Negotiations

As Ningguang sorted out her thoughts and began facing the reality of Morax's "retirement,"

the thousands of questions in her mind condensed into a single one.

"Zhong... Lord Morax, since you no longer wish to serve as a god, why won't you leave the choice entirely to the people of Liyue and the Liyue Qixing who protect them?"

"Instead, you chose Lin Yi, a man of unknown origins, to become the new god and guide Liyue. He has no experience whatsoever. He can't even guarantee his own safety when danger strikes. My lord, what exactly were you thinking?"

After hearing his wife's words, Lin Yi's face alternated between red and pale.

So even now, she still hadn't fully believed in him or trusted what he said.

A woman's heart really is impossible to fathom. Unbelievable!

Lin Yi pursed his lips and grumbled inwardly.

Zhongli set down his teacup, his expression as impassive as ever.

Yet a faint trace of emotion crept into his voice.

"Though I no longer wish to contend for power, I still know the suffering of the people."

"It is precisely because I cannot stop worrying about the Liyue I have protected that I chose Lin Yi to inherit my divine office and lead you."

Morax had made his recognition of Lin Yi's divine office and authority explicit.

In every sense, Lin Yi was already the rightful new god-aside from his pathetic combat ability...

Lin Yi smiled. With old man Zhongli's approval, everything would be much easier from now on.

Next, it was time for him to start building Liyue-with words!

Before Lin Yi could speak, Zhongli brought up the subject himself.

"After observing you for several days, I have noticed that you seem to have drawn up some preliminary plans for Liyue. Though I have retired to rest and wander, I would still like to hear your plans."

Lin Yi smiled. Before speaking, he made sure to pat Ningguang's delicate, fair hand.

"Since you want to hear it, let me explain Liyue's first one-year plan in detail!"

"Energy-powered vehicles made using mechanical parts and the kinetic energy of materials, intercity roads, a bridge across the sea... These ideas are certainly both remarkable and refreshing."

After listening to Lin Yi's description, Zhongli still didn't quite understand those terms, but the beautiful vision they painted inevitably stirred his imagination.

Naturally, grand projects came at a higher cost.

Labor, materials, and funding were problems Liyue would have to face.

"Liyue's land is fragmented, and most areas are unsuitable for settlements. Liyue Harbor is already the largest stretch of land that has been reasonably developed and utilized, but its population has now reached capacity."

Ningguang toyed with the glass pipe in her hand, naturally turning her gaze toward Lin Yi as she raised the issue.

"Certainly, population and the economy are issues every region must face as it develops, and they are also its most fundamental prerequisites. Since Liyue Harbor, our most developed area, has already reached its population capacity, we can naturally turn our attention to other usable locations."

Due to the destruction wrought by the Ancient Archon War, Liyue's land was fragmented and riddled with scars. Traces of battles between gods covered nearly every part of the outlying regions.

"As things stand, the Guili Plains are Liyue's second-largest tract of land and offer the most usable space. But for me, even the Guili Plains aren't large enough."

Hearing this, Ningguang immediately objected.

"I disagree with your idea. Liyue currently needs the natural resources of the Guili Plains. If we develop and use that area irresponsibly, we could very well repeat our past mistakes and plunge Liyue back into the predicament of exhausted resources!"

Lin Yi was merely putting forward the development ideas he had brought from his original world to invite better suggestions. He still needed someone to point out their flaws.

Development required finding common ground while allowing differences.

In that respect, Lin Yi and Ningguang exchanged ideas back and forth, each helping advance the other's proposals.

Zhongli, who had initially held little confidence in the pair, actually detected a hidden rapport between them as he watched.

"By the way, Lord Zhongli, you now have a general understanding of my development plans, but there's still something I'm unsure about."

"I will tell you everything I know."

"You entrusted the Gnosis to me. Under the normal rules of inheritance, that means it belongs to me, and I have the exclusive right to use it?"

Zhongli nodded.

"Of course. The transfer of the Gnosis is complete. You are the one the former god Morax chose to inherit the Geo Archon's will. I am merely an idle wanderer of the mortal world. You need not consult me again on matters concerning the Gnosis."

With that affirmative answer, Lin Yi felt reassured.

Right in front of Childe of the Fatui, he willed his Geo power into motion and manifested the Gnosis in his hand.

At the sight of the divine object, Ningguang's slender brows furrowed slightly, and she kept a close watch on Childe's every movement.

Childe, meanwhile, was rather surprised. He was an outsider, after all. Bringing out the Gnosis in front of him was astonishing.

"Lin Yi, what are you doing?"

Ningguang was puzzled.

Lin Yi gave her a reassuring look.

"Tartaglia, I know your target is this Gnosis in my hand. Why don't we make a deal involving it?"

The main storyline of Genshin Impact had yet to reveal exactly what the Fatui intended to do by collecting all seven Gnoses.

At this point in the story, La Signora had obtained the Anemo Gnosis, but she had caused quite a stir in Mondstadt, throwing the city into turmoil for some time.

Yet Venti, whose Gnosis had been taken, showed no intention of retrieving it, as though everything remained under his control.

As long as I refuse to hand over the Gnosis, Childe might be manageable, but La Signora will stop at nothing. She'll practically turn all of Liyue upside down.

For Lin Yi, who wanted to develop Liyue and live up to his title as the God of Infrastructure, what he needed most right now was a peaceful, stable external environment.

Besides, my greatest support right now is the system. The better my relationship with Ningguang, the more I can improve my strength. A Vision can help me control Geo, so under the present circumstances, the Gnosis is barely of any use.

After thinking it over, Lin Yi laid out his terms.

"I can give you the Gnosis, but you won't be getting it for free."

"What did you say!? You want to trade away the Gnosis!?"

Ningguang slammed her hand on the table and rose, glaring at Lin Yi in fury.

She had thought he had truly devised a foolproof plan, only for him to come up with something this foolish.

"I absolutely refuse!"

"The Geo Gnosis symbolizes a god's standing and dignity. If you casually trade it away, the Geo Archon's majesty will be utterly destroyed, and others will look down on Liyue!"

Ningguang argued her case firmly. Realizing how bad the situation had become, she wanted to change Lin Yi's mind.

But Lin Yi had already made his decision. Besides, the Gnosis was merely a symbol of divine authority and served no practical purpose.

It wasn't as though Morax had only been able to crush his opponents in the Archon War after obtaining a Gnosis.

"Want me to change my mind? Sure. Let me hear you call me 'husband.'"

Lin Yi still wanted to tease his wife a little. She looked rather cute when she was angry.

"Lin Yi, you really are shameless, taking advantage of me like this!"