Cloud Retainer handed me a stack... A literal stack of seals that would act as portals into the Serenitea Pot. Seeing as officially the Serenitea Pot would be mine even though Lumine and I shared looks knowing it would be our home away from home at this point.
It honestly solved... Way to fucking many problems honestly. First, it let us deal with the walking nuke that was the Raiden Shogun walking around most of the time. Otherwise, it also allowed for us to deal Shenhe's pregnancy later on as she could remain in the pot later on which would remain in my spatial bag.
Which was actually kinda confusing. How could the Serenitea Pot remain in my spatial bag without exploding like other spatial bags being put inside one another?
But such thoughts weren't important as we were all sucked into the Serenitea Pot via the seals we marked to ourselves with a hint of our spiritual power.
And as I looked around I gave a soft hum as I heard the soft sounds of water rushing as it seemed that we were on the base template of a couple of attached tropical islands surrounded by a seemingly endless ocean.
"Even smells like salt water," I muttered as I took a smell and scented the fresh ocean breeze which was thankfully missing the wonderful smell of rotting fish.
"The ocean is the easiest template for One to construct rather than the enlightened mountains of Liyue or other geographic locations. Here, all One needed to do was collect enough sea water, and small islands to house whatever structures you wish to build." Cloud Retainer spoke proudly.
With her adding on. "The ocean itself is a constant system where it's being spun counter-clockwise and then clockwise alternating every week so the fish and other marine life forms are constantly being stirred to keep nutrients moving."
I looked over the large plateau above the beach where we were and taking in the large field of grass that grew atop of the plateau, I asked the obvious question. "Do we need to actually build a house here in the Serenitea Pot? Or is there something else we could do?"
"Ahhh Paimon doesn't think Jake and Lumine are engineers who can build a proper house." Paimon added helpfully.
With Lumine dryly adding. "Yes, Paimon. I am indeed not much of an engineer."
But Cloud Retainer merely made a proud 'harrumph' noise as she spoke proudly. "Normally I would say yes. You would need to have the minor spirit I have integrated into the Serenitea Pot to do the building... But seeing as I will be spending so much time here, and you will be hosting the Electro Archon here, I will build a couple of abodes that will allow us to live quite comfortably."
My lips twitched as I recalled all to fucking clearly that Shenhe didn't even know what a damned pillow was when she met me.
But hell, if someone wanted to build us a house. Who was I to refuse them? Though... It wasn't too rude to bring our own pillows and sheets when we moved in would it?
Either way I broke through the encircle of friends and hopped down the rock lined ridge leading down towards the beach and I could feel my shoes hit the edge of the sandy beach with myself bending over to kick my shoes off along with my socks.
"Jake! You don't even have a bathing suit, you can't go swimming!" Paimon yelled but I just shook my head and called out.
"Nah. I just wanted to feel the hot sand on my feet."
And boy was that the truth, the air itself was cooled via the ocean breeze that was currently gently always hitting my form. But the sun in the false sky of the Serenitea Pot was oppressive and hot making the sand itself hot to the touch.
As I walked through the sand, I looked over at Cloud Retainer and asked. "Actually, Cloud Retainer will it rain here in the Serenitea Pot?"
To which she blinked and then pushed up her green glasses before a small smile crossed her face. "I see you have noticed the sun's effects and heat. But yes Jake, the circumference of the Serenitea Pot goes out fifty miles with the ocean allowing plenty of water to build up in the false atmosphere which will bring occasional rain storms which is where we will collect fresh water that we do not bring in."
'It's a stark reminder that Cloud Retainer is all but a god, with how she has lived for thousands of years and spent much of that time tinkering with magic, engineering, and science to an extent.' I thought.
But with that, I climbed back up the rock bank with my bare feet and once I got to the top I brushed my feet clean of any sand with the thick grass before I put back on my shoes and socks. "Alrighty, so any way we can help you build houses and such Cloud Retainer?"
Cloud Retainer shifted on her hip with her looking at me and Lumine before she spoke. "Indeed, basic materials would be appreciated in all honesty. But beyond that, as Shenhe's friends... And her lover. One would appreciate it if you used my mortal name of Xianyun."
I blinked at her offering the name but Lumine said it best as she simply nodded and said. "That's fine Xianyun. So with Jake's spatial bag synched up to the Serenitea Pot, we just gotta put the materials in his spatial bag to send them here?"
To which Xianyun frowned before saying firmly. "Correct, but this is a closed environment. So do make sure to get whatever materials we need on the beach and surrounding forest of Liyue Harbor. If you bring back Inazuma materials for example the insects could unbalance the system of life here."
Fair enough. And with that we left the Serenitea Pot with us all just taking a seat at the large stone table on the small stone platform on the edge of the pond next to Xianyun's abode. Where we simply shared simple conversation, tea, and snacks we brought from Liyue to her.
It was a good time actually. And after a few hours, we decided to head on back to Liyue. As leaving Ei alone for too long... Could be a bad idea.