In response to Leon's words, Dan Heng secretly felt helpless.
He did not know much about his past life, and his memories were fundamentally incomplete.
Instead, it was Jing Yuan who resolved March 7th's confusion.
"In the distant era, although the Ambrosial Arbor was severed by the Reignbow Arbiter, a small portion of the curse from the Plagues Author still remained."
"To seal it, Luofu enlisted the power of the immortal dragon descendants, making it possible to tame the remnants of the Ambrosial Arbor."
"Under the presiding of the ancient High Elders, the Vidyadhara clan guided the waters of the ancient sea to flood the Scalegorge Waterscape cavern, using it as a container to seal the Ambrosial Arbor."
"To commemorate such a grand feat and sacrifice, the Xianzhou Alliance erected the Dragonvista Rain Hall in the Scalegorge Waterscape, leaving behind statues of the Vidyadhara."
Jing Yuan gazed at the statue not far ahead, his thoughts and expression both quite complex.
March 7th stared at the statue for a few seconds, then looked at Dan Heng's current appearance, her expression filled with surprise.
"This statue looks like Dan Heng..."
"Could it be—"
"The owner of the statue is... Dan Heng's brother!"
Stelle nearly choked, showing a caring look.
"It really doesn't stump you, March."
"Of course, this girl is beautiful, kind-hearted, and highly intelligent."
"You think you are?"
"I think I am."
"...But I think you have a flawless beauty."
March 7th's eyes lit up, her mouth curling into a grin from Stelle's words: "You really know how to praise..."
"A beauty unpolluted by Erudition." Stelle said with a sincere face.
"???"
"Pfft..."
Hmm?
Everyone turned in unison to a certain girl.
The pink-haired girl covered her mouth, her neck unusually turning red.
"T-T-this seat did not laugh just now, I just remembered something happy!!"
March 7th gritted her teeth in annoyance, glaring at Stelle.
If the occasion weren't wrong, her ultimate move specifically effective against Stelle would have already been unleashed.
"That was a very long time ago. If I had to say, the appearances of the High Elders across generations are indeed quite similar."
As he said this, Jing Yuan seemed to recall something and added a sentence.
"—Except for the current High Elder."
"The successor to the current Vidyadhara High Elder is just a young child who inherited the name, without inheriting all the power."
"Dan Heng, do you understand? After Dan Feng's death, there is no one among Luofu's Vidyadhara who can accomplish this."
"You who once guarded the Ambrosial Arbor... or rather, you as Dan Feng's reincarnation, should be able to open the path to the Ambrosial Arbor for us."
Jing Yuan looked toward the depths of the ancient sea, where the cavern sealing the Ambrosial Arbor was located.
"The next step depends on you, Dan Heng."
"I cannot give any guarantees." Dan Heng did not make absolute promises.
"It's fine. You can wander around the Dragonvista Rain Hall or talk with your companions."
Jing Yuan smiled, placing his palm on his shoulder.
"Time is pressing, but I cannot, and will not, rush you. I believe you can do it."
He silently added in his heart—
Just like when we fought side by side on the battlefield back then...
Dan Heng nodded lightly, watching Jing Yuan walk toward the shore.
Fu Xuan pondered for a moment and followed.
The player's first-person perspective switched to Dan Heng, and lyrical background music slowly played, catching the players off guard.
[Chinese song?]
[It's Chinese, no doubt, sounds great!]
March 7th: "You really scared me just now. I thought you got into some trouble and were caught by the general."
"I was even planning how to rescue you. After all that fuss, it turns out you two already knew each other?"
Her personality was lively, not giving Dan Heng time to respond.
"I've been wanting to ask this: why did you suddenly get off the train and come over, just like Leon?"
Dan Heng: "I was worried about your safety."
"Wow, I'm touched, but... since you two thought of the same thing, why didn't you come together?"
March didn't understand.
Stelle didn't understand either.
Welt habitually pushed up his glasses, his expression somewhat complex.
The kids didn't get it, but he did.
Leon's motives had been pure from start to finish.
In the Taizhen Pill Chamber of the Alchemy Commission, the look in his eyes when gazing at the child was that of an elder caring for the younger generation.
He didn't know how many ages Leon had existed through, nor did he care.
He only knew that such a look couldn't be faked.
As for Dan Heng, one was worry for important companions, and two was... sorrowful emotions toward Luofu.
Why the two didn't travel together was simply too obvious.
Both were thinking of the other...
Leon getting off this time definitely hadn't even told Pom-Pom, and he had already made his decision long ago.
The reason he didn't confess to everyone was fear that they would oppose it.
Welt really wanted to ask how Leon's injuries truly were. If he said recovered, he wouldn't believe it.
But even if he asked the truth now, it would only add unnecessary worry to the children.
What Welt could think of, the players didn't need to think at all.
Following Welt's line of sight toward Leon and Dan Heng, as well as their actions, everything became clear.
Just like March 7th, they were touched.
Stelle gradually understood something and was about to speak to change the topic, but unexpectedly, March 7th changed it herself first.
"With Stelle and Uncle Yang here, you two still aren't reassured?"
"Look, we've been helping all along the way, and before we know it, we're almost becoming great heroes of the Xianzhou."
"No matter what, it's really great that you came."
"Everyone pioneering together is the most important~~"
① "Oh~~ Let's form a lifelong Express Crew, everyone!"
② "Everyone pioneering together is the most important~~"
③ "♬Friends walk together through life, ♬Joyful days always continue~~"
"Hmm... still going, still repeating, still— alright, this one isn't repeating, almost had a hallucination of the pink fairy miss."
Ah Xian chose three, not expecting Stelle to actually sing those two lines.
[Haute!]
[Feels like the Express Crew could form a band and debut in the future.]
[Please, if we can't form a lifelong Express Crew with Ichikyu Ni, then wadashi...]
Welt didn't say much more, a hint of gentleness appearing on his usually unsmiling face.
"Dan Heng, you are a member of the Astral Express. Once we resolve things here, we still have to continue our journey."
"..."
Dan Heng felt a warmth in his heart.
He said nothing, but the slight nod carried a strength called determination.
His gaze turned to Leon, discovering that he had opened his eyes at some unknown point.
Leon likewise said nothing, but from Leon's eyes, he read what the latter wanted to say.
☆Receive its rain and dew, secure its soil
Use the power of the High Elder to open the path to the Ambrosial Arbor (Optional) Talk with Jing Yuan or Fu Xuan
Many players weren't in a hurry, talking to both before walking to the High Elder statue.
The Chinese lyrics became increasingly clear.
[Remake me with legends.]
[Reforge me with pain...]
Enter the plot animation.
Dan Heng floated above the sea surface, the Chongyuan Pearl in his palm emitting dazzling golden light.
Before players could react, triumphant music and lyrics suddenly blared!
[Tear apart, the carcass, liberate!]
[The thunderous roar of myriad weights!]
[Shake, the soul, stir!]
[Terrifying waves—]
The sea surface surged violently, a pillar of light shot into the sky, the seawater actually parting to both sides, revealing the world at the abyss bottom.
The shocking cutscene animation, paired with shocking background music.
Countless players shivered hard, their brains couldn't help trembling.
Even more people subconsciously let out a "holy shit."