Genshin Impact: The God Incarnate

For several years, Morax did not see any sign of Vorthis, who remained in his room, deep in cultivation.

Eventually, Morax came to fully believe that Vorthis was indeed earnestly focusing on improving his strength.

If Brother Zennos was so dedicated, what excuse did Morax have to slow down his own progress?

With this motivation, Morax tirelessly traveled between Jueyun Karst and the Guizhong region.

At his current level, further improvement in combat techniques and experience alone could no longer enhance his power as a God.

However, the wisdom held by the adepti of Jueyun Karst and Guizhong was itself a form of strength—albeit expressed in a more refined manner.

Beyond this, Morax sought ways to improve his abilities.

It wasn't as though he could visit the domains of other powerful Gods and challenge them to duels.

He had no prior connections with these Gods, and arriving uninvited for such challenges would likely be seen as provocation.

Moreover, this was not in Morax's nature.

As time passed, a decade slipped by in the blink of an eye.

For Gods, ten years were fleeting, but for mortals, this span of time brought countless changes.

Take Liyue, for instance. After absorbing Guizhong's wisdom, Morax established dedicated administrative institutions, each fulfilling their roles to maintain the city's operations.

The first iteration of Liyue's legal code had also been implemented throughout its territories, greatly reducing conflicts among the people.

On Liyue's bustling main streets, vendors enthusiastically hawked their goods. The thoroughfares were crowded with people, their chatter creating a vibrant symphony.

It was said that anything could be purchased on this street using Mora.

Liyue's prosperity was deeply rooted in its robust foundational infrastructure.

The entire valley encircled by mountains had been cultivated with abundant crops, forming the bedrock of Liyue's thriving economy.

No matter how prosperous a city, without a stable food supply, it would crumble like a house of cards, leaving behind only ruins and desperate survivors.

Thus, ensuring the cultivation of crops across all of Liyue's land had become a paramount concern.

However, even amid prosperity, an unavoidable issue began to emerge.

Liyue's geographical terrain limited its growth.

The city's expansion had come to a halt, and the expansion of farmland was also constrained by the surrounding mountains.

After a decade of development, Liyue had reached the limits of its available land.

Currently, the crops grown within Liyue's territory were sufficient to sustain its population.

But what about the future?

As Liyue's prosperity attracted more refugees from nearby God domains and settlements, its population steadily increased.

This growth placed a heavier burden on the available farmland, which remained unchanged in size.

If this trend continued, a food shortage would be inevitable.

People would starve.

Morax was among the first to recognize this issue. As a result, he had begun limiting the acceptance of refugees into Liyue.

Yet he understood that rejecting refugees was not a perfect solution.

The underlying problem remained unresolved.

But solving this issue...

It was far from simple.

As the God of Geo, Morax could easily move mountains to create new connections between Liyue and the outside world.

However, doing so would strip Liyue of its natural mountain barriers, exposing it to external threats from feral beasts and malevolent entities.

To such predators, Liyue, in its current state of prosperity, was an irresistible prize.

Though Morax could effortlessly fend off these threats, their unpredictability made them difficult to guard against. No one could predict when such dangers might strike.

This would place the people under constant stress, disrupt Liyue's peace, and necessitate guarding vast tracts of farmland.

Moreover, the unclaimed lands beyond the mountains acted as buffer zones between the territories of rival Gods.

If Morax expanded Liyue's territory into these areas, it would bring Liyue into direct contact with other Gods' domains, potentially sparking territorial disputes.

Given Morax's nature, he would never initiate a war for territorial expansion.

He had no desire to vie for supremacy.

Thus, even after all this time, Morax had yet to find a viable solution.

Inside Vorthis's room, ten years had quietly passed.

At last, he emerged from his meditative state, satisfied.

Vorthis slowly opened his eyes. To him, these ten years felt as brief as a single restful night.

Like waking up at dawn after a long sleep, he felt no sense of the decade's passage.

"So, it's been ten years already?" Vorthis murmured.

He glanced at the timer he had prepared beforehand, which confirmed the time elapsed—slightly over ten years.

Standing up, Vorthis stretched his body.

He felt no discomfort, only a profound sense of rejuvenation.

Looking at his palm, a sphere of manifestation energy appeared within it.

Vorthis carefully sensed the power surging within him.

Compared to before, his strength had grown by approximately one-quarter over the decade.

To think that just ten years could bring such a significant increase in power.

What would happen after a thousand years? How strong could he become then?

"Looks like this bargain-tier manifestation power wasn't such a dud after all," he mused, chuckling softly.

With a wave, Vorthis lifted the restrictions within his room and opened the door.

It was his first time stepping outside in ten years. While the layout of his surroundings remained largely unchanged, the vegetation appeared far more lush and vibrant.

"Morax?"

No sooner had Vorthis exited his room than Morax appeared, striding toward him.

"Zennos, you're out of seclusion? How was it? Did your strength improve as planned?" Morax asked.

Hearing movement from Vorthis's room, Morax had hurried over just in time to see him step outside.

While Vorthis had taken his time in seclusion, Morax had been busy managing the countless affairs of Liyue.