265 - Elasia Saga

In the pitch-black cemetery, a burst of golden light suddenly appeared. At that moment, the power of the laws coursed through every inch of Mo Ling’s skin and even each strand of its hair, transforming it into an embodiment of the laws’ power. Fu Yan smiled as she tossed it high into the air, then kicked it forcefully. The golden orb shot straight ahead of the three, leaving a perfect golden arc in the sky. The force of the laws surged forward, unstoppable. For a brief moment, the cemetery echoed with Mo Ling’s loud curses, yet only Fu Yan could hear them; she seemed to naturally mute them out, landing gracefully on her own. To Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue, who were below, it appeared as if Fu Yan had suddenly conjured a golden orb. The moment they sensed its terrifying power, they felt an intangible force overwhelming them. Ji Qing Jue finally understood that Fu Yan was likely just playing with her from the beginning. With her current strength, she probably couldn't muster even the slightest resistance. Even her famed innate charm physique had been completely ineffective against Fu Yan from the start. The next moment, the entire cemetery began to shake violently. Where the orb had struck, it left a brutally carved circular space opening. Realizing this, Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue snapped back to reality, finally understanding that Fu Yan's earlier words were not a joke. They could indeed escape from here. Fu Yan glanced up at the exit created by launching Mo Ling and couldn't help but chuckle. But they had no time to delay; she cast a sideways glance at the two of them. "We can leave now." With that, Fu Yan didn’t wait to see if they believed her, swiftly transforming into a beam of light and charging into the space opening. Shui Liu Qing, trusting Fu Yan unconditionally, quickly came to her senses. Without much thought, she instinctively grabbed Ji Qing Jue by her side. "Let's hurry." Without waiting for Ji Qing Jue to respond, Shui Liu Qing pulled her along, following closely behind as they flew into the space opening. Crack— Due to the forced opening created by the power of the laws, thunder and lightning ravaged the opening, with blades of space flying chaotically, yet the passage remained quite stable. The three of them had no other route to take, compelled to enhance their protective shields of true essence as they arduously navigated through the space opening. Time became an indeterminate blur. Finally, a light appeared ahead in the chaotic space, prompting Fu Yan to speed up and swiftly dart through the bright gateway. Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue followed closely behind. Splash— The white light dispersed, and Fu Yan’s figure finally emerged from the space rift, spinning gracefully to land firmly on the ground. Having been trapped in that cemetery for so long, they were finally free. Even the calm Fu Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, as if surviving a great danger, and she exhaled slightly. Although she was merely a puppet avatar, and her demise wouldn't significantly impact her, if things had truly gone awry, her entire journey to the bottom of the Youxin Lake would have been in vain, with Frost Blossom Palace potentially suffering heavy losses. Zing— As Fu Yan raised her gaze, a cold blade flashed swiftly past her eyes, and as she reacted, the sound of a blade echoed in her ears. In an instant, Fu Yan felt a formidable force rushing toward her. Without a moment to think, she reflexively raised her hand, releasing a burst of true essence. The shadow of the blade flicked by, and Fu Yan, not daring to hold back, unleashed her full strength, countering the attack directly. By this time, she had almost no way to dodge. Air currents swirled rapidly, and in the briefest moment after their forces clashed, a strong, piercing sound roared through the air. Fu Yan frowned instantly. The exit smashed open by Mo Ling was undoubtedly random, yet luckily, Fu Yan was cautious and prepared early. After all, the place they emerged could be extremely dangerous. Sure enough, her assessment proved correct. Fu Yan had barely stepped out, without time to survey the surroundings, when a lethal attack unexpectedly struck. The confrontation reached a stalemate. Just as Fu Yan was contemplating her next move, she sensed something was amiss—the opposing force was weakening, and a faint scent of blood lingered in the air. The opponent was injured. The realization flashed through Fu Yan's mind, prompting her to abandon her initial plan and instead intensify her assault. Indeed, the opponent's attack faltered visibly, beginning to tremble slightly. Within mere seconds, Fu Yan's force completely overwhelmed the adversary. Bang! In an instant, Fu Yan's attack struck with unforgiving force, leaving her opponent no chance to dodge, forcing them to endure the impact with their body. The individual was sent flying, crashing heavily into the wall before collapsing to the ground. With a spurt, the person coughed up blood once more. Seeing this, Fu Yan retracted her hand, feeling no guilt for taking advantage of the situation. After all, it was the other party who first launched a life-threatening attack on her; had she been defenseless, she might have suffered a fatal blow. After confirming there was no immediate threat from the injured individual, Fu Yan quickly scanned her surroundings. She found herself in a moderately sized cave, with seemingly no other dangers present. However, Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue, who were supposed to be with her, were nowhere to be seen. Fu Yan glanced back at the now-sealed space crack, feeling a hint of puzzlement which quickly turned to understanding. The unstable nature of the space exit likely meant that while she managed to escape first, the space shifted, causing Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue to fall elsewhere. Having reached this conclusion, Fu Yan redirected her focus, retrieving the puppet paper figures Shui Liu Qing had previously given her. Now that they were out of the cemetery's sealed space, the figures could function properly again. As Fu Yan had guessed, Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue had also escaped, albeit landing some distance away from her. Satisfied, Fu Yan dismissed the thought. Considering Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue were together, they were unlikely to encounter significant troubles. Her priority was handling the current situation. The Mo Ling, now lying on the ground, appeared utterly disheveled, its long hair tangled messily as it burned with rage. "Fu Yan!" Mo Ling, unsteady on its feet, struggled to rise, glaring fiercely at Fu Yan, its name spat like venom from between clenched teeth. If looks could kill, Fu Yan would have been shredded countless times under Mo Ling's glare. Looking down at the irate Mo Ling, Fu Yan remained unfazed, merely raising her eyebrow slightly and flashing a faint smile. She even praised it generously, "Not bad at all." Mo Ling: “…” The curses it had been brewing were effortlessly quelled by Fu Yan's response. Mo Ling thought, if it had a real body, it might have coughed up blood in anger. Watching Mo Ling's frustrated demeanor, Fu Yan merely chuckled, showing no intention of saying more as she stepped toward the other side. The person who had been flung aside was now struggling to rise from the ground, wiping the blood from her lips, her eyes locked on Fu Yan as she approached. Fu Yan stopped her advance with a few meters still separating them, studying the figure openly. As she drew closer, Fu Yan realized it was a woman, clad in simple form-fitting black attire, her head wrapped in a black cloth that only revealed half her face. Her black eyes brimmed with wariness and aggression. She resembled a wounded tiger, poised to attack anyone daring to draw near. “A cultivator in the Transcendence Phase?” Fu Yan noted, surprised by the woman's cultivation level. Even an injured Transcendence Phase expert shouldn’t be easily defeated by someone in the Fusion Phase, yet this woman had failed against Fu Yan's puppet. She must have sustained serious injuries. The woman remained silent, her gaze fixed intently on Fu Yan, ready to fiercely counter any advance. Fu Yan took a moment to further inspect the cave, quickly drawing her conclusions. This woman likely ventured into the crypt and was severely injured, subsequently seeking a temporary refuge to heal. She ended up in this modest cave, only for a space rift to abruptly disturb her mid-recovery. Her precarious condition left her prepared for the worst, unable to gamble her life on the unknown intentions of new arrivals. As Fu Yan emerged from the space, the woman had used up her last bit of strength, preparing to deliver a fatal blow. Fu Yan guessed that the woman was probably a wandering cultivator who had gone through many harsh trials—such decisiveness seemed unlikely for a typical sect disciple, who wouldn't have such a self-preserving mindset. It was all for survival, and truthfully, Fu Yan could understand. However, understanding aside, the woman had nearly killed her. Fu Yan wasn't a saint, and in this world, sympathy was unnecessary. "Who are you?" Fu Yan asked nonchalantly, her eyes fixed intently on the woman dressed in black. The woman’s expression remained unchanged despite her calm gaze. She suddenly raised her hand, seemingly to retrieve something. Fu Yan wasn’t worried about a hidden weapon; in fact, she watched with curiosity. The next moment, the woman pulled out a palm-sized object from her storage ring. Fu Yan focused on it and realized it resembled a seashell. The woman tossed the shell toward Fu Yan, who paused momentarily, then reached out with a smile to catch it. The shell shone with an oceanic blue hue. Holding it, Fu Yan didn’t find it hard or rough; her eyes lit up as she realized what it was. The shell was a semi-immortal artifact! This outcome was truly unexpected. Fu Yan hadn’t anticipated such generosity—a semi-immortal artifact handed over just like that. After confirming it again, Fu Yan raised an eyebrow slightly, no longer paying attention to the woman on the ground. She stowed the shell and turned to glance behind her before silently indicating, "Follow me." With that, Fu Yan walked toward the cave’s exit as if the woman no longer existed. Woosh— Watching Fu Yan pass through a barrier she'd left at the cave entrance, the woman finally exhaled deeply. As she withdrew her gaze, she began to cough violently. "Cough, cough!" Expelling the remaining clotted blood from her mouth brought her some relief, but the persistent anomalies in her body kept her brow furrowed. After a long while spent regulating her breath, the woman painstakingly shifted her body to adjust her posture slightly. In the silence of the cave, as the woman moved, a faint glimmer flickered on the ground behind her. Upon closer inspection, one might discover— The reflective object on the ground was a silver scale! Outside the cave, Fu Yan's mood seemed rather good. The woman inside was undoubtedly clever and shrewd, perhaps realizing that while Fu Yan lacked the intention to kill, she was displeased with being attacked so treacherously. Hence, the offering of the semi-immortal artifact. Fu Yan hadn’t shown any bloodlust, recognizing that despite her weakened state, the woman was a formidable Transcendence Phase master, undoubtedly not simple. If Fu Yan had acted recklessly, the woman would likely have resorted to desperate measures. Fu Yan wasn't afraid, just found it troublesome. Moreover, her experience in the cemetery had made Fu Yan realize that in facing formidable opponents, she couldn’t wholly rely on Mo Ling. After all, it might turn against her at any moment. The power of the laws could control Mo Ling’s strength but not its intentions. "I've noticed you've become quite benevolent lately," Mo Ling remarked, seemingly over its rage as it hovered beside Fu Yan. Mo Ling had reached the conclusion that escaping Fu Yan's control wouldn't be easy. Since there was plenty of time, it figured there would be many opportunities ahead. Fu Yan simply glanced at it without speaking. Unperturbed, Mo Ling continued, "For someone who can casually pull out a semi-immortal artifact, she's bound to have even more treasures. Now she's left vulnerable. Aren't you at all tempted?" Vulnerable? With a faint smile, Fu Yan retorted, "Put away your petty schemes." Mo Ling feigned indifference. "If you don't trust me, you might as well completely seal my powers." A strike threat, it seemed. Fu Yan ignored it, appearing unconcerned, instead raising her eyes to survey the surroundings. The location resembled a small hillside, providing a uniquely broad view of nearly half the crypt. They had wasted too much time in that cemetery. Over the past half-month, the crypt had likely been almost entirely scavenged, and Fu Yan had no intention of searching further. Drawing out the treasure map from her pocket and studying it intently, Fu Yan prepared to seek out the locations marked on it. Wasting no time, Fu Yan's figure quickly darted downward, and in the blink of an eye, she disappeared from sight. Mo Ling had no choice but to float behind her. … As Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue emerged from the space rift, a flash of white light followed by the solid landing overwhelmed them. "Finally out," Ji Qing Jue exclaimed, inhaling deeply as the fresh air greeted them. She then noticed Shui Liu Qing still holding her wrist and swiftly pulled her hand away. Barely registering Shui Liu Qing’s absent grip, she paused, looked back at Ji Qing Jue’s expressionless face, but said nothing. Clasping her own palm, Shui Liu Qing realized they had emerged into a courtyard. Fu Yan, who must have exited earlier, was nowhere to be seen. Ji Qing Jue also seemed to realize Fu Yan’s absence, stating calmly, "The instability of the space means our landing points weren't the same." Shui Liu Qing had anticipated this, feeling no concern. Even though Fu Yan’s current form was merely a puppet, she remained formidable. The power she unleashed to open the spatial passage was testament to her invulnerability against average foes. With this reassurance, Shui Liu Qing shifted her focus from Fu Yan’s whereabouts to Ji Qing Jue. "You…" "Since we're out, I'll take my leave," Ji Qing Jue interrupted coldly, not allowing Shui Liu Qing a chance to speak. Turning her gaze, Ji Qing Jue prepared to depart. Just as Shui Liu Qing attempted to speak, a group of unfamiliar presences suddenly confronted them, blocking their path. The unforeseen encounter made both Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue momentarily freeze and reflexively look upward. In the small courtyard, four figures stood before them, clad in the attire of disciples from the Celestial Machine Pavilion. One of the last to steady himself hadn’t yet noticed Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue. Cheerfully, he spoke to his companions, "I knew I saw a flash of white light here earlier. It must be some treasure. We…" Upon spotting the two, his smile vanished as he scrutinized them. "Interesting, someone beat me to the punch." Realizing this, Shui Liu Qing grasped the situation. It was their emergence from the rift that alerted these Celestial Machine Pavilion disciples and brought them hastily. Of course, proclaiming the absence of any treasures now would likely not convince anyone. Facing a formidable opponent in the form of a Transcendence Phase expert and two Fusion Phase masters, confronting them directly wasn't wise. As Shui Liu Qing pondered an escape plan with Ji Qing Jue, someone stepped forth. "Didn’t expect to find Lady Jie here," Du Wen Xiong cheerfully declared, stepping forward upon recognizing Ji Qing Jue. As soon as he spoke, another disciple, seemingly entertained, remarked, "So, this is Ji Qing Jue of Flower Spirit Valley. Brother Du has quite an eye!" Du Wen Xiong’s pursuit of Ji Qing Jue was already a well-known tale between their factions, and this encounter promised quite the drama. Upon seeing Du Wen Xiong, Ji Qing Jue's brows furrowed, and she coldly queried, "What do you mean by this?" Du Wen Xiong chuckled, "We saw a treasure manifest here. If Lady Jie has claimed it, we won’t contest it. Just curious what the treasure was?" "There’s nothing here," Ji Qing Jue replied flatly, unwilling to delve into a protracted dispute with them. Unfazed by Ji Qing Jue's demeanor, Du Wen Xiong continued, "If Lady Jie won't discuss it, we won't press further. Aren't you with others from Flower Spirit Valley?" Ji Qing Jue seemed weary of prolonging the interaction, pulling Shui Liu Qing to leave together. "Why hurry away, Lady Jie?" Han Tong, the Transcendence Phase cultivator, interjected suddenly, "My junior brother is quite fond of you. Won't you consider it?" At this, Shui Liu Qing could barely contain herself, but just as she prepared to speak, Ji Qing Jue pulled her back. "Shui Liu Qing," Ji Qing Jue regarded her, pushing her aside, and whispered, "You said we're done owing each other. I don't need you involved in my affairs. You should rejoin your sect." Without waiting for Shui Liu Qing's reaction, Ji Qing Jue coldly turned her gaze to the crowd before her and stated, "I'm sorry, but I practice the Path of Emotionlessness." The group fell silent, stunned. "Really? I’ve never heard about that," Han Tong smirked without genuine amusement, his eyes glinting with a deeper meaning. Ji Qing Jue continued, "Just decided that a few days ago." "What a pity," Han Tong replied, not bothering to argue further. Instead, he added, "In that case, Lady Jie should come with us. It’s dangerous here, a slight misstep could cost you your life." By now, Ji Qing Jue understood that they had no intention of letting her leave so easily. While she wasn’t concerned about the others, Han Tong proved to be bothersome. Not only was he a Transcendence Phase expert, but he was also immune to her charm techniques. Although Flower Spirit Valley wasn't closely allied with Celestial Machine Pavilion, both were top-tier powers in the central region, making it unwise to completely burn bridges. With this in mind, Ji Qing Jue’s brow furrowed, signaling her growing annoyance, visibly deepening as she mulled over an escape plan from these individuals. Seeing this, Du Wen Xiong approached her again, wearing a harmless smile as he said, "Senior Brother Han means well, and rest assured, we won’t compete with you for resources." Zing— However, as Du Wen Xiong drew nearer, a remarkably clear sword was suddenly aimed at his throat. All eyes swiftly turned to Shui Liu Qing. Abruptly, Shui Liu Qing wrapped an arm around Ji Qing Jue’s slender waist and calmly declared, "Apologies, but Lady Jie has agreed to leave with me."