Chapter 28

“Teyvat, I have returned!”

With these words spoken to the world, the entire world began to respond to the return of the Great Ci Tree King.

The first to react was the World Tree.

In Nahida’s bewildered gaze, the World Tree, which had previously maintained a faint connection with her, instantly unleashed the deepest, most primal power hidden within its core.

For a moment.

Even the forbidden corrupting forces were shaken and temporarily pushed back by this power.

Not to mention Nahida, the Little Jixiang Grass King—her connection was severed instantly.

Although Nahida is half of the Great Ci Tree King, her bond with the World Tree is nowhere near as tight as Buer’s.

After all, the Great Ci Tree King and the World Tree were born as one.

The next instant.

A power far vaster than Teyvat itself, immeasurably greater, suddenly emerged from the World Tree.

Forbidden forces?

Abyssal corruption?

Before they could even resist, they were instantly drowned and crushed, leaving not the faintest ripple.

……

Mondstadt.

The Angel’s Share tavern.

“No wonder this is the top-tier Dandelion wine—this crisp, rich aroma…”

The green-haired bard, eyes glazed with intoxication, savored the rare vintage before him, his usual playful demeanor absent as he faced the red-haired man across from him.

“Barbatos, what’s going on? Wasn’t the matter with Tevinter resolved? Why do Itachi look so uncharacteristically troubled?”

Diluc frowned, carefully pondering whether he had missed something.

Yet no matter how hard Diluc racked his brain, he could never guess what was truly on the Wind God’s mind.

Sometimes, the thoughts of mortals and gods are utterly different.

To Diluc, Mondstadt had weathered the Storm Dragon crisis, and the matter was temporarily settled—it should be at peace.

But the Wind God’s thoughts were the exact opposite.

The arrival of the Traveler· Kage , and the Wind God·Barbatos keenly sensed the surging tide of a new era.

If all goes well, that would be best—but if the Heavenly Principle’s scheme fails…

Not only might Mondstadt be lost, but even whether Teyvat itself could continue to exist remains uncertain.

As for the Empress of Fontaine’s plan?

Barbatos and Morax, the two oldest Primordial Gods, simply watched with indifference—or rather, they both knew this was all part of the Heavenly Principle’s board.

Banabas’s every move was likely foreseen by the Heavenly Principle.

So when Fontaine sent emissaries to claim the God’s Heart, Barbatos willingly let it go.

No one understands the nature of the Heavenly Principle better than these two ancient Primordial Gods.

Just as Barbatos’s emotions grew complicated, his expression suddenly changed.

His half-closed pale green eyes snapped wide open.

“This… this voice is so familiar!”

Then, before Diluc’s puzzled gaze, the Wind God turned into wind and vanished, abandoning the half-finished wine.

“Has something happened that I don’t know about?”

Diluc clenched his brows tightly; though he was a top-tier Vision bearer, he could not hear the Great Ci Tree King’s dialogue with the world.

……

“How could the Great Ci Tree King, fallen for centuries, suddenly return—especially now?”

Moreover, the moment the Great Ci Tree King’s voice sounded, the long-silent Sky Island seemed to stir back to life.

As if the long-vacant Throne had finally welcomed back its rightful master.

And as the Sky Island stirred, the Throne of Teyvat directly called out to all the Regents.

Is the Heavenly Principle awakening?

Or has the Great Ci Tree King done something?

The carefree bard Venti vanished; the Wind God·Barbatos’s expression grew calm, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.

“Let’s go to the Sky Island first—perhaps the Great Ci Tree King’s sudden return brings new hope?”

Though the Heavenly Principle is dominant, arrogant, and utterly self-centered…

But does Barbatos truly fear it?

Not necessarily—it’s just another fall.

Having endured constant erosion, Barbatos would have long since fallen into self-sleep, awaiting the moment of final oblivion, had he not been unwilling to abandon Mondstadt.

If he fears no fall, why fear the Heavenly Principle?

……

Liyue.

Yunhanshe.

“Alas—the autumn red blooms, broken, cannot be paired again; fools, consumed by obsession and bitter resentment.”

Yun Jin, the elegant and sweet-voiced mistress of Yunhanshe, sang with a nimble, fluid tone that lingered in the air, drawing listeners into her tale, unwilling to awaken.

Zhongli, the young man with the steady, mountain-like aura, sipped his tea slowly, nodding in quiet approval.

“Yun Jin’s skill has reached another level…”

At that moment, Zhongli froze—his teacup and its contents instantly petrified into amber.

Yet even in this uncharacteristic lapse, Zhongli remained lost in thought, unable to return to himself.

“Old friend, why have Itachi returned so suddenly? And why, upon your return, do Itachi stir such a storm?”

Zhongli—or rather, Morax—possessed power even greater than Barbatos’s.

Barbatos could only faintly sense subtle shifts across Teyvat as the Great Ci Tree King returned.

But Morax could clearly perceive the radiant figure of the Great Ci Tree King, brighter than the sun in the heavens.

Merely standing there, he seemed the center of the world, the origin of all things!

The world called out for the return of this embodiment of the World Tree.

The world responded to the Great Ci Tree King’s dialogue as the Great Wisdom Lord of Sumeru.

And as the Great Ci Tree King stepped onto the ground of the Sky Island, the world itself rejoiced in jubilation.

But.

How could this be possible?

As the oldest Primordial God, Morax understood Teyvat’s current state better than anyone.

The Second Throne War had already shattered the world’s foundation.

The Kanria Catastrophe had once more pushed Teyvat closer to destruction…

How could Teyvat possibly have the strength left to respond to the Great Ci Tree King?

In silence, Zhongli returned to the Wangsheng Inn.

He needed time to calm the turbulent thoughts stirred by this sudden upheaval.

“Huh~ Guest Minister, why do Itachi look so strange? Did the Star of Authority, Ningguang, snatch up that precious item Itachi wanted again?”

Lost in thought, Zhongli didn’t even notice the Wangsheng Inn’s mistress standing right before him.

“Mistress, I must leave for a time—to seek out an old friend.”

“Go, go—but don’t send me any more bills! If Itachi rack up a few more big ones, the Wangsheng Inn will exceed this year’s budget!”

Hu Tao pulled at her stiff face as she warned him.

Her Guest Minister was excellent in every way—well-read, versed in ancient and modern lore, and an unmatched earner.

But the problem was: he earned quickly—and spent even more extravagantly!

Hearing Hu Tao’s reply, Zhongli did not wait for her to finish—he vanished instantly from the Wangsheng Inn.

“Left so quickly… this must be urgent…”

Not surprised by her Guest Minister’s casual display of extraordinary ability, Hu Tao was no fool—someone who had raised her and never aged could not possibly be ordinary; without doubt, he was a celestial being.