239 - Elasia Saga

In the northern region of the Transcendent Continent, the air was exceptionally refreshing, likely due to the rain that had just passed, leaving those present feeling utterly comfortable. Around the corner of a long street stood an open-air teahouse, where a figure leaned contentedly against a wooden pillar, dressed in a light-colored robe and wielding a fan, embodying the very image of a storyteller. "And then what happened? Did the Shui Ling Sect really get annihilated just like that?" A group of ordinary children had gathered around, their eyes sparkling with curiosity as they focused intently on the robed figure. The storyteller was in no rush; he momentarily closed his fan, took a sip from his teacup to wet his throat, and leisurely smoothed his beard, appearing thoroughly at ease. After a while, as the noise of the children's chatter subsided, he reopened his fan, continuing with a smile, "That day, ten years ago, Bai Yue Li ascended the Shui Ling Sect alone..." As Shui Liu Qing passed by from the street's rear, she happened to witness this scene at the teahouse. She paused briefly, helplessly shaking her head with a slight sigh before disappearing around the street corner. It had already been over a decade since Shui Liu Qing left the northern region and the Shui family. Half a year ago, she purposefully returned to visit her family. During this half-year, Shui Liu Qing stayed with her family, spending time with her parents. Although her mother was a mortal, the Shui family lacked no elixirs for longevity, so her mother still appeared as lively as a woman in her thirties or forties, with no serious health issues. Returning to the northern region, Shui Liu Qing had thoroughly inquired about the events where Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li had teamed up to annihilate the Shui Ling Sect. Moreover, the destruction of the Shui Ling Sect had become common knowledge among the mortals, turning into tales told over meals. The scene just now in the teahouse was quite ordinary. After staying home for half a year, Shui Liu Qing resumed her cultivation journey. It's been over a decade since Fu Yan entered the Frost Palace for a trial, and he should have emerged by now. She decided to return to the southern region. Leaving the town, Shui Liu Qing directly reached a mountaintop. This time, returning, she opted not to take the spirit ship from Yishan City, as it moved far too slowly. Besides, recalling her first encounter with the black ship, she had no desire to repeat the experience. On the mountaintop, Shui Liu Qing waved her hand, and a grand roc appeared suddenly in the air. Without hesitation, she quickly leapt onto the creature's back. From afar, the roc beneath Shui Liu Qing might look like a mythical beast, but upon closer inspection, it exhibited no signs of life, possessing an almost mechanical stiffness. This roc wasn't a real mythical beast but a puppet Shui Liu Qing crafted herself, using her puppetry heritage. It could travel swiftly through the air with the infusion of spirit stones, much like a spirit ship. However, it was a one-time-use puppet. Creating permanent puppets wasn't beyond Shui Liu Qing's skills, but the materials she had were too scarce to make anything suitable. In an instant, the puppet roc ascended swiftly into the clouds, its body enfolded by a faint, transparent shield. Sitting on her flying puppet, Shui Liu Qing headed straight for the southern region. For two consecutive months, she traveled without stopping for rest. During these two months, Shui Liu Qing spent her time meditating on the roc’s back. Her cultivation had already advanced to the mid-stage of integration, just a step away from the late stage. One deep night, as Shui Liu Qing opened her eyes, a full, round moon suspended in the sky, casting a gentle, soothing light across the darkness. After a pause, she slowly withdrew her gaze. Seeming to recall something, Shui Liu Qing produced a white jade pendant from her belt. Illuminated by the moonlight, the white jade pendant appeared even more beautiful—smooth and cool to the touch. Just holding it brought a sense of comfort. Merely a slight shift in focus, and pure spiritual energy would flow into her body instantly. The jade was evidently no ordinary trinket; Ji Qing Jue had mentioned the small spirit gathering array carved within, enhancing a cultivator's ability to absorb the world's spiritual energy. The jade pendant was a gift from Ji Qing Jue to Shui Liu Qing. Gazing at the pendant, Shui Liu Qing's mind conjured the enchanting presence of its giver. She paused, her thoughts wandering distantly. That day, to escape from the undead cultivator’s assassins, Shui Liu Qing had brought an unconscious Ji Qing Jue to a secluded cave. Only then did she realize a truth as she watched over the person beside her. Her distraction had never been due to her innate charming physique; it was because of this person before her eyes. Upon understanding her feelings, Shui Liu Qing, confronting emotions for the first time, found herself flustered, even fearing to approach the unconscious Ji Qing Jue. She felt as if floating, unable to ground herself. Throughout the night, Shui Liu Qing sat by the fire, her thoughts tangled in chaos, avoiding meeting Ji Qing Jue’s eyes. Fortunately, Ji Qing Jue remained unconscious, sparing Shui Liu Qing from exposing her disorientation. It took Shui Liu Qing an entire night to regain her composure. By the following day, Ji Qing Jue awoke slowly within the cave. "You're awake?" Shui Liu Qing observed Ji Qing Jue’s awakened gaze, her face still devoid of color, prompting Shui Liu Qing to frown gently. Ji Qing Jue, still somewhat dazed, scanned the surroundings, eventually recalling her situation. She quickly turned to Shui Liu Qing, asking, "Last night, that thing..." Shui Liu Qing stepped closer, assisting Ji Qing Jue up. Sensing her question, Shui Liu Qing interrupted softly, "We escaped. That person didn't follow us." Relieved, Ji Qing Jue exhaled deeply. After helping Ji Qing Jue settle, Shui Liu Qing handed over a pill, urging her to consume it. Ji Qing Jue recognized the pill immediately. It was a rare one Shui Liu Qing had acquired in the puppet tomb, capable of rapidly restoring a cultivator's strength and vitality. Only one such pill existed. "Don't overthink it. If you don't recover soon, we may find ourselves pursued again," Shui Liu Qing stated calmly, bringing the pill to Ji Qing Jue’s lips. Acknowledging their precarious situation, Ji Qing Jue reined in her hesitation, taking the pill without further protest. As her breath touched Shui Liu Qing's fingers, Shui Liu Qing barely stiffened, but soon calmly retrieved her hand. Thanks to the pill and supplementary spiritual herbs, Ji Qing Jue fully recovered by midday, her complexion rosy once more, her charming presence reemerging. To her fortune, perhaps, within days, Ji Qing Jue's cultivation advanced to the mid-stage of integration. Due to the puppetry legacy, Ji Qing Jue's cultivation had once lagged behind Shui Liu Qing's. But now, Ji Qing Jue had quickly surpassed her, widening the gap. Shui Liu Qing had always known her talents were modest. Though Ji Qing Jue’s inherent charm couldn't rival Fu Yan’s or Bai Yue Li’s talents, it was still first-rate. Given fortune and time, Ji Qing Jue might transcend into immortality, while Shui Liu Qing, without fortuitous opportunities, might never reach completion. Barely escaping the cave, the major factions finally received word and arrived, Hua Ling Valley included. Ji Qing Jue's master located her by her aura, much to the relief of Hua Ling Valley’s disciples. Yet Shui Liu Qing chose not to return to Hua Ling Valley with Ji Qing Jue. Upon parting, Ji Qing Jue suddenly handed Shui Liu Qing the jade pendant. "Thank you for saving me, and for the pill." Originally intending to decline, Shui Liu Qing smiled, saying, “You saved me too; we owe each other nothing." Then, she accepted the pendant. Ji Qing Jue paused, the words "Come visit me at Hua Ling Valley” swallowed back. “This pendant is dear to me. It contains a spirit gathering array to aid in cultivation,” Ji Qing Jue added with a gleam in her eyes. “Yes, Shui Liu Qing, we owe each other nothing.” With that, Ji Qing Jue turned and departed with Hua Ling Valley, never looking back. On the spirit ship, after hearing of the night’s events from Ji Qing Jue, her master remained in deep thought, furrowing his brows without uttering a word for a long while. Seeing this, Ji Qing Jue refrained from disturbing him, instead turning her gaze to the distant forest, her eyes distant and seemingly lost in thought. "She won't follow you to Hua Ling Valley." After an indeterminate amount of time, Ji Qing Jue was startled by her master’s sudden voice, bringing her back to the present. She quickly turned to her master, eager to explain, "You misunderstand, Master. I just..." "Her soul is bound by a master-servant contract, and she is no longer free." Her master interrupted before Ji Qing Jue could finish. Startled, Ji Qing Jue exclaimed in disbelief, "What?" … The night breeze blew gently, and at some point, the bright moonlight had been obscured by clouds, leaving everything eerily quiet and cold. On the back of the puppet roc, Shui Liu Qing finally returned to her senses, the last scene lingering in her mind being Ji Qing Jue turning away. Pausing, Shui Liu Qing lowered her gaze to the white jade pendant in her hand, taking a long while before storing it away. She mused that Ji Qing Jue, being the direct disciple of Hua Ling Valley's celestial master, would undoubtedly have a smoother path in cultivation. Perhaps now, Ji Qing Jue had already advanced to the late stage of integration or even reached the great perfection stage. In the future, Ji Qing Jue was destined to become an immortal. They were never meant to be part of the same world.