Dreamlike radiance wrapped around the World Tree.
Gu Chen withdrew his hand.
The Great Lord Rukkhadevata of this world had disappeared.
One could say she had merged into Buer, or that she had fallen completely.
Either way was an acceptable interpretation.
What mattered was that the Forbidden Knowledge had been purged down to the root.
Gu Chen swept his senses through the World Tree and found no lingering traces of corruption.
That meant everything was moving toward a good ending.
Gu Chen lowered his gaze to the ground.
The power of the World Tree was flowing through its vast roots.
Majestic energy surged like mighty rivers.
In a single blink, its power had already completed a full cycle through the entire world.
Gandharva Ville
Collei stared at her own hands in disbelief.
"It's gone! It's really gone!"
Collei trembled with excitement.
"What's gone?"
Tighnari, returning from patrol, blinked in surprise.
"Master Tighnari, look! My Eleazar—it's completely cured!"
Collei rolled up her sleeves. Tighnari saw only smooth, pale skin.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, he said, "Looks like Mr. Gu Chen really has finished everything…
As for the Great Lord Rukkhadevata—I still remember her legacy. Is that because of the singular-timeline link, or did Mr. Gu Chen deliberately preserve the deeds of this world's Rukkhadevata?"
Tighnari was happy for Collei, but also lost in thought.
Collei suddenly remembered, "Oh right! I should ask!"
[Transcendent Chat Group]
[Dehya]: Hahaha! Great news! Fantastic news! My good friend Dunyarzad's Eleazar has been cured! Hahaha! (Dehya–Flowers)
[Paimon]: Yay!! (Klee–Yay)
[Cyno]: @Tighnari How's Collei?
[Amber]: Since Ms. Dehya's friend is cured, Collei definitely can be cured too! (Paimon–Piece of cake)
[Kaeya]: Oho~ Congratulations, congratulations. (Hu Tao–Smirk)
[Tighnari]: Indeed, she's cured. She's bouncing around like a little sparrow… At least she won't faint anymore from getting too excited over high-sugar romance plots. (Relieved)
[Nilou]: Huh?! That kind of thing can make people faint?! (Paimon–Shock)
[Lisa]: No wonder Collei sometimes vanished right after sending a message—it was because she fainted from excitement? (Lisa–Good job)
[Collei]: I won't anymore! And with my Eleazar gone… I—I'm going to become confident! (Paimon–Hmph)
[Cyno]: Really? I don't believe it. (Cyno–Duel)
[Collei]: Of course it's true!
[Collei]: @GuChen Mr. Gu Chen, what happened to this world's Great Lord Rukkhadevata? (Klee–Pleaseee)
[Buer]: She has already merged with me. (Nahida–Happy)
[Nilou]: M–Merged? (Venti–Shock)
[Buer]: Don't worry. Think of it like retrieving a stray fragment of your own thoughts. It's something like that. (Nahida–Thumbs up)
[Collei]: Yay!! (Nahida–Thumbs up)
[Venti]: The fact her memory wasn't lost—what wonderful news. (Venti–Relaxed)
[Zhongli]: By common rational standards, this is indeed worth celebrating. So, when is the Hierarch treating us to a feast? (Nahida–Curious)
[Gu Chen]: Forbidden Knowledge has been eradicated, Teyvat is no longer at risk of destruction. Rationally speaking, all thanks to me. So logically, everyone else should treat me to a feast. (Zhongli–Dragon King crooked smile)
[Zhongli]: Fair point, very difficult to refute. But sharing the joy of reunion with the Tree King also requires treating others—so it cancels out! (Zhongli–Dragon King crooked smile)
[Hu Tao]: (Hu Tao–Smirk)
[Venti]: Well reasoned. Hard to disagree! (Emoji–Funny)
[Cyno]: One moment, inserting myself here: Now that the Lesser Lord Kusanali is free, and the Great Lord Rukkhadevata has returned—can we finally begin the full investigation of the Akademiya? (Cyno–Duel)
[Nilou]: Why was the Little Lucky Grass King locked up, @Nahida?
[Nahida]: B-Because… I wasn't smart enough. After the Great Lord fell, they wanted a god with infinite knowledge just like her. When they realized I wasn't as smart… they locked me up. (Hydro Fungus–Crying)
[Klee]: The Akademiya are all big meanies! (Angry)
[Kaeya]: She may not have boundless wisdom like the Great Lord, but she's still a god! How dare they?!
[Arataki Itto]: Why don't we just storm the place and blow the whole Akademiya sky-high?!
[Childe]: What?! A fight? Count me in! (Childe–Let's brawl)
[Keqing]: Comparing the Akademiya to the Qiming Institute… they're not even worthy of carrying Qiming Institute's shoes. (Facepalm)
[Kaveh]: Honestly, a good portion of the Akademiya can't even compare to an ordinary researcher at the Qiming Institute. (Kaveh–Angry)
[Alhaitham]: If a place isn't cleaned for too long, the dark corners breed rats and roaches. The Akademiya needs a thorough purge.
[Gu Chen]: Just have the Grand Sage confess his crimes and die. (Nose-pick)
[Kaeya]: The kind where someone gets stabbed eight times in the back and it's ruled a suicide? (Funny)
[Itto]: Wait—Isn't Gu Chen, bro the Grand Sage??
[Kuki Shinobu]: Boss… Mr. Gu Chen is Grand Sage of the Qiming Institute, NOT the Akademiya. (Facepalm)
[Venti]: Little brother, your brain is muddled.
[Osial]: What's wrong with you, little brother? It's fine to miss details in the Hierarch's videos, but forgetting something this obvious? (Nahida–Pointing)
[Kujou Sara]: Arataki Itto is always like this. (Furina–Laugh)
If Itto suddenly became smart, then Kujou Sara would think something supernatural had happened.
If Kuki Shinobu were here, she would agree.
Their boss was… not very intelligent at times.
[Keqing]: Back to the point: the Akademiya must be held accountable. And what about the Fatui?
[Childe]: Haha, more colleagues going to jail! (Proud)
[Scaramouche]: Sometimes I really wonder what your brain is made of. How can you still gloat at a time like this? Is your head full of muscle? Not like you're even that strong. (Wanderer–Distant)
[Childe]: You'd better pray you're not the one going to jail. (Venti–Relaxed)
[Kaeya]: He's Fatui, right? Yeah, arrest him. (Funny)
[Yae Miko]: Support! (Fox Lady–Smirk)
Sanctuary of Surasthana
Grand Sage Azar had known the outcome the moment he saw the video.
Now, he stood before the doors of the Sanctuary.
As the doors slowly opened, Azar saw Buer—and she saw him.
What kind of gaze was it?
One filled with disappointment and displeasure.
Connected to the World Tree, Buer knew everything.
Her eyes expressed pure contempt.
"Great Lord Rukkhadevata…"
Azar wanted to speak, but shame choked his voice.
"You still have a shred of humanity—knowing shame. That's about it."
Gu Chen curled his lip. "Well? How do you want to die?"
"The first Grand Sage… Can you grant me a dignified end?"
Azar knew death was inevitable. Dignity was all he wished for.
"Dignity?"
"You don't deserve dignity."
Gu Chen shook his head. "Since you can't imagine a suitable end, let me propose a few."
"Leaving your corpse to rot in the wild? Sounds decent, but honestly too cheap for you."
"A thousand cuts? Painful, but still too cheap."
He thought for a moment, then his smile turned sharp.
"How about letting you become Dottore's test subject? …No, that feels too cruel."
A cold smile surfaced.
"Why don't you experience Forbidden Knowledge yourself?"
Azar shuddered.
He had seen what it did—its horrors were unmistakable.
To be consumed by that pain… he couldn't imagine it.
Fear engulfed him; he trembled violently.
"When you stood above Sumeru, you should've known this day would come."
"And you're not the only one. The others will face judgment too."
"No!"
Azar suddenly roared, "What right do you have to decide my fate?!"
"I support his decision."
Buer smiled.
She was kind, yes—
But kindness did not erase her ability to be furious.
Azar deserved no sympathy.
"You! You don't count! You're just the Great Lord Rukkhadevata from another world!"
"I agree with Mr. Hierarch!"
Nahida stepped forward.
"You…"
Azar deflated instantly.
Nahida held no actual authority in Sumeru—but she was still the God of Wisdom.
Beyond Sumeru, that identity alone commanded legitimacy.
From any angle, she had the right to judge him.
"You see? They all support me."
Gu Chen spread his hands.
"Even if you weren't under Nahida's authority—who could protect you? Who would want to protect a treacherous little rat like you? And even if some idiot tried—what strength would they have to oppose me?"
Azar fell silent.
"Now—experience the pain borne by the Great Lord you betrayed.
Reflect on how you spat on the faith you claimed to uphold."
Gu Chen's hand pressed above his head.
A torrent of pitch-black welled into Azar's mind.
Agonizing needles churned through his skull.
He clutched his head and screamed as gray scales erupted across his skin.
His wails echoed through the sanctuary.
Buer remained expressionless.
Nahida couldn't bear it—but when she remembered her own suffering, she accepted it as deserved.
The kind-hearted little god simply turned away and shut her ears.
The commotion drew the attention of the Matra and nearby scholars.
Cyno and Alhaitham arrived quickly.
After learning the sages had imprisoned the Little Lucky Grass King, Cyno was already furious.
"Serves him right."
Cyno snorted coldly.
"I believe the rest of the sages deserve the same," Alhaitham added.
"They didn't run, did they?" Cyno asked.
"Run? To where?" Alhaitham shrugged. "The World Tree records everything—including escape routes."
He doubted they would run.
If anything, they would wait obediently.
They knew escape was impossible.
"I'll go get them," Cyno said, leaving immediately.
Soon, several sages were brought in.
Seeing Azar writhing in torment, they panicked, regret overflowing.
"Imprisoning your own god—this alone is unforgivable."
"And you—trying to build your own god… Should I call you ignorant fools or delusional idiots?"
Gu Chen shook his head and injected Forbidden Knowledge into each of them.
"Now, enjoy the same suffering once borne by the Great Lord—
and repent."
He ignored the screaming scholars and turned to Alhaitham and Cyno.
"Grand Sage," the two greeted with a slight bow.
"You two are impressive," Gu Chen nodded.
He patted Alhaitham's shoulder. "You have personality and ability—rare in the Akademiya, rare even in the Qiming Institute. With this mess, you'll have to shoulder responsibility."
Alhaitham's lips twitched.
"Grand Sage… let's not make empty promises."
"Empty?"
Gu Chen frowned. "How is it empty? I'll appoint you as the new Grand Sage right now!"
"No—no, please don't!"
Alhaitham shook his head frantically.
He knew exactly how exhausting the position was.
Why give up his leisurely life for a miserable one?
Especially now when the Akademiya was guaranteed to undergo major restructuring?
He rejected it instantly.
"Fine, then be a Sage instead. Nine-to-five. Overtime optional." Gu Chen said.
"…Really?"
Alhaitham was tempted.
Not by the title—
But by nine-to-five with optional overtime.
"When has the Hierarch ever lied to you?" Gu Chen chuckled.
Buer covered her mouth and smiled.
What Lord of the Taixuan Sect said and what the Grand Sage said were… not exactly the same thing.
Nahida looked puzzled—
Then recalled Buer's smile and realized…
Ah. It was wordplay.
"This is still a bribe in disguise."
Alhaitham, being Alhaitham, saw straight through it.
"Talking with smart people is exhausting."
Gu Chen sighed and rolled up his sleeves.
"Grand Sage… I don't think beating me is necessary?" Alhaitham said helplessly. "…Fine. I'll take the position."
"That's better."
Gu Chen gave his shoulder a firm pat.
In the end, persuasion was fake—
Fists were real.
"Nahida, that's as far as I can help you." Gu Chen smiled.
"Thank you, Mr. Grand Sage," Nahida said, bowing with her small hands together.
"Good girl~"
He patted her head.
"Well then—off to work~"
Nahida: "…"
So all of this was just to push her into work faster so she wouldn't interrupt their flirting?
Aaaaah!!!
Seeing Nahida's misery, Alhaitham instantly felt much better.
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