Breakthrough

Lin Yi did not dwell on it for long. Since he had already collected all the rewards, strange as they were, that naturally saved him some trouble.

If he actually asked Ningguang for a kiss, or tried something more forceful, angering her would hardly be worth it.

"I'm not a Geo Archon who specializes in combat. Raising my personal level and adventure rank is just a way to protect myself and avoid some basic hassles."

"The large-scale wars that will inevitably come with future expansion should naturally be left to the well-trained Millelith, the various Vision holders, and the perfected lords."

Without any further hesitation, Wei Yan specifically chose a cave whose lesser monsters had just been cleared out.

After finding a battered chest inside, he decided to make his breakthrough there. If another phenomenon like the one from the draw appeared, the cave might help contain it a little. Making too much of a commotion would attract unwanted attention.

Lin Yi then called Keqing and Xiangling over.

"What do you need, my lord?"

Xiangling bounced over as she asked. Traveling on official business was practically a vacation in disguise, and the scenery along the way and the rare chance to relax had put her in a wonderful mood.

Keqing, by contrast, still wore a cold expression that revealed nothing of her feelings. Still, she was somewhat surprised to see Lin Yi gain ten levels so quickly.

"Ahem. I have a feeling I'm about to make a breakthrough. I need someone to stand guard for me. I'm not sure how long it'll take, and we can't delay the caravan."

"So I've decided that Xiangling will stay, while Keqing catches up with the caravan and escorts it. Once I've made my breakthrough, I'll catch up with you soon."

A fleeting silence fell over the three of them at the cave entrance. The next moment, both Keqing and Xiangling wore expressions of disbelief.

Lin Yi was puzzled.

"Is there a little turtle drawn on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Did you just say you're about to make a breakthrough?"

"You only just reached level ten, and you're already about to break through? Lord Lin Yi, what exactly are you made of? Can I take you apart and have a look?"

There was even something slightly sinister about his two companions' gazes, sending a chill down Lin Yi's back.

Only after asking did he learn that people who possessed a Vision or the authority of a Gnosis followed the normal progression of making a breakthrough every ten levels.

But after gaining ten levels, a person had to use a Vision of their own element to forge a spiritual connection with the corresponding Gnosis. Only then could they vaguely sense what materials and items they needed for their breakthrough.

The process was exceedingly complicated and generally took some time.

Even gods followed this law of advancement in Teyvat.

Yet today, under Keqing's guidance, Lin Yi had only just farmed some weak monsters that gave plenty of experience.

Then, once he was done, he told everyone he was ready to make his breakthrough. Naturally, they found that a little hard to accept.

It was not that Keqing and Xiangling envied Lin Yi's speed.

After all, gods were different from humans.

The obstacles and trials humans faced when advancing were magnified at least a thousandfold for gods.

In other words, gods could level up easily, but making a breakthrough was harder than ascending to heaven, and could even cost them their lives.

Morax, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, and others had only gone through the motions of following the rules and raising their levels after attaining extraordinary physical prowess and strength.

Although Lin Yi was a god, his physical stats were about on par with a level-twenty old man swinging a pickaxe in Liyue.

His progress might be fast, but it was still deeply worrying.

Lin Yi noticed that Keqing was looking at him as though she were saying, Can you really pull this off, you scrawny thing?

Feeling rather insulted, Lin Yi was determined to prove himself, if only for the sake of his pride.

Since he did not need to go to all the trouble of searching for breakthrough materials,

he would advance right here in this cave today and let Keqing see what he, Lin Yi, the Geo Archon, could do!

Lin Yi refused to hear any more advice and ordered Keqing to continue on with the caravan.

Unable to change his mind, Keqing said no more. She only reminded Xiangling that she must keep Lin Yi safe.

Lin Yi and Xiangling waved goodbye as the caravan receded into the distance.

Afterward, Lin Yi did not rush into his breakthrough.

After hearing Keqing's reminders and warnings, he was admittedly a little apprehensive.

Night fell, with a bright moon and few stars.

The nighttime scenery of the Guili Plains was quite pleasant. Every so often, the sounds of Hilichurls and elemental Slimes squabbling over territory reached their ears.

Neither Lin Yi nor Xiangling felt threatened.

"Although I've been busy lately and neglected my training a little, my personal level is still forty. Protecting Lord Lin Yi is more than within my capabilities!"

Xiangling looked immensely pleased with herself. Being thirty levels higher than Lin Yi had put her in a very good mood.

She put even more enthusiasm into cooking the wild game.

"Yes, yes, Chef Xiangling is a wonderful cook and a powerful fighter... Oh, do you know what level my wife Ningguang is now?"

Xiangling rested a hand against her chin and thought.

"The last time a minor demon god went on a rampage, most of Liyue Harbor's Adepti and perfected lords took action. Around then, Miss Ningguang apparently spent a lot, a lot, a whole lot of money buying materials from the Northland Bank that were incredibly rare across all of Teyvat."

"When the minor demon god entered its final form, Lady Ningguang reached level sixty! Together with the other perfected lords and Adepti, she wiped it out for good."

Lin Yi nodded, seemingly deep in thought.

His wife was now at least at the stage of attempting her level-seventy breakthrough. Even with mountains of money, Ascension Materials—assets that retained their value and could even appreciate—were still far too rare.

After all, this was not like when Lin Yi played the game, logging in every day and waiting for resources to respawn.

If he ran out of resources in his own world, he could always mooch off someone else's...

After eating and drinking his fill, Lin Yi lay beside the campfire and taught Xiangling to identify the constellations overhead.

Stars dotted the late-night sky, lending it a distinct brilliance.

"If Miss Ningguang were here instead of me, with a gifted gentleman, a beautiful lady, and such lovely scenery, now that would be a truly perfect sight."

Lin Yi nodded, joining her in complaining about Ningguang.

"Exactly. My wife, your lady, always seems so busy. Once we get back from this survey, I'll have to teach her a proper lesson!"

But for all his words, with such a beautiful, virtuous wife, who could bear to say even a single word against her?

While Lin Yi slept without a care,

Xiangling kept Keqing's warning firmly in mind. Holding a two-star Langya Spear, she maintained a constant watch around Lin Yi.

Although their immediate surroundings were safe, this was still the Guili Plains, where danger lurked everywhere.

Even though the Adeptus Xiao worked diligently every day to purge evil, new threats kept appearing.

That was also one of the reasons the Guili Plains could not currently be developed.

Naturally, resting in such a dangerous place required caution.

"Still, Master Lin Yi gave me a recipe for spicy fertilized eggs tonight, and I'm so full... The campfire is so warm, too."

Gradually, Xiangling leaned back beside the campfire as well. After struggling to keep her eyelids open, she helplessly drifted off to sleep.