Chapter 1: The People of Teyvat Have Become the Law of Nature
In Liyue, atop Mt. Tianheng, two men stood side by side, gazing at the brightly lit Liyue Harbor in the distance.
"Well then, Morax, how about handing over your Gnosis?" Aiden, a striking young man dressed in white, his sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes filled with confidence, asked the man beside him—a figure clad in black and gold with piercing golden eyes.
"The Gnosis?" Morax—now known as Zhongli—held up a chess-piece-like object radiating a powerful Geo aura, deep in thought.
Even as the oldest Archon in Teyvat, a witness to the war between the Primordial One and the Second Who Came, Zhongli had experienced countless storms. Yet, standing before this young man, he found himself momentarily at a loss.
When had the Heavenly Principles changed hands?
Why had he heard nothing about it?
The young man's claims were almost too outrageous to believe: that the former Heavenly Principles had perished, the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles had fallen into a deep slumber, and that he had now inherited the mantle of Celestia's authority.
Currently, the barrier protecting Teyvat was still upheld by the remnants of the old Heavenly Principles—but only for another five years at most. If Aiden failed to grow strong enough within that time, the Abyss would descend upon Teyvat and bring about its destruction.
It sounded alarmist, but Zhongli couldn't ignore the truth. The aura surrounding Aiden was unmistakably that of the Heavenly Principles. Moreover, despite holding a Gnosis, he could no longer establish contact with Celestia. That fact alone forced Zhongli to take Aiden's words seriously.
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"Yes, the Gnosis."
Aiden's voice was steady as he continued, "In return, once I've grown stronger, I'll help you and your friends resolve the erosion problem affecting your bodies.
"I can also aid you in repelling the Abyssal invasion and purging the lingering remnants of the fallen Demon Gods in Liyue."
His gaze lingered on the Gnosis in Zhongli's hand, a sense of intuition telling him that reclaiming it would grant him immense benefits—perhaps even unlocking new abilities.
Though the Gnosis was merely a symbol of Celestia's authority, with Archons like Barbatos, Morax, and Beelzebul regarding it as little more than a tool, it was crucial for Aiden, who had just arrived in this world and was still finding his footing as the new embodiment of the Heavenly Principles.
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"It is… quite a compelling offer. I would even say I stand to profit from it." Zhongli's eyes drifted between the Gnosis in his hand and Liyue Harbor in the distance.
"The Gnosis itself is a fragment of the previous Heavenly Principles. It is only natural that you would seek to reclaim what was once bestowed upon us.
"However, as the new ruler of Celestia, tell me—what are your thoughts on Liyue?"
Aiden met Zhongli's gaze, his expression serious. "Do you want the truth or a lie?"
Zhongli chuckled softly, finding this new Heavenly Principle rather different from the last. "Since you ask, I would prefer the truth."
This Aiden seemed… easier to speak with. He had even demonstrated his abilities, purifying a portion of Abyssal corruption before Zhongli's eyes. The purification was slow and physically exhausting for Aiden, but the fact that he could do it at all was proof enough of his legitimacy.
Perhaps… this was a risk worth taking.
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"The truth?" Aiden exhaled. "Behind Liyue's dazzling prosperity lies a multitude of hidden problems.
"If you, the Geo Archon, were still overseeing everything, those problems would remain concealed. But the moment you step down, they will begin surfacing one by one."
Zhongli's eyes narrowed. Did this young man… know about his plan to retire?
And more importantly—was Liyue truly in such a precarious state?
"You must have already guessed—I am not from this world," Aiden continued. "I do not know how Teyvat was formed, nor do I fully understand how I became the new Heavenly Principles.
"But since I have inherited this role, I will do my duty and protect this world.
"At the same time, I am both a god and a human." He paused before adding, "The world I come from had no gods.
"In the past, humans were ignorant, and those in power used the concept of gods as a tool to deceive and control the masses.
"But as human thought evolved, people became bolder—much like Snezhnaya today, where individuals dare to defy divine authority.
"In just a few short decades, two massive wars erupted in my world. Over a hundred million people perished.
"In fact, for thousands of years, humanity has been in a near-constant state of conflict, waging wars over resources and self-interest."
Zhongli's expression darkened. A world without gods… was it truly that chaotic?
He couldn't help but think of Snezhnaya, a nation moving at full speed toward a similar fate.
He had once admired their ambition, yet when he recalled their reckless experiments—manipulating ley line energy, harnessing the power of the Abyss, even capturing weak Demon Gods for research—he felt a deep unease.
If they continued down that path, would they meet the same fate as Aiden's world?
Perhaps the Heavenly Principles' intervention in Khaenri'ah had been inevitable.
Had he underestimated the true nature of humanity?
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"And that is just the external problem," Aiden pressed on.
"Have you ever considered the class divide in Liyue?"
Zhongli frowned slightly.
"The children of merchants become merchants. The children of the Qixing inherit positions of power. And the children of commoners? No matter how hard they struggle, they find it nearly impossible to climb the social ladder.
"Cases like Ningguang are rare—because you, Morax, have been present to prevent the powerful from overstepping.
"But if you were to step down, how long do you think it would take before the elite consolidate all authority, leaving no room for someone like Ningguang to rise?"
Zhongli fell silent.
The words rang uncomfortably true.
He had always believed in humanity's ability to evolve and improve on its own, trusting that Liyue would grow stronger without divine intervention.
But now that he thought about it… if he withdrew, and the Adepti did nothing, wouldn't the Qixing and powerful merchant clans seize complete control?
Would social mobility grind to a halt?
Would Liyue become a stagnant, stratified society?
The mere thought left him uneasy.
Aiden's voice cut through his contemplation. "Tell me, Morax—if you were to govern Liyue, what would you do?"
Zhongli exhaled slowly. He had not expected to be placed on the other side of the conversation.
Perhaps… this Aiden was not just the new Heavenly Principles.
Perhaps he was a force that would reshape the world itself.