At this moment, everyone on the battlefield—except for Pei Guang—was struck silent.
Meanwhile, Pei Guang broke into applause with an enthusiastic grin.
"Dan Heng! Not bad! I didn't expect your transformation to come with built-in special effects. Is that pink your natural color, or did the weapon's effects expand to your whole body?"
Hearing this question, Dan Heng simply nodded without speaking much. He was in a transcendent state of clarity, yet a glimmer of light shone in his eyes.
At this moment, he could distinctly feel his identity as Dan Heng—clear and separate from Dan Feng. At the same time, he could sense Blade's myriad emotions: shock, frustration, confusion.
As Dan Heng fully embraced the power he once rejected, he caught glimpses of memories—fragments passed down through the lineage of the Imbibitor Lunae.
To him, these memories felt like watching a film, showing him the deeds of past High Elders, the actions of the Vidyadhara, and the choices of Dan Feng.
Dan Heng's attitude toward these memories was simple: learn what's useful, record the history for the Astral Express's archives, and move on.
The Pink Fluffy Bunny floating in his palm glowed faintly as he turned to the Herta Puppet and said, "Let him go."
Herta Puppet: "Are you sure? Shouldn't we pour a few buckets of coffee down his throat to calm him down first?"
Dan Heng nodded. "I am sure."
The Herta Puppet released her hold on Blade, who regained control of his body after a few seconds. He stood shakily, the humiliation of being controlled bringing memories of another woman to his mind.
But just as Blade began to steady himself, the sight above him made his body freeze once more. He looked up—and saw a giant Pink Fluffy Bunny floating in the sky, staring straight at him.
Yes, Dan Heng had made his move.
Through Pei Guang's influence, Dan Heng had gained a unique understanding of the immortal energy, a comprehension even the Aeon of Abundance hadn't reached.
The Pink Fluffy Bunny in Dan Heng's hand radiated a dazzling pink glow. With a wave of his right hand, Dan Heng sent the massive pink rabbit crashing down toward Blade.
The moment the enormous bunny hit Blade, it shattered into hundreds of smaller Pink Fluffy Bunnies. As they spread across the battlefield, each one meowed incessantly, swarming Blade's feet.
Dan Heng raised a finger, and the mini bunnies immediately surged upward, striking Blade repeatedly from below. Each attack was punctuated by the resounding "meow meow meow meow" that filled the battlefield.
The Herta Puppet, watching Blade engulfed in a sea of meowing pink bunnies, paused in thought for 0.1 seconds before breaking into an excited grin. With a snap, music began to play, a disco ball materialized above her, and the familiar beat of a dance track started thumping through the air.
The Herta Puppet began to move—her rendition of the Gangstar Torture Dance, the very first dance Pei Guang had introduced to this world.
This was the dance that had set Stelle and March 7th down a path of no return, turning them from merely curious onlookers into full-blown chaos enthusiasts.
The Puppet couldn't resist the allure of the moment. What was a little spectacle compared to the sheer joy of a proper dance? Whether it was her true body or her puppet, she never cared about others' judgment when doing what she loved.
Meanwhile, Dan Heng continued his relentless barrage against Blade. As long as he refused to acknowledge him as Dan Heng, the attacks wouldn't stop.
This time, Dan Heng's attacks were different. Instead of relying solely on his spear to find a rhythm, he used water to form tangible constructs, allowing him greater control over the tempo—even incorporating musical harmony into his strikes.
Yes, seeing the Herta Puppet dancing alone, Dan Heng decided to enhance the performance. He used his water constructs to create two pink clones, who joined the Puppet in a synchronized routine.
The sight of one puppet and two water clones dancing alongside the music and meows made Pei Guang itch to join.
Pei Guang: "How can I just stand here? This scene demands participation!"
Stelle: "Ah Guang's right!"
March 7th: "Let's go!"
Bailu: "Wait! Don't leave me out~"
Seele: "What's this fun I'm hearing about without me?"
Silver Wolf glanced left and right. When her gaze met Kafka's, the two exchanged a playful wink. Without hesitation, Silver Wolf cheerfully climbed out of the trash can. "Make sure to count me in."
Welt, meanwhile, said nothing. But if one looked closely, it was clear that he was already finding his rhythm amidst the group.
As more and more people joined the impromptu dance, Fu Xuan, who had been watching quietly from the sidelines, fell into a contemplative silence.
She was torn: the scene unfolding before her was undeniably entertaining, and she knew she'd regret not participating. But at the same time, the thought of joining felt unbearably embarrassing.
Just as she was agonizing over her decision, she caught sight of a familiar head of white hair in the crowd: Jing Yuan had arrived!
At first, Jing Yuan studied the movements of the Herta Puppet. Then, he observed Pei Guang's playful actions. After a brief moment of consideration, he too joined the growing dance group.
Fu Xuan was stunned. "General, what are you doing?!"
Jing Yuan: "Oh, Fu Xuan? Not joining in? A little fun before the big battle can help with morale and strategy, you know."
Fu Xuan: "..."
Of all the things she had anticipated, she hadn't accounted for her own General being so easily assimilated.
As for why did Jing Yuan join so readily? Simple—he found it amusing. He had already resigned himself to the possibility of dying in the confrontation with Phantylia, so why not indulge in a little frivolity beforehand? There was no harm in doing something new and lighthearted before what could be his last fight.
Was the situation with Phantylia urgent? Of course. But urgency wouldn't help; without Dan Heng's power to break the Arbor's seal, they wouldn't be able to proceed no matter how dire things were. With the festivities already in full swing, Jing Yuan figured that if anyone would be laughed at, it wouldn't be him as long as he followed the lead.
Besides, Jing Yuan couldn't help but pity Blade. Just admit that Dan Heng isn't Dan Feng—why insist on denying it? Everything Dan Heng had done so far was so far removed from anything Dan Feng, or even any other Xianzhou High Elder, would ever do.
The previous Imbibitor Lunae killed enemies and instilled fear. Dan Heng? He crushed hearts and spirits.
Those who kill might leave behind fear, but those who only crush the spirit of their enemies ensure their humiliation lives on.
For anyone with reputation and prestige—especially in Xianzhou, where status and legacy mattered deeply—Dan Heng's actions were akin to defacing their legacy, ensuring their ridicule lasted for millennia. Add a few overenthusiastic historians and jokesters into the mix, and their disgrace would echo across the universe for generations.
Still, sympathy aside, Jing Yuan couldn't resist joining in. Watching Pei Guang and the others, he followed through on what he'd told Fu Xuan: "A little indulgence helps with the mission ahead."