Chapter 103: The High-Cloud Quintet — Jing Yuan IV
[ Honkai: Star Rail - March 7: Dan Heng, you said you didn't want to go, but you still came. So next time, don't be so stubborn. ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Stelle: Exactly! If Teacher Dan Heng wants to come, he should just come. ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Murata Himeko: Isn't this just being a tsundere? ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Elysia: Hehe, even though he's a younger boy, they look so cute together. ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Eden: Elysia, you've really had enough! ]
[ Genshin Impact - Paimon: This tsundere personality reminds me of a certain big bird. ]
[ Genshin Impact - Xianyun: How audacious! ]
…
"The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, currently led by Dan Shu, is merely an upstart organization using an ancient name. It was established less than thirty years ago, after the Third Abundance War."
"Taking advantage of the poor communication between Delves and the frequent outbreaks of Mara-struck, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus and the Vidyadhara rebels threw the Stellaron into the Delve where the Ambrosial Arbor is located. This caused the Ambrosial Arbor to sprout, while they simultaneously launched a rebellion in the Alchemy Commission. Jing Yuan initially held his ground and did not move because he wanted to seize this opportunity to pull them out by the roots and wipe them out in one fell swoop."
"To eliminate the treacherous Disciples of Sanctus Medicus from within, Fu Xuan, under Jing Yuan's instructions, was ordered to lead the Cloud Knights to monitor the Alchemy Commission Delve adjacent to the 'Ambrosial Arbor'. Meanwhile, the Astral Express crew took a shortcut through the Artisanship Commission."
"However, they didn't expect that the Abundant Ebon Deer, evolved from the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor, would occupy the Artisanship Commission's Creation Furnace, blocking everyone's path. After some effort to deal with the Ebon Deer, the group arrived at the Alchemy Commission, where Fu Xuan had already stationed her army."
…
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Fu Xuan: As expected, it's you, Dan Shu! ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Dan Shu: Master Diviner, the descent of the Ambrosial Arbor is ordained by heaven. ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Yanqing: Hmph, even now, you are still stubbornly clinging to your delusions? Let me tell you, the Cloud Knights have already arrived at the Alchemy Commission. You'd better come out and surrender quietly. ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Otto Apocalypse: I didn't expect this single video to directly drag out the Abominations of Abundance within the Xianzhou. ]
…
"According to Fu Xuan, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus mixed pills that induce the Mara-struck state into the mist of the Elixir Seekers' Path, causing the Cloud Knights to continuously fall into Mara and retreat. Since the Mara-struck state does not affect short-life species like humans, Fu Xuan and the Express crew went to shut down the crucibles releasing the mist."
"Afterward, they met Dan Shu and engaged in battle. After resolving the ultimate goal of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, Dan Shu realized that she had long been regarded as a disposable pawn by Phantylia. Thus, she exposed Phantylia's identity right in front of everyone, forcing Phantylia to fulfill her promise of bringing disaster to the Xianzhou."
"Seeing that her internal allies, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, were defeated, Phantylia decided to take the field herself. However, she chose a backup plan. She intended to go to Scalegorge Waterscape and use the power of the Stellaron to lay hands on the Ambrosial Arbor, causing its roots to grow continuously, thereby breaking the seal of Scalegorge Waterscape. She aimed to broadcast the power of the Plaguestrifter, turning the Luofu into a mud-river hell overrun by undead abominations."
"To stop Phantylia's conspiracy, the Express crew, led by Fu Xuan, rushed to Scalegorge Waterscape, clearing out the Antimatter Legion that appeared along the way."
"When Jing Yuan and Dan Heng arrived at the Dragonvista Rainhall, they found legion fragments scattered all over the ground. Previously, except for the appearance of the Antimatter Legion, all other potential threats to the Luofu were within Jing Yuan's calculations."
"They then saw the Express crew fighting the Legion's minions. Seeing this, Dan Heng and Jing Yuan went to help, successfully regrouping with the Express crew."
"After Dan Heng came to the stone statue of the High Elder, he was accidentally injured by Yanqing's sword. In front of everyone, he revealed the form he wished to keep hidden—the form of the Vidyadhara High Elder. Later, he used his power to part the waters of the ancient sea, revealing the path leading to the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor."
[ "Tearing open the heart of the sea~~~" ]
"Facing the upcoming battle with the Lord Ravager, Jing Yuan knew he might not return in one piece. Thus, he handed over the military tally to Fu Xuan early on and settled his affairs. Afterward, he and the Express crew went deep into the birthplace of the Xianzhou's long-life species."
…
[ Genshin Impact - Sangonomiya Kokomi: Why does this background song give me a weird feeling? ]
Recalling the lyrics she had just heard, Sangonomiya Kokomi had a bewildered look on her face.
[ Genshin Impact - Gorou: Uh, these lyrics… ]
At this moment, Gorou seemed to have thought of something. His face turned as red as a monkey's butt. But quickly shaking his head to cast away the stray thoughts in his mind, he shouted to the soldiers behind him, "Hurry up and keep up! Don't fall behind!"
[ Honkai: Star Rail - March 7: So cool! Dan Heng, how about I find a sword to stab you with, and you can transform into this form? ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Sparkle: Oh, I suddenly realized that after the people from your Astral Express get stabbed, they all seem to unlock new powers or new forms. That Trailblazer and this Dan Heng are both like this. So, Miss March 7, what about you? ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - March 7: Ah, I don't know about that! Sister Himeko, do the people on our Express really have this kind of ability? ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Himeko: Um, probably not. ]
At this moment, Himeko fell into deep thought. If the people on the Astral Express really unlocked new powers or forms after being stabbed, should she try it herself? If it failed, would she just be gone?
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Fu Hua: Hmm, a dragon. ]
…
"Jing Yuan and the Express crew successfully reached the depths of the Ambrosial Arbor's roots, where they met the Lord Ravager Phantylia, who had already beaten them to it."
"Because her attempt to lay hands on the Ambrosial Arbor was interrupted halfway by the arrival of Jing Yuan and the others, Phantylia mocked them using Tingyun's tone. Afterward, Phantylia used the first fruit of the Ambrosial Arbor to transform into the form of a giant woman."
"Seeing this, Jing Yuan understood that he and the Express crew might not be able to defeat Phantylia alone. Thus, Jing Yuan had the Express crew deal with the Abominable Flowers to distract Phantylia, while he used provocation tactics to constantly mock her during the battle. Using himself as bait, he induced her to attack him, making Phantylia look down on the strength of those present even more."
"When Phantylia entered the second phase, she began to employ her authority of Destruction. The transition from the Abundance Lotus to the Destructive Lotus made Phantylia feel that everything was within her grasp."
"Just then, Jing Yuan revealed Dan Heng's trump card. Under the roaring of the clouds, Phantylia took a heavy blow. After enduring the second wave of attacks, Phantylia revealed her final form, commanding the powers of both Abundance and Destruction. Jing Yuan also had to summon the Lightning-Lord to eliminate the Lotuses of Destruction and Abundance."
"By this point, the battle had reached a white-hot stage. In a confrontation of Emanator-level power, even though the Express crew fought with all their might, they still fell into a disadvantage under the massive gap in strength. After gaining the absolute upper hand, Phantylia decided to turn everyone present into Voidrangers, forging them into Nanook's chess pieces. She decided to start with Jing Yuan first, which fell right into Jing Yuan's trap."
…