đ If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Patreon. I'm offering advanced chapters there as a thank-you to readers.
--------------------
Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/DragonOP
--------------------
A world without the constant intervention of higher powers, a world where human beings made their own decisions and forged their own pathsâisn't this exactly the dream Keqing harbored for Liyue? Her eyes shimmered with an intense, hopeful light as she leaned across the table, hanging on every word Xu Luo said about the development of his home.
During the period after the gods first left, there were still plenty of people who used the guise of being divine spokespersons. They'd wander into markets and government halls to seek power and profit, often going as far as to hurt their own compatriots to get what they wanted. Gradually, some of them realized that the gods were truly gone and would never intervene in the mortal world again.
Instead of becoming better people, they grew more ruthless. They committed terrible acts in the name of a silent god, claiming their evil deeds were actually righteous. Thousands of years passed like this until the majority of people finally woke up. They accepted that there were no gods coming to save them, and they eventually overthrew the bloody, self-appointed rulers who used religion as a weapon.
The era of true human rule arrived. Except for a very few nations that still hold onto religious traditions, every process from the top of the government to the bottom is managed by humans. Even the people in the highest decision-making layers are determined through democratic elections.
Xu Luo continued his adapted history lesson for more than ten minutes, painting a picture of a world that made Keqing's heart swell with yearning. To her, it sounded like a paradise of efficiency and self-reliance. She took a deep breath and looked at him expectantly, her voice trembling slightly with the weight of her question. Xu Luo, do you think Liyue can also achieve this? Can we practice self-government by humans without the need for an Emperor or the illuminated beasts? She waited, practically begging for an affirmative answer that would validate her life's philosophy.
Keqing, it might hurt to hear this, but I have to be honest with you. Liyue is currently inseparable from Rex Lapis and the adepti. If you were to completely cut ties with them right now, there's no way for Liyue to survive on the continent of Teyvat.
Keqing was visibly stunned by his blunt response. Her brow furrowed in confusion and a hint of frustration. Why would you say that? You just told me your world did exactly that and everything turned out fine. Why can't we do the same? She stood up, her movements agitated, as she paced the small area of the private dining room.
You're overlooking a very important factor. In my world, there was no divine intervention at all once they left. But Teyvat is different. You have the Laws of Heaven watching from above and the Seven Archons ruling the ground. This is a world fundamentally dominated by gods and elemental power. Liyue's position as the most prosperous nation on the continent today isn't just because of trade. It's because your God of War, Morax, and his Yakshas fought with overwhelming force to secure this land. Without the protection of the Geo Archon and the adepti, Liyue would instantly drop to the very bottom of the Seven Kingdoms in terms of security.
Xu Luo watched her closely as he continued. Just consider the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial, who is currently suppressed beneath the stone spears of Guyun Stone Forest. Humans don't have the power of the gods or the adepti. If that seal were to break tomorrow, could the Liyue Qixing and the Millelith actually stop it? And we don't even have to look at ancient demon gods. If word got out that Liyue no longer had its god, the Fatui and the other Harbingers would swarm this place and tear it apart in a matter of days.
As Xu Luo spoke, Keqing sat back down heavily, looking as if she had been struck by a bolt of her own lightning. She was an incredibly intelligent woman; she didn't need him to explain the logistics further. She knew the geopolitical reality of their world. Although she was reluctant to admit it, if Liyue truly abandoned the protection of the divine, the dark scenarios Xu Luo described were almost guaranteed to happen. Teyvat operated under the Law of the Seven. One country, one god. That was the natural order. An Archon wasn't just a leader; they were the supreme force of the nation and a symbol that kept enemies at bay.
Mondstadt was a perfect, albeit tragic, example. The Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius had taken the majority of their elite forces on an expedition. If the Anemo Archon were actively sitting on his throne in the city, the Fatui would never dream of being as arrogant as they were now. But because Barbatos remained silent and absent, the Harbingers were clearly trying to undermine and usurp Mondstadt's authority.
Keqing, your idea is noble. Liyue has developed into a marvel of the world, and that's thanks to Rex Lapis's guidance on one hand and the tireless efforts of the Liyue people on the other. But if you asked me to choose between the rule of a god and the rule of man in a world like Teyvat, my answer would be simple. If the god ruling the country is as wise, mighty, and dedicated as the Geo Archon, I would unswervingly support the rule of God without a single moment of hesitation.
Xu Luo's voice was serious and sincere. He wasn't trying to flatter her or her god; he was stating a cold truth based on his observations of both worlds. Keqing looked at him, her confusion deepening. Why do you think that? As a human being who has lived in a world of freedom, shouldn't you want to be the one in control of your own destiny?
Xu Luo let out a long, weary sigh. In my world, after the gods were gone, humanity didn't just live in peace. They haven't stopped killing each other for a single moment. There are constant wars between countries, endless corruption and rebellions within borders, and blood has flowed like rivers across the centuries. Within just fifty years of our history, we had two worldwide wars. The total number of deaths from those two conflicts alone exceeded one hundred million people.
One hundred million?
The number hit Keqing like a physical weight, paralyzing her. She stared at Xu Luo in absolute horror. She began to do the mental math. If you counted every citizen in Liyue Harbor, every farmer in Qingce Village, and every miner in the Chasm, the total population of Liyue was less than ten million people. In fact, if you added up every human being currently living across all seven nations of Teyvat, the total wouldn't even reach one hundred million. To hear of a conflict that killed more people than currently existed in her entire world was a nightmare she couldn't wrap her head around.