Genshin Impact: Pool Character, Nirvana of the Demon God

Nasita agreed to Seno's request, lightly tapping the virtual terminal with her fingertips, her gaze calm and resolute: "Once Dixia leaves Aru Village, I will personally lead the way to rescue those missing village guardians."

After the discussion ended, the group quietly split into two groups:

Dixia led Ying and Paimon toward Kawan Station;

While Saino ostensibly stayed in the village to await orders, he had already secretly followed Naxi Da's instructions and ventured alone into the depths of the desert to track down the village guards who had been swallowed by the sandstorm.

Yellow sand swirls, and camel bells draw near.

Ying and her group followed Dixia into the territory of Kawanyi. In the distance, a towering gray-brown wall pierced the sky—the sand-proof wall, like the spine of an ancient beast, silently stretched between the desert and the oasis.

“We’re back here again…” Paimon looked up, her voice as soft as a speck of dust, yet carrying the slight tremor of a long-awaited reunion.

Dixia smiled slightly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes: "You guys are really 'old regulars' at Kawan Station."

Paimon stood on tiptoe, his gaze climbing up the towering wall, and murmured, "Every time I see it, I think... how can there be such a high wall in the world?"

Dixia paused for a moment, then whispered, "I asked that same question when I was a child. Over and over again."

Her voice grew somber: "What exactly is this wall protecting us from? Can sandstorms really be stopped by a sand-proof wall?"

Yiya, a girl born in Liyue, shook her head slightly upon hearing this, her sleeve brushing against the unsheathed short sword at her waist: "True natural disasters are never blocked by a wall."

Even the thickest layer of stone cannot stop a sudden sandstorm;

"No matter how high the wall is, it cannot cover up the desolation in people's hearts."

"What sustains a person is never external things, but the fire in their heart that has never been extinguished."

Dixia was stunned, then smiled wryly: "Tsk...you're not even as tall as my scabbard, but you talk like an old scholar from the Order of the Fathers."

“But you’re right.” She raised her hand and ran it over the rough bricks, her fingertips catching the fine sand. “No matter how strong the sand-proof wall is, it will eventually crumble; and once the sandstorm sweeps over the top of the wall, the only one who can clench their fists and grit their teeth to stand firm is themselves.”

She suddenly laughed, a dry laugh like sandpaper rubbing: "But the academy won't even give us this little chance to 'stand still'."

The wind swept through the cracks in the wall, emitting a low, mournful sound. Dixia gazed at the colossal barrier that separated heaven and earth before her, her voice low and hoarse, like a rusty blade being drawn from its sheath:

“There are gods in Mount Sumeru, but beneath the gods lies the chessboard of sages.”

"In their eyes, children of the desert are nothing more than grains of sand, livestock, or 'tools' who should bow their heads and work once a contract is signed."

"Cheap labor, easy-going arms...that's all."

She let out a long breath, as if blowing away years of pent-up frustration: "We can't even get our hands on a Void Terminal;"

"Even if you are lucky enough to get access, 99% of the knowledge applications you submit will be stamped with 'unqualified' – in the Imperial College's files, even our qualifications as 'people' must be reviewed first."

“Unless they are a once-in-a-century genius like Setale. The rest? They're born with the label 'uncultivable' written on their names… even if they know it perfectly well—”

"The blood we shed is just as warm as theirs."

She lowered her eyes, grains of sand slipping through her fingers: "When your power is systematically severed at its roots, when your questions never receive an answer, when your name doesn't even deserve to be remembered..."

"What makes a child who grew up in the desert believe that 'themselves' can be the answer?"

After a long while, she gazed at the wall and whispered, "...If I could, I would love to knock it down with my own hands."

Ying listened quietly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the hilt of the sword—not out of worry, but out of understanding.

She didn't interrupt, but instead cast her gaze at the slightly reddened corners of Dixia's eyes, silently thinking:

Don't start a fire here. Leave it there, and when the wind rises, it will spread like wildfire.

Paimon couldn't help but blurt out, "Desia! Were you... thinking about something dangerous just now?!"

“No.” She shook her head, a smile returning to her face, light as a breeze sweeping across the dunes. “Just passing by an old friend, having a few words to say.”

Ying stepped forward and stood beside her, her gaze clear and firm: "Trust Narcida and Caesar."

"When power changes hands, someone will rebuild the road under this wall—so that people can walk out with dignity."

Dixia glanced at her sideways, then finally laughed loudly and turned around deftly: "Let's go! The information in the tavern is far more intriguing than the moss on the wall."

Dixia led the group through the mottled earthen walls and wind-eroded arches of Kawan Post Station, into a tavern filled with the aroma of dates and wine and the scent of gravel.

The wooden beams drooped low, the copper lamps flickered, and the lingering sound of camel bells echoed. Her gaze, sharp as a hawk's, swept across the noisy crowd, heading straight for an old wooden table in the corner, soaked in grease.

There sat a familiar face to her, wearing a red copper bracelet on her wrist, or perhaps a drinking buddy she'd had a few drinks with: Zhaqi.

She subtly inquired about the whereabouts of the radical Red King followers by saying that "there is a big business deal that requires the help of a few trusted old friends."

Zaqi smiled, his eyes narrowing, the wine swirling in the rough earthenware cup, as if he had already prepared the answer. He lowered his voice and uttered a secret place name—an abandoned star chart observatory located deep in the desert, half-buried by shifting sands.

The group then set off, led by Zhaqi, treading through scorching heat waves and burning sand, venturing deep into the desolate, sand-swirling wilderness.

then……

Without warning, the yellow sand suddenly surged up—

Dozens of figures clad in black robes adorned with gold patterns leaped from the ridge of the sand dunes, bowstrings taut as full as a full moon, gilded arrowheads gleaming coldly in the blazing sun. The ambush had already been woven into a net.

It turns out that the mysterious disappearance of the village keeper in Aru Village had already been quietly observed by radical believers.

They lurked at the village tea stalls, under the eaves of kitchens, and even among the children playing, listening to every whisper and every pause of Dixia and Ying's group.

They learned that this group of strangers from the rainforest were following clues to find the whereabouts of the village guardians;

What enraged them even more was—

Desia, a child born in the desert, the "Blazing Lion" who should have raised the banner of the Red King, openly led outsiders and betrayed her faith.

In their distorted understanding, the village guardians were not missing, but were chosen as sacred offerings for the Red King's resurrection ceremony;

To investigate this matter is to blaspheme the divine oracle; and Dixia, who provided the clues, is the most unforgivable traitor under the Red King's sacred fire.

Even more fatally, they also intercepted a piece of "intelligence": Dixia had confessed at the tavern in Aru Village that her so-called "Blazing Mane Lion" reputation was nothing more than a hollow title bestowed upon her by her connections within the mercenary circle.

Her actual combat strength is only third-rate.

Meanwhile, the former Grand Disciplinary Officer who struck fear into the hearts of all of Sumeru—Sano—was deliberately left behind in Aru Village to "handle miscellaneous affairs."

With favorable timing, geographical advantage, and harmonious relationships, we have everything under control.

Thus began a meticulously planned scheme to trap a fish in a jar.

The yellow sands converged from all sides, and the killing intent surged like a tide.

Paimon was so startled that he floated half a foot in the air, his voice trembling: "Oh no! It's an ambush!"

Iya slowly raised his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Ah... it's an ambush." ​​His tone was as calm as if he were commenting on the approaching sandstorm.

Ying nodded quietly, the blade reflecting the blinding sunlight: "It's an ambush."

Dixia remained motionless, merely turning to stare at Zhaqi. Her amber eyes held no panic, only a chilling calm as she looked at Zhaqi: "Zhaqi, what do you mean?"

Zaqi tilted his head back and downed the last mouthful of wine, wiping the wine stains from his stubble. His sneer was like a knife: "Stop pretending, Dixia! Every word you said in Aru Village has been memorized by us brothers—"

"From the moment you stepped into the village, there have been no shortage of sentries!"

He took a step forward, shadows covering half his face: "I not only know you're looking for Deliva, but I also know that among the 'friends' you brought are scholars from the Council of the Church, and a rainforest visitor who specializes in investigating the disappearances of mad scholars!"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly noticed that Dixia's expression remained unchanged, and even a barely perceptible hint of amusement flashed across her brows—this was not the reaction one would expect from someone in dire straits.

But then I thought: With Seno gone, and Dixia herself belittling her own strength, those three girls following behind her hadn't even lit up their God's Eyes yet, and with their thin arms and legs, what was there to fear?

Behind him were more than ten elite mercenaries who had undergone rigorous training by the Gilded Brigade!

Victory is assured.

Dixia sighed softly, tapping her waist with her fingertips: "It seems... we've already stepped into your game the moment we stepped into Kawan Station."

Upon hearing this, Zhaqi became even more arrogant: "You left the strongest one in the village, right? And you're using 'business' as a pretext? Do you really think you're too clever for your own good?"

Desia crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze sharp as a blade: "So...you're one of Deliva's people?"

"Hahaha—" Zaqi burst into laughter, the sound shaking the dust off the beams. "Dixia, it's no wonder you're so out of touch with the world, always on the go! But we, who spend our days in taverns and keep our ears open to all directions, are a hundred times more united than you imagine!"

He abruptly stopped laughing, his face twisted into a ferocious grimace: "You're absolutely right about one thing! We long for chaos in Mount Sumeru! We long for the desert people to finally stand tall and crush the arrogant face of the Church!"

Dixia's gaze darkened slightly, but her voice grew even colder: "Based on my understanding of Deliva... he will never miss this grand show today."

Before the words were finished, two figures slowly emerged from the depths of the swirling yellow sand—

The leader, clad in a long black and gold robe with a red jade inlay on his forehead, was none other than Deliwa, the core leader of the radical faction; beside him, Ngur rested his hand on a scimitar, his eyes as sinister as a scorpion.

They looked around at everyone, their gaze finally settling on Dixia, their regret palpable: "What a pity... you could have become the most blazing flame of the Crimson King's Sacred Fire."

Deliva said softly, “The son of the desert should understand that the glory of the Red King far surpasses the gentle mercy of the Grass God. But you have chosen the wrong path.”

Just as Paimon was about to speak, he saw Iya suddenly draw his sword!

A fiery red longsword shot out, its tip pointing directly at Deliva's brow, gleaming brightly in the blazing sun: "Sister Deshia, isn't this enough? If we keep going, I'm afraid I won't be able to resist cutting him down first."

Her eyes flashed with a chilling light as she spoke each word clearly: "—To say that my sister is inferior to the Crimson King? No way."

With a flick of her wrist, Ying Chixiao was unsheathed with a hum, and wind elemental power spread silently. Within sight, there was no one else hiding: "There are no other auras around. The enemy is right here."

Dixia shrugged and smiled, and the Reed Sea Beacon suddenly appeared in her palm, its silver light flowing like a cascading galaxy: "You guys... you're really impatient."

She looked up, her smile turning cold: "I wanted to spend more time with you... playing a little longer."

Then, to the astonishment of the radicals, Dixia, leading two girls, one older and one younger, swept them all down with the force of an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves; they had no chance to fight back against the three of them.

Zaqi, who had been knocked to the ground, clutched his aching chest and stared at Dixia in shock, shaking his head repeatedly: "Impossible, you, how could you......"

Dixia put away her weapon and revealed a provocative smile, saying, "Still think you're well-informed, Zhaqi? What's that saying again...? As a mercenary, you always have to go out on work, so it's normal to miss information."

The words that Zazi had used to evaluate Dixia were now being returned to him by Dixia.

Ying put away her weapon and shook her head silently to the side.

She didn't know what these mercenaries were thinking.

Even if we don't know Dixia's actual combat strength, can't we see the God's Eye on Dixia's body?

How dare a group of people who don't even have the Eye of God, or even the power to control elemental forces, fight against the holder of the Eye of God?

Desia continued speaking to the mercenaries she had knocked to the ground, "I guess the person who informed you also said I was a worthless rookie, right?"

"Because what he heard was something I personally admitted."

"Of course you'll believe me. Because you people who spend all your time in taverns only know that I'm a mercenary, but you've never seen me work."

"Even when they heard that we went together to fight the monsters, they thought it was all Candice's credit, and that everyone else was just there for show."

"What Fiery Mane Lion? It's a lie! She herself admitted it; she just used her connections to gain trust and extract information."

"That's what you think, isn't it?"

Dixia looked down at Zhaqi with disdain and, in just a few words, revealed what he was thinking, directly breaking down his psychological defenses.

Zhaqi's voice trembled: "...You knew we had accomplices in the village, so you deliberately spread false information..."

Dixia shook her head and said, "Still so stupid, Zazi. When we used to drink together, I always thought that people like you who love to think they're so smart were the most pitiful."

With his hands behind his head and the flames emanating from his body gradually subsiding, Yi Ya shook his head and said, "My brother once said, 'I'm not afraid of stupid people, I'm afraid of stupid people who also love to think they're clever.'"

Dixia nodded in agreement, then walked over and kicked Zazi unconscious.

Thus, the radical Red King followers' plan to ambush the crowd was thwarted, and they were even captured by the crowd themselves.

This is truly cause for celebration! This is truly cause for celebration!