Chapter 1: Genshin Role-Playing System
The Chasm.
“Primordial... Role-playing System?”
Zhuang Qi stood at the edge of The Chasm, murmuring in a daze.
He had suddenly transmigrated into the world of Genshin Impact. Before he could even process it, the mechanical voice of a system echoed in his mind.
[Yes. By role-playing characters from the Primordial world within the world of Genshin Impact and making the people of Teyvat believe in the existence of the Primordial world, the host will obtain rewards.]
“There are so many people in the Primordial world. Who am I supposed to play?”
[Selection is randomized. The host must act according to the character and persona settings drawn.]
[Synchronization Rate with the character must remain above 80%. Falling below this value for more than five seconds will result in mission failure. Upon failure, the mission ends, and no rewards will be granted...]
“???”
[Rest assured, host. Since this is your first time, there is a Newbie Reward. You may designate one character. The duration of the role-play will be randomized, followed by a one-week cooldown period.]
Every figure in the Primordial world possessed world-shaking power; in Teyvat, they would be entities of absolute suppression. In the face of such overwhelming strength, making the people believe shouldn’t be difficult at all.
And there was a Newbie Reward...
“Fine, I’ll give it a try.”
[Binding successful. The host is now bound to this system. During the role-play period, you must maintain a Synchronization Rate of at least 80%.]
[Newbie Reward: Please select your character.]
Zhuang Qi pondered for a moment. “I choose Dao Ancestor Hongjun.”
[Received... Hmm? Wait!]
The system’s steady mechanical voice suddenly sputtered like a radio with poor reception, filled with the crackle of static.
[Primordial World... Tem... Template cannot be loaded... Re... Regenerating World Template.]
[New World Template generated. Available Template: Genshin Impact.]
“Huh???” Zhuang Qi shouted. “Hey, system, what is the meaning of this? You just said we were using Primordial characters! Why did it suddenly turn into Genshin?”
[The Primordial World Template has been lost. Only the Genshin Impact Template remains.]
“Then I’m not doing it!” Zhuang Qi snapped.
Playing a Genshin character and trying to make people believe he was from another Genshin world? It was too easy to go OOC! If he messed up even a little, people would start spinning conspiracy theories and treat him like a villain. If his Synchronization Rate dropped to zero, he’d be finished.
Besides, if he ran into the real person while role-playing them, the embarrassment alone would be enough to make him want to explode!
[The host has already bound with this system. You cannot refuse the mission.]
“Isn’t this a forced sale? This was your mistake, so why do I have to bear the consequences?”
[...]
The system fell silent for a moment before continuing.
[The system will assist the host to the greatest extent possible and increase the reward frequency. Mission ratings are determined by Fame and Trust Value. Every time the host achieves an A-rank rating, they will be granted one additional reward draw.]
“Two,” Zhuang Qi bargained. “As long as I get an A-rank, I want two reward draws.”
[...Fine.]
In truth, Zhuang Qi never really intended to unbind from the system. Although the difficulty had increased now that he was role-playing Genshin characters instead of Primordial ones, as a player, he knew exactly how dangerous Teyvat could be. A defenseless ordinary person like him would either live a mediocre life or meet an early grave. Binding with the system to gain power was his best bet.
Since the system had handed him such a massive blunder on a silver platter, he wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip away.
Zhuang Qi’s lips curled into a slight smile. “Alright then. Let’s begin.”
[Newbie Reward: Please select your character.]
The first character he played in Teyvat was crucial. Ideally, it should be someone with a transcendent status, someone who could cause a massive impact and leave a lasting impression.
His first choice was one of The Seven. However, he had just started with the system and feared making a mistake. Nahida and Furina were gods constantly under the public eye; it would be too easy to slip up around them.
The best choices were either the wandering bard or the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant.
Furthermore, after the role-play ended, there was a one-week cooldown during which he had to live as himself. He needed to decide whether to start in Liyue or Mondstadt.
After thinking for a moment, he made his choice. He preferred to start in Liyue, a nation that felt both familiar and strange.
“I choose Zhongli.”
[Character Recorded: Zhongli. Affiliation: Liyue.]
[Newbie Benefits concluded. Commencing standard setting draw.]
[World Background randomized. Please choose the Liyue background from the following three options:]
Zhuang Qi was speechless. Was the system really this meticulous? He even had to draw the world background?
[With the passing of time, Liyue has become:]
[1. A place of rapid technological advancement. Skyscrapers rise everywhere, and everyone lives a modern, high-tech life.]
[2. A scorched wasteland where nothing grows. All people and things have turned to dust and ceased to exist.]
[3. Annexed by Snezhnaya and renamed Liyue City.]
[Once a world background is chosen, it cannot be changed. All future characters from Liyue must follow this setting. Please consider carefully.]
System, I swear... Zhuang Qi cursed inwardly.
Everyone knew which country Liyue corresponded to. Adding that third option was practically a thought crime. If Liyue had annexed Snezhnaya, he might have considered it, but he could rule it out immediately.
That left options one and two.
Choosing the first option would make acting much easier. Zhuang Qi came from a modern society, so every movement and habit would perfectly fit a modern person. But while that background was easy, it lacked impact. A “Modern Zhongli” appearing for a few days would be like a tourist from a parallel world. It might gain some Trust Value, but it wouldn’t help his Fame.
Only tragedy could truly shock people.
They would want to know why a thriving Liyue had fallen to such a state. They would feel the pain for the nation and weep for their familiar yet strange friends. Ultimately, the tragic Liyue of the parallel world would be engraved in their hearts. They would use it as a warning, analyzing it and discussing it. When that parallel world was remembered by everyone, his mission would be complete.
Zhuang Qi’s voice was firm. “I choose option two.”
[Received.]
[Host, please note: From now on, all Liyue characters will generate positive or negative effects based on the world background. This includes, but is not limited to, physical and mental states.]
So, he might have to play characters who were disabled or mentally unstable in the future?
Fine, fine, he thought. He was already planning to steer Liyue toward a tragic path; a few debuffs would only make things look more pitiful.
[Randomizing other settings...]
[Character: Zhongli]
[Identity: Sovereign of a Ruined Nation]
[Gender: Male]
[Mental State: 5/100 (Heart-wrenching Grief Liyue Background Debuff)]
[Physical Condition: 0.1/100 (Near Death Liyue Background Debuff)]
[Active Time: 2 days.]
[Settings finalized. Host, please improvise freely. Note that the Synchronization Rate must not fall below 80%.]
“Just a few lines of text... there’s a lot of room for improvisation,” Zhuang Qi noted. That also meant the difficulty would be significantly higher.
[Host, please prepare. Commencing character transformation...]
