Genshin Impact: Transmigrated as Furina's Second Personality

[Ding~ Due to the Host assisting the Geo Archon Morax in slaying the Azhdaha Dragon King and delaying the turbulence of the Primordial Sea, 200,000 Guardian Points have been awarded.]

[Detection indicates that the current Guardian Points meet the requirements to unlock a milestone reward. Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the milestone reward: Law of Stagnant Water.]

Already utterly exhausted, Felina's brows arched in surprise upon hearing the system notification.

She opened the interface to read the description of the reward.

Law of Stagnant Water: Water inherently possesses resistance; anything entering water is inevitably hindered and slowed. By mastering this law, the Host gains comprehension of "Stagnation."

The Law of Stagnation is incredibly powerful—it can slow the flow of all things, including space and time!

"Unbelievable!"

After reading the description, Felina was utterly astonished.

She recalled how, in the game, there was an environmental debuff, which extended the cooldown times of characters' abilities significantly.

When she received this reward, she had assumed the ability would only slow down enemy actions and attacks at best. She never expected it to have the potential to slow even the flow of time and space to a standstill!

She casually condensed a droplet of water and flicked it toward the ceiling, activating the Law of Stagnation.

In an instant, azure light rippled outward, enveloping the entire room.

At that moment, it was as though the entire room had been put into slow motion. The water droplet's descent slowed to the point of being nearly imperceptible.

"What an incredible power!"

Felina tested it a few more times, quickly gaining a basic understanding of her newly acquired ability.

After activating the Law of Stagnation, it creates a Stagnation Field. The size of the field depends on the amount of energy consumed.

The greater the energy expenditure, the larger the Stagnation Field and the longer its duration—and vice versa.

Within the Stagnation Field, the flow of time slows to such an extent that it essentially halts altogether.

In this field, Felina alone is unaffected by the stagnation of time and can move freely, unhindered by the slowed temporal flow.

Once the Law of Stagnation is deactivated, time automatically corrects itself.

For example, if someone were trapped in Felina's Stagnation Field for what seemed like a hundred years:

From the person's perspective, they wouldn't have experienced the passage of those hundred years. They wouldn't age or die during that time.

However, once the Law of Stagnation is lifted, the affected person and everything else within the field would immediately endure the full effects of a hundred years of time in an instant.

They would instantly age, die, decay, and crumble into nothing but a pile of bones, which would then turn to dust and scatter in the wind.

This is the self-correcting nature of time. Once the Law of Stagnation is removed, everything in the affected area returns to the proper flow of time.

"This is absurdly overpowered—invincible, even!"

Felina couldn't help but feel a deep sense of delight. Such a divine skill was nothing short of world-defying.

In future battles, she could simply slow time and space for her opponent, then finish them off in one strike. Her opponent wouldn't even realize how they had died.

"With this ability, I can basically declare myself unbeatable," Felina said with a smile.

But soon, her smile faded. She was simply too tired.

Earlier, to create an opportunity in the battle, she had used the Domain of Slowed Currents to trap the Azhdaha Dragon King.

However, that technique required her to simultaneously manipulate a vast amount of Hydro energy, which had taken an immense toll on her mental strength.

Her exhaustion had finally paid off, leading to their victory. Yet, unexpectedly, it had also earned her the Law of Stagnation, a far more potent ability. This reward was beyond anything she had anticipated.

Having finished exploring her new power, the overwhelming fatigue caught up with her, and Felina decided to let it all go for now. She climbed into bed and promptly fell asleep.

Meanwhile, in Liyue, Zhongli remained seated upon the remains of the Azhdaha Dragon King.

He sat there, unmoving, for seven days straight.

In Liyue's funeral customs, there has always been the tradition of observing the "seven days" after a person's passing.

This was the only way Zhongli could mourn his dear friend.

For seven days, he spoke not a single word and met with no one.

As Felina had said, he was truly exhausted, and the loss of his closest companion brought him great sorrow.

Sitting here for seven days was both an act of mourning for his old friend and a means of quiet solitude to calm the turbulent emotions in his heart.

At this moment, he was seated on the remains of the Azhdaha Dragon King, gazing silently in the direction of Liyue Harbor.

In truth, seven days ago, when Keqing and several other members of the Liyue Qixing came to this place, Zhongli had been aware of their arrival.

By principle, as a ruler, one should never allow one's subordinates to see a moment of weakness.

A monarch must always maintain a front of strength, preserving an air of dignity at all times. This ensures that those beneath them are awed into submission and do not dare harbor ill intentions, thus allowing for better governance.

It is often said that showing vulnerability as a ruler is a grave taboo.

And yet, he allowed Keqing and the others to see his weary and sorrowful state.

There were two reasons for this.

The first was, naturally, that he was genuinely exhausted.

The Azhdaha Dragon King had been his closest friend, and to personally kill his friend with his own hands was the greatest erosion he had suffered in his six thousand years of existence.

For the sake of Liyue, he had killed his dearest companion and endured immense erosion. To ask him to handle Liyue's national affairs while his emotions were still so raw would have been unbearable.

He truly needed rest, time to soothe his own heart.

Otherwise, the Erosion might truly change him, fostering thoughts like, "It's all because of Liyue. It's all because of humanity! If not for Liyue, if not for humanity, how would I have lost so much? How would I have suffered so much pain?!"

If such thoughts were allowed to take root, Erosion would inevitably transform him, making him as mad and embittered as Azhdaha, turning him against humanity and Liyue.

The second reason was that he wished to use this opportunity to observe the capabilities of humanity.

In the past, no matter how much Erosion he endured, he would never have revealed his moments of vulnerability to his people.

But after meeting Felina and hearing her words, he realized that perhaps he had already fulfilled his duties. Liyue, this nation, had already matured.

The effects of Erosion had already taken a tremendous toll on him. This latest ordeal, in particular, inflicted an unprecedented degree of wear and tear on his spirit.

Thus, he didn't mind giving his people a chance.

He wanted to see what they would do when they witnessed the weary and vulnerable state of the god they once relied upon, when a great battle had just ended, the nation was in chaos, and the god had suddenly stepped back from governing.

What decisions would the Liyue Qixing make? How would the administrative departments on Yujing Terrace respond?

Over the past few days, Zhongli had been silently observing the state of Liyue.

Tianquan Ningguang, acting in place of the god's authority, summoned a large number of Millelith troops to guard Liyue Harbor, deterring external forces such as the Fatui from taking advantage of the situation.

Yuheng Keqing, personally leading craftsmen, oversaw the construction of temporary housing to shelter displaced citizens. She also directed teams to repair roads, ensuring that Liyue's vital trade routes remained operational and that the Nation of Contracts, known for its bustling commerce, could stabilize quickly.

Soothing the populace, accommodating foreign merchants, distributing grain from storage, surveying the altered terrain, restoring the ecosystem, and rebuilding after the disaster—under the leadership of the Liyue Qixing, all departments operated in an orderly manner. The areas of Liyue affected by the battle rapidly regained stability.

Throughout this event, the performance of the Liyue Qixing had been outstanding, enough to prove that the people of Liyue were capable of governing the nation themselves.

Zhongli observed this with satisfaction.

What pleased him the most, however, was Keqing.

In this crisis, Keqing had been the first to step forward and propose assuming the divine authority of governance.

Her decisiveness, sharp resolve, unwavering determination, and courage throughout the event deeply gratified Zhongli.

If Liyue were to truly transition into an era of human governance in the future, then individuals like Keqing would undoubtedly be indispensable.

···

After seven days, Zhongli returned.

Upon hearing of the return of their Archon, the Liyue Qixing could not help but feel a sense of apprehension.

This situation was entirely different from what transpired in the game's storyline.

In the game, the Geo Archon had faked his death, and with the belief that the god was gone, the Qixing had no choice but to seize divine authority to stabilize the nation. At that time, they had no significant reservations about their actions.

But now, things were different. The Geo Archon was very much alive and had not abdicated his position. He remained the supreme ruler of Liyue.

Although their actions were motivated by a desire to safeguard Liyue, the fact remained that they had encroached upon the authority of the Archon. Strictly speaking, this was indeed an act of overreach.

If the Archon chose to hold them accountable, they would have no grounds to argue.

Keqing, having played the leading role in this incident, discussed the matter with the other members of the Qixing. In the end, the Qixing, with Keqing as their representative, drafted a formal letter of apology and submitted it to Zhongli.

The letter detailed their transgressions in assuming the Archon's authority.

In the letter, they made no mention of their contributions in governing Liyue during the chaos. Instead, the letter focused solely on their errors. They expressed their deep respect and gratitude for the Archon's tireless efforts while humbly requesting to be punished for their overreach.

Once the letter of apology was submitted, the Qixing anxiously awaited Zhongli's response.

When Zhongli received the letter, he merely smiled faintly.

In times of chaos, when the god did not attend to matters of state, the Liyue Qixing, as the stewards of the nation, acted decisively and took on the responsibility of governing. Their actions prevented the nation from descending into turmoil and ensured the safety of its people.

This demonstrated courage, benevolence, and righteousness.

After the god's return, the Qixing promptly recognized their position as mere mortals. They proactively admitted to their transgression in assuming divine authority and humbly sought to atone for their actions.

This demonstrated propriety.

Their letter of apology avoided any mention of their achievements over the past few days and focused entirely on their errors.

This demonstrated humility.

The true intention behind the letter was clear to Zhongli. The Qixing sought to convey a simple message: Taking over divine authority was an act of necessity in a moment of crisis. However, our respect and reverence for you, our Archon, have never wavered. We never had any intentions of overstepping our bounds.

While Zhongli could easily discern that this letter of apology carried a hint of strategic humility—using retreat as a means to advance—he was not angered by this. On the contrary, it pleased him greatly.

Why?

Because those tasked with assisting in the governance of the nation must possess a certain degree of shrewdness. Without it, they would not be fit to serve as the Liyue Qixing.

He had already decided to transfer power to humanity, entrusting them with determining the future of the nation.

Thus, in his eyes, the Qixing's cunning and resourcefulness were not flaws but merits.

This was also an expression of the benevolence of a god.

While waiting for the Archon's response, the Liyue Qixing remained uneasy and on edge.

Soon, Zhongli's verdict was passed down.

The Qixing, their apprehension mounting, opened the document. To their surprise, the response consisted of just five simple words:

"My heart is greatly comforted."

In an instant, every member of the Qixing breathed a collective sigh of relief. Keqing, in particular, was so overjoyed that she remained in high spirits for several days.

Zhongli had already resolved to relinquish his position and pass his authority to the people. However, before doing so, he wanted to eliminate as many potential threats to Liyue as possible.

The threat posed by Azhdaha had been neutralized. Now, the only remaining issue was Osial.

In Fontaine, Felina received a message from Zhongli.

"Oh?" Felina raised an eyebrow.

"It seems the Geo Archon has settled his thoughts," Furina remarked.

"Indeed!" Felina nodded. "It looks like he's eager to abdicate. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so insistent on pushing me to resolve the matter with Osial."

Felina chuckled softly. "Since he's ready, it's time to set the plan into motion."

To subdue Osial, three major challenges had previously been outlined:

1. The pride of Osial as a god.

Osial is an arrogant god. As a fellow god, how could one make him willingly submit to Felina?

2. Osial's hatred toward Liyue and Morax.

Defeated during the Archon War by Morax, the Geo Archon, Osial had been sealed beneath the sea near the Guyun Stone Forest. To this day, he remains trapped. Osial has accumulated a deep resentment toward both Liyue and Morax. Once unsealed, he would undoubtedly seek vengeance against Liyue.

Thus, the second challenge is to find a way to make Osial relinquish his hatred and ensure he does not exact revenge on Liyue.

3. The balance between trust and control.

Previously, when discussing Nahida's approach to Scaramouche, it was said that a ruler must always prepare both the carrot and the stick.

While you might offer a tiger favorable treatment to secure its loyalty, you must also have the chain to bind it and the stick to beat it in case it ever decides to turn against you.

Having power and not using it is fundamentally different from not possessing power at all. It's not a matter of trust—it's a ruler's responsibility to prepare safeguards.

Thus, the third and most difficult challenge lies in finding a way to bind Osial with metaphorical chains while preserving his loyalty and ensuring that he willingly submits.

To address these three challenges, Felina devised a meticulous plan and invited Zhongli to assist in its execution.

Now, the scheme to deal with Osial was set into motion.

Aaru Village

Amid her duties leading the villagers in agricultural work, Aurelie received a message from Felina.

Aurelie was the theatrical troupe leader from Furina's legendary quest, the one who had tragically dissolved into nothing under Vacher's assault. After Felina revived the victims, Aurelie too became one of Felina's retainers.

As the former leader of a theatrical troupe, Aurelie possessed the most exceptional acting skills among all of Felina's retainers.

This time, Aurelie was tasked with carrying out a special mission in the waters of the Guyun Stone Forest.

"Osial, Overlord of the Vortex," Zhongli had remarked to Felina in one of their discussions, "is a violent god, yet one who values a peculiar sense of honor. In today's terms, he resembles an underworld boss—brash and domineering, but also bound by a strict code."

Guyun Stone Forest, the Seas Above Osial's Prison

"Help! Help me!"

Desperate cries for help echoed from beneath the sea.

A massive sea beast was relentlessly pursuing a small Hydro elemental creature, seemingly intent on tearing it apart.

The Hydro spirit, terrified, flapped its fins and thrashed its tail wildly, doing everything it could to escape its predator. (Note: Pure Water > Hydro)

Despite its best efforts, it narrowly avoided being devoured on multiple occasions.

Like a frightened fish darting aimlessly in panic, the Hydro spirit fled across the seabed. It was unclear how long it had been running when, in its desperation, it unwittingly entered the waters of the Guyun Stone Forest.

Within the depths of the sea rested an enormous form—a colossal, ancient being impaled by massive stone spears. At first glance, it appeared to be a natural extension of the underwater terrain, indistinguishable from the surrounding cliffs.

The figure was encrusted with layers of mud and draped in seaweed and algae. Its original form and visage had long been obscured by time.

The Hydro spirit, oblivious to its surroundings in its frantic flight, swam toward the gargantuan form. The pursuing sea beast, seemingly unaware of the danger, continued its relentless pursuit.

But just as the sea beast lunged forward, jaws agape, ready to swallow the Hydro spirit whole—

The massive entity pierced by stone spears suddenly opened its eyes.

Those eyes were vast beyond comprehension, and a single glance into them was enough to send shivers down one's very soul.

"BEGONE!"

The gargantuan being roared a single word, and with it, the terrifying pressure of an ancient god burst forth.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon: 

Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven