her baby’s cries reached Yucheng at Celestia.