Watching the scene before him, Zhongli was utterly astonished.
Luya's act of reviving a fallen Demon God was something beyond imagination—even the beings of Celestia could not achieve such a feat. Not only had he helped Guizhong return to life, but he had done so without imposing any restraints or binding contracts upon her.
He trusted her completely. So much so that he hadn't even signed a contract.
At that thought, Zhongli admired Luya deeply. In both strength and character, this man was truly exceptional.
Once again, Zhongli affirmed the thought he had been holding in his heart: he would entrust the governance of Liyue to Luya. Luya would lead Liyue to greatness once more. He would ensure the people lived in peace and prosperity—and that Liyue would flourish beyond imagination. Once Liyue was entrusted to Luya's care, Zhongli could finally enjoy a tranquil life wandering the mortal world.
To Zhongli, Luya was the perfect successor to take his place as Liyue's protector. Even the Heavenly Principles themselves would not be able to lay a hand on him.
"Haha... In a few days, I have a gift I intend to give you," Zhongli said, a smile touching his lips.
Seeing that smile, Luya couldn't shake the feeling that Zhongli was hiding something mischievous.
"Oh? A gift..." Luya asked, curiosity piqued. Though Zhongli was infamous for never paying for what he bought, Luya couldn't think of anything he actually needed. What kind of gift could Zhongli possibly be planning?
"What kind of gift, Mr. Zhongli?" Luya asked directly.
"It's a secret. A gift only counts if it comes as a surprise," Zhongli replied with a knowing glance.
Watching the exchange, Guizhong laughed softly. "Hahaha, after thousands of years, I never thought I'd see you teasing someone like this again."
Zhongli only smiled in return.
"I imagine Xianyun and the others will be thrilled to see you," Luya said to Guizhong, who was floating playfully in the air.
"Indeed. If they see me like this, they'll surely be shocked!"
"Oh right!!" Guizhong suddenly exclaimed. "I want to eat something!"
After thousands of years without a meal, now that she had a body again, her first thought was to feast. Back in ancient times, Zhongli and the other Adepti often gathered with Guizhong to share fine food and compete in mechanical arts. Now that she had returned, it was only natural to celebrate with a grand meal.
So, Guizhong and Zhongli set off together to find their old dining companions.
...
Now, Luya had completed construction of his first electronics factory. Examining it, he estimated the new Guili Plains facility could employ over two thousand workers. Even if each person assembled only four machines per day, the profits would be enormous.
However, there was no point in rushing—the raw materials weren't ready yet.
The production of game consoles required ore, so Luya had to go to The Chasm.
As one of Liyue's six major regions, The Chasm comprised areas such as Lumberpick Valley, Fuao Vale, the Surface Mines, Cinnabar Cliff, the Chasm Maw, Tiangong Gorge, Glaze Peak, and the Underground Mines.
Located west of Lisha, its terrain was steep and complex, filled with strange ecological and geological phenomena. Towering cliffs defined its surface, while the subterranean mines stretched deep into shadowy abysses.
The labyrinthine tunnels below were dimly lit, teeming with bizarre creatures and dangerous foes.
If properly developed, The Chasm could drastically reduce Luya's material costs. However, Liyue's traditional mining methods were inefficient—something that would have to change.
If he could extract sufficient ore from The Chasm, not only would he solve his own supply issues, but he would also raise the prosperity of Liyue's citizens. It would be a win-win situation.
To develop The Chasm, Luya knew he needed to start with geological surveying—to understand the terrain, mineral distribution, and structural stability to ensure safe, efficient mining. Then, technological innovation—introducing advanced mining machinery and methods to increase yield, lower costs, and reduce environmental damage.
Most importantly, the underground monsters would need to be dealt with. For that, Luya's Duel Monsters could easily handle the problem.
As for someone familiar with The Chasm, Luya immediately thought of Bosacius—the first Yaksha under Zhongli's command, who had perished there long ago while defending Liyue Harbor. It was the perfect opportunity to bring him back—not only to aid in mining, but also to eliminate the lurking monsters.
...
With his plans in place, Luya used Spatial Teleportation. He arrived at The Chasm. Activating the Land Purchase Function, he bought up the outer zones of the region. Perhaps due to his contract with Keqing, granting him free access to Liyue's land, all of his purchases still cost zero Mora.
Soon, he had bought all the surrounding land. Then, he began developing it—building dormitories for miners and constructing another electronics factory nearby.
Just like at Guili Plains, he added full infrastructure: snack streets, leisure centers, and more. A massive new city rose outside The Chasm, leaving onlookers completely dumbfounded.
With the factory and resource issues now resolved, Luya's only remaining task was to recruit employees. Once hired and trained in assembling consoles and parts, production could begin.
Then came sales. Luya already owned many Yu-Gi-Oh! Scratch Card shops throughout Liyue Harbor. By distributing consoles through those outlets, he could launch sales seamlessly. Once network connectivity was activated, players across Teyvat would soon start spending Mora.
Thinking of it, Luya grinned.
He could already picture himself counting his profits.
...
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