If the minerals and enchantments of the Overworld were to strengthen Liyue's economic development and top combat power.
Then the Nether's importance for alchemical potions would be an essential path to comprehensively strengthening Liyue's underlying forces in the future.
Alchemical potions were something that could instantly skyrocket Liyue's foundational strength.
Everyone wasn't clear to what extent Jiang Xuan's so-called strength, slowness, and other potions could achieve.
However, considering the unreasonable fire element immunity effect of the Potion of Fire Resistance.
Basically, they could be sure that these wouldn't be much weaker.
Even without mentioning others, the Potion of Strength alone was enough.
Ningguang could temporarily arm a batch of top Millelith combat units, each wearing Iron Armor Sets and wielding Iron Swords.
Wearing dozens of tons of Iron Armor and holding several tons of Iron Swords.
In Teyvat, even if sent to directly confront Archons, most Archons would have to evade them.
There was no way around it; they couldn't break through their defense, and the opponents' swords struck with immense force and weight—they simply couldn't withstand it!
What if you added Potion of Invisibility and Potion of Swiftness?
And if everyone was equipped with instant healing, and hostile poisons, weakness, slowness, and instant damage?
It would be basically unsolvable.
With Zhongli's strategic vision, fifty such top-equipped Millelith, if Liyue didn't deploy its top Archon combat power,
Basically, sweeping through all Millelith units in Liyue would be no problem.
Even weaker Archons would be ganged up on and killed.
Of course, they would certainly not use such powerful weapons against their own people.
Under the current peace in Teyvat, they generally wouldn't treat other nations this way either.
But...
Could the Fatui's modified soldiers withstand it?
Could the Abyss Mage's shields withstand a group of strong men swinging several-ton greatswords, striking with immense force and weight?
Or could high-level monsters like the Stonehide Lawachurl withstand the bombardment of fifty violent, fierce men?
The importance of alchemical potions was self-evident, and the development of the Nether had become Ningguang and her team's planning goal for a long time to come.
However, as Jiang Xuan said, they still couldn't find the Nether Fortress, so they couldn't complete the crucial link for mass production of alchemical potions.
Therefore, for the time being in the Nether, the main focus was still on mining ore.
Everyone calmed down a bit, then turned to look at their surroundings.
Lava oceans and the like could temporarily be ignored.
Anyway, they were everywhere here; after looking at them for a long time, besides being a bit dazzling, the shocking feeling from before was largely gone.
There were quite a few monsters in the distance; at least seven or eight Piglins.
But everyone knew that as long as they didn't provoke them, there wouldn't be any problems.
Further in the distance, there were wailing Ghasts floating on the lava ocean, and flickering Endermen.
Everyone was a bit wary, but the distance was quite far, so as long as they didn't act recklessly, there wouldn't be any major issues.
Of course, Jiang Xuan didn't rule out that Hu Tao, now excited, might go to sell coffins to the Piglins, or send the Ghasts off to the afterlife.
He gave Ningguang a look, and she understood, staying by Hu Tao's side to prevent her from acting impulsively.
Jiang Xuan's main purpose for coming to the Nether this time was to figure out where the Nether Portal was being built.
Then, to mine some Glowstone, Nether Quartz, Soul Sand, and so on.
The final goal was to find the Nether Fortress and Ancient Debris.
The former had Wither Skeletons and Blazes, which were essential monsters to kill, and in addition, Nether Wart, a necessary material for alchemy.
As for the latter...
Netherite.
This was the most important thing.
But the difficulty of gathering this item was immense.
Burning Ancient Debris dropped Netherite Scraps, and gathering four scraps, plus four Gold Ingots, made one Netherite Ingot.
It was as troublesome as a nesting doll.
But this item was very important; if possible, Jiang Xuan hoped to have a full set of Netherite armor and weapons.
Of course, if other special mods were activated later, the importance of Netherite would diminish a bit.
While pondering, Ganyu suddenly shouted.
"Jiang Xuan! Come quickly, there's so much Nether Gold Ore here!"
Hearing this, everyone turned to look.
Ganyu was standing a dozen meters away, excitedly pointing at the ground.
Everyone went over to look, and indeed, there was quite a lot.
Although it couldn't compare to the exact nine gold ores they found during their first trip to the mine.
There were at least five here.
And, not far across the lava river, there seemed to be many more piles of Nether Gold Ore.
"Nether Gold Ore."
Jiang Xuan smiled and nodded, only glancing at it without much interest.
"This stuff is everywhere in the Nether; it's not very important. But you can mine it, whether for trading with Piglins later or taking it back to Liyue."
"In the Nether, gold isn't exactly everywhere, but it's not far from it."
With that, Jiang Xuan pointed to a Piglin slowly wandering nearby.
Everyone looked over and was stunned.
Simply put, that Piglin radiated the aura of a nouveau riche.
A golden sword, golden helmet, golden chestplate, golden leggings, and golden boots.
Those unfamiliar with the situation might have thought it was some local tycoon out and about.
"Do you understand now?"
Jiang Xuan smiled, spreading his hands.
"This stuff is really a dime a dozen."
Even though they had seen many Gold Ingots, everyone still felt a bit conflicted.
Gold, which was so valuable in Teyvat, was casually crafted into equipment here...
Shaking her head, Ningguang composed herself.
"Regardless, gold is hard currency in Teyvat, and we never have too much of it. Let's mine it. By the way, Jiang Xuan, do Nether Gold Ore still need to be harvested with Looting Enchantment?"
"That's right, Looting Enchantment, then smelt it. But let's leave the smelting for when we get back; the environment here isn't suitable for starting work yet."
With that, Jiang Xuan turned and walked towards the wall behind him.
Ganyu and the others hadn't noticed that there were also special ores there.
There was more of it than the Nether Gold Ore, and it was even more important.
Nether Quartz!
Jiang Xuan looked at the Nether Quartz before him with a touch of emotion.
The crucial missing piece of Redstone Technology was finally filled.
Daylight Detectors, Observers, and other items could be mass-produced, and many Redstone Technology projects could finally begin.
Ningguang took out her Looting Enchantment Iron Pickaxe and began mining the Nether Gold Ore.
She couldn't help but worry that if Teyvat learned how cheap gold was, Mora might suffer a massive devaluation.
This was a key concern for Ningguang, whose business acumen was extremely sharp.
But for Ganyu, who didn't care about money, seeing Jiang Xuan's indifference to gold made her lose interest as well.
She trailed after Jiang Xuan, curiously watching him mine Nether Quartz with a smile.
"Jiang Xuan, I feel like you're more enthusiastic about this ore than about gold."
Just then, Jiang Xuan finished mining the last of the Nether Quartz here. He turned and walked with Ganyu towards another Nether Quartz deposit, saying softly:
"Nether Quartz is an important material for many key components of Redstone Technology."
"Now that we have enough Nether Quartz, many of my Redstone Technology projects can get started. If you calculate it, it's much more valuable than gold."
Ganyu suddenly understood, then pulled out her pickaxe and excitedly said:
"Then I'll mine with Jiang Xuan!"
Jiang Xuan smiled and didn't refuse. While Ganyu was mining, he took a look into the distance.
This time, Jiang Xuan was a bit surprised...
Although this Nether Portal location didn't have a Nether Fortress, it had to be said that the resources here were incredibly abundant!
Not only was Nether Quartz everywhere, but there was also a large area of Soul Sand not far away.
Plus, Magma Cubes occasionally spawned around the lava oceans.
These were all important resources.
With Soul Sand, Jiang Xuan could also modify his Sky Island automatic elevator.
To save himself the trouble of having to climb up every day.
After some thought, Jiang Xuan called out to Zhongli.
The latter was currently in a state of utter boredom.
Ningguang was pulling Hu Tao to mine Nether Gold Ore, and Jiang Xuan was with Ganyu mining Nether Quartz.
He didn't know what important resources were here, so he could only stand there and look at the scenery.
Well...
There wasn't much scenery here anyway.
"Is there something?"
Zhongli slowly walked over and asked calmly.
Jiang Xuan handed him a Diamond Shovel and said softly:
"See the Soul Sand over there?"
"Soul Sand? Is that..."
Zhongli seemed to realize something.
"You want me to dig Soul Sand? I understand."
Seeing Zhongli turn to leave, Jiang Xuan quickly stopped him, a smile on his face:
"Not just Soul Sand! Also the Magma Blocks in the lava ocean. While you're at it, use the Looting Enchantment sword to clear out the Magma Cubes. Those are all very useful resources."
"..."
Zhongli looked at Jiang Xuan with a complicated expression.
The latter, however, wasn't embarrassed at all, just laughed awkwardly:
"See! The more capable, the more work they do! Thank you for your hard work, we're short-handed."
Zhongli sighed helplessly and nodded:
"I understand, is there anything else?"
Hearing this, Jiang Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"Uh... if you don't mind..."
He pointed to the Glowstone hanging overhead.
"This, too, can you handle it?"
"...I was just being polite."
Zhongli somewhat regretted his unconscious slip of the tongue.
Jiang Xuan clapped Zhongli on the shoulder heartily, acting like good buddies.
"Between us brothers, there's no need for politeness. You can do it, I believe in you!"
Zhongli was silent. After a long moment, he wordlessly took the Diamond Shovel and went to dig Soul Sand.
Jiang Xuan chuckled inwardly.
He was just joking, and Zhongli could see that too.
Soul Sand, Magma Blocks, and even Magma Cubes were no problem for Zhongli; he could handle them easily.
But Jiang Xuan certainly wouldn't let him go up and mine Glowstone alone; it was quite dangerous.
By the time he finished dealing with the Soul Sand and such, Jiang Xuan's Nether Quartz and Ningguang's Nether Gold Ore would also be nearly done.
At that point, Ningguang and the others would definitely need to stand guard below while Jiang Xuan took Zhongli up to mine Glowstone.
The resources here were indeed abundant. Estimating, if all the ore here was mined out,
Besides other things, the Nether Quartz would last Jiang Xuan for four or five days.
By then, he would have made more preparations, and then they could continue deeper to search for the Nether Fortress.
This also meant that the next time they came to the Nether, Jiang Xuan would need more top-tier combat power.
Wither Skeletons were not easy to deal with, not to mention the Blaze Spawners.
Pondering, Jiang Xuan was about to take Ganyu to another Nether Quartz deposit.
Suddenly, from Ningguang's side, there was a shocking explosion.
Jiang Xuan's face changed, and he immediately pulled Ganyu and rushed towards Ningguang and the others.
The first thing he saw was a sizable crater blown into the previously flat Netherrack.
And the culprit...
was a wailing Ghast slowly floating over!
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