In Mondstadt, the sound of Venti's lyre suddenly came to an abrupt stop. He looked toward Celestia with slight confusion.
Koji had actually become the new Heavenly Principles. What was going on? And now he was asking Venti to make a trip to Celestia.
"What is it, Barbatos?"
Dvalin had been enjoying the beautiful music, only for it to suddenly stop, leaving him somewhat displeased.
"It's nothing. Celestia wants me to go up there," Venti said with a smile. He was not particularly worried.
Most likely, only the seven Archons would receive the message. He could understand that. After all, with the new Heavenly Principles taking office, the Seven Archons of the mortal world had to go over no matter what, even if only to serve as witnesses.
"It wouldn't be because you don't do proper work and Celestia has an opinion about that, would it?" Xianyun of Liyue asked.
Venti fell silent.
Surely not. Surely they would not call him up to Celestia just because of something like that.
"I'm off!"
Venti transformed into a gust of cyan wind and flew toward Celestia. He had to meet the newly appointed superior above him. Even if the person was an old acquaintance, he still had to give him face.
In Liyue, Zhongli helplessly shook his head.
He was already in a retired state, so why did he still have to go to Celestia? Still, the fact that young friend Koji had become the new Heavenly Principles was rather unexpected.
As for what had happened, he would know once he went to take a look.
Zhongli flew toward Celestia. The last time he had gone there had been hundreds of years ago.
The other Archons, even the Cryo Archon, all tacitly headed for Celestia as well.
"Congratulations, Barbatos. You're finally about to make an old tree sprout new branches, aren't you?"
Venti was the first to arrive. He came up with a playful grin and greeted Koji. With that Primordial authority covering him, there was no mistake. He really was the new Heavenly Principles.
"There's nothing to congratulate me for. I'm just here to experience what it feels like to be the Heavenly Principles," Koji said.
"Barbatos, your work targets over the years seem to have fallen short by quite a lot, haven't they?" Ronova asked with a faint smile.
"Huh?"
Venti froze slightly. So this was actually a reckoning? He had indeed been just a tiny bit lazy over the years.
"So…" Venti asked cautiously. Was he going to be forced to start working overtime?
"These are the things you secretly left undone. Just find some time and finish them."
Ronova took out an extremely, extremely long list. After Venti looked at it, his vision nearly went black. This thing was practically longer than his own life. How could he possibly finish all of it?
He had originally come over to congratulate the newly appointed Heavenly Principles. He had not expected to be assigned so much work. If he had known earlier, he would have said he was unwell and unable to come up.
Zhongli stood at the side, feeling no pity for Venti. After slacking off for so many years, it was time for him to do some proper work.
"I would like to resign from the position of one of the Seven Archons of the mortal world," Zhongli said.
"?"
Hearing that someone wanted to completely give up and lie flat, Ronova's gaze instantly became sharp. How could that be allowed?
"Morax, do you think you can retire?" Ronova said in a low voice.
The new Heavenly Principles had just taken office, and this old man was already planning to resign. How could that be acceptable? Although Zhongli had governed Liyue quite well, that was not a reason to resign whenever he liked.
Zhongli fell silent. It was just as he had thought. Sure enough, it would not be that easy to shake off.
"Zhongli, if you're going to marry Guizhong, I can approve your resignation," Koji said with a smile.
Venti's cyan eyes flashed with the light of gossip. His earlier wilted state disappeared completely. He had not expected to hear something like this. This trip had not been for nothing.
Zhongli's mouth twitched. Was it really necessary to bring this up at a time like this?
"I see…" Ronova nodded thoughtfully. Since Koji had said so, she naturally had no objection.
Zhongli remained silent. How could something like that be decided so hastily?
"Cryo Archon, although I'm not the former Heavenly Principles, haven't your little schemes over the years been a little insane?" Koji looked at the Cryo Archon and said speechlessly.
What benefit was there in raising the banner of rebellion against the Heavenly Principles? If the Heavenly Principles were gone, most people would be finished. If not for Celestia, the Abyss from five hundred years ago could have directly cleansed Teyvat.
As long as people behaved themselves, the Heavenly Principles would not even bother paying attention. Why had punishments like the Skyfrost Nail been dropped? Wasn't it because they had jumped too high? Things that should not be touched should simply not be touched.
The Cryo Archon fell silent.
The Cryo Archon raised her head, her temperatureless eyes looking at Koji. This new Heavenly Principles was very different from the one from before.
She was also very clear in her heart that everything Snezhnaya had done was definitely not something the Heavenly Principles would tolerate.
Koji saw the expressions on Venti and Zhongli's faces, and the corner of his mouth twitched. If he were going to carry out a purge, then among the Seven Archons present, Venti and Zhongli would definitely be the first to be purged.
"Ronova, you handle it however you see fit," Koji said, directly becoming a hands-off boss.
"Mm. I understand."
Ronova nodded. The matter of the Tsaritsa truly needed to be handled properly.
"Fufu, am I that scary right now?" Koji asked with a smile.
Look at how badly he had frightened silly Fufu. She was trembling with fear, like a mouse that had seen a cat.
Furina gave an awkward smile. Who told him to be so oppressive right now?
"Are we done?" Istaroth yawned. There was nothing for her to do either. Could she go rest now?
Koji looked at this Ruler of Time. She really was a bit too idle. He should arrange some work for her.
Just as he thought that, Istaroth suddenly shivered. A strange feeling appeared in her heart.
"Venti, after seeing me, shouldn't you be bowing?" Lumine said, placing her hands on her hips.
"Greetings, Lady Lumine."
Venti's eyes turned, and he understood that Lumine wanted to show off. So he very cooperatively cupped his fists and bowed.
"Little Venti is very sensible. I'm quite satisfied," Lumine said with a nod.
Venti fell silent.
What kind of way was that to address him? Venti was speechless. She might as well have just called him Barbatos. This sounded horribly unpleasant.
"You can all go back now. If anything comes up, I'll contact you directly."
Koji waved his hand and sent Venti and the others back to their respective nations.
This was the spatial authority controlled by the Heavenly Principles. His previous Blessing of Space could also achieve the same thing.
"Ronova, you go handle your work too. Whenever you want to rest, just rest directly. Let Istaroth take over your shift."
"Huh?"
Istaroth instantly became alert. Why did she have to cover the shift? Ronova had a lot of work, all right?
Ronova nodded. She had remembered that. Once she finished being busy for this period of time, she would take a proper rest and throw everything to Istaroth. Just thinking about it felt wonderful.
(End of Chapter)
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