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******
Above the Scalegorge Waterscape.
Hidden beneath his white hair, Jing Yuan's eyes suddenly gleamed with intense excitement!
Unable to contain himself, he clapped his hands fervently, his delight evident on his face.
"Excellent!"
"Yanqing, well done."
"This self-created technique truly showcases a stroke of brilliance!"
Jingliu let out a cold snort and shot Jing Yuan a dismissive glance, conveying a clear message:
Is your disciple's move really self-created? Didn't it merely stem from inspiration drawn from my sword intent?
However, considering the current turn of events—
First, Yanqing had been tempered during their journey together, losing some of his initial audacity. Now, facing both Blade and Imbibitor Lunae simultaneously at such a young age, achieving this level was indeed commendable.
At such a young age, achieving this level was indeed commendable.
"This child... truly possesses remarkable potential," Jingliu remarked.
On the side, Dan Heng and Blade's expressions looked somewhat uneasy.
This plot twist seemed off!
Shouldn't it have been a direct battle between them? Where's the promised life-or-death struggle?! What about the agreed-upon repayment of consequences?!
Instead, they found themselves fighting alongside each other as teammates!
And against this youthful newcomer, no less?
It felt utterly absurd!
"The skill design is... indeed impressive." Dan Heng shifted his focus to examining his own skills within the game.
In this new stance, the skill's effects dramatically differed from before, showcasing a significant infusion of High Elder's power!
Turbulent waves and water dragons—these elements precisely represented the forces he commanded.
Even Dan Heng had to admit:
Feathered Spirit's recreation was remarkably accurate!
Suddenly, Dan Heng's gaze intensified.
"It can be further strengthened?"
"By consuming three skill points for three consecutive upgrades?"
"That wasn't its strongest form yet?"
Feathered Spirit...
Don't you understand this power far too well? Better than I do myself, perhaps?
In the live stream, following the prompt, Little Gui tapped to enhance his Skill three consecutive times.
Building upon the second enhancement that created a swirling vortex beneath his feet, coiling dragon tails now appeared around him. His aura intensified dramatically, causing both his clothing and long hair to billow wildly!
"I had hoped to avoid escalating conflict, but it seems I have no choice... My apologies."
[Activating [Coiled Radiant Leap]]
Little Gui's mouth dropped open in astonishment!
"Those effects?"
"Just activating this state looks incredibly badass!"
"Using three skill points to enhance Basic ATK thrice—such a creative design for a skill!"
With a swift flick of his finger downward, Dan Heng smirked coldly and hurled a black-and-white jade bead towards the enemy.
A water dragon surged forth from beneath their feet, relentlessly attacking.
Then, Yinyue pointed upwards toward the sky!
The water dragon soared, transforming into a towering waterspout amidst surging waves all around!
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Damage numbers continuously popped up.
The total damage displayed in the top right corner read:
58,936!
Guinaifen was utterly astounded, taking several moments to regain her composure before exclaiming, "That's absolutely breathtaking! Even your basic attacks get special effects, Yinyue!"
"And isn't that damage a bit excessive? It dealt at least seven segments of continuous harm, right?!"
Viewers in the live stream were equally stunned by this spectacle.
"It's actually possible to summon a water dragon!"
"Ahhh, Imbibitor Lunae is unbelievably cool! Aaaaaah..."
"Even his enhanced basic attacks look amazing—can't wait for the ultimate ability visuals!"
"The effects and damage are seriously mind-blowing!"
"The DMG is high, but it costs three skill points, so I guess it's fair."
"Feathered Spirit, how can you do this to Seele players?!?"
"Haven't you considered Seele's feelings?"
"What about Electric Welder Seele now? She's outshone!"
"So exaggerated! Compared to Yinyue's effects, Seele feels like she's from prehistoric times."
After Blade's and Yinyue Danheng's skill effects were revealed,
players on the forums quickly created compilation videos showcasing their abilities.
These clips were then specifically compared against Seele's visual effects.
A corresponding video thread was posted on the Honkai: Star Rail forum:
Can we spare some VFX for Yinyue and Blade, please? :(?
Upon its release, this thread resonated with numerous players instantly, rapidly gaining popularity.
Below the post, gamers engaged in heated discussions about Seele's special effects!
"The new characters' effects are way too flashy—poor Seele feels like she's from the Stone Age now (sob)."
"Keep in mind, these two haven't even unlocked their ultimate abilities yet!"
"As everyone knows, Seele is part of Belobog Lower City's Wildfire group. Basic visuals seem fitting, right?"
"I drew Seele when her card pool first opened. The moment I saw her head charging towards me, it genuinely gave me a scare."
"I stayed up late playing the Simulated Universe last night, and my roommate thought I was throwing a rave party in our dorm."
"What's wrong with Seele's effects?! When I used her at work, my boss assumed I was welding and kindly bought me a welder's mask!"
"You guys just don't understand Seele. The Feathered Spirit team designs ultimate abilities based on each character's personality. Seele is straightforward and efficient; naturally, her ultimate wouldn't be overly flashy!"
"Stop reading those comments, Seele—it's all negativity."
Meanwhile, in Belobog.
Aventurine and Topaz were seated inside Qlipoth Fort. After learning they were representatives from the Interastral Peace Corporation, Bronya had arranged for them to rest here.
They had agreed to discuss Belobog's debt repayment later that day.
Casually picking up the tea on the table, Aventurine took a sip and remarked, "Seems like those old fogies at the company have been keeping close tabs on Honkai: Star Rail..."
"At first, Jarilo-VI was merely seen as a remote planet with little potential. Now it's escalated to a strategically valuable target of utmost importance."
"So much so that they're willing to send both of us together to ensure its capture without any hiccups."
Topaz squeezed Numby's rear and glanced sidelong at Aventurine. "Don't flatter yourself too much," he said slyly beneath his sunglasses. "Sure, we're officially here to verify if Sampo is a developer, but aren't you really after your own slice of the pie?"
"I almost feel embarrassed pointing it out." His eyes gleamed mischievously.
Clearly, Topaz hit the nail on the head.
In the Lower City, outside Natasha's Clinic...
Sampo was animatedly explaining to the two women before him with vivid enthusiasm.
"You can't sell it!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Eldest Sister Natasha! Miss Seele!"
"This thing you're holding, which lets you send messages and connect with others—it also allows you to surf the web and play games with players from across the universe!"
"The game called Honkai: Star Rail has already taken the entire galaxy by storm."
"Our planet plays a crucial role in its storyline!"
"Sis, you must warn the Wildfire brothers—under no circumstances should we agree to the company's acquisition proposal!"
"Miss Seele, hurry and persuade Bronya; she mustn't sign that agreement, no matter what!"
"That bunch of corporate scum is trying to take advantage of our lack of knowledge about this game, hoping to force us into signing their deal!"
"We'd be making a massive mistake for our future!"
Witnessing Sampo's intense excitement, Natasha and Seele fell silent for a moment.
Curious, Seele gazed at the Astral Express displayed on the screen and hesitantly asked, "Sampo, are you up to your tricks again, trying to deceive us?"
"I'm not lying!"
"Every word is true, absolutely genuine!"
"If you don't believe me, check out this post. Look at how many people are following it in the game's forum!"
They entered the forum.
Seele skimmed through briefly.
Indeed, each post had a high number of views, often reaching several hundred thousand. The top threads were even more popular, with nearly a million views each!
"Are there really that many players?"
"Huh?! This thread's content...?!"
Seele suddenly shot Sampo a murderous glare.
"Welder, Primitive Man, Seele's Headbutt...?!"
"Sampo!"
"What does this mean?!"
Taken aback, Sampo hastily explained:
"Miss Shey, you can't blame me for this!"
"It's all on the developer Feathered Spirit!"
"He made your skills look like this!"
Kafka, who had been observing the battle from afar, stepped into the center of the battlefield.
"All right, everyone, [Hear Me Out]: cease your fighting."
Dan Heng and Blade were taken aback, their expressions instantly changing.
Blade's face, initially filled with excitement, transformed abruptly after Kafka spoke, as if a dog enjoying its playtime was suddenly called back by its owner...
"What did you just do?" Dan Heng demanded.
"Just some preparations to welcome a distinguished guest—after all, we can't have such a venerable Luofu General witnessing my Bladie making a spectacle with you two," Kafka replied.
As his words trailed off, a hearty laughter echoed through the scene.
Jing Yuan approached at a leisurely pace.
"Jing Yuan!" Guinaifen blurted out, her heart immediately settling upon seeing him. At least now she wouldn't need to worry about Yanqing facing dire consequences here.
In this Xianzhou storyline, Jing Yuan truly seemed omnipresent! And this time, it wasn't just his holographic projection—it was the real deal himself!
What would happen next? Would there be a fierce confrontation or tense standoff? Only time would tell!
Jing Yuan's gaze fell on Dan Heng and Blade, slightly lowering his eyes.
"You both return to Xianzhou after a long absence, only for it to be under such awkward circumstances. If reminiscing our past friendship, you should have informed me earlier."
"My task is complete." Blade reverted to his emotionless demeanor.
"Hm, indeed, it's finished."
Jing Yuan then turned to Kafka and said, "I appreciate your assistance with this small matter for Xianzhou. Take him away; this time, I'll pretend I didn't see anything."
Kafka did not respond further.
Blade lowered his head, seeming hesitant for a moment before ultimately following Kafka out of sight.
Guinaifen immediately pointed at the screen, incredulously asking, "Just like that, they're gone?"
"And did you notice Jing Yuan's brief expression just now? It seemed tinged with sadness and nostalgia."
"The Stellaron Hunter doesn't seem like an irreconcilable enemy or even purely evil... Wait, am I getting brainwashed?"
"Jing Yuan knows Blade and Dan Heng too?"
"If Dan Heng is indeed the previous High Elder Imbibitor Lunae, then Jing Yuan should definitely know him. They were part of the 'High-Cloud Quintet'!"
"What's this 'High-Cloud Quintet'? Can someone enlighten us non-Xianzhou players?"
"And what exactly happened during the Moon-Shot Rebellion?! So curious!"
"I can't explain it fully, but the upcoming game storyline will surely clarify things. Trust Feathered Spirit!"
The Stellaron Hunters withdrew.
This battle had erupted abruptly and concluded just as swiftly.
Only Jing Yuan, Yanqing, and Dan Heng remained at the scene.
"It's been a long time, old friend."
However, Dan Heng replied coldly, "I am not him."
"Hm... My apologies."
With that, Dan Heng prepared to leave as well.
"You can't go yet, because your train companions are waiting for you within the Scalegorge Waterscape. Let's go see them together."
At this point, Guinaifen and many viewers were once again puzzled.
Hadn't it already been established earlier that Dan Heng was indeed the Vidyadhara High Elder—the Imbibitor Lunae? Even now, he maintained that appearance. So how could Dan Heng claim he is not "[him]"?
"Could it be true, as Blade suggested, that Dan Heng thinks changing his identity and name makes him a different person?"
"No way, how could Dan Heng act so scummy!"
"The Vidyadhara clan undergoes rebirth through the samsara cycle... Is there a possibility that Dan Heng is actually Yinyue's reincarnation in the next life?"
"Woah? The Xianzhou Vidyadhara are that powerful! They can even reincarnate?"
"As descendants of the imperishable Aeon [Dragon], they nearly achieve eternal immortality..."
"Huh?"
"O great one, please enlighten us more!"
"These are secrets of the Vidyadhara; I don't know much myself. However, the High Elder might have special circumstances. I'm not certain if Dan Heng truly counts as Imbibitor Lunae now."
"Let's continue watching the plot unfold. Jing Yuan's attitude towards Dan Heng should give us clues! The General surely understands this better than we do!"
The scene shifted.
Under the guidance of several Cloud Knights, Jing Yuan and Dan Heng arrived at another location.
Jing Yuan sighed, "The ancient Bo Yue Sea, a realm of extraordinary beauty." He continued, "This Scalegorge Waterscape remains unchanged since my last visit."
"Yet, you and I standing here now are different from before," he added. "It's evident that even eternal life beings, with their imperishable bodies, cannot match the endurance of heaven and earth."
Dan Heng responded, "General, you should be aware of the Vidyadhara's nature regarding samsara and rebirth. The waters of the ancient sea have cleansed all of Dan Feng's sins. The person who once stood beside you here is no more."
"I am Dan Heng. Whether Dan Feng was a hero or a sinner holds no relevance to me now."
"I have already borne his punishment, enduring perpetual exile—without any complaints. However, General, when you look upon me, please cast aside the shadows of the past."
Little Gui and everyone across the web watched this exchange attentively.
After all, it touched upon the mystery surrounding Dan Heng's origins!
"Ah, dredging up past matters is like stirring murky waters, only inviting discomfort," Jing Yuan said. "Perhaps it's your appearance... Perhaps those dragon horns, bearing a faint resemblance to the High Elder's aura—it inevitably leads me to associate you with my old acquaintance."
Dan Heng sighed helplessly. "I've already told you—"
"Yes, you have, but so what?"
"If merely uttering a few words could change someone's perception, there would be far fewer conflicts in this world. If you wish for me to no longer see you as Dan Feng, very well—but first, do something for me.
"Assume Dan Feng's identity and grant me one final favor. Once this matter concludes, I will allow him to truly pass away and rescind your exile order. From then on, I can assure you that at least within Luofu, you will no longer be anyone's shadow."
"What Dan Feng could accomplish may not necessarily be within my reach," Dan Heng replied.
A rare hint of irritation flickered across Jing Yuan's expression.
"You must succeed; otherwise, none of these promises hold true. Blame should fall upon your previous self—if he hadn't committed such a despicable act, if the power of transformation had been fully passed down, I wouldn't need to coerce you."
"This conversation is packed with so much information..."
"From Jing Yuan's words, it's clear that Imbibitor Lunae was indeed Dan Heng's past life!"
"What exactly does '[that abominable deed]' refer to?"
"It's likely the Moon-Drinking Rebellion."
"I don't know the specifics of what happened during the Moon-Drinking Rebellion, but I do know it resulted in severe casualties and grave consequences."
Guinaifen scratched her head, feeling like her CPU was about to overheat.
"Just what did High Elder Dan Feng do back then?"
"And what is this Dragon Transformation Legacy?"
As they approached the site of battle remnants and began investigating, unexpectedly, additional dialogue triggered, resolving a significant portion of Guinaifen's confusion!
Jing Yuan said, "Did you know? When Dan Feng committed grave sins, the Ten-Lords Commission strongly advocated for your destruction. Among Jikokuten's followers, half agreed while the other half opposed it."
"Heh heh, because the Dragon Transformation Legacy remained only partially completed. The elders despised you intensely but dared not kill you outright."
"To appease both the Ten-Lords Commission and the Sky-Faring Commission under mounting pressure, they proceeded with the Forced Scale Removal technique on Dan Feng."
"However, they intentionally left a flaw, thinking they could deceive the Ten-Lords Commission. Humph, quite the clever plan, but secrets cannot be hidden forever..."
Upon reading this, Guinaifen let out an enlightened, "Oh~."
It all made sense now.
From Dan Heng's perspective, things were becoming clearer. However, the exact events of the Moon-Drinking Rebellion still remained shrouded in mystery.
Nevertheless, she had learned about Dan Heng's past—the fact that Dan Heng remains the same Dan Heng, a member of the Astral Express Crew.
That alone was enough.
The next step:
Head towards the Dragonvista Rain Hall!
To reunite with the rest of the Astral Express Crew!
"We can already see Little March and the others!"
"Heh heh, Dan Heng's new appearance will definitely give them quite a surprise!"
"Didn't see this coming, did you? After being stabbed, I evolved from Four Stars to Limited-Time Five Stars!"
During this weekend you can get a discount when becoming a member on Patreon. Become a member today!
Use code: BLACKFRIDAY24
To receive a 70% discount.
Patreon.com/ThatGreatStuff
******
In Scalegorge Waterscape, aboard the ship,
Jing Yuan and Dan Heng watched the unfolding game scenario before them, both lost in deep thought.
Indeed, without the existence of the "Honkai: Star Rail" game, this would have been their initial encounter. In that version, Dan Heng vehemently denied being Imbibitor Lunae, while Blade remained largely uninvolved throughout the scene. After forcing Dan Heng's transformation into his Jikokuten form, Blade silently departed with Kafka.
Their interactions were brief, limited to fleeting moments on the same screen.
But now, here they were—sharing the same ship peacefully, even watching videos together without conflict.
This reality seemed somewhat more harmonious than the game's storyline, Jing Yuan mused.
With a soft thud, the ship gently bumped against something.
"We've arrived," Jingliu announced, promptly jumping ashore.
Blade followed closely behind.
Jing Yuan and Dan Heng exchanged glances. Seizing this brief moment alone, Jing Yuan spoke up, "As per the game's plot—you'll help me one last time as Dan Feng. From then on, I will rescind your exile order and no longer view you as anyone's shadow."
Dan Heng opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something. Eventually, it condensed into two words: "Thank you."
The ship behind them also docked at the shore. The Astral Express Crew, Stellaron Hunters, Yanqing, and Luocha disembarked one by one, quickly filling the shoreline with a large group of people.
Silver Wolf observed, "Why are there so many here?"
"I don't recall this many people arriving before."
"Oh, my mistake—it's reality, not following the game's storyline."
March 7th approached Silver Wolf curiously and asked, "Why haven't you continued challenging the Forgotten Hall? I've been waiting for your guide after completing it!"
A hint of displeasure flashed across Silver Wolf's face. With arms crossed, they replied, "Initially, we thought we had succeeded, but then we realized that what we're currently facing is just the normal version of the Forgotten Hall."
"Only by clearing the normal version can you unlock the higher difficulty level—called... 'Chaotic Memories'!"
"The monsters' strength here is on a completely different level compared to the regular 'Recollection' instance."
"And it periodically refreshes rewards too."
"It's clearly Feathered Spirit's design for the highest difficulty dungeon."
"With the current progression of player characters, passing this challenge is impossible!"
Upon hearing Silver Wolf's words, March 7th displayed a surprised expression.
She shook her head and said, "If even you can't defeat it, then there's no chance for me either."
"Hmph, give me three more days. Once I finish training my second team, we'll definitely succeed!"
Kafka smiled and remarked, "Now, we're about to face real-world adversaries."
"Heh, how intriguing! This is our first time acting together with such a large group."
Behind them, Stelle held her phone, still watching the live stream.
The current scene in Little Gui's broadcast had just reached this point as well.
Ahead lay the Dragonvista Rain Hall, with the statue of the High Elder standing quietly within.
"The plot has progressed to this stage already..." Stelle murmured to herself.
"However, there are significant differences between reality and the game. Kafka, Silver Wolf, Luocha... these individuals weren't supposed to be here."
As everyone gradually approached the statue, each harboring their own thoughts while observing their surroundings, a majestic female voice echoed throughout the area.
"Heh, so finally someone arrived at this heavenly abode..."
The voice reverberated, resonating deeply within one's heart.
Of course, this effect was intended for ordinary people. But were any of those present truly ordinary? Consequently, not a single individual displayed surprise or shock. Instead, they all focused intently on the turbulent sea before them.
Some eyes blazed like torches, others wore smiles, and some radiated murderous intent.
The voice continued, "You've certainly wasted no time, haven't you?"
"I suppose that game provided ample insights for you, hmm?"
"Heh heh..."
"But don't rush; I'm not yet fully prepared."
"Please take this time to prepare well and write your...last words."
Jing Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Phantylia..."
March 7th defiantly placed her hands on her hips. "This gal is way too full of herself!"
"Does she even know who all has arrived here?" Old Yang asked.
"I believe Phantylia can only sense that someone entered this heavenly realm but doesn't specifically know who," Old Yang replied. "Otherwise, I doubt she'd be so composed."
"Uncle Yang makes a valid point." March 7th pinched the soft flesh under her chin thoughtfully.
"So now, do we just stand here idly? Waiting for Phantylia to show up?"
Pointing towards Dan Heng near the statue, Old Yang said, "Over there... It seems Dan Heng is preparing to create a path out."
Upon hearing this, Silver Wolf discreetly tapped his wrist, releasing an invisible filming drone. A corner of his mouth curved upwards with intrigue.
"The game likely won't capture the upcoming sea-parting event live; creating such visuals would be too costly. By recording this segment myself, I can fill in as additional narrative content. When the time comes, posting it on the forums will allow all players to witness this grand spectacle!"
Meanwhile, in Little Gui's stream:
Dan Heng had just reunited with the protagonist group.
As expected, March 7th was startled by his appearance.
"Y-you're... Dan Heng?! No way..."
"You...are Dan Heng, right? What's with those horns on your head?"
Dan Heng replied mildly, "It's a long story, March. It's me."
"No kidding! You actually do have hidden powers?!"
Now he truly looked like a stoic little azure dragon!
Guinaifen wore a maternal smile, but suddenly, a possibility struck her mind. Unable to resist sharing it with her viewers, she exclaimed, "Think about it—our protagonist, the Trailblazer, got stabbed by Cocolia's riding spear and transformed into the Hero of Preservation.
"Then, Dan Heng was stabbed by Blade using an ancient sword and became Yinyue and Danheng...
"So, March 7th, what about you?
"When will you get stabbed and transform into a five-star character?"
Her words instantly sparked excited discussions in the chat.
"Now that you mention it, I'm genuinely looking forward to March 7th's five-star form!"
"The entire Astral Express crew will eventually reach Five Stars."
"After the space station storyline, there's an Easter egg where choosing not to board the train triggers a shortcut ending. During Curtain Call, all other characters' names were listed next to their roles except for March 7th's, which showed as [???]. Her backstory must be significant too!"
"March, hurry up and transform already!!!"
Having indulged their imaginative speculations, Guinaifen returned to following the story.
Jing Yuan spoke up, "Alright, let's set aside reminiscing for now."
"When you first arrived at Luofu, you mentioned that the Astral Express had come to resolve the star core calamity. At the time, Jing Yuan hesitated to accept this claim, suspecting that the Stellaron Hunters might have ulterior motives. Now it seems my concerns were unwarranted.
"It is true that the Hunter did harbor her own intentions—by sending all of you here, she deliberately escalated the situation so you would fight alongside Xianzhou."
"Given the circumstances, your sincerity can no longer be doubted... Luofu owes each of you its gratitude, and we should not ask for more assistance.
"However, as Fu Qing rightly pointed out, Phantylia's emergence has made matters unpredictable. As General of Luofu, I must rely on Dan Heng's strength and request your utmost support," Jing Yuan continued.
As the group's patriarch, Old Yang responded first, "Even if Luofu's crisis were unrelated to the star cores, given my nature, I wouldn't stand idly by. But my personal stance does not represent the entirety of the Astral Express.
"Explore, Understand, Establish, Connect—the Trailblazing principles guiding our journey can be summarized in these eight words. The path ahead is fraught with peril, making adherence to them harder than scaling the heavens.
"Fear, danger, adversaries, death... countless obstacles litter the journey, leaving only a handful of The Nameless capable of persevering."
"Whether advancing or leaving, The Nameless should choose their own destination... just like casting their vote for where the train heads," Jing Yuan continued.
March 7th and Stelle extended their hands.
All eyes turned to Dan Heng.
As this was the Dan Heng storyline, the options appearing on the interface naturally represented his choice.
[Extend your hand]
[Do not extend your hand]
Guinaifen glanced at the choices and decisively selected [Extend your hand].
"Of course he'll participate."
"As both a member of the Astral Express Crew and the former Vidyadhara High Elder of Luofu, I believe Dan Heng will choose to face challenges head-on!"
"That's because it embodies the essence of Trailblazing!" echoed the crowd.
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