Among the crowd, Luya was casually chatting with Xingqiu and Chongyun. When he heard Ningguang announce that the Geo Archon Morax intended to hand Liyue over to him to govern, Luya was not particularly surprised.
After all, Luya knew that Zhongli had long wished for Liyue to return to human rule. As the oldest among The Seven, Zhongli had lived far too long. He still remembered clearly—an age filled with smoke and war: the era of the Archon War.
Back then, countless powerful Demon Gods battled one another for territory, plunging the world into chaos.
However, just as that brutal war was about to reach its end, the seven strongest Demon Gods emerged victorious one after another and ascended to the divine thrones symbolizing supreme authority.
From that moment on, the age of the Archon War came to a close, yet peace did not immediately follow. Instead, the seven newly born gods each assumed a far more arduous and sacred responsibility—to guide humanity toward prosperity.
As the centuries passed, the world changed like drifting clouds, and The Seven were replaced again and again. Now, among the original Seven, only two remained: the steadfast and resolute Rex Lapis, and the carefree, free-spirited Anemo Archon, Barbatos.
Two thousand years ago, when Barbatos first arrived in Liyue, Zhongli felt a strange sense of concern. He wondered: Could this colleague have encountered difficulties in fulfilling his divine duties? Did he need assistance?
Thus, before Barbatos had even descended from the wind, Zhongli had already prepared himself, standing firmly on guard to welcome the god from the neighboring land. He remained composed, gaze steady and resolute, as if assuring Barbatos that, should he require help, Zhongli would certainly lend his aid.
But…
To Zhongli's surprise, when the Anemo Archon touched the ground, he said nothing of trouble or hardship. Instead, he simply smiled and extended his hand… holding a bottle of wine.
"This is wine from Mondstadt. Would you like to try it?" Barbatos asked gently.
Faced with such an unexpected gesture, Zhongli was utterly baffled. He had never imagined that Barbatos would travel all the way to Liyue merely to share a bottle of wine, setting aside his divine responsibilities. To Zhongli, such behavior was completely absurd.
Time passed swiftly; the seats of The Seven changed many times, and of the gods who once gathered at that ancient banquet, five were now gone. And the ancient mission—guiding humanity toward prosperity—seemed to have been gradually forgotten by some of the newer gods.
Zhongli gazed at the bottle of fragrant wine before him, emotions stirring in his heart. After more than three thousand years of storms and time's erosion, even the hardest stone would eventually wear down. Yet the wind that had once accompanied him had long since drifted away.
One misty morning, the ancient Emperor wandered leisurely through the streets of Liyue Harbor. By chance, he overheard a merchant speaking to his subordinate:
"You've fulfilled your duty excellently. Now, go get some well-deserved rest."
...
Zhongli stood silently amid the bustling crowd, lost in thought, unable to move for a long time. One word echoed in his mind—duty.
He began to question himself: Had he already fulfilled his duty?
As his thoughts surged, Zhongli finally made up his mind—to entrust Liyue to humanity. He deeply understood that the prosperity of a nation depended on the wisdom and effort of its people. And as a god, he knew he would one day have to step back.
For Zhongli could not guard Liyue forever. He believed it was time to place its future in human hands.
Thus…
In his original plan, Zhongli intended to use the Rite of Descension to feign his death, thereby testing whether the people of Liyue could uphold and protect their own land.
However, Luya's appearance shattered this plan. The overwhelming power Luya had displayed stunned Zhongli, forcing him to reevaluate humanity's potential.
Even more shocking—Guizhong, long deceased, had been revived through Luya's hands.
A power capable of resurrecting a Demon God left Zhongli utterly speechless.
At that moment, Zhongli understood completely: there was no longer any need for tests. The strength Luya possessed was more than enough to protect Liyue. The scheme he had set was now entirely unnecessary.
Not only that—the game Luya brought to Liyue, "Yu-Gi-Oh!", was practically an endless treasure trove. Its business potential and possibilities were astonishing, like a key to countless fortunes.
Zhongli could only admire Luya's vision and insight. The strategies, tactics, and card combinations in the game were filled with astonishing depth. Even Zhongli, a god of millennia, found himself captivated.
He now understood why people were so passionate about this game—it was not only entertainment, but a source of endless challenge and joy. And such things were the wellspring of human creativity and ambition.
Zhongli wondered: if such innovation could be applied to Liyue's development, perhaps it would usher in unprecedented prosperity.
Multiple factors influenced him, leading to this decision.
As for Zhongli's choice, Luya gladly accepted it. After all, gaining authority over Liyue would make future economic expansion and the creation of a Duel Kingdom a natural progression.
So of course, Luya would not refuse.
"I am willing to sign this contract."
With that, Luya stepped onto Yujing Terrace. Hearing Luya accept the responsibility, Zhongli finally let go of the tension in his heart.
...
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