The next segment of the plot left players who liked Tingyun in utter anguish.
Upon arriving at the Palace of Astrum, they meet the Ten-Lords Commission judge Xueyi and inform Yukong of Tingyun's death.
Then, together with Yukong, they hold the foxian-exclusive soul-soothing ritual.
During the process, sorting through Tingyun's relics and gathering items needed for the ceremony gave the overwhelming impression that Tingyun was truly gone, never to return.
"I was wondering during the preview how this plot would transition back to Leon."
"The five-star version of him isn't the current him; he's from the past. I couldn't figure out how they'd connect the dots for now."
Ah Xian glances at the cutscene playing on the screen and slowly falls into thought.
Unfortunately, no ideas come to her.
But the subsequent plot reveals exactly how they connect it.
[After the soul-soothing ritual ends, you temporarily remain on the Luofu, waiting day and night for new information about Leon.]
[Time passes quickly, yet for those anxiously awaiting something, every day feels like a year.]
The screen fades to black with white text, then lights up again.
Stelle, March 7th, and Welt are on Exalting Sanctum's Xuanye Avenue in Central Starskiff Haven. March 7th sits on a bench, holding a cup of immortal's bliss tea.
"It's been so long… how is there still no news…"
March 7th's cheeks puff out slightly. This cup of milk tea somehow doesn't taste as good as the one she bought when they first arrived at Exalting Sanctum.
Stelle puts down her phone: "Uncle Yang, can I ask you something?"
Welt: "Go ahead."
"Where was our originally planned next destination?"
"Calling it a journey feels more like…"
Before she finishes, a distinctive notification sound suddenly rings out. The three of them instantly change expressions.
They've been waiting for this special alert tone for ages!
The moment anything changes with Leon inside the Ambrosial Arbor Cave Heaven, Dan Heng will contact everyone this way.
March 7th: "We finally got your message, Dan Heng! How's Leon now?"
Dan Heng: "We're on our way back to the Alchemy Commission. The situation is complicated. Let's talk when we meet."
Stelle: "Got it. We're heading out now!"
"Yes yes yes!" Ah Xian cheers.
Without another word, she teleports to the Alchemy Commission and rushes straight to the quest marker—
In front of a certain building.
Press F to enter.
The interior layout is exactly the same room where they once spoke with Sparkle.
The cutscene triggers.
Leon lies on the bed. His complexion is no longer the previous deathly pallor; a healthy flush has returned.
Beside him stand Dan Heng and Jing Yuan, both frowning deeply.
The three quickly walk to the bedside, carefully examining Leon for a moment. Identical joy emerges on their faces.
Perfect!
He no longer looks like someone who has lost their life. Most importantly, his chest rises and falls—he's alive again.
But when they take in Dan Heng's and Jing Yuan's expressions, they freeze.
Welt: "Judging by your grave faces, did some unforeseen complication arise?"
Dan Heng and Jing Yuan exchange a glance. The former speaks in a low voice.
"Just two hours ago, Leon stopped absorbing the Abundance power from the Ambrosial Arbor in whale-like gulps and broke out of his shell."
Stelle blinks: "Broke out of his shell?"
Dan Heng organizes his thoughts and explains slowly:
"By the third day at the Ambrosial Arbor, Leon had transformed—like the Vidyadhara egg reincarnation—into a pure silver-white egg that continuously devoured Abundance power."
"This state persisted until today, when anomalies suddenly appeared inside the cave heaven: lightning flashed overhead, gales howled without cease."
"The silver egg blazed with light all over, cracks spreading across its surface."
"After more than ten seconds, the light receded, the eggshell gradually vanished, and Leon inside was revealed."
"He rode the wind whipped up by the cave heaven, quietly hovering in mid-air, eyes tightly shut."
"The General and I thought he would wake soon, but even after waiting a long time, there was no movement."
March 7th: "Could it be because he slept too long all at once? Let me try waking him."
She leans forward slightly, moving close to Leon.
"Time to get up, Leon. Can you hear me?"
Leon's breathing remains long and steady, perfectly rhythmic, with no reaction.
"Hey hey hey, shady doctor? Fun guy?"
Still no movement.
March 7th forces an awkward smile: "Uh… haha… looks like that won't work."
Jing Yuan: "I've already notified the Pearlkeeper dragon girl to see if she can diagnose the exact reason for Leon's coma."
The conclusion leaves everyone present—and countless players—speechless.
Bailu fusses for a long while, her brows furrowed so deeply they nearly reach her nose.
"Strange, strange… really strange…"
"Little Bailu, just tell us what's strange!" March 7th says, slightly anxious.
Bailu: "Mr. Leon is currently in excellent condition. In fact, his physical state is as pure as a newborn's."
"Normally, ordinary awakening methods would be enough to rouse him."
"But the problem now is—"
She pauses, seemingly double-checking the accuracy of her diagnosis, her face full of deep contemplation.
March 7th can't help rolling her eyes.
No wonder Xianzhou people love to beat around the bush. Leon was always better—he'd just say whatever was on his mind.
This is killing her.
"—the problem now is that Mr. Leon's consciousness is equally pure. So pure that the only word for it is hollow."
Everyone freezes, then falls into thought.
"In short-life species terms, this person has lost all memories."
March 7th tilts her head, confused: "But I lost all my memories too, and I still woke up from the ice, right?"
"No no no!"
Bailu's little face turns serious as she explains further.
"When I say all, I mean including the consciousness and neural memories of an intelligent being."
"This explanation might be a bit awkward, but that's the truth. Take common plants, for example."
"Plants are undoubtedly a form of life, yet ordinary plants possess neither consciousness nor neural structures."
"They only have the instinct—as living beings—to rely on and adapt to their current environment to survive."
"Mr. Leon is currently similar to that. His constitution seems even more unique than the Xianzhou long-life species, allowing him to remain alive in this state."
"As long as he isn't killed, no external interference can wake him."
"To put it in the most straightforward way short-life species can understand—he's a vegetable."
"Of course, Mr. Leon's condition is far more severe than any vegetable."
"I don't know what method you used to revive him, but now it seems you saved him… yet didn't fully save him."
"Really bizarre… This lady has treated countless patients, but this is the first time I've ever encountered someone like Mr. Leon."
Bailu's words are like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone present and countless players.
Stelle frowns deeply: "Is there no way to treat him?"
Bailu: "Hard to say. Maybe someone from the Remembrance faction could help, but only if Mr. Leon had previously entrusted his memories to THEM."
"Alternatively, a Memokeeper could extract memories related to him through his belongings and implant them into his consciousness."
"But from what I understand, that method carries extremely high risk. Even if he wakes up, he might no longer be the original him."
"Could you accept that outcome?"