He handed Zhongli a bucket of water, telling him it was safer to crouch while placing blocks.
If he accidentally fell, he could pour out water a moment before landing, and landing on water would be safe.
Of course, Jiang Xuan felt that such an operation, like a water landing, should not be used too often.
Play around, but don't play with your life.
In fact, there were simpler and cruder ways to build a sky island.
A bucket of lava and a bucket of water ensured high efficiency and safety.
However, firstly, this was a high-altitude sky island, not reclaiming land from the sea.
Secondly, if the lava and water were accidentally placed in the wrong order and clashed, they would immediately turn into obsidian.
Jiang Xuan didn't have a diamond pickaxe yet. If it accidentally turned into obsidian, not to mention the trouble of going down to refill water and lava.
Obsidian, Jiang Xuan couldn't mine it now.
It was better to honestly take it one step at a time.
Today's goal was to build a stone generator on the platform.
This was simple: with lava and water, it was ready-made.
Then, it was to build a mob grinder.
He would come back at night to complete the achievement mission.
For the next stage, he would first build an iron farm.
Villagers were conveniently available.
He just needed to find five more iron ingots to make a hopper.
Thinking of this, Jiang Xuan sighed.
In the end, he still had to go to the next mine…
But that was fine. The previous mine exploration had barely begun.
Now the team had expanded, and there was Zhongli, a top-tier combat force.
Jiang Xuan was confident he could explore to the diamond mine.
Don't assume Zhongli would also be restricted upon entering the MC world.
After all, his raw power was there.
Using elemental power, he was still deadly.
At most, he wouldn't be able to flatten mountains or throw rock spears to reclaim land from the sea as he could in Teyvat.
Suddenly, Jiang Xuan's hand felt empty. He perked up and looked, realizing he had finished stacking the blocks in his hand.
Because they were working from both ends, and simultaneously building two-block wide paths, Jiang Xuan hadn't built for long before Zhongli also happened to run out of stone.
The two exchanged glances and returned to the ladder.
"Out of blocks?"
Zhongli asked casually. Jiang Xuan shrugged, helpless.
"I didn't prepare much stone to begin with, and building the manor also used a lot."
"Let's go down. Wait for Xiao to come back with stone… It's still a bit troublesome. When the sky island area is large enough, I'll build a stone generator on it first."
Zhongli nodded slightly, then walked to the ladder.
"You go down first. I'll place some vines."
Jiang Xuan replied, attaching several vines around the ladder.
Vines were quite useful as ladders.
As long as they were placed high up, they would automatically extend downwards.
This way, they wouldn't all have to crowd around one ladder later.
Although the suspended vines looked a bit scary.
After doing all this, Jiang Xuan also climbed down the ladder.
Not long after, he landed on the ground.
At this time, not much time had passed since they started building the sky island.
Ningguang and the others hadn't returned yet.
Jiang Xuan and Zhongli had no choice but to sit in the courtyard, basking in the sun and chatting.
But mostly, Zhongli was doing the talking.
He had already decided to feign death and abdicate, but now that the time was approaching, Zhongli was still worried about Liyue's future.
Coincidentally, Jiang Xuan came from a godless nation.
Zhongli was very interested in this.
He even asked Jiang Xuan a few questions about his views on Liyue's future.
Overall, Zhongli gained a lot.
He had already decided what to do after feigning death.
The world of Teyvat absolutely could not be godless.
Jiang Xuan also advised Zhongli not to be too drastic.
A world full of magic, with many monsters, and even other nations having gods.
But Liyue alone had no god?
Wasn't that asking for death?
Especially now that Jiang Xuan and Liyue were cooperating, Liyue needed to remain stable.
Zhongli could abdicate, but he absolutely could not abandon Liyue.
Jiang Xuan's suggestion was for Zhongli to continue to give Liyue trials.
But after the trials, he shouldn't directly declare himself dead.
Leave a thought for the people of Liyue, and a warning for the people of Teyvat.
Just say that Rex Lapis went into seclusion for cultivation and would not emerge unless there was a matter of life and death.
This way, at least the people of Liyue would have some reassurance.
After all, why could Liyue now stand out in Teyvat and gather wealth from all over the world?
Wasn't it because Rex Lapis, the Geo Archon, was known as the God of War?
In a world that possesses power, those without it deserve to lose their wealth.
This was the nature of the world, and also the nature of humanity.
"I basically understand what you said."
Zhongli sighed, saying faintly:
"I just worry that if Rex Lapis isn't completely dead, the people of Liyue will still be accustomed to having a god in their nation…"
"They will get used to self-reliance eventually."
Jiang Xuan smiled and shook his head.
"Before, Liyue never had a Qixing like Keqing who advocated human governance, did it? Times change, and ideas can also be guided."
"Keqing is already doing it. All you need to do is give the people of Liyue your trust."
"Don't actually treat them like the giant babies of Mondstadt…"
Hearing Jiang Xuan say this, Zhongli smiled.
"Giant babies? That's somewhat true… Freedom is a good thing, but my old friend gave his citizens too much freedom."
"To this day, freedom has also become lax… People are unmotivated, blindly relying on the Knights of Favonius, blindly praying to the gods…"
"However, it's best not to say that in Mondstadt."
Jiang Xuan shrugged.
"I'm not foolish… Besides, I don't plan to go to Mondstadt right now. It's too lax there, and I think they would have difficulty helping me with cooperation regarding this world."
Zhongli remained noncommittal, took a sip of tea, and said with a touch of pride:
"Liyue's people are absolutely the most industrious and intelligent people in Teyvat… I believe in them…"
Jiang Xuan smiled faintly.
The god of love… he truly lives out his love to the very core.
"I understand your suggestion. I will seriously consider it."
Zhongli sighed, then continued:
"It's just that I've led Liyue for over three thousand seven hundred years, and I also get tired… When will I be able to fulfill my duty completely?"
"Completely… completely let go of Liyue and live my own life?"
Jiang Xuan smiled, saying meaningfully:
"For you, you will never completely let go of Liyue."
"But if you ask me! When you can stop managing Liyue and live a life that belongs only to Zhongli…"
Jiang Xuan paused, then murmured with some anticipation:
"When the Redstone Fighter Jets take off, when the Iron Golem army sweeps through everything."
"When the Millelith put on enchanted armor, when this world's technology completely revitalizes Liyue."
"When Liyue can stand without you, making Teyvat a place no one dares to provoke."
"When Liyue can easily suppress and seal Archons without relying on you."
"At that time, you will be protected by them. You can completely give up your identity as Morax, and simply be Zhongli, a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor…"
"I think, Rex Lapis, who protected Liyue for over three thousand seven hundred years, being protected in turn by his own citizens."
"This, in Liyue thousands of years from now, will also be a story no less remarkable than Rex Lapis sweeping through the Archon War, wouldn't it?"
Zhongli also looked forward to the future Jiang Xuan spoke of.
Gently holding his teacup, his eyes reflected the swirling mist.
Zhongli smiled gently.
"What a beautiful future… Just thinking about it makes me feel that erosion has been curbed."
"I will look forward to that day, the day Liyue completely leaves me and reaches a height that I can only look up to."
Jiang Xuan took a sip of tea, his tone firm:
"Watch. Our cooperation will be a catalyst."
"Within ten years, you will find that Liyue no longer needs you militarily."
"After ten years, the existence of Rex Lapis will only be the spiritual pillar of the people of Liyue."
"I believe in my world, and I believe in the will of Liyue."
Zhongli didn't reply. He just glanced at Jiang Xuan, then averted his gaze.
Looking at the floating clouds in the sky.
Zhongli whispered softly.
"Thank you…"
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