260 - Elasia Saga

### Chapter 260 - Excerpt from "Take Sister-in-law with the Sword (Transmigration)" After listening to Mo Ling, Fu Yan was momentarily taken aback. She felt her thoughts get tangled for a moment, unable to process what she had just heard. What did this mean? "Could it be that he's an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao?" Fu Yan's eyes flickered with confusion as she finally regained her composure, the question slipping from her lips almost instinctively. Normally, protagonists are believed to be the favored children of destiny in their respective worlds, a belief Fu Yan herself had held. But now, it seemed there was a discrepancy somewhere. Mo Ling couldn't figure it out either. It had even forgotten to chew the magic hemlock grass in its mouth, shaking its head as it spoke, "Not an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, just some traces of its will are mixed in his power. Perhaps, do you think of yourself as an incarnation of the laws?" Fu Yan took a deep breath, her mind finally clearing completely. If she were an incarnation of the laws, she wouldn't be unable to remove that trace of law power from the little pill's body. Indeed, the male protagonist now couldn't truly represent the Heavenly Dao. Unable to make sense of it, Fu Yan decided not to dwell on it further. After all, whether the male protagonist was or wasn't an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao had no direct relation to her. Meanwhile, inside the "", Mo Ling fell into deep contemplation. It believed that this couldn't just be a coincidence. The laws and the Heavenly Dao were beginning to reveal themselves. --- Outside the Darkheart Lake, the crowd seemed not yet recovered from the fact that Fang Yu had slain one of the eight generals of the Zombie Gate. The discussions around were unrelenting. Thinking about how the space at the bottom of the lake would stabilize the next day, Fu Yan decided to temporarily disregard Mo Ling's words and summoned the disciples from the puppet ship, instructing and cautioning them. Now that the immortal tomb was opening, although it wasn't clear if the entrance would take them to random locations, they naturally couldn't stay together the entire time. Almost everyone might be scattered. "I have some puppet paper figures made earlier." With that, Shui Liu Qing pulled out a dozen puppet paper figures from her bosom, figures no larger than a finger. Yi Tu, curious, picked one up and examined it closely, but was unable to discern its purpose. He raised his eyes to Shui Liu Qing and asked, "Puppet paper figures? What are they for?" Shui Liu Qing gracefully distributed one figure to each of the five disciples before leisurely explaining, "Everyone keep the puppet paper figures on you, and you'll be able to sense each other's locations." Liu Bei immediately understood and couldn't help but instruct the five ordinary disciples, "Once inside, strive to regroup as soon as possible. Don't act alone, and never be greedy. Remember, you have only one life." "Yes, Elder," they responded promptly. Soon, Shui Liu Qing also handed each one of Fu Yan's group a figure, the last one going to Ji Xian, who stood aside. She calmly handed it over, saying, "Ji Feng Zhu." "Thank you," Ji Xian replied as he accepted it, offering no further words. No one seemed to notice that Ji Xian's puppet paper figure had a slightly different pattern from the others'. After the instructions, Yi Tu dismissed them back to the puppet ship: "Remember to prepare well tonight." In no time, only a few of them remained on the ship. The night passed in silence. The next day, nearing noon, a tremendous rumbling sounded from beneath the Darkheart Lake once more. Everyone had become accustomed to it, unperturbed by the sight. However, as the commotion from the rumbling subsided, the disciples from the central sects leaped into action without hesitation, diving into the lake like dumplings, all headed for the bottom. The well-informed factions were unsurprised; only the smaller, less informed factions were left bewildered. "What's happening? Why are they all jumping into the lake bottom? Won't the treasures rise up?" "Quick, quick, the space at the lake bottom has stabilized. It's said to be an immortal's tomb down there, full of resources to be found!" "..." Following the central sects' plunge into the depths, others quickly realized and hastily followed suit, launching themselves from their ships. Suddenly, the sound of splashing echoed all around. Fu Yan and her group wasted no time either. Thankfully, their numbers weren't large, allowing them to stay together as they plunged into the water. The Darkheart Lake was vast, resembling an immense ocean. Even with hundreds of people entering the water simultaneously, it didn't seem crowded at all. On the contrary, the various powers instinctively maintained considerable distances, wary of potential ambushes. No one was foolish; vigilance was necessary at all times. "Splish-splash—" Upon entering the lake, the sound of rushing water filled their ears. Fu Yan paid it no mind, descending alongside Ji Xian to clear the path for the disciples behind them. After all, in their group, only Fu Yan and Ji Xian were masters at the Great Ascension stage. Fu Yan could have managed the path alone, but there was no reason to leave Ji Xian idle—it saved both time and effort. The depth of Darkheart Lake was astounding. As they swiftly descended toward the glow below, the sound of water grew fainter, while the foremost sects seemed to wield treasures for speed, descending significantly faster than the rest. In addition to the sect disciples, many freelance cultivators had come solo, sinking slowly downward. After an indeterminate time, Fu Yan and Ji Xian, leading the way, quickly consumed several pills to restore their energy. The effort to carve a path through the water was significantly draining. "Buzz—" Suddenly, a sound emanated from around the emerald-green water, alarming everyone. As they glanced around nervously, they spotted a school of beasts charging toward them. Faces turned pale in an instant. "Damn it, why are there so many beasts at the lake bottom?" "Fortunately, I was prepared. Darkheart Lake is notoriously perilous. I've heard tales of encountering draconic creatures here, though it's uncertain if they're true." "Dragons? No way! We can't be that unlucky to perish before even reaching the tomb!" "......" Splish-splash... The sound of rushing water alerted Fu Yan to the advancing shadows of beasts. Without hesitation, she waved her hand, enveloping her group in a protective, formless barrier. Simultaneously, protective barriers of various sizes began illuminating the lake bottom. "Roar, roar, roar!" Suddenly, a massive snake lunged at Fu Yan and her group with its gaping jaws. Observing this, Shui Liu Qing and others swiftly drew their swords, launching a rapid offensive against the approaching beasts. In the depths of the abyssal lake, blades flashed, dispersing their energy. Although the attacking beasts weren't exceedingly powerful, fighting underwater was far more arduous than on land, and the heavy water served as a natural dampener. A full-force swing would land on a beast with nearly half its power diminished. In just a short while, the lake water had become a chaotic battlefield. Disciples of the sects could stick together, sustaining minimal losses, but the wandering cultivators weren't as fortunate. The surrounding beasts seemed to possess some intelligence, targeting solitary cultivators, striking them down one by one. Within mere breaths, some had already perished to the beasts. Red blood quickly spread through the water. "Bang!" Soon, one of the leading sects unleashed a mysterious artifact, clearing the beasts around them, causing the rest to hesitate, unwilling to approach recklessly. As for the beast attack, the frontline swordsmen of Jianwang Sect barely suffered any losses. Their formidable demonstration deterred the beasts from their assaults, pushing them to target weaker factions. For the trailing groups, it was like adding fuel to their fire. "Ahh...!" Soon, smaller sects of five or six were overwhelmed by the beasts' assault. Their protective barriers shattered, and they were swiftly engulfed. Since the onset, Fu Yan had been advancing, not taking direct action. While she remained unfazed by the beasts, a wrinkle appeared on her brow. At that moment, Ji Xian beside her abruptly spoke, "Palace Master, you all go ahead, I'll cover the rear." Fu Yan, noticing his earnest demeanor, readily agreed, "Alright." If someone wanted to show loyalty, she saw no reason to stop them. The next moment, Ji Xian's figure swiftly moved, repositioning at the back of the group. He rotated his short flute in hand, raising it to his lips. A melody tinged with deadly intent surged out, targeting the surrounding beasts. "Ji Feng Zhu, be careful!" Yi Tu quickly called out. Fu Yan glanced back at Ji Xian but said nothing, instead focusing her attention forward again, directing the group, "Everyone, increase your descent speed." With that, they all activated their energy. Effortlessly, Fu Yan waved her sleeve, unleashing a force from her body as if to cleave the water. While secretly manipulating a speed artifact, she led the group swiftly downward. Splash— Ji Xian was swiftly pulled back, his short flute still in hand as he stared coldly at the oncoming wave of beasts. Moments later, a massive explosion rang out behind him, scattering the beasts' remains and quickly filling the lake with the stench of blood. As the echoes faded, Ji Xian caught up with the group once more. The descent continued until they reached a certain depth, where the presence of beasts began to dwindle until they vanished altogether. Finally, calm returned to the depths of the lake. After the beast assault, out of the seven to eight hundred cultivators that had initially descended, about a third seemed to be missing. Of course, not all had perished. Many had chosen to abandon the dive and return to the surface instead. Fu Yan remained unfazed by these losses. Her group had thankfully sustained minimal damage, and those remaining continued their journey deeper toward the lakebed. The glow beneath them grew ever closer. About a quarter of an hour later, the foremost members of the major sects suddenly halted, prompting everyone to realize they had nearly reached the bottom. A moment later, an invisible force of prohibition emanated from the lakebed. Fu Yan steadied herself and quickly looked toward the deepest part of the lake. There, a glow revealed itself to be a barrier. In her understanding, this tomb should have been hidden within another isolated space under the lake, as such situations typically involved creating a separate domain. However, this wasn't the case. The wide expanse of the Darkheart Lakebed revealed a massive tomb complex in plain sight, its structures within the glowing barrier resembling a palace under the water. Clearly, the tomb wasn't hidden in another space but was instead merged with the bottom of Darkheart Lake. Fu Yan surmised that the glowing barrier served as a screen, which had prevented anyone from discovering the palace before now. For some unknown reason, the power of this screen was weakening, allowing the immortal's tomb to be exposed. This unexpected revelation left the disciples of the great sects visibly surprised. But regardless of the circumstances, those present had come to embark on this journey, be it a separate realm or an underwater palace—they were determined to explore. --- Inside the Xuyou Jade Seal. Nearly five years had passed since Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li began their secluded cultivation together. In the spirit pool atop the peak, the aura still permeated the air, and white mist drifted slowly over the surface, creating an illusionary haze from afar. Within the fog, two figures appeared indistinctly. Those figures were, of course, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li. The two had long been submerged in the spirit pool, the warm water rising past their shoulders as they leaned closely together, eyes softly closed, without a single gap between them. In this serene moment, they seemed almost to merge into one being. A gentle current coursed through their bodies, while the air around them remained tranquil. As the fog lifted slightly, their faces were revealed. Within the spirit pool, Bai Yue Li's cheeks were flushed, caught in a fluctuating state that left her breath intermittently rapid and calm, with a faint blush spread across her temples. A moment later, a glistening tear slipped from Bai Yue Li’s eye, and, without hesitation, Fu Yan leaned forward with reflexive tenderness to kiss it away. With that, the once-calm spirit pool stirred again with rippling water, underlined by Bai Yue Li’s soft murmurs. A gentle light spread across them, gradually pouring into Fu Yan’s body before flowing back into Bai Yue Li. At that instant, Bai Yue Li's body seemed to quiver involuntarily, her hand under the water instinctively grasping Fu Yan’s shoulder. "..." A few more days slipped by. Around the spirit pool, the air suddenly spun faster around Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li, swirling energetically. "Swish—" In a heartbeat, the pool water vibrated with the tumultuous motion, brimming with rich spiritual energy that only accelerated. Yet within the pool, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li remained untouched by the chaos, their forms still tightly entwined. In this great sea of consciousness, a cluster of spirit energy floated tranquilly at its core, different now as it shimmered with two distinct lights. The lights waxed and waned by turns. Then, a brilliant white flash swept through, and a white tendril of spirit energy slowly separated. As the spirit energy split, both entities felt an overwhelming sense of relief, their bodies shuddering slightly, breathing deepening in response. Soon, the newly separate spirit energy gently floated out of the sea. As it returned, a tingling sensation surged through Fu Yan’s body, making her involuntarily tighten the grip of her right hand around Bai Yue Li’s waist. "Mmm..." With her awareness barely reestablished, Bai Yue Li immediately sensed a faint tickle at her waist as Fu Yan pressed against her even closer. It wasn't long before the air around the pool settled down, the mist thinning considerably. In mere moments, Fu Yan was the first to open her eyes. What greeted her was a vision of enchanting beauty—Bai Yue Li all aglow with a soft blush, her lashes, as dark as crow feathers, lightly dampened by the lingering mist, her hair cascading over her shoulders, and her skin flawless and bright. Fu Yan couldn't help but swallow, feeling her mouth dry. Snapping back to reality from cultivation, Bai Yue Li took a deep breath, her long lashes fluttering, and her clear eyes slowly opened. But before she could get a good look at Fu Yan, she was met with a swift silhouette moving in to capture her lips. Bai Yue Li froze as Fu Yan’s tongue gently brushed against her lips. "Mm..." Her protest was immediately silence as Fu Yan delved deeper, parting Bai Yue Li's lips and exploring every inch of breath they shared. In the spirit pool, the entwined pair relished in their closeness once more. Time slipped by unnoticed until Fu Yan finally released Bai Yue Li, who instinctively took a deep breath now free. Bai Yue Li glanced up at Fu Yan, a hint of feigned anger in her eyes. Seeing her deepened blush, Fu Yan broke into a radiant smile, softly apologizing, "Sorry, Shijie, you don't realize how beautiful you are—it was hard to resist." Bai Yue Li: "..." With a "splash," Bai Yue Li quickly exited the spirit pool, spinning to clothe herself with a flick of her hand. Fu Yan followed suit, instantly draped in attire, with her hair dry and straightened. "Shijie, I'm sorry. Please don't be mad," Fu Yan pleaded, grasping Bai Yue Li's hand, eyes wide with feigned innocence. Bai Yue Li sighed and shook her head, "I'm not mad." Fu Yan relaxed, smiling as she posed a question, "By the way, did something happen?" Typically, they wouldn’t leave their secluded cultivation for such a short five-year span, equating to less than two years outside. Yet, Bai Yue Li had concluded her training early. Fu Yan suspected it was due to significant events in the Demon Realm. Bai Yue Li nodded, having no reason to hide it, and candidly explained, "I felt that I'm about to face a tribulation soon." "A tribulation?" Fu Yan was momentarily puzzled. Bai Yue Li confirmed with a nod, "I can distinctly sense that my first Heavenly Tribulation is imminent." Recognition dawned on Fu Yan. If she remembered correctly, though Bai Yue Li had inherited the power of the original Demon Lord, she hadn’t yet faced a tribulation. Now, it was finally due. Bai Yue Li had previously been puzzled by this, to which Fu Yan had voiced her speculation. In hindsight, it appeared her guess was correct: "It seems the Heavenly Dao didn't acknowledge the original Demon Lord's power within you." Now, the tribulation was approaching because Bai Yue Li’s own power had reached that pivotal threshold. Bai Yue Li nodded in agreement. Considering this, Fu Yan asked, "For the tribulation, should we leave the Xuyou Jade Seal temporarily and head to the Demon Realm?" "That's not an option," Bai Yue Li replied swiftly, her voice resolute. She paused before explaining, "Most of the disciples in the Demon Realm still believe I'm the original Demon Lord. If I undergo a tribulation there directly..." The news of a new ruler among the demons would likely spread across the continent by the next day. Fu Yan hadn't considered that angle and found herself momentarily taken aback. "Then we..." "Boom—rumble!" Before she could finish, a tremendous clap of thunder resounded across the sky within the Xuyou Jade Seal. Both paused, gazing upward to find that the once clear sky had turned into a swirling mass of dark clouds, with thunder rolling ominously—truly a daunting sight. Fu Yan then realized, albeit belatedly, that when one breaks through to face a tribulation on this continent, the heavenly trial will come regardless of location, as tribulations are unavoidable. But in a way, this was favorable. They wouldn't need to leave the Xuyou Jade Seal. Watching the ominous clouds, Bai Yue Li let out a sigh of relief. Without hesitation, she informed Fu Yan and soared into the air, distancing herself to avoid harming Fu Yan. Seeing Bai Yue Li in the sky, Fu Yan wasn't overly concerned. With Bai Yue Li's power, the first heavenly lightning tribulation should be manageable. "Crack—" Soon enough, the first bolt of lightning descended, striking directly at Bai Yue Li. She easily raised her hand and deflected it. Below, Fu Yan suddenly remembered something and quickly shouted to Bai Yue Li, "Shijie, don’t use the original Demon Lord’s power." Since the Heavenly Dao didn't recognize the original Demon Lord’s power, using it during the tribulation might be considered relying on an external force, preventing Bai Yue Li's strength from receiving the purest refinement and breakthrough. After hearing this, Bai Yue Li seemed to understand, nodding back to Fu Yan. "Boom—rumble!" The heavenly lightning continued, the tribulation just beginning its dreadful onslaught.