235 - Elasia Saga

Fu Yan glanced at the entrance to the secret realm. The space there had returned to tranquility, and the mysterious area had vanished into the void. The Mo Ling had been completely dealt with, and everything had settled. Retracting her gaze, Fu Yan turned to Yuan He and Yi Tu, her expression somewhat stern as she instructed, “From today onwards, we must leave the matters of the secret realm behind and ensure not a whisper escapes.” Even though the two men were unaware of the details concerning the Mo Ling, it was not a trivial matter. If word got out, it would undoubtedly cause unnecessary panic. Opportunists might try to take advantage of the situation. “Yes,” they both agreed, seemingly still shaken by the recent events. Yi Tu was particularly puzzled, as the happenings in the secret realm felt like a clouded mystery to him. Hearing Fu Yan’s command, he naturally dared not probe further. It seemed this truth must remain buried within them. Just as Fu Yan was about to deploy her spirit ship to leave the ancient forest with the group, Bai Yue Li suddenly looked up and confidently said, “Someone’s coming.” “Swish! Swish!” No sooner had she spoken than three figures swiftly approached from outside the forest, landing steadily not far from the group in an instant. With just a glance, Fu Yan discerned their power—a practitioner at the Mahayana stage and two at the latter stage of the Transformation Void. Judging by their appearance, they seemed to have come here deliberately for training. Upon landing, one of the individuals at the latter stage of the Transformation Void fixed his gaze on the direction behind Fu Yan’s group and said, “Brother, the light from the treasure appeared right here.” With that, the three directed their darkened eyes at Fu Yan and her companions. “We arrived just after the light vanished. They must have beaten us to it and taken the treasure,” another Transformation Void practitioner murmured softly. Upon hearing this, Fu Yan understood. It seemed the brilliant sword light from the destruction of the secret realm had pierced through, luring nearby cultivators who were training or passing by. A sudden light in the dense woods was easily mistaken for a treasure being revealed, and it was clear that was their assumption. The Mahayana practitioner’s gaze lingered on Fu Yan, hesitating on whether to resort to violence for profit, assuming she was the most formidable based on the others’ unfathomable level, specifically Bai Yue Li’s cultivation, which appeared inscrutable. “If I may ask, what treasure was it that emerged just now?” the Mahayana expert inquired hesitantly, weighing the risks involved. Fu Yan guessed that the sword light likely attracted more than these three and wished not to delay any longer. She met their eyes, her gaze slightly cold. “Not something for the likes of you.” It was understandable they were drawn here by the sword light, and Fu Yan had little interest in them. However, if they truly contemplated robbery, she would not let that slide easily. “Brother, what should we do?” the two Transformation Void practitioners communicated quietly, seeking guidance from their leader. The Mahayana expert’s eyes darkened, and as he stared at Fu Yan, he sneered, “Child, let’s see who’s going to stop us today.” Wealth and fortune often come with risks, and having come this far, they seemed willing to gamble. Even if they couldn’t win, the Mahayana practitioner believed he could retreat unharmed. With that, he launched himself towards Fu Yan. Yet, Bai Yue Li’s eyes glimmered; she waved her hand lightly, effortlessly sending him flying. In one fatal move, his chest was left with a lingering trace of terrifying demonic energy. Seeing their leader, a Mahayana practitioner, defeated in a single strike, the other two were shocked and hurried to flee. But in an instant, a swooping blade pierced through their foreheads. They didn’t even have time to react before their eyes widened, and they fell. Fu Yan, planning the revival of Shuanghua Palace, regarded resources as essential, and she didn’t hesitate to claim the storage rings from the three individuals, pocketing them with a simple motion. “Sister, more are coming. Let’s leave first.” With that, Fu Yan released her spirit ship, and the four of them quickly transformed into a beam of light, shooting upwards. “Thud!” The spirit ship soared back into the clouds, quickly disappearing from the ancient forest. Shortly after the ship vanished, another group arrived at the scene. Gasping at the three corpses sprawled on the ground, they were shocked. “Is this... the work of demon cultivators?” ... As for what the newcomers thought, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li weren’t concerned. Now upon the spirit ship, after a harrowing ordeal, the group finally rested easier. Yuan He and Yi Tu, still nursing their injuries, soon began meditating to heal themselves, while the drain on Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li was less than expected. “Thankfully, the secret realm collapsed. Had the Mo Ling emerged, it would have led to catastrophe across the continent,” Fu Yan recounted with a lingering sense of fear from what transpired. Bai Yue Li nodded, her voice gentle, “It was the sacrifice of the Elegant Sword Immortal that brought about this outcome.” Indeed, Fu Yan held great respect for the Elegant Sword Immortal. Sighing gently, Fu Yan didn't dwell on it too long. After all, it was all past. She finally had time to study the dual cultivation technique that surfaced in her mind. To be honest, this dual cultivation technique was a masterpiece, causing no harm to either party involved. Naturally, it required a bit more time than regular cultivation techniques. “Sister,” Fu Yan paused, suddenly lifting her gaze to Bai Yue Li, then took her hand, transmitting the cultivation method from her mind to Bai Yue Li’s. Instantly, the details of the dual cultivation method slowly emerged in Bai Yue Li’s mind. “I looked it over, and this dual cultivation method is indeed flawless, significantly boosting cultivation,” Fu Yan said, smiling slightly at Bai Yue Li. Given the sacred bond between Yuan Yun and the Elegant Sword Immortal, naturally, she practiced the best dual cultivation technique. Hearing this, Bai Yue Li faltered briefly. Realizing Fu Yan’s implication, she awkwardly averted her gaze, subtly withdrawing her hand. Though her ears blushed, she maintained a facade of calm tranquility. “Alright, let me review it,” Bai Yue Li said. Seeing Bai Yue Li’s shyness, Fu Yan’s smile deepened, yet she refrained from pressing further. They still needed time to master the dual cultivation technique. Without dwelling on it, Fu Yan quickly summed up their gains from this venture. The wealth within Mu Shao Hong’s storage rings was nearly inexhaustible. There were close to a million high-grade spirit stones, dozens of supreme-grade spirit stones, and countless other spirit herbs and pills, making it a small treasure trove. There were also a few spirit artifacts, though currently not particularly useful to Fu Yan, who intended to give one each to Yuan He and Yi Tu. As for the trio that attempted to rob them earlier, their storage rings held nothing extraordinary, but they did help replenish Fu Yan’s resources. “I never realized it before, but preparing to revive Shuanghua Palace has shown how meager my current resources are,” Fu Yan murmured while sorting her assets. To resurrect Shuanghua Palace required far more resources than presently available. Bai Yue Li understood and agreed, adding, “Treasures from the demonic realm aren’t suitable for ordinary cultivators.” Fu Yan chuckled softly and sighed, “Don’t worry, sister. I’ll manage Shuanghua Palace within my means.” Bai Yue Li nodded, confident in Fu Yan’s capability. At that moment, Fu Yan discovered a valuable artifact in Mu Shao Hong’s storage ring. Her eyes gleamed as she quickly took it out. “Sister, look at this!” Bai Yue Li’s curiosity piqued by Fu Yan’s delight, glanced at the object in Fu Yan’s hands—a pair of seemingly ordinary small mirrors. Yet, they were intricately carved with ancient patterns and slightly convex in shape. “Acoustic Recognition Mirrors?” Bai Yue Li instantly recognized the pair. The Acoustic Recognition Mirrors, legendary artifacts crafted from ancient dragon scales, allowed communication regardless of distance, provided both parties were in the same space, just by infusing them with spiritual power. Fu Yan gazed at the mirrors, amused. They were akin to modern cell phones. There were many treasures on the continent for communicating, but the Acoustic Recognition Mirrors were rare since they could not only transmit voice but also small items. Fu Yan nodded, meeting Bai Yue Li’s eyes. “I didn’t expect the Mu family’s young master to possess such a treasure.” It's not entirely unexpected, given that, as the heir of his family, he would need to maintain constant contact with them. Fortunately, the small secret realm existed in a separate space; otherwise, they would have immediately informed their family about Fu Yan's situation, leading to the Mu family hunting her down. Regaining her focus, Fu Yan handed one of the Acoustic Recognition Mirrors to Bai Yue Li, smiling as she said, "Sister, one for each of us." This way, even if Bai Yue Li returned to the demonic realm, they could still stay in touch. Bai Yue Li regarded the mirror before her and naturally accepted it, recognizing its importance for both her and Fu Yan. After taking stock of all they had gained, Fu Yan breathed deeply, as if recalling something, and suddenly asked Bai Yue Li, “By the way, Sister, do you know when the next Dao Discussion of the Celestial Sects is?” The Dao Discussion of the Celestial Sects is a grand event across the continent, open to all top-tier sects from each region. It serves as the best opportunity for these major sects to promote their reputation and is usually held in the central capital. Bai Yue Li paused, pondering before replying, “The next event should be in about twenty to thirty years.” Then she asked, “Are you planning for Shuanghua Palace to participate?”