The coal vein that Ganyu discovered was, in a word, impressive.
The deposits sprawled across the ground, walls, and even the ceiling, covering an area of nearly thirty square ters. If mined thoroughly, it could yield at least a stack and a half of coal blocks.
This was already a lucrative find, but Ryen's interest wasn't solely in the coal itself. What truly mattered to him was the experience points gained from mining.
For Ryen, experience points were a precious resource, essential for enchanting weapons and armor in the future. Once his katana system activated, even smithing would require them. Starting to stockpile XP now would pay off imnsely later.
"We did it! Finally, we've found coal!" Keqing exclaid, a smile breaking across her face as the weight of their earlier frustration lifted.
She examined the surrounding coal veins, nodding approvingly.
"Though there's not much, it looks like high-quality coal. Liyue Harbor has a high demand for coal, too."
Her eyes sparkled with newfound ideas.
"And if we think about regions like Snezhnaya, with its bitterly cold climate, the demand for coal there must be enormous. If we could stabilize mining operations in this world…"
Keqing thoughtfully tapped her chin.
"This could lead to a lucrative, long-term trade agreent. We might even use coal exports to gain leverage over the Fatui."
Ryen chuckled quietly, not bothering to explain further.
Was there really so little coal here? It certainly seed that way on the surface. But…
Did Minecraft ever make logical sense? Absolutely not!
A single cubic ter of coal block in this world weighed an estimated 1.5 tons and required nine pieces of coal to craft. This ant that one piece of coal weighed roughly 167 kilograms.
Even the smallest coal vein could produce at least one piece of coal per block, often more with a Fortune-enchanted pickaxe.
So, this seemingly modest coal deposit spread across thirty square ters? Once mined, Ryen estimated it could yield well over ten tons of coal.
Was this considered a high output? Ryen wasn't sure, but it was undoubtedly absurd enough to boggle the mind.
And that wasn't even factoring in the possibility of additional coal deposits hidden beneath the visible ones. Coal, after all, was one of the most plentiful resources in this world.
Ryen decided not to explain these details just yet. He wanted Keqing to experience firsthand just how ridiculous the Minecraft universe could be once she started mining.
He casually placed three more torches to brighten the area, then retrieved his wooden pickaxe.
"Watch closely," he said, his tone serious. "Mining requires technique. There's always the risk of lava beneath the blocks, and while we're not deep enough for it to be likely, it's best to stay cautious."
He glanced back at them.
"If you mine recklessly and suddenly expose a drop into a monster-infested cavern, you're in for a world of trouble."
Keqing and Ganyu nodded earnestly, their eyes sharp and focused as they observed Ryen's every move.
Ryen gripped his wooden pickaxe firmly, confirming that he was standing on solid stone before striking the coal block in front of him.
To Keqing and Ganyu, it didn't seem like he worked on it for very long—just a few swift swings—and suddenly, the coal block burst apart, scattering pitch-black pieces of coal onto the ground.
What they couldn't see, however, was the subtle green orbs of experience drifting into Ryen's body after each mined block.
As the two watched in awe, Ryen's enthusiasm grew with each strike. He worked quickly and efficiently, the rhythmic sound of his pickaxe echoing through the cave.
Before long, the wooden pickaxe in his hands broke apart, its durability fully depleted.
Only then did Ryen pause, clicking his tongue in mild disappointnt as he reined in his excitent.
He surveyed his work with satisfaction. Half of the coal vein had been mined, and as expected, there were still plenty of deposits hidden beneath the surface.
However, Ryen decided to leave the rest untouched for now.
Turning around, he gestured for Keqing and Ganyu to step forward.
"Did you learn the technique?"
The two stood there, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, nodding chanically.
Ryen smiled, pleased.
"Since you've learned it, give it a try yourselves," Ryen encouraged. "I'll keep watch while you two mine. With coal secured, we've temporarily solved the energy issue. I'll make so torches and then craft you both a set of stone tools."
Keqing blinked, seemingly just processing everything that had happened. She stepped forward quickly, her face filled with amazent.
"Wait… mining is this simple?"
Her golden eyes scanned the coal scattered around.
"A wooden pickaxe, just a few swings, and it breaks open to reveal high-quality coal? And it doesn't even need refining afterward?"
"This… this is incredible! Ryen, your world is amazing!" Keqing's words ca in an excited rush, her voice tinged with disbelief and awe.
"Thank you so much for inviting us here! This ans so much for Liyue. Truly, Ryen, thank you!"
Keqing's excitent bubbled over, and she seed unable to stop thanking him. Ryen couldn't help but chuckle. Raising his hand, he ruffled her head affectionately, his fingers tousling the silky strands of her lavender hair.
"It's no big deal," he replied casually. "On a personal level, we're friends. On a practical level, it's mutually beneficial."
"Right! We're friends!" Keqing said, nodding vigorously. "And Liyue will always be your friend, too!"
Ryen waved her off, smiling as he stepped aside.
"Alright, go ahead and start mining. Just rember everything I told you earlier."
This ti, Keqing didn't hesitate. With a bright grin, she hefted the pickaxe over her shoulder and eagerly approached the coal vein.
Watching her enthusiasm, Ryen felt fortunate to have brought Keqing and Ganyu along. Neither of them ever complained about hard or dirty work, a trait he greatly admired.
While keeping an eye on them, Ryen busied himself with crafting torches. Simultaneously, he monitored their progress as they worked.
Though both girls had picked up the basics, their mining pace was noticeably slower than his. It wasn't a lack of skill but rather a matter of physical strength. While Ryen could break a block in three swings, Keqing and Ganyu needed over ten.
Thankfully, the durability of tools in this world depended on the number of blocks mined, not the number of swings.
What surprised Ryen, though, was the green orbs of experience that floated toward them as they mined. Half of the XP orbs went into his body, while the other half seed to absorb into the Vision crystals on Keqing and Ganyu's waists.
"Does this count as leveling up through mining?" Ryen wondered aloud.
He quickly dismissed the thought. Keqing and Ganyu didn't seem to notice the XP, likely because the amount was too small to make a difference.
Soon, Ryen had crafted three stacks of torches. He planned to use two stacks to light up the cave, ensuring no monsters would spawn in the dark. Safety first! That was his mantra in this unpredictable world.
With the torches done, Ryen turned his attention to the remaining coal. There was still a good amount left, so he decided to gather so stone instead.
He worked efficiently, and before Keqing and Ganyu even noticed, he had set up a crafting table and three furnaces.
Three furnaces? That's practically minimal.
Any seasoned miner would have built seven or eight, maybe even more, for slting ores. But since they hadn't found iron yet and only needed to cook at, three would suffice for now.
Once everything was set, Ryen began crafting stone tools. In no ti, he had made three stone swords and nine stone pickaxes.
"That should do it," he muttered, glancing at his work. Today's focus was mining, so there was no need to waste materials on other tools.
Just as he finished tallying up his creations, a sudden gasp echoed from behind him.
"Ganyu?" Ryen's expression shifted instantly. He grabbed one of the stone swords and dashed toward her. Pulling her behind him in a protective gesture, he scanned their surroundings with sharp eyes.
"What's wrong, Ganyu?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with concern.
Ganyu, though startled, seed touched by his protectiveness. Her heart ward, and a soft blush crept onto her cheeks. But she quickly shook her head, her face slightly dusty and smudged like a little kitten.
"N-no, no! There's no enemy!"
Keqing, who had rushed over in alarm, sighed in relief. Still, she gave Ganyu a mildly exasperated look.
"Ganyu, don't scare us like that! It's already creepy enough in this dark cave."
"Sorry," Ganyu mumbled, nodding sheepishly.
Ryen relaxed slightly but tilted his head curiously. "What happened?"
Only then did Ganyu seem to rember what had startled her. Her eyes widened in amazent as she held up a chunk of coal in both hands.
"Ryen! This piece of coal—it's so heavy!" she exclaid, her tone filled with wonder.
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