"Wait, what's going on?" Jiang Yan was scratching his head in confusion.
[Is it possible that your current strength is not even close to being enough to activate the Sage Art Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands?]
The system sounded like it didn't even want to speak to him anymore.
"Oh right, look at me and my big brain."
Jiang Yan snapped out of it. He had gotten carried away and actually tried to summon the giant wooden Buddha right out of the gate.
When the system integrated the Wood Release, it had already explained the usage. Releasing Wood Release didn't require hand signs; he just had to clap his hands and shout the name of the technique like the First Hokage did in the later stages of his life.
However, it required the consumption of Elemental Power.
Indeed, the system had converted the original Chakra cost of Wood Release into this world's Elemental Power.
"The wooden Buddha is definitely a no-go, so let's try this!"
Jiang Yan slammed his hands together again: "Entanglement!"
Swish, swish, swish!
Several thick vines erupted from the ground, twisting together in mid-air.
It worked!
Jiang Yan grinned.
The Wood Release granted by the system allowed him to utilize other powers related to the wood element. Furthermore, the techniques he used could devour the Elemental Power of others to replenish his own.
Although he had just obtained Wood Release, because the system had reconstructed him into a Wood Elf, he possessed an innate talent for containing and manipulating the wood element.
Even though his current form was that of a juvenile elf with limited Elemental Power capacity, he was still incredibly strong!
He played around with Wood Release on the mountain for a while before using two vines to lower himself back down to the ground.
Now! It was time to scour all of Teyvat!
Jiang Yan smiled helplessly. Sorry, future Traveler. Your chests belong to me now!
Humming a little tune, Jiang Yan began walking aimlessly in a certain direction.
By the time evening arrived, Jiang Yan reached the foot of a mountain where a Hilichurl camp was coming into view.
Oho! Work to do!
Jiang Yan rubbed his hands together excitedly. In the world of Genshin Impact, any Hilichurl camp had the potential to house a chest!
Sure enough, as he drew closer, a faint light caught his eye.
An Exquisite Chest!
"Then I'm sorry, Hilichurl-san!"
The Hilichurl standing guard on the watchtower spotted Jiang Yan and sounded the alarm. The entire camp was galvanized.
A Mitachurl wielding a massive axe charged at him, followed by four or five smaller lackeys.
Before they could even get close, the Mitachurl leaped into the air, bringing its axe down in a brutal overhead strike.
Unfazed, Jiang Yan clapped his hands together.
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
Thick wooden trunks rose and wrapped around Jiang Yan like a cocoon. The Mitachurl's axe slammed into the wood, letting out a dull, vibrating thud.
"Try this move!"
Hidden behind the Wood Locking Wall, Jiang Yan slammed his palms together again and struck the ground.
"Wood Release: Cutting Technique!"
Countless wooden spikes erupted from the earth, piercing through several Hilichurls with lightning speed.
The Mitachurl let out a pained roar as it stumbled back, its sturdy body riddled with several holes from the wooden spikes.
This time, Jiang Yan had used a bit of ingenuity. Usually, the Cutting Technique involved growing spikes from one's own arms to impale enemies, but Jiang Yan had directed the growth into the ground, causing them to erupt from beneath the Hilichurls for a surprise attack.
From the looks of it, the effect was quite good.
He slowly retracted the spikes and looked at the wavering Mitachurl.
Suddenly, an arrow of ice grazed Jiang Yan's cheek, leaving a thin trail of blood.
Behind the Mitachurl, two Hilichurl Shooters one cryo and one electro stood on a watchtower, firing elemental arrows at him. They were trying to stop Jiang Yan from approaching the Mitachurl and their home.
He reached up and wiped his cheek.
Because he possessed the power of Wood Release, Jiang Yan had automatically gained the ability of Seal-less Healing. Before he even realized it, the wound on his cheek had already closed.
"Still want to resist?"
Jiang Yan chuckled. With his silver hair and pointed ears, his appearance was incredibly adorable, but to the Hilichurls, he looked like a terrifying demon that had appeared out of nowhere.
With another clap of his hands, the battle ended with overwhelming force.
The remaining Hilichurls and the Mitachurl dissolved into black mist and sank into the ground, leaving behind two arrowheads and a horn.
Ignoring the drops, Jiang Yan walked straight to the Exquisite Chest in the center of the camp.
He gently opened it, and streaks of light surged into his body.
[Congratulations, Host, for opening an Exquisite Chest. You have obtained: Master-level Cooking.]
His brow quirked, and his eyes couldn't hide his disappointment.
"Not a great drop..."
But he could accept it. After all, having refined cooking skills was indispensable for a journey. Since he could use Wood Release to build houses, having Master-level Cooking meant his quality of life would be significantly upgraded.
"Speaking of which, haven't I reached Liyue yet?"
Jiang Yan rubbed his chin as he looked at the surrounding scenery. This landscape should definitely be within Liyue's borders...
Was his memory failing him?
Furthermore, he had been walking for a whole day. Even if the real-world map was larger than the game map, surely he should have seen at least one Statue of the Seven?
But he hadn't encountered a single one!
Could it be...
"System, what time period of Teyvat am I currently in?"
[Host, the mysteries of the world require your own exploration.]
Fine, it seemed the system had no intention of telling him. If he wasn't in the timeline of the Seven Archons' reign, then he could only be in...
The Archon War era! Or perhaps even before the Archon War!
Uh-oh, things just got a lot more dangerous.
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