Ningguang had already started considering another profitable venture for Liyue—a new line of alchemical potions that could be sold across all of Teyvat.
However, that would have to wait until mass production was properly established.
For now, the priority was to supply their own people first.
"How about we take advantage of the fact that the third wave of raiders outside isn't over yet and find someone to test the potions?"
Ganyu's gentle suggestion made Ryen nod slightly, a smile forming on his lips.
"That's exactly what I had in mind."
With that, he grabbed the alchemical potions and headed straight outside.
The explosions from the TNT were getting weaker, a clear sign that Xiao and the others were almost done dealing with this wave of attackers.
As soon as they reached the entrance, they saw four remaining raiders running around the massive crater like headless flies.
Xiao had his finger on the trigger, about to launch another strike, but Ryen quickly called out:
"Wait a moment! Xiao, hold off on the bombing."
The disciplined Millelith soldiers, along with Xiao, immediately halted their actions.
This was one of the things Ryen liked about the Millelith.
They upheld a soldier's discipline to the highest degree.
If a superior gave an order, they wouldn't question the reason behind it. They simply executed it.
Even if they were in the middle of battling Hilichurls, if their commander told them to stop, they would obey without hesitation.
Of course, such orders were rarely given. After all, unless it was a dire miscalculation, the Ministry of Civil Affairs would ensure that any commanding officer who made reckless calls was promptly thrown in jail.
With Yanfei keeping a watchful eye on everything, Liyue's legal system was as strict as it could get.
Ryen quickly approached the entrance and glanced at the battlefield.
Seeing that all four raiders were still alive, he sighed in relief.
"Perfect. These last few will be enough for the experiment."
He gestured for one of the Millelith captains, Dashi, to step forward.
Handing him three potions—Strength, Swiftness, and Jump Boost—Ryen instructed:
"These are freshly brewed alchemical potions that enhance strength, speed, and jumping ability. Drink them, then head out with Xiao and take down the remaining enemies. Any objections?"
Dashi's eyes lit up with excitement.
"No objections at all, Lord Ryen!"
Objections? No way! He had been itching for a fight.
Sure, the redstone cannons were fun, but he had to wait in line to use them.
Meanwhile, these raiders were right there, practically begging to be used as punching bags.
Besides, this was a chance to test out Ryen's alchemy!
Being the first to try it? That was a privilege.
To them, Ryen was a figure of pure innovation—someone who constantly brought miracles into existence.
A whole new world, infinite resources, and unimaginable technology...
And now, potions that could grant extraordinary abilities.
Dashi still vividly remembered when he first wielded an enchanted weapon. His wooden sword, imbued with the Fire Aspect enchantment, had turned him into a sensation among the Millelith.
Many had mistaken him for someone who had awakened a Vision.
Frankly, he didn't care.
A promotion? More responsibility? That meant nothing compared to experiencing this world's wonders.
For ordinary people in Teyvat, the pursuit of extraordinary power was a lifelong dream.
And for the Millelith, who constantly faced monstrous threats, this desire was even stronger.
Ryen gave him a nod of approval before turning to Xiao and handing him an Invisibility Potion.
"This one grants invisibility for eight minutes, but you'll need to take off your iron armor for it to work properly."
Xiao took the potion without hesitation.
"I'll test it."
He had heard Ryen mention this potion before, but experiencing it firsthand was an entirely different matter.
Under the envious gazes of the other Millelith soldiers and miners, Dashi and Xiao drank their potions.
For Dashi, the effects were immediate. His eyes widened as he flexed his fingers, feeling the raw power coursing through his body.
He threw a test punch, and the resulting gust of wind was audible.
With just a casual jump, he soared nearly one and a half blocks high.
His face was filled with pure exhilaration.
Even in the Minecraft world, where physical limitations were strict, this was an incredible feat.
Even Zhongli and the others, for all their immense strength, were still bound by the game's physics—they could only jump one block high.
If these potions worked this well here, imagine what they could do back in Teyvat!
As for Xiao…
"Huh? Where's Xiao?"
In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Zhongli closed his eyes for a moment, then calmly stated,
"He's still standing right there."
A voice suddenly echoed from the empty space,
"I am here."
Everyone turned towards the source of the voice, but there was nothing.
"Xiao, try moving around."
Ryen's voice was thoughtful, and Xiao immediately took a few steps.
Ryen and Zhongli could just barely pinpoint his location through the faint sound of movement.
But the Millelith?
They were utterly lost.
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, staring at the empty space in confusion.
They couldn't sense Xiao at all.
Had they not known about the potion, they would have thought he had disappeared into thin air—or worse, that the place was haunted.
"Ehehe… Looks like the invisibility potion works really well!"
Hu Tao's mischievous giggle rang out as she clung to Ryen's arm.
"Hey, hey, Ryen! How about making one for this Hall Master too?"
"Not a chance."
Ryen shot her a deadpan look, already predicting exactly what she wanted to do.
"Don't think I don't know what you're planning—you just want to use it for pranks. Our materials are still limited; we can't afford to waste them like that."
Hu Tao pouted, clearly dissatisfied.
A prank? No, no, no.
She had bigger ideas in mind.
Like drinking an invisibility potion and sneaking around Liyue Harbor, selling coffins and funeral packages.
Imagine! An unseen voice whispering eerie sales pitches in the ears of unsuspecting people…
It would be fantastic!
As for using ghosts to do the job?
Absolutely not.
Despite her eccentric nature, Hu Tao held deep respect for the deceased. She would never use them for such frivolous tricks.
"Alright, back to the task at hand."
Ryen clapped his hands together and turned to Xiao.
"First, test whether the raiders can detect you while you're invisible. Once we confirm that, Dashi, you'll take care of them. Think you can handle it?"
Dashi's grin widened as he confidently pounded his chest.
"Absolutely!"
"Don't worry, Lord Ryen! Not only am I not afraid of these pillagers in the first place, but now, with your alchemical potions..."
"I feel like I could take on ten of them!"
Ryen chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, just don't get careless. Go ahead, and make it quick."
"Yes, sir!"
Dashi responded immediately, then scratched his head awkwardly.
"Uh… Lord Yaksha, where are you?"
As soon as he spoke, the iron door suddenly sprouted a lever out of nowhere. The moment it was pulled, the door swung open.
Xiao's voice came from outside.
"I'll go first. Wait for my signal."
"...Understood!"
The eerie sight of the door opening on its own in the pitch-black night sent a small shiver through some of the soldiers.
But to Ningguang and the others, the effect was nothing short of spectacular.
Even the elite Millelith couldn't detect Xiao's presence—meaning that armies from other nations, treasure hoarders, Fatui soldiers, or even their enhanced enforcers—
None of them should be able to sense him either.
Liyue could potentially field an entire battalion of stealth operatives, similar to the Fatui's Debt Collectors.
Except, unlike the Fatui's method—which came at the cost of the user's health—this invisibility potion left no adverse effects.
Now, they just needed to confirm whether the pillagers could detect Xiao.
Just as that thought formed, one of the pillagers was suddenly swatted into the air.
Then another.
And another.
And another.
All four remaining pillagers were slapped aside as if they were nothing.
Caught off guard, the pillagers were enraged.
Yet, no matter how much they shrieked or spun in circles, they simply couldn't locate their attacker.
"The results are obvious," Ryen remarked, shrugging as he looked at Ningguang.
"Invisibility potion—confirmed effective."
Ningguang smiled, nodding. "It's quite clear now."
At that moment, the iron door creaked open once more. Just like before, no figure appeared, but everyone knew Xiao had returned.
"Good work, Xiao. The effect should wear off in about eight minutes."
Ryen grinned.
Xiao instinctively shook his head—only to remember that no one could see him. So, he voiced his response instead.
"It was nothing."
With that, Xiao moved to stand beside Zhongli, falling silent.
Standing completely still under the effects of the potion, even Zhongli—despite his refined senses—could only vaguely sense that something was off in that direction.
As for Ningguang and the others?
They sensed absolutely nothing.
And so…
For the first time in a long while, Xiao could openly stand by Zhongli's side.
Just like in the days of the Archon War.
For him, perhaps that was the most valuable part of this potion's effect.
"Alright, Dashi. It's your turn. Stay alert."
Ryen patted Dashi on the shoulder. The latter nodded firmly, drawing his wooden sword before throwing the iron door open and charging toward the pillagers.
It was only when he moved that the others finally noticed the difference.
Compared to before—he was fast.
Ridiculously fast.
With both the Swiftness and Jump Boost potions active, his agility had skyrocketed, allowing him to dodge two incoming arrows with ease.
In the blink of an eye, he was upon the enemy.
It was as if he were being propelled by Anemo itself.
The pillager in front of him fumbled to notch an arrow into its crossbow, but Dashi's blade had already swung down.
With the Strength potion boosting his power, and his fire-enchanted sword trailing a blazing arc, it was as if he had cleaved the very air apart.
The strike landed.
The already-weakened pillager barely had time to react before it collapsed, vanishing into a puff of smoke and leaving behind a single emerald shard.
Dashi froze for a brief moment, stunned by his own strength.
But he quickly snapped out of it, spinning on his heel and setting his sights on the remaining enemies.
Just like before, none of them lasted beyond two strikes.
Not even a third was needed.
The results were undeniable.
With Strength, Swiftness, and Jump Boost combined, Dashi's combat prowess—at least in the duration of the potion—was on par with some of Teyvat's more formidable Vision holders.
And that alone was terrifying.
Sure, the effects were temporary.
But who said they couldn't simply drink another potion the moment the first wore off?
Once the alchemical production lines were fully optimized, these potions could be manufactured on a massive scale.
If Ningguang willed it, she could field an entire Millelith battalion where every single soldier possessed power rivaling that of an adeptus.
Whether to guard this world or to cleanse the monsters plaguing Teyvat—
Such a force would be an unparalleled advantage.
Ryen clutched the notebook in his arms a little tighter.
Today's discoveries were far more valuable than mere resources.
Just as he was lost in thought—
A shrill, piercing screech echoed from above.
Followed by the rapid, whistling sounds of something slicing through the air.
Ningguang's gaze snapped upward—
And her expression darkened.
A dozen strange creatures, resembling oversized bats, were diving straight toward them at breakneck speed.
"Enemy attack! Protect the lords!"
The deputy commander of the Millelith, Chang Yi, immediately tore his gaze away from Dashi's performance.
With a sharp command, the tightly assembled Millelith soldiers instantly closed ranks, forming a protective perimeter around Ryen and the others.
Swords were drawn.
Bows were raised.
Eyes locked onto the incoming threats.
Dashi, still outside the perimeter, dispatched the last pillager with a single strike—then wasted no time sprinting back toward the safety of the base.
~~----------------------
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