273 - Elasia Saga

After several months of absence, Fu Yan and her group finally returned to the Frost Blossom Palace in the Southern Region. As she gazed at the sect below, brimming with spiritual energy, the disciples and elders aboard the puppet ship couldn’t help but feel relieved. After exchanging greetings with Fu Yan, they followed Yi Tu and Liu Bei to rest. Fu Yan glanced up at the twelve peaks of the Frost Blossom Palace and suddenly sensed the aura of a stranger, a powerful cultivator in the Dao Fusion stage. She paused for a moment but wasn’t too curious. After all, she trusted that Lu Xiaowen wouldn’t allow anyone under his watch to stir up trouble. With a subtle withdrawal of her gaze, Fu Yan turned back and gave Shui Liuqing and Ji Xian a nod. “Let’s head down.” “Yes,” they responded promptly, leaping down from the spirit ship without delay. Fu Yan swiftly followed, maintaining her quick pace. She raised her eyes to her spirit ship, waved her hand, and in the blink of an eye, it was stowed away. Together, they returned directly to the grand hall of the Frost Blossom Palace. Lu Xiaowen seemed to have foreseen their return. He was already seated in the hall with several people, waiting. When Fu Yan entered, they all stood up. “Greetings, Palace Master.” Fu Yan nodded, not saying much more, and proceeded up to the front of the hall. “Was the journey smooth?” Lu Xiaowen asked, merely lifting his gaze to Fu Yan, who seemed somewhat weary. Fu Yan sat quietly and replied, “It went smoothly enough, only one disciple perished.” Lu Xiaowen was momentarily startled but didn’t dwell further on it. He had prepared himself for losing at least two people, so the outcome was somewhat unexpected. After all, the training at the bottom of Youxin Lake was not simple, and likely resulted in significant losses for other major forces. As their conversation continued, Fu Yan’s earlier guess was confirmed through Lu Xiaowen—another of their palace peaks had gained a new master. This individual had recently achieved the Dao Fusion stage, having formerly been at the peak of the Illusory Realm. He was currently in seclusion, adjusting to his new power. Furthermore, during their absence, Frost Blossom Palace had recruited many promising talents, progressing in a favorable direction. It seemed only a matter of time before the palace could firmly establish itself. For Frost Blossom Palace, these developments were undoubtedly good news. Of course, the increased number of disciples and elders would naturally demand more resources. Fortunately, Fu Yan and her companions had acquired substantial rewards from the tomb in the lake, so the need wouldn’t be overwhelming. Unexpectedly, the older man and younger girl Fu Yan had saved by chance when she killed the demon Yu Qianfan had recently joined Frost Blossom Palace. According to Lu Xiaowen, the young girl, Mu Zhi, possessed a rare constitution and exceptional talent in alchemy, making her an exceedingly rare find. Lu Xiaowen even personally instructed her. Initially, Fu Yan had merely noticed Mu Zhi’s potential and mentioned it offhandedly, not thinking much of it. Now, it appeared that her decision had been a fortuitous one. Lastly, Fu Yan deposited the resources obtained from their journey into the Frost Blossom Palace treasury, specifically instructing Liu Bei and Yi Tu to deliberate over how to distribute rewards to the returning disciples and elders. With that, the training at the tomb under Youxin Lake was finally concluded. Upon returning to her Xingyue Peak, Fu Yan took three days and nights to rest completely before leisurely emerging from her residence. It was an exceptionally fine day, with the snow in the Southern Region momentarily ceased, allowing a rare glimpse of the sun. The landscape was a blanket of white, shimmering brilliantly under the sunlight. Stepping outside, Fu Yan felt invigorated. She took a deep breath of fresh air, her eyes narrowing slightly in satisfaction. She resembled a small, content animal. However, Fu Yan couldn’t rest for long, as she had another task that required her personal attention. Descending alone from Xingyue Peak, Fu Yan went directly to the academy. To be honest, this was her first time coming here quietly. Watching the disciples practicing their swordsmanship in the square, she felt a sense of novelty. After a brief survey, she pulled back her gaze with satisfaction. The academy was expansive; at the forefront was a vast training square, with several large pavilions behind it where most disciples studied various spells and theoretical knowledge. Now, with some Illusory Realm elders joining, the academy of Frost Blossom Palace was officially on track. Lots of disciples were already in classes when Fu Yan visited. Not in a hurry, she wandered leisurely around before heading straight towards Yuan He’s direction. At this hour, Yuan He wasn’t teaching. He was likely in his resting area. Fu Yan entered stealthily, not finding him at first, until she stumbled upon him in a side room. “Bang! Bang!” Before Fu Yan even stepped close, faint crackling sounds echoed from the room, followed by the aroma of medicine. “Elder Yuan, I... I did it!” The next second, a clear voice emerged from the room, revealing not only Yuan He’s presence but also that of the young girl in pink—Mu Zhi. Having heard from Lu Xiaowen about Mu Zhi’s extraordinary alchemy talent, Fu Yan had been curious. Stumbling upon this chance encounter, she hesitated not at all and briskly walked in. In the spacious room, at its center was a cauldron that had just been opened. Mu Zhi stood on tiptoe, excitedly fishing out the pills she had just refined. Yuan He, unchanged from when she last saw him, stood calmly to the side, scrutinizing the pills Mu Zhi produced. Yet, he quickly sensed Fu Yan's presence. Turning around, a hint of surprise flickered through his eyes before he quickly recovered. “Palace Master.” Yuan He approached. Fu Yan gave a nod, her curiosity piqued as she scrutinized the pill in Yuan He’s hand. Without ceremony, she picked one up. It was a Spirit Gathering Pill. Not exceedingly rare, yet it was a more coveted variant due to its superior restoration properties, even several times better than ordinary pills. Fu Yan couldn’t help but carefully inspect it with her eyes lowered. She had to admit, this Spirit Gathering Pill was exceptionally well-refined, possibly more so than any she had consumed before, with its inherent spiritual power remarkably abundant and devoid of flaws. “This was Mu Zhi’s second attempt at refining,” Yuan He explained. Having spotted Fu Yan, Mu Zhi hurried over. Initially surprised, she quickly recomposed herself before respectfully greeting Fu Yan, “Disciple greets the Palace Master.” Mu Zhi indeed received quite a fright, never expecting to encounter Fu Yan here. A few months ago, upon arriving at the Frost Blossom Palace with her master, she learned that her savior was, in fact, the palace master. Observing the Spirit Gathering Pill, Fu Yan raised her gaze to Mu Zhi, smiling lightly, she asked, “Did you refine this?” “Yes,” Mu Zhi replied promptly. Fu Yan nodded approvingly at her response. On just her second attempt, Mu Zhi had managed to refine a Spirit Gathering Pill of superior quality, affirming Lu Xiaowen’s remarks on her extraordinary alchemical abilities. Hearing the casual praise from Fu Yan, Mu Zhi felt her earlier nervousness dissipate. Looking back at Fu Yan, she expressed, “I am thankful for the palace master’s support back then.” “No need to mention it,” Fu Yan waved dismissively. After a few more words, Fu Yan and Yuan He returned to his rest area. Sensing Fu Yan had business with him, Yuan He took the initiative to ask, “Might there be some instruction or request from the Palace Master?” Not one to beat around the bush, Fu Yan directly reached into her spiritual storage ring, pulling out a petal of the Ice Lotus of eight petals, offering it to him. Her visit had purpose: to cure Yuan He’s damaged Qi sea and foundation. Upon obtaining the Ice Lotus in the tomb, Fu Yan had already decided. Despite its two-thousand-year rarity, she had little reluctance. Given Yuan He’s potential, achieving the Dao Fusion stage was highly probable, and for the Frost Blossom Palace, it was well worth the investment. “What is this?” Yuan He instinctively accepted the petal, studying it with slight puzzlement. Retracting her hand, Fu Yan slowly explained, “This is an Ice Lotus of eight petals I attained in the tomb. Its near two-thousand-year potency can completely heal your damaged Qi sea.” Even if Yuan He hadn’t seen one before, he’d heard of its reputation. His eyes immediately glinted with excitement, and his hands, holding the petal, began to tremble subtly. Quickly calming himself down, Yuan He looked up with a trace of hesitation and asked Fu Yan, "Palace Master, isn't it a bit extravagant to use a two-thousand-year-old ethereal lotus on me?" Seeing his concern, Fu Yan chuckled softly and replied directly, "Only by becoming stronger can you be useful to Frost Blossom Palace." The words, while seemingly harsh, presented a straightforward reality. Upon hearing this, Yuan He’s demeanor turned serious and resolute. He bowed to Fu Yan with respect, expressing, "I understand, thank you, Palace Master." Fu Yan nodded, satisfied that this matter was resolved. She didn’t linger much longer in the academy and soon returned to the main hall of Frost Blossom Palace. Only a few days had passed since her arrival when Lu Xiaowen once again delegated various palace affairs to her. Unfortunately, Fu Yan was the only one who officially carried the title of the true master of the palace, and with no one yet qualified to take up the role of deputy, she had no choice but to handle things herself for the time being. Fortunately, she had left herself this puppet avatar; otherwise, her cultivation time would have been substantially reduced. While advancing Frost Blossom Palace was important, it should not come at the cost of her spiritual growth. Over the following months, nothing significant occurred on the continent, though several elders from Frost Blossom Palace took disciples on training excursions occasionally. Fu Yan, meanwhile, stayed mostly within the sect. Apart from managing simple internal affairs, she took time to thoroughly study the sword techniques she acquired from the tomb beneath Youxin Lake, along with the sword formations given to her by the White Bear. Due to the connection between her consciousness and that of her true form, her puppet avatar could study the techniques, and her true self, residing in the Xuyou Jade Seal, could simultaneously cultivate them during her seclusion. The puppet acted like a relay, sparing her from hands-on training while everything was transferred to her true form. And so, time passed quietly. In a blink, Fu Yan realized it had already been five years since the reestablishment of Frost Blossom Palace. This sparked a thought in her mind. It seemed that the disciples of Frost Blossom Palace had never formally participated in an internal tournament. Without such a demonstration of skill, it would be challenging for the elders and peak masters to choose disciples. Previously, because there were too few disciples, it wasn’t suitable to hold a big competition. However, with the growing numbers over the past two years, organizing one should no longer be an issue. With the thought in mind, Fu Yan quickly gathered everyone in the main hall to discuss whether organizing such a tournament was feasible now. "An internal competition?" Yi Tu, the first to react to Fu Yan's proposal, couldn't hide his excitement. "I think it's a great idea, Palace Master. Those big families have annual clan competitions; it's high time we have our own." He quickly glanced at the others for approval. In the group, Shui Liuqing was absent from the hall—not because Fu Yan didn’t notify him, but because he was away from the palace at that time. Shui Liuqing had likely met up with Ji Xian by now, and the two were probably preparing for a joint training expedition. When Shui Liuqing mentioned his plans, Fu Yan had no objections. After a moment of contemplation, Yuan He spoke up, "Our disciples do need a competition to showcase their abilities." Liu Bei nodded in agreement. "With nearly three hundred disciples now, we can indeed organize a significant tournament." Seeing no objections, Chu He Ze smiled at Fu Yan and the others, saying, "Since everyone agrees, I am on board as well." With unanimous support, the decision was made. Fu Yan took another moment to think, finally directing her gaze at Liu Bei. "Make sure to inform your master about this." "Yes, Palace Master," Liu Bei responded quickly. With the plan set, the group soon dispersed to start organizing the first grand tournament of Frost Blossom Palace. Fu Yan lightly tapped her fingers on the table, contemplating the tournament's rewards. Since this was their first competition, it couldn't be lackluster. Fortunately, the resource vault had plenty of treasures. After a while, Fu Yan recalled Liu Bei’s words—Frost Blossom Palace now had nearly three hundred disciples. It was time to select a chief disciple. That title would be perfect for the winner of this competition. A few days later, the announcement was made, spreading through the palace that the first disciple tournament would occur in three months. Excitement buzzed throughout the palace as everyone eagerly prepared to achieve a good ranking. ... Meanwhile, as Frost Blossom Palace busily prepared for the tournament, Bai Yue Li in the secret realm of the Demon Domain’s Corpse Pavilion finally reopened her eyes. In the bright pavilion, the orbs floating around her promptly returned to their shelves, restoring tranquility in moments. After nearly three years, Bai Yue Li had finally awakened. "Hoo—" Taking a deep breath, Bai Yue Li stood up, clutching a ball of light in her hand—the very object she sought in this place. Even though she had obtained what she came for, Bai Yue Li’s face showed no trace of joy. Her elegant brows remained furrowed, her expression filled with worry. Staring at the light orb’s records for a long while, Bai Yue Li finally snapped out of her thoughts. She turned and, after storing the orb away, headed toward the secret realm’s exit. "Whoosh—" In an instant, a dazzling light flashed across the pavilion, and Bai Yue Li’s figure vanished, leaving behind deafening silence. Emerging from the secret realm, just before the light dissipated, Bai Yue Li transformed into a cloud of demonic energy, landing steadily on the edge of a cliff. "Caw..." The black Little Crow sensed something amiss even before Bai Yue Li appeared, instantly springing to life and emitting a low call in its throat. Once it confirmed Bai Yue Li’s presence, it flapped its wings and fluttered over excitedly. "Master Demon Lord!" "Did anyone come looking for me during my absence?" Bai Yue Li asked, her gaze fixed on Little Crow. Little Crow tilted its head slightly, honestly replying, "No one came. The Demon Domain has been peaceful without any incidents." Bai Yue Li paused, nodded, and without further word, flew off toward her palace. Little Crow, knowing its place, stayed behind, perching back on the eaves of the main hall. Returning to her palace, Bai Yue Li sat at her desk, retrieving the orb she found. She focused her gaze on it again, meticulously reviewing its contents as if confirming details. Demon Child. Legend had it that if a demon and a mortal reached certain conditions, they could give birth to a legendary Demon Child. The birth required a demon and a mortal, unrelated to demon cultivators. However, demons, being mostly emotionless, typically desired only to devour mortals, making it near impossible for them to bear children. Even if they did conceive, it wasn't guaranteed the offspring would be a Demon Child, as stringent conditions needed to be met. It was said that a Demon Child’s potential was terrifyingly high—although not possessing the cataclysmic power akin to a Demon Spirit, they could grow far beyond a celestial being’s capabilities. For this reason, Demon Children were exceedingly rare. Over tens of thousands of years, only one had ever appeared. Moreover, the orb noted: "The heart of a Demon Child is eternal." Though a Demon Child had ordinary flesh, capable of injury and death, their heart was unique. Bai Yue Li found the notion of "eternal" somewhat absolute, given there was only one documented case in history. Connecting these dots led Bai Yue Li to speculate about the heart they retrieved from the shadows' base—it might very well be the heart of a Demon Child. Unfathomable to destroy, the cultivators sealed it for containment. Yet, why did the former Demon Lord specifically command the heart’s retrieval? Even knowing he would fall due to the heavenly tribulation, the former Demon Lord’s avatar entrusted the heart to Bai Yue Li without leaving a word of explanation. The motivation behind this act seemed peculiar. More baffling still was the recent, inexplicable disappearance of the Demon Child’s heart, as if it vanished into thin air. Unable to unravel these mysteries, Bai Yue Li decided to set them aside temporarily, taking several days to rest in her palace. Emerging once again, her first stop was Fu Juan’s quarters. However, it remained as deserted as ever. It seemed that three years had passed, and Fu Juan along with Little Medicine Dumpling were still journeying outside, not having returned yet. However, Bai Yue Li had no reason to worry. Due to the blood contract between her and Fu Juan, she could sense that he was safe and had not encountered any danger. At this time, the group from Frost Blossom Palace should have already returned from the bottom of Youxin Lake. Bai Yue Li decided to use the Sound Awareness Mirror to check with Puppet Fu Yan about the current state of Frost Blossom Palace. Learning that all was well, and that they were preparing to hold their first disciple competition, Bai Yue Li couldn't help but smile, though she had no desire to join in the excitement. After resting a few more days in her palace, Bai Yue Li quietly toured the entire Demon Domain. As Little Crow had mentioned, everything was in order, with no significant events occurring. The emergence of the Corpse Ghost Gate seemed to have created a tripartite balance among the cultivators of the continent, the Demon Domain, and the gate itself. The thoughts of the immortals naturally couldn't be solely focused on the Demon Domain at this time. Moreover, the members of the Corpse Ghost Gate appeared quite rampant. Since the Corpse Trickster failed in his attempt to form an alliance with the Demon Domain, there had been several skirmishes with a number of demonic cultivators. However, no major figures had stepped forward to act. This situation explained why neither the highest echelon of the Demon Domain nor the cultivators had fully engaged in a confrontation yet. Nonetheless, it was necessary to prepare for these issues in advance. Considering this, Bai Yue Li summoned the Three Elders of Ghost Fire to discuss potential strategies. The Demon Domain was not afraid of the Corpse Ghost Gate. If their people dared to invade the Demon Domain, they would ensure the invaders would pay dearly. Having dealt with these matters, Bai Yue Li felt a sense of quiet relief. She calculated that nearly ten years had passed in the Xuyou Jade Seal by now; she hoped that Fu Yan, who had been in seclusion, had significantly enhanced her strength. With this in mind, she slipped back into the Xuyou Jade Seal once more.