Genshin x Minecraft: Building the Temple of Virtue

Keqing was still trying to pry the secret out of Ryen about what the mysterious mod was, even as they left the village boundaries and trekked through the jungle toward the mine.

Her persistent questioning bore no fruit, and by the time they reached the jungle's edge, her initial enthusiasm had waned. This time, she wasn't nearly as excitable as during her first trip to the mines. Back then, she'd stripped every passing tree of bark and leaves, as though determined to scavenge every resource in sight.

Ryen chuckled quietly to himself but didn't let Keqing's lackluster attitude sway him into spilling the secret.

Their familiarity with the route and direction this time made for a much smoother journey. Despite having more people in the group than before, they reached the mine entrance in just ten minutes.

Unlike the previous expedition, where the mine had loomed like an ominous void, the soft, flickering glow of torches now lit the way.

"Guess this counts as reaping the rewards of someone else's labor," Ryen joked, a teasing smile on his face.

Keqing raised an eyebrow and shot back, "But didn't we do all the labor both times? I don't think that really counts."

"Fair enough," Ryen conceded with a shrug, all the while discreetly activating the chained-mining mod in his system.

While incredibly efficient, the mod came with its own set of drawbacks. It burned through pickaxes at a ridiculous rate, and leaving it on carelessly could easily result in accidentally demolishing an entire base. Because of that, Ryen only ever activated it when inside the mines, where it was both practical and relatively safe.

After a quick check of his inventory to confirm they had enough supplies, Ryen was ready to enter the mine.

"Hold on, Ryen," Xiao suddenly interrupted, stepping forward with a serious expression. "Let me take the lead and scout ahead."

Ryen hesitated for a moment. The front section of the mine had already been explored thoroughly, and he doubted they'd run into any trouble this early on. Still, Xiao seemed insistent, and Ryen wasn't one to dampen someone's eagerness.

"Alright," Ryen said, pulling out a shield and handing it to Xiao. "Take this. It'll help."

Xiao took the shield, weighed it thoughtfully in his hands, and nodded. He could already tell the shield's durability was exceptional, and he silently made a note to craft something similar for himself later.

"I'll bring up the rear," Zhongli offered, activating his Jade Shield to give everyone in the group an extra layer of protection.

Keqing handed her own shield to Zhongli, and as he took it, he couldn't help but marvel. Even with his vast experience, Zhongli found himself quietly astounded by the shield's resilience. Compared to his current, weakened state in this strange world, the shield's toughness might even surpass his Jade Shield.

How extraordinary… he thought to himself.

Ryen glanced at Cloud Retainer, who was still in her crane form, and suggested, "Cloud Retainer, wouldn't it be better if you transformed? We'll need everyone gathering resources later."

"You're quite right," Cloud Retainer admitted, looking slightly embarrassed. She was so accustomed to her crane form that she often forgot about practicality.

A flash of light later, she resumed her human form.

Keqing blinked in surprise. It was her first time seeing Cloud Retainer's humanoid appearance, and she couldn't help but murmur, "You look so elegant and intellectual, Cloud Retainer…"

Cloud Retainer, however, was unmoved by the compliment. She shot Keqing a sidelong glance and said nothing. Flattery about her appearance didn't interest her in the slightest—if anything, she'd have preferred praise for her mastery of mechanisms.

Zhongli and Xiao exchanged nostalgic glances. It had been centuries since Zhongli last saw his old companion in her human form. The last time must have been during one of their rare reunions after the Archon War.

As memories surfaced, Zhongli found himself lost in thought, his ancient demeanor practically radiating the weight of time.

Ryen, observing Zhongli's reflective mood, inwardly sighed. For someone trying to maintain a low profile, Zhongli's behavior constantly screamed, "I'm the Geo Archon." It didn't help that Ningguang had been scrutinizing him with a thoughtful look earlier—she was probably starting to piece things together.

To prevent Keqing from making a similar connection and diving headfirst into a debate about governance with Zhongli, Ryen quickly redirected the group's focus.

"Alright, let's get moving. Xiao, you take the lead with the shield. Zhongli, you're at the back. Keqing and Ganyu, keep your torches ready."

Ryen clapped his hands, emphasizing, "We'll do this the same way as last time: Xiao and Zhongli handle threats, while the rest of us focus on observing and collecting ores. Got it?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Good! Let's go—into the mines!"

With that, the group followed Xiao into the dimly lit depths.

The first stretch of the journey was uneventful. The torches left from their last visit kept the area well-lit, ensuring no monsters could spawn. Keqing and Ganyu took the opportunity to recount the thrill and dangers of their previous expedition, filling the once-silent mine with laughter and conversation.

Soon, they reached the coal vein they had discovered before.

Keqing's eyes lit up, and she pointed excitedly at a section of the wall that had been heavily mined. "There! That's where we found the coal last time!"

Her enthusiasm was cut short by a sudden whistle of air.

Thunk!

A trident pierced the wall near where she'd been pointing, the impact echoing sharply.

"…"

Xiao, standing at the front, silently tightened his grip on his weapons and glanced at Keqing.

"I was just pointing out the coal… Did you really need to be that tense?" Keqing said awkwardly, pressing her lips together in a sheepish smile.

Xiao said nothing. He simply walked over, picked up the trident, and tested its weight. He seemed to enjoy its heft and had already decided to collect a few more to use for himself.

Ningguang approached the wall, her eyes scanning the area with care. "This section has indeed been mined extensively," she said, running her hand along the surface. The realization that so much coal had come from such a small vein left her momentarily awestruck.

Then she paused, frowning slightly. Somewhere within the wall, she could hear faint noises—low growls and snarls, just barely audible.

She stepped back cautiously and moved closer to Ryen. "I think there's a monster nest behind the wall," she whispered.

Ryen pulled Ningguang back into the group with a calm smile. "Good catch. There probably is a nest in there, but it's sealed behind the wall, and we don't know how far away it is. Let's not bother with it and move on."

Xiao remained on high alert, gripping the shield and trident tightly as he positioned himself protectively in front of the group.

Ryen gave him a reassuring wave. "No need to overthink it. The monsters can't reach us from there. Let's just keep going."

The others nodded in agreement. There wasn't anything worthwhile in this section anymore—better to save their time and energy for deeper areas.

"This mine could become a cultural landmark someday, once our development here becomes grander," Ryen remarked with a grin as the group ventured further into the cave.

"The first base for Liyue's expansion into an alternate world: The Qixing Mines!" he declared with a dramatic flourish.

The group continued deeper into the mine, following Ryen's instructions to examine every nook and cranny. They checked beneath their feet and above their heads, leaving no stone unturned.

Unfortunately, this stretch of the mine was devoid of anything valuable.

Before long, they arrived at the rest base Ryen had constructed deep within the cave.

Even though Ganyu and Keqing had already told everyone about it, seeing the base with their own eyes left the group momentarily speechless.

One person, in just ten or so minutes, had built such a large and well-equipped base?

In the Chasm back in Teyvat, this would have cost the lives of several miners and taken months to complete.

Yet, no one felt disheartened by the comparison.

After all, it was widely understood that once development in this alternate world progressed, ninety percent of the miners from the Chasm would likely be reassigned here to work in these mines.

Zhongli, looking around with a faint smile, spoke with an air of approval. "From a practical standpoint, the mines of this world will indeed benefit the miners of Liyue. Here, they can enjoy a safer and more efficient environment. Even deep underground, they'll have secure resting areas and suitable accommodations."

He walked around the base with a contemplative expression, observing it as though studying a model to improve future designs.

As Zhongli wandered, his sharp eyes caught sight of a peculiar passageway. The entrance was deliberately blocked with earth, making it stand out against the rest of the base.

Frowning slightly, he turned and asked, "Ryen, what is this? Why have you sealed this passage?"

Hearing Zhongli's question, the others also turned to look.

Ryen had just finished spreading fresh soil on a patch of ground and was pouring water over it to plant seeds. At Zhongli's inquiry, he stood up, dusted off his hands, and casually replied, "That passage? It also leads deeper into the mine, but it's a bit dangerous. I thought it'd be better to explore the other side first before dealing with it."

Zhongli nodded thoughtfully, his expression calm. "No wonder I could hear the sounds of monsters growling from that direction. This part of the mine may not be suitable for miners to explore."

Ryen chuckled and placed his hands on his hips. "Don't worry. I'll find a much safer mine for the miners. Or maybe… if they have enough manpower, we can try something even more ambitious."

"What kind of ambition?" Keqing asked warily, sensing that Ryen was about to say something outrageous.

"For example…" Ryen's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Digging from the mountain's peak and hollowing out the entire thing!"

His words were met with a collective silence, followed by expressions of disbelief from the group.

"You're joking, right?" Ningguang asked with a raised eyebrow.

Ryen didn't explain further. Instead, he smiled knowingly to himself. It might seem impossible now, but with the chained-mining mod and a workforce of a thousand, hollowing out a mountain in just two days was entirely feasible.

It would be a spectacular sight—one that Ryen planned to let Ningguang and the others witness in the future. Once they saw it for themselves, their understanding of the Minecraft world would surely deepen.

Ryen clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Do any of you need to rest?"

Standing before the dark, unexplored depths of the mine, he posed the question casually.

Everyone immediately shook their heads in unison.

"We've been walking since we got here. We haven't exerted ourselves much," Keqing said, shrugging with a faint smile. "If anything, I'd prefer we hurry up and start mining resources from the deeper areas."

Ryen couldn't help but laugh. "Alright then, let's move on."

He gestured for Xiao to take the lead, handing him a shield as a precaution. With a serious expression, Ryen then motioned for everyone to ready their torches. His smile faded, replaced by a determined look.

"The rest of this mine is unexplored. Stay alert, and keep an eye out for resources."

"And most importantly," he added, his tone stern, "watch your step. Don't fall into any hidden pits."

No one found his reminders excessive. They all nodded earnestly, committing his warnings to memory.

Ryen gave Xiao a firm pat on the shoulder, and with the dim torchlight guiding their way, the group ventured into the uncharted depths of the mine.

Xiao held the shield up at all times, leading the way with cautious precision. Ryen stayed close behind him, ensuring the path ahead was clear.

The layout of this section of the mine was vastly different from the earlier passages.

Previously, the tunnels, though narrow, had been straightforward enough to navigate. Here, however, the terrain was chaotic—uneven piles of rocks formed jagged pathways with steep drops, and gaping holes led to seemingly bottomless pits.

Even after ten minutes, they had only managed to cover about five hundred meters.

But no one complained. Even Zhongli, who had always been composed, tread carefully. Stripped of his divine powers and weakened significantly in this strange world, he couldn't afford to be reckless.

Suddenly, Ganyu let out a startled cry and grabbed Ryen's arm.

"Ryen, Ryen! I think I see coal!"

Her words instantly lifted the group's spirits, banishing the weariness from their faces.

Following Ganyu's gaze, they spotted it about ten meters to the left—a whole wall of black coal, glistening faintly in the torchlight.

"This…"

Ningguang stared in disbelief. She recalled Ganyu and Keqing's earlier stories about the abundant resources here and murmured, "Are we… rich now?"

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