Genshin x Minecraft: Building the Temple of Virtue

Ryen had just demonstrated that trapping an Enderman with a boat was so ridiculously easy it required no skill at all.

But to the others, this was a level of absurdity that could only be described as "absurdity squared, on steroids."

The group had imagined that Ryen would take down the terrifying Enderman in some awe-inspiring, heroic way—maybe a series of flashy, otherworldly moves.

They never, not in a million years, thought the entire process would boil down to just two actions:

Stacking blocks.

Throwing a boat.

At this moment, Cloud Retainer had almost pushed her half-frame red spectacles to oblivion, her avian features locked in disbelief. Her mind raced, flipping through centuries of knowledge—mechanical ingenuity, elemental theory, alchemy, adepti arts—everything she had mastered.

She analyzed everything she could think of.

Yet not a single one of her vast array of disciplines could explain how tossing a boat could completely immobilize such a fearsome creature.

And so...

If this really worked, why had there ever been so many casualties in the Archon War?

Why had Rex Lapis needed to wage constant battles?

In theory, he could've just shown up at the scene of any conflict, tossed a boat, and called it a day.

Now everyone stood around the Enderman trapped in the boat, casually observing it as though it were a mildly interesting zoo exhibit. No one felt threatened by it anymore.

They stared directly into its glowing red eyes, ignoring its menacing aura and the way it glared as if it wanted to rip them all to shreds.

But...

It just sat there. Completely stuck.

Occasionally, the Enderman twisted its head furiously, but all it could do was sit obediently in the boat, its threatening demeanor now tinged with an almost comical helplessness.

"This... This boat—is this the enchanted artifact you spoke of, Ryen?"

Cloud Retainer finally broke the silence, her voice filled with an unusual sense of certainty as she looked at him.

Ryen froze, visibly uncomfortable. "Actually..."

"I understand," Cloud Retainer interrupted, her tone suddenly solemn. "Such an extraordinary artifact must be challenging to craft. However, might this immortal borrow it for study? In return, I am willing to impart some of my adeptal arts."

"This thing—"

"You need not worry! This immortal swears it shall be returned unscathed. And during this period, if you so desire, I can even take up residence within your abode, that you may monitor my progress and ensure its safe return."

"..."

Ryen stared at her, utterly speechless.

After a long pause, he turned to the crafting table and worked silently for a few moments. Then, he came back with an armful of identical wooden boats and tossed five of them at her feet.

"Take them. All yours. Just make sure to teach me those adeptal arts you promised."

"..."

Cloud Retainer stood there, her entire worldview in tatters.

Moments later, everyone now held their own small wooden boat, even Ningguang, who had been primarily concerned about the gold mine earlier. She now turned the little boat over in her hands, inspecting it curiously.

"It's hard to believe that something as simple as this could trap such a dangerous creature," Ganyu muttered under her breath.

As she spoke, she glanced at Xiao, who was currently swinging his iron sword repeatedly at the immobilized Enderman.

For some reason, watching the poor, helpless creature unable to retaliate filled Ganyu with a pang of sympathy for it.

Still...

Xiao had been at it for a while. It wasn't that he was prolonging its suffering on purpose—this wasn't about revenge.

It was just...

Endermen were tanky.

This one had 40 HP and a 10-damage attack. In terms of raw stats, it was both high damage and high defense.

If someone wasn't wearing proper armor, they wouldn't survive more than three hits.

Thankfully, Ryen had made sure everyone had gear beforehand.

Otherwise, Xiao might not have died outright in the fight, but he definitely would've been left hanging on by a thread.

Now, though, Ryen figured letting Xiao finish it off was fitting—consider it a form of catharsis.

And Xiao had no objections. Killing people might weigh on him, but monsters?

This was exactly the kind of thing the Yaksha excelled at.

"You know, boats can do so much more than just this," Ryen said, walking over to Ganyu as she watched Xiao attack. He reached out and gently rubbed her horns, his voice soft.

"For example, if you're falling from a great height, a boat can let you land safely. It's a truly versatile tool."

He paused, looking down at her with a slight smile. "Were you scared earlier?"

As soon as Ryen touched her horns, Ganyu's face flushed bright red. She instinctively ducked her head, but she couldn't help but nuzzle against his hand as if seeking comfort.

"No... not really," she murmured shyly, her voice soft as a whisper. "It's just... when you suddenly ran forward, I... I got worried."

Ryen chuckled, shaking his head. "I told you—I'm really familiar with how to survive in this place."

"But that doesn't mean you can be careless!"

Ganyu puffed her cheeks, her lips forming an adorable pout as her eyes filled with lingering concern.

"There's an old Liyue saying: Even skilled riders may fall; even experienced horses may stumble. No matter how familiar you are, overconfidence can lead to disaster!"

Though her words were slightly scolding, Ryen found them endearing.

It wasn't because he enjoyed being lectured—it was just...

There was something incredibly charming about a sweet, gentle girl trying to act stern while clearly caring about him deeply.

Smiling, he decided to let it slide without any rebuttal.

At that moment, Xiao finally delivered the finishing blow.

The Enderman let out a distorted screech as it collapsed, leaving behind a single dark Ender Pearl on the ground.

Xiao bent down, picked it up, and examined it briefly before walking over to Ryen with a serious expression.

Seeing this, Ryen leaned closer to Ganyu and whispered with a teasing smile, "Ganyu, do you want to see something cool with this boat?"

"W-what do you mean?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.

Ryen's grin widened. "You'll see."

When Ryen leaned closer to whisper in Ganyu's ear, his voice carried a playful charm. Before she could fully process what was happening, the soft sensation of his breath brushed against her, leaving her slightly dazed.

Ganyu's mind felt like it was in a haze, caught between the warmth of his proximity and the peculiar suggestion he had just made. Unthinkingly, and perhaps under the influence of his mischievous tone, she reacted instinctively as Ryen had hinted. Just as Xiao stepped closer with the Ender Pearl in hand, his foot barely touched the ground before a small wooden boat materialized beneath him.

In an instant, the stoic yaksha was unceremoniously seated in the boat, his expression shifting from calm to utter bewilderment.

"???"

Xiao's confusion was palpable, his golden eyes scanning the faces around him for an explanation.

The rest of the group exchanged amused glances before their eyes landed on Ryen, who was clearly holding back laughter.

"Haha, just a joke!" Ryen waved his hands in mock innocence, though the corners of his lips twitched upward in barely suppressed amusement. "But see? The boat can immobilize humans too. A little demonstration for you all."

Xiao's gaze sharpened, and with a slight frown, he slammed his fist against the wooden vessel. As expected, after a few strikes, the boat disintegrated, shrinking back into its compact form and falling to the ground.

"Well, it works better on unconscious enemies or creatures," Ryen continued nonchalantly, bending down to pick up the tiny boat and casually tossing it into his inventory. "People like Xiao, who know how to break it, can escape pretty easily. But against something that doesn't know better? A perfect trap."

"Interesting." Zhongli, who had been quietly observing, tapped his chin thoughtfully. "It appears this boat operates under a law-like principle. Even one as skilled as Xiao could not initially resist its influence. This suggests its potential exceeds mere craftsmanship."

The group nodded in agreement, their curiosity mounting. If even the mighty Conqueror of Demons had been briefly subdued, then this unassuming wooden boat clearly held untapped potential.

As Xiao dusted himself off, he stepped forward once more and handed over the blackened Ender Pearl to Ryen.

"This is what the Enderman dropped upon death," Xiao stated simply, his tone steady, though his gaze lingered on the peculiar object with mild intrigue.

"Thanks, Xiao." Ryen's eyes brightened with genuine delight as he accepted the pearl, carefully cradling it in his palm.

This small reaction did not escape the notice of the others, particularly Ningguang, whose sharp instincts immediately kicked in. If Ryen considered something valuable, it was worth examining.

"Ryen," Ningguang began, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stepped closer to inspect the pearl. "What exactly is this item? What makes it so important?"

The rest of the group gathered around, their curiosity piqued. Despite their intense scrutiny, all they could discern was that it resembled a glossy black eye.

Unable to suppress her impatience, Keqing finally broke the silence. "What's so special about this… Ender Pearl?" she asked, her gaze locking onto Ryen with determination.

Ryen chuckled, letting the suspense linger for a moment before he answered, "Think for a moment—what's the most distinct ability of the Enderman?"

Without hesitation, Keqing responded, "Its teleportation and resistance to ranged attacks."

"Exactly," Ryen replied with a knowing smile. "Now, which of those two abilities would you find most fascinating?"

Keqing's eyes lit up as the pieces began to fall into place. "Teleportation… You're saying this pearl can replicate that ability?"

Ryen gave a small nod, his expression brimming with amusement. "Precisely. This pearl contains the power to teleport its user over short distances. It's not just movement—it's true spatial manipulation."

"!!"

The air seemed to buzz with energy as everyone processed the revelation. Teleportation, a concept tied to spatial laws, was rare and coveted in Teyvat. While abilities like Keqing's Starward Sword or the techniques of Abyss Mages could mimic the effect, they lacked the true manipulation of space.

Even Zhongli, whose authority over Geo made him nigh-immovable, was visibly intrigued. To him, the idea of bypassing physical limitations through teleportation held undeniable appeal. It was an ability that could alter battles and redefine strategies.

Keqing folded her arms, her brows furrowed in contemplation. "In Teyvat, there are no individuals with true spatial authority. Not even the Archons can claim mastery over it. At best, we can use elemental energy or leyline connections to mimic teleportation, but this pearl... If it genuinely manipulates space…"

Her voice trailed off, but the unspoken thought hung heavy in the air: this could change everything.

"Exactly," Ryen said, breaking the silence. "In this world, even a small advantage in combat can mean the difference between victory and defeat. The ability to teleport, even for just a moment, could be a game-changer."

Hearing this, Ningguang's expression turned serious. She leaned closer to Ryen and spoke with measured deliberation. "Do you know where we can find more of these Endermen?"

Ryen couldn't suppress his grin. "Well, you all saw how effective the boat was against the last one. If you're all on board, I can show you how to farm them."

Ningguang's eyes gleamed with determination. "Then we'd better start preparing. If these pearls are as powerful as you say, we'll need as many as we can get."

As the group rallied around the idea, Ryen's plan began to unfold, just as he had anticipated. Everything was going exactly as he'd hoped.

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