Creating a god!
What an absurd notion.
Yet, when truly put into practice, the sheer thought of it sent an unprecedented fury surging through Zhongli's heart.
Since five hundred years ago, he had never been this enraged.
The composed and steady Geo Archon now felt like a massive boulder on the verge of shattering—one that could erupt at any moment, unleashing a raging inferno to engulf the entire Akademiya.
"Creating a god... creating a god..."
He murmured, his golden eyes gleaming with an ever-deepening coldness.
"This is even more repulsive than those people from the land of salt all those years ago!"
"Such beings are unworthy of divine protection!"
The notion of Sumeru forging its own god was beyond blasphemous—it was an outright betrayal of the very order of Teyvat.
To Zhongli, every Archon was like a parent to their people.
Even the present-day Cryo Archon, who had severed her ability to love, was still ultimately striving for a future for her beloved humans.
And Sumeru?
The simplest way to describe it was this:
Because they couldn't get what they wanted from their "mother," they decided to lock her away in a dark room.
Then, those insolent wretches dared to try and create a new mother—one who would endlessly provide for them.
In his six thousand years of existence, Zhongli had never heard of anything so outrageously ridiculous.
The urge to descend upon the Akademiya and unleash "Heavenly Dominion" upon them was almost unbearable.
This wasn't just an insult to the Little Lord Kusanali—it was a blatant defiance of every Archon who had ever ruled.
The tension in the air was suffocating.
If not for the contract binding the Seven, Zhongli would have already acted.
Certainly, he had always refrained from interfering in the governance of other nations.
When his old friend in Mondstadt raised a generation of irresponsible children, he made no comment.
When the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya forged the Fatui, he did not interfere.
But gods were still beings with emotions.
And for the Akademiya to defile a god—that was something Zhongli could never tolerate.
After a long silence, he turned his gaze to Ryen.
"What do you intend to do?"
Ryen's voice was calm, yet there was an underlying sharpness to it.
"Last night, in my dream, I spent a wonderful time with Nahida. She is my friend."
"I'm no god, and my heart is small—I only care about my friends. Once the descent into the lower realm is complete, I will go to Sumeru."
"I will take Nahida away. And then, I will deliver a single punch to the Akademiya—one that will make them feel pain."
"Only through suffering will they understand the absolute authority of the strong in this supernatural world."
"Only then will they realize that without the protection of their god, they are nothing."
"If Celestia intervenes to stop me—" Ryen's eyes glowed with a terrifying light.
"Then let's see if they can withstand my punch."
"If they cannot, then it's time to replace the Second Throne."
Upon hearing this, Zhongli sighed and shook his head.
"Celestia is currently gravely wounded and in slumber. They won't wake anytime soon—unless you disturb the Abyss or the floating island above."
"As for the Little Lord Kusanali, you can bring her to Liyue."
"While the contract between the Seven forbids unauthorized entry into another nation, my old friend from Mondstadt has long ignored it and frequently visits Liyue."
"This contract, in truth, holds little real power."
"As for the Akademiya... I will not interfere with another nation's politics. But betrayers must be punished. I only ask that you keep your actions controlled—the common people of Sumeru are merely misguided victims."
"If you do not mind, I would have Xiao accompany you."
"He will ensure you restrain yourself while also allowing me to vent my frustrations through him. What do you think?"
Zhongli made no attempt to hide his reasons for sending Xiao.
He feared that Ryen would lose control—just like he had in the Dark Sea.
If that happened, it would no longer be just about dealing with the Akademiya.
Furthermore...
Even the Geo Archon had his anger.
Ryen didn't care about such arrangements. He nodded lightly and said with a faint smile,
"That's fine. Xiao's karmic debt is an agony that mortals cannot bear. If I truly do smash them with a punch, it would be too merciful a death for them."
Zhongli did not respond.
He was a god who loved all people, offering his care without expectation of return.
But at the very least, humanity needed to show their gods the respect and sincerity they deserved.
And Zhongli understood this well—not all people were worthy of a god's love.
Not all could be considered human.
With a single thought, Zhongli summoned Xiao into the barrier.
He spoke calmly,
"After the descent into the lower realm, you shall accompany Ryen to the Akademiya. Follow his lead."
Having known Zhongli for millennia, Xiao instantly recognized that his lord was in a terrible mood.
He immediately understood—the Akademiya must have done something to enrage even the Geo Archon.
His gaze darkened, filling with hostility toward the scholars.
He responded in a low voice,
"Understood."
With this matter settled, there was nothing more to discuss. Ryen chuckled and shifted the conversation.
"You mentioned before that Barbatos often visited Liyue. Why hasn't he come in recent years?"
Zhongli calmed his simmering anger and replied plainly,
"He altered my contract without permission and feared I would punish him under the Law of Stone."
"Moreover, he was gravely wounded in recent years and has remained in slumber. Only recently did I sense his presence again."
"Most likely, he is currently in Mondstadt dealing with the dragon calamity alongside the Traveler."
Hearing this, Ryen raised an eyebrow thoughtfully.
"So, you are quite familiar with that Traveler as well, huh?"
Zhongli chuckled softly, offering no further comment.
After a brief pause, Zhongli spoke with deep meaning:
"The winds from distant lands have swept across Teyvat more than once. Everything is but a cycle of fate."
"However… for us, it no longer matters."
"Now, you are the true endpoint."
Ryen curled his lips in mild annoyance.
"Ugh, I hate cryptic talk."
Zhongli found this amusing, and the anger from before temporarily subsided.
"Alright, let's stop dwelling on these unpleasant things. If something makes me unhappy, I'll just punch it. Once that's done, everything is settled."
Ryen shrugged with a carefree grin and said lightly, "Let's get ready. We'll enter my world first, sort a few things out, and then head to the Nether."
Zhongli gave a slight nod and withdrew the barrier.
He assumed that such a short conversation wouldn't attract any attention.
However, he greatly underestimated Ningguang and Ganyu, who had been keeping a constant watch over Ryen.
For Ningguang, it wasn't a big deal—she had long suspected Zhongli's true identity.
But for Ganyu…
Previously, she never had any particular suspicions. Zhongli and Xiao had become so accustomed to concealing their identities that their disguises were practically seamless.
Yet, by sheer coincidence, this time Ganyu happened to witness the interaction between Zhongli and Xiao.
Though brief, the moment when Zhongli issued his command and Xiao responded with serious acknowledgment was far too telling.
No one else could command Xiao's unwavering respect like that—except for the one he revered most, the Geo Archon.
Ganyu now had her suspicions, but she kept them to herself.
After all, the saying held true:
Whatever the Lord of Geo does, there must be a reason behind it.
Instead of pondering Zhongli's intentions, Ganyu was more concerned about Ryen.
Seeing that Ryen was now in a much better mood, she happily ran over.
"Ryen, are we heading out now?"
The others also stopped their conversations and gathered around.
Ryen activated the Dimensional Gateway with a thought and grinned.
"That's right. First, we'll check on the miners, make some arrangements, and then we'll enter the Nether."
"Oh, right…"
Suddenly, Ryen looked at Ningguang and asked, "Did you inform Keqing? I don't want her to freak out if she can't find us."
Ningguang smiled and shook her head.
"No need to worry about Keqing. I spoke with her last night—she still has hundreds of acres of land that need soil replacement."
"Also, I have some good news. The crops on Jueyun Karst have begun to mature, and…"
She cast a glance at Zhongli, her voice turning softer.
"Teyvat's crops are also thriving in the newly cultivated lands."
"Moreover… the wild Glaze Lilies that had vanished from that land for over a thousand years…"
"They have begun to bloom again."
At these words, both Zhongli and Cloud Retainer's gazes flickered, their emotions stirring.
In that moment, Ryen clearly sensed the complex feelings within Zhongli's heart.
A heavy silence settled over the group.
After a while, Cloud Retainer spoke gently:
"Thank you… That land, those Glaze Lilies, and the stories tied to them… hold immeasurable importance to both this adeptus and the Lord of Geo."
"No doubt, if the Lord of Geo knew, he would be truly pleased."
"This time… I must trouble you to send a letter on my behalf, expressing my gratitude to that child…"
Then, as if realizing that this softened her dignified image too much, Cloud Retainer coughed lightly and straightened her posture with an air of pride.
"Ahem! It is merely the appreciation of an elder toward a junior's dutiful care—nothing more! Do not write anything too sentimental!"
"That Jade Chamber Star… has done… a passable job this time."
Ningguang, understanding Cloud Retainer's personality, simply smiled without further comment.
For an adeptus as proud as Cloud Retainer to openly express gratitude, Keqing would surely be shocked to hear this.
But it was a good thing—this was a key moment symbolizing the adepti's deeper acknowledgment of Liyue's mortal governance.
"Cloud Retainer is thanking Ryen, isn't she?"
Ganyu suddenly added, looking seriously at Cloud Retainer.
"If it weren't for Ryen, we wouldn't have been able to restore that land."
Cloud Retainer chuckled.
"Of course. This adeptus will never forget to thank Ryen. However, little Ganyu, you're quite adorable when you're so protective of your beloved."
"Cloud Retainer!!!"
Ganyu huffed in embarrassment and quickly hid behind Ryen.
Ningguang glanced at Ganyu, her expression unreadable.
"Alright, let's not waste time."
Ryen laughed and gestured toward the Dimensional Gateway.
"Let's go. It's time to head to the Nether."
…
Stepping through the portal, they returned to the Minecraft world.
Unlike previous mornings, when the world was tranquil, today it was bustling with activity—even at dawn.
The miners and Millelith were already up, the Millelith engaged in morning training while the miners prepared for their descent into the caves.
Standing on the elevated platform near his villa, Ryen looked across the river at the vast grasslands stretching beyond the horizon.
For some reason, he was reminded of the dream he had last night, and a flicker of irritation crossed his heart.
Still, he didn't let it show.
After a moment, Ryen activated Physique Synchronization and spoke:
"Ningguang, go retrieve your equipment and gather some food supplies."
"Cloud Retainer, we don't know how long we'll be gone this time, so I'll have to trouble you to keep an eye on the base."
"As for the miners, Xiao, I'd like you to oversee them. There are still three or four caves in the area that remain untouched—that should be enough to keep them busy for a while."
"For now, no one should leave this base. Even if all the nearby mines are exhausted, do not venture beyond the known areas."
"Getting lost would be troublesome."
The group nodded in agreement.
Ryen knew that after spending so much time here, everyone had a good understanding of how to proceed.
Without further ado, he glanced at Ganyu and the others with a soft smile.
"I'll be waiting on the floating island above. Once you're all ready, we'll head to the Nether."
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