Chapter 152: Incomplete Reincarnation Is the Same as Not Reincarnating at All

"General!" Yan Qing cheered.

Jing Yuan's gaze signaled him not to stand up yet, to rest well. He lifted his eyes to Ren and Dan Heng, a feeling indescribable in his eyes.

The past was vivid before his eyes, both sorrowful and joyful... but in the end he pretended to be relaxed and smiled: "You two, after a long separation, return to the Celestial Vessel, yet always in awkward situations. If you think of old friendships, you should have told me earlier."

Ren said coldly, "What I needed to do is already finished."

"Hmm, finished," Jing Yuan nodded, turned to Kafuka and Ren: "You helped the Celestial Vessel with a small favor, I'm grateful. Take this person away; this time I can pretend I didn't see."

"General?! I..." Yan Qing could hardly believe his ears.

"Now is not the time to discuss that," Jing Yuan shook his head solemnly.

New Aili City, Cunning Rabbit House—

"Hey! Jing Yuan! How could you let Kafuka and Ren go so easily? That Ren has beaten up your subordinate before!" Seeing Jing Yuan show no intention of backing Yan Qing, Nicole was about to let out a sharp roar.

"Calm down, Leader Nicole!" Billy quickly intervened: "The general must have his reasons. Maybe... uh, maybe he wants to train Yan Qing."

"Look, the last time Yan Qing was defeated by Mirror Flow he grasped a new technique; perhaps after this mixed double attack he could grasp double the new techniques!"

"It's like... I got slapped and then suddenly got a million dinnies; even if Leader Nicole doesn't back me up, it's not a loss, right?"

"Eh? One, a million dinnies? Ahem... if that's really given, I think Billy, you getting slapped a few more times isn't a big deal."

Nicole's attitude suddenly made a 180° turn; turning back she corrected righteously, "And Billy, don't phrase it so crudely; how can that be called taking a slap? It's called—Firepower Suppression High‑Intelligence Tactical Unit Head‑Impact Test!"

"If such an opportunity truly exists, you should run several more tests. That way the Cunning Rabbit House's debt... oh no, your machine's performance also improves—simply fantastic!"

Jing Yuan watched Kafuka and Ren depart, then turned back to Dan Heng: "Long time no see... old friend."

"I'm not him," Dan Heng said, his calm voice tinged with fatigue.

"Hmm... sorry," Jing Yuan laughed lightly, looking at Dan Heng who was about to leave, and gently reminded, "You can't go yet, because your train companions are waiting for you in the Scale Abyss Realm. Shall we go together to see them?"

Dan Heng nodded, and followed Jing Yuan together with a large contingent of Cloud Cavalry.

Soon they arrived at a secret realm deeper within the Scale Abyss Realm, where they could faintly see in the distance the "Manifest Dragon Great Yu Hall" and the towering Dragon Sovereign statue at its center.

Seeing such a scene again, Jing Yuan felt rather emotional.

"The ancient sea of rippling moon, a wondrous realm. The scenery of the Scale Abyss Realm remains unchanged since our last visit. Yet now, you and I standing here are different. It shows that even as immortal flesh beings, we cannot stand shoulder to shoulder with heaven and earth."

"General should know the nature of the Sustaining Brightness reincarnation metamorphosis," Dan Heng said calmly. "The waters of the ancient sea have already cleansed Dan Feng's sins. Those who once stood here with you are no longer present."

"Hmm... Lord Fu Lian, does that mean Dan Heng's previous life was called Dan Feng, a criminal of the Celestial Vessel beyond record, but he has reincarnated through the metamorphosis into Dan Heng, right?"

Filien quickly organized the information on the light screen and concluded: "It was his previous life that committed the crime; Dan Heng is actually innocent."

"Hmm, but there are still some doubts..." Fu Lian pointed at the pair of dragon horns on Dan Heng's head on the light screen. "According to the Sustaining Brightness clan's customs, metamorphosis severs ties with the previous life, yet why does Dan Heng still possess the Dragon Sovereign's power and part of the memories?"

"They say it's metamorphosis, yet it doesn't feel complete. In short... very strange."

"Ah, no wonder Ren said Dan Heng 'has never even died once', now I see why!"

Hutaerk suddenly realized: "The Sustaining Brightness reincarnation equals death in the previous life, but Dan Feng's reincarnation... likely encountered an accident, leaving the Dragon Sovereign's power and memories intact within Dan Heng."

"That doesn't add up," Zan Yin frowned in confusion. "The Dragon Sovereign's power is inherited; if Dan Heng possesses it and was exiled from the Celestial Vessel, then the current Sustaining Brightness Dragon Sovereign must be..."

"Could it really be Miss Bailu?"

Filien recalled the Dragon Sovereign candidate that everyone initially rejected.

"I am Dan Heng. That Dan Feng, whether hero or sinner, has nothing to do with me. I have taken his punishment, accepting permanent exile— I have no grievance, but when the general sees me, please discard the shadow of the past," Dan Heng said calmly.

"Ah... bringing up old matters is like stirring a murky pond, only causing displeasure," Jing Yuan sighed. "Perhaps it's your appearance... perhaps those dragon horns, with a faint Dragon Sovereign aura, always make me associate you with old friends."

"..." Dan Heng emphasized again: "I've already said—"

"Yes, you said it, so what now?" Jing Yuan tilted his head slightly, smiling as he interrupted, "If a single sentence could change how others view you, there would be fewer conflicts in the world. You want me to stop seeing you as Dan Feng, fine, do one thing for me."

"Help me one last favor using Dan Feng's identity; once this matter is settled, I will let him die and lift your exile decree. From then on I can guarantee, at least on Luofu, you will no longer be anyone's shadow."

Upon hearing that, Dan Heng shook his head: "What Dan Feng could achieve, I might not be able to."

"You must do it, otherwise all promises are void," Jing Yuan, unusually domineering, added, "If you must blame someone, blame your previous life. Had he not committed that blunder, and if the Dragon Transformation power could be fully inherited, I wouldn't need to force you."

"Just now I said: today, you and I standing here are different. Dan Feng is gone, only Dan Heng remains, and I..."

"I am already a Luofu General; some things, even unwillingly, must still be done."