Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [368]

The scholar furrowed his brows, his gaze fixed on the evil god statue, which pulsed with ominous black light.

"Something tied to the divine, reinforced this extensively... What kind of enemy could terrify it to this extent?"

Boom!

A surge of green wind and yellow geo energy descended from above. The evil god statue erupted in black light, forming a hemispherical shield around the scholar.

As the dust settled, two young men wielding spears stood aloft in the air, their bodies surrounded by elemental energy. Their eyes were cold as they locked onto the scholar.

"Breaking through terrain obstacles right away was definitely the right call."

Gu Sanqiu's face darkened at the sight of the blood pool. "Kid, it looks like you're treating Liyue as your personal playground."

"Kid?"

The scholar smirked, tipping his hat with a gentlemanly air before bowing slightly to the two above.

"I'm not quite as young as I look."

"Die."

Xiao wasted no time with words. His jade spear, Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, hurled forward, transforming into a giant green roc as it tore through the air toward the scholar.

"I'll handle the statue," Gu Sanqiu said with a light chuckle.

Wind energy burst forth, propelling him toward the statue with extraordinary speed. White flames ignited along his spear as he struck down on the evil god statue.

Clang!

Gu Sanqiu's expression shifted. His spear collided with the statue, producing only the metallic ring of clashing steel. The force of the blow was absorbed completely, vanishing as if into a void.

Rumble...

The blood pool beneath the statue quivered. From its depths emerged grotesque creatures forged from blood, rushing toward Gu Sanqiu!

"Xiao, have you handled yours yet?"

"No. Hold on."

Xiao frowned at the unscathed scholar, his right hand gripping his spear as it returned to him with a light flick.

"The power of a god... Is this your handiwork?"

"Ah, the famed Vigilant Yaksha. To think I'd have the honor to face you one day."

The scholar licked his lips with excitement. "Let's see, then. Can knowledge amassed through study rival the legendary strength of the adepti?"

Gu Sanqiu scowled. "Xiao, do I need to call for the Medicine Furnace Hermit?"

This guy's just a lunatic—one of those insane scholars from Sumeru!

"I'm starting to see why Lisa left the Akademiya all those years ago."

Taking a deep breath, Gu Sanqiu summoned white flames, which coalesced into a suit of armor that enveloped him.

"The price of knowledge can be gold, love... or, in Sumeru's case, your very nature."

"But you shouldn't have brought this nonsense to Liyue!"

With a roar, Gu Sanqiu charged at the statue. "Kill!"

Xiao's expression hardened as he turned his focus back to the scholar.

"End this quickly."

Golden light began emanating from Xiao's body. The green roc flared its wings once more, its form turning entirely golden.

Vigilant Yaksha: Incense and Flame Form!

Boom!

Xiao leapt high, his spear poised above the scholar's head, descending in a crushing blow.

"This can't hold!"

The scholar's face twisted in panic. Glancing at the evil god statue still engaged with Gu Sanqiu, he hastily began forming hand seals.

Boom!

Gu Sanqiu's spear, now infused with white flames, pierced through the statue's head. The blood pool beneath it dried up and turned black, emitting a putrid stench.

Clang!

Meanwhile, Xiao's spear collided with the scholar's protective shield, sending ripples of elemental energy and strange vibrations outward.

Rocks jutted up from the ground. Gu Sanqiu leapt onto one of the ledges, bow and arrow now firmly in hand.

"Xiao, what's the deal with this guy? Need help?"

Xiao's spear radiated a golden glow. "He's channeling all the power he's accumulated. Breaking through will take time."

"Hahaha! It's working! It really works!"

The scholar's laughter was manic. "Even mortals can rival beings like you with the help of knowledge!"

"Knowledge isn't a barrier—it's a ladder. A path to a greater world, to ascension!"

"What are gods compared to this? Knowledge is invincible, and you're nothing but sacrifices for its sake!"

Gu Sanqiu raised a brow, nocked an arrow, and loosed it at the scholar's head, but the shield remained intact.

"Tough nut to crack, huh."

The white flames surrounding him faded, replaced by a sinister red aura fueled by an evil eye's power.

"Let's try this."

"It's pointless," the scholar sneered. "How could anyone from this stagnant nation break my defenses? This is my latest achievement!"

His laughter grew louder. "You should thank me. The Liyue lives lost here were snuffed out painlessly, without suffering."

Xiao's grip on his spear tightened, a flicker of realization crossing his eyes.

"Snuffed out painlessly?"

Suddenly, a chilling voice interrupted:

"Then why don't you die painlessly too?"

A black beam pierced the air, shattering the scholar's shield in an instant and obliterating his head into dust.

Seizing the moment, Xiao darted toward the source of the black light.

"You're not getting away!"

Gu Sanqiu blinked in confusion before glancing at the scholar's headless corpse.

If I had to guess, Xiao must've sensed something lurking nearby and baited it out instead of wasting effort on the shield.

"So I'm stuck cleaning up this mess?"

---

As Gu Sanqiu dealt with the battlefield, Xiao transformed into a golden roc, pursuing a black-clad figure fleeing ahead.

"Who are you?"

High above, hundreds of green spear projections materialized, raining down like arrows and cutting off the figure's escape.

"Heh heh heh. Who I am isn't your concern, honored Vigilant Yaksha."

The black-clad figure halted, turning to regard Xiao. His eyes lingered on the golden glow radiating from Xiao's body.

"I see... The effect of the collective will of the people. Forcing you out of karmic influence. That little one really is capable."

"State your identity. If you refuse, you won't leave this place alive."

An ominous voice joined the conversation as the Medicine Furnace Hermit materialized. A massive spectral cat loomed in the air, joining Xiao in surrounding the stranger.

"Medicine Furnace, is it?" the figure mused. "I figured you'd be watching. But can't you trust me? I just took out the guy trying to claim a god's power. Shouldn't that make us allies?"

"I don't know you. Who are you?"

Xiao's spear remained poised. Had this person seemed less malevolent, Xiao wouldn't have bothered with the act of struggling to break the shield, but now the stakes had changed.

"Why resort to constant fighting? A little peace and self-discipline would do wonders."

The figure's form began to fade. "Farewell. I have more statues to deal with, so I'll leave you to it."

"Don't even think about leaving!"

The Medicine Furnace Hermit's voice thundered as a colossal paw descended like a divine seal.

"Medicine Furnace!"

Xiao intercepted, crossing his arms to block the blow.

"Xiao, what is the meaning of this?"

Xiao's expression was complicated. "If I'm not mistaken, that line about peace and self-discipline—someone's told me that countless times before."

"Who?"

The Medicine Furnace Hermit studied Xiao's face, his expression darkening. For the Vigilant Yaksha to show this reaction...

"Gu Sheng."

Xiao uttered the name softly, and the Medicine Furnace Hermit froze in shock.

"Impossible!"

---

T/N: xiao really just got stronger thanks to our boy... xiao x gu sanqiu?

...

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