Genshin x Minecraft: Building the Temple of Virtue

Ryen handed Zhongli a bucket of water and told him to crouch while placing blocks for greater safety.

"If you accidentally fall, pour out the water just before landing. Falling onto water will keep you safe."

Of course, Ryen still thought it best not to rely too much on this trick.

"Don't push your luck."

In truth, building a sky island had more straightforward methods.

One bucket of lava and one bucket of water ensured fast and safe results.

However, first, this was a high-altitude sky island, not land reclamation.

Today's goal was to build a cobblestone generator on the platform—simple, with both lava and water already available.

Following that, a mob spawner tower would be constructed.

He planned to handle the achievement tasks at night.

Looking ahead, the next step was to build an iron farm.

Luckily, villagers were readily available.

He only needed to gather five iron ingots to craft a hopper.

With this thought, Ryen sighed.

Ultimately, he would need to explore another mine.

But that was fine—his previous mining adventure had only just begun.

With the expanded team and Zhongli's exceptional combat prowess, Ryen was confident in reaching the diamond mines.

Even though Zhongli was limited in the Minecraft world,

his sheer strength and elemental power still made him a formidable force.

He couldn't flatten mountains or use rock spears for land reclamation as he did in Teyvat.

Suddenly, Ryen realized his hand was empty.

He looked up, noticing his stack of blocks had been exhausted.

Since they had started on both ends simultaneously, building two-block pathways,

Ryen hadn't progressed for long before Zhongli also ran out of stones.

The two exchanged a glance and returned to the ladder.

"No more blocks?"

Zhongli casually asked, and Ryen shrugged helplessly.

"I didn't prepare many stones. I used quite a bit building the estate."

"Let's head down for now. It'll be a hassle waiting for Xiao to bring back more stones.

Once the sky island has enough space, I'll build a cobblestone generator up there first."

Zhongli nodded slightly and moved toward the ladder.

"You go down first. I'll set up a few vines."

Ryen responded, placing several vines around the ladder.

Vines were quite useful as makeshift ladders.

Once placed at a high spot, they would automatically extend downward.

No need for a crowd of people monitoring a ladder anymore.

Though floating vines did look a bit eerie.

Once everything was set, Ryen climbed down the ladder.

Shortly after, he reached the ground.

By this time, they hadn't been working on the sky island for long,

and Ningguang and the others hadn't returned yet.

Ryen and Zhongli could only sit in the courtyard, soaking in the sunlight and chatting.

Though, mostly, it was Zhongli speaking.

He had already planned to feign death and step down,

but when the moment came, he still worried about Liyue's future.

Fortunately, Ryen hailed from a godless nation.

Zhongli found this perspective quite intriguing.

He asked Ryen a few questions about his thoughts on Liyue's future.

In the end, Zhongli gained a lot.

He had settled on how to proceed after feigning death.

The situation in Teyvat could never afford a godless existence.

Ryen also advised Zhongli not to go too far.

A world brimming with magic, with countless monsters,

and gods in several nations,

one couldn't simply eliminate all divinity.

"Liyue without a god?"

"That's tantamount to seeking death."

"Especially now, with Ryen and Liyue cooperating, Liyue needs to maintain stability."

Zhongli's concern was valid.

He could step down, but he couldn't abandon Liyue.

Ryen's suggestion was to let Zhongli continue testing Liyue.

However, after the tests, he shouldn't openly declare his death.

Leave a memory for the people of Liyue and a warning for those in Teyvat.

Say that the Rex Lapis is in seclusion, focusing on cultivation.

Unless there is a life-and-death crisis, he will not emerge.

In this way, at least the people of Liyue would feel grounded.

After all, why was Liyue able to dominate Teyvat, collecting wealth from across the land?

Wasn't it because of Rex Lapis, the Rock God, renowned for his martial prowess?

In a world where strength defined stability,

without power, wealth was destined to falter.

It was the essence of the world and human nature.

"You're making sense," Zhongli said with a sigh.

"I just worry that even if Rex Lapis isn't truly gone,

the people of Liyue will still adapt to living without a god…"

"They'll eventually learn to rely on themselves."

Ryen shook his head with a smile.

"Before, Liyue never had someone like Keqing, who advocated for rule by the people, did they?

Times change, and so can thoughts."

"Keqing is already leading the way. Your role is to simply trust the people of Liyue."

"Don't treat them like Mondstadt citizens, always expecting help."

Hearing Ryen's words, Zhongli chuckled softly.

"Mondstadt citizens are giants, huh? You've got a point… Freedom is a good thing, but too much freedom can lead to complacency."

"People rely too much on the Knights of Favonius and seek miracles from the gods."

"Still, let's avoid saying this in Mondstadt."

Ryen shrugged.

"I'm not that stupid. Besides, I don't plan on going to Mondstadt anytime soon. It's too lax, and in terms of world cooperation, I doubt they can help me much."

Zhongli took a sip of tea, his expression thoughtful.

"The people of Liyue are undoubtedly the hardest-working and most intelligent in Teyvat… I trust them."

Ryen smiled softly.

The love for one's homeland really ran deep with him.

"I understand your point. I'll consider it seriously," Zhongli said, his tone thoughtful.

"But still, I've led Liyue for over 3,700 years. I'm tired…"

"When will I be able to fully let go of Liyue, live my own life?"

Ryen chuckled, a hint of meaning in his voice.

"You'll never truly let go of Liyue."

"But if you ask me, when will you no longer need to oversee Liyue and live your life as Zhongli, guest of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor…"

He paused, speaking softly yet with anticipation:

"Wait until the Redstone Warships take flight,

until the Iron Automatons sweep through everything."

"Wait until the Thousand Arms Legion dons enchanted armor, until the world's technology transforms Liyue entirely."

"Until Liyue no longer relies on you, until Teyvat knows to respect Liyue without needing your strength."

"Until Liyue can suppress and seal away gods with ease."

"By then, they will protect you.

You'll only be Zhongli—just a guest in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."

"I believe, in the centuries to come,

the people of Liyue will remember and honor you,

just as they remember the stories of Rex Lapis triumphing over the gods."

Zhongli gazed at Ryen in silence, then looked away,

his gaze fixed on the drifting clouds in the sky.

He whispered softly,

"Thank you."

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