Hearing this, Hu Tao's eyes sparkled as she planted her hands on her hips and nodded: "Exactly, exactly! Sister Guizhong is right. Totally right! Zhongli is just like some old grandpa, always pawning off the Divine Collective's duties onto me. I think he just wants to dump everything and quit."
She still carried resentment over how, for thousands of years, Zhongli had shifted the Collective's affairs onto her shoulders.
Zhongli might have wanted her to act as leader, but she knew herself well—she was no leader, not someone suited for such a role.
Even though she deeply revered Zhongli, Rex Lapis himself, she would still speak her mind.
Guizhong shook her head, stepping forward with a look of earnest reproach: "Ah, Zhongli… what were you thinking? Hu Tao is still a child, and yet you left her with the duties of the entire Collective. Don't tell me you really mean to retire? I know you've had this thought for quite some time."
The Yaksha leaders appeared nearby as well, the weight of the cosmos faintly manifesting around them. It was clear they had one foot already across the threshold of weak single-universe, soon to ascend smoothly into Almighty Gods.
Now in Teyvat, even weak single-universe was already regarded as Almighty God, for weak single-universe would inevitably advance to standard single-universe—it was only a matter of time.
Xiao stepped forward, asking solemnly: "Sovereign… do you truly intend to retire?"
Xianyun furrowed her brow, puzzled: "Why would the Sovereign think of retirement? Liyue is flourishing now more than ever—it needs a guiding light. We fear that without you, chaos might spread."
"Especially with Pan-Human History—there might be problems at any time."
Moon Carver grew anxious: "Sovereign, what reason could there be for this?"
Zhongli watched as everyone grew worked up, and suddenly the atmosphere felt hard to manage.
Was it just because he lived at a slower pace? How had they all come to think of him as already retired?
As Liyue's oldest god, and the patriarch of its Collective, he was still performing his duties. Some things truly required his hand.
"You are all overthinking. I have no thoughts of retiring. I merely passed a few duties to Hu Tao, to give a young god the chance to grow."
"Though I am nearly twenty thousand years old, and thus an aged god, it is only a matter of occasional weariness."
In truth, he wasn't tired at all. With the power of two universes, he had already reached the threshold of strong single-universe.
But slacking off always needed an excuse.
Guizhong immediately countered: "Aged? An old god? Zhongli, you are indeed Teyvat's oldest, but by standard time, Odin of Sumeru is nearing three hundred thousand years old, and look at him—still full of vigor. Why are you the one who can't go on?"
Zhongli fell silent. Ah… Guizhong never used to undermine him like this. She must have learned it from the Traveler. He felt weary in spirit.
Xianyun quickly said: "So long as the Sovereign is not retiring, all is well. Our Collective cannot do without you."
Bosacius added: "Indeed. If the Sovereign retired, I can't imagine what chaos would befall Liyue."
For Liyue was no mere nation, but guardian over countless universes, protecting countless civilizations.
For them Yaksha and Adepti, fighting and killing was one thing, but managing such vast domains as Liyue—they could hardly imagine the difficulty.
Guizhong beckoned at the stone table: "Come, come, don't just stand there. Let's eat and talk."
"Hehe, Xiangling's cooking has climbed yet another step. I can't wait to see what delicacies she creates once she reaches Almighty God."
Xiangling arrived, carrying a glowing pot, and said shyly: "If Sister Guizhong likes it, eat more. I've made plenty of dishes."
Hu Tao quickly pulled her down: "This is already enough food, Xiangling. Come sit and eat with us."
But Xiangling shook her head firmly: "No, a chef cannot sit until every dish is complete."
Marchosius waved his hand: "Ah, Xiangling is as diligent as ever. But it's only thanks to such diligence that she's come this far."
The Yaksha and Adepti sat down, with several stone stools still left empty—clearly, not everyone had arrived yet.
Just then, several gods in modern casual clothing strolled through the archway.
"Ah! Our apologies, our apologies. We only just finished handling the Collective's affairs—nearly made us late."
"Truly a sin to have kept everyone waiting."
These were, of course, the leaders of several of Liyue's divine systems.
Each of them already bore the weight of the cosmos, proof that they too were close to reaching weak single-universe.
The Jade Emperor looked like an idle middle-aged man. If placed in 21st-century Earth of the lower time-space, people would surely think him a washed-up gambler, unshaven and sloppy.
Among the Three Pure Ones, the Grand Pure One resembled a fortune-teller lingering in the corner of a plaza, the Jade Pure One looked like a diligent company manager, and the Supreme Pure One was like a hot-blooded punk youth.
Indra looked comparatively normal—like a shady middle-class shop owner, plotting mischief in secret.
To mortals, supreme gods were untouchably sacred, beyond all measure. But to peers of equal rank—especially those long familiar—they looked just like this.
Most importantly, none of the gods were truly immortal. As their ages advanced, they grew ever less concerned with their appearances.
And besides, they did not show these looks to outsiders.
Since they frequently gathered to play cards together, their appearances no longer seemed much different anyway.
Guizhong couldn't help but sigh: "Truly, Liyue's future is filled with absurdity."
Hu Tao added: "Ah～ I've long gotten used to it."
"At fifteen I already met old man Zhongli. Compared to that, all the divine leaders looking like this seems normal to me. At least they aren't as exaggerated as Zhongli at the start."
Zhongli: "..." Why was he always the one criticized for every flaw? Ah… truly weary.
Once everyone had gathered, the meal began.
In Liyue Divine Collective, discussing major affairs over the dinner table had always been tradition.
Zhongli sipped his tea and said: "Everyone should already have received the news—Lord Heavenly Principle has summoned the highest ranks of all Divine Collectives for one final meeting before the dawn of the multiversal era."
The Jade Emperor nodded: "Mm. Though I have not yet reached weak single-universe, the Cosmic Nexus has deemed me qualified, so I too received the summons."
Indra ate as though he hadn't had a meal in ages, shoveling food into his mouth, yet his divine intent was clear: "Yes, after all, if we weren't qualified, Sovereign, you wouldn't have invited us here."
Blunt, but true.
The Grand Pure One pulled a smoking pipe from his sleeve, quietly lighting it as he said: "Only those at weak single-universe and above may attend. That's not hard to understand. Teyvat has now ascended to the multiversal level—only such beings can truly affect its future."
The Supreme Pure One lifted his wine gourd and laughed: "It's all thanks to the Sovereign and Director Hu's guidance that we've reached weak single-universe so quickly. Otherwise, how could we even dream of this qualification?"
The Jade Pure One nodded: "Indeed. Our Liyue's treatment is far better than other Collectives. Multiple cosmologies, and even some yet unawakened cosmologies—too many enhancements."
Setting aside the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's personal strength, Liyue Divine Collective was unquestionably the strongest overall. After that came Inazuma, Fontaine, and Mondstadt.
Hu Tao grinned: "It was only the normal opening of the Pseudo Star Map Creation. You all worked hard too. Without your effort, even with my help, we couldn't have reached this level."
Zhongli nodded: "That is indeed correct. Your own efforts were the greater part."
As Patriarch of the Liyue Divine Collective, he felt gratified. Liyue had more gods above weak single-universe than any other Collective.
Indra asked: "According to Lord Heavenly Principle's summons, this is to be the final divine assembly before Teyvat's multiversal ascension."
"One can imagine how great the changes will be. Sovereign, as the god closest to Lord Heavenly Principle, do you have any insight into this?"
This was the question all gods who had received the summons wanted answered.
For every divine assembly brought upheaval beyond imagining—much more so when it was limited only to gods at weak single-universe and above.
All eyes turned toward Zhongli.
Among Liyue's high command, everyone knew the original Seven Archons were closest to the Heavenly Principle. And it was said Zhongli had been present at the very first divine assembly, countless ages ago.
Not only that—rumor had it that in the era when Rex Lapis himself was born, he had audience with the Heavenly Principle several times.
He was truly among the most venerable gods of all Teyvat.
Zhongli pondered for a moment. "I have some conjecture."
"According to the Heavenly Principle's will, the most important matter for Teyvat at present is not ascension of rank, but the development of Pan-Human History."
"If Teyvat is likened to a body, then Pan-Human History is its meridians. Only where the meridians flow can life and soul be infused."
"Thus, this divine assembly will certainly concern Pan-Human History."
"Let us not forget the three great Gift Games decreed by Lord Heavenly Principle."
"Besides the True Name Contest, which is permanent, and the Cosmology Gift Game which has already concluded, the last— the Solar Sovereignty Gift Game—must surely be tied to Pan-Human History."
"Think about it—Pan-Human History contains not only human history, but also world history, racial history, and divine history. What binds all of these together? The phenomena of existence itself."
"And what are those phenomena, if not the intertwining of reality and myth? And their crystallization is none other than Pan-Human History's essence."
"I believe these crystallizations are the Solar Sovereignties."
These Solar Sovereignties were not the dominion of literal celestial bodies, but authorities representing certain phenomena of Pan-Human History—phenomena that could guide its flow.
Hu Tao blinked curiously: "Zhongli, how do you know such secrets? Did one of the higher gods tell you?"
As a Divine Collective leader, she naturally inherited knowledge of Teyvat's mysteries. Yet of this, she had no impression at all.
Zhongli shook his head: "It is only that I understand the will of the Heavenly Principle more deeply, and two days ago I sensed the surge of activity from Pan-Human History. That is why I perceived it."
Marchosius widened his eyes: "Zhongli! Had you not said so, I would have thought what I felt that day was only an illusion."
"Two days ago, I sensed it too. If not for my stewardship of the Sacred Flame, I would never have noticed."
The gods exchanged astonished looks.
Guizhong looked at Zhongli with a wry smile: "Though you slack off all the time, Zhongli, your age and your strength have reached the point where you can perceive Pan-Human History's fluctuations on your own."
She herself was at weak single-universe, nearly standard single-universe, yet she could sense only the breath of civilization—no trace of Pan-Human History. What she could grasp was merely the pulse of civilization, through which she guided its course across worlds, averting the risks of collapse.
The Jade Emperor pondered aloud: "Pan-Human History… that is indeed a heavy matter."
Cosmologies were incomparably precious and held unimaginable power, yet Pan-Human History was the transcendent concept from which cosmologies and all life itself were born.
Even the faintest ripple in Pan-Human History could devastate an entire Divine Collective, sending gods falling by the multitude.
Many small or mid-tier divine systems, ignorant of Pan-Human History, once attempted to tamper with it—and were annihilated by even a ripple of its flow. Their entire systems perished, their management frameworks frozen to this day by the Cosmic Nexus.
Hu Tao shook her head and said quickly: "Enough, enough. Meals are for eating happily. The divine assembly is still a few days away, isn't it? We can talk slowly."
Xianyun nodded: "Indeed. There is no need to be so anxious."
The high commands of every Divine Collective were all making preparations for the assembly.
Only in Sumeru had all matters been entrusted to Lesser Lord Kusanali, Nahida.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, meanwhile, after giving a few instructions, had already departed early for the Temple of Truth.
From another crucial nexus within the Temple of Truth, a solemn voice echoed forth:
"Another derivative Truth has been born, like Human Principle itself. It is the multiversal concept that records all information, and through information connects all things."
"It is the derivative Truth born alongside humanity."
"Derivative Truths arise when a world, under the influence of Absolute Truth, reaches a certain level of being."
"When a world reaches single-universe, Human Principle is born. When a world reaches multiversal structure, and all functions of Pan-Human History are activated, then the Truth of Akasha is born."
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