272 - Elasia Saga

At the moment when every cultivator outside the mausoleum found it hard to believe that a leviathan had suddenly appeared, a gentle and melodious voice emerged from the treasury. The voice, intentionally subdued, carried only a few dozen miles and did not attract undue attention. Of course, should anyone truly be drawn in, they would only find themselves in a stupor. Although intrigued, Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue quickly heeded Fu Yan's advice, swiftly sealing their senses and auditory perception. Only after doing this did they glance questioningly at Lan Ning. Lan Ning merely stretched her neck slightly without uttering a word, yet the low voice had already spread outward. The song of the merfolk possessed an innate enchantment, one so powerful that it overwhelmed anyone without an immortal’s strength. In less than half an incense stick of time, Lan Ning ceased singing and regained her usual aloof demeanor. Though Fu Yan couldn't hear the song, she intuitively understood what had occurred. She turned, signaling silently to Shui Liu Qing and Ji Qing Jue. Both women paused before reactivating their senses. As Ji Qing Jue's mind regained clarity, Fu Yan's voice reached her, “Alright, you can retrieve the bell from above.” “Okay.” Despite some lingering uncertainty, Ji Qing Jue observed the easy confidence of Fu Yan and Lan Ning, leaving her with no reason to doubt. With a gesture, she invoked her true essence, extending her palm to draw upon her spiritual power. With a gentle hum, golden light flickered as the bell reappeared mid-air. In the blink of an eye, it shrunk to palm-size, falling effortlessly into Ji Qing Jue's hand. Meanwhile, the water curtain cast by Lan Ning would dissipate of its own accord, needing no particular attention. Once the bell was removed, their surroundings became clearer, yet everything remained eerily silent, as if no one were lying in wait outside. “Let's go,” Fu Yan announced, dismissing any ambiguity. She cast a glance towards the depths of the ethereal lake exterior and deftly transformed into a beam of light, leaving the spot behind. Before they realized it, both Ji Qing Jue and Shui Liu Qing followed in her wake, unable to afford wasting time inspecting their surroundings. Lan Ning, picking up on something amiss, turned her gaze towards a direction where shadows lay concealed—elusive figures clearly stationed purposely. They hadn’t expected a merfolk to appear, for they had all surrendered to slumber upon hearing the song. Unmoved by this, Lan Ning withdrew her gaze, choosing not to linger as she too disappeared, becoming another streak of light. Flying wasn’t possible within the mausoleum, but the group’s formidable agility more than compensated. Two hours later, they finally reached the river bordering the mausoleum, once again crossing using Shui Liu Qing's puppet base without incident. Reaching the opposite bank, Fu Yan noticed something was amiss near the entrance where many cultivators were gathered, intently focusing beyond the screening barrier, expressions dour. “I’ll head back,” Ji Qing Jue said upon landing, looking back at Shui Liu Qing. Recognizing the disciples of Hua Ling Valley ahead, Shui Liu Qing understood Ji Qing Jue's implication and nodded, “Alright.” She offered the other woman a small puppet from her sleeve. Ji Qing Jue accepted without hesitation. Having acknowledged their mutual feelings, there was no need for awkwardness. After nodding towards Fu Yan and Lan Ning, Ji Qing Jue returned to Hua Ling Valley's side. The puppet had a similar communication function to the sound mirror Fu Yan possessed, though less stable. It was at this point that Ji Xian, having recognized Fu Yan, approached her, saying, “Palace Master.” Ji Xian had parted ways with Fu Yan in the cemetery, and she hadn’t expected his auspicious return. Her expression betrayed nothing, maintaining a steady air, she acknowledged Ji Xian with a nod, “What's happening?” Clearly, the unrest indicated some disturbance outside the mausoleum. Ji Xian glanced momentarily at Lan Ning before responding to Fu Yan, “Outside, there’s…” “Bang! Boom!” Before Ji Xian could finish, a huge silhouette appeared, slamming against the barrier outside the mausoleum, its force causing tremors even within. Before their eyes lay a colossal serpent, presently ramming its body against the protective enclosure. Fu Yan’s eyes widened as she glanced up to see the serpent’s head rising. This serpent was crowned with the unmistakable horns of a dragon! Even Fu Yan felt a brief moment of astonishment, but she quickly regained her composure, realizing the serpent wasn’t a full-fledged dragon. Instead, it was a… “Jiao,” Ji Xian clarified as silence once again settled in. “A jiao has appeared from the depths of the ethereal lake.” There had long been rumors of a jiao beneath the lake, yet seeing it in person affirmed the myth. Fu Yan wasn’t terribly surprised; she had seen a true black dragon before, the companion of Bai Yue Li, known as Su Juan. The jiao that appeared wasn't a true dragon yet. Even so, a jiao’s power could rival a demi-immortal, leaving none present capable of matching it. Thus, no one dared venture out to meet certain death. It was then Fu Yan heard Bai Xiong, the spirit of her immortal artifact, murmur, “Hmm? How much time has passed, this little creature is almost becoming a dragon.” Fu Yan paused, intrigued, “You know it?” Bai Xiong spoke with casual familiarity, “It's merely the pet newt of this estate's former owner.” Despite its massive form, Bai Xiong referred to the jiao as a “newt,” causing Fu Yan to stifle amusement. Yet, she seized upon a critical point, “Wasn’t he your master?” This "he" referred to the mausoleum’s owner. Bai Xiong appeared slightly flustered but quickly shrugged it off, “He acquired me when his life was nearly spent, so he never had the chance to become my master.” Fu Yan sensed the evasion in Bai Xiong’s response, suspecting the truth lay beyond the spirit’s reticence. In reality, Bai Xiong wasn’t the master’s original immortal tool; classified in ranges, Bai Xiong only ranked mid-tier, never commanding much favor. He hadn’t been formally bound, merely used occasionally for hunting—details Bai Xiong chose not to share as they impaired its dignity. Fu Yan didn’t press further, realizing a binding had certainly prevented her from acquiring Bai Xiong so fortuitously. Seeing she wasn’t probing further, Bai Xiong chuckled inwardly with satisfaction, then added, “Handle it yourselves; don’t expect my help.” Fu Yan’s lips curled slightly at its words. Simultaneously, Shui Liu Qing heard news that left her astonished, sharing with Fu Yan, “Palace Master…” The greater sects had finally decided: the only way to secure safe passage was to distract the jiao. A bit stunned, Fu Yan questioned, “Have they selected someone to lure the jiao away?” She hadn’t explicitly asked Shui Liu Qing how she gleaned the information; it was, after all, self-evident, considering her glance toward Hua Ling Valley. Shui Liu Qing nodded and honestly said, "It's Fang Yu from the Sword King Sect and Lin Chao Ye from the Tianji Pavilion." Fang Yu? Fu Yan was initially taken aback, but soon a look of understanding settled on her face. Of course, this was the perfect opportunity to show the protagonist’s exemplary spirit in such high-stakes situations. With Fang Yu in the picture, it seemed Lin Chao Ye had better prepare himself for what lay ahead. "Since someone is willing to take the lead, let's wait and see," Fu Yan said, lacking any desire to step into the spotlight. With the protagonist taking charge, she was more than happy to sit back and reap the benefits. Both Shui Liu Qing and Ji Xian had no objections, quickly voicing their agreement. Just moments after Shui Liu Qing shared this news, commotion arose from the crowd ahead. In the distance, Fu Yan could see the protagonist, Fang Yu, stepping forward. The person beside him must have been a disciple from the Tianji Pavilion. Without exchanging many words, the duo seemed ready and determined. In the blink of an eye, under everyone’s puzzled gaze, they leapt out, breaching the mausoleum's barrier. "Roar—" An ear-piercing growl echoed from the depths of the ethereal lake almost immediately. Upon seeing intruders, the jiao grew furious and lunged at Fang Yu and Lin Chao Ye, with a ferocity suggesting it wouldn't rest until it devoured them. Yet, Fang Yu and Lin Chao Ye evaded the jiao’s attack with effortless agility, albeit being forced in different directions. At that moment, the jiao swung its tail like a dragon, aiming straight for Lin Chao Ye, who was the closest. Seizing the opportunity, Fang Yu swiftly brought out a spiritual artifact, channeling all his power into a straight strike that blew a scale off the jiao’s body, an explosion echoing with its anguished cry. Riled to a frenzy, the jiao retaliated, unleashing a torrent of water towards Fang Yu, its eyes locked onto him in furious determination. With the jiao’s attention successfully captured, Fang Yu and Lin Chao Ye didn't delay further. They turned sharply, appearing as though making a desperate escape. Sure enough, the jiao didn’t react swiftly enough and soon pursued them. In mere moments, the expanse outside the mausoleum was void of the trio, leaving an ambient calm. “What a brainless creature,” Bai Xiong sneered derisively. Fu Yan didn’t respond, merely observing as disciples from the major sects quickly shifted focus, making their swift exits from the mausoleum, finally freed. Prepared for the plan, Fu Yan and Shui Liu Qing needed no further prompting. As soon as the jiao moved away, they also leapt forward, quickly following suit in exiting the mausoleum. “Bloop bloop—” Upon entering the water, the sound of ascending bubbles surrounded them. Fu Yan slashed through the water with ease, her group moving swiftly even if not quite matching the pace of the larger sect disciples. Below, the remaining cultivators finally shook off their daze. "Thank goodness, they intentionally lured the jiao away. Now we can finally leave this place!" "Hurry, before the jiao returns, and we're stuck!" Amidst their chatter, everyone surged toward the exit en masse, creating a rather spectacular scene. Luckily, Fu Yan and her group reacted quickly; otherwise, they would've been caught in the crowd. From the depths of the lake, a dense cluster of shadows ascended rapidly, as if no one wanted to linger another second in this place. Perhaps because of the jiao’s earlier presence, no creatures stirred in the lake, facilitating an unimpeded escape. Onshore, the disciples who had reached safety turned back to aid those still making their way. When Fu Yan and Shui Liu Qing emerged from the water, the lake was already bustling with activity. Spotting Yi Tu and Liu Bei, Fu Yan quickly confirmed their positions while others tended to their own. Sensing something amiss, Fu Yan instinctively glanced aside and found Lan Ning diverging along a separate path. An instant later, Lan Ning's farewell echoed in her mind. Momentarily stunned, Fu Yan quickly centered her attention, maintaining her expression as she led Shui Liu Qing and Ji Xian to rendezvous with Yi Tu and the others. On the spiritual ship, members of Shuang Hua Gong reunited, including Yi Tu and Liu Bei, who succinctly recounted their experiences in the mausoleum and handed over the secured resources to Fu Yan. Without scrutinizing, Fu Yan accepted them directly—Shuang Hua Gong was in a developmental phase, requiring substantial resources, with shared gains from collective endeavors typically providing for the sect. Consequently, Shui Liu Qing and Ji Xian contributed their acquired resources. After securing everything properly, Fu Yan inquired about Shuang Hua Gong's damages from this excursion. Liu Bei sighed, “Palace Master, we lost a disciple in the latter stage of the Unity Path. Another disciple and an elder sustained injuries.” Every sect incurs losses during expeditions, though Shuang Hua Gong suffered only one casualty, it still burdened them with a sense of loss. This was the world’s brutal survival law. The outcome, fortunately, was better than expected, considering others faced heavier losses, with some minor sects nearly annihilated. After considering Liu Bei’s report, Fu Yan asked Yi Tu to soothe those aboard the puppet ship; she’d provide spiritual medicines for the wounded, promising adequate rewards upon returning to the sect. With affairs settled, Fu Yan privately beckoned Shui Liu Qing. "Palace Master?" Shui Liu Qing queried, puzzled. Fu Yan said nothing at first, directing her gaze to Shui Liu Qing's trouser hem. Alerted, she instantly detected a tracking mark. Initiated by Lan Ning’s whispered transmission before parting, Fu Yan hadn’t initially noticed due to her current limitations—being only a puppet projection, without the cultivation level to employ strong spiritual energy. This evidence inevitably led her to query Shui Liu Qing, “Who did you encounter after leaving the cemetery?” Momentarily paused, Shui Liu Qing elaborated on meeting Tianji Pavilion’s disciples with Ji Qing Jue. Hearing this, Fu Yan frowned slightly. "They marked me with a tracking seal?" Shui Liu Qing reacted, eyes wide with alarm. Reflecting, she admitted it seemed plausible, having forcefully taken Ji Qing Jue, Han Tong, and Du Wen Xiong wouldn’t have retreated easily. Realizing her oversight, Shui Liu Qing felt regretful, not having anticipated such negligence in being tracked. “I’m sorry, Palace Master, did I... burden Shuang Hua Gong?” Shui Liu Qing murmured, avoiding Fu Yan’s gaze. Likely exposed, her identity was no secret. Nonetheless, knowing Shuang Hua Gong’s protection, Tianji Pavilion disciples wouldn’t foolishly instigate trouble, though they’d remember Shuang Hua Gong. Fu Yan shook her head gently, “No bother, Shuang Hua Gong’s name will spread through Zhong Dou eventually.” Though expedited, their presence in the Southern Domain wouldn’t suffer for now. In one motion, Fu Yan dispelled the mark using her spinning spiritual power. Shui Liu Qing bowed, “Thank you, Palace Master.” Putting the matter aside, another concern crossed Fu Yan’s mind. Eyeing Shui Liu Qing, she inquired, “Are you sincere about Ji Qing Jue?” The question caught Shui Liu Qing off-guard. Though aware Fu Yan likely knew, she confirmed with a soft “Mm.” In the unseen, Shui Liu Qing's ears, partly obscured by hair, blushed lightly. Not unexpected, Fu Yan acknowledged, “Are you considering joining Hua Ling Valley with Ji Qing Jue?” Fu Yan didn't object to Shui Liu Qing's potential decision nor felt the need to insist she remain at Shuang Hua Gong. Regardless of the choice to stay or go to Hua Ling Valley, Fu Yan was ready to respect her decision. Hearing Fu Yan's words, Shui Liu Qing instantly understood her implication and quickly shook her head, explaining, "Palace Master, I will not leave Shuang Hua Gong." Despite her relationship with Ji Qing Jue, Shui Liu Qing knew Hua Ling Valley wasn't the right fit for her. She had already discussed this extensively with Ji Qing Jue while in the mausoleum, and Ji Qing Jue had no objections. Now that their relationship was official, they were unfazed by sect differences. For cultivators, being in the same sect wasn't essential, as they would undoubtedly spend ample time together. Fu Yan nodded, choosing not to probe further. The group departed from the ethereal lake and hastened their flight, aware that rogue cultivators might collaborate to ambush and seize resources. Anyone emerging from the ethereal lake was likely laden with bounty, making them prime targets for robbery. Preferring to avoid unnecessary trouble, Fu Yan aimed to return to the Southern Domain without delay. Thus, they pressed on without stopping, heading directly back to the Southern Domain. During the wait for Fu Yan’s emergence from the lake, Yi Tu remarkably succeeded in dealing with one of the heads from the Eight Generals, obtaining a handsome reward. He boasted this accomplishment to Liu Bei multiple times, earning more than a few eye rolls. As they traveled back, the group aboard the spiritual ship split their time between meditation and light-hearted banter, making the journey pass swiftly. Fortune favored them with a smooth return, encountering no threats along the way. Half a month later. Two ships docked securely above Shuang Hua Gong. (Note: For more stories, visit xbanxia.com)