While Aether and his companions were joyfully cataloging their loot, Ryen finally arrived with the rest of the group.
The ground around the landing site was heavily cratered and scarred, bearing distinct marks of scorch marks and residual lightning strikes. Even the Khaenri'ahns and Cyno's vanguard carried subtle scuffs on their armor from the skirmish. It was evident that the coven of witches had put up a decent fight, utilizing their unpredictable hexes to cause a fair bit of trouble. The sheer baseline destructive power of these entities was nothing to scoff at, making the quick victory all the more lucrative for the vanguard.
Ryen, however, did not pay much attention to the scattered weapons. Most of the reclaimed staves were low-tier implements with static spell configurations consisting purely of standard healing cycles and basic magic missiles. Logically speaking, such rudimentary gear was far below what he considered valuable.
Instead, his attention drifted toward Aether, who was carefully stowing away a piece of arcane attire. "How did the harvest turn out? Did any full wizard sets drop?" Ryen asked, curiosity showing in his tone.
Aether turned around, shaking his head with a trace of disappointment. "Only a single wizard hat. The drop rate for the actual robes is remarkably low. To maximize our yields, we fought exclusively with Looting-enchanted diamond swords, yet we only managed to secure one piece of equipment."
"We did secure a significant quantity of staves, though," Aether continued, perking up slightly. "A few of them have excellent spell rolls. Would you care to inspect them?"
Ryen shook his head, showing little interest in the basic gear. "Keep them for your people. What about the spell books? Did the witches drop their grimoires upon defeat?"
Aether and Alhaitham had anticipated this inquiry and had already compiled the magical texts. A dozen bound volumes were neatly arranged on a temporary surface before Ryen, who began inspecting them one by one with renewed interest.
The selection was a diverse assortment of elemental and utility magic spanning multiple schools. For Pyromancy, there were standard Fireballs, Firebolts, and Ignite waves. The Cryomancy volumes contained Frost Shocks, Blizzards, and Frost Infusions. Evocation was represented by a copy of Seeking Lightning, while the Conjuration school yielded a scroll for Summoning a Lightning Phantom. Beyond those were several Apprentice and Intermediate healing spells alongside standard Necromancy hexes.
On the whole, it was a phenomenal baseline haul. At the very least, their shared inventory of Witchery texts had expanded significantly in a single encounter. There were no Master-tier spells present, but Ryen found that completely understandable; high-tier grimoires were exceptionally rare to begin with, let alone as random drops from wandering entities.
What truly caught Ryen's eye, however, were two specific Intermediate texts belonging to the Sorcery and Transmutation disciplines. Within the intermediate tier of modded magic, the Sorcery and Necromancy paths possessed some of the most conceptually broken spells, frequently executing functions that rivaled or even surpassed Master-tier magic in raw utility.
The two volumes in his hands contained Phase Blink and Petrification.
These two particular spells were immensely potent, offering practical applications that far outclassed conventional offensive magic. After evaluating the texts, Ryen separated the two books and handed them toward Ningguang.
"Mark these as priority assets," Ryen instructed. "Phase Blink and Petrification are high-value utility spells from the Sorcery line."
Ningguang nodded, her pen moving swiftly as she recorded the details. Ryen then produced an Ender Chest from his inventory, carefully placing the grimoires inside. Now was not the ideal time to restructure their arsenals; while crafting an Arcane Workbench on the spot was feasible, it was a needless expenditure of immediate resources. It would be far more efficient to handle the attunements systematically once they established a permanent base. The books would remain secure within the cross-dimensional storage grid regardless.
"Ryen, what makes these two specific spells so notable?" Ganyu asked, peering at the notations with curiosity.
Ryen smiled, gesturing to the text. "The sheer versatility of Sorcery magic makes it indispensable for any build. Take Phase Blink, for instance. It functions similarly to standard blinking or teleportation, but its mechanics are far superior."
"Phase Blink allows you to move directly through solid geometry. If cast into open air, it executes an instantaneous spatial jump of roughly eight meters. If cast facing a solid wall, it displaces your physical form directly to the open space behind the structure."
"This is merely its base properties," Ryen explained further. "Once the casting wands are systematically upgraded for range and efficiency, that distance scales upward. It carries a slightly longer cooldown than standard short-range blinking, but its tactical utility is peerless. It is an flawless fusion of intangible phasing and instantaneous teleportation."
"Moving forward, I highly recommend that everyone configures at least one secondary staff dedicated entirely to Sorcery utility. It will prove invaluable for both tactical combat and everyday transit."
The group murmured in collective realization. A spell that allowed an individual to seamlessly phase through solid fortresses while simultaneously blinking across open terrain was, in a practical sense, far more terrifying than a raw destructive spell of a higher tier.
"As for Petrification," Ryen continued, his tone dropping slightly. "It inflicts a absolute state of stasis upon the target. The conceptual parameters are so high that it can theoretically freeze even the Ender Dragon or the Wither. From a tactical standpoint, its operational ceiling is astronomical."
Turning his gaze toward Zhongli, Ryen offered a faint, knowing grin. "Would you mind assisting me with a baseline compliance test later?"
Zhongli's expression hardened slightly. He understood immediately that Ryen intended to use his divine physiology to measure the absolute limitations of the status effect. After a brief moment of silent calculation, however, the Lord of Geo gave a slow nod.
If the spell could successfully bind his own constitution, it meant that Petrification would be functional against the vast majority of the divine entities inhabiting Teyvat. Even if its parameters fell short of binding the Heavenly Principles directly, possessing an absolute crowd-control mechanism against standard gods altered the entire geopolitical balance.
"The effect forces the target into a calcified state for a fixed duration," Ryen explained, elaborating on the finer points. "Keep in mind that ambient illumination directly affects the status; the lower the light levels, the faster the calcification degrades. Furthermore, while an entity is petrified, they are entirely incapable of movement or action, but they also become entirely immune to standard external damage."
"Pay close attention to that detail: immune to external damage," Ryen emphasized clearly. "It is a pure, unadulterated stasis lock."
Ningguang tapped her chin thoughtfully. "While we cannot directly harm a petrified adversary, the text does not forbid us from manipulating the surrounding terrain while they are locked in place. During the stasis window, one could easily deploy automated traps, build defensive perimeters, or reposition heavy artillery around them."
"Precisely," Ryen agreed, nodding in full approval. "That is exactly how it should be utilized. All things considered, this initial foray has been incredibly productive. Our regional stockpile for the Witchery mod already has its foundational reserves. We couldn't have asked for a better opening."
Stretching his limbs, Ryen turned around to survey the landscape. The immediate vicinity showed no signs of generated Witchery structures like towers or obelisks. Pulling out his binoculars, he swept his gaze across the horizon.
As far as the lens could track, the landscape was dominated entirely by rolling green plains that met the sky. It was only after a prolonged search toward the distant western quadrant that the dense canopy of a jungle biome finally came into view.
"This grass biome is phenomenal," Ryen remarked, stowing his binoculars away with a satisfied expression. "Wide, clear, and immensely vast. There is more than enough clearance here to construct two major metropolitan centers without them overlapping. It is an ideal landfall."
"More importantly, the mob generation algorithms for standard plains are far less aggressive than those of jungles or roofed forests. Even when hostile entities do spawn, they are easily visible and handled. The only drawback is that the underground mineral matrices here are generally less dense than those beneath mountain ranges or deep biomes."
Hearing this, Aether perked up, his eyes sweeping across the vast expanse with a calculating gaze. The terrain was exactly as Ryen described, an unparalleled canvas for major civil engineering. From a sovereign perspective, establishing a kingdom on these sunlit, endless plains was infinitely superior to the claustrophobic, subterranean confines of ancient Khaenri'ah.
A clear blue sky, natural pastures that stretched for miles, and an immediate connection to the open sea, the logistical advantages were staggering.
After a moment of quiet deliberation, Aether spoke in a measured tone. "Lord Ryen, are you suggesting that Khaenri'ah should break ground for its initial capital city right here?"
The Khaenri'ahns standing behind him straightened up, their expressions turning profoundly solemn. After months of preparation, retraining, and logistical shifts, the actual dawn of their restoration was finally staring them in the face.
Analyzing the soil, surveying the layout, mapping the subterranean layers, once the preliminary surveys were verified, the physical construction could begin. With their massive, highly organized labor pool, the foundations of a massive city could rise within a month. Within two months, Khaenri'ah would physically stand proud upon the face of the world once more.
The sheer motivation of seeing their ancestral homeland restored within the calendar year sent a jolt of energy through every Khaenri'ahn present. Aether had explicitly brought along several veteran surveyors from the old kingdom for this exact purpose. Following a brief gesture from their prince, the surveyors immediately produced shovels and began digging a vertical shaft directly into the earth.
The rest of the group watched quietly, allowing the professionals to conduct their work without interruption. After digging down roughly fifteen meters, the surveyors systematically ascended back to the surface, reporting directly to Aether with a respectful nod.
"Your Highness, the subterranean layer is stable. For at least ten meters down, it is completely solid ground rather than waterlogged basin. The lower strata contains abundant cobblestone and granite formations, confirming reliable building material reserves. The structural integrity for a metropolitan foundation is verified."
Aether's heart thrummed with excitement as he turned toward Ryen. The latter gave a gentle, reassuring nod.
"The execution of the city layout is entirely up to you, and I won't interfere with its scale," Ryen said calmly. "However, ensure that you maintain a designated buffer zone from the actual coastline."
"I intend to establish a major port facility in that sector. Over time, it will likely evolve into a massive maritime trade hub. Whether functioning as a military logistics station or a global commercial center, a deep-water port holds an inherent geographic advantage."
"It will serve as the gateway for our civilized expansion into this continent," Ryen concluded.
Aether agreed to the terms without a moment's hesitation. The sheer scope of the plains was massive; filling it would require an urban footprint easily rivaling the entire Guili Plains of Liyue. Looking out over the pristine, untamed grass, a wave of pride washed over him. After centuries of exile, his people finally had a place to plant their roots. This continent would be the cradle of a reborn Khaenri'ah.
"As for the architectural specifications, take some time to consult with Liyue's engineering departments," Ryen added as a practical reminder. "The light mechanics of this world dictate that monsters manifest dynamically within any unlit area. A comprehensive, overlapping grid of street illumination is non-negotiable for public safety."
"Furthermore, consider your urban identity. Integrate redstone engineering into your public utilities; aim for an advanced, industrialized infrastructure. I shouldn't need to lecture you on this point, isn't advanced technology supposed to be Khaenri'ah's specialty?"
Aether listened intently, memorizing every guideline while nodding frequently.
Ryen continued, "The port sector has been mapped and marked. Go ahead and authorize your vanguards to begin the preliminary land-clearing. Your civilian cadres have completed their mandatory survival training, but I strongly advise holding their transit until the basic port facilities are functional."
"First, it provides a stable destination point. Second, our immediate operational focus is exploration, not domestic construction. We need to map out the core Witchery mod structures before we commit to massive infrastructure projects."
Glancing up at the sun, Ryen noted that it had reached its zenith, marking the arrival of noon. While the nutritional mechanics of the MC world did not enforce a rigid schedule for meals, maintaining a normal biological rhythm was essential for long-term health.
Deciding against an immediate push forward, the group halted their march, utilizing raw logs and basic planks to construct temporary tables and chairs for a midday meal.
While the camp was being established, Ningguang and Aether began coordinating with their administrative teams back on the Main Continent. Ningguang issued commands via her comms to instruct Captain Dash to mobilize construction units, while Aether directed his logistics officers to prepare the necessary timber and stone blocks for the capital's foundations.
They also began arranging for technical exchange programs. Rebuilding a nation on open grasslands required specific civil engineering expertise, a field where Liyue possessed centuries of proven mastery. Learning from their methods was the most logical path forward.
As for Ryen, he finally gave in to Lumine's persistent pleading and assembled an Arcane Workbench on the grass.
The adventurers quickly formed an orderly queue, eager to restructure the magical configurations within their personal staves. For raw offensive capabilities, the Twilight Forest spell packages remained their primary choice, given that the highest-tier offensive text in their possession was currently Lisa's Thousand Thunder Roar.
As a Master-tier incantation, Lisa was the only one capable of utilizing it effectively. The rest of the expedition party focused primarily on utility, systematically binding Phase Blink and Petrification to their secondary wands. In a world full of unknowns, those two spells were undeniably their greatest assets.