269 - Elasia Saga

In an instant, a streak of silvery-white light suddenly emerged from beneath Fu Yan and her companions, shooting straight up to the sky with such brilliance that it was hard to keep one's eyes open. "Boom!" The tremendous rumbling sound continued to roar, reminiscent of an impending earthquake, forcing Fu Yan and the others to step back a few paces to maintain their balance amidst the dazzling light. As the incense burner in the prayer hall began to burn, the Buddha statue within started to sink, disappearing without a trace in a matter of moments. In the open backyard, what subsequently appeared was a grand palace, its full outline slowly materializing before their eyes. The palace exterior seemed to be plated with a layer of silvery-white, gleaming brightly in the dim tomb space. It seemed another treasure vault had been unveiled. Ji Qing Jue and Shui Liu Qing raised their eyes, their gazes meeting the dazzling view of the treasure vault, both momentarily stunned. Soon after, a faint smile graced their lips; they had indeed found the right place. The palace of the vault seemed not yet fully stabilized, its silver-white architecture intermittently flickering like a mirage, etched onto the partial sky of the underwater tomb. Even the black-clothed woman, who stood by with an expression of calm serenity, couldn't help but have her deep blue eyes ripple ever so slightly. Among them, Fu Yan alone seemed to squint slightly, her beautiful brows furrowing as if she were worried about something. However, the other three were so focused on the treasure vault that they failed to notice the depth in her expression. "A hidden treasure vault indeed lies here!" Ji Qing Jue remarked, collecting herself, a trace of awe in her voice. After all, this had been the first place she visited upon entering. At the time, she and the people from Hua Ling Valley hadn't completely split up, and they had thoroughly searched the area, inside and out, yet no one had discovered the hidden mechanism of the small Buddha statue in the prayer shrine. Without the key, even if they had found something amiss, they wouldn't have been able to open it on their own. Reflecting on this, Ji Qing Jue slowly withdrew her gaze, turning instead to Fu Yan with a complex feeling, considering it seemed that among the four of them, she alone had no direct connection to the vault. As she pondered, Fu Yan also turned her gaze to her, suddenly asking, "Where's that bell you just refined?" "It's here, why?" Ji Qing Jue asked, slightly taken aback, unsure what relevance her bell had at this point. Could it be that Fu Yan intended for her to hand over the bell in exchange for joining them to enter the vault? Ji Qing Jue couldn't be blamed for thinking this way; after all, she and Fu Yan had only met twice. During their last encounter in the Northern Domain secret realm, despite Fu Yan being principled, she wasn’t one to let others take advantage of her casually. That time, though Fu Yan had set her up, she had also saved her life. And given that the vault was unlocked using Fu Yan's key, and considering she wasn't from Shuanghua Palace, exchanging treasures for a chance to enter seemed fair enough. Unaware of Ji Qing Jue's thoughts, Fu Yan glanced around the surroundings, then turned back to Ji Qing Jue and said, "Use your bell to shield this area." Upon hearing this, Ji Qing Jue was initially stunned, but quickly grasped the situation. The activation of the vault had been conspicuously loud, possibly alerting many cultivators within the tomb. Once they regained their senses, they would undoubtedly flock here en masse. No one would willingly share the resources of a newly discovered vault with those who hadn’t worked for it. But preventing this situation was easier said than done. When everyone showed up, the four of them alone couldn't fend off every intruder, and the place would inevitably become a chaotic mix. The male protagonist had the protection of the entire Sword King Sect, so even if people went crazy, they'd likely weigh their skills and chances of survival before making a move against them. With Fu Yan and her companions, however, things weren't so simple. That was precisely why Fu Yan had suggested Ji Qing Jue use her bell—which was somewhat of a celestial instrument—to cover the area thoroughly. Even peak experts would find it hard to break through. "I understand," Ji Qing Jue snapped back to reality, quickly taking out the bell she had recently refined. The bell in Ji Qing Jue's hand appeared no larger than a small pendant now, its surface losing its former dullness. "Go!" Without hesitation, Ji Qing Jue rapidly mobilized her spiritual power, infusing it into the bell. Then, she hurled it upward. In no time, a massive golden light flashed out as the bell expanded into a colossal size under Ji Qing Jue's control, swiftly enveloping the entire region. As the golden light faded, the enormous bell turned invisible, seamless as if nothing had happened at all. With everything in place, Ji Qing Jue exhaled deeply, her task complete. Fu Yan's lips curled into a charming smile; she paused, then turned her gaze towards the black-clothed woman, who had remained silent throughout. "You don't want to draw everyone here, do you?" Fu Yan said quietly. The woman paused, then raised her hand, sending a clear stream of water formed from her spiritual power around, augmenting Ji Qing Jue's bell with a natural barrier. Seeing this, Fu Yan understood there was no need for further questions. "Buzz, boom!" At last, the treasure vault before them fully revealed itself. Even Fu Yan's eyes glimmered with a hint of excitement. The black-clothed woman retracted her hand, wasting no time. She dashed toward the vault entrance, raising her hand to unleash spiritual energy upon the entrance, preparing to force the doors open. Naturally, Fu Yan and the others didn't hesitate either, swiftly following her lead. With a powerful surge of spiritual energy, the doors were finally forced open, a radiant light sweeping over them, though it left them unaffected. They instantly turned into beams of light, shooting inside. "Slam!" With the vault entrance securely shut once more, tranquility settled over the area again. What they didn't know was, shortly after they entered, dozens had arrived outside, though they halted at the hall, exchanging confused glances. "What happened? How did all that noise suddenly disappear? I must not be mistaken. It was definitely coming from this direction." "Such a massive flash earlier—there must be a treasure emerging. Could it have already been taken?" "Impossible. It seemed like a hidden vault was being unveiled. Perhaps the mirage effect of the Youxin Lake water misled us?" "…" As speculation swirled amongst them, a few experts located in discreet quarters, their gazes fixed on the back of the hall. One man squinted slightly, suddenly realizing, "Quite the setup. They must have used a celestial instrument to seal the space." "The Sword King Sect isn't here. Such a grand undertaking could only belong to either Hua Ling Valley or Tianji Pavilion." … Outside happenings were of little concern to Fu Yan, as she certainly would not care about others' thoughts. Upon passing through a boundary fluctuation, the blinding light finally receded, with Fu Yan landing steadily on the ground, greeted by a long, tranquil corridor. Fu Yan remained unmoving, cautiously observing what lay ahead. After repeatedly ensuring no sudden dangers lurked, she finally took a step forward. Strangely, Shui Liu Qing, Ji Qing Jue, and the enigmatic black-clothed woman were nowhere to be found. It seemed as though Fu Yan was the only one who had entered. Perhaps the vault entrance’s space was randomized. Although it appeared they came through together, they had been scattered. Slightly puzzled for a moment, Fu Yan did not dwell on this. Considering their strengths, there was hardly anything to worry about. The priority now was to seek out opportunities and resources. Refocusing her thoughts, Fu Yan swiftly scanned the corridor ahead. The architecture within the vault also radiated a silvery-white shine, resembling a splendid crystalline palace. The corridor wasn’t particularly lengthy, almost revealing its end at a glance, spanning merely a few dozen meters, with a pair of rooms on either side. Consequently, there were only four rooms along the corridor. Returning her gaze, Fu Yan stopped at the closest room’s door. Ever vigilant, she reached out to push open the door. Instantly, a surge of ferocious flames burst forth, seemingly attempting to envelop Fu Yan. Yet, having anticipated this, Fu Yan reflexively leaned back, skillfully maneuvering around the fiery onslaught. These flames were not ordinary; a cultivator below the Integration stage caught by them could have their consciousness utterly extinguished. Stabilizing herself, Fu Yan noted the room's door had already closed again. She wasn't particularly surprised; after all, opportunities and dangers frequently coincided. Quickly, she moved on to open the second room. This time, the room was exceptionally quiet. Fu Yan paused for a moment before stepping inside. She found a series of bookshelves lined with low-level manuals. These manuals were fairly ordinary, with hardly any suitable for Fu Yan. Still, she didn't mind and waved her hand, collecting them all. Manuals from Shuanghua Palace that were suitable for ordinary disciples were extremely rare, so encountering such a trove was an opportunity she wouldn't let slip. The third and fourth rooms didn't pose any danger either; they contained ordinary low-grade spirit stones. Fu Yan roughly estimated there were several million. Even small bits of profit were worth it, so Fu Yan put them all away into her storage ring. After exiting the last room, Fu Yan didn't linger. She immediately strode out of the corridor before her. Even before she got close, Fu Yan could hear the sound of fighting from the corridor's end. She paused slightly, then quickly made her way to the central space at the corridor's end. This area formed a circular arc, with numerous glowing rings flickering on the surrounding walls. Fu Yan had emerged from one of these rings just moments before. Not paying the walls much attention, Fu Yan directed her gaze towards the fighting sounds. She saw the black-clothed woman already there, facing a golem-like creature. The golem resembled a spider, with a gray-black body, skittering quickly across the walls on its eight legs, occasionally spitting webs. “Whoosh!” Just as Fu Yan processed what was happening, a sudden sound, reminiscent of something rising from the water, echoed in the space before her. She quickly shifted her gaze back, spotting another golem spider appearing. The creature flipped over, lunging directly at Fu Yan. Silver webs, like a vast net, descended swiftly from above. Fu Yan reacted swiftly, her Star Sword instantly appearing in her grasp. She looked up, unleashing her sword's intent, striking towards the falling web. With a slicing sound, the silver web was shredded to fragments by Fu Yan's sword, causing the golem spider to plummet to the ground. Meanwhile, the black-clothed woman had successfully defeated her spider, prompting a shining staircase to appear before her. With a nimble movement, she ascended to the vault's second level. Seeing this, Fu Yan realized the opportunity before her. Without hesitation, Fu Yan leaped into action, her bright eyes glinting with a flash of determination. She reversed her grip, using Wind Shadow Ten Slashes, skillfully shattering the golem spider beneath into fragments. “Boom!” Suddenly, the fallen golem spider's carcass exploded to reveal a large axe. The axe seemed to contain potent spiritual energy, appearing to be a superior spiritual tool. This didn’t occur with the black-clothed woman’s opponent earlier. Fu Yan chuckled, understanding it was akin to a game, where items might drop randomly. Without hesitation, she collected the axe. Around the same time, Ji Qing Jue and Shui Liu Qing emerged from another glowing circle. Fu Yan gave them a quick glance and hurriedly used the newly appeared staircase to flash up to the second floor. As she landed firmly, she was greeted by yet another broad corridor. It spanned two zhang wide and high. This time, however, the corridor had only a room on the left side. Though somewhat surprised, Fu Yan didn't delay, quickly opening the sole room. Inside, there was a heap of mid-grade spirit stones, which she collected without hesitation. Upon exiting the room again, Fu Yan noticed an immediate change in the corridor. The surrounding walls seemed to shift rapidly. In an instant, she found several glowing clusters floating above the corridor, each containing various treasures like weapons, secret manuals, and arrays—all of evidently high value. Scanning them with an appreciative glance, Fu Yan smiled. However, she refrained from hastily gathering them, as they weren’t meant to be seized easily. “Clang! Clang! Clang!” Sure enough, in the blink of an eye, the stone walls suddenly moved, and numerous palm-sized stones began falling, crashing onto the corridor floor. Upon landing, the stones transformed into small spear-wielding stone figures. Despite their mere two-fist-tall bodies, a chilling intent emanated from each. More daunting was the sight of the corridor filling with these small stone figures, as they gathered densely, causing a tingling sensation on the skin. Thankfully, Fu Yan was spared any fear of crowds; otherwise, she might not have even had a chance to react. “Die! Die! Die!” Once the stones ceased falling, the stone figures in the corridor pointed their spears towards Fu Yan, shouting in unison with an eerie synchronization. Despite being only a word, the collective shout from so many figures was thunderous. Fu Yan: "..." As their call subsided, the stone figures charged at Fu Yan, with the nearest ones running while those behind leaped. Facing what seemed like an army alone, Fu Yan couldn’t help but tug at her lips with a hint of amusement. Despite the odds, she wasn’t careless; she gripped her sword, unleashing a sweeping strike as the first wave of stone figures lunged at her. With a loud crash, the front row of stone figures collapsed en masse, but Fu Yan furrowed her brow. They emerged unscathed, smooth and lustrous as ever. “Die! Die...” Their cries remained deafening. Fu Yan took a few steps back, breathed deeply, and executed the Linglong Sword Technique. Sword lights filled the vast corridor, sending stone figures flying. Yet, despite her fierce assault, none of the stone figures suffered any damage, forcing Fu Yan to weave through the groups of figures. Trying everything from fire to lightning, nothing seemed to affect the stone figures. "Without overwhelming power, their weakness must be found," Fu Yan muttered, her sword never pausing as she observed. The stone figures weren’t particularly strong but were annoyingly tenacious. If her true body were present, she might overpower them with sheer force. For now, she had to find another way. After battling for a while, an idea suddenly dawned on Fu Yan. In the next moment, Fu Yan dashed back to the corridor’s initial entrance, settling in a corner. As the stone figures advanced, she surprisingly sheathed her sword. They continued to rush at her, but Fu Yan lay still as they piled over her, seemingly unfazed by the onslaught. Within minutes, Fu Yan was entirely submerged by the stone figures. In the ensuing darkness, Fu Yan shielded herself with true essence, remaining unharmed. After waiting a while, sensing the time was right, she streaked out from the crowd as a beam of light. Upon landing, Fu Yan wasted no time. With a quick gesture, she conjured an invisible and robust barrier surrounding the stone figures. They struggled within, trying to breach the barrier. Shaking her head, Fu Yan realized she had misunderstood the task entirely. Her goal wasn’t to defeat the stone figures but to claim the floating resources above. There was no need to exhaust herself battling them head-on. Though they were formidable as a group, the barrier wouldn’t hold them for long. So, without delay, Fu Yan leaped upward, swiftly gathering the glowing clusters. Finally, without a backward glance, she departed the corridor. Returning to the central space, Fu Yan didn’t rush to the third level. Instead, she entered another ring, appearing in a different corridor, successfully gathering a variety of resources. After several such trawls, Fu Yan found multiple storage rings filled. Though many items were relatively ordinary, some rare treasures were among them. Soon enough, Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue also emerged from a corridor, having similarly amassed quite a haul. The black-clothed woman, however, was still absent. With only a few corridors left on the second level, Fu Yan directed Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue to continue their sweep, while she advanced to the third level by defeating the guardian golem beasts. The area bore little difference to below, with a similar corridor. Fu Yan navigated through it quickly, emerging into another central space. Whoosh Once through the ring, a sudden rush of water sounded around her. Startled for a brief moment, Fu Yan instinctively clung to the stone wall above, sword in hand. Calming herself, Fu Yan lowered her gaze to take in her surroundings. The central space on this level was as expansive as before, but not as empty. Below her, a clear body of water had gathered, its clarity reminiscent of the sea. However, what truly captured Fu Yan’s attention was a single bead. Amidst the vastness of the space, a luminous blue pearl floated serenely within a beam of light. The pearl was entirely translucent, seemingly harboring an immense power within. Fu Yan paused, surprise flickering in her eyes. "This... is the King Jiao Pearl!" The King Jiao Pearl is a unique treasure of the merfolk, a legacy that, according to legend, each merfolk king leaves behind upon passing. The pearl contains formidable power equivalent to a celestial inheritance in the cultivation world. Hence, the value of a King Jiao Pearl is beyond estimation. With the decline of the merfolk clan and the rarity of new merfolk kings, these pearls have become exceedingly scarce. Fu Yan had never expected to encounter a King Jiao Pearl here. The pearl, fond of water, likely formed this seawater itself. It took Fu Yan a moment to recover her composure. With a splash, Fu Yan dove into the water. Finding such a treasure, she certainly wouldn't ignore it. Just then, Fu Yan sensed a foreign presence approaching swiftly. She froze for a moment, then glanced sharply to her right, widening her eyes in astonishment. In the azure water appeared the black-clothed woman, yet she had completely changed form. Her human ears had transformed into fins, and her legs had merged into a fish tail. The fish tail was remarkably beautiful, draped in blue-green scales that sparkled like jewels in the water. This woman was indeed a member of the merfolk!