Chapter 179 - 177: Zhongli’s Realization

Words : 1712 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

"The first time I stepped onto the Jade Chamber, I stood at the edge of the high platform, gazing down at Liyue Harbor from the sky." "At that moment, I thought—one day, the shadow of the Jade Chamber would stretch over all seven nations." "Even now, my wish remains unchanged. However, this reconstruction of the Jade Chamber is not just for my own sake." "I hope that, no matter when, the Jade Chamber will always float above Liyue Harbor, bearing witness to the prosperity and peace of the mortal world." "And I hope all of you will witness it with me." After Ningguang finished her speech on the reconstruction, she casually waved her hand and officially announced: "The ascension ceremony begins." Ye stood at the harbor with Furina. Behind them, Astrea, guarded by her attendants, nervously watched the sea. As the Jade Chamber rose into the sky, all three of them turned their gazes upward. "I-It's coming, Supreme Bishop," Astrea's trembling voice rang in their ears, prompting Furina to glance back at the distant sea. The clear sky darkened in an instant, and turbulent undercurrents stirred beneath the waves. "Astrea," Ye said softly, "do not intervene." "I-I know." Astrea was no longer the clueless girl she had been when she first arrived in Liyue. After countless dinners with Zhongli, she had come to understand his intentions—that Liyue was striving to shed the influence of adepti and gods and enter an era of human governance. Though Astrea was neither an adeptus nor a god—merely an ordinary human... well, an ordinary puppet—her power was no less than that of the divine. If she rashly interfered in Liyue's affairs, the so-called "human governance" would become nothing more than a joke. The Geo Archon did not wish to see that. The adepti did not wish to see that. Liyue itself did not wish to see that. And neither did Astrea. So... Astrea clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and prayed with utmost sincerity: "O God of Water, please protect Liyue." Hearing this, the corners of Furina and Ye's mouths twitched simultaneously. Even Zhongli, who had just stepped forward from behind them, couldn't help but stare at Astrea in speechless disbelief. Asking the God of Water to protect Liyue? If anyone else heard this, they might immediately assume the Hydro Archon was trying to take over Liyue after the Geo Archon's "death." Fortunately, Zhongli wasn't the type to jump to such conclusions. After all, over the past year, he had come to understand Astrea completely. Astrea worshipped the God of Water, so of course she would pray to her in times of need—she would never pray to the Geo Archon. In short, her mind was simply too straightforward to overthink things. So, after a brief pause of exasperation, Zhongli continued forward and took his place beside Ye. "Ye, what exactly are you planning?" Astrea was the first to react to Zhongli's question. "Ah! Mr. Zhongli! Ah? Oh—I-I'm sorry, Mr. Zhongli! I didn't mean to... I was just... um..." "Do not worry, Rea. If Focalors is willing to extend her protection to Liyue, I would be quite pleased." "Oh, good, good." Astrea patted her chest in relief. Clearly, only after seeing Zhongli did she realize what she had just said. Thankfully, Zhongli was magnanimous and didn't mind. In truth, while it was a bit absurd, it was the kind of absurdity that left one amused rather than annoyed. Zhongli would never take offense at such a thing. The Seven Archons were never enemies. On the contrary, they were supposed to be allies who watched over and aided one another—after all, in name, they were all subordinates of the Heavenly Principles. Zhongli had never viewed the other gods as rivals but rather, to put it bluntly, as colleagues. When Venti first visited Liyue, Zhongli had assumed the neighboring Archon had come seeking help for some dire trouble—and he had even prepared himself to offer aid no matter the cost. ...Who could have guessed Venti just wanted to drink with him? That Anemo Archon, Barbatos, had abandoned his duties and left his nation purely to wander around Liyue for fun. Once Astrea and Zhongli's exchange ended, Ye finally responded to Zhongli's pointed question: "What Lady Furina wishes to do is what I wish to do." "...Then, Furina, what is it you wish to do?" "Why, to enjoy the show, of course." Furina spread her arms, her face alight with admiration as she watched the scene before her—a massive sea beast emerging from the waves, met with an onslaught of attacks from the Millelith. "What a magnificent sight. Humans truly are such strong, dependable creatures. No wonder you're so willing to entrust Liyue to their governance, Morax." Zhongli gave Furina a deep look but said nothing. He had his theories about Focalors' current situation. During the gatherings of the original Seven, the one who always seemed the most troubled was Egeria, the God of Water. Zhongli knew well that the prophecy was the greatest challenge facing the Hydro Archon—no matter which generation held the title. Any god would strive to resolve the prophecy, yet despite Egeria's efforts over the years, she had found no solution. Because... she could not refuse the pure-hearted wishes of the Oceanids. Egeria's problem lay not in anything else but in her inability to deny the Oceanids' simple desire to become human. Long before she became the Hydro Archon—before she was even a god—Egeria had already begun reshaping Oceanids into humans. At that time, she was not the Hydro Archon but the "Primordial Sea's Heart," created by one of the Four Shining Shades, the God of Life, to replace the "Hydro Dragon Sovereign." In essence, she was a divine-made elemental dragon of water. Egeria's existence occupied the seat of the Hydro Dragon in Teyvat, meaning that as long as she lived, a new Hydro Dragon could not be born—much like how the thrones of the Seven were fixed. The position of the Hydro Dragon was taken by Egeria, so until she vacated it, no new Hydro Dragon could arise. Naturally, as the one seated in the Hydro Dragon's place, Egeria wielded the dragon's authority even before ascending as the Hydro Archon, earning her the title of "Primordial Sea's Heart" among mortals. It was during this era that Egeria began granting the Oceanids' wishes, reshaping them into humans. Later, due to various circumstances—because the other nations had already crowned their Archons while Fontaine had not a single god left, leaving no one to claim the Hydro Archon's seat on Celestia—the order of Teyvat remained incomplete without a Hydro Archon. For this simple reason, Egeria was bestowed a fragment of the Primordial One's power, granted the status of a god, and ascended as the Hydro Archon. At this point, Egeria held immense authority. For the other Archons, the divine throne might not have been particularly significant, but for Egeria, sitting upon both the Hydro Dragon's throne and the Hydro Archon's seat meant she wielded the complete authority of the Hydro Dragon—the full might of the ancient dragon's power. Yet it was useless. Absolutely useless. The prophecy remained unsolved. Let it be said again: the problem lay in nothing else but Egeria's inability to refuse the Oceanids' wish to become human. The prophecy decreed by Celestia stated that all Fontainians would dissolve into the sea—the "sea" here referring to the Primordial Seawater. Yet as long as Egeria lived, this could never happen. With the complete authority of the ancient dragon, Egeria held absolute control over the Primordial Sea. As long as she lived, the waters would never rise. In other words, the prophecy could only begin after her death. But could Egeria resolve the prophecy before her death? She could not. Because she could not refuse the Oceanids' wishes. Even after Egeria's death, the Fontainians she had created continued to fulfill the Oceanids' desire to become human. By then, the dragon's authority had split once more—meaning that even if Egeria could have turned all Fontainians into true humans during her reign, after her death, the Oceanid-born Fontainians would gradually replace them. Yes, let it be said once more: the root of everything was Egeria's inability to refuse the Oceanids' wishes. Otherwise, the prophecy might never have taken such a form. Egeria's choices shaped the future foretold by the prophecy—a result of her nature. Even if given a hundred chances to choose again, she would have made the same decision. It was not the prophecy's future that dictated Egeria's choices, but Egeria's choices that dictated the prophecy's future. She was the very root of the prophecy's existence—so her burden of sin was not unjust in the slightest. And Zhongli understood all this in broad strokes. He knew the prophecy was inevitable. He knew Egeria would one day die. He knew... the only one who could truly resolve the prophecy was the next Hydro Archon. When he once saw Egeria bring Focalors to a gathering of the Seven, Zhongli had already guessed—Focalors was Egeria's chosen successor. And now, Zhongli saw... Focalors had not failed Egeria's expectations. She was truly striving to resolve Fontaine's prophecy. "Separating her divinity, using her humanity to deceive the Heavenly Principles, hiding her divinity beyond their gaze... This must be Focalors' plan. But even if she is yourself, she is still just an ordinary human. Focalors... isn't this a bit too cruel?" As this thought crossed his mind, Zhongli sighed once more, then withdrew his judgment of Focalors' cruelty. When he considered everything Focalors had staked—and everything she would yet sacrifice—he could not bring himself to condemn her. Because... that young girl he had once met, that god he had not seen in so long, had truly given everything she could for Fontaine. Who, other than Furina herself, had the right to blame her? And Furina—the only one with the right to condemn Focalors—the girl who had upheld her contract and protected Fontaine for five hundred years without faltering... how could she ever reproach Focalors?

Chapter 179 - 177: Zhongli’s Realization

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