At that moment, the battlefield was enveloped in a bright pink glow. The long spear emitted a sound akin to a cat's meow, a chilling yet strangely absurd noise that sent shivers down everyone's spine.
The mara-struck soldiers attempted to counterattack, but unfortunately for them, all their efforts were futile against Dan Heng.
There were no loud explosions, only the overwhelming light pollution from the pink effects. While this display was blinding to onlookers, Dan Heng's perspective remained completely normal.
This was precisely why he could use this gear's effects so nonchalantly. Other people's views didn't matter to him; as long as things appeared normal in his own eyes, that was enough.
Besides, ever since he equipped the weapon with this special effect, he could feel his combat abilities taking a qualitative leap. Though it didn't directly boost his attack power, it significantly broke down his enemies' defenses.
As the pink brilliance faded, the mara-struck disciples were completely annihilated by Dan Heng's spear. Not even their corpses remained.
Xueyi, watching from the side, stood there slack-jawed, her eyes fixed on Dan Heng.
The spear techniques were unmistakably those of the Cloud Knight, yet the sight of Dan Heng holding a pink, fluffy bunny weapon, accompanied by the battlefield-wide pink effects and the Tom-style "meow" sounds, left her utterly stunned. Even with her vast experience and countless battles, she found herself frozen in disbelief.
This was a scene she had never imagined seeing in her lifetime.
She wanted to thank him, but her body—worn down and damaged by injuries—refused to cooperate. As a cyborg, her mechanical parts had sustained severe damage, making movement impossible.
Meanwhile, Seele approached her and asked, "Hey, you alright?"
Xueyi tilted her head. "Playing coy, are we?"
"Playing coy?" Seele looked puzzled. "I was simply asking because I don't know your condition, how is that playing coy?"
From inside the trash can, Silver Wolf's voice emerged, providing context. "She's a cyborg. She doesn't bleed, so you wouldn't see visible injuries. But her body's in bad shape—it needs urgent repairs, or…"
Xueyi heard the voice but was confused about the person hiding inside a trash can rather than engaging openly. Perceiving her confusion, Dan Heng, ever the composed one, explained, "We're Trailblazers from the Astral Express, sent to assist Xianzhou in its current crisis. You're clearly severely injured, and moving around in this condition isn't safe. We have unique ways to handle injured individuals and can transport you to safety."
Luocha added calmly, "I know a thing or two about medicine. Let me see if I can treat your wounds."
Xueyi, however, shook her head. "It's useless. My body is mechanical, not flesh and blood…"
Luocha extended his hand, revealing a peculiar artifact. A gentle warmth radiated as he explained, "Mechanics or flesh, it's all just material. Let me see what I can do—if you're willing."
As he spoke, the artifact released an aura imbued with the power of Abundance. The energy enveloped Xueyi, and in just a few moments, her damaged mechanical components began repairing themselves. Before she knew it, she was moving freely again.
Seele's eyes lit up, and she knocked on the trash can where Silver Wolf hid. "Is this what Ah Guang means by healing? This is incredible! Should we, like… kidnap him?"
Silver Wolf sighed. "I don't think that's a good idea. We don't have Pei Guang's ability to charm people into joining us…"
"You've got a point," Seele admitted. "Alright, I'll mark him for Ah Guang. Next time we see him, let's convince him to figure out a way to bring this guy on board. That kind of healing is way too good to pass up."
Dan Heng, watching the spectacle, muttered under his breath, "Abundance…"
In Xianzhou, openly hunting down practitioners of the Abundance Path and Disciples of Sanctus Medicus was standard. Yet, those who wielded the true powers of Abundance—selflessness, altruism, and healing—still commanded respect.
Seele, catching his words, tilted her head. "What are you mumbling about?"
Dan Heng didn't respond directly, but his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil. If the Abundance Path truly manifested its pure form, it wasn't inherently dangerous. The problem was the twisted practices that had emerged, causing widespread havoc.
Xueyi, fully healed, flexed her mechanical limbs and marveled. "Astounding…"
Sushang, equally impressed, exclaimed, "Wow! How'd you do that? That's not ordinary medicine, is it?"
Xueyi's eyes flickered, indicating she understood what Luocha had just demonstrated. However, given her mission, she chose to let the matter slide. Instead, she turned to the group and said, "I am grateful for your assistance. But as a judge of the Ten Lords Commission, I must urge you: leave while you still can. I'm here to apprehend the wanted Stellaron Hunters. In particular the sword master of unparalleled skill, wielding a divine weapon. Extremely dangerous. If not for some… unusual circumstances, I might not have survived."
Dan Heng's curiosity piqued. "Unusual circumstances?"
Seele shrugged. "Who cares about unusual circumstances? Enemies show up, we cut them down. People need help, we help. It's as simple as that."
Xueyi turned her gaze to Seele and nodded. "You're quite open-minded."
Seele grinned. "Thanks! I learned it from Ah Guang. Oh, you'd like him—he's got a big brain full of wisdom.
Seele's admiration for Pei Guang wasn't unique—nearly everyone in the Underworld, and even all of Belobog, shared that sentiment. As Natasha often said:
"Mr. Pei Guang might seem eccentric, almost like he's masking his true self with exaggerated words and actions, but deep down, he's a genuinely good person. Seele could learn a lot by following his example."
And indeed, Seele felt that sticking with Pei Guang had made her sharper.
Hearing Seele's words, Dan Heng nodded in agreement. "Yes, his thoughts are indeed difficult for most people to fathom, and his growth rate has exceeded all expectations."
He recalled their initial meeting at the Herta Space Station and compared it to the present. Barely a month had passed, yet Pei Guang had matured into an entirely different person. Whether this was good or bad, Dan Heng couldn't say.
Looking at his spear, Dan Heng caught its reflection: the absurd yet oddly comforting pink bunny design. It gave him the courage to face anything, echoing Pei Guang's advice: "If you can't kill them physically, make them socially dead instead."
Xueyi, observing Dan Heng gripping the bunny-decorated spear, furrowed her brow. For some reason, he seemed familiar. Though she had memorized every wanted poster and criminal profile, she couldn't match his face to anyone on the list. Yet, the sense of familiarity lingered.
Their musings were interrupted as the ground suddenly trembled. Sushang swayed and exclaimed, "What's happening? An earthquake? Wait—can Xianzhou even have earthquakes?"
Xueyi sprinted ahead and reached an open area, beckoning the group to follow. There, they witnessed something extraordinary: the once-withered Ambrosial Arbor had begun to grow, lush and vibrant.