It was a... pot.
A... teapot with an elegant, archaic design, a luster as warm as ancient jade, and a surface flowing with a faint halo that seemed to contain nebulae and clouds within?
It was about the size of an adult man's fist, with a round and full body, and gracefully flowing lines on the spout and handle. Its entire body presented a grayish-white jade color that had been tempered by the passage of time, yet it refracted an extremely restrained, iridescent glow under the light. On the surface of the pot, faint and mysterious mountain, cloud patterns, and star trajectories were carved. These patterns were not static; they flowed and changed slowly, extremely slowly, as if they possessed life. The lid fit perfectly, and on top was a small knob resembling a miniature mountain.
The whole pot stood quietly on the desktop, without support, yet as steady as Mount Tai. It did not emit any intense energy fluctuations, but it possessed a strange aura where its very "existence" seemed to suppress all directions and contain the Universe within. Just looking at it made one's mind involuntarily calm down, as if facing not an object, but a solidified, condensed World.
Artoria's breath stagnated instantly. She widened her pair of emerald eyes, staring fixedly at this suddenly appearing pot, her mind a blank.
This is...?!
At the same time, a stream of information, incomparably clear and branded directly into the depths of her soul, sounded in her consciousness, accompanied by that familiar electronic voice that seemed to have just finished "rebooting" and even carried a trace of barely perceptible "exhaustion" and "helplessness":
[…New Year's money.]
[Item Name: Serenitea Pot (Universal Adaptation · Concept Stable Type)]
[Source: Teyvat Continent (World ID T-7721), reconciled via special cross-dimensional rules and concept re-compiled.]
[Function: Contains a stable grotto-heaven "World inside the Pot", the space can grow and expand according to the holder's will and power, possessing characteristics such as basic elemental circulation, fine-tuning of time flow (slower inside the pot than outside), environmental simulation and shaping, material storage, energy isolation, and information concealment. Specific functions require activation and soul-binding with specific mantras.]
[Binding/usage mantras, introductory guides to grotto-heaven construction, FAQs, etc., have been synchronized and transmitted.]
[Note: This is an adapted and optimized version under the rules of this Universe to ensure maximum functional stability and compatibility. Activation requires consuming a certain amount of spiritual power and one's own energy traits to "recognize a Master"; it is recommended to perform this in a safe environment. The initial state of the grotto-heaven is a blank template; subsequent decoration and expansion require self-exploration and resource collection.]
The information stream was clear and explicit, even thoughtfully providing usage suggestions.
Artoria was completely stunned. She maintained the posture of wide eyes and a slightly open mouth, looking at the jade pot on the table exuding an arcane aura, and then "looking" at the explanation in her consciousness that couldn't be clearer, feeling as if she were having a dream that was absurd and bizarre to the extreme.
New Year's money? A Serenitea Pot? Just like that... fallen from the sky? No, it was "asked" from the system...?
She had really just said it casually, just a joke! Just like a child playfully asking elders for red envelopes during the New Year, she never expected to actually get anything, especially a treasure of the level of a Serenitea Pot!
This... what is this? A new function of the system? A hidden perk? Or...
Before she could figure it out, the system's electronic voice sounded again. This time, it seemed a bit faster than usual, and... if an electronic voice could have a tone, Artoria could almost hear a complex, indescribable sense mixed with "relief," "mission accomplished," and a deeper layer of "I have to go deal with trouble too":
[Your New Year's money.]
[This system also needs to... handle a few things. As for subsequent matters, please use your own discretion, Host.]
[Energy fluctuation masking has been attached, and the appearance has been blurred. In the eyes of non-bound individuals, this pot is just an ordinary antique teapot with some age.]
[...I should also go and ask someone for my 'New Year's money'.]
As the voice fell, the system's "presence" receded rapidly like a tide, hiding in the depths of her consciousness, leaving only a subtle feeling of being "offline" or "deep diving," more thorough and quiet than ever before.
Artoria: "..."
Minerva: "..." The optical sensor was firmly locked on the jade pot on the table, and the internal analysis program was clearly running at high speed due to this scene that defied common sense, even experiencing a brief logical verification loop.
The room fell into an extremely eerie silence. Only the quietly standing Serenitea Pot, with the faint light flowing on its surface, seemed to be silently telling of its extraordinary nature.
After a full half-minute, Artoria suddenly sprang up from her chair as if scalded, but did not dare to touch the pot rashly. She just circled the desk, eyes wide, carefully examining it up and down, left and right, as if to confirm that this wasn't some advanced holographic projection or a hallucination of her own.
"Xing... Minerva! Did you see that? Is... is this real? A Serenitea Pot? Just like that... appeared?" Artoria's voice was slightly out of tune due to shock, and she even subconsciously pinched her arm, a clear sensation of pain coming through.
"Visual sensor confirmed, physical entity exists. Energy readings: restrained, stable, unparseable high-dimensional spatial attributes. The match rate between the appearance and the system description, as well as the conceptual image of the 'Serenitea Pot' in your memory, is 97.8%." Minerva's voice also rarely carried a trace of extremely subtle fluctuation. She walked to the table, cautiously not touching it with her hands, but activated several types of non-contact scans, "Preliminary scans did not detect dangerous energy radiation or malicious mechanisms. The attached optical camouflage field is confirmed to exist, with sufficient intensity to deceive conventional observers. Comprehensive assessment... the probability of this object being genuine is extremely high."
Having received confirmation from Minerva, Artoria's heart began to beat wildly. The huge surprise washed away the previous anxiety and planning like a tsunami. The Serenitea Pot she had dreamed of had appeared before her in such a completely unexpected, almost childish way! No need to struggle to contact Zhongli, no need to worry about how to conduct cross-World transactions, no need to worry about transaction failure or item compatibility issues!
The system... actually gave her "New Year's money"? And such a generous gift!
After the ecstasy came endless confusion. What exactly is the system? How could it so easily produce something like a Serenitea Pot? The so-called "Universal Adaptation · Concept Stable Type," and "special cross-dimensional rules reconciliation and concept re-compilation"... What terrifying power and authority does the system possess behind this? What did it mean by "going to ask someone for my New Year's money"? Ask who? Could it be that above the system, there are even higher-level existences?
Questions bubbled up in her mind like boiling bubbles. But at this moment, these questions were diluted by the immense joy brought by the tangible Serenitea Pot before her. No matter what the system is, no matter how it did it, at least this "New Year's money" is a tangible benefit that solved her immediate needs, and even far exceeded expectations!
She cautiously extended her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly, and lightly touched the jade-like, warm pot body.
Slightly cool. The touch was extremely delicate, as if she were stroking not an object, but some kind of living, dormant jade marrow. An indescribable aura of tranquility, vastness, and inclusiveness quietly came through her fingertips, involuntarily calming her restless mood a little.
It's real... it really is a Serenitea Pot!
"We... we're rich, Minerva!" Artoria turned around abruptly, grabbed Minerva beside her, and whispered excitedly, an irrepressible, bright smile on her face, her eyes shining like a child who had received their favorite gift, "With this, those materials, and everything we get in the future, will have the safest place to be stored! We can even set up a home inside! A secret Base that belongs entirely to us, one that no one can find!"
Minerva was hugged by her, her body paused slightly, but soon relaxed. The blue light in her optical sensor flickered softly, reflecting Artoria's ecstatic face. She could analyze Artoria's extremely high positive emotional index at this moment, and could also understand the huge strategic value brought by the Serenitea Pot. Although the method of acquisition was completely beyond logical deduction, the result was undoubtedly excellent.
"Yes, Artoria. This is an extremely important strategic asset." Minerva's voice was steady, yet one could hear a trace of happiness for her, "It is recommended to immediately follow the method provided by the system to perform binding activation in an absolutely safe environment. Afterwards, we can gradually test its functions and plan the utilization of the internal space."
"Right, right, right! Binding! Activation!" Artoria let go of Minerva and couldn't wait to start recalling the set of "binding/usage mantras" that the system had branded directly into her consciousness. It was not a complex spell, but more like a "resonance" and "contract" ritual that used her own spiritual power and energy traits as a guide to establish a unique connection with the core of the grotto-heaven inside the pot.
She took a few deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down. With such a treasure, the binding process must not go wrong. She looked at Minerva: "Help me guard. Also, activate the cottage's highest level of silence and protective force field. Before I finish binding, no one and nothing is allowed to disturb me."
"Understood." Minerva executed immediately, and little ai responded synchronously. The entire seaside cottage instantly entered an unprecedented state of alert, all external channels and perception were temporarily blocked, and the internal energy field was adjusted to the most stable state.
Artoria sat cross-legged, carefully holding the Serenitea Pot in her palms, placing it on her knees. She closed her eyes, focused, and sank her consciousness into the depths of her mind, starting to follow the guidance of the mantras, mobilizing the power within her that fused many traits—the clear magic power belonging to Saber, the analytical intent belonging to the Herrscher of Truth, the star affinity belonging to Caster, and even that source from the "Traveler's" heart—inclusiveness and the desire to explore...
Her spiritual power turned into invisible tentacles, gently reaching towards the jade pot in her palms. At first, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, but soon, she "felt" deep inside the pot, that vast, chaotic, yet infinite vitality-containing "blankness" and "possibility." That was the prototype of the grotto-heaven, waiting for the Master to give it form and meaning.
Following the mantras, she used her unique spiritual imprint and energy characteristics, like the finest carving knife, to slowly and firmly brand it onto the core of that chaos. There was no resistance, only a kind of acceptance like water and milk blending together. The pot body heated up slightly, and the flowing mountain, cloud patterns, and star trajectories on the surface glowed slightly, as if being gently awakened from a long, long slumber.
A strange feeling of blood connection, like an extension of her own arm, gradually established itself between her and the pot in her palms. She could vaguely "perceive" the vast, empty space inside the pot, and could faintly "touch" its basic energy circulation and rule framework.
I don't know how much time passed, but when the last trace of her spiritual imprint was perfectly branded, Artoria felt a slight tremor in her palms. The luster on the surface of the Serenitea Pot suddenly restrained, becoming more and more plain and unadorned. Only by gazing carefully could one see the phantom of nebulae rotating and mountains appearing deep within the pot body. And that feeling of being closely connected to her soul was incomparably clear, and could never be severed again.
Binding, complete.
Artoria slowly opened her eyes, with a trace of fatigue in them, but more of an irrepressible joy and curiosity. With a thought, the Serenitea Pot in her palms quietly disappeared, not invisible, but merged directly into her body, existing in a special "conceptual space" bound to her soul, ready to be summoned at any time. With another thought, the jade pot appeared in her palms again, as warm and moist as before.
"Success!" She said excitedly to Minerva, and then couldn't wait to try entering, "Shall we... go in and take a look?"
"It is recommended that you enter alone first to initially scout the environmental safety and test whether entering and exiting is smooth." Minerva suggested cautiously.
"That makes sense." Artoria nodded, took a deep breath, concentrated her spirit, communicated with the grotto-heaven inside the pot, and silently thought in her heart: "Enter."
The next moment, her figure rippled like water and instantly disappeared from the room.
Minerva's optical sensor immediately locked onto the position where Artoria had disappeared, and various detection devices were activated, monitoring the spatial fluctuations. A few seconds later, Artoria's figure reappeared, with an indescribable shock and excitement on her face.
"Minerva! Inside... it's so big! It's blank, but it's really big! I can't feel the boundaries! The air is fresh, there's faint light, and it seems... there's also a faint, very comfortable energy flow!" She described incoherently, "Entering and exiting is very smooth, just a thought is enough! We really... have a Small World that belongs entirely to us!"
Looking at Artoria's heartfelt, unclouded, joyful smile, the blue light in Minerva's eyes softened. She stepped forward and gently squeezed Artoria's hand: "Congratulations, Artoria. This is truly the best 'New Year's money'."
"Yeah!" Artoria nodded vigorously, tightly holding back Minerva's hand, her gaze once again cast towards the vast starry sky outside the window, her heart filled with infinite longing and confidence for the future.
With the Serenitea Pot, her journey would truly have an unshakable cornerstone and home. And the secret hidden behind the system's mysterious "New Year's money," as well as the faint unease brought by its words "I should also go and ask for my New Year's money"... for the time being, were all suppressed at the bottom of her heart by this immense joy.
At least tonight, she could embrace this generous gift from the sky and have a sweet dream about how to build a perfect World inside the Pot that belonged to her and Minerva.
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