March 7th truly lived up to her title as the Chosen One of Prophecy.
Back on the Space Station, she'd already told Dan Heng to "just use your ult already."
Dan Heng had ignored her.
And now?
Here they were on the Xianzhou.
Standing at the entrance of Scalegorge Waterscape, facing that massive statue—
Which looked almost identical to Dan Heng.
The only difference?
The statue had dragon horns and a tail.
Dan Heng didn't.
"…See?!" March 7th pointed back and forth between Dan Heng and the statue.
"I told you he had a hidden mode!"
Stelle, meanwhile, had already shifted into accountant mode.
"KAFKA… and that other one…"
"Aren't those the Stellaron Hunters the Xianzhou put bounties on?"
She began counting on her fingers.
"Eight billion… one hundred and eight billion…"
"So much money… so much money…"
Bonk.
March 7th smacked Stelle on the head.
Then she stared at Dan Heng, eyes wide.
"So that means Dan Heng was one of the High-Cloud Quintet?"
"More accurately," Evan said calmly,
"his previous incarnation was."
"The Vidyadhara sever ties with their past lives upon reincarnation."
"So Dan Heng is Dan Heng."
"He's our Dan Heng."
"Not Dan Feng of the High-Cloud Quintet."
Evan crossed his arms, watching the scene with interest—
No, correction.
Watching four people.
And at the same time—
His Treasure-Seeking Eye activated.
This time—
He froze.
Because the moment he looked—
Four treasure chests, shrouded in mist, appeared before his vision.
And a familiar system notification rang out.
[Ding ding ding!]
[Ding ding ding!]
[Scalegorge Waterscape map unlocked! Hidden treasure detected!]
[Congratulations! You have triggered the High-Cloud Quintet Destiny Link!]
[You have obtained the Scalegorge Key — allows access to hidden treasures within Scalegorge Waterscape]
[Hidden treasure quality: Gold or higher]
[Chance to obtain top-tier rewards increased to 70%]
Four treasure chests.
Before this, Bailu had triggered one.
Now—four more.
Together, they completed the five SR bonds of the High-Cloud Quintet.
A full faction synergy.
"…What kind of loot do you think Scalegorge's hidden chests have?" Evan muttered.
"Herrscher Authorities? Emanator-tier energy?"
"Or maybe forbidden science from some other universe?"
Meanwhile—
March 7th noticed something else entirely.
"Hey! They're ganging up on Dan Heng!"
"No way—that's not happening!"
She drew her bow and loosed a Six-Phased Ice Arrow.
"Oh my~ March, you really misunderstand me," Kafka said lightly, sidestepping the arrow.
Then she turned—
Straight toward Evan.
She was wary of Evan's strength.
But if she could control him—
Dealing with the others would be easy.
"Listen to me—"
"Don't talk. Hug me."
"…Huh?"
The instant Kafka stepped in to activate her Spirit Whisper—
Evan wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in.
Before Kafka could speak again—
His finger rested lightly against her lips.
"Shh. Don't talk."
"…?"
On the other side—
March 7th and Stelle locked onto Kafka instantly.
March's fingers tightened on the bowstring.
This woman.
Evan hasn't even hugged me yet—
And she gets there first?!
Wait.
Why did that thought even appear?!
…No way.
No way I like this guy.
Before that train of thought could derail further—
Blade made his move.
Using self-injury as the price—
He caught Dan Heng's Cloud-Piercer Spear—
And drove the Shattered Blade straight into Dan Heng's chest.
"Dan Heng!"
Dan Heng staggered back, disbelief written across his face as blood bloomed across his chest—
But then—
A familiar power surged.
The Cloudhymn Art Evan had mastered not long ago—
Now fully awakened within Dan Heng.
Water surged forth.
Countless currents wrapped around him.
Cloudhymn Art — Water Dragon Chant.
A secret art that only a Dragon Lord can wield.
Unattainable to Dragon Masters, elders, or ordinary Vidyadhara.
A technique belonging solely to the Dragon Lord.
[Ding! Gold Treasure Chest acquired!]
[Open now?]
The moment the azure water dragon fully enveloped Dan Heng—
The mist around him dispersed.
A golden treasure chest manifested.
And Evan claimed it instantly.
"Open."
[Congratulations! You have obtained: Vidyadhara Dragon Lord Secret Art — Dragon Transformation Technique]
[Upon fusion, the host may temporarily transform into a Vidyadhara Dragon Lord]
[Path of Permanence comprehension increased by 15%]
[Fully mastered Dragon Lord-tier Cloudhymn Arts]
[Fully mastered Dragon Lord-tier Water Dragon Chant]
[Fully mastered Dragon Lord-tier Healing Arts]
[Title obtained: Veteran Treasure Hunter]
[Veteran Treasure Hunter]
– Chance to obtain high-tier rewards from low-tier chests +30%
– First Gold Chest on a map guarantees Gold-tier loot
Evan was stunned.
As Dan Heng's evolution began—
He himself had gained something outrageous.
The Dragon Transformation Technique.
A power once exclusive to Vidyadhara Dragon Lords.
The ability to assimilate other races into Permanence through dragon blood.
Even Abundance couldn't do this.
The Abundance races were merely harder to kill—
Greedy, immortal, but unable to transform others.
The Borisin enslaved foxians—but never turned them into Borisin.
Even Feixiao, with Hoolay's heart, remained foxian.
Not even Shuhu—
The Abundance Emanator who terrified the Xianzhou—
Could rewrite bloodlines.
But the Dragon Transformation Technique could.
After the fall of Permanence—
The Vidyadhara lost the ability to reproduce.
Because Permanence split—
Longevity became Abundance.
Reproduction became Propagation.
After the War with Shuhu—
Dan Feng and Yingxing attempted the forbidden.
Using Baiheng's remaining blood—
To create a new life.
To defy fate.
And that—
Was the spark that ignited the Imbibitor Lunae Disaster.
Now—
That forbidden legacy had fallen into Evan's hands.
"…Temporary Dragon Lord transformation…"
"…So I'm a Dragon Lord now?"
Evan's mouth twitched.
Yeah.
That's not a comforting title.
Fifteen percent comprehension of the Path of Permanence.
And only one Dragon Lord's inheritance.
There were five.
Five Dragon Lords. Five legacies.
Suddenly—
"Holy crap! Look at Dan Heng!"
"He looks just like the statue!"
"So cool!"
As Evan absorbed the power—
A lotus bloomed beneath Dan Heng.
A familiar, overwhelming aura erupted.
The power of a Vidyadhara Dragon Lord.
Imbibitor Lunae — Dan Heng has returned.
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