268 - Elasia Saga

### Demonic Realm Bai Yue Li put away the sound recognition mirror, finally allowing the vivid memories of soul cultivation with Fu Yan to fade away. She composed herself, her natural demeanor swiftly returning. The room remained silent, unchanged from when they had left, yet Bai Yue Li paused, sensing something amiss. Shortly after surviving the heavenly tribulation, she noticed a brief fluctuation in the barrier of her room, like a fleeting intuition. Curious, she decided to investigate, careful not to disturb Fu Yan's true form in her cultivation. It was only then Bai Yue Li confirmed her earlier suspicions. With their spiritual link, she realized, they could exert simple control over each other’s spiritual tools. Withdrawing her thoughts inward, Bai Yue Li didn't hesitate, quickly heading toward the secret passage behind her. With a sweep of her hand, the barrier wavered slightly. Although there were no signs of attack or disturbance, her brows remained slightly furrowed. After a momentary pause, she confidently treaded down the secret path. It was eerily quiet beneath, as if her concerns were unfounded. Yet the deeper she went, the more intense her gaze became. A sudden unease compelled her to quicken her pace. Another barrier dissolved as Bai Yue Li pressed forward, revealing a vacant secret chamber. The lighting was dim, and the floating box she had seen last time... was nowhere to be found. Her gaze halted, disbelief coloring her features. The box containing the heart was truly missing. Regaining her composure, Bai Yue Li meticulously searched the chamber, finding nothing out of place. The barriers and enchantments of the Demonic Realm were intact, without any evidence of assault or forced entry. Not even a mosquito could vanish without a trace here, yet the heart was gone. Though perplexed, Bai Yue Li felt this outcome wasn’t entirely unexpected. She hadn’t been told anything about the heart’s nature when Yuan Mo Jun handed it over. Leaving the chamber promptly, she exited her quarters and stealthily entered Fu Juan's room, only to find it similarly devoid of both Fu Juan and Xiao Yao Tuan Zi. Their presence had significantly faded, suggesting they hadn't returned for quite some time. As she pondered this, a point of light abruptly appeared out of nowhere and flew into her mind. Bai Yue Li paused but chose not to intercept it. This was Fu Juan's message for her. Deciphering the message, Bai Yue Li finally understood. Shortly after she and Fu Yan entered the Xu You Jade Seal to cultivate, Fu Juan had a vision of ancient ruins connected to their identities, prompting her to leave the Demonic Realm with Xiao Yao Tuan Zi in search of them. Bai Yue Li had no objections to their departure. After all, Fu Juan and Xiao Yao Tuan Zi had no ties to demonic practices and could not achieve better training or breakthroughs while staying in the Demonic Realm. It was good for them to explore outside. Receiving this information, Bai Yue Li easily let the matter go and departed the room. Though significant time had passed within the Xu You Jade Seal, only a few years had gone by outside. The Demonic Realm seemed largely unchanged, orderly as ever. As Bai Yue Li was about to summon the Ghost Fire Trio, she hesitated, recalling something else, and dismissed the idea. The heart's sudden disappearance didn’t indicate it was stolen, as no one could sneak into the demonic palace without detection. Only one possibility remained: the heart vanished on its own. This realization led Bai Yue Li to decide against consulting the Ghost Fire Trio. The heart's secret was significant, and she wished not to involve too many before understanding it fully. Recalling the archives of secrets in the Demonic Realm, Bai Yue Li knew they chronicled events and hidden truths from past millennia. However, the archives' location was known only to successive demonic lords, inaccessible to others. Bai Yue Li ascended to her role without being briefed by Yuan Mo Jun on these mysteries. Yet she knew she had to find those archives. While Fu Yan remained in closed cultivation, Bai Yue Li had time, having only recently endured her tribulation. She didn't mind not cultivating now. Her commitment to dual-cultivate with Fu Yan was mainly to help Fu Yan swiftly increase her power. However, perpetual seclusion wasn’t feasible. Besides, Fu Yan’s puppet notified her real body of Bai Yue Li’s actions, so there would be no misunderstanding of her disappearance. With Fu Yan's seclusion set until the Heavenly Sect Assembly, Bai Yue Li planned to resolve the heart’s mystery before returning. Resolve firm, Bai Yue Li embarked on locating the historical archives within the Demonic Realm, suspecting them to be somewhere in the palace, narrowing her search significantly. Her silhouette moved swiftly through the grand halls. Days passed with no success, until one day the black raven, which always lingered in the palace, alighted near her, questioning, "Demon Lord, are you searching for something?" At its words, Bai Yue Li's eyes widened. How had she forgotten the raven? This raven, though its appearance deceived, was no ordinary bird. Having accompanied Yuan Mo Jun since its birth, it held his secrets more than any other. Gazing at the raven, her eyes subtly shifting, she asked directly, "Where is the archive of secrets in the Demonic Realm?" "The archive?" The raven repeated in surprise, "That's a secret known only to the demon lords, others may not inquire…" Bai Yue Li asserted, "I am the demon lord now." The raven nodded in agreement, remembering her new role. "I don’t know myself," it admitted, "but I recall the previous demon lord had favored several places." Armed with this lead, Bai Yue Li no longer searched blindly in the extensive palace. Guided by the raven, she soon reached a cliff at the palace's edge—a frequently visited spot by Yuan Mo Jun. Bai Yue Li's gaze fell to the cliff below, expressionless. "Should I jump?" She asked the raven. It shook its head, unsure. Yuan Mo Jun's daunting nature deterred anyone from approaching too closely or probing his affairs. Seeing this, Bai Yue Li returned her attention to the cliffs, searching for any irregularities but found none. Her focus shifted back to the precipice. If the archive only unlocked for demon lords, perhaps Yuan Mo Jun’s power was the key. Fortunately, possessing half his power, Bai Yue Li faced no issue. Maybe his power could detect the archive's presence. Resolute, she harnessed her energy, unleashing a surge of magic that rippled outward. Simultaneously, she sensed every disturbance in the surrounding air. Her eyes opened, momentarily clear. In the next instant, Bai Yue Li plunged over the edge, magic directing her descent towards a focal point. With a subtle vibration, light flashed, and Bai Yue Li vanished midair. The watching raven knew she’d found the archive, retreating to its distant perch quietly. When the light dissipated, Bai Yue Li found herself in an enormous pavilion. Surrounded by towering bookshelves arranged in a circular arc, each connected to the ceiling of the vast pavilion, a beam of light shone down into the center, creating a grandiose sight. The shelves did not hold traditional books but rather wisps of gray light that, with a mere touch, revealed the recorded events or secrets contained within. But there were so many! Bai Yue Li sighed softly, though she had no intention of giving up. She would systematically search from the bottom up for anything related to the mysterious heart. Moments later, she was seated quietly under the central beam of light, the wispy figures hovering gently in the air around her. --- Deep within the tomb beneath the Lake of Etheral Shadows. After briefly discussing matters with Bai Yue Li, Fu Yan stowed away the sound recognition mirror. Fu Yan had initially kept the mirror with her puppet to facilitate communication with Lu Xiao Wen regarding affairs at Shuanghua Palace, but had encountered unexpected delays due to the antiquated state of his mirror, requiring some modifications. Unfazed by these complications, Fu Yan promptly resumed her journey toward Shui Liu Qing, as time was pressing and more delays were unwelcome. Several hours later, Fu Yan arrived at a somewhat eerie pavilion, where Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue were presumably located. Without hesitation, Fu Yan leapt gracefully, alighting on the pavilion roof as easily as stepping on air. Upon landing, a strong stench of blood greeted her, a clear indication of a recent bloody confrontation. Paused and frowning, Fu Yan had initially believed Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue to be exchanging heartfelt words here, not expecting someone to be injured. Inside the pavilion below. Ji Qing Jue was momentarily stunned by Shui Liu Qing's final words. What did she mean by no longer wanting to push her away? "You..." Recovering her wits after a long pause, Ji Qing Jue was about to say something when Shui Liu Qing interrupted, "Ji Qing Jue." "Hmm?" "I will not let you go." Before Ji Qing Jue could process these words, Shui Liu Qing grasped her hand firmly and pulled her forward, catching her in a singular embrace. Ji Qing Jue: "..." The directness of Shui Liu Qing's statement, though similar to her earlier words, left Ji Qing Jue with conflicting emotions, torn between accepting and denying her implications. Yet as Shui Liu Qing held her, the internal debate vanished, and Ji Qing Jue found herself staring blankly, struggling to break free. "Ouch..." Shui Liu Qing winced in pain. Startled, Ji Qing Jue realized her flustered movements had accidentally aggravated Shui Liu Qing's abdominal wound. She quickly inspected it with a lowered gaze, concerned, "Sorry, sorry, did it reopen?" An amused glint appeared in Shui Liu Qing's eyes just as she noticed Fu Yan standing on the rooftop. "Don't worry," Shui Liu Qing reassured softly. As Ji Qing Jue sighed in relief, she sensed another presence and promptly turned. Reuniting shortly after leaving the tomb, the trio gathered. Fu Yan checked Shui Liu Qing's injuries, nodding upon hearing she had taken Thousand-leaved Snow Grass. "You should be fine now that you can utilize your true essence." With the ability to harness spiritual energy, physical recovery would be swift. Facing the two once more, Fu Yan kept no secrets, revealing a parchment treasure map. "Did you notice anything resembling this after entering?" "You have a parchment treasure map?!" Ji Qing Jue exclaimed at seeing the item, surprise coloring her features. Being from Flower Spirit Valley, Ji Qing Jue understood its significance, noting that Fang Yu from Sword King Sect possessed two such maps, which had drawn him here. "He's already opened a vault," Fu Yan informed, advising against meddling in their affairs. With Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue studying the map's illustrations, memories of their recent journey flashed through their minds. While Shui Liu Qing had mainly followed Fu Yan, Ji Qing Jue was the one to frown slightly before speaking, "I remember seeing this place." Yet she had found nothing noteworthy at that time. Fu Yan's eyes brightened with this direction, prompting the group to promptly follow Ji Qing Jue's lead. Ji Qing Jue felt as though she had forgotten something, her attention drawn to a bell nearby. "Can we wait a moment? I'd like to refine that spirit tool." Slightly surprised, Fu Yan noticed the bell was in fact a half-immortal artifact, not an ordinary spiritual tool. "Of course," she replied calmly, shifting her focus to Shui Liu Qing. "It's a good chance for you to recover a bit." Neither Shui Liu Qing nor Ji Qing Jue objected. Ji Qing Jue swiftly moved to refine the bell while Shui Liu Qing meditated nearby, her recovery visibly progressing with the use of true essence. With nothing to attend to, Fu Yan leaned back, watching Shui Liu Qing. She considered their master-servant contract, realizing it had long been obsolete. Yet Shui Liu Qing had signed it with her soul, and Fu Yan wasn't sure how to dissolve it. Perhaps it would have to wait until her own ascension to immortality. Less than half a day later, the trio set off again, following Ji Qing Jue until they stopped before a grand hall—seemingly picked clean by previous explorers. "Something seems different here," said Shui Liu Qing, comparing it to the map's illustration. "Follow me, it should be in the rear courtyard," Ji Qing Jue instructed, dashing swiftly toward the garden behind the main hall, trailed by Fu Yan and Shui Liu Qing. The rear courtyard was desolate, with a steep cliff on one side and a small prayer shrine resembling the tiny structure from the map. All three hesitated before approaching. The tiny shrine stood adult height, housing a half-bust Buddhist statue with two small incense urns plainly positioned outside for offerings. Nothing else adorned the shrine. "This should be the place," Fu Yan stated with a furrowed brow, confirming their location. After thorough scrutiny, Ji Qing Jue admitted, "There’s nothing unusual here, no discernible energy fluctuations." Fu Yan knew that the key to unlocking the opportunity lay within the parchment, yet despite pondering the map en route, she'd uncovered no crucial insight. How was this key supposed to be used? The three of them stared at the statue, then back at the ancient map, collectively stumped. Swoosh! Suddenly, a figure appeared before them. Without concealing her presence, she stood directly across. Ji Qing Jue and Shui Liu Qing immediately locked their eyes on the newcomer. Fu Yan raised her head slowly, surprise flickering as she recognized the woman from the cave, the one who had given her the shell. The woman's face remained impassive, though her aura resonated with the power of a genuine Grandmaster, her previous injuries seemingly healed. In that moment, Fu Yan noticed for the first time the woman's striking azure eyes, reminiscent of finely cut sapphires filled with oceanic depth. Perhaps the dim cave had obscured her vision before. What was the woman's purpose in appearing here now? Could she be seeking revenge? "Master," Shui Liu Qing whispered hurriedly to Fu Yan, "I think she has a parchment map as well." Snapping out of her astonishment, Fu Yan's gaze shifted to the woman’s hand, spotting a parchment similar to her own. It seemed she wasn’t the sole holder of the cryptic treasure maps for this site. After a momentary pause, the woman began to stride toward them calmly. Sensing no hostility, Fu Yan understood the woman's presence was likely coincidental, not borne of vengeance. The previous misunderstandings between them had been resolved, so Fu Yan didn't have any lingering concerns. As the woman approached, Fu Yan simply withdrew her gaze and continued pondering the method to unlock the treasure vault. Seeing that Fu Yan was unperturbed, Ji Qing Jue was quite surprised, but after realizing the woman was a Grandmaster, she also refrained from interference. The woman offered no additional actions but instead scrutinized the Buddha statue and then her parchment map, her brow slightly furrowing. While contemplating, Fu Yan's gaze landed on the two incense burners before her, a flash of curiosity glinting in her eyes. Despite being buried for thousands of years, the incense burners remained perfectly in place. Why? Pausing momentarily, she stepped forward and reached for the incense burner. In that instant, a spark of clarity lit up Fu Yan's eyes. Without further hesitation, she quickly extended her hand, a flame swiftly igniting, hovering just beneath her parchment treasure map. "Master!" "Fu Yan!" Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue both exclaimed simultaneously in surprise, but they did not have time to stop her. The moment the flame touched the parchment, it engulfed in flames, burning brightly. As they watched in disbelief, three straight incense sticks materialized in Fu Yan's hands. Fu Yan remained unfazed, calmly placing the incense into the burner and lighting them. Her task complete, Fu Yan stepped back, giving the woman a sidelong glance, signaling that it was now her turn. The woman did not hesitate. She replicated Fu Yan’s actions, producing three incense sticks and placing them in the adjacent burner. Both sets of incense sticks lit simultaneously, sending tendrils of smoke swirling upwards. In the next moment, they all felt a massive tremor coursing through the ground beneath their feet. A loud rumbling sound ensued, shaking the very foundation of their surroundings.