【 "I promise you, Desolate Flute." 】

【 "That is good. The moment of the divine power's succession, this place will surely fall apart... To prop up the holy tree from its impending collapse, are you prepared?" 】

【 Dan Heng nodded without hesitation: "Of course." 】

【 "Then release my lingering remains, and let me bestow upon you this fire that strays from the Flame-Chasing — my duty as a demigod, I shall lay it down at this very moment." 】

【 " 'You shall dig your own grave and be consumed in the furnace of rebellion'... " The light in Desolate Flute's eyes contracted inch by inch, flickering like a candle in the wind. It was like a weary giant carrying the earth on its shoulders, finally waiting for a moment of rest. 】

【 "May the long-absent chest of my father (the Earth Nautilus) accept my return." 】

【 Dan Heng slowly closed his eyes, feeling the scorching heat and heaviness emanating from that flame. He extended his arm, welcoming the flame toward his body. 】

【 "Come, crouching beast: for the endless cycle of this world — reborn from dormancy, follow me to become the soaring desolate dragon!" 】

— —

Genshin Impact.

"Oh... It's starting, it's starting!"

On Mount Aocang, Mountain Shaper put down the teacup in his hand, looking expectantly at Dan Heng in the Celestial Screen. He had long wanted to see what kind of situation would occur when the dragon descendant of "Immortality" combined with the flame.

"Moon Carver, do you think Dan Heng will grow stone armor all over his body like an Earthbeast after fusing with the flame? Or will his size become larger or something?"

"What, are you looking forward to it?"

"Naturally. Kid Dan Heng's changes when he stimulated the power of the Imbibitor Lunae last time were certainly huge. This time, having obtained the power of the 'Earth', I wonder if there will be any other changes?"

"Heh, changes... Changes like Evernight?" Cloud Retainer gave a light snort and pushed up the glasses on the bridge of her nose.

"No, no, no, that girl turning into her current appearance is already troublesome enough." Hearing this, Mountain Shaper waved his hands repeatedly. "I just think that rocks, making a pact with the earth-supporting crouching dragon, a youth, the weapon being a long spear—its appearance alone makes people feel ten times... no, a hundred times more at ease. Hearing this, don't you guys feel..."

Halfway through his words, Mountain Shaper picked up his cup, took a sip of tea, and timely cut off the conversation.

"Feel what?" Cloud Retainer cleared her throat, cast a sidelong glance, and said, "If you want to talk about Rex Lapis, just say it directly. Why stuttering and stammering? Could it be that as an adeptus of Liyue, you can't even say the two words 'Rex Lapis'?"

"Ahem, I previously just thought that Welt and Rex Lapis had rather similar voices, but now it seems that the one most resembling Rex Lapis is actually this Dan Heng."

— —

【 "Take it..." 】

【 "My final rebellion..." 】

【 The moment the flame fell into Dan Heng's palm, Desolate Flute's massive body suddenly stagnated, disappearing in front of Dan Heng like golden dust scattered by the wind. 】

【 The moment Dan Heng gripped the flame in his palm, the next instant the earth let out waves of roars, causing even the entire Arbor Court to begin trembling. 】

【 Dan Heng raised his head, only to see the holy tree emit an unbearable groan as its massive trunk began to slowly lean over. For a time, countless withered wood debris fell like rain, and the cubs of the Earthbeast and chimaera scattered and fled toward the outer periphery of the Arbor Court. 】

【 "——Then, proclaim the new god's name to the 'Earth'!" 】

【 The Cloud-Piercer emerged in response, and with a tap of Dan Heng's feet, his entire figure shot across the wilderness like a shooting star, charging toward the holy tree without hesitation. The spear tip pressed hard against the tree trunk, forcibly propping up the declining momentum that was about to crush the earth! 】

【 For a moment, countless memories of the past gushed forth: the High-Cloud Quintet drinking and toasting together, the adventures with March 7th and Stelle in Belobog, everyone in the Astral Express Crew fighting formidable enemies together... The flame of the earth seemed to be ignited by these memories, instantly bursting forth with unprecedented blazing light. 】

【 A golden giant dragon surged out from around Dan Heng, its dragon roar shaking the heavens amidst Dan Heng's roar. It quickly wrapped around the main trunk of the holy tree, pulling it back continuously. In an instant, countless dragon-shaped stone pillars rose from the earth, staggered like an array, steadily supporting the holy tree. 】

【 "I am 'Dan Heng'—" 】

【 "The one who guards the path ahead of the Trailblaze—!" 】

【 Amidst Dan Heng's continuous roars, the stone pillars pushed upwards slowly until they righted the holy tree once again, only then shattering into pieces. 】

【 In the brilliant golden light, Dan Heng held his spear with one hand, his attire completely renewed, and even a pair of distinct golden long horns grew atop his head. 】

— —

jackie chan adventures.

"Look quickly, Uncle Jackie! Dan Heng is transforming again!"

"This Dan Heng is also very good-looking, and the dragon behind him is much more handsome than Shendu!"

Jade excitedly shook the arm of Uncle Jackie beside her while pointing at the golden dragon coiled behind him in the Celestial Screen. The dragon scales were as golden as the sun, and looking at them, Jade even found it somewhat dazzling.

But looking at that bright golden dragon, Jade inexplicably thought of Shendu and couldn't help asking out of curiosity: "By the way, Uncle Jackie, what would happen if Shendu obtained the power of the 'Earth'?"

"Hmm... Jade, do you mean in Amphoreus?" Uncle Jackie gently pushed aside Jade's hand and lowered his head to think.

"Of course."

"I'm afraid nothing would happen." Uncle Jackie shrugged. "First of all, Desolate Flute would never hand over the flame to a demon like Shendu. Whether it was Caesar's time or Dan Heng's this time, facing choices sufficient to change Amphoreus, Desolate Flute always stood in the right direction. With its wisdom and vision, it is impossible for it not to see through Shendu's conspiracy."

"But suppose—I mean suppose, Shendu deceived it with sweet words, and it really handed the flame over to Shendu. The holy tree collapses, the earth shatters... But Shendu probably wouldn't pay the slightest attention to the agreement with Desolate Flute, choosing instead to turn around and leave."

"Eh? Why is that?"

"Because Shendu is a demon sorcerer; as everyone knows, he does not keep his promises."

"Oh, alright." Jade felt that Uncle Jackie made a lot of sense.

"However, Jade, the premise of your question must be that Shendu is a descendant of 'Immortality'." Uncle Jackie said very seriously, "There are indeed traces of 'Immortality' on Shendu, but he is a dragon, a demon, and a sorcerer. It is hard to say whether the proportion of the demon on him is greater or the proportion of the dragon descendant is greater. If the life carried by the earth cannot Resonance with his bloodline, then even if the flame is placed in front of him, he cannot become a demigod."

— —

【 "Fortunately..." 】

【 "The worst outcome did not happen." 】

【 Dan Feng's figure gradually dissipated under the light, like an old shadow growing progressively thin blown by the wind, its outline blurring bit by bit. 】

【 "If the other party has degenerated into a harmful beast, it just spares you the psychological burden—if that demigod harbors ill intent, or refuses to obey to the death... would you point the tip of your spear at it and gouge out this flame with your own hands?" 】

【 "Discussing 'ifs' has no meaning. But, I am very glad that the ending ultimately did not fall to that step. No matter what, I will try to enter the game with my own body and become a part of 'Re-Genesis'." 】