"Uncle Yang, where's Dan Heng at now?" Inside the Artisanship Commission, March 7th peered at Welt, who was fiddling with his phone, and quietly leaned over to sneak a glance at his screen.
"It's you, March…" The sudden voice made Welt instinctively raise his cane. Upon recognizing her, he lowered it again.
"I just sent a message to Dan Heng, but…"
Welt showed his phone screen to March 7th, who blinked at it. "Message failed to send? What's going on? Did Dan Heng's phone run out of credit?"
"Unlikely," Welt shook his head, his brow furrowing. "Given Dan Heng's cautious nature, such a trivial mistake is improbable. I suspect something is interfering with photon transmission, causing the quantum communication technology to fail."
"Huh? Then how are we supposed to meet up with him?"
Hearing March 7th's words, Welt stroked his chin in thought for a moment before turning to Stelle, who was rummaging through a trash bin in the Artisanship Commission with gusto.
"Stelle, do you have any good ideas?"
At Welt's words, a few seconds passed before Stelle poked her head out from a pile of discarded parts, her face smudged with dirt.
"Uncle Yang, are you asking me?" Stelle seemed incredulous. All along, the brains of the team had been Dan Heng or Welt. Though she hated to admit it, her intellect paled in comparison to theirs. Welt suddenly asking for her opinion left her at a loss for how to respond.
"The more uncertain the situation, the more we need to brainstorm. Stelle, March, you've spent time with Dan Heng. Any good ideas?"
To Welt's question, Stelle merely blinked, pondering seriously for a moment before speaking. "I think… Dan Heng is a dragon, and judging by his appearance, he probably likes water. Should we follow the water…"
March 7th: "…"
Welt: "…"
Hearing Stelle's suggestion, Welt couldn't help but rub his forehead. Though he had anticipated Stelle might come up with a bad idea, hearing this "genius" plan from their "strategic mastermind" still sent a herd of imaginary alpacas stampeding through his mind.
"Stelle, your idea is great…"
"Really?!" At this, Stelle's eyes sparkled, looking as if she'd been validated.
"Yes, it's great. Don't suggest it again next time."
Stelle: "…"
— — — —
"Dan Feng, what are you hiding from?! What are you hiding from?!" Blade's roars echoed through Starwatcher Avenue, his sword slashing as otherworldly flowers bloomed from the blade's trail. As his target, the Vidyadhara High Elder Dan Heng kept dodging, just as he had on Jarilo-VI, showing no intent to fight back.
"Dan Heng, why are you dodging?!"
If I don't dodge, should I just stand still and let you cut me? Dan Heng thought exasperatedly. But since Blade was insistent on fighting, continuing to evade like this wouldn't do. If he couldn't repel Blade, the man might keep hounding him here indefinitely.
"Dragon's Cage!"
With a thought, Dan Heng summoned the Yin and Yang energies within the Abyssal Pearl. In the next moment, a formation materialized beneath Blade's feet. Accompanied by a dragon's roar that resounded through the heavens, several majestic azure dragons emerged from the formation, encircling Blade to form a cage, trapping him within.
"Damn it, you bastard!"
Blade swung his fragmented sword, slicing his own wrist. Blood imbued with the power of the Abundance's Emanator splattered onto the blade, making it glow an even deeper, more eerie red. As the sword moved, a scarlet sword shadow capable of shattering the heavens struck the cage.
Talent Skill—Sudden Benediction!
"Roar—!"
The dragon shadows forming the cage clashed with the sword. After a brief struggle, the formation's power proved slightly weaker than the force of Sudden Benediction. With an unwilling dragon's cry, Dan Heng's "Dragon's Cage" was shattered by the sword energy, dissipating into pure energy between heaven and earth.
"Dan Feng—!!!"
By the time Blade broke free from the restraint, Dan Heng's figure was long gone. The Vidyadhara High Elder had seized the opportunity to slip away, leaving Blade alone to roar furiously at the sky.
…
Meanwhile, on the other side, Yanqing and the Cloud Knights…
"Lord Yanqing, there's heavy fog ahead. Our scouts can't penetrate it and can only operate at the perimeter. According to them, there are many Disciples of Sanctus Medicus on guard at the edge—dozens, by their estimate."
Hearing the report from his subordinate Cloud Knight, the prodigious youth couldn't help but frown. Though the Luofu's upper echelons had long confirmed the Alchemy Commission as the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus' main stronghold on the Luofu, he hadn't expected so many of them.
"Proceed cautiously. I'll scout ahead; you all follow closely."
With that, Yanqing led the group of Cloud Knights slowly into the fog. The youth gripped his seven-foot-long sword, walking at the forefront of the group, his gaze vigilant and expression cold. At the same time, he fully activated his perception of the Path of the Hunt.
The Hunt naturally held a certain sensitivity to the Abundance, which made its power an excellent tool for scouting in this vision-obscuring fog.
"Ugh… ah!"
As the group advanced cautiously, an older Cloud Knight suddenly clutched his throat, dropping his Cloud Knight spear to the ground.
"What's happening?!"
The Cloud Knight fell to his knees, hands gripping his throat. In the next moment, branch-like growths sprouted from his body. In mere breaths, he transformed into the form of a Disciple of Sanctus Medicus.
"Mara-struck?! No good—these mists are tainted! Everyone, retreat along the original path!" Realizing the fog was problematic, Yanqing made a decisive call to withdraw.
"Yes!" ×N
As the Cloud Knights prepared to retreat, a sudden burst of battle cries erupted from within the fog. Dozens of Disciples of Sanctus Medicus charged out, encircling the Cloud Knights.
"You all retreat! I'll cover the rear!"
Yanqing's sword danced, striking at the Disciples before him.
"Sword Like a Crescent Moon!"
Sword energy, like an eagle or bird in flight, shot from the blade, instantly freezing the foremost Disciples into ice sculptures. Then, Yanqing charged into the fray like a wolf among sheep, cutting down the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.
Though the Disciples possessed the regenerative power of the Abundance, they were still flesh and blood. When the damage outpaced their regeneration, they fell one after another.
From a distance, Danzhu, observing the scene, raised an eyebrow with a look of keen interest.
"So this is the Xianzhou Luofu's number one genius?"