Chapter 369

However, as soon as Dan Heng opened his eyes, he saw the man staring intently at him, and he was startled. "What are you doing here?"

As he spoke, the familiar spear appeared in his hand, pointing at the blade.

"Dan Heng." Ren gave the other person a deep look, then turned away. "You'd better not repeat my mistake."

Only after the other person's figure completely disappeared from his sight did Dan Heng belatedly realize that this seemed to be the first time Ren had called him "Dan Heng".

Chapter Fifty-Six: Old man, your jade tablet is the most useless thing ever!

"So, this is the manifestation of the Dragon Lord's Power...?"

Inside the Scale-Abyss Realm, the group gathered together, carefully observing a blue scale floating in mid-air.

On the surface, it appears to be just an ordinary scale, only about the size of a human thumb. Rather than a dragon's scale, it looks more like the scale of some kind of fish. Upon closer inspection, one can also notice some tiny cracks on the surface of the scale, making it appear incomplete.

However, when someone tentatively reaches out to touch it, the scales will glow brightly, repelling the person, accompanied by a deep dragon's roar. Only at this moment can everyone realize that these are the scales of the Dragon-Scythe Clan, containing the power of an "immortal" destiny.

This is what Ai Yue condensed after extracting the remaining Dragon Lord's Power from Dan Heng's body. It must be said that as a carrier of the "immortal" destiny, scales are indeed a suitable image.

"This guy is too xenophobic!" After his third attempt to touch it was also repelled by the scales, March 7th finally gave up struggling and turned to look at Dan Heng. "Dan Heng, it seems only you can lift it."

Dan Heng looked at the scales in front of him, hesitated for a moment, but did not touch them. Instead, he looked at Ai Yue beside him and said, "Mr. Ai Yue, please put them away for now."

"Not planning on touching it?" Ai Yue raised an eyebrow and said in a teasing tone, "This might be your last chance to get close to it."

"No need. Since we've already decided to give up, it's not appropriate to linger," Dan Heng said frankly. "Besides, I'm also worried that I won't be able to resist the temptation."

Very few people can resist the temptation of great power, let alone for Dan Heng, this power is a part of him, and he obviously does not want to use it to test his willpower.

"Speaking of which, Dan Heng, you don't feel any discomfort now, do you?" After watching Ai Yue easily suppress and retract the scales, Himeko continued, "After all, this power was extracted from your body, won't it cause any damage to your body?"

"Oh yeah, that sounds pretty painful," March 7th belatedly realized, looking at Dan Heng with worried eyes, "Dan Heng, are you... feeling a bit empty? Should we ask Miss Bailu to prescribe some medicine for you?"

"Don't worry about that," Xing waved his hand, "With Brother Yue here, what are you worried about, right, Brother Yue?"

"Well, you can't say that. Precisely extracting the Dragon Lord's Power from Dan Heng's body is indeed a rather troublesome task." Faced with Xing's trust, Ai Yue's expression was somewhat subtle. "Of course, I used a little trick, so it shouldn't have caused any harm to Dan Heng."

The Dragon-Scythe Clan are all descendants of the immortal star god "Dragon", which means that the source of their power comes from the immortal destiny, and even the Dragon Lord's Power is no exception. Therefore, when stripping away the Dragon Lord's Power, Ai Yue cannot simply and crudely drain all the power of the immortal destiny in Dan Heng's body, lest he directly drain Dan Heng to death.

"Yes, I don't feel uncomfortable anywhere," Dan Heng nodded, bowing to Ai Yue again, "Mr. Ai Yue. Ai Yue."

Without Ai Yue, Dan Heng's idea would probably never have become a reality. Looking across the entire star sea, Ai Yue is probably the only one who possesses such strength and also considers the feelings of individuals.

"It's all a small matter," Ai Yue, who had just said it was troublesome, immediately adopted a nonchalant attitude. "I also gained a deep understanding of the immortal destiny because of it, so it can be said to be mutually beneficial."

"So, shouldn't we go see General Jing Yuan next?" March 7th said from the side. "Let's put aside the matter of the Dragon Lord's Power for now. It seems Jing Yuan also has something to discuss with us."

"Yes, Jing Yuan mentioned before that he wanted to give back to the Stellar Train, but I was the only one present at the time, so it was put on hold for the time being," Himeko smiled. "After all, you were the ones who really put in the effort, so it's only right that you take the lead in this matter."

"Oh, this feels great!" March 7th burst into laughter. "I wonder what kind of reward the general will give us. I can't wait to see!"

As the nameless guests arrived at the Divinity Manor, Jing Yuan, who had returned to handle official business under Fu Xuan's threat, directly demonstrated his "repayment."

"I've already discussed the details of the further cooperation and the special treatment you all receive on the Luofu Xianzhou with Himeko, so I won't go into them here," Jing Yuan said with a smile, placing an exquisitely crafted object on the table. "After all, compared to the reward before us, all of those are insignificant."

"How can you say it's unimportant? It's really tempting that all expenses are paid by the Divinity Manor," March 7th muttered, but her attention was quickly drawn to what Jing Yuan had displayed. "What is this... a jade pendant?"

As mentioned on March 7th, what Jing Yuan placed on the table was a jade plaque carved from emerald, but the shape of the plaque was carved into a crouching tiger, and its meaning was obviously not ordinary.

"It looks really nice," Xingbi was even bolder than March 7th. While the other person just looked from afar, she directly picked it up and started playing with it. "Is this considered a souvenir?"

"That's certainly true, but it's not a souvenir you can just buy in a store," Jing Yuan said with a smile. "Thousands of years ago, when the alliance was founded, all the immortal ships swore an oath, which was inscribed on the Jade Oath Alliance Record as proof. Even if heaven and earth perish, this oath will not be broken."

"This jade omen is the same. It records the promise that the Luofu Cloud Cavalry made to you all, and it is also a beacon. Hold it tightly, and you can send a message to the pair of jade omens in my hand. At that time, no matter how vast the Milky Way is or how long the journey is, the Luofu Cloud Cavalry will come to fulfill your request."

Upon hearing Jing Yuan's words, Xing, who had been quite casual, froze on the spot. She abandoned her playful attitude and respectfully picked it up, handing it to Ai Yue, who was standing to the side.

Clearly, even the most mischievous person could sense the weight of this jade omen from Jing Yuan's words. It carried a promise from the Luofu Xianzhou, and its importance was self-evident. If it were accidentally used up while playing around, there would be nowhere to cry.

"Why are you giving this to me? You can keep it yourselves." Ai Yue shook his head helplessly. "No matter how you look at it, I don't need this thing, do I?"

"That's hard to say," Xing asked seriously. "What if the Luofu Xianzhou needs your help, Brother Yue? It would be such a hassle to put it on us!"

Upon hearing this, the surroundings immediately fell silent. Although everyone sensed that something was amiss, they couldn't find a way to refute it.

"Please don't worry, we will contact Mr. Ai Yue through other channels. This jade omen is naturally for everyone to use to ask for help," Jing Yuan also showed a helpless smile, "But to be honest, unless Mr. Ai Yue leaves the Stellar Train, I really don't know what value this jade omen has besides its commemorative significance."

These words sounded somewhat harsh, as if they were saying that the aid from the Luofu Xianzhou was meaningless to the Stellar Train, but if one thought carefully about Ai Yue's identity, one would realize that this was simply the truth.

Even Xing's words made perfect sense. After all, if Ai Yue were included, the Stellar Train and the Xianzhou Alliance would probably be comparable.

Of course, everyone knows that Ai Yue is currently only a hitchhiker and cannot be considered a true member of the Stellar Train. The forces behind him cannot be automatically tied to the train.

"You can't say that," March 7th instinctively tried to save face, but couldn't find the words. "Oh, Dan Heng, you explain!"

"Regardless, the promises made by the Luofu Xianzhou carry significant weight," Dan Heng nodded slightly, setting aside the facts. "We will use them with caution and will not do anything to violate the Immortal Ship's oath. Please rest assured, General."

"Of course I'm relieved," Jingyun paused, then revealed a subtle expression, "But after thinking about it, I also think that what Miss A Xing said makes a lot of sense."

Thus, with everyone's unanimous approval, Ai Yue ultimately accepted the Alliance Jade Token.

"Next, it's about Dan Heng," Jing Yuan said, turning his gaze from Ai Yue back to Dan Heng. "Dan Heng, by the decree of the Ten Lords' Court, I hereby pardon your exile order. From this day forward, you are free to come and go as you please on the Luofu Xianzhou."

"Yay!" March 7th reached out and patted Dan Heng on the shoulder. "You won't have to wear a straw hat anymore!"

"In that case," Xing said, extending her hand to Dan Heng, "Could I borrow your straw hat to play with?"

"Thank you, General," Dan Heng said to Jing Yuan as he took out a bamboo hat and put it on Xing's head. "I also have something to say about Dan Feng's sins."

Jing Yuan was taken aback by Dan Heng's serious expression. Before he could say anything, Ai Yue raised his hand and presented a small object to him.

When Jing Yuan saw the thing clearly, even with General of the Divine Might's composure, his pupils couldn't help but shrink. "This is... the Dragon Lord's Power?"

Sensing the immense power emanating from the dragon scale, Jing Yuan immediately looked at Dan Heng: "Are you... alright?"

Although Jing Yuan was not Holders of the Dragon, he was well aware that the Dragon Lord's Power was not something that could be easily put on or taken off like clothing. Otherwise, Dan Heng would not have been expelled from Luofu with the Dragon Lord's Power. Now that he could do such a thing, he obviously had to pay the price.

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, General," Dan Heng shook his head slightly. "Now, this power should be returned to the Luofu Xianzhou. Miss Bai Lu is indeed a genuine Dragon Lord. Before she grows up, I hope you can keep it safe for her and prevent it from being taken away by those with ill intentions."

Upon hearing this, Jing Yuan nodded, but his tightly furrowed brows did not relax. He looked at the dragon scales floating in front of him, wanting to reach out and touch them, but in the end he withdrew his hand.

After a moment of silence, Jing Yuan spoke again, his tone complex. "Are you doing this to say goodbye to the Luofu Xianzhou...?"

The pause in the middle reveals that Jing Yuan originally wanted to use a more resolute word than "farewell".

Clearly, he thought that Dan Heng made this decision in order to completely distance himself from the Luofu Xianzhou, bid farewell to his past, and sever all ties with his previous life.

"Although my memories of the Luodu Immortal Ship are not as rich as they have been these past few days, this is still my hometown." Dan Heng also noticed Jing Yuan's thoughts and then said, "So, this is not about saying goodbye, but about so that one day I can walk on the streets of Luofu with a clear conscience."

"I see." Jing Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, visibly relaxing. "I thought... no, it's nothing."

This time, he finally reached out and grasped the dragon scale in his hand. "I will handle this matter properly. There's no need to worry; Miss Bailu will soon be free from this trouble."

"Uh, is this part something we can listen to?" March 7th blinked and asked cautiously, "The following arrangements should be internal affairs of the Luofu Xianzhou, right?"

"That is indeed the case in theory, but I'm afraid I'll still need your help this time, so I'll humbly ask you all to stay a few more days," Jing Yuan, putting away the dragon scales and returning to his usual demeanor. "Don't worry, just think of it as a vacation. I promise I won't trouble you too much."

"That's good," March 7th smiled upon hearing it wouldn't be too much trouble, no longer hiding her curiosity. "But, is there anything we can help you with?"

"Hmm, let me think about how to put it," Jing Yuan pondered for a moment, then said, "First of all, as you all should know, we have already reported the matter of the Phantylia Chaos to the Xianzhou Alliance, and for some reason, the Six Imperators are taking it very seriously."

At this point, Jing Yuan's expression also showed some helplessness. "This is indeed beyond my expectations. Based on the speed at which the Six Imperators have always handled matters, I originally thought that even if you had already left Luofu for a long journey and returned, they might not be able to respond. But this time, it's been ridiculously fast."

"That sounds familiar," March 7th remarked, then couldn't help but glance at Ai Yue beside him. "It seems like Brother Yue did the same thing when he was negotiating with the company before. The feedback should have been slow, but it was done in a flash!"

"How can you blame me for this?" Ai Yue blinked innocently. "Besides, I shouldn't have had much to do with the Immortal Ship this time, right? Didn't you guys do most of the work?"

"This might still be related to you, Mr. Ai Yue," Jing Yuan said with a hint of helplessness. "Because among the people sent by the Six Imperators for this inspection was a general from the Yaoging Xianzhou —and as the immortal ship with the deepest cooperation with the Interastral Peace Corporation, the Yaoging Xianzhou Ship has the deepest understanding of the company."

"Another company? I think I'll have to write a confidentiality agreement specifically for these people." Ai Yue sighed, finally accepting reality. "So, when is the earliest they can arrive?"

"According to previous reports," Jing Yuan glanced at the clock beside him, a subtle expression on his face, "They've probably arrived."

Chapter 57 Solaris: If we're not friends, is it really necessary for so many people to come?

A moment later, a slightly short figure appeared in the Divinity Manor.

He was a small old man with a straw hat and white hair and beard. He was unusually short, giving people the feeling that he was about to die. But if you looked into his eyes, you would realize that there was still a formidable will hidden in this seemingly old body.

"Let me introduce you all. This is General Zhuyuan from the Zhuming Xianzhou, Huai Yan." After exchanging a few pleasantries with the old man, Jing Yuan introduced them to the nameless guests. "Elder Yan, these are the guests from the Stellar Train that I introduced to you before."

"I've long heard of the Stellar Train's illustrious reputation on the Zhuming Xianzhou. Meeting you all today, I'm truly impressed; each of you possesses an extraordinary air." Huai Yan smiled kindly, nodding to the group. His gaze swept over the nameless guests, finally settling on Ai Yue. "Especially this guest..."

"This is Mr. Ai Yue, whom I emphasized to you before." Jing Yuan continued, "Mr. Ai Yue deserves much credit for the fact that the Luofu Xianzhou was able to weather the Jianmu Rebellion safely without suffering a large-scale disaster."

The usually composed and strategic Jing Yuan now felt a deep sense of unease. He looked at the two people staring at each other. On one side was the general sent by the alliance to inspect the area, who was also a senior who had taken good care of him. On the other side was something even more extraordinary—a great being who was theoretically on par with the Emperor's Bow and had been kind to Luofu...

If a conflict breaks out between these two sides, I might as well just die here.

"There's no need to be so nervous, Jing Yuan." Huai Yan smiled and glanced at Jing Yuan, naturally understanding what the other was worried about. "Mr. Ai Yue has done a favor for Luofu, which is also a favor for the Xianzhou Alliance. How could I possibly neglect him? Besides..."

He looked at Ai Yue again, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Seeing is believing, indeed. I have read the report that Luofu Xianzhou submitted to the Alliance repeatedly, but only after meeting Mr. Ai Yue do I realize that no amount of description can compare to the person in person."

"There's no need for that. Wouldn't it be better if we just discussed the matter at hand?" Ai Yue waved his hand, clearly unconcerned about such flattery and praise. "I still think it's best for everyone to have an open and honest conversation. There's no need to beat around the bush, right?"

"Mr. Ai Yue is very straightforward, which puts this old man at ease." As the saying goes, the older one gets, the more shrewd one becomes. As the oldest known person in the Xianzhou Alliance, Huai Yan's shrewdness is self-evident. Realizing that Ai Yue disliked verbal exchanges, he decisively changed his approach, "Then..."

Just as he was about to state his position clearly, he heard a commotion coming from the entrance of the Divinity Manor.

Attracted by the sound, everyone turned around curiously, wanting to see who had the audacity to make such a fuss in the General's Mansion.

Then everyone saw the two children walking towards them, bickering all the way.

One of them was someone everyone was familiar with, Yanqing, Jing Yuan's disciple and bodyguard. The other wore a jade crown, a short green skirt, and was barefoot on the ground, which was obviously different from Luo Fu's style.

"Yanqing? And this is...?" Jing Yuan looked at the barefoot girl arguing with Yanqing and immediately recognized Zhuming Xianzhou's style of clothing, realizing that this person should be related to Huai Yan. "What are you two arguing about?"

"Yun Li!" As expected, Huai Yan spoke up as well, "How can you make such a ruckus without considering the occasion? Quickly apologize to General Jing Yuan and all the guests!"

After being intimidated by their parents, the two immediately wilted. However, after offering a perfunctory apology, they each stood on one side, clearly not truly convinced.

Soon, under everyone's questioning, the two also told the whole story - the two met by chance in Golden Market, and had a little conflict over a string of Qiongshi Bird Skewer. As a result, the girl named Yun Li took Yanqing's sword, and after several conflicts, it evolved into the current irreconcilable situation.

"It sounds like a real mess..." After hearing the whole story, March 7th couldn't help but look at the two people beside her. "Is what Miss Yun Li said about the sword calling for help... for real?"

"It's hard to say. Being able to communicate with objects is probably not uncommon in the universe," Dan Heng said from the side. "But the sword's owner is Yanqing after all. Even if he really did call for help, this action is a bit too forceful."

"After all this talk, why don't we just have a fight?" Xing chimed in, adding fuel to the fire. "Whoever wins decides!"

"I think it's a good idea!" Yanqing was young after all, and his fighting spirit was easily ignited by a few words. "The competition was interrupted just now, so let's have a rematch in front of the generals. This time, I'll make sure you're completely convinced!"

"Hmph, someone who can't even hold a sword dares to spout such nonsense?" Yun Li directly pulled out her giant sword, which was even bigger than herself. "Watch me flatten you!"

"Wow, you're really good at stirring things up!" March 7th tried to stop Hoshino, but it was obviously too late. "But to be honest, I'm really curious about who will win between the two of them... Who do you think will win?"

"Alright, quiet down in front of the guests!" Huai Yan, the eldest among them, quickly subdued the two children. "If you really want to fight, you can wait until the Martial Arts Ceremony!"

"It's good that young people are energetic, but they should also be careful not to overdo it," Jing Yuan said with a smile and shook his head. "Yanqing, since you are so energetic, why don't we leave the matter of the escape of the Solaris Demon Flame to you?"

"Eh? General?" Yanqing was taken aback, unsure how to respond. "Since it is the General's order, Yanqing will naturally obey."

"The Demonic Flame of the Solaris escaped?" March 7th asked curiously. "What's going on? We haven't heard about this."

"The story begins with the resurrection of the Jianmu tree," Jing Yuan explained. "Although the scale of the Jianmu tree's resurrection has been compressed to a very low level under Mr. Ai Yue's control, it has still affected the Creation Furnace, causing some of the Solaris Demon Fire to escape. Now, the Ten Lords' Court is worried about how to deal with it."

"This concerns Solaris, so it's no small matter," Huai Yan nodded, then looked at Yun Li beside him, "It just so happens that Zhuming Xianzhou has quite a bit of experience in how to restrain Solaris. Yun Li, you should also go with Yanqing and do your part for Luofu Xianzhou."

"Eh? Is there something else about me?" Yun Li was still watching Yanqing make a fool of himself, but after Huai Yan gave her a look, she could only lower her head. "I know, I hope someone won't hold me back."

"Same to you," Yanqing retorted, unconvinced. "I hope Miss Yun Li really has some tricks up her sleeve. After all, Solaris is an intangible thing. No matter how heavy the iron block in your hand is, it can't crush them."

Seeing the two of them start bickering again, March 7th couldn't help but show a worried expression. "Uh, can these two really work together like this? Are they going to start fighting before they even see Solaris?"

"Miss March's concerns are not without merit," Xing was about to say something sarcastic, but unexpectedly Huai Yan took over the conversation, "Without General Jing Yuan and me present, I'm afraid the two of them might not be able to keep their tempers in check. But if there are distinguished guests assisting them, perhaps it can act as a buffer?"

"Distinguished guests..." March 7th looked left and right, then pointed to himself, "Could it be referring to us?"

"Do we even need to think about this starting move?" Xing shook her head. "It's obvious they're just giving us a mission."

"A Xing is indeed perceptive. Elder Yan and I share the same thoughts," Jing Yuan added with a smile. "However, this matter still depends on everyone's opinion. We will not force anyone. Of course, if everyone is willing to lend a helping hand, the Luofu Xianzhou will certainly reward you in return."

"As long as there's a reward," Xing smiled after catching the key phrase, then grabbed the two people beside her. "Let's go!"

"Wait a minute, I haven't agreed yet! Shouldn't I at least hesitate a little?!"

After a period of commotion, the young people left the Divinity Manor together, leaving only the two generals, Himeko, and Ai Yue, representing the Stellar Train.

"It seems the clearing work is complete," Himeko said with a smile. "Now it should be the adults' work time, right?"

"This is a serious matter, and there are some things that children shouldn't be exposed to too early," Huai Yan smiled. "I hope you two can understand this old man's personal concern."

"That's fine, no problem." Ai Yue waved his hand. "So, what's next?"

"Naturally, this concerns the reason we came to the Luofu Xianzhou." Huai Yan smiled. "Regarding the revival of the Jianmu Tree, I must first make my stance clear— Jing Yuan, although there are many criticisms within the alliance regarding this matter, and even some people on the Luofu Xianzhou have reported and criticized your actions, I am willing to believe you."

"After the 'Five Valiant Warriors of the Clouds' disappeared, it was the Marshal who overruled all objections and entrusted Luofu to you. Since then, you have devoted yourself to the Alliance with utmost loyalty and wisdom, and I have never forgotten the various extraordinary achievements you have made. Some people are happy to see the General of the Divine Might make a mistake; it is simply their nature. After all, compared to their own failures, the success of others is more hateful."

"However..." After a few earnest words, Huai Yan changed the subject again, "Even so, I was still dispatched by the Alliance to investigate the cause and effect of the Jianmu disaster. However, the Marshal's orders were only a few words: 'Observe the Martial Arts Ceremony and listen to Feixiao's questions.'"