264 - Elasia Saga

Taking a deep breath, Shui Liuqing grasped the spiritual sword tightly, her eyes flickering slightly. For reasons unknown, upon picking up the sword from the box, three simple characters suddenly flashed through her mind: Dripping Water Sword. "Hummm—" Perhaps in response to Shui Liuqing’s soft murmur, the Dripping Water Sword vibrated abruptly, as if answering her call. Inside the secret chamber, Shui Liuqing held the sword for a moment, lingering in thought before finally realizing that the sword's name was Dripping Water Sword. With a gentle exhale, she placed her hand firmly on the sword's hilt. Without any superfluous motions, she smoothly drew the sword from its scabbard in a single, fluid motion. The Dripping Water Sword was completely transparent and radiant, resembling an exquisite piece of crystal glass. Yet, in her hand, it felt incredibly light, like flowing water. Her gaze fixed intently on the sword, as if she were meticulously admiring its entire body. She then lifted the sword slightly, testing a few swings. One had to admit, it felt perfectly balanced. Upon this discovery, a subtle smile crept onto Shui Liuqing's lips, forming a perfect arc, while a hint of delight sparkled in her eyes. This Dripping Water Sword was exceptional, far surpassing any spiritual sword she had used before. More importantly, it didn’t seem to reject her. Merely holding it brought a sense of tranquility and happiness. Finally, she had found a truly fitting spiritual sword. Her eyes still gleaming with joy, she tested the Dripping Water Sword a couple more times before returning it to its scabbard and holding it at her side. With her new spiritual sword in hand, Shui Liuqing meticulously inspected the weapon room, yet she found no other unusual fluctuations. It seems that opportunities are indeed tied to one's fate; otherwise, someone else would have claimed this Dripping Water Sword long before her arrival. Having confirmed there were no other treasures, Shui Liuqing saw no reason to linger. With decisive steps, she approached the stone door on the other side. As she pushed the door open, she grew cautious once more. As the sound of the stone door creaking open echoed, Shui Liuqing, gripping the Dripping Water Sword, stepped into the next room. The surroundings were silent; the person who had been there before her seemed to have left. Shui Liuqing didn't think much of it; given all the traps and concealed teleportation spaces here, the odds of encountering another were slim. Settling herself, she continued scrutinizing her surroundings with quick glances. This chamber was somewhat cramped and empty, with nothing inside. There was a corner in the passage ahead, and the stone door behind her had already shut. With no other choice but to forge ahead, Shui Liuqing began moving forward step by step. As she rounded the corner, a black coffin abruptly came into view. She paused, instinctively halting her steps. The coffin lid had already been opened, and the darkness inside concealed everything from view. It was evident to Shui Liuqing that the person who had been here earlier had opened the coffin, but had vanished afterward. Determined this to be the case, she frowned. There were no other exits visible; how had the person vanished without a trace? Strangely, she detected no foreign presence or the stench of corpses or other beings emanating from the coffin. After contemplating for a while and finding no other paths, Shui Liuqing produced a lighting charm and swiftly leaped into the coffin. Her movements were exceedingly agile. Inside the coffin, there was no bottom. Unprepared, Shui Liuqing plummeted straight down. ... In the silent graveyard. Fu Yan's voice gently traveled through the darkness, her last few words echoing hauntingly in Ji Qingjue's ears. "You like her..." Ji Qingjue lifted her gaze to the figure before her, Fu Yan, her expression immediately tensing up, as if a secret had been unexpectedly laid bare. Her entire demeanor flared with embarrassment and anger: "Non... Nonsense!" Watching her reaction, reminiscent of an agitated feline, Fu Yan resisted the urge to laugh, instead nonchalantly posing another question: "Hmm?" "I... I just wanted fairness for her, that’s right, just fairness," Ji Qingjue insisted, her gaze locked onto Fu Yan, rapidly adopting a facade of 'righteousness.' "Every cultivator has their dignity. On what grounds do you enslave others like this?" Ji Qingjue seemed to seize this as a breakthrough, her indignation flaring once more. Fu Yan: "..." A sudden thought seized Fu Yan. How had Ji Qingjue become aware of the connection between herself and Shui Liuqing? Given Shui Liuqing’s character, she certainly wouldn’t have confessed such a thing herself. Even if she had, Shui Liuqing would never think that Fu Yan was enslaving her, for since acknowledging her, Fu Yan had never resorted to coercion or limited her freedom. Moreover, Fu Yan, along with Bai Yueli, had risked their lives to save Shui Liuqing multiple times. "Why do you assume it was me?" Fu Yan didn't directly reply to Ji Qingjue's query. Instead, she raised her eyes again, addressing the shadow in the air. Ji Qingjue hadn’t been entirely certain initially. Her master had revealed the truth, leaving her pondering who had entered Shui Liuqing into such an unequal master-servant contract. Yet, Shui Liuqing had few people around her. Seeing Fu Yan today had jogged Ji Qingjue's memory of the Northern Region’s secret realm, where, from a distance, she had occasionally glimpsed Shui Liuqing, always beside Fu Yan. She recalled that time, hearing about the conflicts between Fu Yan, Bai Yueli, and the Shui Ling Sect. Under those circumstances, someone must have aided their escape. For reasons she couldn’t quite comprehend, her thoughts turned to Shui Liuqing. Recalling these past events, Ji Qingjue’s suspicions landed squarely on Fu Yan. Especially with Fu Yan wounded and Shui Liuqing often trapped, it prompted her to act, attempting to capture Fu Yan impulsively. The moment she drew her sword, Ji Qingjue regretted it, for she was not a reckless person. And yet... But seeing Fu Yan’s reaction, Ji Qingjue was already convinced of her guess. It was indeed Fu Yan who had signed the master-servant contract with Shui Liuqing. Seeing Ji Qingjue’s silence, the demonic spirit hovering above seemed impatient, directly addressing Fu Yan: "When did you become so indecisive? Let me just absorb her power." With those words, it seemed poised to act. Fu Yan's eyes turned icy, fixing on the demonic spirit in the air. The creature smirked, dismissively averting its gaze. "Bang!" At that moment, a silhouette fell from the darkness. Fu Yan, on the verge of speaking, sensed a familiar aura. What a coincidence. With this thought, Fu Yan paused slightly, then raised her eyes toward the direction behind Ji Qingjue, where Shui Liuqing was scrambling out of a coffin. Simultaneously, Ji Qingjue stiffened in the air. Although she couldn’t turn back, she instantly recognized Shui Liuqing's aura, so familiar to her. Finally, having fallen through, Shui Liuqing breathed a quiet sigh of relief. As she climbed out, before she even brushed the dust from her clothes, she felt a gaze upon her. Startled, she raised her eyes toward the light, spotting Fu Yan's figure. Her eyes widened in surprise; never had she expected to see Fu Yan here, especially not missing an arm! Wasting no time, Shui Liuqing quickly darted over. "Palace Master, are you alright? What happened?" She asked incredulously, eyes fixed on Fu Yan's shoulder where an arm should have been. To Shui Liuqing, Fu Yan’s capabilities were always shrouded in mystery, unfathomable. She could hardly believe what had transpired to cost Fu Yan an arm. Fu Yan seemed unperturbed, merely shrugging casually: "It's just an arm, really nothing significant. You can make me a new one." Shui Liuqing: "..." Her words brought Shui Liuqing to realize oddities about Fu Yan’s current form: it resembled the humanoid puppet she had once gifted her. In an instant, Shui Liuqing understood. As Fu Yan said, she was merely a puppet avatar now. Creating a new arm would indeed be simply done. With this, Shui Liuqing relaxed slightly. About to speak again, she suddenly sensed something amiss. Turning quickly, her eyes met Ji Qingjue’s floating gaze. The air fell abruptly silent. "Ji... Qingjue?" Shui Liuqing blurted out upon seeing her. As the words hung in the air, realization dawned on her. Seeing Ji Qingjue’s sword aimed at Fu Yan, she turned back to Fu Yan: "Palace Master..." Fu Yan nodded in acknowledgment, saying, "She wants to kill me." "How...how could this happen?" Shui Liuqing's face turned white abruptly. "Indeed, I wanted to kill her," Ji Qingjue admitted, biting her lip as she glared at Fu Yan. "And now that I have failed, do with me as you will." Shui Liuqing felt as though she had been struck across the head. She couldn’t comprehend why Ji Qingjue would wish to kill Fu Yan, knowing Fu Yan's character to never let those who threaten her off easily. Shui Liuqing's lips parted, struggling with words, but Fu Yan spoke first, "It's quite interesting, actually. She came to defend your honor." "Fu Yan!" Ji Qingjue shouted angrily, as if trying to stop her from speaking. "Me?" Shui Liuqing was taken aback. Fu Yan chuckled softly at the sight of both women, then raised her eyes toward the demonic spirit above. Understanding her intent, it withdrew its power. Swish! In the next moment, Ji Qingjue fell unexpectedly as Fu Yan released the restraint. Unprepared, she almost didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. She expected to crash into the coffin below, but Shui Liuqing, acting on sheer instinct, reached out and caught Ji Qingjue effortlessly. Fu Yan originally intended to tease the two a bit more. She could see that both Shui Liuqing and Ji Qingjue harbored similar feelings, yet neither dared to break the silence between them. While outside, Fu Yan wouldn't mind playing catalyst. But considering the need to leave this place promptly, she abandoned her plan. Their love matters were not her concern, after all. Seeing Shui Liuqing unconsciously catch Ji Qingjue, Fu Yan raised an eyebrow and waved them off with a casual hand, "This is a debt you brought on yourself; you should handle it." They all knew well enough what kind of 'debt' it was. Relieved, Shui Liuqing thanked Fu Yan promptly, "Thank you, Palace Master." Fu Yan said nothing more and quickly moved to another corner, pulling out her parchment to continue her research, hoping to find a way out. Finally, the two women came to their senses. Ji Qingjue, realizing she was being held, awkwardly struggled free, stepping back swiftly. Shui Liuqing looked at her empty hand, slowly lowering it, then lifted her eyes to Ji Qingjue, "Are you...okay?" "I'm fine," Ji Qingjue quickly regained her composure and responded nonchalantly, "This is between me and Fu Yan. She once trapped me in the secret realm, so don't concern yourself with it." The opposing figure said nothing in response to her words. Ji Qingjue paused, hesitantly looking back at Shui Liuqing, who remained quietly focused on her. In reality, seeing Ji Qingjue again had thoroughly disordered Shui Liuqing’s thoughts. After their last hasty separation, she’d felt like she’d fled in disarray. Even now, she wasn’t ready to face Ji Qingjue. She had wanted to stay far from Ji Qingjue, yet at this moment of reunion, she couldn’t deny her overwhelming desire to draw nearer, closer still. Watching Shui Liuqing so intently, Ji Qingjue's gaze briefly darkened before she turned away, brushing it off lightly, "Never mind. There's nothing more to say." She moved to turn away, seeking a spot to figure a way out, when a firm hand suddenly clasped her arm, stopping her. Startled, she looked down at the hand holding her. The hand was beautiful, with long fingers and soft red fingertips. Despite being a swordswoman, Shui Liuqing’s palm felt smooth, without a trace of callous. Ji Qingjue's gaze followed the hand back up to Shui Liuqing's face. "Thank you," Shui Liuqing said, looking at her. Ji Qingjue was momentarily confused, "For what?" Taking a step forward, Shui Liuqing released Ji Qingjue’s arm slightly and explained, "I think there’s been a misunderstanding..." Shui Liuqing, not being naïve, had realized something when Fu Yan said "defending your honor." Amongst the ties between her and Fu Yan, there was indeed one unequal connection. Although unsure how Ji Qingjue found out, she decided to reveal the truth. Admittedly, she had once made a foolish decision. "Palace Master and Senior Sister Bai saved my life. Without them, I’d perhaps be dead by now." Shui Liuqing faced Ji Qingjue earnestly. "I share a soul contract with the Palace Master, which is unbreakable. Yet, she never coerces me. My freedom remains intact, and whenever she needs my help, she compensates me fairly." Eyeing the irises that moved her heart, Ji Qingjue averted her gaze, feigning indifference, "Oh. I’m not interested in your affairs. This really has nothing to do with you—I just wanted to deal with Fu Yan." Without saying more, Shui Liuqing smiled softly, asking, "Have you reached the peak level?" ... Fu Yan furrowed her brows as she tucked away her parchment. She had made no progress. The existence of this graveyard and the parchment’s content bore no relation. This place seemed to be a space where one could enter but not exit. Turning toward Shui Liuqing and Ji Qingjue, Fu Yan didn’t dwell on whether they resolved things. Instead, she inquired, "How did you two end up falling here?" Both Ji Qingjue and Shui Liuqing understood the urgency of leaving, setting aside personal matters momentarily. Ji Qingjue shared her experience first. Realizing something, Shui Liuqing honestly added, "I followed behind her; we took the same route, thus falling one after the other." Clearly, the person in front of Shui Liuqing earlier had been Ji Qingjue. Hearing this, Fu Yan pondered once more. Their experiences mirrored her own—they all stumbled through a coffin into this place, with no way back. Clues were nonexistent. With no alternatives, the three of them resumed exploring the area, hoping for notable discoveries as time silently slipped by. "Bang! Bang!" Before long, more figures fell into the graveyard. They seemed to belong to a single sect, led by a master at the Nascent Soul stage, who had, by chance, stumbled upon this place. Instantly, the graveyard's atmosphere grew tense. Time’s passage was indiscernible in the dark, sunless graveyard, but Fu Yan sensed she had been trapped here for nearly ten days. Opening her eyes after meditation, Fu Yan met the invasive gaze of the Nascent Soul master on the other side. The gaze was undoubtedly aggressive. As anticipated, within a day, those people surrounded Fu Yan and her companions, "Sorry, but no one knows if we can leave. Our resources might not last long. Could you spare some provisions?" The suggestion drew laughter from them. Ji Qingjue smirked lightly, her eyes narrowing as she readied herself to step forward. But Shui Liuqing quickly held her back. "What is it?" Ji Qingjue asked, eyeing her, "Did you forget my natural charm body? It would be easy to enchant them." With the question hanging, Shui Liuqing shot her a cold, annoyed look, gripping her arm tighter, "No need." Witnessing their exchange, Fu Yan mused silently, "..." I miss my senior sister, she thought suddenly. Ignoring them, Shui Liuqing stepped forward, resolved to stand guard. She gripped the Dripping Water Sword and swiftly summoned her puppet, forming a shield in front of Fu Yan and Ji Qingjue. The newcomers' glances settled on the Dripping Water Sword, eyeing it with pleased surprise, "That's quite a nice sword." "You're courting death!" Ji Qingjue's eyes turned cold, instantly darting toward them. In the pitch-black graveyard, sword light flashed, and the waves of true energy surged forth like a tempest. Unfazed by others, Fu Yan focused on the Nascent Soul master. The commotion signaled no intent to prolong this farce. In a blink, Fu Yan rushed forward, appearing in front of him, met by a sneering grin of his, mocking her audacity. Above, the demonic spirit had drifted forward leisurely. Observing his expansive power, it merely moved. An invisible force exploded, locking onto him. "How... how can this be?" he uttered in disbelief, realizing his strength was vanishing quickly. Swish! Yet, he no longer had a chance to react. Fate handed him only a headless end, as Fu Yan calmly sheathed her sword and pocketed his storage ring. Soon, the skirmish concluded, and the graveyard returned to its eerie peace. Shui Liuqing stepped forward, having successfully crafted a new arm over the past few days and reattached it to Fu Yan's puppet avatar. Behind them, Ji Qingjue watched coldly, eventually averting her gaze. The feeling of having two hands again was undeniably satisfying. As Fu Yan flexed her newly attached limb experimentally, the demonic spirit's head drifted into her view. "Actually, leaving here is quite simple," the demonic spirit remarked, looking her in the eye with a hint of amusement glinting within its gaze. Fu Yan paused, genuinely intrigued. "Oh?" The demonic spirit's voice lowered, carrying an air of temptation, "The power of laws… if you reclaim the power of laws, you can effortlessly break through this space." "Reclaim the power of laws," Fu Yan echoed, arching her brow. The demonic spirit was correct; by wielding the power of laws, escaping this place would indeed be easy for them. However, Fu Yan was certain that the moment she reclaimed it, the demonic spirit would vanish from this realm. After all, even the illustrious Sword Immortal of Talent couldn't perfectly subdue the demonic spirit with a lifetime's effort, making this place insufficient to contain it. With a leisurely smile, Fu Yan mused, "This place shouldn't confine you, right? If I reclaim the power of laws, do you think we'll meet again?" Unfazed by Fu Yan's blunt revelation of its intentions, the demonic spirit's smile only deepened, "How could that be? After all, I've helped you so much. I wouldn’t just leave." "Is that so?" Fu Yan countered, skepticism evident in her expression. This time, the demonic spirit chuckled aloud, unhurriedly remarking, "But what can you do? Without the power of laws, you… will never escape. You’ll simply have to—wait for death." "You know I'm not afraid to wait," Fu Yan replied, undeterred. After all, it had waited for thousands of years already. At that, Fu Yan glanced at Shui Liuqing decisively, "Get ready; we're leaving." Shui Liuqing and Ji Qingjue exchanged puzzled looks, "???" In a swift motion, Fu Yan grabbed the demonic spirit's head, holding it quietly in her palm. As the others barely had time to react, golden light burst forth. The demonic spirit felt a surging force of law explode within it, a brilliant golden glow covering its head, appearing from afar as though it were a radiant golden sphere. "What are you doing?" the demonic spirit demanded, its eyes wide with shock. Fu Yan tossed the golden sphere into the air, her expression innocently benign, "Thank you for the suggestion. There's no need to reclaim the power of laws." All she needed was to use it as the form of the laws. With that, Fu Yan leaped up, kicking the golden sphere with all her might, hurling it through the air. The space trembled. A circular exit was torn open. Finally, there was a way out.