Seeing Nashida like this, Smith was filled with anger in addition to disappointment. How much influence had those bastards in the Order of the Church had on Nashida?
As Smith thought about the original plot, he realized that Nashida's life had been tragic.
For five hundred years after her birth, Nashida had been imprisoned. She had never truly been a real Grass God, even for a single day.
When she finally met the Traveler and chose to be brave, she encountered the Great Compassion Tree King once again.
For both Xumi and the continent of Teyvat, the Great Compassion Tree King had to be erased from the World Tree. At that point, everyone forgot about the Great Compassion Tree King, and Nashida became the true Grass God. But was Nashida still truly Nashida at that moment?
Even Nashida herself didn't know that the past of the Great Compassion Tree King had merged with hers. From that time on, Nashida and the Great Compassion Tree King were no longer separate. The two had become one.
It could even be said that the two were now the same being. Nashida was the reincarnation of the Great Compassion Tree King, but no matter how you looked at it, Nashida and the Great Compassion Tree King were both tragic figures.
In the future, Nashida would fully take on the role of the Great Compassion Tree King. Much like in the plot of the Grass Dragon King, many people complained about Nashida's recklessness and her tendency to sacrifice herself, but there was another terrifying detail to consider.
At that time, Nashida had taken out a device. She believed it to be very reliable, as it had been made by her own hands. She had confidence in her abilities, as she was the God of Wisdom. But Nashida didn't realize that the device had not been made by her. The Great Compassion Tree King wasn't her either.
"Do you want to be a real god?" Smith asked Nashida, his mind clearly working as he thought of something.
Nashida nodded repeatedly. Though she had always felt inferior, she had wanted to become an excellent god. For the past five hundred years, Nashida had been working tirelessly toward that goal.
"What about the Rock King Morax?" Smith continued, his tone thoughtful.
"Morax?" Nashida's eyes lit up with admiration. "Morax is naturally a powerful and incredibly wise god."
She had been learning from the Great Compassion Tree King, trying to emulate the divine being she had once been. But she had also studied other nations, and Liyue had undoubtedly caught her attention. Liyue was the most prosperous country in Teyvat, where nearly one-third of the continent's wealth was concentrated.
"I can take you to see Morax, let you follow him, and learn how to become an excellent god. How does that sound?" Smith offered with a calm smile.
"But can I really do it?" Nashida's confidence faltered again. Would a god like Morax ever choose to teach someone like her?
"Yes," Smith said reassuringly. "After all, I'm his partner. So, are you willing to be my partner?"
"Partner?" Nashida's expression turned tense. "What do I need to pay?"
"Let's form an alliance and cooperate," Smith said, his voice growing more serious. "The future of Teyvat will not be peaceful. The Kingdom of Winter has chosen the path of rebellion against Sky Island and will soon start a war. The Abyss is also watching Teyvat."
"We don't have much time left. You need to become an excellent god as soon as possible, rule over Xumi, and unite our forces to fight against the upcoming crisis. Without the help of the gods, Xumi won't stand a chance against those threats."
Smith's tone was firm and urgent.
After hearing this, Nashida thought for a long time before speaking again. "I don't know if this is the right path, but I'm willing to trust you. I feel an unprecedented kindness coming from you."
"Then I wish us a happy cooperation," Smith said with a smile as he patted Nashida's "prison." Instantly, the prison that had kept her locked up for over five hundred years was opened from the outside.
Nashida slowly stepped out of the prison that had trapped her for so long.
"Okay, let's go first," Smith said, taking her small hand gently. "The doctor's strongest slice might be conducting various experiments in Xumi. If we encounter him, it could get tricky. When we're stronger, we'll help you take back Xumi."
"Okay," Nashida nodded solemnly. Though she was now a Grass God, she didn't feel confident in her combat power, mainly because she didn't yet possess the Heart of God.
If she had the Heart of God, she could fight against the doctor. But she was headed to Liyue, and since the Void System still required the Heart of God to function, she would leave it in Xumi for now.
"But before we leave, we need to give the people of Xumi a little shock. At the same time, you need to announce that you're out of your cage," Smith added with a grin.
He then stepped onto the ground with one foot. In an instant, a large number of branches and vines burst forth from the earth, covering the entire Jingshan Palace. The vines broke through the palace's ceiling, tearing it apart.
"This?" Nashida was stunned. Is this how the Grass Element is used?
It was completely different from her own combat style.
Could this be the true fighting technique of the Grass Element?
"Next is it!" Smith stepped down once again, and a massive wooden man emerged beneath their feet. The figure quickly grew to a height of over thirty meters. The wooden giant swung its enormous fist and shattered the Jingshan Palace.
"Let's go!" Smith said, giving Nashida a pat on the head as she stood frozen in amazement.
"Is this the form of the Great Compassion Tree King?" Nashida asked anxiously, her eyes glued to the towering figure.
"Yes," Smith said calmly. "This is also how you will look when you grow up."
Smith held Nashida in his arms, flying toward Liyue. The appearance of the Great Compassion Tree King was only a rough outline—not the true form of the being. After all, Smith himself had never seen the Great Compassion Tree King and could only base his understanding on a concept map he had once seen.
As Smith's body transformed through divine nature, he grew increasingly comfortable with his powers. The strength at his disposal had also expanded.
"Hmm!" Nashida watched the wooden giant wreak havoc on the Jingshan Palace. A mixture of emotions swelled inside her. But at the same time, she felt a profound sense of relief. From this moment on, the sky was wide, and the birds flew freely. She was free!
Goodbye, my cage!
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