Guizhong in Genshin Impact is no longer alive but she had a deep impact on many parts of Liyue’s history. In particular, her accounts with Zhongli and the formation of the Guilli Assembly are important milestones in the current state of Liyue.
That’s why today, we’re taking a deep dive into the late Lord of Dust to find out her backstory, the things she accomplished, and her tragic ending. We’ll also give you a guide on the Quest named “Guizhong” which explains some of the backstories.
Guizhong’s Early Days
Guizhong was born sometime before the Archon War and established a small nation somewhere in Liyue. At some point, she came across Zhongli who was known as Morax or Rex Lapis at the time.
The two shared their ambitions and eventually, she presented him with a ‘stone dumbbell’, referred to as the Memory of Dust to mark their alliance in a field of Glaze Lilies.
Glaze Lillies are an important symbol for Guizhong and she’s known to be a fond admirer of the flower which once adorned the entirety of Liyue.
Guizhong was one of the main Gods in Liyue and established the ancient civilization, the Guilli Assembly, alongside Zhongli.
The name ‘Guilli’ is actually a combination of ‘Gui’ from Guizhong and ‘Lli’ from Zhongli who was using another name at the time that used the same character.
Genshin Impact Guizhong Ballista & Other Inventions
She also had the help of Marchosius, God of the Stove who you might recognize as Guoba, Xiangling’s furry friend. Alongside the Adepti, Guizhong, and Zhongli conceptualized and built the Guizhong Ballista that can be found in Tianheng Pass.
This was one of many inventions and ideas from Guizhong, with which she eventually moved her people to Mt. Tianheng. Guizhong was creative, wise, and known to be a kind-hearted God to her people.
While she had an interest in mechanics and engineering, she was also responsible for teaching and guiding her people about agriculture and farming. This helped establish the Guilli Assembly as a powerful, prosperous nation.
Guizhong and Zhongli (Morax)
While Guizhong was wise and kind-hearted, she wasn’t a very powerful God. Knowing her limitations to protect her people, she sought to ally herself with the powerful Morax.
The two were now complete, with Guizhong being the ‘brains’ and Zhongli the ‘brawn’ of the Guilli Assembly.
Over time as they ruled the Guilli Assembly together, they became very close, and there are many accounts of their relationship and bond in the ruins of the Guilli Assembly.
While there hasn’t been explicit mention of the nature of their relationship, it’s widely believed in the fandom that the two were lovers. At the very least, they were closer than we know.
Other than what we’ve highlighted thus far, there isn’t much known about the nation.
Sadly, times of peace and prosperity were short-lived with the tragedy of the Archon War and her subsequent demise.
Guizhong’s Death
The tale of Guizhong and Zhongli ends with the calamity known as the Archon War. Guizhong and the Adepti fought valiantly to thwart the evil Gods and beings that plagued Liyue but she was defeated and perished through unknown causes.
But we do know she was embroiled in a fight to the death in the Guilli Plains which is described in the scene; as “black dust” that filled the air and “choked the heavens”, and a “thousand rocks splintered”.
Eventually, Morax found her gravely wounded, once again, in a field of Glaze Lilies, where she smiles at him one last time and asked him to forget about their pledge and the ‘stone dumbbell’ that she bestowed upon him.
She lamented that it was the end of their time spent together before passing away.
Soon after, the destruction of the Guilli Assembly was all but certain. A flood ravaged the lands, destroying what little was left of the nation, and forcing its people to migrate to Liyue Harbor with the help of Adepti and Marchosius.
Morax then establishes the Liyue we know today 3700 years ago, after Guizhong’s demise. He leads and rules over them with the same principles Guizhong imparted to the people of Liyue and Zhongli.
Guizhong Genshin Impact Quest Guide
There is a Quest called “Guizhong” in Genshin Impact that’s a part of the Archon Quest Chapter I: Act II storyline. It’s a fairly simple Quest that gives us a little backstory on the Guizhong Ballista and what it was used for.
Once you’ve received the Quest, you need to go to the Bubu Pharmacy where you’ll meet Qiqi. While asking for the Everlasting Incense, she will ask you to do something for her in return.
She requests for you to find a Cocogoat and hunt it with the Guizhong Ballista. Zhongli will then explain about the ballista and will share its location.
Once you’re done at the pharmacy, proceed to Tiansheng Pass where the Guizhong Ballista is located.
When you reach the Ballista, it is no longer in working condition and you need to repair it. Get into the supply depot located near the Ballista and find the parts necessary to repair it.
After you’ve repaired the Ballista, Treasure Hoarders will appear. They explain they’re the ones who destroyed the Ballista in the first place and lost multiple men in the process.
A fight ensues and you will need to defeat them to continue the Quest.
Once the dust settles, go back to Qiqi and explain the Ballista is in working order but the ‘Cocogoat’ is nowhere to be found. Go back to the pharmacy and explain the whole thing.
After a few cutscenes, you’ll receive the Everlasting Incense, which you need to place at the spot Zhongli is waiting. The Quest should now be completed.
And with that, we’ve reached the end of our investigation into Guizhong and her history. It’s a tragic tale that isn’t explicitly explained but can be picked up through lore, Quests, and items around Liyue.
But we wanna know your thoughts on Guizhong and Zhongli. Was it always destined to be a tragic tale? Any other theories about Guizhong you know about?
