At Yujing Terrace, Qiu Bai strolled up the steps. Just as he reached the platform, he spotted Madame Ping watering the flowers.
As if sensing something, Madame Ping turned around and looked at him.
"Immortal Lord, what brings you to this old one today?" she asked with a warm smile.
"Haha."
"I still feel a bit awkward seeing you like this."
Qiu Bai chuckled, eyes falling on her form.
With a gentle laugh, Madame Ping's figure shifted—returning to her youthful appearance as Ping'er.
"What can I do for you, Immortal Lord?" she said with a soft smile.
"Now this, I can get used to."
"Ping'er, I'd like you to craft a Serenitea Pot for me."
Qiu Bai smiled as he made his request.
"Hmm, crafting a Serenitea Pot requires a great deal of immortal power."
"It might not be finished until tomorrow."
Ping'er rubbed her chin thoughtfully as she spoke, not quite sure why Qiu Bai suddenly needed a Serenitea Pot.
"No rush. I'm not in a hurry."
"I'm planning to travel through the mortal world. I can't exactly fly back to Jueyun Karst every night."
Qiu Bai explained casually, watching Ping'er as she pondered.
"So that's what this is about. I understand now."
"In that case, come find me again tomorrow, Immortal Lord."
Ping'er smiled, knowing well how rare the materials needed for the pot were.
"Then I'll trouble you with it, Ping'er."
Qiu Bai smiled in thanks, then turned to leave with a relaxed pace.
...
"Inazuma… where Baal poured everything into eternity,"
"Yet that eternity now manifests in me—unworn, untouched by the laws of Celestia."
Qiu Bai muttered to himself as he wandered through the streets of Liyue.
"Haha… thinking back, I used to be such a shut-in. Everything I saw, I'd call my 'waifu'."
"I've changed so much since then. By conventional standards, I'm basically an old man now."
He chuckled with a tinge of nostalgia.
...
Eventually, he headed toward Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Pushing open the door gently, he found the place empty. Quietly, he made his way upstairs to his room.
Lying on his bed, arms behind his head, Qiu Bai stared up at the ceiling—until something seemed to come to mind.
With a flash of light, he shifted into the form of the Yin-Yang Immortal Lord. From his waist, he pulled out a Taiji diagram, similar in size to a Vision, radiating a dazzling glow.
"This thing's been with me since the moment I was born…"
"I've never properly studied it."
He held the Yin-Yang Taiji diagram in both hands, turning it curiously in the light.
"System, scan this diagram for me."
Qiu Bai spoke inwardly.
Ding!
"The Yin and Yang energies of Teyvat, the accompanying Gnosis!"
"It represents the balance of heaven and earth—and also confirms the host's divine identity!"
The system's playful voice echoed in his mind.
"What the hell?"
"System, did you just say this thing is a Gnosis?!"
Qiu Bai sat up in shock.
"No wonder Morax said there are eight archons in the world…"
"So I'm an archon too."
He muttered to himself. Looks like that guy Morax knows a lot more than he lets on.
He thought back to what Lumine had said when she first arrived in Liyue.
Venti had asked her to seek out both the Immortal Lord and the Geo Archon. If she was looking for archons, why include him?
Combining what Morax had said, there were now eight archons in the mortal world—including himself.
Then another thought struck him.
"Wait a minute, System. You enhanced my divine power—by who knows how many times."
"If I'm the embodiment of balance between heaven and earth… why was I so weak at the start?"
Qiu Bai frowned, recalling the day of his birth.
The memory of getting defeated in just a few moves by Morax made his mouth twitch.
"No wonder I have the authority to completely change genders."
"In Teyvat, male and female also represent Yin and Yang—two sides of balance."
Qiu Bai finally seemed to understand, his thoughts tinged with surprise.
Archons are asexual beings. Though they can assume male or female forms, they are fundamentally without gender. But he… he had fully transitioned.
Ding!
"Replying to host—"
"Because the Yin and Yang energies in Teyvat are far too scarce."
"So, when you were born, host, your development was… a bit underdeveloped."
"If not for that wisp of creation energy, the result would've been the same—your birth would've failed, and the yin and yang energies would've eventually dispersed."
The system's voice echoed in Qiu Bai's mind.
Underdeveloped?
Qiu Bai twitched at the word.
"Wait, System. Are you saying I'm still underdeveloped even now?"
He asked curiously. After all, the system had boosted him countless times—he should be fully developed by now, right?
Ding!
"Response: Still underdeveloped."
Qiu Bai nearly choked.
"What did you just say?!"
"I can beat Morax now, and you're telling me I'm still underdeveloped?!"
The realization stunned him. If this was his underdeveloped state… what would he be like at full potential?
"There's no need to be surprised, host. Your true rank is far beyond your current expectations."
The system's flat, robotic tone delivered the statement like it was routine.
"This is getting more and more interesting…"
"I wonder if the Tsaritsa will send the Fatui to try and steal my Gnosis."
Qiu Bai frowned. As far as he understood it, the Gnosis was a higher-level version of the Vision—capable of channeling elemental energy in vast quantities and representing one's divine identity.
"System, if someone does manage to take my Gnosis, will it affect me?"
"Response: There would be an effect, but minimal."
"Given your current strength, the presence or absence of the Gnosis is like the difference between the ocean and a bowl of water."
The system explained casually.
"Well, that's a relief."
"Besides, I don't even use elemental energy the way others do."
Still, it was a lot to take in. He really hadn't expected the little thing hanging from his waist to be the Gnosis.
After lying there a while, Qiu Bai looked again at the Taiji diagram.
"System, what happens if I destroy this balance?"
He asked suddenly.
"Teyvat's Heavenly Principles would intervene to stop you."
The system replied.
"And if I become strong enough—could I change that balance?"
Qiu Bai furrowed his brows slightly.
"Response: Yes."
Qiu Bai relaxed a little upon hearing that.
"Morax has no Mora. Melus doesn't uphold balance. Sounds fair to me."
He snickered quietly to himself.
Heavenly Principles: "…Bruh."
"I've thought enough for today. Time to sleep."
"Gotta swing by Ping'er's place tomorrow to pick up the Serenitea Pot."
With a light mutter and a smile, Qiu Bai closed his eyes and drifted off.