Even!
Once you understand that this 'Heavenly Principle' isn't the one from before, all of Kiana's judgments, all her punishments, become completely comprehensible.
Admitting your mistakes early yourself…
Is always better than having others point them out for you!
Buer felt rather emotional.
Whether it was her, or the other nations, after their rulers had fully consolidated power, they had all restructured their governance systems.
They had also purged their upper echelons from top to bottom.
At the time, the worry was indeed that they hadn't done well enough, that the Heavenly Principle would be displeased and use it as a pretext for punishment.
But looking at it now…
It had also genuinely been more beneficial for their nations' development.
Everything was changing for the better.
Mondstadt had purged many from the Knights of Favonius and the Church.
In Liyue, almost all the Eight Trades had been replaced.
Inazuma went without saying—the Tri-Commission had its system directly reformed.
The Akademiya saw all its sages exiled, publicly tried, or executed as deserved.
Even though the Lesser Lord Kusanali had managed to escape her confinement with the Traveler's help…
Those criminals had merely been exiled, even allowed to retire in peace. This was something the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata simply couldn't let slide.
And so!
Do it over, hold new trials.
The little moon had no objections either.
That was the Dendro Archon's decision—what did it have to do with her?
If it were her, she wouldn't have been so lenient either. Imprisoning a deity was one thing, but the god-creating scheme? That was crossing a line.
Although she might still have a soft spot at times…
It didn't mean she would let anyone who crossed that line off the hook.
In Fontaine…
Focalors took the opportunity to purge a bunch of nobles.
Before, with the prophecy hanging over her head, she hadn't had the time to deal with them. But now, under the banner of the Heavenly Principle, no one dared question her iron-fisted methods.
Natlan…
Wasn't much better off, honestly.
Outwardly united, but without the Abyss to fight against…
Many problems surfaced.
They needed reforms too.
So in reality!
In just about a week, they had only just managed to slap together a makeshift framework.
Although it was originally the Heavenly Principle's decree, wasn't it also exactly what these archons themselves had been thinking?
They weren't stupid. It's just that back on Celestia, Kiana had mentioned it, just a little, and it all clicked.
Just as Zhongli realized the error of pure human governance.
Especially after learning that in Sumeru, the archon had been imprisoned, and they had even created a new god, causing such an uproar…
He temporarily abandoned the idea.
And Barbatos, too, was truly reflecting. Though freedom dictated by command isn't freedom, and freedom bound by restrictions is even less so.
He himself still couldn't achieve total uninhibited freedom, true acting on whim. Was absolute freedom truly right?
It wasn't that he hadn't realized it before.
He had been avoiding it.
Now Venti avoided it no longer.
Mondstadt, naturally, improved. As clear as day.
"Hmph!"
Right at that moment.
A cold snort rang out, tinged with displeasure.
Everyone snapped back to attention.
They saw that, without any of them noticing…
The one who had been Kiana a moment ago…was now Phanes returned.
Her face cold, expression authoritative, demeanor noble and severe, like a queen.
She simply looked at all the archons.
Without a doubt, the one who had snorted was her.
She had been silent for a moment, quiet, just reading the memories, sorting through what had happened.
She seemed… not too pleased.
In an instant!
All the archons grew tense.
Some even broke out in a cold sweat.
They didn't dare speak, didn't dare move.
If Kiana was like a day in June, sometimes rainy, sometimes sunny, quite playful…
Then Phanes was the snow of deep winter. Always, she was cold and aloof. What worried all the archons most now was how Phanes would react once she knew everything.
What would she think of The Seven Nations of Teyvat—no, the current Six Nations! And all the archons present here…?
What would her judgment be?
In that single moment, a thousand thoughts raced through their minds!
They suddenly felt that Kiana's punishment had been more than enough, that being by her side was truly acceptable.
Lady Phanes!
Could you please be a little happier?
When you're like this… we're scared!
"Let it be. This matter… ends here!"
It wasn't that Phanes was unaware of what lay beyond this world.
Nor was she ignorant of the existence of the Imaginary Tree and the Sea of Quanta.
But it was genuinely the first time she had learned that in some world, there existed her own counterpart.
And such a counterpart, one so immensely powerful, had somehow, inexplicably, taken over her body.
She found it somewhat absurd.
Yet, she had to admit!
She truly needed to thank this distant version of herself.
If not for her, she would never have awakened again.
Whether the world would be destroyed, she didn't know. But she herself would certainly have perished.
Moreover, even her own plan—relying on the Fourth Descender, using the Loom of Fate to recreate a brand new Teyvat within the Sea of Quanta…
That would have been an almost impossible task.
After all!
Not everyone is capable of creating a world bubble.
The Fourth Descender, though a Descender, was rather… lacking.
Compared to herself, to Nibelung, or even the Third Descender, she fell short.
If it weren't for the lack of any other suitable candidate…
She wouldn't have placed her hopes on her!
But now it was done…Teyvat was alive again, and even better than before.
Phanes was wary of Kiana's terrifying power.
But regardless…
In terms of gratitude, Kiana had saved her. What she wanted, Phanes would naturally give.
In terms of the situation, Kiana was stronger. Whatever she did, Phanes should not interfere.
Therefore, for all the female archons present, and indeed all the women of Teyvat's nations, as long as their names were on that list and they were destined to become Kiana's wives…
Phanes did not intend to do anything.
Since Kiana had intervened in the affairs of the various nations…
Then let this matter end here!
Let no one speak of it again.
Handle it gently, set it down lightly, and consider the case closed.
She was willing.
Naturally, all the deities present were willing too.
Their worries were thoroughly laid to rest.
Hearts that had been in their throats finally settled back down.
What could be better than this?
"One more thing!"
Phanes suddenly spoke.
The hearts of all the archons present leaped into their throats again, tense beyond words.
"She revoked the law of erosion across the entire continent. I will not change it back."
"As for what you all have done, I still remember. If any of you transgress again, even if she pleads for you, I will not be lenient."
Rightly so, rightly so!
The archons nodded hurriedly.
Phanes continued, "Also, the people she wishes to resurrect, she has left to me. I will not go back on my word. In three days at the earliest, five at the latest, each of you may come to Celestia to retrieve your respective individuals."
"Do not be late."
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