Sumeru here in this world was far different from the Sumeru of the canon timeline. The Withering was very much present here in this world like it was in canon, but here in this world. The gods and high-level cultivators in particular burned away the corrupted areas while Sumeru's jungle quickly healed the corrupted areas.
Sumeru's thick and lush jungles were closer to Catachan from Warhammer 40k than any 'normal' jungle as alot of the time, any abyssal monsters that manage to sneak out of any tiny portals they can open. Often find themselves being torn apart by the overwhelmingly hostile jungle environment.
This was obviously very different to Liyue's mountainous terrain: although having very strong spirit beasts, much stronger spirit beasts and spirits in general. But Sumeru's jungle had an overwhelming number of dangerous life forms.
And the rich lush jungles of Sumeru that were filled with spiritual energy also produced a fantastic array of countless herbs, natural treasures, and other things I happily spent... A fuck load of spirit stones on.
"Hahaha, well you ain't trading those lovely ships and other treasures you got. But good old hard spirit stones, especially high-grade ones are fantastic." Dori happily exclaimed as I had found the smaller girl in the market running a large Sumeru-based trading site.
I myself just put away the massive heavenly god mountain core I was going to use to feed into my martial arts and cultivation happily before I said. "It is for the most part a universal currency besides special pills to trade. Anyway, you got any books on Sumeru-based array's and such?"
My trading with the short money goblin went well enough with the girls behind me buying some other local trinkets like Kuki buying some meditation incense sticks while Ayaka bought herself a natural treasure in five thousand-year-old Desert Ice.
All the while I was being followed by Nahida as Rukkhadevata had to leave to go do other things... More like go over the designs and blueprints I had given her.
In either case, I was just taking it easy for now here in Sumeru as we just did a thorough shopping trip. I picked up some more special metals I couldn't quite get back in Liyue and all the while with the calmer atmosphere. Ayaka Kamisato, and Kuki Shinobu relaxed around me.
"So how about we get some food while we wait for Lord Morax to arrive here in Sumeru?" I asked my group. And they nodded with Nahida smiling and offering to show us to a good place to eat.
So we went to a nice restaurant and got some food with Ayaka taking a seat on the booth beside me while Keqing sat beside the goddess and Kuki. "So what do you plan to do when you get back to Liyue Jake?" Keqing asked curiously.
I shrugged and said honestly. "Well... First I need to do a lot of running around to my factories to stock back up on all my building supplies and resources. Then I will probably need to work on the much larger high-end weapons and machines of war factory I was going to be building after my marriage to Keqing for Lord Morax."
Taking a drink I smiled wryly and said. "Then I got a rather rude wake-up call with the Knave breaking into my house to 'request' me coming to work in Sneznahya after my wedding."
Nahida laughed awkwardly before she finished. "And then the kitsune kidnapped you after your wedding consummation."
I remained silent as Keqing flushed as we both realized something silently. 'Nahida and Rukkhadevata might very well have been watching us fuck... Reeee!' I mentally screamed with Nahida's face twitching as she seemingly picked up my mental screech despite my face remaining placid.
Then I coughed and pivoted the conversation heavily. "Anywho, Lady Nahida. Do you have any interesting plans you mind sharing with these mortals?"
Nahida at my grandiose tone gave a light chuckle before she made a noise of thought before she shrugged casually. "Oh, I have many plans in motion. But hmm, something you would be interested in..."
She visibly seemed to consider the question before she smiled and said casually. "I have been working with Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, to create a spatial energy bomb of sorts. In the hopes of disabling or making the Hellpit's that the abyss uses to enter world unstable for them. Or just inviable for them to approach."
Unbidden my mind filled with the knowledge of slip space manipulation, pocket dimension creation, and spatial tearing weapons and I could see in the corner of my eyes as the other girls' eye's dulled as Nahida and I began speaking of the principles of spatial manipulation.
And of course the very large dangers within that field of science/magical fuckery.
As it would be very much the peak of irony for Nahida and Rukkhadevata to try to blow up a portal into the abyss and it instead turns all of Sumeru into a Hellmouth leading directly into the Abyss.
In an effort to not drown in their ignorance of this topic, Ayaka coughed and asked curiously. "Beyond such... Far-reaching plans. Do you have any more topical designs? Maybe trying to breed some special herbs or something?"
Nahida smiled and said in a more easygoing tone. "Oh? Hmm, I haven't put too much thought in trying to crossbreed herbs and natural treasures that are in the forms of herbs or plants." She mused before looking back to me.
"Do you think that with your herb and natural treasure growth system. That you could begin targeted crossbreeding operations?"
At that question, I easily nodded but added with a hum of thought. "Yes, it is more than doable. I would need to add on to the Alchemy factory I have, to do so. I also need more samples of each herb so I can get a baseline. But doing that takes too much time and effort when I need to be automating massive factories to be outputting weapons of war and supplies."
My admittance made Nahida sag in place before she sighed and said wistfully. "All the pity in that. If only you came to Sumeru, all the resources of the Akademiya and its genius's would be at your disposal to do such research while you focused on the major projects."
I hummed at the thought and then I felt Keqing's eye's laser on my form so I just chuckled and said casually. "Ehh maybe after I finish the new weapon factory. I will expand the Alchemy factory as I will likely want more pills and elixer's for myself and others. And in doing so, I can set up such a research station that your people can man and we can share the data we collect."
Nahida grinned at my offer with her clapping her hands together and my face twitched as she said quickly. "Oh, that sounds wonderful! Please have the Sumeru trading company in Liyue send a message to Sumeru when you plan to do so. Sumeru will send a hundred of our best researchers to contribute to such things."
However before I could respond, I sagged slightly as rough divine energy filled the air, and then a loud crackle rang out as a tear in space opened up with Nahida smiling wryly as the divine energy closed itself up.
"Ah... Morax is here to pick you up I assume." She said and I saw who could only be Zhonglie in his divine outfit hoodie stride into the restaurant with his eye's under the shaded hood glowing golden with his eyes landing on me and Keqing the moment he came into the restaurant.