Zhongli

Biodata

Background / History

Zhongli is the oldest of The Seven and, alongside Barbatos, one of the two remaining first-generation Archons. As Morax, he protected and governed Liyue for thousands of years, attending to its affairs annually. He also produced Mora, the currency used throughout Teyvat 5 33.

By the time the mysterious screen appears, he lives under the identity of Zhongli and works as a consultant at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. He is preparing a final test of Liyue’s ability to govern itself: staging Rex Lapis’s death and allowing mortals to assume responsibility for the nation. The screen exposes the apparent assassination before his plan can begin, forcing him to revise it 3 5 14.

Appearance

• Current form: A dignified, handsome man 21.
• Clothing: The gameplay video depicts him in splendid clothes 24.
• Other incarnations: Liyue’s legends attribute male, female, elderly, youthful, and nonhuman forms to Rex Lapis; these are reported traditions rather than transformations demonstrated in the supplied chapters 21.

Personality

Zhongli is composed and methodical. Unable to understand or probe the screen, he chooses observation over a hasty response, settling into a familiar establishment with tea and a view of Liyue Harbor. He considers explanations for its origin without treating his suspicions as certainty 1.

His refined tastes coexist with a conspicuous disregard for everyday expenses. He spends generously, rarely haggles, and sometimes forgets both payment and his wallet. Rather than deliberately flaunting wealth, he habitually fails to treat Mora as a limitation—a perspective others connect to his identity as its producer 23 26 27 33.

He is patient when sharing knowledge and attentive to Liyue’s readiness for independence. He approves of the Qixing’s handling of public concern over The Chasm and later expresses satisfaction with their preparations for his test. His protective instincts remain strong enough that he accompanies Hu Tao into The Chasm rather than letting her investigate its dangers unsupervised 12 28 50.

Hu Tao and Venti are notable exceptions to his usual unflappability. Hu Tao’s demands leave him struggling to respond, while Venti’s amusement at his retirement scheme makes him fear that his embarrassing funeral arrangements will become material for songs 2 25 27.

Abilities & Skills

Divine Power and Adeptal Arts

Zhongli possesses divine power and uses adeptal arts to communicate with Liyue’s adepti 1 5.

• Remote communication: Immediately contacts the adepti when the video announces Rex Lapis’s murder, preventing a potentially violent response against Liyue Harbor 5.
• Dream messages: Visits the adepti in dreams to clarify his plan; Ganyu receives a direct message when her overtime delays the opportunity 24 25.
• Stone spears: Recalls having used stone spears to teach Venti a lesson 25.
• Limits: Cannot comprehend or probe the mysterious screen. He also acknowledges that Celestia lies beyond his ability to resist, although its power is more familiar to him than the screen’s 1.

Mora Production

As Morax, Zhongli produces Mora from his own flesh and blood. Its inherent power makes it both currency and a consumable resource 33.

• Assists alchemical reactions and can sometimes substitute for missing materials 33.
• Supports the enhancement of weapons and artifacts 33.
• His apparent death prompts concern about declining currency supplies and disruption to industries that consume Mora 33 34.

Appraisal and Ritual Knowledge

Zhongli understands the materials and standards required for the Rite of Parting, including the selection of Luminous-grade Noctilucous Jade 24 25.

• Explains why surface texture, color, and grain are insufficient to judge raw jade reliably 27.
• Identifies high-quality Noctilucous Jade by its brighter, bluer glow under high temperatures 28.
• Recommends indirect heating through water to protect thin samples during testing 29.
• His televised explanation exposes valuable trade knowledge normally withheld from ordinary customers 28.

Cultural and Culinary Expertise

Zhongli is praised for broad learning, an exceptional memory, and detailed advice on artistic and culinary matters 23.

• Opera: His guidance gives Yun Jin inspiration for new works 23.
• Cuisine: Offers suggestions for Xiangling’s dishes 23.
• Wine: Prefers Mondstadt’s Dandelion Wine to Sumeru’s Cold-Soaked Snake Wine 29.

Screen Profile

Zhongli receives five-star user status immediately upon the screen’s arrival. No subsequent increase in his rating or personal power is documented 1.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arrival of the Screen

Zhongli initially considers whether the screen originates beyond Teyvat or is connected to Alice’s otherworldly objects. He abandons the idea that Alice created it after discovering that she is only a three-star user. After the Cyno fan video, he reasons that the screen has an operator capable of making mistakes 1 3.

When Cyno wins a Mora personally handled by the Geo Archon, Zhongli checks his room and discovers that the coin he had played with the previous evening has vanished from his desk. The incident establishes that the system can take objects directly from his surroundings 3.

Disruption of the Retirement Plan

The Travail video announces that the God of Contracts has been murdered. Knowing that this refers to his staged death, Zhongli intervenes before alarmed adepti can move against Liyue Harbor. He subsequently revises the trial and has Ganyu explain his intentions at an emergency Qixing meeting 5 14.

The Qixing’s response increasingly reassures him. He praises their timely disclosure of The Chasm’s dangers, and by the end of the second day, Keqing is leading an overnight effort to prepare emergency-management plans for his test 12 50.

Tartaglia’s Punishment and the Rite of Parting Video

A wrong quiz answer makes Tartaglia personally responsible for all of Zhongli’s expenses for three months. Zhongli’s spending habits, the adepti’s reactions, and his ability to end the discussion lead Ningguang and Uncle Tian to suspect that he is Rex Lapis. They choose not to expose him 20 21.

The next Zhongli-focused video depicts him arranging the Rite of Parting with Aether and Paimon using Childe’s funding. Venti immediately recognizes the absurdity of Morax organizing his own funeral, while other viewers gradually infer that the assassination is a deception 24 25.

At Jade Mystery, Zhongli first proposes buying every piece of Noctilucous Jade, then teaches the group how to test samples. They ultimately select the third variety. After Shitou halves the price in Rex Lapis’s honor, Zhongli reassures him that Liyue will continue to prosper—then attempts to leave without paying and discovers that he has brought no Mora 26 28 29 31 32 33.

Investigation of The Chasm

After the screen reveals Bosacius’s final battle, Hu Tao insists on searching for his traces in The Chasm. Zhongli accompanies her because he knows how dangerous and unusual the area is. Xiao is also present 11 50.

Relationships

• Hu Tao — His director at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. His expenses strain the business, but he helps consider screen advertising and personally accompanies her into The Chasm for her safety 3 21 50.
• Venti / Barbatos — An old friend and fellow first-generation Archon. Venti brings him Dandelion Wine and delights in teasing him about arranging his own funeral 25 29 33.
• Tartaglia / Childe — Befriends Zhongli as a knowledgeable contact, initially suspecting that he is an adeptus who could introduce him to Rex Lapis. He pays Zhongli’s bills before the system makes three months of expenses his personal punishment 11 20.
• Barnabas / the Tsaritsa — Has an agreement with Zhongli concerning his Gnosis. Zhongli regards its transfer as certain because of their deal 19 26.
• Ganyu — Conveys his revised plans to the Qixing. Zhongli also privately reflects that she has grown up and may need new clothes 14 34.
• Ningguang — Suspects his identity and preserves his disguise. She plans to place expensive collectibles in his path while Tartaglia is paying 21.
• Keqing — Impresses him through her handling of Liyue’s affairs and preparations for human rule. The Qixing wonder whether her earlier questions about mortal governance helped inspire his retirement 12 14 50.
• Yun Jin and Xiangling — Value his advice on opera and cooking, respectively 23.
• Lumine — Gradually deduces that he may be the Geo Archon, but refrains from openly discussing the possibility in the forum 26 30.

Notable Quotes

“Boss, I'll take them all.” 26

“If one must consider Mora before everything else, that is equivalent to letting Mora tie one's hands and feet in all things.” 27

“With the joint efforts of the [Liyue Qixing] and all you down-to-earth merchants, I am sure Liyue will continue to prosper as it always has.” 33