The Creator God?
The Lord of the August Center of Heaven?
Both Hidemoto Keikain and Monk Tenkai understood the aning behind these titles. As Onmyōji and monks who were well-versed in ancient texts and myths, they knew that the Lord of the August Center of Heaven was the highest deity who had created the world.
However, according to legend, even among the Three Noble Children, the highest-ranked deities of Takamagahara, only the Supre Gods Izanagi and Izanami had the honor of witnessing the Lord of the August Center of Heaven at the ti of creation.
Was it truly possible for the Ōmikami (Great Deity), Rex Lapis, to directly petition such a being?
The title of Ōmikami was bestowed only upon those divine beings who were revered by all gods and who governed the mortal realm. Until now, only Amaterasu Ōmikami had held such a title.
Could a Takamagahara' True God of the Three Noble Children tier really communicate with the Lord of the August Center of Heaven?
Hidemoto Keikain and Monk Tenkai exchanged glances, seeing the shock reflected in each other's eyes.
Since Rex Lapis Ōmikami had already issued a divine decree, it was clear that this was no re deception.
Gods do not lie to mortals.
Hidemoto Keikain wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and muttered, "Petitioning the Lord of the August Center of Heaven to grant a divine position to the Three-Eyed Five-Manifestations Immortals… This is a divine event, a sacred secret that only gods should be privy to."
Monk Tenkai clasped his prayer beads tightly, his unease evident. "Though myths speak of Amaterasu Ōmikami elevating subordinate yokai to the ranks of Takamagahara' True Gods, to witness such a thing with our own eyes…"
Hidemoto Keikain gazed at the people setting up the ceremony, feeling as if he had stepped into the very fabric of mythology itself.
The news of Rex Lapis Ōmikami preparing to petition the Lord of the August Center of Heaven for a divine title for the Three-Eyed Five-Manifestations Immortals quickly spread beyond Liyue. rchants traveling to and from Hiji City carried the tale far and wide.
With the desire to witness this legendary event firsthand, humans and yokai capable of making the journey hurried toward Hiji City, causing the Ministry of Civil Affairs to face imnse pressure.
The Liyue Qixing and Eight Trades worked tirelessly to maintain order, while under Ningguang's ticulous registration efforts, the yokai citizens of Liyue had already surpassed two million in number, and the human population had exceeded ten million.
Yokai, despite their superior strength compared to humans, were not easily born; the conditions for their existence were far more complex. Daiyōkai, in particular, were exceedingly rare, with no more than a hundred in the entire world.
On the other hand, humans, though weak, could reproduce with ease—a hundred tis more readily than yokai.
Given enough ti, humans would inevitably beco the dominant force in the world.
Had it not been for the arrival of Noah and his ascension to the divine throne of A-no-Mihashira, the throne's power would have continued to reclaim authority over ti. In five hundred years, yokai would have faced an era of decline, while humanity advanced with technology.
Now, with over three million humans and yokai flocking to Hiji City for the divine invocation ceremony, the city bustled with an unprecedented vibrance.
Yet despite the overwhelming crowd, the divine presence of Rex Lapis ensured that both humans and yokai strictly adhered to the laws of the contract and maintained order.
For a brief mont, Hiji City's grandeur even surpassed the Lantern Rite Festival of Liyue Harbor in Teyvat.
...
Ministry of Civil Affairs
Ningguang was so overwheld with work that even the ornantal pin in her hair had beco disheveled. Despite her exhaustion, the red glow in her eyes shimred with excitent and anticipation.
The immortals' achievents had reached the necessary threshold for deification, and Rex Lapis was preparing to seek divine appointnts from the Heavenly Principle.
Although Inazuma's Guuji Yae Miko had been the first to experience such an opportunity, this ti, Ningguang herself was directly involved in the event.
Moreover, Rex Lapis had once promised them that upon completing their mission in this world, her own rits would be sufficient for deification.
Becoming a god...
The re thought sent a thrill of excitent through her, igniting an even greater drive to contribute to Liyue's ever-expanding dominion.
Ningguang sighed as she finished reviewing a docunt and said, "Although the Divine Invocation Ceremony is similar to the Immortal Invocation Ceremony, it is the Sovereign himself who will preside over it. We can only assist in preparing the rituals."
Keqing gently pressed her sore shoulders and replied, "To participate in the Sovereign's petition to the Heavenly Principle for the deification of the immortals is already a great honor. Though it is exhausting, I feel fulfilled, and no amount of work will make weary."
Ningguang tucked a strand of her platinum blonde hair behind her ear and gazed out the window at the bustling cityscape. "Indeed, seeing this flourishing city and knowing that we contributed to it brings imnse satisfaction. Moreover, an even brighter future awaits us."
"This ti, as the Sovereign petitions the Heavenly Principle, do you think we'll have the chance to witness even a glimpse of divine majesty?"
"Ah... perhaps I'm overthinking it. After being involved in so many matters concerning the gods, my thoughts are running wild."
Ningguang shook her head self-deprecatingly. Even if she might beco a god in the future, at this mont, she was still just an ordinary mortal.
Even if she did ascend one day, would she ever have the opportunity to see the Heavenly Principle?
...
Within Rex Lapis's Divine Hall, Zhongli sat on the divine throne, his golden eyes gazing down at the kneeling Adepti before him.
"When the sun rises tomorrow, I shall petition for your ascension to subordinate godhood."
"Though in na you will be my subordinate gods, in essence, gods only recognize hierarchy, not subordination. Once you ascend, you will no longer be under my protection..."
This was an undeniable covenant among all who entered the Divine Pantheon Blueprint—a divine decree, an absolute rule set by the Heavenly Principle.
Within the Divine Pantheon, gods acknowledged only superiority and inferiority. There was no true subjugation; a Subordinate God was rely one whose divine authority derived from a higher god.
Xiao raised his head and looked respectfully at Zhongli. "The Sovereign has protected for over two thousand years. Though I am reluctant to leave, I understand that the Sovereign hopes for our growth."
Zhongli's expression was steady and kind, like a father figure. "A fledgling must leave the nest and face the winds and rains on its own. Ascending to godhood ans that you will be able to shoulder responsibilities for the pantheon and the world of Teyvat."
To Zhongli, although the immortals' ascension would mark the end of their contract as his subordinates, the bond they had ford over three millennia could not be severed by a re contract.
Cloud Retainer sighed, "I always knew that one day we would leave the Sovereign's protection and ascend to godhood, but I never imagined this day would co so soon."
Moon Carver added with a sigh, "Becoming a god is sothing mortals dream of, yet now that the mont has arrived, I feel a sense of reluctance to part with our contract. However, if we were to refuse, we would not only disappoint the Sovereign but regret it for eternity."
According to the divine decree, those eligible for godhood had only one opportunity to ascend. If they missed it, they would never again have the chance.
Once rejected, the divine seat would never accept them again.
Mada Ping chuckled, "Why are you all sighing? This is a great thing. Once we beco gods, we can better assist the Sovereign. After all, there are more worlds to conquer in the future, and we can contribute more to his cause."
Mountain Shaper nodded. "That's right. Why have you both suddenly beco sentintal, Moon Carver, Cloud Retainer?"
Cloud Retainer snorted coldly. "Who is sentintal? If it weren't inappropriate right now, I'd have a lengthy debate with you."
Ganyu blinked, staring at the Sovereign seated on the divine throne. Was she really about to ascend to godhood?
Her mind still felt dizzy.
She wasn't sure what she had done to deserve such an honor.
Had she not simply perford her duties in Liyue of this world just as she did in Liyue Harbor?
As Zhongli watched his Adepti argue and bicker as they always did, his usually stern expression softened.
Once this task is complete, Guizhong, nogias, Bosacius, and the others will finally return. Things will be even more lively then.
Zhongli stood up, his gaze steady and firm.
"Then, at the mont the sun rises tomorrow, the ceremony shall begin."
...
...
Crackle, pop—
Multicolored fireworks exploded across the night sky of Hiji City, illuminating the bustling tropolis that was equally lively by day and night. The city, under divine protection, never slept. Though humans and yokai mingled freely, the nightti belonged more to yokai, who naturally preferred the dark hours. Even many humans, feeling secure in the god's domain, had beco nocturnal themselves.
Since this was the first divine ceremony hosted by a god in this world, the celebration was grand beyond imagination. Festivities filled every street and teahouse, offering a variety of performances and entertainnt.
At the Statue Plaza, a massive crowd of yokai and humans eagerly awaited the mont when the first rays of dawn would break the horizon. Countless eyes were fixed on Rex Lapis's Divine Hall, where the supre deity resided.
However, only the Adepti, the Liyue Qixing, and a few select individuals had ever set foot inside. The only mortals to have seen the supre deity firsthand were those present when he first descended upon the earth.
Princess Izayoi followed closely behind Ningguang and Keqing as they ascended the grand staircase leading to the ceremonial platform. She wasn't alone—Inukimi and the Adepti, who awaited their divine appointnts, also climbed the steps.
Dressed in luxurious twelve-layered robes, Inukimi could barely contain her excitent, her trembling hands placed gently over her chest in an attempt to calm her racing heart.
Though she was only involved in assisting with the ceremony, the weight of the mont overwheld her. She was now officially recognized as Fairy Inukimi, an immortal in na and reality.
This ti, the Sovereign would petition for the deification of the Three-Eyed Five Manifestations Immortals, and perhaps next ti, it would be her turn.
She resolved to ticulously morize every step of the process.
This is a divine ceremony—a ritual that exists only in myth. And now, I am part of it.
Ningguang took a deep breath, looking over the crowd below—humans and yokai with expressions of awe, reverence, and anticipation. It was her first ti participating in such a grand ritual.
Her gaze shifted upward to the horizon, where the first light of dawn began to paint the sky.
At the precise mont, she spoke the long-prepared invocation in a steady voice, the brooch-shaped artifact on her chest amplifying her words to echo across the entire city:
"The appointed ti has arrived. We humbly invite the Sovereign to listen. May the words of invocation be heard and the ceremony comnce."
"By the Sovereign's grace, lands are settled and thrive."
"By contract upheld, rchants from all directions arrive."
"By divine protection, blessings flourish without end."
"By the sacred fla, prosperity endures through the ages."
"We beseech the Sovereign—"
Her solemn declaration echoed across the vast city. Humans and yokai alike listened in respectful silence, their anticipation palpable as they awaited the appearance of the supre deity.
In the next mont, the Divine Hall of Rex Lapis emitted a deep, earth-like radiance—ancient and boundless. A golden sun slowly rose from within the hall.
Within the sacred glow, a figure cloaked in a hood, partially obscuring his divine visage, erged. Behind him, an enormous square sigil of solid rock floated—Liyue's unmistakable Geo symbol, familiar to all within Teyvat.
The instant Zhongli appeared in his full divine regalia, golden auspicious clouds filled the sky, showering the land below with shimring light.
"Bow to the Sovereign, Rex Lapis!"
Ningguang imdiately knelt in reverence, followed by the Adepti and Fairy Inukimi, who dropped to one knee and bowed their heads.
Beyond the plaza, across the vast reaches of Hiji City and even in the distant countryside where the celestial phenona could be seen, humans and yokai alike prostrated in worship.
This benevolent god had bestowed upon them an era of peace and coexistence—an order where yokai could enjoy the prosperity of the human world, marveling at the complexities they once could not comprehend.
From every corner, voices rose in unison:
"We pay homage to Rex Lapis, the Supre Lord!"
"We pay homage to Rex Lapis, the Supre Lord"
The voices of both yokai and humans echoed in unison across the heavens and earth. There was not a trace of blasphemy in their cries—only heartfelt reverence, devotion, respect, and fervent faith.
Zhongli gazed down at the countless yokai and humans bowing before him, and it felt as if he had returned to the ti after the victory of the Archon War, when the ancient people of Liyue held grand ceremonies in his honor.
It was that first grand ceremony that later beca the annual Rite of Descension.
This is humanity, he mused. They rember monts of beauty and transform them into traditions passed down through generations.
This day, too, would one day beco a festival akin to the Lantern Rite and the Rite of Descension—celebrated a hundred, even a thousand years from now.
As the voices of yokai and humans filled the air, Zhongli descended onto the ceremonial platform.
In that mont, all voices fell silent. Yokai and humans alike fixed their gazes on the god who, since his descent to the mortal world, was now stepping out of his divine hall for the first ti.
Zhongli nodded at the kneeling Adepti before him, then raised his gaze to the countless eyes fixed upon him—yokai and humans alike.
Lifting his head, he assud a respectful posture and looked towards the sky.
He knew that the Lord Heavenly Principle was already watching.
For the Heavenly Principle, granting divinity to the immortals was but a re thought.
However, such a grand ceremony was indispensable.
It must firmly imprint this mont of ascension into the mory of the world and its countless beings, anchoring it as a pillar in history—an essential step in the ultimate plan of world assimilation.
"To the Lord of the August Center of Heaven, the Eternal Throne of the Heavens."
"For millennia, the immortals of Liyue have rendered imasurable service to the people of Liyue and have contributed greatly in this mortal world."
"Therefore, I, Morax, petition the Creator, the Heavenly Principle... to grant these immortals their rightful divine seats."
[We humbly request your approval.]
Zhongli's voice was not loud, yet it resounded across the entire territory of Liyue—and beyond, faint echoes reached distant lands.
All of Liyue's yokai and humans held their breath.
The sound of their collective heartbeats was so distinct that they could hear each other's pulse.
Among the crowd, Hidemoto Keikain widened his eyes, carefully observing every detail of the ceremony.
To an Onmyōji like him, this was not rely a divine ritual; it was a sacred path to enlightennt.
Every minute aspect could be analyzed through the lens of onmyodo, unlocking new mystical techniques—just like summoning a deity.
Even just gazing at the god, who had restrained his divine power, filled Hidemoto Keikain with an overwhelming sense of ancient reverence.
He understood what would happen next—
The Lord of the August Center of Heaven would cast his gaze down, witnessing the ascension of the immortals.
As if responding to his thoughts—
Hummmmm—
The golden clouds in the sky instantly dispersed, and darkness montarily shrouded the heavens.
In the presence of all mortal beings, the dawn sky brightened once more.
The sun rose at an astonishing speed, quickly reaching its zenith.
Yet, even under the sun's brilliance, the stars that should have been hidden in daylight began to shine.
On the distant horizon, a silver moon slowly rose, taking its place beside the sun.
Under the stunned gazes of all present—the sun and moon shone together, the stars glowed in unison.
Finally, a divine disc vast enough to contain the sun, moon, and stars erged, spanning the sky like an eternal tapestry.
A supre, boundless voice echoed throughout the heavens and earth.
[Granted.]
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