Genshin x Minecraft: Building the Temple of Virtue

Hearing Keqing's comment, the group couldn't help but smile.

After a moment, Zhongli spoke up, which was a rarity.

"From a rational perspective," Zhongli began, his tone calm and authoritative, "the value of raw iron ore cannot be compared to the value of forged iron armor. Crafting armor requires meticulous processes, and the armor we're wearing is made from the finest iron ore—pure iron through and through."

He paused, his golden eyes sweeping across the group. "If we were to calculate its worth in Mora… a single set of this iron armor would easily be worth billions. Furthermore, only a master blacksmith could forge armor of this quality."

Ningguang, thoughtfully stroking her chin, murmured, "So… it's truly a rarity, something almost impossible to replicate?"

"You could say that," Zhongli replied.

Ningguang turned her gaze toward Ryen, a playful smile curving her lips. "What an extraordinary gift, Ryen. Even in the three thousand years of Liyue's history, I've never heard of anyone giving a girl a gift worth billions of Mora."

"Exactly!" Ganyu quickly chimed in, interrupting Ningguang before she could continue. "As a gift from a friend, it's just… too extravagant."

The air seemed to crackle as Ningguang and Ganyu exchanged a brief glance, their gazes meeting like two blades clashing. Though the tension was palpable, they maintained their outward harmony, appearing as close as ever—like sisters.

Oblivious to the subtle rivalry brewing between the two, Ryen waved his hand dismissively, his tone carefree. "It's no big deal. You've all seen how much iron we have—it's not like it's anything precious. Plus, you saw my crafting table. If you want one, just make it yourself, though I'd suggest not wasting iron ingots unless you really need to."

With that, Ryen began preparing to lead the group deeper into the mines.

This time, there was no need to mine coal. Their targets were iron, redstone, gold, diamonds, and lapis lazuli. If possible, they'd also gather some obsidian.

All these resources were essential. Redstone and diamonds were obvious priorities, while lapis lazuli would be needed for enchantments. Obsidian was critical for future ventures into the Nether.

As for gold…

Ryen hadn't forgotten his promise to Ganyu to make her golden apples. He also planned to test if golden apples could help alleviate the negative states of Xiao and Zhongli.

This mining expedition was no small task. They needed to make the most of their time and explore thoroughly.

But before Ryen could rally the group to move out, Xiao raised a hand, his expression contemplative.

"Wait a moment, Ryen. Everyone, I'd like to conduct a test."

Curious, everyone turned to look at Xiao.

He explained calmly, "This iron armor weighs over twenty tons. With such a significant amount of top-tier iron ore forged into a single set of armor… I'd like to test its defensive capabilities."

"So, you want to see how it holds up against attacks?" Ryen asked with a grin. "You're curious about how much damage elemental attacks or weapons can deal to it, right?"

Xiao nodded, a hint of awkwardness crossing his face. "Apologies, Ryen. I know this armor is your handiwork, and I don't mean to disrespect it. But for the sake of everyone's safety, I believe this test is necessary."

"Don't!" Ryen waved his hand hurriedly, his tone exasperated but good-natured. "Don't call it 'my handiwork.' It took me, what, a minute to craft? If you want to test it, go ahead. We've got plenty of iron."

To be honest, Ryen didn't think the iron armor would be particularly practical for real combat in Teyvat. Sure, its defense was impressive, but they couldn't ignore the fact that it weighed over twenty tons. Who could realistically fight while carrying that much weight?

Zhongli, maybe? But even then, in Teyvat, his Jade Shield was far superior. He didn't need iron armor.

And on the off chance they left this world while wearing the armor, the system ensured they wouldn't feel its weight until they removed it. However, that didn't mean the armor wouldn't affect the Teyvat environment.

As Ryen had joked earlier, one step out and you'd end up embedded in the ground. Forget fighting—how would you even move?

Still, if Xiao wanted to test it, why not?

If they wanted to improve Liyue's combat power with resources from this world, there were far better options. Redstone-powered TNT cannons—affectionately dubbed Klee's Happiness Machines. Modern weapon mods or katana mods. Cultivation techniques, magic wands, or, if all else failed, a dragon-training mod. With Ningguang and the others riding dragons, they'd dominate Teyvat, punching Celestia in the face and kicking the Abyss Order to the curb.

Ryen's mind wandered with these fantastical ideas before he snapped back to reality. Xiao had already taken his position.

Standing firm, Xiao's expression was serious. On the other side, Cloud Retainer held Xiao's Primordial Jade Winged Spear, preparing to attack.

Despite her preference for mechanisms, Cloud Retainer was no stranger to combat. After all, she was close friends with Madame Ping, and Shenhe was an exceptionally skilled spear wielder.

Now, holding the spear, Cloud Retainer radiated an aura of boundless energy, her form enveloped in a vibrant green glow.

The tip of the spear gleamed with concentrated wind pressure.

"Conqueror of Demons, do not underestimate this test," Cloud Retainer cautioned gently. "While I favor crafting, my martial skills haven't dulled in the slightest over these centuries."

Xiao stole a glance at Zhongli, who stood to the side, exuding an air of calm authority. It was clear that if anything went wrong, Zhongli would step in to protect him.

With Zhongli there, what did Xiao have to fear? The Geo Daddy had his back.

Xiao nodded decisively. "Rest assured, Cloud Retainer. Please, proceed."

Cloud Retainer smiled faintly, realizing her earlier worry was unnecessary. As long as the Lord of Geo was present, there was no cause for concern.

Without hesitation, she unleashed her full strength, channeling elemental power into her strike.

Though her abilities were heavily suppressed in this world, her attacks still carried formidable force.

Focusing entirely on Xiao, Cloud Retainer steadied her breathing. She raised the Primordial Jade Winged Spear slightly, its tip aimed directly at Xiao's chest.

As the strike landed, there was no effort from Cloud Retainer to aim at less vulnerable spots like the abdomen or legs.

For an adeptus, especially one delivering a full-force attack, the outcome was binary: either you withstood the blow or you didn't. It wouldn't matter if the strike hit the ground beside you—damage was inevitable.

Still, for some inexplicable reason, Cloud Retainer found herself placing a sliver of faith in the iron armor.

Moments ticked by. Under the tense gaze of Ningguang and the others, Cloud Retainer became a streak of cyan light, hurtling toward Xiao with deadly precision.

The sheer force of the attack, the sharpness cutting through the air, and the overwhelming momentum made everyone narrow their eyes instinctively.

Ryen couldn't help but marvel at the sight.

In the game, Cloud Retainer—along with the other adepti apart from Xiao—had always seemed lackluster. They sat on the sidelines during the battle with Osial, spending most of their time manning cannons. Even then, it was Ningguang's sacrificial use of the Jade Chamber that secured victory.

But now…

This was an adeptus.

Not just any adeptus, but one who had lived through the Archon War. Their strength, honed through centuries, far exceeded any human.

Cloud Retainer's pupil, Shenhe, had frozen an entire tidal wave with a single strike.

Another adeptus, Mountain Shaper, had severed his own horn to stabilize the weight of Mt. Tianheng.

These were not feeble beings. The thought of them being anything less than formidable was laughable.

And then there was Liyue as a whole.

Compared to Snezhnaya, Liyue's human population might seem lacking in military might. But when you included the adepti in the equation?

The difference was staggering.

Snezhnaya might boast the Fatui, who had caused turmoil across the continents—slapping Barbatos in Mondstadt, inciting war in Inazuma, and meddling with the Akademiya in Sumeru. But why, then, did they remain so restrained in Liyue?

Because they knew.

Liyue wasn't just a nation; it was a fortress guarded by beings of immense power.

The adepti alone—Three-Eyed Five-Manifestations, the Conqueror of Demons, the half-adeptus Qilin, and the Wandering Songstress—were forces to be reckoned with.

And even without considering these celestial beings, Liyue still had its trump card: Morax, the Geo Archon.

The title "God of War" wasn't an empty one. During the Archon War, the number of defeated gods and vanquished entities under his hand likely outnumbered the stars Snezhnaya had ever seen.

So yes, Liyue's strength was unparalleled.

Even now, Ryen could see the sheer power radiating from Cloud Retainer.

Despite being in this alternate world, where their abilities were diminished, the attack was still breathtaking.

It was over in less than a second.

Cloud Retainer's spear shot forward, meeting Xiao head-on. The Conqueror of Demons staggered backward three steps before managing to steady himself.

The silence that followed was palpable.

Cloud Retainer, though visibly winded, immediately turned her focus to Xiao. "Conqueror of Demons, how are you feeling?"

Xiao touched his chest, his expression mixed with disbelief. "I… only broke one rib."

"…"

Ningguang and Keqing exchanged incredulous glances, struggling to grasp how Xiao could casually dismiss the injury with the word only.

Fortunately, Ganyu stepped in to offer an explanation. Her calm demeanor contrasted with the tension lingering in the air.

"While Cloud Retainer's primary expertise lies in mechanical arts, her strength as a Three-Eyed Five-Manifestations adeptus is beyond doubt."

She glanced at Xiao. "And though the Conqueror of Demons is formidable in his own right, it's worth noting that he didn't use adeptal energy to defend himself. He relied purely on the iron armor and his physical endurance."

"Normally, even the Geo Archon himself wouldn't risk taking a direct hit from an adeptus without additional defenses. For Xiao to come out with just a single rib fracture is extraordinary."

Her tone turned wry as she added, "The likelihood of such a scenario happening is probably as rare as Rex Lapis being assassinated during the Rite of Descension."

At that, a strange hush fell over the group.

Ganyu's remark, though spoken lightly, was eerily specific.

In the past, Ganyu would never have dared to make such an audacious comment.

But Ryen had been teasing her incessantly over the last few days. He'd repeatedly joked about scenarios in which Rex Lapis might retire—or even perish—just to see if Ganyu would abandon her duties as the Qixing's secretary and join him in exploring this world.

Ganyu's response had been an adamant refusal, firmly rooted in her unshakable faith in Rex Lapis's invincibility. Her current words seemed to carry a subtle jab at Ryen's ridiculous questions.

What she didn't realize was that her quip had left Zhongli unnerved.

The retired Archon felt a shiver run down his spine. Ganyu's offhand remark bordered on a prophecy too bold to ignore.

In that moment, one thought echoed in Zhongli's mind:

Perhaps retirement is going to be more challenging than I imagined.

~~----------------------

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