Genshin x Minecraft: Building the Temple of Virtue

t's often said that necessity drives ingenuity, but if there's one thing that spurs people—immortal beings included—to outdo themselves, it's profit.

If Endermen dropped items as mundane as the bones Skeleton Archers left behind, Ningguang and her crew wouldn't have given them a second glance, much less gone looking for trouble. But if Endermen dropped something as extraordinary as an item granting teleportation, then suddenly, exhaustion and disinterest were no longer part of the equation.

As a natural-born merchant, Ningguang instinctively began calculating the cost-benefit ratio of hunting Endermen for Ender Pearls. Ryen had already demonstrated the technique for taking them down; it wasn't rocket science, and no one here was dull enough to miss the lesson.

The cost? Practically zero. The challenge? Finding more Endermen.

The reward? A pearl that could enable teleportation.

A business opportunity like this was pure gold.

No, scratch that—Ender Pearls were far more valuable than gold. Ningguang had no doubt that these pearls, with their ability to teleport the user, would fetch astronomical prices, whether sold to Vision bearers or wealthy merchants with no special powers of their own.

In her eyes, this was an item worth more than its weight in any precious metal.

As such, it was no surprise when the group's gazes heatedly converged on the Ender Pearl in Ryen's hand. Even Xiao, usually indifferent to material goods, couldn't mask the interest flickering in his sharp gaze. Ryen couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the Endermen—they were about to become an endangered species, hunted into oblivion.

The thought made him hesitate to reveal the pearl's greater potential. If they knew it could be further refined into an Eye of Ender, capable of locating strongholds and End portals… No. That kind of ambition was dangerous. They weren't ready to face what lay in the End yet.

The Ender Dragon's devastating Dragon Breath alone could wipe out this entire group if they weren't prepared.

Better to let them take baby steps.

"Ryen, how exactly do you use an Ender Pearl?" Keqing's eyes gleamed with anticipation as she posed the question, already eager to test its power.

Ryen chuckled, shaking his head at her enthusiasm. "Using an Ender Pearl is simple. Just throw it, and when it lands, you'll instantly teleport to its location. The maximum distance is about fifty meters."

He paused for a moment, memories of Minecraft players' ingenious tricks flashing through his mind. TNT-assisted Ender Pearl flights, impromptu teleportation machines for nightfall escapes... This world had yet to witness the full potential of a little creative insanity.

"However," he continued, "using an Ender Pearl comes with some downsides. First, it consumes the pearl—it's a one-time-use item. Second, teleporting causes some damage to the user based on the distance traveled."

"Damage?" Ningguang's brows furrowed slightly.

"Yeah, but it's not fatal. If you're wearing enchanted gear, it can reduce the damage significantly. Even without it, the injuries are manageable unless you're reckless."

"Hmm…" Ningguang fell silent, her eyes narrowing as she considered his words. Finally, she glanced at the others before turning back to Ryen. "And that's it? No other drawbacks?"

"Well…" Ryen scratched his chin, hesitating. "There's more to it, but it's not something we need to worry about right now. For example, an Ender Pearl can be crafted into an Eye of Ender, but that's for another time. It's a long way off before we'd need one."

"I see." Ningguang's expression remained neutral, but Ryen could sense the gears turning in her mind.

"Let me guess," he asked with a wry smile, "you're already planning to hunt more Endermen for their pearls?"

"Of course." Ningguang's answer was immediate, her tone unwavering.

"Even though it's a consumable? Even though it can injure the user?" Ryen pressed.

This time, Ningguang laughed softly, shaking her head. "Ryen, let me ask you this: can ordinary people use the Ender Pearl?"

Ryen blinked, taken aback by the question. "Well, yes. The pearl isn't particularly heavy, so even someone without extraordinary strength could throw it. They'd take some damage, but as long as they're careful, they won't die from using it once."

Ningguang's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Then why would you think we'd let minor drawbacks stop us from pursuing such a treasure?"

She turned to the group, her gaze sweeping over them with an almost playful glint. "I'm sure everyone here feels the same. Who would willingly give up the chance to wield a tool that grants them the power of spatial teleportation?"

"Absolutely!" Cloud Retainer nodded emphatically.

"Even among adepti, few possess the ability to teleport," she said. "And fewer still can command true spatial manipulation. The mystery and power within these pearls far outweigh any trivial limitations they might have. Each one could be the key to turning the tide of battle—or saving a life."

Hearing Cloud Retainer's earnest agreement, Ryen finally understood their mindset.

Sure, in the game, teleportation felt commonplace—every Abyss Mage could do it. But in Teyvat, teleportation was a rare and precious ability. The Ender Pearls' value was truly immeasurable.

For Ningguang, this wasn't just a priceless treasure; it was a strategic asset. Selling these pearls was out of the question.

Satisfied that he had made his point, Ryen didn't bother trying to dissuade them further. If they wanted to hunt Endermen, so be it. It was something he'd need to do anyway to prepare for the End. Besides, they now had the skills to deal with the elusive mobs. As long as they stayed vigilant, they'd manage.

He cast a final, regretful glance at the lone Ender Pearl in his hand. With just one, no one was willing to part with it for experimentation.

For now, the group's attention shifted back to the nearby wall lined with glittering ores. While Ryen focused on gathering redstone and lapis lazuli, Ningguang and the others couldn't tear their eyes away from the massive deposits of gold.

It wasn't greed—nineteen tons of gold sitting in plain view could make anyone stop and stare.

Who wouldn't be mesmerized by this sight?

A treasure trove of riches glittered before them—pure, unmined gold. It wasn't just a small stash hidden deep underground; it was an entire wall gleaming with wealth. Anyone would find it impossible not to be drawn to it, to imagine its limitless potential once mined, processed, and forged into gleaming ingots of gold.

For Ningguang, this was the ultimate prize. Her mind raced as she envisioned the gold smelted into bars and proudly displayed in the Golden House—a statement of power and wealth unrivaled in all of Teyvat.

However, as much as the sight tempted her, she remembered Ryen's earlier words. Some minerals required special tools for extraction; otherwise, they would shatter into useless fragments. Ningguang couldn't afford to gamble with such a massive fortune at stake. One wrong swing of the pickaxe could turn an unimaginably valuable gold deposit into worthless shards. The mere thought of such a loss—a fortune equivalent to billions of Mora—made her hesitate.

After much deliberation, she turned back to Ryen, her elegant composure breaking ever so slightly as a rare hint of eagerness shone in her eyes. For someone as poised and dignified as Ningguang, this moment was extraordinary.

Ryen chuckled at the sight, shaking his head in amusement. Reaching into his inventory, he retrieved an enchanted iron pickaxe and handed it to her.

"Good thing you held back. Mining gold with a normal iron pickaxe would indeed cause significant losses—only gold nuggets would drop. However, with this enchanted pickaxe, you can mine the ore properly. Once smelted in a furnace, one gold ore will yield a full gold ingot."

Hearing this, Ningguang's eyes sparkled with newfound determination. She carefully accepted the enchanted pickaxe, studying it with a mix of curiosity and admiration.

"So, this is an enchanted tool... How fascinating," she murmured. Yet, as intrigued as she was by the tool itself, her attention quickly returned to the gold. She couldn't waste another moment.

Taking every precaution, Ningguang even asked Ryen to disable the tool's chain-mining enchantment to ensure nothing would interfere with her extraction. Then, with unparalleled focus, she set to work, each swing of the pickaxe brimming with anticipation.

Keqing and Ganyu stood by her side, equally enthralled by the process. Keqing, ever the pragmatic one, peppered Ningguang with questions about the enchanted pickaxe's performance, eager to learn from her experience.

Meanwhile, Ryen and Zhongli kept their distance, watching from afar. Ryen had no personal interest in gold, and Zhongli—being a deity—viewed material wealth with mild indifference.

However, Ryen couldn't help but find the scene remarkable. For someone as composed as Ningguang to be so visibly thrilled was a rarity. This level of excitement was understandable, though; after all, a typical gold vein might only yield two to nine ores. Yet here they were, faced with an entire wall of gold—an unimaginable stroke of luck, even with Ganyu's fortune-enhancing aura.

Still, no matter how extraordinary this find was, Ryen knew this mining expedition would soon come to an end. If they wanted more gold, they'd have to venture into another mine—one much larger and further away. That mine, located on the other side of the village, was a resource he intended to reserve for Liyue's miners. For now, this relatively safe and stable mine served as the perfect training ground.

Lost in thought, Ryen didn't even notice that Ningguang, Keqing, and Ganyu had finished mining and were returning to him, their expressions glowing with satisfaction. Before they could speak, he gestured toward a nearby wall.

"Head over there and set up a few furnaces. You can smelt the gold ores into ingots," he suggested with a smile.

Ningguang nodded without hesitation, returning the enchanted pickaxe to him before eagerly leading the others to the designated spot. Her enthusiasm was palpable—so much so that even Zhongli couldn't help but comment, albeit with a tinge of amusement.

"Despite her remarkable skills as a Tianquan, Ningguang seems unusually captivated by such mundane treasures," he remarked to Ryen.

Ryen shrugged, his tone light yet tinged with understanding. "Everyone has their own story. Ningguang grew up in hardship, so it's natural for her to place great value on earning Mora."

He glanced at Zhongli and the others, his expression growing serious. "But you've seen her today—everything she does, every decision she makes, is for the good of Liyue. There's no one more suited to the role of Tianquan."

The immortal beings present—Zhongli and Cloud Retainer—had never experienced the kind of poverty that shaped Ningguang's worldview. They had never walked barefoot on the shores of Yaoguang Shoal, scavenging for seashells to sell at the harbor, or shivered through cold nights in a leaking, dilapidated shack. To them, her obsession with Mora might seem excessive, but to Ryen, it was a testament to her resilience. She wasn't just hoarding wealth for herself; she was ensuring that Liyue would never face the same hardships she endured.

Even so, Ryen knew Ningguang would never want others to pity her for her past. She was proud, strong, and determined to carve her own path. Sympathy was the last thing she needed.

As the conversation waned, Cloud Retainer coughed lightly to break the silence, joining Zhongli and Ryen as they examined the far wall of the cave.

Embedded within it was a vein of shimmering red ore, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.

"So, this is redstone?" Zhongli asked, his voice calm yet tinged with curiosity.

Ryen's eyes gleamed with excitement as he nodded. "Indeed... This is the foundation of an era—a cornerstone of incredible technological innovation!"

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