The new god's first trial

Chaos reigned. Although Lin Yi possessed both a Geo Gnosis and a Geo Vision, he could not yet wield their abilities with complete proficiency.

Even crafting a handgun required him to break the process down into numerous steps.

Staying would only make him a burden. He might as well leave quickly so his wife Ningguang, along with Keqing and Ganyu, could fight without holding back.

Before retreating, Lin Yi took a long look at Ningguang.

"Darling, please be careful!"

At his words, an unusual warmth passed through Ningguang's cold heart. She cast a serene glance at Lin Yi, then turned back to Tartaglia with a hint of delight in her smile.

Childe noticed something, but said nothing.

To outsiders, Ningguang, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, was merely a particularly shrewd merchant.

Yet she had kept Liyue running smoothly through a long period without a god at its helm.

She had even personally led expeditions into the regions below the fifth floor of the Abyss. Her strength was not to be underestimated!

Lin Yi hesitated no longer. Before leaving, he stole one last glance at Ningguang's figure, radiant as a flame in her wedding attire.

He silently swore to himself.

As I become the new god and lead Liyue to greatness, I must raise my Adventure Rank and improve my strength as quickly as possible. At the very least, I need enough fighting power to protect my wife!

Light flickered in his eyes, and his vow took root.

She watched Lin Yi round the corner and disappear from sight.

Ningguang let out a small breath.

Elsewhere, Keqing and Ganyu were locked in a fierce battle with La Signora.

On Yujing Terrace, however, Ningguang and Childe seemed like old acquaintances. Neither attacked rashly; instead, they watched each other's movements and tested the waters.

Lin Yi's arrival had triggered a butterfly effect across Teyvat. Countless changes now lay waiting to be explored beyond the main storyline he knew.

"Lady Ningguang, if I remember correctly, you joined the faction that favored going without a god after the previous Geo Archon's incident. Why have you now rushed into marrying the new god?"

Certainly, a god's leadership could guide a region's overall course.

But no world was perfect, and no person was flawless.

Who could claim that a god would never make a wrong decision and lead innocent people astray?

Ningguang smiled calmly. As a merchant who pursued profit, she naturally wore an expression that was difficult to read. Childe was no exception.

"You're right. Before this, I favored going without a god. But the new god's arrival showed me new possibilities. People must always try new things and explore new paths. Otherwise, life would be rather dull."

Although Childe had anticipated such an answer, it still surprised him.

According to the intelligence he had received, the new god was weak-so weak that his divine power was barely detectable.

Even so, he had still managed to marry Ningguang.

Childe had even noticed during his observations just now that Lin Yi possessed an exceptional ability to stir people up.

Rousing, and even controlling, the thoughts and emotions of those under a god's protection was indeed one of the basic abilities a god ought to possess.

Moreover, although Ningguang had not answered his question directly, her unspoken meaning clearly conveyed her approval of Lin Yi.

"Your husband, Lin Yi, and I had a brief exchange just now. Though he's pathetically weak, he certainly shouldn't be underestimated."

"I'm glad you understand. Still, Childe, I suggest you persuade La Signora to leave Liyue. I don't know what methods you used to steal Venti's Gnosis in Mondstadt.

"But here in Liyue, under the protection of the Millelith, you will gain nothing. If relations deteriorate further, I wouldn't mind declaring war on Snezhnaya on behalf of my husband, Lin Yi!

"I imagine Snezhnaya's Tsaritsa would find that quite troubling, wouldn't she?"

Ningguang understood perfectly well that to strike a snake, one had to aim for its weak point.

Childe had long served as a diplomat between Snezhnaya and Liyue, and Ningguang had done extensive research on him.

He wielded Hydro with effortless mastery. Rumor had it that he also possessed a form of Foul Legacy enhanced exclusively by his Constellation.

Although he ranked last among the Fatui, even if Ningguang fought him with everything she had, the best possible outcome would be an even match.

Fortunately, Childe knew when to take a hint.

Getting him to leave willingly, however, would be difficult.

The battle involving Keqing, La Signora, and the others had already moved beyond Liyue's city limits.

Protected by a special secret art, the Jade Chamber's guests were drinking merrily and enjoying the wedding feast, unaware of what was happening outside.

Childe withdrew his elemental power and leaned against the moon-carved railing, glancing at the shimmering sea.

"How about this? I've already sent a Hydro Bracer and a Cryo Bracer after Lin Yi. He may be weak, but as the new god, if he lacks even a little intelligence and ability, he doesn't deserve that position. How could he fulfill the promises he made to you?"

Refraining from fighting was already the greatest concession Childe would make. After considering his proposal, Ningguang naturally worried about Lin Yi's situation.

She could only nod lightly in agreement, silently beginning to worry about that figure who was not yet particularly sturdy or strong.

Lin Yi, use every means available to arm yourself and silence their doubts. This is your first battle as a god!

As he left Yujing Terrace, Lin Yi sensed two elemental auras, one Cryo and one Hydro, following closely behind him.

Even with the Gnosis boosting his basic attributes, he was currently only strong enough to bully a few little Hilichurls.

"These two dogs really won't let up. Looks like I need to hurry up and finish making that thing!"

With that, Lin Yi abruptly turned into an alley, gathered his elemental power, and continued constructing the handgun's final mechanisms according to the design in his mind.

After chasing him for so long, the Hydro Bracer and Cryo Bracer were panting with exhaustion and running out of patience.

"That brat's legs sure can move. For the sake of the mission, we'll have to make a little noise!"

Lin Yi could clearly sense the powerful Hydro and Cryo auras behind him.

There was a difference, however.

The elemental energy released by characters with god-granted Visions had been refined by nature and was exceptionally pure and concentrated.

In contrast, the two Bracers' elemental auras were chaotic, and the energy he sensed was riddled with impurities.

"Looks like the enemies chasing me aren't any popular characters. If I really shoot them dead, it probably won't have much of an impact."

This was bad. Preoccupied with constructing his handgun and analyzing his enemies, Lin Yi had failed to notice that he had entered a dead end.

He turned around.

He saw the Hydro Bracer and Cryo Bracer unleash their combined freezing skill. A towering wall of ice sealed off his surroundings, leaving him no escape!

The handgun's almost finished, and I don't have much Geo Magic left. Faster... just a little faster!

"Heh heh, so you're Liyue's new god? You don't look all that strong. Hand over your Gnosis, then call us Lord Hydro Bracer and Lord Cryo Bracer. Do that, and we'll let you live!"

In their eyes, Lin Yi was a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

But moments later, the handgun's final component was complete.

Ding! The host has successfully crafted the Rock-Cast Spear. The infrastructure route has been unlocked. Special reward: one round of Heavenly Motion Ammunition.