"Now, let's talk about the Scholar Trial, which I cleared first.
"Clearly, the Dark Sands definition of a 'scholar' differs from the traditional concept. In this trial, players face a multitude of challenges. Beyond surviving imprisonment, you must refute three types of people.
"The first is represented by He Xueyi, the opportunist intellectuals. These individuals study only for power and wealth, navigating the political landscape skillfully. Outwardly, they appear clean and respectable, but it's all a means to climb the ladder. When Yang Yan was imprisoned, instead of supporting him, He Xueyi followed Emperor Wei Zhao's will to discredit Yang, hoping to spark a political shakeup that would allow him to rise.
"The second type is exemplified by corrupt officials like Wang Chong, men in power who twist logic with theories like 'saving the officials before the people,' portraying the bureaucracy as a corrupt cesspool to justify their actions, and using this twisted reasoning to corrode Yang Yan's ideals.
"The third is Emperor Wei Zhao himself. He treats the realm as his personal estate, officials as servants, and the people as livestock. His selfish desires overshadow any duty to his people, and he uses his 'Yellow River-Yangtze Theory' to maintain a balance of corruption—letting corrupt officials handle dirty work, creating power struggles to keep his rule secure.
"In the dim dungeon, seeing his battered body and the decadent officials living in luxury, holding on to one's ideals is no easy feat.
"But only by persevering, by upholding the scholar's values, can one achieve historical immortality. He Xueyi, Wang Chong, and Emperor Wei Zhao, on the other hand, will leave behind nothing but infamy.
"Dark Sands doesn't stress blind loyalty to the ruler, which would be foolish. It asks only that players stay true to their beliefs, stand with the people, and fulfill their purpose.
"As for the Warrior Trial, Zhao Haiping has shared plenty, having experienced it firsthand. I won't repeat his insights.
"And now, the heart of this video: what kind of game is Dark Sands?
"The answer is evident across all four roles: each puts the welfare of the common people and justice first.
"The Assassin kills Emperor Yan Ling, a tyrant whose actions devastate the land; "The Warrior defends the border, fending off barbaric invaders to protect people from war; "The Scholar advises Emperor Wei Zhao against his corrupt policies, aiming to prevent famine for the people; "And the Rogue slays Xue Tianba, who terrorizes his community, as the state is powerless to stop him.
"Together, these roles illustrate the essence of Dark Sands.
"Players experience history, stepping into the lives of historical figures to fulfill their missions.
"These characters and events seem to be real history, chosen based on whether the person fulfilled their duty to the people.
"So why is this game so difficult?
"Part of it is realism. With 100% realism, the enemies must be intelligent; otherwise, it wouldn't be truly authentic. Another reason is for players to appreciate the struggles these figures faced.
"Like how action games intentionally heighten difficulty to increase the satisfaction of overcoming it.
"If Dark Sands were easier, if NPCs had low AI, players would effortlessly assassinate, or easily refute Wang Chong and Emperor Wei Zhao. It wouldn't have the same impact.
"Actually, the difficulty in Dark Sands is already reduced. We have supernatural talent skills, historical knowledge to draw upon—it's practically an open-book test.
"Most importantly, we can try different strategies repeatedly. History only allowed these figures one shot.
"In conclusion, Dark Sands is a unique experience. Its emphasis on historical accuracy, high realism, and advanced AI creates a deeply immersive historical world, almost as if we're time travelers witnessing hidden pasts.
"In this sense, this game is an unprecedented masterpiece in gaming history.
"Finally, my thoughts on the title Dark Sands.
"Initially, I thought it was a play on words, like 'Assassination,' but now I see that's too simplistic.
"In literal terms, 'dark sands' refer to submerged sandbanks or coral fragments that form small islands, barely visible at low tide—like hidden reefs.
"I think this name has two meanings.
"First, if our world is an ocean, history is an island. Most of it lies beneath the surface, submerged, with only a small part remembered by us—'dark sands.'
"It's like the metaphor 'the tip of the iceberg'; most history is hidden below the surface, with only a fragment visible.
"Dark Sands starts with visible history. From there, we can trace back further to seek more ancient, obscure history—the part of the sands hidden below.
"Another meaning might be that the common people are like grains of sand. History is built not solely by rulers or heroes but by countless ordinary people. Heroes are merely the larger grains among them.
"This game is both historical and a tribute to unsung heroes who shaped it, who stood up for the people.
"As a devoted player, I eagerly await future updates. History is full of heroic tales, and the thought of experiencing them, role-playing these heroes, fills me with excitement.
"To those who haven't cleared or want to quit, I urge you to keep going. Treasure this opportunity. If inactive players lose their spots, they may regret it too late.
"I hope everyone enjoys Dark Sands, and that the developers quickly bring us new content!"
...
Du Gang finished watching, refreshed, and saw the post topping the forum, with replies skyrocketing.
It was a huge hit.
After rewatching the video a few times, Du Gang lit a cigarette, deep in thought.
"Great, I have material for my report.
"This game is clearly more complex than it seemed. The four roles aren't just skill distinctions; they represent different historical choices.
"Facing corrupt powers, Assassins strike down the king, Scholars die trying to advise, Rogues act as vigilantes, and Warriors stand firm to protect the people.
"And these roles suit different player personalities and strengths.
"This game isn't just entertainment; it's culturally profound. That's rare.
"But I still don't understand the developers' true purpose. There's so much unexplained tech behind this game.
"At least I have content for today's report. But I must find a way to contact the designers."
Du Gang stubbed out his cigarette and resumed typing.
...
At that moment, Meng Yuan was intently watching players' clear videos.
Canshang was nearby, munching on an apple.
"So, when can I learn the specifics of this historical slice?" Meng Yuan asked.
Canshang replied, "A few more hours. Once the historical slice draws closer to reality, we'll know. For now, I can confirm it's not too ancient, likely mid- to late-Da Sheng Dynasty, and not a major event.
"But we can't be complacent; even the weakest demons are troublesome for us."
Meng Yuan nodded. "Understood."
Recently, Meng Yuan had repeatedly confirmed the overlap of historical slices with reality, preparing strategies based on players' progress.
This would be the next update plan for Dark Sands.
According to Canshang, history is like a river flowing from ancient times to the present. Demons occupy ancient history and need to infiltrate in stages to reach reality.
So, even if a historical slice briefly overlaps with reality, it's a slow process. Initially, only a small part of a close-to-reality slice overlaps, allowing minimal demonic forces through—perhaps a squad of demon-controlled barbarians.
As overlap increases, demonic power entering reality grows.
Thus, Meng Yuan, as the Orderly, had two objectives.
First, to mobilize players to eradicate demons that infiltrate reality, ensuring the safety of the world.
Second, to guide players into demon-affected historical slices to correct history, expelling demons, and using these as stepping stones to reach deeper historical slices, thereby enhancing his and Canshang's powers.