Arky shook his head and shifted his focus to the Progression Quests.
— ◈ —
[ — PROGRESSION QUESTS — ]
1] One Step at a Time
Objective: Reach Level 5 and complete a Challenge Domain solo.
Level: 3 / 5
Challenge Domain: 0 / 1
Rewards:
◆ Entropy Sigil Function Unlock: Map Feature.
— ◈ —
"Oh…" Arky muttered, genuinely surprised this time. "A map feature… and a Challenge Domain?"
He lifted his gaze, expecting an explanation from the little mascot perched above.
Instead, he was met with soft, rhythmic snoring.
'Tch…' Arky clicked his tongue. 'Why is she sleeping now? Do divine artifacts even need sleep?'
Reaching up, he grabbed her by the cuff.
"Wha…?! Hey! Wai—!" Sitri jolted awake, flailing wildly. "D-Don't eat me! I'm not edible!"
She spun in the air, panicked, before realizing who was holding her.
"…Oh. It's just you, old man," she huffed, crossing her arms. "Geez! You scared the life out of me! Can't a divine beauty take a nap in peace?"
After a brief scuffle, Sitri finally gave him the information he needed before settling back onto her 'throne' atop his head.
Arky reflected on what they had discussed.
* * *
In the Genshin game, Domains were little more than places to farm artifacts, with some tied loosely to quests and background lore.
But in reality, Domains were far more than that.
They were remnants of ancient civilizations, fallen gods, powerful beings, or moments in history that refused to fade. Anchored to Ley Lines, preserved by Irminsul, and stabilized by elemental energy, they existed as scars left behind by the past.
Some Domains had even been sealed deliberately by gods, Adepti, or other higher beings.
The enemies within the Domains were not truly alive. They were Ley Line echoes, elemental constructs, memory projections, or lingering wills given form.
In essence, some domains were trapped in endless memory loops, fragments of history manifesting again and again in reality.
Challenge Domains were merely a subtype of these places. Whether they were created by Irminsul, ancient gods, or even Celestia itself… he couldn't care less.
What mattered was their purpose.
Challenge Domains tested those who entered them. Their difficulty adjusted to the challenger's strength, and those who overcame them were rewarded with growth.
Artifacts were one of the most common rewards drawn from Domains. They were not mere equipment, but crystallized fragments of history.
Normally, only Vision holders could enter Domains, as their Visions resonated with the Ley Lines.
Adepti and gods could force entry, while certain mortals gained access under special circumstances.
As a Descender, the Traveler was exempt from those rules.
And in the same way, He was too.
* * *
Arky finally snapped out of his wandering thoughts and frowned slightly. "If I remember correctly, there's a Challenge Domain along the path to Springvale and Dawn Winery."
He couldn't recall the domain's name, but he remembered farming artifacts there.
The Maiden set… or something like that.
His gaze lifted toward the swirling mass in the sky, his eyes glowing faintly.
[ Eye of the Storm: Level 15 ]
[ Danger Rating: D2 ]
"Hm. I'll deal with you after the Domain," Arky said calmly.
Turning away, he headed deeper into the woods, pulling out the map Adelinde had given him and tracing the route toward the nearby Domain.
* * *
Arky was now standing before a pair of massive double doors carved into the cliffside, resembling the entrance to an ancient temple.
The doors were etched with blue patterns, each line glowing with an otherworldly light and quiet energy.
Unlike in the game, the doors were at least three times larger, and not just them. Everything in reality felt overwhelmingly vast.
It had taken him nearly an hour to reach the Domain. From the Statue of the Seven in Windwail Highland, he had pushed through dense woods and uneven terrain. Even with a map, he had lost his way several times.
The distances in Teyvat were nothing like what he remembered from a screen.
Shaking his head, Arky placed his right hand against the Domain's doors.
At once, a runic panel materialized before him.
— ◈ —
[ Challenge Domain: Valley of Remembrance ]
Tier: 1
Classification: Domain of Blessing
Description: After a period of time, the people of the continent lost track of the past. They attempt to explore downwards, searching for the things that they had forgotten. On the other side of the ancient tree's hollow, the secrets of yesterday have become today's treasures.
[ Artifacts ]
◆ Viridescent Venerer ( Tier 3 - 5 ), Maiden Beloved ( 3 - 5 ), Tiny Miracle ( 2 - 3 ), Traveling Doctor ( 1 - 2 ).
— ◈ —
Arky nodded. Thanks to his ever useful Sigil, the system finally gave him a clear idea of what to expect from this Domain.
The classification, Domain of Blessing, meant that the leyline rewards here would mainly be Artifacts.
There were other types of Challenge Domains as well. Domain of Forgery focused on equipment enhancement materials, ores, and similar resources, while others served entirely different purposes.
The Tier indicated the difficulty of the trial.
At Level 3, he could only enter a Tier 1 Domain. Only after reaching Level 10 and stepping into Allogene would Tier 2 Domains become accessible.
That also meant his rewards were limited. In a Tier 1 Domain, the only Artifact set he could obtain was the Traveling Doctor set.
"Hm… what were its set effects again?" Arky murmured, drawing a blank.
Even then, Tier 1 Domains only offered a chance at Rare rank Traveling Doctor Artifacts at best.
Artifacts in Teyvat were divided into fiveranks based on both potency and rarity: Common ( ★ ), Uncommon ( ★★ ), Rare ( ★★★ ), Epic ( ★★★★ ), and Legendary ( ★★★★★ ).
Legendary Artifacts were exceptionally rare and could only be obtained from Tier 4 or Tier 5 Domains.
Fortunately, Domains never dropped Artifacts below Rare rank.
Common and Uncommon Artifacts were usually found scattered throughout the world instead. In fact, modern Teyvatians had even learned to recreate low grade Artifacts artificially, though such pieces lacked any true memories or lingering will.
"Sigh… still a long way to go," Arky muttered, shaking his head.
With a thought, he willed himself to enter the Domain.
The massive doors groaned open, and a brilliant blue light flooded out, forcing him to close his eyes.
When the light faded, the doors had already sealed themselves shut. The once-blue patterns dimmed and shifted into a dull yellow glow.
And Arky was gone.