Chapter 468

It is indeed a matter worth a smile.

Below, seeing that Jiang Yan had arrived, Lady Lady Ningguang felt relieved and stopped delaying the progress.

Exchanging glances with the other the Liyue Liyue Liyue Qixing, she walked to the offering table and began the process.

In itself, this matter only required Lady Lady Ningguang alone, as she was the person in charge of this year's Rite of Descension.

But this Rite of Descension was the last one, and it was also the time for Seeing Seeing Zhongli to announce his abdication.

Naturally, everyone had to be present.

Reaching out, three sticks of incense were lit, the smoke curling straight into the clouds.

Lady Lady Ningguang respectfully inserted the incense and said loudly:

"The Rite of Descension begins. Respectfully invite the Geo Archon to descend!"

The other the Liyue Liyue Liyue Qixing also echoed in unison, shouting it once more.

The next moment, a seven-colored vortex condensed in the sky.

A golden, majestic divine dragon circled in the clouds.

After an unknown amount of time, it suddenly lowered its head, its dragon eyes imposing without anger.

Filling the people of Liyue looking up from the ground with worship.

After a silent roar, the divine dragon suddenly transformed into golden light and dove toward the earth.

At the last moment before touching the ground, it suddenly shrank.

Instead, Seeing Seeing Zhongli stepped out from within.

At this moment, although his attire had not changed, he appeared full of majesty, set off by the divine dragon's body just now.

This time, he made no concealment and appeared directly as Seeing Seeing Zhongli.

"Greetings, Geo Archon!"

Yujing Terrace erupted with the thunderous greetings of the Liyue people.

Seeing Seeing Zhongli nodded slightly, then looked toward Jiang Yan's direction.

Respectfully cupping his hands, he said:

"Acting Head Seat of Shushan's Dragon Head Peak, Liyue's Geo Archon, Seeing Seeing Zhongli, greets the Sect Leader."

"The Sect Leader coming to observe the ceremony is my, and Liyue's, greatest honor."

Jiang Yan chuckled and spoke softly, his voice reaching everyone's ears.

"Head Seat Seeing Seeing Zhongli, no need for such courtesy."

"Head Seat Seeing Seeing Zhongli has worked tirelessly and performed his duties faithfully for Shushan, allowing the Law Enforcement Hall to revive in a short time and resume its duty of monitoring Shushan."

"Merely coming to observe the ceremony is nothing."

"Moreover, I cultivate in Shushan every day and have not come to the mundane world for many days. This time can be considered a tempering of the heart in the red dust."

"No need to pay too much attention to me."

"Instead, Head Seat Seeing Seeing Zhongli, this is your Rite of Descension; you should prioritize the Rite of Descension."

Seeing Seeing Zhongli nodded slightly and said earnestly:

"Many thanks for the Sect Leader's understanding."

Immediately, Seeing Seeing Zhongli withdrew his gaze and looked at the countless Liyue citizens.

Although it was rumored that Seeing Seeing Zhongli had already joined Shushan and become a Shushan Head Seat, seeing it with their own eyes now.

Ultimately made the people of Liyue even more joyous.

Their own Geo Archon was an important figure in Shushan; how could this not make them proud?

One by one, they looked at Seeing Seeing Zhongli with eager eyes, waiting for his instructions for the new year.

But Seeing Seeing Zhongli's gaze was somewhat distant, and he spoke words completely different from the past.

"Since the founding of Liyue... it has been over three thousand seven hundred years."

"And I... have already lived for over six thousand years."

"Over six thousand years, the seas have changed into mulberry fields. My life has been too long; I have lost much, and I have gained much."

"On the path of building Liyue and escorting Liyue, I personally witnessed the fall of many old friends and witnessed the sacrifice of many citizens."

"The establishment and development of Liyue have never been smooth sailing. I understand how much blood and tears were exchanged for the achievements of Liyue today."

"But the citizens of Liyue have not failed this blood and tears. When Liyue was established in the past, I once asked your ancestors what kind of life they wanted."

"Their answers were different; some wanted to be wealthier, some wanted to be healthier, some wanted to be more peaceful..."

"But when asked what kind of Liyue they wanted, everyone told me they wanted a Liyue strong enough to make all enemies coveting Liyue tremble."

"Today, three thousand seven hundred years later, you have already provided a perfect answer. This answer is not for me."

"It is for your ancestors, for yourselves, and for Liyue."

Seeing Seeing Zhongli's gaze was bright and piercing, carrying unprecedented determination and a hint of imperceptible nostalgia.

"Establishment, development, poverty, prosperity, victory, disaster..."

"These three thousand seven hundred years, from Liyue's initial weakness to its current strength, I have accompanied it from beginning to end."

"Liyue has become the appearance that makes me proud, the appearance that makes all Liyue ancestors proud. I am satisfied."

"I think it is time..."

Hearing this, Lady Lady Ningguang and the others became nervous, and the people of Liyue seemed to sense something wrong, looking at Seeing Seeing Zhongli with some anxiety.

Seeing Seeing Zhongli looked up at Jiang Yan and said slowly:

"In your eyes, Liyue is only three thousand seven hundred years old, but I..."

"From the moment I was born until now, I have been fighting for Liyue. At that time, Liyue was not even called Liyue."

"The Liyue of today no longer needs my guidance. In fact, my outdated concepts might become a burden to Liyue."

"Therefore..."

Seeing Seeing Zhongli took a deep breath. Although he had been prepared for a long time, until now, when he really had to say it, he still felt some heartache.

But...

There is no turning back once the bow is drawn; he could not continue like this.

Seeing Seeing Zhongli looked up and said firmly:

"In the name of the Geo Archon, Morax, I announce that this Rite of Descension is the final Rite of Descension for Liyue."

"From today on..."

"The Geo Archon abdicates; Liyue shall be governed without a god, returning to the people!"

278. Goodbye Geo Archon, hello Seeing Seeing Zhongli...

From the moment Seeing Seeing Zhongli started speaking, many clever people in Liyue guessed that something big was happening at today's Rite of Descension.

Thinking about it now, all of this actually had traces to follow.

It was clearly just an annual Rite of Descension, not exactly a grand event.

Why did the the Liyue Liyue Liyue Qixing make such a big fuss?

Why did they specifically invite the Shushan Sect Leader to come?

Wasn't it just an annual grand event?

No matter how important it was to Liyue, it was a festival of a mundane nation; what right did it have to make the Shushan Sect Leader come in person?

Seeing it now, it was clear.

He didn't come for this festival, but to give face to Seeing Seeing Zhongli, the Shushan Head Seat.

From today on...

Liyue has no god...

This news exploded across Yujing Terrace. Not only were the people of Liyue stunned, but even people from other nations who had come to join the fun felt their scalps go numb.

The Geo Archon, the first Archon who had existed the longest, had stepped down?

Not only stepped down, but also completely abolished the divine office of the Geo Archon in one go?

From now on, Liyue could not have a second god to manage it, and could only let the people of Liyue govern themselves?

Knowing that Liyue took big steps, but...

Was this step too big?

Even in neighboring Mondstadt, which was free to the extreme, wasn't there still an Anemo Archon in power?

Regardless of whether they did their job or not, at least the position of Anemo Archon wasn't lost.

Seeing Seeing Zhongli had completely broken the pattern of the Seven Archons of the mortal world.