"Only thus can I have a clear conscience toward my companions and this world," Dan Heng said, word by word.

"Heh..." Dan Feng gave a light chuckle. "Now that our parting is settled, it is time for you and me to say goodbye. From this point on, everything I left behind will completely dissipate (transforming into the power of 'Permanence'). Step toward your own 'Permanence'. As for how to tame it, that will be your problem."

"Thank you. We cannot return to the past to make a better choice. But at least, we will do better in future cycles. Casting off the battered dragon shell can truly be considered ushering in a new student..."

Dan Heng slowly closed his eyes, as if a wisp of sunlight pierced through the clouds and mist, gently spilling onto his face. "For the first time in my life, I feel so relaxed."

"The burning kindling... Is this the taste of 'Destruction'?" Dan Feng reached out his hand, seemingly wanting to touch something... But his body had already begun to turn into inches of micro-light, dissipating like smoke in the clouds. "This light is unexpectedly warm... Just like..."

"Every time... the moment of waking up from a dream..."

A golden maple leaf drifted away, like old snow falling in a clear sky.

"Farewell, Dan Feng..."

"Now, it is also time for me to set off again."

——

Saint Seiya.

"Farewell, Dan Feng."

"You, too, have made a choice that leaves you with a clear conscience."

Thinking of the past High-Cloud Quintet, of which only three now remained, Seiya couldn't help feeling a heavy lump in his chest.

Before finally disappearing, Dan Feng must have finally found peace of mind.

"The power of the 'Earth', the creatures of that earth Resonance with Dan Heng's 'Permanence' bloodline—can he still use this power to control rocks and land after leaving Amphoreus?"

Hyoga looked over Dan Heng's current appearance. Not only had his clothes changed, but even the dragon horns on his head and the tail behind him had changed as well... Wait, it seemed even his height had changed?

Dan Heng seemed vaguely to have grown a little taller. Was it his imagination?

"The power to control rocks shouldn't work outside, right? This authority is just like Castorice's touch of instant death or Cypher's scheme. But if this form is related to Dan Heng's bloodline... perhaps he can still transform after leaving Amphoreus."

Hearing this, Shun instantly widened his eyes. "Doesn't that mean Dan Heng can both transform into the Imbibitor Lunae to control currents and summon a golden dragon?"

"Mn." Shiryu softly acknowledged, his gaze still lingering on the dragon silhouette enveloped in golden radiance within the Celestial Screen. "If Dan Heng can truly master both powers with ease, then not only has he walked out of the shadow of his past life, but he has also forged a Path of his own, fusing the past and present back together in his own way."

——

"The final rebellion of the 'Earth' is to affix the wings of 'Trailblaze' for the living beings of the world... For Desolate Flute, this should be the best ending."

Hysilens looked in the direction where her companion had disappeared. Behind her, a lava-filled passageway penetrated deep into the earth, rolling with heat waves.

"Behind that scar is the 'Deepest Place' she spoke of. The heat tells me that Gray Fish is within it... But at this moment, she is trapped in a bottomless vortex."

"Is 'Evernight' by her side?" Dan Heng asked.

"Sorry, I can hardly tell."

Dan Heng thoughtfully examined the entrance of the passage. "A scorching abyss... If I rashly step into it alone, getting lost is inevitable." He turned and asked, "Lady Hysilens, could you please provide cover for me? Next, I must concentrate completely and probably won't be able to look after my surroundings."

"What are you going to do?"

"Continue your previous attempt."

Previously, Hysilens had tried to chase Evernight with a surge of waters, but was blocked by Desolate Flute's rock layers.

"Things are different now; the layered rocks... are already completely within my grasp."

"I believe this is worth a try." A trace of worry flashed across Hysilens's face. "Only... without absolute and unyielding determination, you will still be blocked by that tide of memories, let alone fish out your companion from within. The process of searching for Gray Fish might be as long as an endless night... Be sure to be careful; wandering amidst the 'Time' is by no means easy."

"Do not worry, Lady Hysilens. Just as you guarded the seabed alone for a thousand Time, my determination to retrieve Xing... is also more indestructible than the 'Earth'."

——

Ling Cage.

"Evernight must be by her side!" Xia Dou was extremely anxious.

"Not necessarily. Have you forgotten Black Swan?" Suixing expressionlessly reminded. "The time Dan Heng obtained the Earth Kindling is very likely synchronized with the actions of Black Swan and Sunday. In other words, while Dan Heng is acting, Black Swan is very likely holding down Evernight."

Xia Dou couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat for Black Swan. "Miss Black Swan... Uh, is she probably worried about how to escape from Evernight's hands right now? Can this even be considered 'holding down'?"

"At least it attracted her attention, right? Besides, the flow of time in the Path Interstice where Black Swan is located might not be consistent with the inside of Amphoreus. Perhaps her holding back Evernight for a few minutes could help Dan Heng buy several Time or even decades of time."

"This... is truly buying time with one's life."

"There's no help for it; time is not on Dan Heng and the others' side. But in Xing's memory, Cyrene might also be causing trouble for Evernight right now." Suixing recalled, pressing her finger against her chin. "Although Evernight is extremely dangerous to anyone outside of the Astral Express Crew, March 7th alone is her Achilles' heel."

"If Cyrene can wake up that pink jellyfish..."

Xia Dou instantly understood. "Make March 7th persuade Evernight!"

"But the problem is, without the help of Evernight's power, can March 7th... and even the entire Astral Express Crew, deal with Iron Tomb?" Suixing sighed softly. "March 7th can persuade Evernight to surrender control of her body, but she can't persuade that big guy Iron Tomb."

——

"Ancient sacred tree, lend me your root system. Use the kindling I bear to Resonance with this land." Dan Heng placed his hand over his heart. "With heaven and earth as the horizontal axis and time as the vertical axis, I will find that single point (you, sleeping in the tide of memories)."

"Even if I have to use my own feet to traverse every corner of these mountains and lands..."

"I will bring you home."