Hearing Keqing's sudden exclamation, Cloud Retainer huffed in dissatisfaction.
"Shouting loudly, how undignified!"
Keqing didn't mind Cloud Retainer's words; the adepti disliking her wasn't new.
In comparison, Keqing, and even Zhongli and the others, were more concerned with the mod Jiang Xuan mentioned.
They had only just heard Jiang Xuan explain the power of mods yesterday.
Industrialization, atomic bombs, and so on...
Every mod was almost something that completely defied the rules.
In fact, Jiang Xuan himself held a product of a mod.
That drawing sword, the Yamato, imbued with spatial power.
Keqing and the others had always been very envious.
The power of Yamato didn't need further elaboration.
Originally, Zhongli and the others thought that something as unreasonable as a mod could only be obtained by exploring deeper into the world in the future.
Unexpectedly, after breakfast today, just after entering the door, Jiang Xuan announced that the mod was active!
This left Keqing no choice but to be shocked.
So much so that Keqing and the others even overlooked the communication and teleportation Jiang Xuan mentioned earlier.
"Jiang Xuan, what mod is it exactly? What are its functions?"
Ningguang composed herself and looked at Jiang Xuan quite seriously.
"How should I put it..."
Jiang Xuan scratched his cheek and spread his hands:
"It's hard to make you understand by just explaining it. You'll know soon enough."
"I can only say that this mod has no practical combat ability, but in terms of functionality, it's absolutely top-tier among all mods."
"Especially in the early stages of our world exploration, this mod can basically cut our time by more than ten times!"
Hearing this, everyone exchanged surprised glances, but they didn't press Jiang Xuan further.
Although they were still burning with curiosity, they had already entered this world.
They would soon find out what it was.
"Is this your world, Jiang Xuan?"
At this moment, Cloud Retainer spoke again.
"This... marvelous! Truly marvelous! This adeptus doesn't even know how to describe this world!"
Her crane eyes were filled with shock as she surveyed the world before her.
Compared to Keqing and Ganyu's first visit, Cloud Retainer seemed even more astounded.
She was full of curiosity about the sky, the earth, the lakes, and even the soil.
Jiang Xuan, on the other hand, saw the shadow of an early redstone tech master in Cloud Retainer.
As for the experiment of whether Cloud Retainer could fly...
There was no need for that.
After all, just a moment ago, everyone watched Cloud Retainer flap her wings and fly into the sky like a normal crane.
It was just that compared to before, she had a little less of that ethereal adeptus grace.
Presumably, her ability to use adeptal power and elemental assistance for flight was restricted.
But in any case, being able to fly was a good thing.
Jiang Xuan directly contacted the system in his mind to synchronize his physique.
Ningguang and the others, who were already familiar with it from yesterday, merely clenched their fists, marveling at the formidable power as they had yesterday.
But Cloud Retainer seemed startled and quickly descended from the sky.
She did remember what Zhongli had said, that under no circumstances should she fall from a great height, or it would be troublesome.
"Your Exalted... Jiang Xuan, Mr. Zhongli, Great Sage, do you perceive your strength suddenly surging?"
Jiang Xuan secretly glanced at Zhongli, and seeing his slightly embarrassed expression, he immediately understood.
Zhongli hadn't told Cloud Retainer about this yesterday.
"Cloud Retainer True Monarch, do not be surprised."
Ganyu couldn't bear to see her foster mother's serious fuss.
She softly said:
"Jiang Xuan synchronized part of his physique with us. Otherwise, we wouldn't even be able to lift the tools and materials in this world."
Hearing this, Cloud Retainer paused, then looked at Jiang Xuan strangely.
"Part of his physique... is that powerful? This adeptus even feels like she could lift her own abode now..."
"Haha..."
Jiang Xuan chuckled, casually saying:
"After all, you need some power to protect yourself, right?"
Cloud Retainer nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. Although we adepti will do our best to protect you, it is best for you to possess the power to defend yourself. After all, human hearts are unpredictable."
Cloud Retainer didn't particularly care about Jiang Xuan's strength; after all, possessing a whole world, any special qualities were not out of place.
Suddenly, Cloud Retainer chuckled again:
"Now, this adeptus understands why those tools are so heavy. This must also be a characteristic of this world."
Jiang Xuan remained noncommittal, closed the two-way portal, and called out:
"All right, everyone, let's seize the time to act independently. The sooner we go mining, the more resources we'll get."
Hearing this, everyone responded enthusiastically, then dispersed to begin their preparations.
Cloud Retainer also flew up, immediately ascending to the sky island to observe the wondrous floating island.
Jiang Xuan looked at Ganyu beside him, thought for a moment, then reached out his hand.
"Let's go, Ganyu."
Ganyu paused, then her face flushed slightly as she observed everyone. Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, Ganyu cautiously reached out and clasped Jiang Xuan's hand.
Jiang Xuan smiled, then turned and led Ganyu straight to the sky island.
Logically, he should have returned to the manor villa to get some torches and such.
However, Cloud Retainer was already on the sky island, and to prevent her from causing trouble, Jiang Xuan decided to go up and deal with the mob grinder first.
With yesterday's climbing experience, Jiang Xuan and Ganyu didn't waste much time ascending to the sky island this time.
First, he fixed his gaze and saw that Cloud Retainer was merely standing curiously in front of the cobblestone generator, tilting her head as she observed it.
He took another look and noticed that the mob grinder not far away was packed densely, with many Creepers.
Jiang Xuan waved to Ganyu, not letting her deal with these monsters just yet.
Instead, he walked over to Cloud Retainer.
"Is this the so-called cobblestone generator?"
Cloud Retainer's eyes glimmered with an inexplicable excitement; if Jiang Xuan had to describe it, it was probably a kind of artisan's spirit?
He nodded, explaining the working principle of the cobblestone generator to Cloud Retainer.
Then, Jiang Xuan saw that Cloud Retainer, who had roughly finished listening to his explanation, had eyes that shone even brighter than when she had first arrived in this world.
"Marvelous! Truly special principles, this adeptus has never heard of such a thing in thousands of years. So, there is more between water and fire than just evaporation..."
Cloud Retainer leaned close to the cobblestone generator, looking as if she wanted to burrow her entire crane body inside.
"This application of world laws, utilizing complex materials to construct ingenious and functional buildings with unique craftsmanship, such construction is truly a masterpiece of creation!"
"It is a thousand, ten thousand times better than those mere chairs and tables constructed from arranged wood and stone!"
Cloud Retainer flew a circle around the cobblestone generator, then turned back and said:
"May this adeptus personally mine for a while, to experience the profound mysteries of the cobblestone generator?"
Jiang Xuan subconsciously looked at Cloud Retainer's crane legs and wings, racking his brain to imagine how she would use a tool.
Cloud Retainer also guessed Jiang Xuan's thoughts, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes as she slowly said:
"As an adeptus, shapeshifting is a minor technique. However, this adeptus has always lived in seclusion in the mountains, accompanied by nature, so there is no need to enter the mortal world in human form."
With that, Cloud Retainer tilted her head slightly, and a sky-blue light enveloped her. In almost the blink of an eye.
A poised, mature woman with wheat-colored skin appeared before Jiang Xuan.
She wore a long robe with some similarities to Ganyu's attire, and there were teal patterns on her shoulders and arms, similar to Xiao's.
Her earrings were tassel-adorned knots, and her long hair was tied in a crown.
She presented as a classic, elegant mature beauty, yet she wore a pair of red half-rimmed glasses, which, upon closer inspection, had no lenses.
She exuded an intellectual aura.
However...
What Jiang Xuan was currently pondering was...
Was Cloud Retainer, in human form, still equivalent to two pieces of fowl meat?
"Cloud Retainer True Monarch... it's truly been a long time since I've seen Cloud Retainer True Monarch in this form."
Ganyu, standing nearby, saw Cloud Retainer's human form after a long time and immediately her eyes filled with admiration. Clearly, Ganyu felt much closer to Cloud Retainer in human form than in her crane form.
Presumably, Cloud Retainer used her human form to care for Ganyu when she was young.
Cloud Retainer, despite her intellectual appearance, showed a doting expression in her eyes upon hearing Ganyu's words.
She beckoned and chuckled softly:
"Little Ganyu, come, let this adeptus embrace you. Since Ganyu signed a contract with the Geo Archon and went to Liyue Harbor, this adeptus has rarely embraced Ganyu."
Ganyu's face flushed slightly, but she still obediently walked over and willingly nestled into Cloud Retainer's embrace.
"The last time I held little Ganyu like this was a thousand years ago."
Cloud Retainer wore the smile of an old mother, but suddenly, her tone shifted:
"Ganyu is much slenderer now than she was back then..."
"..."
Ganyu's eyes darkened, and a string snapped in her heart.
She expressionlessly left Cloud Retainer's embrace, returning behind Jiang Xuan, this time even unwilling to spare Cloud Retainer a glance.
Cloud Retainer didn't think she had said anything wrong, just helplessly shook her head.
"Children grow up, truly gives this adeptus a headache..."
Jiang Xuan chuckled, handing the stone pickaxe to Cloud Retainer.
"Try the cobblestone generator first. I imagine you've already understood how to make it, right?"
Hearing this, Cloud Retainer displayed the same proud crane-like demeanor as before, tilting her head slightly.
"Naturally. Though miraculous, they are merely simple constructs. One only needs to comprehend the principle to create them."
"If needed, this adeptus can create a new cobblestone generator at any time."
With that, Cloud Retainer took the pickaxe and began mining stone.
Jiang Xuan wasn't angry about what Cloud Retainer said; on the contrary, he wished Cloud Retainer could learn more about this world.
Did he, Jiang Xuan, genuinely enjoy doing infrastructure work alone?
Wasn't it because Ganyu and the others weren't yet familiar with this world?
He muttered to himself, seeing Cloud Retainer enthusiastically digging for stone, Jiang Xuan didn't waste time either.
He turned and took Ganyu to a side to clear out monsters with a bow and arrow.
As for letting Ganyu use a stone sword to clear them...
He'd rather not.
Not to mention the unstable factors like Creepers and Witches inside, Jiang Xuan was worried something might happen to Ganyu.
Besides, Ganyu was as pure as a lotus; how could she wield a stone sword and fight monsters head-on?
Anyway, killing monsters with a bow and arrow still dropped good items.
As for waste...
There were chickens at home for feathers, wooden sticks were cheap, and flint...
Ganyu had been digging sand all morning yesterday.
The wooden arrows now, while not piled up like mountains.
But they were enough for Ganyu to use her bow freely.
The quiet manor villa and sky island became lively once more.
Everyone was busy with their own tasks, preparing for the upcoming mining trip.
Meanwhile, in Teyvat, outside Jiang Xuan's house, which had secretly been guarded by several elite Millelith troops.
Far off, by a small path at the foot of Mt. Tianheng.
A tall figure stood quietly on a stone, gazing in the direction of Jiang Xuan's home.
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