Chapter 116: Dan Heng's New Harvest
"It's a Zanpakutō! The item description says they have a 'Blade Soul' from the Xianzhou legends!" March 7th explained with an air of newfound expertise, mimicking what she had just read.
"They recognize their master! Even if you hold it, it's just a particularly sharp, particularly cold ordinary blade. You can't activate its true power at all. Things like freezing or soul attacks? Don't even think about it!"
She paused, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she watched Stelle's face instantly fall. Then, she twisted the knife.
"Besides, look at its pure ice-and-snow attribute. It's practically incompatible with your Fire Dance Whirlwind's fiery, passionate nature! Forcing them together might even weaken both of them! Tsk tsk, what a pity!"
"Recognizes its master... attribute conflict..." After hearing March 7th's explanation, Stelle felt as though she'd been struck by lightning, left completely petrified on the spot.
All her enthusiastic praise just now, was it all for nothing? Her 'flexible' tactic of borrowing the blade was completely useless against the ironclad rules of master-recognition and elemental counters.
A huge sense of loss, a feeling of having 'lost big time,' instantly overwhelmed her.
The brilliant smile vanished from her face without a trace, replaced by a complex expression mixed with annoyance, unwillingness, and a stubborn pout. She suddenly stood up straight, crossed her arms, and lifted her chin, using an exaggerated tone to conceal the envy, jealousy, and resentment churning inside her.
"Hmph! It's just a purple-quality item! What's so great about it! I'll draw one next time, and I'll get something even cooler and more powerful than yours! I'll make you all die of envy!"
Seeing Stelle's classic 'sour grapes' tsundere act, March 7th's mood actually improved. She uncharacteristically decided not to bicker, instead smiling and coaxing her friend. "Yes, yes, yes, our Stelle has the best luck! She'll definitely draw something even more powerful next time! Maybe even a golden legend!"
"Glad you know!" Stelle snorted, turning her head away with a flourish, as if that simple motion could shake off her longing for the beautiful Sode no Shirayuki.
Just then, a thought struck her. March 7th wasn't the only one who drew! There was also the quietly prosperous Dan Heng standing right next to her. She had been so busy envying March's new blade that she'd almost forgotten about him.
Stelle immediately shifted her target, hoping to find some 'comfort'or'balance' from Dan Heng's results. She turned her head to look at him, who had been standing quietly by the whole time, seemingly detached from the commotion. "Oh, right, Dan Heng!" she asked, her voice still laced with a lingering sourness and a healthy dose of curiosity. "Did you draw anything good? You didn't... draw a purple one too, did you?"
She asked cautiously, half-afraid of hearing another answer that would only deepen her despair.
Hearing his name, Dan Heng withdrew his gaze from his contemplation of the star-dusted sea outside the window. He calmly looked at Stelle and March 7th, who had both leaned in with curious faces. His expression was as unperturbed as ever, as if the earlier excitement over the purple-quality Zanpakutō had nothing to do with him.
Dan Heng's steady voice cut through the subtle, charged atmosphere that had settled over the observation car. "The harvest was acceptable."
He paused, his gaze calmly sweeping over the expectant faces of Stelle and March 7th, as well as Sunday, who was observing with polite interest from not far away. "Although there were no purple items, there were some practical things."
Dan Heng's eyes flickered over his mental item list. "Among them is a 'Star Rail Universal Tea Maker,' and..." His tone carried a hint of imperceptible inquiry. "...a Dragon Orb from another world."
He raised his hand. The space in his palm rippled subtly, and a smooth, fist-sized orb glowing with a deep red light emerged. The sphere seemed somewhat ominous; the ancient, majestic aura it emitted even caused the dragon blood within Dan Heng's own veins to stir slightly, but his powerful willpower instantly suppressed the reaction.
Even Sunday, who had maintained his elegant composure throughout, had a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He unconsciously took a small step closer, curious to see just how they had obtained these strange items.
"More, this." Dan Heng held the precious orb, his voice still steady, but both Stelle and March 7th detected an unusual solemnity in his tone.
"This item is called the 'Red-Bearded Dragon Orb,'" Dan Heng said, holding up the sphere for the curious crowd that had gathered around him. "According to the chat group's information, it originates from an extremely vast world. In that world, the Red-Bearded Dragon is one of the 'Four Rivers Dragon Gods' who govern a region of water."
"Dragon God? Sounds amazing!" March 7th exclaimed, leaning in to examine the orb closely. "Like the Dragon Lord in Xianzhou?"
"Perhaps similar in status, but the power system and origin are completely different," Dan Heng added with his characteristic rigor. "The structure of that world is extremely grand; the descriptions even mention 'all the stars in the heavens revolve around it,' indicating its high standing. This orb is by no means ordinary, yet its blue quality is truly strange."
Stelle stared at the Dragon Orb, her eyes sparkling, and couldn't help but interject, "A Dragon Orb! Dan Heng, this sounds a bit like your deep Orb! Is this another new weapon? I really want a new weapon too!" She thought of her own plain Flame Lance, then looked at March 7th's sparkling Sode no Shirayuki, and then at the Dragon Orb in Dan Heng's hand. Her tone was filled with unconcealed longing.
Dan Heng shook his head, refuting Stelle's guess. "No. This Dragon Orb is not a weapon. It's more like a... vessel of inheritance and a token of trial."
He carefully interpreted the information from the chat group in his mind. "It seems to contain some knowledge and mysteries about the dragon race of that world. More, it represents an opportunity for a 'trial.' If one can pass the trial, they can purify the resentment on this Dragon Orb and gain some of the power characteristics of that world's dragon race."
He elaborated, "According to the information, the Red-Bearded Dragon is one of the four powerful Dragon Gods who rule the 'Four Rivers' water systems in that world. This Dragon Orb contains some information about their kind. By passing the trial, one can receive an inheritance and gain a portion of the abilities belonging to the dragon race of that world."
"Inheritance? Trial? Gaining the power of a dragon race?" Stelle and March 7th nodded repeatedly. This sounded far cooler than a simple weapon, full of potential for growth and a tantalizing sense of mystery.
Sunday, who had been listening quietly, now took a few steps closer. He carefully examined the Red-Bearded Dragon Orb, his brows slightly furrowed as he raised a crucial question.
"Mr. Dan Heng, you just mentioned 'partial'inheritance and'partial'abilities. And according to your description of the'Four Rivers Dragon Gods'..."
"Does that mean there are a total of four such Dragon Orbs? If all four are collected, does it mean one can obtain a complete, more powerful inheritance?"
Clearly, Sunday's thinking was as sharp as ever.
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