Genshin Impact: I, Heavenly Principle, Will Make Teyvat Supreme

The cries of despair from several god-level beings echoed above the Abyss Moon.

"Your Highness…"

"Ahhh! I'm going to die!"

"I'm done for! One more hit and it's over!"

Meanwhile, Noah strolled leisurely away from the Abyss, his interest in the humanoid yet grotesque Abyssal beings virtually nonexistent. At the very least, they'd have to resemble someone as adorably cute as Melusine to catch his attention.

However, a thought struck him: subordinates tended to alter their appearances to align with the aesthetic preferences of their supreme being.

Take, for example, the Bathysmal Vishaps, who, to please Neuvillette, shed their claws and fangs, becoming as endearing as the Melusines he favored.

Would the Abyssal creatures, under his rule, someday attempt to transform themselves into stunning beauties to match his tastes?

After all, like gods, Abyssal beings had no inherent gender. A god's form typically reflected their personality or self-perception—lively gods appeared youthful, while ancient ones adopted more mature appearances.

Leaving the Abyss behind, Noah arrived at a floating island within the void-space layer.

During his two-day absence, numerous glass jars filled with fragments of elemental creatures and Abyssal materials had accumulated on the island. Clearly, Rhinedottir had ventured outside during this time.

Now that she considered herself an extension of Heavenly Principle, she no longer needed to sneak around Teyvat collecting materials.

Excitedly, Rhinedottir worked on the largest glass jar, infusing the alchemical creature within with massive amounts of abyssal substances and elemental remnants.

The rhythmic pulsation of the fleshy mass intensified, emitting an aura increasingly akin to that of a god-level Abyssal being.

Sensing Noah's presence behind her, Rhinedottir immediately halted her experiments and turned around, bowing her head in submission.

"Master."

Noah, seeing her abject demeanor, nodded in satisfaction. "You madwoman… Looks like you're aiming to create an Abyssal creature that surpasses the ancient Dragon Sovereigns."

Rhinedottir's eyes lit up with excitement at the mention of her proud domain. "Yes, Master. I've collected the cores of every elemental leader from Teyvat. If I could obtain fragments of the Elemental Dragon Sovereigns' flesh, I'm confident I could replicate Nibelung himself."

Noah's mouth twitched. "Only you could come up with something this insane. What's next? If I allowed it, would you want to study my own flesh and blood?"

Rhinedottir's eyes gleamed with fanaticism. "May I?"

The thought of acquiring even a single drop of blood from the Fifth Descender, who had elevated Teyvat to the status of a dimensional plane, filled her with wild ambition. She was certain it could help her create a perfect alchemical lifeform.

Slap!

A crisp smack broke her reverie as she clutched her stinging hip, tears forming in the corners of her eyes from the pain.

Noah clicked his tongue. "You dare to entertain thoughts about your master's body? Clearly, you can't be trusted with even a shred of freedom. It seems you'll always need to be kept in check by that collar."

Rhinedottir snapped out of her trance, horrified at her own audacity. Swallowing hard, she lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

The allure of his flesh and blood had been so overwhelming that it had made her forget—this man could erase her existence with a mere thought.

Noah looked at the trembling Rhinedottir, increasingly convinced that this madwoman was the type to cause chaos if not disciplined regularly. It seemed that every now and then, she would need a slap to keep her in line.

"Alright," Noah said calmly, "I'm here to set some rules. You're allowed to collect elemental creature limbs and Abyssal materials, but you're forbidden from arbitrarily killing intelligent life."

Without rules, who knew what this madwoman might do with his tacit approval? She might even try to break off Azhdaha's dragon horns if given the chance. After all, this was the same woman who, 500 years ago, leveraged all of Khaenri'ah's resources to gather forbidden knowledge for her alchemy experiments.

Rhinedottir nodded respectfully. "I understand. I won't use intelligent life for alchemy."

Noah extended his hand, a small orb of abyssal power forming in his palm. Now that he controlled the Abyss Throne, he could divide and distribute abyssal power to create subordinates. Any being infused with this power would become his vassal, much like how the former Heavenly Principle created subordinates by sharing authority. And, of course, he could reclaim the power at any time.

He pressed the orb into Rhinedottir's chest. "I grant you the ability to freely enter the Abyss for your alchemy. But you are not to use abyssal power on Teyvat's surface. If you do, I'll take it back."

As he spoke, he also playfully smacked her, filling the gaps between his fingers with satisfaction. Rhinedottir, however, paid it no mind. She had long since accepted, even subconsciously, that she belonged entirely to him. What thrilled her was the freedom to access the Abyss without restrictions, making her material collection efforts far less troublesome.

"Go ahead and indulge your mad desires within the limits I've set," Noah said, amused. He was genuinely curious about the scale of Abyssal creatures Rhinedottir might create. Without her efforts, who knew how long it would take for the Abyss to naturally produce god-level Abyssal entities on par with the Seven Archons? He didn't have that kind of time.

Rhinedottir's eyes burned with fervor as she nodded. "Understood, Master." She was already eager to dive into the Abyss and begin collecting materials.

Smack!

With another slap, Noah sent her off. "Go."

Rhinedottir, thrilled by his permission, shot toward the Abyss Moon.

Noah shook his head. "That woman..."

Still, with Rhinedottir's relentless alchemy, the Abyssal faction would likely see the emergence of numerous Seven Archon-level Abyssal creatures in no time.

World conquest didn't solely rely on the gentle methods of spreading faith or godhood systems. Sometimes, brute-force invasion was necessary. Though he didn't need it now, Noah knew that someday he would.

When the time came, he intended to show resistant worlds what a devastating black tide of Abyssal beasts truly looked like.

With the Abyssal faction's plans firmly set, Noah appeared in Jueyun Karst, on Aocang Mountain, at the peak where Cloud Retainer's Adeptus abode lay.

This picturesque spot in Jueyun Karst was steeped in history, being the site where Morax, after the Archon War, invited the Seven Archons for tea and philosophical discussions. It was also where he forged a pact with Guizhong and the Adepti of Jueyun Karst.

On the lake island in the mountain's summit, Zhongli sat at a stone table, quietly sipping tea as he awaited the Traveler to complete their task and meet him.

Sensing the arrival of Heavenly Principle, Zhongli immediately stood, turning toward Noah's presence. He gave a slight bow. "Lord Heavenly Principle."

Noah walked over to the stone table and glanced at the names inscribed on the two stone stools:

Here sits Cloud Retainer.

Here rests Guizhong.

The stool where Zhongli was currently seated undoubtedly corresponded to 'Here Borrowed by Rex Lapis'. Noah then took a seat on the stool marked 'Here Sits Cloud Retainer'.

Zhongli, filled with reverence, poured tea for Noah and asked in his steady voice, "Lord Heavenly Principle, have you come to open the gate to the third world?"

Despite his calm demeanor, a hint of anticipation colored his tone.

"Liyue is fully prepared," Zhongli continued. "At your command, we will deliver that world to you."

Noah gently swirled the immortal tea in his cup, gesturing for Zhongli to sit and talk. Zhongli nodded and seated himself. He understood that Noah seemed to hold him in particular regard—perhaps because Liyue was the most stable of the Seven Nations.

Taking a sip of the tea Zhongli had poured, Noah said, "I understand your eagerness to earn merit and have your departed friends revived, but now that erosion has been eliminated, there's no rush. A few days won't make a difference."

Zhongli nodded solemnly, though a faint glimmer of expectation shone in his eyes. "You are correct, Lord Heavenly Principle. I was too impatient. Now that Teyvat has finally stabilized, there is no urgency in bringing them back."

With erosion eradicated, Zhongli's strength had returned to the peak of his youth. Moreover, the new Geo Rule of Contracts—a gift from Noah during the annexation of the second world—had further elevated his power. His gaze lingered on Noah, sensing the faint Abyss aura mingled with his overwhelming presence. Zhongli recognized this from his youth, back when he had felt the aura emanating from the Second Throne.

The realization struck him: Lord Heavenly Principle had taken control of the Second Throne.

This meant that the Abyss was now under Noah's command as well.

Noah smiled. "Your friend… Haagentus, was it? She truly was a god on par with you, and a remarkable inventor at that."

Hearing Noah mention his late friend, Zhongli couldn't help but sigh. "Indeed. Guizhong was a god equal to me in many ways, though her fortune was not as strong." Realizing he had spoken out of turn, Zhongli quickly apologized, "Forgive me, Lord Heavenly Principle, I spoke too freely."

Noah waved it off. "No need to apologize, Zhongli. You are my subordinate, not my slave. As long as you harbor no rebellious thoughts, I am quite lenient."

Seeing Noah's empty teacup, Zhongli immediately refilled it, his respect undiminished. The Lord Heavenly Principle was not a cold, unfeeling figure as some might think; in certain ways, he was even more emotionally attuned than mortals. Yet his will was unshakably exalted.

This thought gave Zhongli hope for Teyvat's future. If Teyvat flourished, so too would Liyue.

Zhongli continued, "Though I may seem eager, my wish is truly to see my friend revived." A nostalgic tone crept into his voice as he recounted stories of his past to Noah, as if chatting casually over tea. Such moments of familiarity were rare; even Liyue's Adepti, like Cloud Retainer, were not afforded such closeness.

Guizhong and Zhongli had shared a bond rooted in their collaborative efforts to establish the contracts of Liyue. Their relationship, however, was not one of romantic entanglement. For gods, friendships were akin to unbreakable contracts. When gods became friends, they remained so indefinitely. Even if circumstances one day forced them apart, their bond of friendship would never be denied.

This was much like the bond between the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and the Goddess of Flowers, Malikata. Even after Malikata's resurrection, the Greater Lord had personally come to offer her blessings.

The God of Contracts values his agreements, and for Zhongli, Guizhong's death represents an unfulfilled contract in their joint creation of Liyue.

For the God of Contracts, leaving a contract incomplete becomes an obsession.

Noah nodded. "Zhongli, give it half a month. This time, my main purpose is to meet the Fourth Descender."

As he spoke, a subtle, enigmatic smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Zhongli nodded in understanding. "Her? She's currently completing the final Adeptal trial, making 'Bountiful Year.'"

Noah chuckled. "If she's making 'Bountiful Year,' I'll certainly have to give it a taste."

With a teasing tone, he added, "Speaking of which, she's about to find out that you're the Geo Archon. Do you think she'll want to charge at you for tricking her into farming the land in Liyue?"

Zhongli gave a wry smile. This wasn't his doing—but if the Lord Heavenly Principle said it was, then it might as well be.

As their conversation continued, a great blue-plumed crane descended from the sky, landing gracefully on its slender legs on the island in the middle of the lake. A glow of immortal light surrounded it, transforming into a woman with flowing celestial energy and red-rimmed glasses.

Seeing Zhongli, she respectfully greeted, "Sovereign."

Zhongli nodded. "Cloud Retainer."

Cloud Retainer looked toward the youth sitting in her designated spot on the stone stool and asked curiously, "Sovereign, who might this young man be?"

Zhongli replied, "This is Lord Noah, Ruler of Time from Celestia."

Cloud Retainer's eyes widened in surprise. A god from Celestia! The Ruler of Time! Was he an even higher being than Rex Lapis?

She was already aware of the World Assimilation Plan and had long been prepared to carry out her part. Could it be that the time for their task had come?

With this thought, Cloud Retainer bowed deeply. "Cloud Retainer of Jueyun Karst greets Lord Noah."

Noah glanced over her humanoid form with mild appreciation and said, "No need for such formality. I'm merely here to reminisce with Morax, please feel free to act naturally."

Cloud Retainer inclined her head slightly. She had witnessed the gatherings of the other Seven Rulers with Rex Lapis before. It wasn't unusual for the Sovereign to have connections with Celestia's gods.

"The traveler has completed my trial and is on her way here," Cloud Retainer added, glancing toward the mountain path.

Lumine emerged from the trail's entrance, her face smeared with ash from herbs and leaves, carrying a steaming pot of soup. Paimon floated behind her, wobbling in exhaustion.

Paimon pouted. "Finally! We finished that 'Bountiful Year.' It took us two whole days and nights! Why does meeting the Geo Archon require such complicated food?"

Her eyes drifted toward the pot in Lumine's hands, and she began drooling uncontrollably. "And we couldn't even taste it! Hmph, I think the Geo Archon is just stingy."

Lumine shot her a glance. "You're just mad you couldn't eat it. Didn't I give you the scraps anyway?"

"Don't forget what you said before," Lumine teased. "You promised you'd give the Geo Archon a good slap."

Paimon perked up, waving her little hands. "I never said that! The Geo Archon is right up ahead—if he hears you, I'm abandoning you, Lumine!"

With the pot in her hands, Lumine reached the end of the path, arriving at the lake's central island. Seeing Zhongli and Noah together, she froze in shock.

"Noah? Zhongli? What are you two doing here?"

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