Genshin x Minecraft: Building the Temple of Virtue

”I never would’ve thought… Liyue would actually slaughter Osial like this…”

Tartaglia let out a long sigh, staring somewhat forlornly at the screen.

Rosalyne said nothing.

She simply kept observing the Millelith.

They didn’t look surprised at all by how Osial was being subdued—

as if this level of power was expected.

The only emotion she did show was envy.

Rosalyne was sure now: Liyue had possessed this power for a long time.

But she no longer bothered trying to gauge the full depth of Liyue’s strength.

It was beyond comprehension.

Her only concern now was staying alive—

and waiting for the arrival of the Tsaritsa to sort everything out.

Back on the Jade Chamber, Ningguang and the others stared at the screen.

The obsidian cage was now fully sealed, and lava had nearly filled it to the brim.

Osial’s aura had grown extremely faint—he could no longer regenerate.

Ningguang pressed her lips together, smiling slightly.

”It seems… we’re going to return in triumph.”

The entire room broke into smiles.

Even Zhongli, who rarely showed emotion, couldn’t suppress the joy on his face.

This trial—he couldn’t have been more satisfied.

Yes, there had been a small nuclear incident in the middle…

But looking back on it now—

From start to finish, Liyue hadn’t relied on the adepti.

They hadn’t relied on him.

The immortals hadn’t even lifted a finger.

Liyue had relied on its own strength to defeat tens of thousands of sea beasts and Fatui vanguards, slay Beisht…

And crush Osial.

Such achievements would have been dazzling even in the era of the Archon War.

Liyue—by its own hand, by the hand of humans—had overcome a calamity brought by a god.

And Zhongli…

He could finally retire in peace.

Liyue—

No longer needed him.

In fact, Liyue was even beginning to protect its own gods.

The more he thought about it, the happier Zhongli became.

He set his teacup aside and helped himself to some wine.

However, Cloud Retainer pursed her lips and muttered:

”It still feels rather cruel… to kill Osial in such a way…”

The other immortals shifted uncomfortably, casting helpless glances at her.

Although everyone knew Cloud Retainer wasn’t great with words, it still felt wrong for her to say something like that at such a celebratory moment.

”War has always been a matter of life and death—there’s no need to dwell on the details.”

Zhongli spoke softly, then continued:

”If we hadn’t stopped Osial today, all of Liyue would have been consumed by the sea. The number of casualties would’ve been astronomical.”

”But now, not a single person was harmed, not even the immortals had to intervene. To achieve this kind of result is truly unprecedented.”

Cloud Retainer awkwardly nodded and chose to remain silent.

Ganyu, however, looked at Zhongli with a bit of confusion.

”Lord Rex Lapis… is Osial really dead? He was still a god, after all…”

Zhongli shook his head.

”No matter how powerful a god may be, they are still a product of the world. With this scale of magma, even I wouldn’t be able to last very long.”

”A god may be able to change the sky and shift the land, but to go against the very roots of the world—even Celestia cannot do that.”

”And more importantly, he was a god of water.”

After saying this, Zhongli turned to look at Xiao.

”Though Osial is gone, the remnants of his divine essence will still spread. Once things settle, Xiao, I’ll have to trouble you with this task.”

Xiao nodded without hesitation.

”It is my duty. I will give it my all.”

Zhongli then cast a subtle glance at Ryen. The latter, who had been whispering with Hu Tao, rolled his eyes in exasperation.

”Alright, I get it, stop looking at me. I’ve stocked up on a ton of enchanted Golden Apples. If any karmic filth shows up, just eat one.”

”Besides, Xiao’s wearing four or five undying totems right now. If it gets too hard to suppress, what’s the worst that could happen—he dies once?”

Zhongli was momentarily speechless, then gave a small nod.

”You’re not wrong... but still, death is never a good solution. In any case, Xiao, be sure to bring plenty of enchanted Golden Apples.”

Zhongli’s concern warmed Xiao’s heart slightly. Though not good with words, he simply nodded in response.

Karmic debt was no longer an issue.

With enchanted Golden Apples, whether it was karmic corruption or a god’s curse, all of it would be cleansed completely.

Even if the taste wasn’t exactly pleasant...

That was hardly something to complain about.

Keqing looked toward Ningguang and asked softly:

”So… what are your plans now?”

Ningguang rubbed her temples, visibly troubled.

”Plans? There’s way too much to do… Inventorying supplies, restoring the harbor, preparing for the Rite of Parting where the Archon will officially declare human governance… Not to mention the reactions we’ll likely get from the other nations.”

”Really, the hardest work is just beginning.”

Keqing nodded, then asked quietly:

”And what about that obsidian prison?”

That made Ningguang pause. She furrowed her brow, examining it from afar.

Tearing it down would be a huge hassle.

And with all that magma still inside…

”Why not leave it there? Let it stand as a monument to this great victory—an emblem of the beginning of Liyue’s era of human rule.”

She glanced toward Zhongli.

He replied calmly:

”I’ve already stepped down. Whatever happens in Liyue now is entirely up to you.”

Seeing how eager Zhongli was to wash his hands of everything before even finishing the Rite of Parting, Ryen couldn’t help but remark:

”Wow, you’re really rushing to toss that burden, huh?”

Zhongli took a sip of tea, nodded with a satisfied smile.

”If you had to work day after day for several thousand years like I did, I’m sure you’d be even more eager.”

”From this day on, the people of Liyue will decide their own future. If something gets too complicated, seek the counsel of the Adepti.”

”Only when facing a god-level threat that no one can handle… then come find me.”

Judging by Zhongli’s attitude, he was clearly handing off everything—practically saying ”don’t bother me unless it’s an apocalypse.”

Ningguang and Keqing exchanged glances and smiled. Ningguang then declared proudly:

”Then let it stand. This obsidian prison will be Osial’s final resting place, and also the symbolic site of Liyue’s transition from god-rule to human governance.”

”It is a legacy all Liyue’s people should witness with their own eyes. A thousand years from now—or ten thousand—it will carry a significance beyond anything we can imagine.”

”So… let it remain! It shall be the landmark of Liyue’s new beginning!”

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