286 - Elasia Saga

Chapter 286: The Duel of Puppeteers On the bustling Yunni Platform, Fu Yan squinted slightly as he gazed at the figure from the Tianji Pavilion. Han Tong didn't seem surprised by Fu Yan's scrutiny. He abruptly curled his lips into a smile that carried a hint of darkness, but soon, he retracted his gaze as if the brief exchange was nothing more than Fu Yan's imagination. Fu Yan found Han Tong's discreet provocation rather amusing. Fu Yan didn't consider Han Tong's skills a match for his own, especially after his duel with the Buddhist cultivator, Gu Ni, and didn't see Han Tong as a significant threat. In the first round, Fu Yan had casually watched Han Tong's matches. Han Tong's advancement to the next round seemed more a matter of luck than skill. It appeared Han Tong had yet to realize Fu Yan's true prowess. "What's wrong?" Bai Yue Li, standing beside Fu Yan, noticed the playful glint in his eyes and inquired, looking in the direction of his gaze. Because Bai Yue Li needed to disguise herself as an ordinary disciple, she couldn't fully unleash her abilities on Yunni Platform and hadn't noticed Han Tong's glance earlier. But now, Fu Yan had already withdrawn his gaze. He turned to smile at the figure beside him and said, "Nothing. I'm just thinking that the upcoming matches should get more interesting." Bai Yue Li, having known Fu Yan for some time, understood his implication. It seemed someone had caught Fu Yan's interest. Still, she wasn't worried. Fu Yan wasn't one to target others without reason, and from the first round, she speculated on some possibilities. "Ah, what a pity, another disciple of Shuanghua Palace has fallen." Ming Xi seemed particularly invested in this competition, her attention focused on every Shuanghua Palace participant after her own match. At this moment, among the remaining disciples who had reached the Harmonization phase, another was eliminated. As Ming Xi's voice fell, the people on the ship looked on with regret. For their disciples, future battles would only grow more challenging. It was hard to say if any would make it to the finals. Before long, Shui Liu Qing appeared on the stage again. Shui Liu Qing's opponent this time was a disciple from the Xuanyuan Clan of Zhongdu, named Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan. Interestingly enough, Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan wielded a puppet comparable in power to the later stage of the Transformational Void phase and had reached the Great Consummation stage in mastery herself. Their strengths were inversely matched to Shui Liu Qing and her puppet. As the two took their places on the dueling platform, cultivators from all around turned their attention to the match. With two experts in puppet combat facing off, this contest carried its own excitement. Anticipation electrified the crowd. "This match promises to be fascinating. I recall Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan gaining a fortuitous opportunity in puppet arts. Her puppet is formidable, and now she's matched with a disciple from Shuanghua Palace who also possesses a puppet." "Heh, Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan's cultivation is slightly superior to Shui Liu Qing's, but Shui Liu Qing's puppet surpasses hers. Who do you reckon will win?" "Hahaha, this will indeed be entertaining!" Amidst the chatter, the two on the stage locked eyes. Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan, in his plain blue robe, appeared ordinary, yet Shui Liu Qing remained vigilant. Previously, Shui Liu Qing had watched one of Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan's matches and deduced that his proficiency in puppet manipulation was below hers and not his primary focus. This didn't serve as a guarantee of victory, though, as his own skills were not to be underestimated. Direct confrontation wasn't an option for her. As thoughts raced through Shui Liu Qing's mind, she took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I have observed your battles and am genuinely impressed by your puppet's perfection. Were we not competitors, I would have asked for your guidance in puppet arts." Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan commented with a smile, eyes fixed on Shui Liu Qing. Whether his words were sincere or not was known only to him. Unfazed by his praise, Shui Liu Qing matched his gaze calmly and responded, "You're too kind. I hope to learn from you in the upcoming match." With that, the signal for the duel rang out loud. Without hesitation, Shui Liu Qing summoned her life-bound puppet, knowing she stood no chance against Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan based on her own strength alone. Whoosh At almost the same instant, the two puppets appeared on the spacious dueling platform. Shui Liu Qing's puppet's eyes glowed a deep crimson, while her opponent's shone a dark blue. The puppets differed greatly in appearance, making them easily distinguishable even in close combat. "Truly remarkable." Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan's gaze involuntarily fell on Shui Liu Qing's puppet as he spoke with genuine admiration. Then suddenly, his voice rang out again, "Friend Shui, why not pit our puppets against each other first, to help me learn from my shortcomings?" Shui Liu Qing remained indifferent, neither agreeing nor refusing. She simply gestured politely, "Please." Seeing this, Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan chuckled and, without further delay, his puppet lunged toward the crimson-eyed one. In response, Shui Liu Qing didn't hesitate. Her gaze steeled, and her life-bound puppet's eyes snapped open, launching to meet the challenge head-on. Whoosh! Whoosh! The puppets collided fiercely, stirring the air with violent waves. Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan's blue-eyed puppet unleashed a powerful attack, only for it to be obliterated by a single punch from its red-eyed counterpart. Without pause, the red-eyed puppet, relentless, landed several more blows. In moments, the blue-eyed puppet staggered, increasingly unable to defend itself and retreating continuously. Noting this, Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan's demeanor turned serious. He swiftly tapped into his vital energy, pointing towards the void before him. Buzzing In an instant, the struggling blue-eyed puppet's eyes snapped open wide, a surge of blue light erupting, amplifying its power fiercely. With a swing, it finally managed to repel the red-eyed puppet. Faced with the revitalized blue-eyed puppet, Shui Liu Qing showed no excess of emotion but resolved not to drag on the contest any longer. Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan's intentions had been clear from the start. He had proposed a puppet skirmish to drain the energy of Shui Liu Qing's life-bound puppet. In doing so, facing the Consummate Transformational Void stage puppet later would be easier for him. While his puppet would also suffer attrition, it could still suffice to restrain Shui Liu Qing, simplifying his path to victory. Resolving this, Shui Liu Qing's focus shifted unto her life-bound puppet. In a breath, the red-eyed puppet's hand transformed into a blade, unleashing an explosion of intense power and speed, surrounded by countless afterimages that overwhelmed the blue-eyed puppet. "Slash" Within mere moments, Shui Liu Qing's puppet severed an arm from its counterpart, evoking gasps from the audience. "Truly deserving of the Transformational Void stage puppet, its strength is terrifying. Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan's later stage puppet couldn't withstand its attacks." "Do you think her puppet could be refined to the Divine Transcendence stage?" "Impossible, I've lived centuries without ever seeing a Divine Transcendence level puppet!" Arguments erupted all around with varied voices. On the dueling stage, however, neither contestant seemed to notice. Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan quickly retrieved his maimed puppet, a frown forming at the loss of its arm, though relieved it wasn't destroyed. Raising his gaze to Shui Liu Qing, Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan suddenly laughed, "A Consummate Transformational Void puppet truly lives up to its name. Allow me the pleasure to experience it firsthand." With that, a long blade appeared in Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan's hand. Shui Liu Qing dared not delay. She gripped her Water Drop Sword with immediate firmness, disappearing to launch an attack alongside her puppet toward her opponent. With a formidable sword aura approaching, Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan's eyes alighted with immense battle spirit. Gripping his long blade tightly, he pushed off the arena floor, cleaving down from above. In an instant, the flow of air across the dueling arena went haywire, the intense blade producing a thunderous sound as it descended fiercely upon Shui Liu Qing. Shui Liu Qing remained unfazed as she swiftly raised her hand, releasing a volley of sword shadows that surged forth to meet the incoming thunderous strike. Naturally, her life-bound puppet promptly stepped in front of her, effortlessly raising its hand to unleash a towering force that transformed into a beam of light, joining Shui Liu Qing's sword shadows in their advance. “Boom! Boom!” Instantly, a fierce tremor rocked the entire dueling platform as numerous sword shadows and blades clashed violently in mid-air. Thanks to her life-bound puppet, Shui Liu Qing held her own and even seemed to gain the upper hand. Together, they pressed their advantage with a swift, unyielding onslaught. Meanwhile, Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan, caught on the back foot, widened his eyes in surprise. In a swift move, he commanded his blue-eyed puppet, which suddenly charged forward, harnessing a formidable force aimed directly at Shui Liu Qing. Anticipating the attack, Shui Liu Qing quickly withdrew from the fray, performing a backward flip and retreating seven or eight meters in a graceful arc. Swish— The blue-eyed puppet’s strike missed its mark, dissolving into the air. Freed from Shui Liu Qing's pressure, Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan's full strength burst forth, allowing him to break free from the stalemate. Yet, Shui Liu Qing's life-bound puppet was upon him once more, igniting a swirling vortex of explosive power between the two figures. Blades shimmered, and shadows scattered. Steadying herself, Shui Liu Qing fixed her gaze on the blue-eyed puppet before her. Despite its missing arm, its combat prowess was still formidable. Summoning her true essence, her Di Shui Sword resonated powerfully. Just as she was about to charge forward to continue the fight, a familiar figure caught her peripheral vision. Pausing momentarily, Shui Liu Qing glanced towards the adjacent platform. There, she saw Ji Qing Jue suddenly and unexpectedly stepping onto the stage. Her opponent, a disciple of the Sword King Sect, was already positioned, sword in hand. Shui Liu Qing hadn't anticipated Ji Qing Jue entering the fray at that moment. Whether it was a coincidence or not, Ji Qing Jue seemed to briefly raise her head, her gaze intense. Yet Shui Liu Qing couldn't afford further distractions. Her match was still ongoing, with the blue-eyed puppet regrouping and launching another sphere of power at her. “Bang!” Just in time, Shui Liu Qing refocused, sensing the incoming attack. Instinctively, she rolled to her right, narrowly escaping harm. Simultaneously, her adversary's puppet launched another assault. This time, Shui Liu Qing had no chance to restore her balance, instead pivoting on one hand to execute a rapid spin, using her leg to deliver a forceful kick at the incoming puppet. Both combatants staggered back from the impact. Shui Liu Qing used the momentum to perform a spin and stabilizing her stance once more. She needed to end this quickly. With resolve, she raised her sword, tracing a point in the air around its blade. Her true essence surged outward, and countless sword shadows filled the air. "Go!” With a resounding command, the sword shadows converged on the blue-eyed puppet, launching chaotically at it. But suddenly, a flash of light enveloped the puppet, deflecting the sword shadows one by one. It seemed that Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan had embedded a spiritual artifact within his puppet, a fact that Shui Liu Qing hadn't anticipated. Because her primary focus was on puppet arts, her personal combat skills lagged behind those of other talented disciples. This was the best she could muster; if she couldn't defeat him, she would have to resort to her second puppet. However, this was only the first knockout match. Revealing her trump card now would give future opponents the opportunity to prepare, making it difficult for her to reach the finals. As Shui Liu Qing wrestled with her dilemma, she couldn't help but cast another glance at Ji Qing Jue's platform. Ji Qing Jue, close to transcending into the Great Ascension stage, was evenly matched with her Sword King Sect opponent. Unexpectedly, Ji Qing Jue altered her sword technique mid-battle, bending low, her sword tracing circles in the air. Instantly, a sword-intent abyss formed in the atmosphere. Recognizing this, Shui Liu Qing's eyes widened. Ji Qing Jue was using the Abyss Sword Technique—their shared discovery from their Western Region travels. It appeared that Ji Qing Jue was subtly watching her as well, adjusting her approach to give Shui Liu Qing a cue. Realizing this warmed Shui Liu Qing's heart but also filled her with guilt. She couldn't continue to split Ji Qing Jue's focus; the match had to end swiftly. The Abyss Sword Technique was high-tier, one she struggled with initially. She finally mastered it after Ji Qing Jue's repeated guidance. Thus, she rarely used it. But now, confidence surged within her. She shifted her focus back to the blue-eyed puppet, determination etched across her features. Promptly, Shui Liu Qing leaned forward, wielding her Di Shui Sword chaotically in loops until a potent sword-intent abyss materialized. Observers watched in bewilderment. “Does it seem like Shui Liu Qing of Shuanghua Palace and Ji Qing Jue from Hualing Valley are using similar sword techniques? Almost like a twin sword style?” “That can't be. Twin sword styles require joint execution to unleash their true power.” Thanks to the shield set by celestial beings, onlookers could sense no power fluctuations from the stage, only visual similarities. On the ship, Fu Yan watched with an insightful smile, turning knowingly to Bai Yue Li, whispering, “See, they really do know how to make things interesting.” “Isn't it just learning the same sword technique?” Bai Yue Li quipped, still puzzled. Learning the same sword technique meant little; showcasing it onstage together suggested something more. Fu Yan, however, withheld further comment, instead leaning closer to Bai Yue Li, whispering, “Still, our dual cultivation technique is unbeatable.” Bai Yue Li: “…” Meanwhile, Shui Liu Qing, with her newfound confidence, had overwhelmed the blue-eyed puppet. Without its support, Xuan Yuan Xiao Yuan struggled to face Shui Liu Qing and her puppet. It wasn't long before he conceded the match. Back on the ship, Shui Liu Qing finally relaxed. She quickly turned her gaze to Ji Qing Jue's ongoing match. The ensuing matches were equally thrilling. Unlike the preliminary rounds, contestants in the knockout stage showcased their full prowess. Several dark horse contestants emerged, leaving a mark in discussions among those in the Transformational Void and Harmonization stages. Ming Xi, wielding her Five-Headed Snake, triumphed smoothly, save for one fiercely contested bout. Liu Bei faced increasing difficulties against the prodigious talents from Zhongdu, and though he lost one match, he narrowly secured victory in his final bout. Another elder wasn't as fortunate, being eliminated after losing twice. The knockout matches lasted over twenty days before concluding and the finalists were decided. In the Harmonization stage, Shuanghua Palace succeeded surprisingly, yet with a final entrant scraping through. Making it to the finals was, in itself, an acknowledgment of strength. While Fu Yan wished for two finalists, given Shuanghua Palace's nascent development, the results were acceptable. Reaching the finals had been a significant challenge. In the Transformational Void phase, Ming Xi unsurprisingly advanced undefeated, while Shui Liu Qing and Liu Bei each lost one match but barely made it through to the finals. In their final matches, they unveiled their trump cards—Shui Liu Qing's dual puppets and the treasure Lu Xian Wen entrusted to Liu Bei—leaving the audience incredulous. With their strategies laid bare, the finals were bound to be tough. Sensing the group's heavy mood, Fu Yan offered words of encouragement, helping them regain their confidence. In fact, the rankings themselves were not of great concern. Fu Yan had nearly achieved his goal by participating in this grand sect gathering. Shuanghua Palace's reputation had undeniably risen among cultivators, and continued to do so. After the event concluded, Fu Yan believed that Shuanghua Palace's name would become widely recognized. Recruitment would become much easier once that happened. Given enough time, Fu Yan was confident that Shuanghua Palace could catch up to the sects and clans of Zhongdu with little difficulty. When the final results came out, as expected, there were both joyful and disappointed reactions. But with the outcome set, there was no point in dwelling on it. Those feeling defeated could only wait for the next grand sect gathering to reclaim their honor. After a period of rest and adjustment, the second round for the Great Ascension stage finally commenced. Considering how intense the knockout rounds for the Harmonization and Transformational Void stages had been, the anticipation for the second round of the Great Ascension matches was even higher. The excitement among the cultivators was palpable. This time, Fu Yan took the stage early in the second round. Her opponent for the first match hailed from Dong Ying Sect in the Eastern Region, a formidable adversary with a cultivation technique both sinister and mysterious, making it difficult to counter. Fu Yan spent considerable time probing her opponent before seizing the opportunity to deliver a decisive blow, leaving onlookers in awe as they finally began to appreciate Fu Yan's formidable prowess. To Fu Yan's surprise, Ji Xian's first match was against the Buddhist cultivator Gu Ni, whom she had previously defeated. On reflection, it wasn't so surprising considering the limited number of competitors at the Great Ascension stage. Their paths were bound to cross again. Despite the seemingly ordinary appearance of Gu Ni’s techniques, they were formidable. Ji Xian was unable to overcome him and regrettably lost the match, making the next one crucial for redemption. Once again, Fu Yan stepped onto the dueling platform. This time, his opponent was Han Tong.