The Mine Shaft No. 1 that was explored long ago.
It was now filled with torches.
It had been temporarily sealed off, and Ningguang and the others planned that:
When Liyue became stronger in the future, and more sworn allies were drawn in,
The MC world would be openly revealed.
At that time, this place could become a great tourist attraction.
The first step for Teyvatians to explore the MC world.
The beginning of everything.
These titles would surely be very appealing.
Ningguang also planned that once Cloud Retainer finished remodeling Jueyun Karst in the back mountain, she would ask her to come here to remodel the mine shaft.
Jiang Xuan led everyone to the temporary mine shaft base he had built under the former Mine Shaft No. 1.
This place had become a must-visit for every miner after coming to MC.
Mainly it was to learn how to set up rest areas when mining.
However, Jiang Xuan hadn't been here for a long time.
"It's still exactly the same as before, I really miss it..."
Looking at the underground base he built, even the crops in the farm were growing very well.
Jiang Xuan inexplicably had a feeling of being in a different era.
"It's only been a little over a month, but Jiang Xuan talks as if several years have passed."
Ganyu chuckled softly, still holding Jiang Xuan's hand.
"Yes... just over a month..."
Jiang Xuan sighed with some emotion.
In just over a month.
The Manor Villa base was completely finished, and various survival structures were also perfected.
Liyue's three teams had settled in, exploring other areas, and were even preparing to build cities.
As for Jiang Xuan...
Now he had countless resources like diamonds and gold; his whole body, even his hoe, had to be made of diamond.
The development was too fast.
If it weren't for Liyue's large-scale entry, it would have taken Jiang Xuan at least four or five times longer to achieve this.
Just for resource gathering, Jiang Xuan would have had to risk his life going to the Nether countless times.
But now...
The Nether already had troops stationed there, ready to provide large quantities of resources at any time.
Making money while sitting at home.
This kind of joy was truly not something one could casually experience.
"Can the farms under the mine shaft grow so luxuriantly?"
Diluc shook his head, sighing deeply.
"It seems we've only been here for a short time and don't understand the characteristics of this world."
"But with these resources, even if we just plan a small plot of land, Mondstadt won't have to worry about a food crisis in the future."
Lisa idly brushed her hair.
The Diamond Helmet pressing on her hair made her feel a little uncomfortable.
"Yes, in the future we can use this soil to build vertical farms..."
Jiang Xuan raised an eyebrow, teasing:
"Lisa is adapting quickly. You're already thinking about how to efficiently use the land?"
"Isn't that obvious? Don't think of me as too stupid, you know."
Lisa shook her head playfully.
"If I'm not mistaken, with the unique properties of this soil, Liyue must have replaced more than just the Guili Plains' land, right?"
"Let me guess... those dangerous, hard-to-utilize mountainous areas, you must have started filling those in too?"
Keqing didn't hide it, chuckling and nodding.
"That's right, Mingyun Village has also started replacing land. In the future, that will be Liyue's farm base."
"I think the flat areas like Guili Plains shouldn't all be wasted on farming; we should also raise horses to supply cavalry, or use them as pastures to supply meat."
"Besides that, we also have plans for Land Reclamation to expand Liyue Harbor..."
Even though she had guessed it, Lisa couldn't help but be a little astonished.
"Such rapid development..."
"You'll also develop this fast in the future."
Ningguang said with a light chuckle, then continued:
"Harvest the crops here, make sure your hunger is full, and then we'll depart."
Venti, standing nearby, shook his wine cup, found it empty, and complained wistfully:
"Everything in Jiang Xuan's world is good, but the only regrettable thing is that good wine can't be brewed here."
Hearing this, Jiang Xuan rolled his eyes.
"We're about to do something serious. If you still want to drink and get blown up by the Wither, don't say I didn't warn you."
"Ehe!"
Venti shrugged:
"This little bit of wine can't get me drunk, you know!"
"Then I'll let you drink your fill when we get back today."
Jiang Xuan replied with a smile, and Venti stopped talking.
Taking advantage of no one noticing, he leaned close to Zhongli and whispered:
"Old man, Liyue's recent actions are a bit too grand. Are you sure the Heavenly Principles won't..."
"Heh..."
Zhongli sneered.
"Her? Do you think only our Seven Archons and Seven Nations suffered heavy losses five hundred years ago?"
"Not a few gods fell from Celestia, and the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles was also severely injured by that forbidden power."
"Since the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles is in trouble, the Heavenly Principles... probably won't awaken in a short time."
"By the time she awakens, Liyue will have developed to a point where she can only look up to it. There's no need to worry too much."
Venti nodded slightly, sighing:
"Old man, don't mind my prying, but Mondstadt is tied to your ship now... I have to consider the citizens of Mondstadt."
"Are you sure that breaking all plans and relying on this world can solve the fated cycle?"
Zhongli's gaze fell on Jiang Xuan, and he said softly:
"If it's just this world, it can at most give us a safe retreat, but..."
"Mods are the power that truly breaks the shackles, and you've perceived Jiang Xuan's pure physical strength; the Heavenly Principles can't do anything to him."
"There's no need to worry too much, but the Traveler's journey cannot be interrupted. This is my contract with him."
Venti ignored Zhongli's last sentence and nodded solemnly.
"Indeed, Jiang Xuan's monstrous strength could probably smash Teyvat. With him, we can at least ensure someone can contend with the Heavenly Principles."
"But those mods..."
Zhongli shook his head.
"You'll understand later. Those are rules far surpassing the Heavenly Principles."
"Don't worry, there's enough time..."
The two said no more, and quietly separated when Lumine wasn't looking.
Both Zhongli and Venti detested the Heavenly Principles.
Admittedly, she was maintaining the continued existence of Teyvat.
But she should not have, under any circumstances, schemed against the Seven Nations and their people.
The Archons of Celestia were imprisoned by the Heavenly Principles, burning their existence to maintain Teyvat's protective shield.
And the Heavenly Principles were also sealing off the entire Teyvat.
The Heavenly Principles scheming against their Seven Archons – Zhongli and Venti wouldn't say a word, they could sacrifice themselves for Teyvat.
But...
She could not use the lives of their people to fill that bottomless pit.
Their people and nations were Zhongli and Venti's bottom line.
No one could touch that.
Moreover, the Heavenly Principles, at this time the Second Throne, were inherently indifferent and cold-blooded.
Khaenri'ah and Dragonspine, as known to Teyvatians, were merely two of the civilizations destroyed by the Heavenly Principles.
As far as Zhongli knew, they were not the only ones.
He would absolutely not agree to a future day when the Heavenly Principles descended and turned the people of Liyue into Hilichurls.
There were many ways for the world to continue. Why should they sacrifice the lives of their people to fill that void just because they feared the outside world?
Thinking of Vanessa, the passionate young woman, the spirited maiden he had met back then.
A hero who should have lived long after ascending to godhood.
Yet, in just a few hundred years, her life was burned down to a flickering flame.
Her entire being turned into a decaying zombie.
Venti wished he could ascend to Celestia and overthrow the Heavenly Principles.
That wasn't allowing them to burn their lives; it was exploiting their entire value!
Venti deeply regretted sending so many people to Celestia back then.
He had thought it was a better future for them, but who knew...
Everything was a colossal conspiracy!
Sighing inwardly, Venti perked up again.
At least for now, there was still a chance to salvage everything.
And all of this depended on this mysterious world.
As he was feeling melancholic, Venti suddenly heard Jiang Xuan's call.
"Gather up! We're ready to depart!"
Instantly, everyone perked up and re-gathered around Jiang Xuan.
"Are your hunger bars full?"
Jiang Xuan asked, and everyone nodded.
Then Jiang Xuan smiled and pointed to a wall.
"Then let's go!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao and Diluc grabbed their pickaxes and started working.
Jiang Xuan's requirement was to dig a passage at least fifty meters long.
Only wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side.
There needed to be six such passages.
Jiang Xuan and Ganyu one, Xiao and Zhongli one, Ningguang and Keqing one, Lisa and Jean one, Lumine and Cloud Retainer one, and finally Diluc and Venti.
Surrounding the space where the Wither would be summoned, they would launch a dispersed attack.
If all went well, relying on their powerful weapons and equipment, they could defeat the Wither within a minute.
And prevent it from evolving into other stages.
As for Nahida and Paimon.
Jiang Xuan wouldn't let these two little ones fight.
They were currently at the Manor Villa, keeping watch.
Speaking of which, perhaps it was always because of Paimon's one-fifth wild boar combat power that made her so annoyed.
After sharing a portion of Jiang Xuan's physique, Paimon now loved killing the pigs in the pasture with a Diamond Sword.
It was a form of revenge, perhaps.
Without enabling Vein Miner, Xiao and Diluc simply stood side-by-side, digging the passage.
The others followed behind them, occasionally placing torches.
Only the sound of deep breathing filled the passage.
Everyone was adjusting their state.
After all, they were facing a Wither Storm, an existence that could destroy the world once evolved. Naturally, they were all a little nervous.
Soon, Jiang Xuan estimated the distance and, after confirming they had reached a sufficient depth, stopped Xiao and Diluc.
Then, he enabled Vein Miner for Xiao.
With one swing of the pickaxe, a large empty area was cleared.
Seeing this, Diluc looked at his pickaxe and Xiao's pickaxe with a confused expression.
They were clearly both Diamond Pickaxes with the same Efficiency Enchantment...
"Vein Miner, I'll explain it to you later."
Jiang Xuan said with a smile, telling the others to continue digging passages in all directions within this space.
He, meanwhile, began to build the Soul Sand.
Arranged in a T-shape, with two Wither Skeleton Skulls at the ends, now, only the middle was left to summon the Wither Storm.
By this time, Ningguang and the others, working in pairs, had dug so far they were out of sight.
Jiang Xuan didn't rush, waiting for a moment, thinking if there were any omissions in the plan.
After a while, when Ningguang and the others returned, Jiang Xuan came back to his senses.
"How far did you dig?"
He asked softly, and Ningguang chuckled:
"Fifty meters, as you requested. If there's any problem, we can always dig further."
Jiang Xuan nodded, saying gravely:
"Take your positions. Retreat ten meters into your passages. The Wither Storm will appear and cause an explosion. Once its health reaches its maximum and its invincibility wears off, attack immediately."
Everyone took a deep breath, exchanged glances, and retreated into their respective passages.
Ganyu also knew it wasn't the time to say anything or cause trouble for Jiang Xuan.
She gave Jiang Xuan a determined look, quietly retreated, and pulled out her Barrett.
Taking out the last Wither Skeleton Skull.
Jiang Xuan slowly raised his hand.
It had to be said, summoning a Wither Storm in a real world was indeed nerve-wracking.
Jiang Xuan calmed himself, staring at the Wither Skeleton Skull.
Swiftly, he placed the last Wither Skeleton Skull.
A strange law from the ethereal realms descended with a roar.
Jiang Xuan ran.
"Prepare to attack!"
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