290 - Elasia Saga

**Chapter 290 - Taking the Blade and Fleeing with the Senior Sister (Transmigration)** Lin Xuan Jie's swordsmanship was peculiar. It appeared slow and weak, yet when the blade came flying, it was exceptionally swift and powerful, easily ensnaring others within its grasp. Fortunately, Shui Liu Qing had been intensely watching Lin Xuan Jie’s movements from the very beginning, never once letting her guard down. This vigilance kept her from being caught off-guard. On the sparse dueling platform, Shui Liu Qing moved swiftly with her sword. She flipped over, and with a swift motion, the Dew Sword aligned with her hand, its blade shimmering coldly. Without hesitation, she swung it in a sweeping motion. At the same moment, her life bond puppet opened its eyes, a frightening red glow emanating from them, sending shivers down one's spine. Swish— With a movement of the puppet, it abruptly appeared on Lin Xuan Jie's right side. With a flick of its hand, it released a surge of overwhelming power towards Lin Xuan Jie. Shui Liu Qing's sword could not withstand Lin Xuan Jie’s sword intent. However, it provided her a momentary respite, a chance to fall back and stabilize herself. She deftly maneuvered on her toes, wielding her sword towards the menacing Yun Lei Lang. It was evident she intended to first subdue Lin Xuan Jie’s spiritual beast, hoping to find another opening against Lin Xuan Jie herself. "Roar!" The Yun Lei Lang was formidable, vastly overpowering the second puppet. Unable to suppress the creature, the puppet could only evade while seizing opportunities for counterattacks. Seeing this, Shui Liu Qing instantly transformed into a sword shadow. Despite being a fragmented illusion, it whipped fiercely from all directions. The Yun Lei Lang’s eyes flashed with lightning; in a split second, it exhaled an electric orb that exploded swiftly in all directions. The power of lightning spread across the platform, effortlessly engulfing Shui Liu Qing’s blade in its chaos. The resulting "crackle" was akin to a haystack burning fiercely, leaving no escape. Reflexively, Shui Liu Qing withdrew the Dew Sword, circulating her true energy to reinforce her protective barrier. Meanwhile, amidst the storm of lightning, the puppet remained relentless, positioning itself alongside Yun Lei Lang. In the half-breath before the creature could react, it struck with a powerful punch. "Ugh..." Suddenly, the Yun Lei Lang's pained cry echoed; it had taken the puppet’s punch head-on. Witnessing this, Shui Liu Qing’s eyes flickered. Yet before she could even celebrate, a terrifying sword blade sliced straight from behind. She instantly felt a chill at her back. The attack was too swift; there was no chance to dodge. Shui Liu Qing was forced to turn her sword hand, unleashing a surge of true energy from the Dew Sword. "Zzzap—" Overwhelming energy exploded forth. Shui Liu Qing struggled to hold onto her sword, her body tilted back as she was driven across the ground by the attack. Sparks seemed to flash underfoot, yet Shui Liu Qing continued to be pushed back. As she neared the edge of the platform, she found herself gasping at the last moment, barely parrying the attack. By now, she was at the very brink, her body half-hanging over the edge, and within another short breath, she would plunge off entirely. Meanwhile, Lin Xuan Jie had already dispatched the puppet beside Yun Lei Lang and was advancing directly towards Shui Liu Qing. However, Shui Liu Qing’s bond puppet managed to intercept her just in time. Finally afforded a moment to breathe, Shui Liu Qing flipped over and managed to return to the center of the platform. Though a duel between two individuals, the platform saw five figures locked in intense combat, leaving the onlookers dazzled. Having lost the chance to control Yun Lei Lang, Shui Liu Qing now found herself in a difficult position. Lin Xuan Jie's strength was unmistakably formidable, handling both the puppet and her beast with ease. Shui Liu Qing realized that prolonging the fight would be detrimental. She had no choice but to go all out. With this resolve, Shui Liu Qing launched her most formidable sword technique against Lin Xuan Jie— the Abyss Sword Technique. As the swirling vortex of blades formed, her bond puppet released its most powerful strike. Two forces converged on Lin Xuan Jie, leaving her no choice but to confront them head-on. "Boom—" Just then, a bolt of lightning struck down directly onto Lin Xuan Jie's spiritual sword. She raised the sword, seemingly using her body as a vessel to contain the terrifying lightning strike. Seeing this, Shui Liu Qing knew this was bad. Indeed, the next moment, an overwhelming force emanated from Lin Xuan Jie's sword, permeated with the power of lightning, and began rapidly spreading outward. Instantly, the abyssal sword intent Shui Liu Qing summoned started to tremble. Lin Xuan Jie's power appeared as a true abyss, gradually consuming her own. "Boom boom—crash! Crash!" The powerful true energy sword intent lightning storm erupted violently. Shui Liu Qing saw Lin Xuan Jie's face pale suddenly; blood trickled from the corners of her mouth—this strike had cost Lin Xuan Jie greatly. Yet, with nowhere to escape, Shui Liu Qing and her bond puppet were pulled into the electrical storm. At that moment, Shui Liu Qing felt as if she had weathered several instances of divine tribulation. Her protective true energy was shattered, her body left adrift like a kite with broken strings, eventually crashing heavily to the ground. "Ugh—cough cough!" Coughing violently amidst the dust, Shui Liu Qing felt as though her insides had been churned. Despite her poor condition, Lin Xuan Jie, though not looking great, still appeared capable of fighting. In the next instant, Yun Lei Lang leapt forward, swallowing the remnants of the dissipating lightning and turned its head to release a lightning bolt towards Shui Liu Qing. If she took another hit, her combat capability would surely be lost. "Crash!" In the nick of time, Shui Liu Qing's puppet intercepted, positioned itself in front of her, and took the brunt of the explosion, ultimately disintegrating in front of her. This sight drew gasps from the spectators. "Lin Xuan Jie of Flower Spirit Valley is indeed powerful, demolishing one of Shui Liu Qing's puppets. She's left with no chance to turn the tables now." "True, Lin Xuan Jie has been a renowned figure for a long time. Her power far surpasses the typical abilities of others in the virtual phase. Losing to her is reasonable." "Indeed..." As the audience speculated, Shui Liu Qing, having lost a puppet, had no chance to make a comeback, leading quickly to her defeat. Though initially disappointed, Shui Liu Qing accepted her loss to Lin Xuan Jie, recognizing the undeniable gap in their strength. Even with multiple puppets, they were not sufficient. Thus, while there was some regret, she didn't feel overly bitter. The duel had been enlightening, bringing forth many realizations. Back at Frost Moon Palace, her peers did not dwell on the loss, understanding Shui Liu Qing had given her all. Harboring negativity could affect her cultivation path. Shui Liu Qing nodded, aware of this wisdom. Moments later, Liu Bei and Ming Xi took the stage. While Shui Liu Qing was meditating in the corner, Ji Qing Jue suddenly summoned her outside. After a brief consideration, she obliged. "Are you... alright?" Ji Qing Jue inquired upon seeing Shui Liu Qing. Shui Liu Qing shook her head reassuringly. Seeing that Shui Liu Qing had not let her emotions govern her spirit, Ji Qing Jue relaxed, adding quickly, "Lin Xuan Jie didn’t mean to destroy your puppet. She just gets passionate in battle." With that, Ji Qing Jue paused and hurriedly retrieved some pills from her robe, offering them to Shui Liu Qing. "These can help with the internal injuries you suffered from the lightning." Looking at Ji Qing Jue, Shui Liu Qing felt warmth and relief. Having someone care for her in this way softened her heart. Without a word, she enveloped Ji Qing Jue in a hug. "You..." Ji Qing Jue was startled but instinctively wanted to push away. "Don't push me away. Just let me hold you for a moment," Shui Liu Qing’s voice came gently beside her ear. Ji Qing Jue: "..." An unspoken connection filled the space between them, warming their breath but left unvoiced as they embraced silently. … Their meeting remained brief, as Ji Qing Jue was soon due to compete. Back in the arena, Liu Bei and Ming Xi had both emerged victorious in their first matches, much to their relief and excitement. Fu Yan looked at the people behind her without saying much, but Bai Yue Li had approached unnoticed, quietly transmitting her voice, "The current situation is not friendly." Indeed, it was far from friendly. Liu Bei's victory was a stroke of luck, as his opponent suffered from a backlash. With Shui Liu Qing having already lost a puppet, her chances seemed slim, leaving only Ming Xi as an uncertain factor. After a brief pause, Fu Yan said, "No matter how far they can go, I'm confident that after this grand event, their strength will increase rapidly." The more intense the battles, the greater their gains. Bai Yue Li nodded in agreement. In the following days, Shui Liu Qing and Liu Bei were eventually eliminated, just as everyone had predicted. Ming Xi, however, being a favored contender, advanced smoothly to the top five. But in the semifinals, Ming Xi faced her most formidable opponent yet. Her adversary was Xuan Yuan Ming Song, a prodigy from the Central Capital's Xuan Yuan clan, rumored to be on the brink of the Ascension phase, yet he had chosen not to break through. He had previously slain a newly ascended cultivator from the Ghost Gate, making him one of the event's seeds. When Fu Yan saw Ming Xi matched against him, she couldn't help but frown. This was undoubtedly going to be a tough battle. On the dueling stage, Ming Xi and Xuan Yuan Ming Song had already stopped in their tracks. They looked at each other with fervent anticipation, the battle ready to erupt at any moment. With the match underway, Ming Xi, aware of her formidable opponent, wasted no time. She summoned her five-headed serpent and leaped onto one of its heads. Given her initial-stage power, without the serpent’s protection, she wouldn't stand a chance against him. "So this is the fearsome five-headed serpent, truly formidable," Xuan Yuan Ming Song exclaimed, his heart pounding with excitement as he eagerly anticipated the duel. On the serpent's head, Ming Xi forced herself to remain composed. Looking at the creature beneath her, she whispered, "We will win!" "Hiss—" As she spoke, Xuan Yuan Ming Song leapt into the air, hovering silently. His true energy erupted as he casually flicked his hand, sending a barrage of needle-like projectiles her way. Crack— In response, the five-headed serpent used its tough body to sweep away the needles with a flick of its tail. Then, one of its heads unleashed a powerful water jet toward Xuan Yuan Ming Song. He raised his hand, transforming the immense force into a barrier that deflected the water jet. Simultaneously, his silhouette vanished, only to reappear charging toward Ming Xi. However, the serpent wasn't about to let him off easily; its remaining four heads lunged at him. Yet Xuan Yuan Ming Song dodged deftly like a swimming fish, smoothly landing on the outermost serpent head. The next moment, a sharp spiritual dagger appeared in his hand. Without hesitation, he launched an attack on the serpent. Seeing this, Ming Xi swiftly formed hand seals, causing the serpent’s eyes to suddenly harden, its scales shining brilliantly. Zing— In an instant, Xuan Yuan Ming Song was flung backward as another serpent head emitted a blast of energy toward him. But with protective talismans, he shattered the energy easily. Before he could catch his breath, a colossal tail whipped out of nowhere, slamming him into the stage, creating a human-shaped crater. Xuan Yuan Ming Song: “…” He wasn’t injured and quickly soared back into the air, showing no mercy as he wielded his golden staff. With a mighty swing, a terrifying force swept forth. Undoubtedly, Xuan Yuan Ming Song's power was terrifying. Even a casual strike reached a level few could match, and it took two serpent heads working in unison to block his attack. The ensuing battle was spectacular, with one person and one serpent wreaking havoc. Yet, Xuan Yuan Ming Song found no openings, as the serpent's attack and defense were terrifying. Despite his powerful golden staff, he barely managed to knock off a few scales after such a long fight. Finally, during another retreat, Xuan Yuan Ming Song looked at the serpent and Ming Xi and laughed, “The five-headed serpent truly lives up to its reputation. With my current strength, defeating you is difficult. But, I must win this match.” Ming Xi was puzzled by his statement. She was growing frustrated too. The Xuan Yuan clan, as Central Capital's largest family, possessed too many treasures. Ming Xi struggled to deal any real damage to him. Stalemating wasn't a viable option. Suddenly, in the midst of attacking, Xuan Yuan Ming Song flipped back to the stage. In the next instant, he struck the ground with his palm. "Beast Trap Seal!" Boom— With a loud shout, the duel stage began to tremble violently. Before Ming Xi realized what was happening, chains of light shot up from beneath the serpent, pinning it to the stage. Simultaneously, a glowing seal hovered above it, firmly settling in place. "Xiao Wu, what's wrong?" Ming Xi sensed something amiss and asked, but the serpent remained immobile. The scene left the audience in shock. "A Beast Trap Seal! The Xuan Yuan clan truly has everything. Without the serpent, Ming Xi from Frost Moon Palace stands no chance." "Xuan Yuan Ming Song must have anticipated facing Ming Xi's serpent, so he carried the Beast Trap Seal with him. Still, Ming Xi reaching this stage is impressive!" "Indeed..." The Frost Moon Palace disciples watched anxiously, knowing they couldn't intervene and could only watch the duel unfold. Fu Yan remained indifferent. Win or lose, Ming Xi had achieved commendable results by reaching this far. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Ming Xi remained unaware. Seeing her serpent struggle, she raised her gaze to Xuan Yuan Ming Song, calling out, “What have you done to Xiao Wu?” “It’s fine,” Xuan Yuan Ming Song calmly replied. “The Beast Trap Seal only restrains it. It won’t harm your spiritual beast. As long as it doesn’t struggle, it’ll be okay. Once the duel ends, I’ll release it.” Understanding dawned on Ming Xi; her serpent was bound and unable to fight for her. Xuan Yuan Ming Song, without further discourse, leapt up again, landing before Ming Xi. Swiftly, with a flick, he struck her down. Against a perfect-stage opponent, Ming Xi didn’t stand a chance, falling unceremoniously from the serpent’s head. “Just concede,” Xuan Yuan Ming Song suggested as the audience deemed the battle decided. Yet, after his words hung in the air, silence persisted. He glanced down, only to find Ming Xi rising once more. But something seemed different about her. The aura surrounding Ming Xi had turned icily cold, her eyes opening to reveal an unrecognizable intensity. Confronted by her uncanny gaze, Xuan Yuan Ming Song feared the worst. As anticipated, the restrained serpent suddenly surged with a massive force. Hiss— In a split second, the serpent charged toward them, forcing Xuan Yuan Ming Song to escape swiftly. Yet, the serpent didn’t halt; it swallowed Ming Xi whole. Its five heads now gleamed with a bloodthirsty gleam, appearing downright menacing. Caught off-guard by this sudden turn, the audience was bewildered. But there was no time to ponder, as the serpent launched an attack on Xuan Yuan Ming Song. With the Beast Trap Seal nullified, he unleashed all his strength. But the five heads’ power combined, sweeping all in its path. “Bang! Bang!” The space on the duel stage seemed to warp, the immense force knocking Xuan Yuan Ming Song out of bounds. He slammed into the outer barrier. Seeing this, some thought the serpent had gone berserk, prompting intervention. Yet, it then opened its mouth, and Ming Xi, encased in a protective bubble, was gently placed back atop its head. As Ming Xi raised her gaze, the strange power in her eyes hadn't completely dissipated. The surrounding cultivators were momentarily stunned, before someone exclaimed, "Is this... could it be a bloodline awakening, specifically of the Teng Snake lineage?" "What? I thought the five-headed serpent went berserk and swallowed Ming Xi, but it was a bloodline awakening. No wonder she can command such a fierce beast!" "My goodness, to think there's still a cultivator on the continent with an awakened bloodline. It's unbelievable! I underestimated her for relying on the serpent. I was blind!" "Frost Moon Palace really struck gold with her!" “……” The revelation of Ming Xi’s bloodline awakening was so astonishing that everyone burst into excited discussion, unable to remain calm. "Ah, ah!" Xuan Yuan Ming Song exclaimed as he climbed back onto the stage, looking at Ming Xi with disbelief. Although he wasn’t heavily injured, it was clear he had lost this match. With the unique vision receding, Ming Xi regained her clarity of thought. "Xiao Wu," she called out, a bit dazed, "did we—win?" Even though she retained self-awareness during the bloodline awakening, she found it hard to believe she had actually won her duel. Back at Frost Moon Palace, she was still in a blend of disbelief and exhilaration, like walking on air, feeling slightly unreal. "So Ming Xi is a cultivator with an awakened bloodline. I only just learned of it, truly remarkable!" Yi Tu and Liu Bei rushed over, looking at Ming Xi with excitement. If Ming Xi hadn’t been a woman, they might have already embraced her in celebration. Amidst the cheers from the disciples around them, Fu Yan smiled softly, turning to Bai Yue Li, "It seems the power of an awakened bloodline is stronger than we imagined." Bai Yue Li nodded with a smile, meeting Fu Yan's gaze briefly, understanding unspoken between them. In the final moments of the tournament, Ming Xi leveraged the power of her awakened bloodline and her five-headed serpent to clinch first place in the transformation phase competition. Her victory, though surprising, seemed only fitting. Soon, the transformation phase finals concluded. Only the final eight from the Ascension phase remained, with discussions buzzing prematurely about who might claim the top title. Even the thought of such high-level clashes thrilled the spectators, eager for the battles to begin. Despite their anticipation, the schedule remained fixed. Quickly, everyone returned to their peaks to rest, awaiting the final Ascension phase duels in five days. During the last two days, Bai Yue Li helped Fu Yan evaluate her upcoming opponents: "Given your strength, there are only two you need to pay particular attention to." Having watched the entire event, Bai Yue Li had gained substantial insight into the eight remaining Ascension phase contenders. Fu Yan absentmindedly nudged a small pill container, listening intently to Bai Yue Li, and nodded, "You mean—?" "Xuan Yuan Zi Yuan from the Xuan Yuan clan," Bai Yue Li specified. "The Xuan Yuan family is wealthy, their prodigies possessing numerous spiritual tools. Xuan Yuan Zi Yuan reached the peak of the Ascension phase early on; he’s not an easy opponent." Fu Yan had heard much about Xuan Yuan Zi Yuan’s formidable reputation and knew not to underestimate any challengers. "And the other one..." Bai Yue Li continued honestly, "Fang Yu from Sword King Sect." Hearing the name, Fu Yan paused. Bai Yue Li, unaware of anything unusual, explained further, "Fang Yu is peculiar. Since the beginning, it feels as though he hasn't fully revealed his strength. Perhaps it's just my impression, but he seems profoundly deep." It was as if fate had destined Fu Yan to face Fang Yu eventually. As the male lead, Fang Yu had countless fortunate encounters and his current strength was uncertain. The demon spirit had remarked that his power was imbued with a hint of the Dao's essence. While Fu Yan lacked full confidence in defeating him, she understood it wouldn’t be straightforward for Fang Yu to defeat her either. Until they actually stood on the duel stage, nothing was certain. "What is it?" Bai Yue Li asked, noticing Fu Yan deep in thought. Fu Yan returned from her reverie, gazing at Bai Yue Li with a smile, and asked, "Do you think I’ll win, Senior Sister?" Bai Yue Li, slightly surprised by the question, paused. But her voice rang with unwavering conviction. "You will," Bai Yue Li affirmed. She understood that she would always believe in this person before her.