Genshin Impact: The God Incarnate

The God of the Stove's eyes were filled with determination.

Although Morax hadn't chosen to personally teach him his culinary skills, the God of the Stove, Marchosius, couldn't help but feel a small pang of disappointment.

However, as soon as the golden recipe book landed in his arms, that minor disappointment disappeared without a trace.

Morax had to focus on strengthening himself.

And with this golden recipe book in hand, Marchosius firmly believed that he could master the dishes detailed within it, achieving the pinnacle of culinary excellence.

Someday, he vowed to personally cook a feast and invite Morax, Guizhong, and Vorthis—the three Gods—to savor his creations!

They would be just as exquisite, if not better, than the dishes manifested by Morax!

"Morax, I'll head back now. You focus on your training!"

Marchosius spoke, clutching the golden recipe book tightly, and hurriedly left Vorthis's palace.

Watching Marchosius depart, Vorthis sighed and shook his head.

"Ah, youth. So full of energy."

Unlike himself, whose thoughts were now occupied with finding ways to achieve the most with the least effort—ideally without doing anything at all while everything got done on its own.

Ehe!

By his calculations, the Archon War was likely approaching.

It could be as soon as a decade or as far as a century away.

For Gods, such a span of time was but a fleeting moment.

Vorthis decided he had to use this period to enhance his strength, ensuring he had the power to dominate the Archon War.

His disposition was similar to Morax's—he wouldn't interfere unless provoked.

But if someone dared to challenge him, Vorthis wouldn't hesitate to ensure their demise!

"Hmph, don't let my youthful appearance fool you into thinking I'm easy to deal with!"

With a wave of his hand, Vorthis closed the palace gates and returned to his chambers to continue training.

Manifestation Power +1

Manifestation Power +1

Manifestation Power +1

...

Meanwhile, Marchosius returned to his kitchen, the Chef's Hall, clutching the golden recipe book he had received from Vorthis.

Opening the first page, he began studying the method for the first dish.

From ingredient preparation to cooking techniques—heat the pan, add oil, simmer on high heat, and finish with plating.

The result was a delicious dish, bursting with flavor—tender, juicy, and full of rich aromas!

Marchosius took a bite and compared it to the divine dishes he had tasted at the Cloud Pavilion.

Something seemed to be missing.

Marchosius pondered further...

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Through diligent learning and repeated trial and error, Marchosius finally mastered every recipe in the golden recipe book.

One day, Marchosius invited the other Gods to showcase the fruits of his three years of effort.

Morax, Vorthis, and Guizhong arrived one after another at Marchosius's palace.

Vorthis wasn't surprised by Marchosius's ability to master all 108 dishes in the recipe book.

As the God of the Stove, Marchosius had an innate talent for culinary arts. It was only natural for him to succeed.

"Please, everyone, taste the dishes I've prepared!" Marchosius said eagerly.

Morax nodded slightly. "Of course."

"I've been looking forward to Marchosius's creations. I wonder how his Golden Silk Shrimp Balls will taste," Guizhong said expectantly.

Vorthis, resting his chin on his hands, smiled. "I trust Brother Marchosius's skills will elevate the recipes to new heights, surpassing their original flavors."

With everyone's anticipation, Marchosius entered the kitchen.

Sounds of bustling activity filled the air, followed by an enticing aroma wafting from the kitchen.

Guizhong, captivated by the smell, exclaimed, "Mmm! What a wonderful fragrance! I wonder what dish Marchosius is making first!"

Morax replied calmly, "In due time, once it's ready, we'll know."

Vorthis rolled his eyes at Morax. "Brother Morax, your remarks are remarkably redundant."

...Though Morax admitted his comment might seem unnecessary, it was undeniably true.

Soon, Marchosius emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate of Stir-Fried Bamboo Shoots with Pork.

The bamboo shoots, harvested at their tenderest, paired with succulent meat, created a dish that was both delicate and flavorful.

Vorthis found it delightful!

After tasting the dish, all three gave consistent feedback: delicious, delectable, and divine!

The group spent the entire day sampling dishes.

Marchosius prepared all 108 recipes from the golden book, each evaluated and praised by the three Gods.

Receiving their approval filled Marchosius with immense joy.

The next day, on Guifeather Lane, Marchosius officially opened the Stove God's Dining Hall.

His mission was to bring the art of fine cuisine to every household!

"Have you heard? Lord Marchosius is teaching cooking at the Dining Hall!"

"Yes, and he's even personally preparing dishes for visitors to taste!"

"If the Stove God himself is cooking, it must be extraordinary! Let's hurry before the crowd gets too big, or we might not even get a glimpse of him!"

As word spread, the streets quickly became congested.

Crowds flocked around the Dining Hall, packed shoulder to shoulder.

Seeing the overwhelming interest, Marchosius felt a surge of motivation.

He was determined to spread the joy of cooking to as many as possible.

Thus began another three years of tireless work for Marchosius.

During this time, he shared his knowledge of fine cuisine with the world.

The people, in turn, simplified his recipes and adapted them to their local ingredients, creating a variety of home-cooked dishes.

One evening, standing atop the city walls, Marchosius gazed at the columns of smoke rising from the chimneys in the four residential districts.

He knew the people were cooking their evening meals.

Thanks to his efforts, most had learned the basics of cooking. Though they might not match his mastery, they had grown skilled enough to create their own hearty dishes.

As the God of the Stove, Marchosius could naturally sense the strong presence of culinary activities in Guizoli City, where the aroma of food being prepared was pervasive.

However, over time, a troubling issue arose within Guizoli City: the firewood supply was running dangerously low.

Situated on a plain, the city was surrounded by flatlands, fields of Glaze Lilies left behind by the God of Dust, Guizhong, and farmlands. The few scattered trees had long been cut down during the city's construction, and the remaining shrubs weren't yet dry enough to be used as firewood.

With the citizens' enthusiasm for cooking, firewood consumption skyrocketed, and soon, there was none left.

"The warmth of the hearth is fading," Marchosius murmured as he sat atop the city wall rubble, sensing the diminishing smoke and fire within the city.

To conserve firewood, residents had begun to ration their use, focusing on simpler meals like roasted sweet potatoes and potatoes, which required less fuel compared to elaborate dishes.

But Guizoli City's citizens were not ones to give up easily. They organized caravans to venture to the city's borders, where trees grew near the mountain ranges. However, these journeys were fraught with danger, and each trip claimed the lives of some members, making the acquired firewood incredibly precious.

Faced with the growing crisis, Marchosius's heart grew heavy. He couldn't bear the thought of families being unable to cook or eat, rendering his efforts to spread culinary joy meaningless.

After much contemplation, he devised a plan: he would create tens of thousands of clones to help each household light fires and cook meals.

When Morax heard of this plan, he expressed concern.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked gravely. "Creating so many clones will severely weaken your power. If you are attacked outside Guizoli City, you'll be defenseless."

As a mid-tier God, Marchosius's strength would be drastically diminished if he split his essence into tens of thousands of fragments to serve the households. While these fragments could be recalled, emergencies might not allow the time for reintegration.

"I understand the risks," Marchosius replied resolutely. "But I cannot stand by and watch as people are unable to cook or live their lives. My vision is a world where every family can enjoy a meal together, where the aroma of food brings warmth and comfort to all."

Morax sighed. "Your method is extreme. I believe Vorthis might have another solution to this firewood shortage."

Marchosius's eyes lit up at the mention of Zennos. If Zennos, who had created innovations like night lamps, could find a solution, there might be no need for such drastic measures.

With newfound hope, Marchosius sought out Zennos.

At the time, Zennos was deep in cultivation, surrounded by over seventy small night lamps he had crafted. Upon hearing Marchosius's explanation, Zennos sighed.

"Morax, you sly old stone! Pushing such a trivial problem onto me!"

Despite his complaints, Zennos pondered the firewood issue. Guizoli City lacked forests, and conjuring one was out of the question. Instead, he opted for a more sustainable solution: coal mining.

Using his powers, Zennos created a coal-mining detector compass and a blueprint for making briquettes.

"These tools should help," Zennos explained. "The compass will locate coal deposits beneath the land, and the briquette blueprint will allow you to make efficient, long-burning fuel from the coal. With proper chimneys, you won't need to worry about toxic fumes."

Marchosius gratefully accepted the tools, his resolve renewed.

"Thank you, Zennos. I'll make sure this problem is solved."

"Don't mention it," Zennos replied. "This is our shared responsibility as leaders of Guizoli City. Now, get to work."

Thus, Marchosius embarked on a new journey to ensure the city's hearths remained warm, this time fueled by coal rather than firewood.