"Now then, this brings us to the final matter."
Jiang Yan's tone grew steady as his gaze swept across the hall.
"Recently, with our territory expanding so suddenly, issues have arisen everywhere—resettling the people, rebuilding after war, stabilizing the newly acquired lands..."
He paused, glancing toward the others.
"Let's be honest—even with our power, it's starting to stretch us thin."
Cloud Retainer and Guizhong exchanged wry looks, nodding.
No one understood that exhaustion better than they did.
If they hadn't forced Jiang Yan and Morax to stay at their desks, those two would have long since "gone to spar" somewhere in the mountains.
"So," Jiang Yan continued, "after the founding of the nation, I plan to establish a governing structure—one that will both assist us and ensure that Liyue endures for generations."
"In the mortal realm, it shall be called the Liyue Qixing, the Seven Stars of Liyue, along with a Permanent Council to handle state affairs."
He unfurled a scroll, on which seven names gleamed in neat, elegant script:
Tianshu, Tianquan, Tianji, Tianxuan, Yuheng, Kaiyang, Yaoguang — the Seven Stars.
The moment the words left his lips, a ripple of surprise coursed through the immortals.
Cloud Retainer frowned.
"Are you saying... you intend to let mortals take part in governing Liyue?"
Jiang Yan nodded—then, just as quickly, shook his head.
That earned him a collection of puzzled looks.
"Once a nation is founded," he explained patiently, "every era should have its own rhythm, its own voice.
The lifespan of mortals lasts scarcely a century—and each new generation represents a new era."
"I do intend to let mortals take part in Liyue's governance," he continued, his eyes bright, "but not by handing them absolute authority."
"The Liyue Qixing will serve as the Permanent Council of State, formulating policies for the coming centuries.
However—those policies cannot be enacted without the approval of the Geo Lord and us immortals.
Their power will be shared, not sovereign."
He glanced around the table, his voice calm yet convincing.
"And the members of the Qixing will be chosen jointly—by the Geo Lord, the immortals, and the people of Liyue.
Only those proven most worthy will take those seats. That will keep corruption at bay."
"With the Seven Stars handling civil affairs, we'll be free to pursue our own duties once again—while ensuring our nation continues to prosper long after us."
The immortals fell silent, turning toward Morax almost instinctively.
The Geo Lord sat still, brows slightly furrowed, deep in thought.
He had to admit—Jiang Yan's reasoning struck home.
The recent deluge of administrative work had made even him realize how heavy Guizhong's burden truly was.
Finally, Morax spoke.
"It is feasible. But the first generation of the Liyue Qixing must be chosen with utmost care."
He raised his golden gaze toward Jiang Yan.
"Their appointment will be our nation's first true policy.
If the people do not trust the Seven Stars, the entire structure will crumble before it begins."
Jiang Yan nodded gravely.
"I agree completely. The first generation must not only be capable of governance—but also command the trust of the people."
"Which is why," he added, "among the first Seven Stars, one must be an immortal."
His words drew faint murmurs of surprise.
"With one of us among them, the Qixing will gain credibility far more quickly.
And, in time, this arrangement will serve as the bridge—the transition from immortal rule to mortal governance."
He paced slowly as he spoke, the lanternlight flickering across his silver eyes.
"In addition, to balance the Seven Stars' authority, we'll establish another governing body beneath them—the Eight Ministries.
Each ministry will oversee specific sectors: commerce, industry, military affairs, agriculture, justice, rituals, and so on."
The immortals leaned in, discussing in low voices as Jiang Yan continued jotting notes, adjusting the framework based on their suggestions.
Hours passed unnoticed.
When they finally looked up, the sky outside the hall had already dimmed into evening.
Jiang Yan set his brush down, stretching his sore wrist, and looked toward the others.
"Alright. For now, let's settle on this structure."
"If anyone has further thoughts, you can find me, Guizhong, Cloud Retainer—or the Geo Lord himself."
He took a slow breath, eyes narrowing with seriousness.
"There's still one last matter we haven't decided."
The room fell silent again. Even Morax set his teacup down.
Jiang Yan's gaze swept across the gathered immortals.
"This final decision... may well be the most important."
"It concerns which of us will serve among the first generation of the Liyue Qixing."
The hall grew utterly still.
He was right—choosing the immortal representative would define how the people viewed this new system.
Each immortal had their own responsibilities, and their reputations among the people varied greatly.
"The immortal we send," Jiang Yan said solemnly, "must be one who already commands deep respect among the people."
As soon as the words left his mouth—
every immortal in the room turned to look directly at him.
Jiang Yan froze, blinking.
"Eh... wait a minute... why are you all looking at me?!"
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