257 - Elasia Saga

Chapter 257: The Howling Wind The northern wind howled across the sky of the southern region, where thick snowflakes swirled down gently, casting an unfriendly appearance from afar. "Whoosh——" In the vast expanse above, the silhouettes of two spirit ships sped swiftly from a distance, disappearing into the horizon. The inclement weather seemed to have no adverse effect on them. On one of the spirit ships, Fu Yan and her four companions were gathered together. During this journey, none of them were in the mood to continue their cultivation. Instead, they were engrossed in contemplating the strange occurrence at Youxin Lake. "I remember that Youxin Lake is unfathomably deep, and its depths are fraught with danger. I’ve heard tales of people seeing dragons there, although who knows if that's true," Yi Tu said slowly, recounting the hearsay to himself. Hearing this, Liu Bei nodded in agreement. "Youxin Lake is indeed a mysterious place. This incident is likely to attract many sects." For a moment, the two engaged in light conversation. Fu Yan, seated at the front, paid little attention. She had already deduced what was emerging from the lake’s depths. No matter what, if the male protagonist was involved, it wouldn’t be simple. But, what will be, will be. Shui Liu Qing cast a sidelong glance at Fu Yan, who sat with her eyes closed, appearing to rest. Something seemed different about Fu Yan, though she couldn’t quite articulate what it was. Little did Shui Liu Qing know, the figure before her was actually the puppet she had crafted herself. Before setting out, Fu Yan had approached Lu Xiao Wen for help in placing a layer of concealment on herself, preventing others from using means to detect the truth. Now, aside from Lu Xiao Wen and Fu Yan herself, no one knew that the Fu Yan aboard was merely an avatar. Withdrawing her gaze, Shui Liu Qing decided not to dwell on it, attributing her unease to fatigue from cultivation. After all, she had signed a soul-master contract with Fu Yan. If the person before her was an imposter, she would be able to sense it. She speculated that perhaps Fu Yan had been practicing a special cultivation technique. Yi Tu and Liu Bei’s discussion resumed beside her, bringing Shui Liu Qing’s attention back to the matter at hand—what was happening at Youxin Lake. As Yi Tu had just mentioned, news of treasures emerging from the depths of Youxin Lake had spread almost across the entire continent. If they heard of it in the southern region, then surely someone in the Flower Spirit Valley knew as well. Unbidden, Shui Liu Qing’s thoughts drifted to the Flower Spirit Valley. A figure she had buried in her heart came to mind. Ji Qing Jue… Would she come too? At the thought of her, Shui Liu Qing hesitated, her lips dry. Almost instinctively, she pressed them together, her eyes flickering. Shui Liu Qing suddenly realized that every separation from Ji Qing Jue seemed less than pleasant. If they met again, Ji Qing Jue would probably ignore her, she thought with a touch of self-mockery. Suddenly, Shui Liu Qing’s gaze dimmed considerably, and she lowered her head without making a sound. The others on the ship seemed oblivious. Meanwhile, from the moment Ji Xian boarded, he had merely greeted Fu Yan before sitting in meditation, projecting an air of complete detachment from the outside world. On the spacious spirit ship, each person mused privately. Soon, they had flown beyond the boundaries of the southern region, the snowfall gradually ceasing, leaving only the bitter wind howling from the front. Not long after departing the southern area, Fu Yan's eyes flew open as if suddenly sensing something. Her beautiful brow furrowed, her expression subtly changed. "What is it, Palace Master?" Yi Tu inquired, puzzled by her sudden movement. Upon hearing his query, the other four also turned to look at Fu Yan. She, however, maintained a blank expression, standing up casually as she explained, "Continue heading towards Youxin Lake. I’ll catch up later." Without waiting for a response, Fu Yan disappeared from the spirit ship in the blink of an eye, her abrupt departure leaving the others exchanging puzzled glances. "What just happened?" Yi Tu asked, puzzled, turning to Shui Liu Qing. Shui Liu Qing snapped out of her thoughts, shaking her head and replying truthfully, "The Palace Master must have something to attend to." Following her explanation, the group nodded in understanding. Ji Xian watched Fu Yan's departing figure and paused, his slender eyes flickering with a trace of confusion, but then a hint of barely perceptible joy emerged. He was now the only one in the Divine Transformation stage aboard the ship. He discreetly scanned the surroundings, quickly concluding that Fu Yan had indeed left, and from her hasty departure, she likely wouldn’t return soon. Though clueless about her errands, Ji Xian knew no one would be keeping an eye on him now. With that thought, he concealed his expression, although the corners of his mouth twitched into a small, fleeting smile. …… Silence enveloped the area, and the moonlight above was dim and lackluster. "Swish!" Fu Yan descended swiftly from the spirit ship into a dark forest below, steadying herself quickly. "Hurry! Hurry! It's over there!" Mo Ling’s head suddenly floated out, not sparing Fu Yan a glance as it flew straight in one direction through the forest. Fu Yan shot it a glance, but rather than stopping it, she set off swiftly in pursuit. Moments earlier, when the spirit ship passed over this spot, Mo Ling in the mustard seed space had suddenly widened its eyes and voiced urgently, "I sense an intense aura of demonic energy! Hurry, hurry, let's go down!" Although the magic amaranth Fu Yan had provided offered some benefit, it barely qualified as a snack for Mo Ling. To restore its power, it needed to devour more formidable demonic creatures. It was for this reason that upon detecting a demonic presence here, Mo Ling anxiously urged Fu Yan to descend. Despite its overexcitement, Mo Ling hadn’t held great hopes, believing Fu Yan might dismiss its request—but unexpectedly, she agreed without a word, and they had left the ship together. Thinking further was unnecessary, and as soon as they touched down, Mo Ling hurriedly pursued the source of the demonic energy. Thus, in the darkened woods, a head and a figure flitted through the shadows. Fu Yan regarded Mo Ling, who resembled a ravenous wolf, and shook her head helplessly. She allowed Mo Ling to regain its strength for two reasons. First, her true self was in secluded cultivation with Bai Yue Li, and without at least a few years, it would be difficult to exit before completion. Given her current lack of power, Fu Yan faced some vulnerabilities. Because of this, Mo Ling served as her trump card. If Mo Ling could regain most of its strength, it would basically be equivalent to her true self, impervious to any Nascent Soul cultivators. The magical tomb at the bottom of Youxin Lake generally wouldn't be of interest to immortals. Second, if the Ghost Corpse Sect intended to take action, their only chance would be en route to Youxin Lake. With so many people likely at the lake already, appearing there would only invite widespread opposition. Moreover, with Ji Xian being so cautious, if Fu Yan remained on the spirit ship, he wouldn’t have the opportunity to openly communicate with the Ghost Corpse Sect’s members. Given these considerations, Fu Yan naturally facilitated the scenario herself. At this, she couldn't help but crack a sinister smile. She had orchestrated everything perfectly, hoping Ji Xian didn’t disappoint her. Mo Ling mentioned that there was a demonic presence here, but Fu Yan was uncertain of its level, prompting her to remain on high alert. They hadn’t scoured the woods long when the distant sounds of a fierce battle reached Fu Yan's ears. She paused, realizing others were present as well. Hastily, she grabbed the overzealous Mo Ling back into her grasp. "What are you doing?!" Mo Ling protested angrily, mistakenly thinking Fu Yan had changed her mind, and began wriggling furiously. With firm restraint, Fu Yan commanded coldly, "Don't move." Hearing this, Mo Ling quieted down considerably. It looked up at Fu Yan, transforming its discontent into a look of extreme grievance. "You promised; you can’t go back on your word partway." It was starving, and the magical entity there was tantalizingly inviting, like a gourmet dish tempting Mo Ling. Fu Yan rapped its head lightly, exasperated. "Stay silent." With that, she held her breath, cautiously guiding Mo Ling step by step deeper toward the source. Mo Ling paused as the sounds of fighting became audible to it too. In addition to demonic energy, there was also the fluctuation of spiritual essence. Surprised, it began to grasp the situation. However, Mo Ling remained unconcerned. It believed that once its power was restored, even the mightiest forces wouldn't intimidate it. Unaware of Mo Ling's thoughts, Fu Yan, with a firm grip on Mo Ling's head, leapt quickly to a towering tree nearby. Concealed by the shadows, she focused her gaze on the ongoing battle. Within the depths of the forest, sword light flashed fiercely. "Master, what exactly is that thing?" asked a young girl, seizing a rare moment to question the old man beside her. The old man, though a late-stage Void Transformation powerhouse, looked grim. He eyed the demonic creature ahead intently, inhaling deeply. "Zhi Er, you must leave here immediately." No sooner had he spoken than the massive creature lunged at them again. The old man, ignoring everything else, swiftly grabbed his sword and unleashed a surge of true essence, sending a powerful blade toward the monster. Hidden in the shadows, Fu Yan was momentarily stunned as she finally got a clear view of the bizarre black creature. Its oval body was covered in slimy liquid, and its eyes glowed a faint green. Strangely, the creature had seven or eight tentacles that moved smoothly, completely subduing the old man. Recognizing the creature, Fu Yan was struck by disbelief as her eyes widened. She was utterly astonished to encounter Yu Qian Fan here. That peculiar demon was none other than the remnant of Yu Qian Fan, the former sect master of Shui Ling Sect. Precisely speaking, it was a demon spawned from Yu Qian Fan's own body. Memories of the past flooded Fu Yan’s mind—Yu Qian Fan had, at his last breath, released this monstrous entity he had nourished within himself, hoping it would help him kill Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li. But instead, he was backfired by his own demon. Back then, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li had been too weak to pursue the demon as it escaped. Now, not only had it survived without being vanquished by immortals, but it had also appeared once more before Fu Yan. Fu Yan's mouth fell open, and she stared at the tentacled demon for a long moment before her thoughts drifted back to the present. "I can’t believe it’s still alive," she murmured to herself. Mo Ling, absorbed by the sight of the demon’s emanating darkness, could feel its mouth watering. It swallowed its saliva, catching Fu Yan's whispered comment. "Do you know them?" Mo Ling asked, assuming Fu Yan referred to the elder and the girl. Ignoring Mo Ling, Fu Yan focused on the demon formed from Yu Qian Fan, a slight smile spreading on her face. She murmured again, "Fate can be truly wondrous, can't it?" In that moment of contemplation, the old man was struck by several tentacles and thrown back violently, crashing through several trees and spitting blood as he hit the ground. "Master!" the girl cried out, rushing towards him in a panic, unsure what to do. Weakened on the ground, the old man managed a breath and looked towards her voice, only to see a thick, massive tentacle piercing through her back. "Ahh!!" The girl cried out in agony, feeling as if her body was split in two. She watched her hot blood trickling down the black tentacle slowly. Realizing the tentacle could drain the life from her, Fu Yan snapped into action promptly. "Whoosh!" In the next moment, her constellation sword unsheathed, descending from the sky with intense sword intent. A flash of white light later, the long tentacle was sliced cleanly in two by Fu Yan. The girl plummeted to the ground beside the old man. "Zhi Er!" He widened his eyes, struggling to rise, only for his internal energy to perturbate wildly, making him cough up more blood. Fu Yan let go of Mo Ling, her figure flashing down. While descending, she instructed, "You may feast now, but don’t rush. Keep it quiet." As she landed, Fu Yan didn’t glance back at the tentacles, swiftly grabbing the elder and the girl before streaking away from the scene. Within a single breath, she had carried them miles away from the danger. Behind them, Mo Ling regained its senses and descended on its own. Being an inherently sinister entity, Mo Ling’s presence couldn't become known. Thus, Fu Yan swiftly rescued them, ensuring their removal from view. With her speed-enhancing magical artifact, Fu Yan quickly put several leagues between them and the tentacled demon, feeling no trace of its aura anymore. Satisfied they were far enough, Fu Yan set the elder and the girl down amidst a dense thicket. The elder suffered severe internal injuries, and the girl’s strength was too frail, causing her to fall unconscious. Fu Yan, casting a cursory glance, tossed healing pills to both of them. Although seriously injured, being cultivators, their lives weren’t in immediate danger. Thankfully, Fu Yan had intervened in time; otherwise, the girl would likely have ended up a lifeless husk. "Cough, cough…" The elder coughed violently, intending to express gratitude, but Fu Yan had already turned away, preparing to return. "Stay here to heal," she said, before swiftly heading back toward the demon. By the time Fu Yan returned, Mo Ling had already devoured several of the demon’s tentacles, vigorously absorbing its energy. "Buzz——" Fu Yan couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile, reminiscent of a beast that's gone hungry for decades, concerned that such a commotion might attract other cultivators. Urgency overtook her, and Fu Yan waved her hand, unleashing a potent essence to encompass the area, forming a basic barrier. This was to prevent Mo Ling’s dark aura from drawing other cultivators. Meeting an immortal would spell trouble. Having completed her task, Fu Yan felt relieved and looked up to see Mo Ling, hovering in mid-air, wearing an expression of bliss. Mo Ling, by nature, reigned over all demonic creatures. At this moment, the entity before it whined lowly in apparent anguish, unable to escape, surrendering to being devoured piece by piece by Mo Ling. Soon enough, all the tentacles were gone, leaving only its sticky, ovular body, a truly repulsive sight. But Fu Yan halted Mo Ling, for the moment. The demon was left weak, clinging to a few wisps of life. Its eyes, shimmering green, fixated on Fu Yan as she gradually approached. Fu Yan stood before it, retracting her constellation sword with one hand, gazing leisurely at the demon. She then spoke mildly, "We meet again, Yu Qian Fan." Back at Shui Ling Sect, everyone had witnessed Yu Qian Fan’s consciousness being consumed by the demon. Yet, none would have imagined that he hadn’t entirely faded; his potent consciousness had instead merged with the demon. Now, it was clear: the demon was Yu Qian Fan, and Yu Qian Fan had become the demon. Even Fu Yan, reconciling this fact, was profoundly astonished—wondering for the first time whether she had misjudged the scene. But the mixture of defiance in those green eyes—a defiance of the soul—wasn’t innate to the demon’s nature. Recollecting how the demon once emerged from Yu Qian Fan’s body—significantly different from the present—Fu Yan realized that without witnessing its initial form, discerning the reality might have been impossible. No wonder the demon survived until now. Yu Qian Fan must have known that revealing himself would mean certain death, explaining his cautious avoidance of appearance over the years. Reflecting on this, Fu Yan couldn’t help but give a silent chuckle as she stared at the demon. "Ooo—" Upon hearing its name, the demon's eyes surged open wider, glaring at Fu Yan with an urge to leap forward, but Mo Ling’s aura suppressed it tightly. All it managed was a guttural wail filled with bitter hatred. Seeing this, Fu Yan released a derisive chuckle, her gaze chilling. "You sought to consume the demon, yet it seeks to consume you. How does it feel? Spare me that look; you've brought this fate upon yourself." Indeed, even without Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li's involvement, Yu Qian Fan’s act of feeding a demon with his own body was destined to lead to such an end. "Whimper..." Hearing this, the demon grew agitated once more while Fu Yan chuckled languidly, perceiving the sound of a soul being consumed. Under Mo Ling’s influence, the demon's consciousness suppressed Yu Qian Fan successfully. Piece by piece, Yu Qian Fan's last vestiges of the soul were being devoured until nothing remained. Soon, a wild glint escaped its green eyes as they turned feral. Fu Yan finally sheathed her sword, turning away without a backward glance. Mo Ling understood and absorbed the demon's last power entirely. In a split second, its strength nearly doubled. Returning to the thicket, Fu Yan found the girl slowly regaining consciousness with the elder's aid. "Thank you for saving our lives," the elder hastily expressed his gratitude, unable to discern Fu Yan's exact power level but assuming she was a Nascent Soul cultivator. The elder, named Mu Zhuo, was once an elder of a small family. After the family offended some powerful figures and was subsequently disbanded, he became a rogue cultivator. The young girl, Mu Zhi, whom he had taken as his apprentice due to her orphan status, bore his surname. The pair had taken a bounty from a nearby town, expecting to deal with a common beast. Little did they know they would encounter a formidable demon. Which led to the scene Fu Yan had inadvertently stumbled upon. Having saved them, Fu Yan had no intention of further involving herself in their affairs. However, noting the girl's potential, she casually suggested, "Shuanghua Palace in the Southern Region is recruiting elders and disciples. If you’re interested, you might consider visiting." With that, Fu Yan bid them farewell. Her figure blurred as she swiftly flew out of the dense forest. Whether Mu Zhuo would take Mu Zhi to Shuanghua Palace was entirely up to them. Under the night sky, Fu Yan carried the partially recovered Mo Ling, her voice leisurely as she asked, "So, how's your strength now? Recovered?" Mo Ling, in good spirits, remained prideful, "It's... passable, I suppose." Amused, Fu Yan lightly tapped its head once more, chuckling quietly before stating, "Well, now that you're full, it's time to get to work." "Hmm?" Mo Ling protested, displeased at yet another tap. Fu Yan said nothing further, raising her gaze to the distant sky, her eyes clear and bright. The moonlight, once hazy, began to pour down. She thought to herself, the Ghost Corpse Sect's members would likely show themselves soon.