Genshin Impact is a free-to-play, open-world, action RPG, gacha game released in September 2020 on PC, PS4, Android, and iOS. The game takes place in the bright world of Teyvat, home to seven different nations that are all tied to a specific element. Although the player follows the story of the Traveler, the protagonist, they can play as many other awesome heroes.
Presenting Zhongli, referred to as the "Vago Mundo," which means "Empty World" in Portuguese. (Edgy!) He controls the element of Geo and uses a Polearm in combat. Zhongli, a 5-star character, is a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. But more importantly, he is the Geo Archon; Zhongli is the vessel for Morax (the God of Contracts and Rex Lapis).
Updated November 18, 2021, by Nahda Nabiilah:Genshin Impact has entered a new era with the release of version 2.0. The major update opens the Electro region, Inazuma, and one patch after, Raiden Shogun is released. Just like Zhongli, Raiden Shogun is the Archon of the land, and just like the other two Archons, she's a support character.
With six different islands in Inazuma, it's inevitable that Genshin Impact reveals a lot of major lore, including the things that happened during the Archon War. Of course, the Archon War would also involve the oldest deity, Zhongli. So here's some extra trivia for the Geo Archon fans.
10 Zhongli According To The Official Website
"Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's mysterious consultant. Handsome, elegant, and surpassingly learned.
Though no one knows where Zhongli is from, he is a master of courtesy and rules. From his seat at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, he performs all manner of rituals."
This is what Zhongli's description reads on the game's official website. He is regarded as gentle and well-mannered. Zhongli seems to know an endless amount about the history of Liyue and its culture thanks to serving as the Geo Archon. He appears humble too despite being highly knowledgeable.
9 Zhongli According To The Game
"A mysterious expert contracted by the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Extremely knowledgeable in all things."
This is Zhongli's in-game character attributes text in the game. He is considered insanely smart yet very crafty. While the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is in the business of burying the dead, they also hold...concerts? One time, Zhongli invited Xinyan to perform at his workplace. This was no small feat as rock music is quite taboo in Liyue. He showed not only open-mindedness here but eccentricity as well.
Also, Zhongli was born on December 31 (New Year's Eve), which would make him a Capricorn...the element of which is earth (or, Geo).
8 Zhongli Literally Created Mora (Money)
Mora is the only currency used in Teyvat. At some point, the Traveler finds out that Zhongli was the creator of Mora, and the name derived from his real name, Morax. Throughout Teyvat, these coins are only minted in the Golden House of Liyue. This is because the creation of Mora requires the power of the Geo Archon's Gnosis.
Since Zhongli no longer possesses the Gnosis, the minting has now stopped. Before the Childe boss fight, Traveler can see that the place is still brimming with wealth. However, it is unknown what will happen to the Mora circulation in Teyvat, should the reserve ever run out.
7 Zhongli Easily Falls For Overpriced Items
Zhongli may be the deity that created money, but that also means he has never had to worry about this commodity. That's why, before Zhongli gave up his Gnosis, it didn't occur to the Geo Archon that he should make some personal savings with his power first. Now, the creator of Mora is ironically broke.
Funny thing is, Zhongli is careless too when it comes to spending money. Because Zhongli never had to worry about money, he never bothered to negotiate any price. He'd buy anything even if it's overpriced or unnecessary. Zhongli winds up using large sums of Mora here and there and then counting on others, especially his workplace (the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor), to cover him.
6 Zhongli Can't Handle Hu Tao
The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has been in the business for 77 generations. Now, the Director of the service is no other than Hu Tao. In all honesty, the Director is actually amazing at her job. Hu Tao doesn't take her business lightly and would do every ceremony to its utmost perfection. Zhongli plays a large part in this, as he remembers every tradition to the letter.
While she genuinely cares about the balance of the dead and the living, it is no secret that Hu Tao is an eccentric character. Her antics are as countless as the sands on Yaoguang Shoal, making Hu Tao unbearable for many.
When asked about Hu Tao, Zhongli would say, "I can't deal with that child." The Director often teases Zhongli for being old-fashioned and calls him a "walking encyclopedia." However, despite all that, Zhongli is actually the person Hu Tao trusts the most.
5 Zhongli Is A God (Actually)
As the vessel (for now) for Morax, Zhongli is basically a god. However, the player discovers in the story of the game that Morax, referred to as Rex Lapis, was cruel and merciless. He slaughtered many other gods during the Archon War, enough to earn him the title God of War. Zhongli, titled the God of Contracts, is not far off; he claims that anyone who breaks contracts made with him will suffer the "Wrath of the Rock."
That being said, Zhongli often shows great love for Liyue. He mentions thinking about stepping down as the Geo Archon; Zhongli even fakes his own death during the Rite of Descension to test how the people of Liyue would react to him disappearing.
4 Zhongli Is One Handsome Devil
Move aside edgelords, Zhongli is here.
He is tall, dark, and handsome. Actually, Zhongli has pale skin; but he is still tall and handsome. Zhongli has amber eyes and long black hair with brown tips, most of which are pulled back in a ponytail.
On top of that, he really sells the part where he works at a funeral parlor. Zhongli wears a gray formal shirt, black formal pants, and black leather shoes. He dresses fancy with a long brown-and-silver coat with shoulder pads and tassels as well as the symbol of Rex Lapis (on the back). Zhongli accessorizes with gloves, a silver ring, and an earring on one of his ears. He also has a crystal orb (his Vision) attached to a chain on his coat.
3 Zhongli Has Great Appreciation For Food
Slow-Cooked Bamboo Shoot Soup is a special food item that the player has a chance to cook up by making Bamboo Shoot Soup with Zhongli. It is his specialty, made with raw meat, ham, and bamboo shoots.
According to the game, "The ham is a butt end selected according to Yuehai Pavilion's gourmet standards. The fresh meat is pork belly, freshly hunted in Springvale, while the bamboo shoots are the densest you'll find in Qingce Village. It is then heated, slowly, gently, and with the utmost care and technique... Such a "particular" taste may only be shared with those who know how to appreciate it."
2 Zhongli Doesn't Like Seafood
Similar to Sangonomiya Kokomi, Zhongli also detests the thoughts of Seafood. However, unlike the Watatsumi Priestess, the Geo Archon has a solid reason behind it.
Around the time of the Archon War, one species invaded his beloved city of Liyue. However, mighty as he is, these creatures can't be handled with his usual stone spear and rock meteor. In fact, the tiny, slimy, tentacle-having monsters will live on even after being cut off. Therefore, Rex Lapis has to catch each of them and lock the parasites in cages of stone.
This was a grueling experience for the deity. Up until now, he can't forget how the parasites secrete some thick and revolting fluid when it's cut off, along with the terrible smell. This is why the Geo Archon would steer clear of most seafood products.
1 Zhongli Is Voiced By Keith Silverstein
The voice actor for Zhongli is Keith Silverstein. He is best known for voicing Kimimaro Kaguya in the Naruto series, Hisoka in Hunter x Hunter, Robert E.O. Speedwagon in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Vector the Crocodile in the Sonic series, and Char Aznable in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin.
It does not stop there too. Silverstein also voices Masamichi Yaga in Jujutsu Kaisen, the Mask Seller in A Whisker Away, En in Dorohedoro, Gouhin in Beastars, the Deep Sea King in One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows, Chairman Rose in Pokemon: Twilight Wings, and many, many more well-known characters.
Genshin Impact is now available on Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5. A Switch version is in development.