276 - Elasia Saga

Bai Yue Li held Fu Yan quietly for a long moment before slowly releasing her. Unexpectedly, she reached out to caress Fu Yan's face, murmuring softly, "It's alright. Ascension has always required a certain catalyst." Fu Yan had been in seclusion for so long, striving to ascend into immortality, but her attempt had failed. Once Bai Yue Li realized this, she couldn't help but offer her comfort. Fu Yan paused, lowering her gaze to focus intently on Bai Yue Li, feeling a warmth spread through her heart. Although she often took things in stride, hitting a bottleneck had left her feeling somewhat dispirited. Yet, even that trace of melancholy did not escape Bai Yue Li's notice. "Mhm, I know," Fu Yan responded in a low voice, instinctively reaching out to cover Bai Yue Li's hand on her face. Her fingers curled slightly, perfectly hooking onto Bai Yue Li's fair and smooth palm. Fu Yan unconsciously rubbed her fingers over every inch of skin on Bai Yue Li's fingers, the warmth feeling like a gentle current skimming across their arms. Seeing this, Bai Yue Li instinctively tried to withdraw her hand. But Fu Yan only tightened her grip, continuing to hold her hand, gently pressing it against her cheek. Bai Yue Li shifted her gaze somewhat awkwardly, her voice slipping out softly, "Alright, let go now." In that instant, it felt like a feather had brushed over her heart, leaving it tingling. Originally, it was Bai Yue Li who had tenderly touched Fu Yan's face. Now, it was Fu Yan who, like a little cat, rubbed her cheek against Bai Yue Li's warm and soft hand. She half-closed her eyes comfortably and murmured, "Okay." Though she agreed, her actions did not cease. Bai Yue Li: "..." The two of them indulged in this tenderness for quite a while before finally sitting together at ease. Although cultivators, as long as they had spirit stones to absorb, could go without food or drink for over a hundred years without any issue, Bai Yue Li couldn't help but prepare a table of earthly delights, considering how long Fu Yan had been engaged in the monotonous training of the Void Jade. As Fu Yan sat down, she couldn't help but chuckle at the feast before her and remarked, "Does Shijie really see me as someone who craves spirit meat that much?" Generally, a cultivator's physique wouldn't change much, yet Bai Yue Li felt that after decades in seclusion, Fu Yan seemed to have thinned a bit. "Mhm," Bai Yue Li confirmed, her smile tinted with a teasing glimmer. Fu Yan was a bit surprised by this, involuntarily responding, "If Shijie says so, then so it is." Having said that, Fu Yan showed no formality, readily picking up her chopsticks and eating. Throughout the meal, her bright eyes never left Bai Yue Li. Bai Yue Li simply watched her as well, feeling a contentment swelling from within. Halfway through the meal, Fu Yan inquired about happenings in the Demon Realm. Over these past years, it had remained relatively stable, without significant changes. "During this time, did Shijie sense the whereabouts of the Demon King's heart?" Fu Yan asked, sipping her spirit liquid while looking at Bai Yue Li. Bai Yue Li shook her head truthfully. All their theories about the Demon King's heart were merely conjectures, yet to be verified. During these years, whenever not engaged in dual cultivation within the Void Jade Seal, Bai Yue Li had quietly searched across the continent but found no trace of the Demon King's heart. Fu Yan nodded, refraining from probing further. It was never her concern whether the original Demon King would revive. Her only worry was whether these matters would affect Bai Yue Li. The Demon Realm was inherently a place of strife, and even with personal bias, Fu Yan wished for Bai Yue Li to leave it. However, she understood Bai Yue Li's deep sense of loyalty. Her sole reason for assuming the position of Demon King was to repay the original Demon King's kindness, not because she craved power. "Oh, right." Fu Yan suddenly recalled something and looked at Bai Yue Li, saying, "You probably don't know yet, but Ming Xi has returned and joined Shuang Hua Palace." Fu Yan hadn't had the chance to share this news due to her prior immersion in her training. Now that she had exited seclusion, she naturally informed Bai Yue Li about Ming Xi. Upon hearing about Ming Xi, Bai Yue Li felt a ripple of joy. After all, they had shared many moments in the past. Thinking back to memories of a childlike Ming Xi, she couldn't help but wonder how Ming Xi had changed. However, Bai Yue Li caught onto a particular detail. After pondering for a moment, she looked at Fu Yan and curiously asked, "Did you say Ming Xi's three-headed serpent evolved into a five-headed one?" Fu Yan nodded, "I was quite surprised myself. I even wondered if it might be the legendary nine-headed serpent." A nine-headed serpent is a notoriously ruthless beast, its peak power rivaling that of ordinary immortals—a creature all cultivators dread encountering. At first mention, Bai Yue Li had instantly thought of the nine-headed serpent. Her brow furrowed slightly, but she soon relaxed again. "Back at the Ming household, I heard them mention Ming Xi's bloodline awakening was exceptionally potent, yet..." Yet if the five-headed serpent ever evolves into a nine-headed one, controlling it could become quite a challenge. Fu Yan understood Bai Yue Li's concerns and after a pause, reassured her, "Shijie needn't worry too much. Even if it does evolve, Ming Xi's abilities won't be lacking." At this, Bai Yue Li's mind cleared, and she nodded in agreement. Whether due to having just emerged from seclusion or wishing to spend more time with Bai Yue Li, the next couple of weeks saw Fu Yan resting in the demon palace. Eventually, she led Bai Yue Li back to Shuang Hua Palace in the southern region. Fu Yan didn't alert anyone else, quietly taking Bai Yue Li to her Stardust Peak without causing a stir. After all, to many, she was still considered to have never left Shuang Hua Palace. It so happened that Shui Liu Qing was also present in the palace, prompting Fu Yan to send a message for him to bring Ming Xi over. Upon learning that Bai Yue Li had finally emerged, Ming Xi eagerly raced to Stardust Peak. In moments, what had been a silent and serene peak turned lively. Ming Xi, upon seeing Bai Yue Li, couldn't hide her excitement, her face a mix of joy and near tears. "Bai Jie!" Ming Xi exclaimed, rushing forward, arms outstretched for a hug, only to be halted by Fu Yan's hand holding her back. "Speak properly." Ming Xi: "..." Shui Liu Qing, like Ming Xi, had not seen Fu Yan since her entry into Shuang Hua Palace for the trial. Now, they gathered to catch up. Before coming, Fu Yan had already informed Bai Yue Li of the matters concerning Ji Qing Jue, whose reputation Bai Yue Li vaguely remembered. Ji Qing Jue had been renowned across the northern region for her innate captivating aura, revered as a sort of ethereal muse by many northern cultivators, which made Bai Yue Li blink in mild surprise upon learning Shui Liu Qing had won her over. Fu Yan sat to the side with a bemused smile as the conversation flowed easily among the three, despite being unable to add much. After all, the topics were ones she was already aware of. Despite Fu Yan's return, she hadn't withdrawn her sentient puppet from Shuang Hua Palace's hall. It wasn't until later in the evening that Fu Yan slipped away to Wen Zhi Peak. Lu Xiao Wen's days seemed to pass in leisure. When Fu Yan arrived, she saw Liu Bei emerging from the immortal residence. Upon noticing Fu Yan, he quickly bowed, "Palace Lord." Fu Yan nodded, casually inquiring of him. Liu Bei replied, "Master recently received some luminescent fish, and I've come to bring some fish feed." Fu Yan chuckled lightly, waved him off, letting him continue on his way, and then entered Lu Xiao Wen's courtyard. Lu Xiao Wen stood under the pavilion, scattering fish feed and gazing down at the faintly glowing luminescent fish in the pond. Upon seeing this, Fu Yan strolled over. "Finally out of seclusion?" Lu Xiao Wen didn't turn, still focusing on the little pond, yet immediately sensed Fu Yan's presence. Fu Yan joined him casually, grabbing a handful of fish feed herself, leisurely tossing it into the pond and slowly replying, "Yes, but didn’t reach the anticipated achievements." Lu Xiao Wen tossed another small handful of feed before glancing at Fu Yan, seemingly gauging her strength, before honestly remarking, "Don’t be disheartened. Your potential is remarkable, even by the standards of our era. It's only a matter of time before you ascend." Fu Yan let out a soft chuckle, looking at him, "A prodigious talent I may not be, but I'll continue to strive earnestly." In the eyes of others, Fu Yan's achievements had always been impressive, yet she knew deep down it wasn't due to ample resources. Her current power was largely thanks to the Void Jade Seal, which granted her triple the cultivation time. Otherwise, she might have only reached the threshold of the Mahayana stage by the time she turned a hundred. Of course, the Void Jade Seal was her fortuitous encounter, and there was no need to explain this further. Lu Xiao Wen seemed unfazed by Fu Yan's words. Instead, he brushed off the remaining fish food from his hands and said, "Only three years remain until the Duzhong Sect’s grand ceremony." Implying whether Fu Yan still intended to lead Shuang Hua Palace to participate. Over the past decade or so, Shuang Hua Palace had prospered, growing to nearly six or seven hundred disciples, with seventy to eighty disciples and elders already beyond the Void Refining stage. Even the children Fu Yan had previously sought out had all grown considerably, strengthening Shuang Hua Palace's current standing enough to likely qualify for the grand ceremony. However, Fu Yan wasn't expected to ascend within these three years. Hearing Lu Xiao Wen's remarks, Fu Yan tossed out the last handful of fish food, a determined and firm expression lighting her eyes. "In three years, Shuang Hua Palace will, as always, participate in the Immortal Gate Grand Ceremony." The Immortal Gate Grand Ceremony was a grand event occurring roughly every hundred years across the continent. Fu Yan didn't wish to wait for the next session and wanted to seize the chance now. Lu Xiao Wen, not surprised, instead smiled and agreed simply: "Alright." He then asked, "Have you planned everything out?" Fu Yan nodded earnestly, meeting Lu Xiao Wen's gaze with calm assurance, "Yes, I've had an exit plan ready since before I went into seclusion." From the beginning, Fu Yan had never naively assumed she would seamlessly ascend to immortality. But having decided to bring Shuang Hua Palace to the ceremony meant she was already prepared. "Good." Lu Xiao Wen seemed to trust Fu Yan's judgment entirely, not pressing for details, simply affirming her. He then refocused on feeding his luminescent fish, saying, "In our youth, while blind confidence isn’t wise, we shouldn't shy away from challenges either." After confirming the decision, Fu Yan quickly returned to her Stardust Peak, leaving Wen Zhi Peak behind. By then, Shui Liu Qing and Ming Xi had already left together, leaving Bai Yue Li alone behind. Bai Yue Li approached as Fu Yan returned, seemingly already aware of Fu Yan's conversation with Lu Xiao Wen. Without much curiosity, she asked, "Is everything settled?" "Mhm." Fu Yan nodded, smoothly taking Bai Yue Li's hand and leading her to sit beside her. Fu Yan poured tea for them both and handed a cup to Bai Yue Li, her eyes smiling as she said, "Actually, not successfully ascending isn't entirely bad." "Hmm?" Bai Yue Li took the cup, but her attention was fully on Fu Yan, not quite grasping the meaning behind her words. Fu Yan didn't leave her hanging, sipping her tea lightly before explaining, "Had I ascended to immortality, I wouldn't have been able to participate. Now, I can openly compete on the ceremony's contest stage." During the Immortal Gate Grand Ceremony, immortals only served as sect representatives, and wouldn't personally compete. Ascension nullified the need for such contests. Now, Fu Yan was poised at the brink of ascension, making it the perfect time to showcase her prowess. In her eagerness to ascend, Fu Yan had overlooked this crucial point. In hindsight, it wasn't such a bad turn of events. Though Bai Yue Li didn't want Fu Yan to get hurt, she understood the importance of this opportunity for Shuang Hua Palace to reestablish itself and knew Fu Yan would be restless if she didn't compete, so she had no intention to dissuade her. "Perhaps I could disguise myself, serving as one of Shuang Hua Palace's immortals," Bai Yue Li pondered, considering only Lu Xiao Wen filled that role within the palace, seemingly requiring her involvement. Surprisingly, Fu Yan immediately shook her head, refusing, "There would be too many people at the Immortal Gate Grand Ceremony. If you disguise yourself as an immortal, your identity could be easily exposed. I have my own arrangements for this; you needn't worry." Given the number of immortals bound to attend – no less than twenty would be present – Bai Yue Li pretending to be one could inadvertently attract unwanted attention, and even the best disguise could hold risks of exposure. Fu Yan preferred to avoid this scenario. Her concern wasn't about implicating Shuang Hua Palace, but about Bai Yue Li's identity being exposed under those circumstances, leading to her possible apprehension. A disguise as an ordinary disciple attending the events wouldn't raise suspicion. Understanding Fu Yan's concerns, Bai Yue Li saw the sense in her reasoning and refrained from insisting. After all, facing that many immortals posed a significant challenge to maintaining a flawless façade. "Alright then," Fu Yan set down her teacup, smiling at Bai Yue Li, "Shijie, let's rest first and discuss it tomorrow." Shortly after, Fu Yan led Bai Yue Li into her room. ... Meanwhile, within Shuang Hua Palace's main hall, Fu Yan's puppet summoned all elders and peak masters together. Notifying them about participating in the Immortal Gate Grand Ceremony three years hence required prior communication to the group. Indeed, after hearing Fu Yan's plan, everyone in the hall appeared shocked. Such a prospect had seemingly never crossed their minds before. "Palace Master," Yi Tu was the first to recover, stepping forward to fix his gaze on Fu Yan, questioning, "Are we truly going to participate in the Central Land's Immortal Gate Grand Ceremony?" Fu Yan nodded, reaffirming her stance. Suddenly, the once silent hall erupted into murmurs of surprise and discussion among the Void Refining stage elders, many appearing alarmed. Fu Yan didn't stop them. Once the noise subsided, she lifted her gaze once more, saying, "The Immortal Gate Grand Ceremony welcomes all sects and factions across the continent, including Shuang Hua Palace." "Palace Master... isn't this decision a bit too reckless?" "But... do we even meet the requirements to participate?" "..." Fu Yan chuckled gently, her gaze steady and focused on those present. "There's no need for concern. If I say we'll participate, then we will meet the requirements." Hearing this, the hall finally fell silent. Fu Yan surveyed the room again, speaking with casual confidence, "I've discussed this with Senior Lu as well. We both believe that Shuang Hua Palace is capable. Is there really such little faith among us?" "This..." "Understand that participating in the Immortal Gate Grand Ceremony indicates that Shuang Hua Palace has already set foot into the ranks of top-tier sects," Fu Yan stated, her tone calm and descriptive, "Everyone simply needs to do their best. The outcome doesn’t really matter." With that, Yuan He and Shui Liu Qing stepped forward, saluting in unison, "Disciple, will not fail in the mission." "Hahaha, I've long been unimpressed by those self-righteous disciples in the Central Lands. Count me in for the ceremony!" Another peak master voiced. This peak master, named Feng Nan Xiu, was the new peak master who had joined Shuang Hua Palace after Fu Yan's party returned from the Youxin Lake. Shortly after, Ji Xian also stepped forward. These days Ji Xian had become reliable. Years ago, Lu Xiao Wen had taken him out for a trip, and though Fu Yan didn't know the specifics or terms of their agreement, upon their return Lu Xiao Wen assured her, "Ji Xian is no longer tied to the Corpse Ghost Sect; he's safe to use." Fu Yan trusted Lu Xiao Wen, given his long life and astuteness, believing he wouldn't be easily short-changed. Therefore, with all three peak masters of Shuang Hua Palace supporting the decision, the remaining elders had no objections. Just as Fu Yan stated, regardless of their results, their participation marked their entry into the ranks of elite sects. Once they understood this, excitement began to fill the room. According to Fu Yan, the Immortal Gate Grand Ceremony involved three stages, corresponding to the Integration Stage, Void Refining Stage, and Mahayana Stage, with participant slots allocated as ten, five, and three respectively. Currently, Shuang Hua Palace was well equipped to meet these standards. With three years ahead, Fu Yan instructed everyone to recall the disciples on external missions, selecting ten through a grand competition, while the Void Refining Stage would see elders selected for participation. As for the Mahayana Stage, there were precisely three, including Fu Yan herself, needing no further consideration. Despite Shuang Hua Palace's substantial intake of talented disciples in the past decade, no new peak masters had emerged at the Mahayana Stage due to the palace's yet-to-be solidified reputation. After briefly outlining their plans, Fu Yan sent everyone away to allow them to absorb the news properly before finalizing the roster for the Immortal Gate Grand Ceremony and other preparations. The next day, on Stardust Peak... Fu Yan slowly awoke, cradling Bai Yue Li in her arms, as the first rays of morning light gently filtered through the window, scattering a mottled pattern across the floor. The two lingered in bed for a while longer before lazily getting up. Initially, Fu Yan thought with her puppet stand-in, she could always stay with Bai Yue Li. Unexpectedly, after just a couple of days, Lu Xiao Wen sought her out, suggesting they spar. Fu Yan: "..." "Go ahead, sparring with an immortal will greatly enhance your strength," Bai Yue Li encouraged with a smile, looking at Fu Yan. Of course, Fu Yan was well aware of this benefit, and had no intention of refusing. Soon, they began sparring in a separate space, and indeed, after several matches, Fu Yan gained considerable insights and realizations. One day, just as Fu Yan was returning from Wen Zhi Peak, she saw Bai Yue Li hastening out of the immortal abode. They almost collided head-on. "Shijie, what’s the matter?" Fu Yan asked, surprised, as she quickly approached. Bai Yue Li had been on her way to find Fu Yan but stopped upon seeing her returning. She looked up at Fu Yan and said, "Fu Juan sent me a message." To explain, as long as Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li were in the Void Jade Seal cultivating, Fu Juan and Xiao Yao Tuan Zi had been traveling outside, not yet returning. If not for Bai Yue Li being able to sense their safety, both would have undoubtedly been worried. Finally, news had come. Noticing the subtle change in Bai Yue Li's expression, Fu Yan mistakenly assumed something had gone wrong, and quickly asked again, "Shijie, what did Fu Juan say?" Bai Yue Li composed herself, suddenly becoming more serious. "She's found the resting place of the dragon."