"I'm back!"
Lu Xing's complaints had yet to cease.
A purple shadow flashed through the [Pillar of Earth], instantly snatching the Monarch Ball that Cheche was holding in her arms.
"Ah—"
Stunned, Cheche remained frozen in her previous posture, having no idea what had just happened.
The figure, whose wings of light were slowly folding, was already pressing her chin and cheeks against the Monarch Ball in her arms, rubbing it vigorously.
"Little Bai~"
"Did you miss me?"
That was right.
Only the Three Pillar Gods could enter and exit the space between the Pillars. The identity of the newcomer was self-evident—
"Yes."
"You have been gone for quite a long time."
While Cheche was still lost in the sorrow of "Little Bai has been stolen," Xiao Zi had already begun to observe Lu Xing's changes: the golden egg was as smooth as ever, but the texture, luster, and even its aura were vastly different from several centuries ago.
"You evolved?"
"To be precise, it should be that I've 'hatched'."
Lu Xing finally managed to break free from Xiao Zi's tight embrace.
The clone stationed in the [Pillar of Earth] wasn't large, and after the main body had hatched, its combat power had only just reached the star-bursting level.
"There's plenty of time to catch up."
"First, tell me about the harvest from your trip."
When it came to business, Xiao Zi immediately loosened the all-encompassing pressure she was applying to the Monarch Ball.
"The greatest harvest…"
"...was that there was no harvest."
Xiao Zi's expression turned slightly grave.
"Over a period of 467 Imperial Years, a total of 2,032 parallel worlds were observed by the Empire."
"Though their processes varied…"
Indeed.
In nearly 500 years, Xiao Zi had verified the following conjecture for Lu Xing:
"Not a single one escaped the fate of annihilation."
"And just as you guessed, Little Bai, in every one of these worlds, without exception, there was no Elysia, nor was there 'another you'."
Parallel worlds lacking the [Authority of Origin] are inevitably doomed to perish.
"What about the one I mentioned?"
"I didn't find it."
Xiao Zi shook her head.
"Is that so…"
Lu Xing's original hypothesis was that with so many parallel worlds, the one he was familiar with should exist among them—but if Elysia didn't exist in any of these worlds, the probability of that hypothesis plummeted.
That world, already somewhat hazy in his memory, might have truly become a reflection of 'himself'.
"Is 'Origin' that important?"
Although she had meticulously executed Little Bai's plan, Xiao Zi didn't quite grasp the practical meaning of the operation. Elysia held the seat of the [Second Flame-Chaser], but her strength was not as formidable as their [Three Pillar Gods]. She might not even be able to defeat Mei, the [Third Flame-Chaser].
After all.
The rankings of the Apostles and the Flame-Chasers… would not change without a direct challenge.
---o---
"It's very important."
The Monarch Ball swayed gently.
"Before encountering Teyvat, I was merely testing a theory."
"But now, it seems that 'Origin' is an absolutely indispensable existence for the [Dominion of Order]."
The current Monarch wielded eight Dominions.
Strangely, the [Origin] and [Finality] that Lu Xing possessed had not been elevated to the rank of [Dominion], nor did they even appear in his skill list… yet he could still wield their power.
After absorbing Phanes and the Imaginary Branch, Lu Xing made a new discovery: the way they obtained dominions was different from his own. To be precise, Phanes's power could not be called a [Dominion], but rather the true [Path of Abundance] and the [Path of Finality]. It was only after he absorbed these two powers that they were assimilated by 'Origin' and transformed into their corresponding Dominions.
'Dominion' and 'Origin'.
Within these two terms, the secret of the Astral God of Order's power was likely hidden… or perhaps, the true reason for its fall.
"Then…"
"Should I go out for another round?"
Seeing that Lu Xing's "expression" was somewhat serious, Xiao Zi asked tentatively. Although she had just returned to the Empire, she had already processed all the important intelligence from the Ninety-Nine Chambers from the past few centuries, especially the news from the "Observation Chamber."
Even though the Empire's controlled territory hadn't changed, its rapid advancements in technology and power (especially power) were enough to support the "Observation Chamber" in discovering more parallel worlds. A number of new worlds, more than double the original count, had already been cataloged and filed.
"That's not necessary."
Lu Xing rejected Xiao Zi's proposal.
Although the idea to "go out and play" had initially come from Xiao Zi, carrying out the task was exceedingly tedious. Now that she had finally returned, there was no need for her to personally handle it again.
Incidentally, the reason he knew just how "tedious" the exploration work was, was because he had sent a clone to accompany her to the first few worlds… which had been Xiao Zi's primary motivation at the start.
"The appointment of the new 'Apostles' shouldn't take too long."
"We'll use 'Parallel World Observation' as their placement exam."
Lu Xing continued:
"It's rare for you to be back."
"'We' will show you the changes in the Empire—500 years is not a short time. At least in terms of talent, this can be considered the Empire's 'Golden Age'."
"Really…?"
Xiao Zi's excitement lasted only a moment.
She immediately registered that Little Bai had said 'we,' not 'I.'
Crucially, when her perception swept through the entirety of the [Pillar of Earth], Xiao Zi instantly discovered a second third wheel besides Cheche—
"Ah~ ah."
"Shesha, you've made quite a bit of progress."
That's right.
At some unknown point, Shesha had been standing quietly in a corner of the [Pillar of Earth].
"You flatter me."
"Lord Ziz, it has likely been a long time since you've last seen me, and you are simply unfamiliar with my aura."
Shesha adjusted his glasses, which glinted under the light.
Although he had always been engaged in "political" work for the Monarch, Shesha's own progress had not fallen behind. To be able to firmly hold the seat of the [Pillar of the Sea] among the [Three Pillar Gods] in an environment like the Empire, filled with masters, how could he possibly be skilled only in civil matters and not in martial ones?
"What are the results?"
"Your Majesty, everything is as you predicted."
Lu Xing had long grown accustomed to Shesha's style of flattery, which had been cultivated since he was 'truly a child'.
"The act put on by Kaslana and Otto did indeed bait out a few fish… though their status is a little low."
"No one from the Ninety-Nine Chambers was involved?"
Any existence outside the [Throne] could only be considered grassroots within the Empire.
As an aside, even the Legion Commanders had corresponding nominal posts within the Ninety-Nine Chambers.
"There were, but they were nothing more than pawns."
"The Empire's operations remain stable as ever."
"Your position is unshakeable… in the past, as in the future."