By midday, the once lively crowd had grown quiet.
In the center of the plaza, Ningguang raised a hand to shade her eyes. Her crimson gaze narrowed as she watched the sun reach its zenith, its rays shining directly onto the offering table.
"The auspicious hour has come."
At her solemn words, the people bowed deeply, hands clasped in reverence, awaiting the arrival of Rex Lapis.
"Welcoming the Lord of Geo."
Ningguang gestured for her attendants to step aside, clearing space for the rite.
She then summoned her Vision. Golden Geo energy burst forth, flowing around her like waves of shifting sand. Her white hair streamed in the wind, her qipao fluttered, and she stood poised and resplendent among the golden currents.
One by one, jade gemstones materialized, orbiting her body in rapid rotation.
"Go!"
With a sharp command, the gems shot forth as streaks of light, embedding themselves into the bronze censers around the altar.
In an instant, the censers trembled. A vast surge of Geo power erupted skyward, forming a radiant beam piercing into the heavens.
The ritual was complete. The god's descent was next.
The once clear sky darkened as heavy clouds gathered, lightning flashing, thunder booming, and fierce winds raging. A crushing pressure filled the world.
The worshippers, kneeling devoutly, found it hard to breathe, the very air seeming to congeal.
"…?"
Ningguang lifted her gaze. Storm winds whipped her white hair and robes as shadows swallowed the harbor below. In past years, Rex Lapis' arrival had shaken the heavens—but never with such ominous thunder and storms.
A foreboding chill seized her heart. The ever-composed Qixing Tianquan felt her face tighten.
Then—golden light split the storm. The oppressive weight in the air began to lift.
Ningguang exhaled slowly. Yes—this was how Rex Lapis always arrived: in a half-dragon, half-qilin form, rending the clouds and striding across the golden firmament.
But before the brilliance could fully clear the skies, the divine light suddenly scattered outward.
With her Vision, Ningguang clearly sensed it—the godly aura of Geo was dissipating. Something that had never happened at a Rite of Descension.
Her relief curdled into dread.
"This…"
Before she could reason why, the clouds surged back, rolling like a furious sea. In moments, the divine light was drowned. And then—something massive fell from the heavens.
"Boom!!"
The impact shook the very Jade Chamber. The altar shattered, offerings scattered into the panicked crowd. And the half-dragon, half-qilin beast lay motionless at the center, its divine aura gone.
The people froze in shock.
…
"Here, eat."
A pig's head offering bounced toward Zhongli. Calmly, he caught it and handed it to Paimon.
She hesitated for a moment, but the aroma was irresistible. Hugging the braised pig's head, she gnawed eagerly, ignoring the chaos.
So delicious…
As she chewed, she couldn't help but envy Zhongli. Being Rex Lapis meant eating offerings this good. If it were her, she'd never give up such a position for eternity.
Watching her feast in front of everyone, Ken nearly burst out laughing, glancing sideways at Zhongli. A cunning move—nothing drew suspicion like this. With Rex Lapis fallen and Paimon munching offerings, Ningguang couldn't possibly overlook them. Even if Lumine wanted to abandon the "act" now, the stage was already set.
The old man truly was a master strategist.
…
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Jade Chamber collapsed into dread.
Ningguang's heart pounded as she stared at the fallen beast. Her crimson eyes could not hide her shock.
She hurried closer, searching for any sign this wasn't real.
The stunned citizens slowly recovered, fear spreading.
"Th-That… That's Rex Lapis!"
"No, impossible! How could the Lord of Geo fall?"
"But I saw him last year—he appeared exactly like this! Could it be true?"
"A Liyue without Rex Lapis… is it still Liyue?"
"No! He's wise and mighty beyond compare—he cannot die!"
Panic consumed the crowd. For a nation sheltered under his protection for millennia, the thought of losing their Archon was unbearable.
Even Tartaglia, hidden nearby with the Fatui, was shaken. He had laid ambushes at Mt. Tianheng, waiting to strike when the Archon descended, to seize the Gnosis.
But before he could act—this.
His mind reeled.
What just happened?
"Fall back. Something else has interfered. Perhaps we won't need to lift a finger."
From his vantage, Tartaglia recognized the fallen beast as Rex Lapis. And yet… who had struck first? Who could succeed where even the Fatui had not?
Back at the altar, Ningguang's inspection confirmed the unthinkable.
Rex Lapis, guardian of Liyue for thousands of years, had perished—on the very day of his rite.
The shock was like thunder splitting her soul.
Though she had considered a future where the Qixing led Liyue into human governance, unlike the radical Keqing, Ningguang fully understood the Archon's vital role.
Liyue's prosperity was not only due to commerce or the Qixing's work—it was because Rex Lapis remained.
So long as he lived, neither Fontaine nor the ambitious Snezhnaya dared act openly.
Her plan had always been a transition, negotiated with Rex Lapis and the adepti. Never… this.
Even if the Qixing could guide trade, they were no gods. They could not deter rival nations.
And what of the adepti, bound to him by contract? They would never ignore his fall. Conflict with the Qixing was inevitable.
In every direction, danger loomed.
Thoughts raced through Ningguang's mind. But first—she had to calm the people. Liyue could not afford to lose faith in its rulers.
"Rex Lapis has been slain. Seal the grounds at once!"
The crowd was already near riot. She could wait no longer.
She had no answers—why the god had fallen here, now—but mishandling this could turn public suspicion against the Qixing.
And if the adepti were roused before a plan was ready, the risk of violence was too great.
Luckily, she had anticipated Fatui meddling and stationed Millelith all around. They could secure the site, buying her precious time.
"Seal all exits! Search everyone! Find the culprit!"
Her jade-like face turned cold, her voice brooking no defiance.
"Yes, Lady Ningguang!"
Spears struck the ground in unison. Soldiers fanned out, locking down Yujing Terrace.
…
"Where did that half-dragon beast come from? If not for Zhongli, I'd think it was Rex Lapis."
Mouth full of pork, Paimon mumbled, oblivious to the trouble brewing.
"For a god, forging a false vessel is no difficulty," Venti said, quietly slipping away.
Ken patted Lumine's shoulder and followed Zhongli's lead.
The Millelith's net was tight, but escaping silently was child's play for them.
Lumine, meanwhile, nodded. She had agreed to Zhongli's plan—she would see it through. Knowing her brother was safe, she welcomed the challenge.
And given what she knew from the game's tale, Ningguang already had correspondence with Jean, who had asked her to look after Lumine and Paimon. Ningguang's spies surely knew she was in Liyue. Even if she left now, Ningguang would find her.
Only Paimon remained clueless, nibbling offerings and muttering, "Uh… don't we look exactly like the suspicious suspects?"
Sure enough, the Millelith noticed.
…
"Lady Ningguang! A lead!"
A squad leader rushed up, saluting.
"Oh?" Ningguang was surprised. She had never expected the assassin to be in the crowd—how could Rex Lapis fall so easily? Sealing the scene had been more for show. But a report?
"Among the people, we spotted a suspicious foreigner. She had a strange floating pet. From the moment she arrived, she showed no reverence. Worse—she ate the offerings meant for Rex Lapis!"
The officer's voice trembled with anger. Even with the Archon fallen, eating offerings was sacrilege.
"A floating pet?"
Ningguang's brows furrowed. That description was familiar.
"Yes. Her master was a blonde girl. Patrols saw her yesterday—she came from Mondstadt."
"…"
Ningguang paused.
Jean's latest letter had described exactly such a pair: the traveler "Lumine" and her floating companion, Paimon.
Her spies had reported as much: the traveler entered the city, dined at Wanmin Restaurant, then visited the new Liyue Specialty Shop, together with the foreign prophet Ken, Hu Tao, and Consultant Zhongli.
But to see her floating pet devour offerings… unforgivable disrespect.
Ningguang's impression soured—but then, another thought struck her.
Her reports also said Tartaglia possessed the Conquest Talisman, a pass to the adepti. He had courted Zhongli with meals and even gifted the Specialty Shop—later transferred to Ken. And the traveler was close with Ken.
The threads wove together: the Fatui, Ken, the traveler—all tied to this Zhongli.
Rex Lapis dead. Could it be linked to the Fatui? And what role did Zhongli play?
Ningguang's eyes narrowed.
"Bring them to me. I will question them myself."