291 - Elasia Saga

On the mountaintop, Xue Wu stepped out, prompting Zi Xi to glance over at her. After a pause, Zi Xi asked, "Did the deity say anything?" Xue Wu’s face remained as calm as still water, showing no hint of emotion as she shook her head. Zi Xi wasn't particularly surprised and redirected her gaze to the Liu Li Zhu before them. Her lips moved subtly as she mused, "After thousands of years, hopefully she can truly assist our deity." The Liu Li Zhu reflected the earlier competitions Fu Yan held at Yun Ni Platform. Hearing this, Xue Wu also looked up at the figure within the scene and, after a long silence, stated to herself, "The deity wouldn't be mistaken. Perhaps... she truly can." "Let's hope so," Zi Xi replied, following suit. Having accompanied Chu Ling Ling for millennia, they knew well her unwavering determination. With Linglong Sword now broken, they only hoped the deity’s wishes could be fulfilled. Their eyes remained on Fu Yan within the reflection. Time passed unnoticed until Zi Xi casually waved her hand, and the flickering image vanished, the Liu Li Zhu tucked away. The expansive room returned to its usual silence. Silence reigned. ... After Bai Yue Li’s voice faded, the two individuals in the room found themselves momentarily stunned. Fu Yan wasn't sure why she suddenly asked that question. It was an offhand remark; unexpected was Bai Yue Li’s particularly sincere and affirmative response. When Fu Yan looked up, she met Bai Yue Li’s gaze. "In my heart, you will never lose to anyone," Bai Yue Li said assuredly after a brief pause. This straightforward honesty always struck Fu Yan profoundly. Her blood seemed to boil, her heart pounding uncontrollably. "Yes, you as well, my senior," Fu Yan suddenly smiled. Not one for hesitation, she reached out and took Bai Yue Li’s hand, looking into her eyes, "In my heart, there’s only you." "Huh?" Bai Yue Li was momentarily taken aback, not fully processing what was just said. Fu Yan, however, pulled Bai Yue Li into an embrace, the warmth of the person in her arms finally soothing the storm within her heart. After some time, she murmured, "Yes, I will win." Though Bai Yue Li was initially bewildered, upon hearing this, she ceased to move, allowing Fu Yan to tighten her gentle hold. Their breathing seemed to share a fierce intensity. In the quiet room, they clung to each other, holding their entire world in their embrace. Days passed in a blink. Early the next morning, the current Celestial Gate Ceremony reached its climax. As the morning mist began to lift, a throng of cultivators gathered at Yun Ni Platform, their faces brimming with excitement, awaiting the final match. "Finally, it's here. I haven’t eaten or slept well these past few days, just waiting for today. Who are you most eager to see in battle?" "Perhaps it's just my intuition, but it feels like we’re witnessing the rise of a golden age for cultivation on our continent, despite resources dwindling over the millennium." "Among these people, Fang Yu from Sword King Sect stands out the most!" "......" Amidst the excited discussions, the people of Shuanghua Palace also ascended Yun Ni Platform together. Fu Yan descended onto their puppet ship, with Yi Tu and the others eagerly watching her. Fu Yan: "......" Ming Xi casually stepped forward, unperturbed, as she had been with Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li since childhood, never considering Fu Yan as intimidating. Unconcerned, she spoke up. "Palace Master!" Ming Xi approached, her face beaming as she said to Fu Yan, "I believe you’ll return victorious!" Previously, Fu Yan had never placed much value on the ranking of competitions, but seeing the familiar faces before her, for the first time she wanted to fight with all her might for Shuanghua Palace. "Yes," she nodded silently, glancing at Bai Yue Li beside her. Bai Yue Li nodded gently, her gaze soft and kind. Soon, the clear chime of a bell resonated through Yun Ni Platform, and all cultivators paused, their attention fixed on the platform. The eight Nascent Soul masters had stepped onto the Yun Ni Platform. With only eight contestants remaining, the matches switched to a one-on-one format, abandoning the previous multiple simultaneous group contests. Though it took more time, everyone was eager to see it. After all, battles between Nascent Soul masters required lower-level disciples to focus intensely, or they risked failing to understand, let alone benefiting from the match. Regardless of the outcome, the eight contestants were among the finest of the younger generation on the continent. Opportunities to witness such a grand-scale competition were rare. Thus, the onlookers below Yun Ni Platform brimmed with excitement. The competition didn’t delay for long; soon, everyone watched as the eight contestants drew lots, exchanged words, and then dispersed. The final showdown was about to begin. The first match pitted Xiyu's Flanmar Gate against Zhongdu’s Flower Spirit Valley. Neither held back, exhibiting their full prowess, with the battle stretching over half a day before a victor emerged. The audience was alternately fervent and invigorated, with cheers filling the air. Few spared a thought on anything else, their minds entirely absorbed by the matches, especially the intriguing sight of a monk paired with a fairy, captivating everyone. Fu Yan attentively observed others’ matches, aware that each contender could be her opponent, emphasizing the old adage: know the enemy to triumph. Understanding opponents’ strengths and techniques would surely facilitate the matches. Two more days passed, and Fu Yan was finally set to compete. Under the gaze of the entire Shuanghua Palace, Fu Yan swiftly strode to the distant dueling platform, greeted by the first rays of morning sun, about to face her first opponent of the final round. —Mo Rong Xin from Mo Family Villa of Zhongdu. Seeing him surprised Fu Yan; she hadn’t expected her first opponent to hail from one of the leading families allied with the male lead’s harem. Mo Ruoxue, having already broken through to Nascent Soul stage with Fang Yu’s assistance, had been eliminated in the first round. Yet, Mo Family Villa had no shortage of talent, exemplified by Mo Rong Xin. With a pause, Fu Yan collected her thoughts, not dwelling on the relationship between Mo Family Villa and Fang Yu. She reached back with firm resolve, summoning the sharp Stellarsword effortlessly into her grasp. Mo Rong Xin, unfazed, courteously clasped his hands, stating calmly, "Palace Master Fu, please offer your guidance." Fu Yan mirrored the gesture, politely nodding without further words. "Ding!" As the signal sounded, Mo Rong Xin's expression sharpened. Without a moment’s delay, he hurled his spear forcefully, unleashing tremendous power towards Fu Yan. Seeing this, Fu Yan swiftly disappeared from her spot, only to reappear moments later as several sharp sword blades emerged from behind Mo Rong Xin. Swish! Swish! Without turning, Mo Rong Xin leaped, lightly stepping on his wooden spear and flipping over, gripping it tightly as he descended to the platform below. "Humm——" Instantly, a powerful energy surged outward, mingling with Fu Yan's blades, the formidable true essences seeming ready to sever the very air. In the next moment, both combatants vanished from sight. Reappearing above, the arena lay silent, Mo Rong Xin nowhere to be found beyond the dueling platform, seemingly vanished. A slight smile graced Fu Yan’s lips, displaying no trace of panic. She tossed the Stellarsword skyward, quickly pointing towards the void, its blade whirling powerfully. "Zzzzz—" Simultaneously, a ripping sound echoed from above Fu Yan's head; unfazed, she raised her hand, commanding the potent Stellarsword to soar skyward. Instantly, everyone saw Mo Rong Xin descend from above, gripping his spear tightly, exuding an overwhelming pressure as he dove towards Fu Yan below. Faced with Mo Rong Xin's sudden attack, when everyone thought Fu Yan would choose to hold back, she instead boldly leaped up to meet the challenge head-on. "No wonder it's a Nascent Soul stage battle; it's so intense!" someone exclaimed in awe. On the dueling platform, sword and spear clashed fiercely, creating a powerful shockwave that rippled through the entire space, even making the surroundings tremble. Mo Rong Xin frowned slightly, surprised that Fu Yan had spotted him so easily and her power was this formidable. In an instant, Fu Yan unleashed her true essence without hesitation, mounting another powerful offensive. Realizing his strength was about to be overwhelmed, Mo Rong Xin dared not continue the deadlock. At the critical moment, he withdrew and sidestepped swiftly. In an instant, a terrifying wave surged upward like a tidal wave. Mo Rong Xin quickly raised a powerful true essence shield to protect himself, yet was still swept aside, landing back on the dueling platform awkwardly. This time, the tide turned in Fu Yan’s favor. The next moment, from midair, Fu Yan swung her sword decisively, a flash of light indicating her dominance over Mo Rong Xin. He clung desperately to his wooden spear, yet his body trembled as though he might collapse any moment. Mo Rong Xin's eyes blazed with sudden determination, unleashing a surge of power that finally deflected Fu Yan’s sword strike. Fu Yan was not surprised by this. However, Mo Rong Xin seemed cornered, unleashing his most powerful attack without hesitation amidst the remaining force. Instantly, the air on the platform became violently turbulent, swirling toward Mo Rong Xin’s spear. From afar, it seemed a vast ocean appeared behind him. Fu Yan remained vigilant, leaping up once more, and as her mind commanded, countless sword shadows erupted behind her, eager to outpace one another. Zheng— The platform resounded with heaven-piercing sword cries, the sword shadows behind Fu Yan spinning and vibrating intensely, even splitting the very air around them. "Roar!" Below, Mo Rong Xin shifted his stance, his spear vibrating with a deep, dragon-like rumble. The true essence surged into the spear, raising enormous waves in the ocean-like mirage behind him. Mo Rong Xin fixed his gaze on Fu Yan before hurling his spear forward with great force. Hiss— The wooden spear, like a dragon unleashed upon the sea, surged forth with untold waves, heading straight for Fu Yan. Far off, Fu Yan's gaze rippled slightly. She acknowledged Mo Rong Xin's deadly attack and knew few could meet it head-on. But she was not willing to prolong the battle; it had to end soon. Determined, a cold gleam quickly flashed across the blade of her Stellarsword. She flung the sword decisively. The formidable sword aura cut forth decisively. Simultaneously, her rear sword formation found its breakthrough point. As the dragon’s shadow approached, the assembly of sword shadows surged without hesitation. “Clang!” In a sweeping momentum, countless sword shadows engulfed the scene. To onlookers, it seemed like a dragon amidst a storm of swords, both sides battling furiously at the center of sword intent. Without the celestial barrier, the platform might have been demolished by their clash. The cultivators watching held their breath, eyes wide with unrestrained focus. The dragon emanated brilliant light, weaving through the sword storm, poised to reach Fu Yan. She too transformed into a beam of light, darting forward. Whoosh! The Stellarsword returned to Fu Yan’s hand; she charged with terrifying sword force directly into the dragon’s mouth, cleaving through its gleaming form. In mere moments, the sky echoed with a dragon’s scream, and an explosive boom shattered the dragon's image into fireworks, scattering light across the sky. Only the wooden spear fell straight down. Yet Fu Yan had no intention of relenting; poised with her sword amid the myriad bursting sword shadows, she aimed at Mo Rong Xin below. Seeing this, Mo Rong Xin’s eyes widened, though he quickly regained composure, understanding only his last resort could save him. But in the next heartbeat, he felt an overwhelming pressure, immobilizing him, as if a mountain pressed down upon him—mental force! Realizing this, Mo Rong Xin felt dread; Fu Yan, with her commanding sword shadows, was descending. His trump card came too late. Fu Yan intended no reprieve, employing the Divine Control Technique taught by Lu Xiaowen to subdue him completely. A moment of suppression was all she needed! The grand platform descended into a blizzard of sword rain, pinning Mo Rong Xin under its weight, dust swirling into the sky. As the sword shadows dissipated, everyone saw a figure hurled from the platform. The figure collided heavily with the surrounding barrier. "Heavens! That ended too abruptly! Mo Rong Xin still had a trump card!" "No idea, it happened too quickly—seemed like something held him back, so he couldn’t bring out his best move, facing Palace Master Fu's sword formation head-on. It's over; there's no turning this around." "......" Amidst the gasps of admiration, Fu Yan finally landed steadily back on the platform. Mo Rong Xin struggled to rise below, casting Fu Yan a deep look. Despite feeling slighted, he accepted the defeat stoically, retreating to his family. With the result determined, Fu Yan sheathed her sword and swiftly returned to Shuanghua Palace. Those on the puppet ship were visibly excited yet refrained from disturbing Fu Yan, who remained silent and settled beside Bai Yue Li. "Are you okay?" Bai Yue Li asked through a thought transmission. Fu Yan nodded slightly, her gaze wandering to the distance where Fang Yu approached the dueling platform. His match was next. Fang Yu faced the sole remaining disciple from Tianji Pavilion, and Fu Yan allowed herself a chuckle, noting Tianji Pavilion’s unlucky streak this event. This person was about to be eliminated. This pleased Fu Yan; after all, they had already fallen out with Tianji Pavilion and did not wish to see them advance to the top five. True to Fu Yan’s expectations, two hours later Fang Yu emerged victorious, his opponent barely touching him, resulting in a crushing defeat for Tianji Pavilion. The crowd marveled at Fang Yu’s prowess, none showing sympathy for Tianji’s loss. Yet Fu Yan’s attention remained on Fang Yu. His power seemed unfathomable, maintaining a casual demeanor throughout without needing to unveil his might. Of course, Fu Yan herself had not revealed her true strength, making it uncertain who would prevail should they face each other. It appeared evenly matched at fifty-fifty. Previously, Fu Yan hadn't cared much about winning or losing, but Bai Yue Li’s words ignited her desire to defeat Fang Yu. The battle promised to be tough, yet that made it all the more intriguing. Time flew on Yun Ni Platform; in six days, Fu Yan had competed thrice, securing victories each time. By sheer coincidence, she hadn't yet faced Fang Yu or Xuan Yuan Zi Yuan. From the initial eight contenders, only four remained, eliminating half within a brief span. The remaining four were Fu Yan from Southern Shuanghua Palace, Gu Ni from Western Flanmar Gate, Fang Yu from Zhongdu’s Sword King Sect, and Xuan Yuan Zi Yuan from the Xuan Yuan clan. The previously favored disciple from Tianji Pavilion did not break into the top five, only achieving sixth place, drawing a few chuckles and quickly forgotten. Fu Yan was surprised that Monk Gu Ni reached this stage; despite losing to her initially, he remained undefeated thereafter. Fu Yan considered him the dark horse of the contest. Nevertheless, she felt confident in defeating Gu Ni again; besides Fang Yu, she believed in her victory against the rest. The final matches continued. This time, Fu Yan stepped onto the stage first, offering a smile to Bai Yue Li before flashing onto the dueling platform. Simultaneously, another figure swiftly approached from the opposite side. Upon recognizing the two figures on the platform, the gathered audience collectively gasped, astonished. "My goodness! Fu Yan's first opponent is Fang Yu. I've always thought these two were the most formidable in this Nascent Soul stage competition. Their abilities are truly unfathomable!" "Indeed, in terms of sheer strength, I've never been able to fully gauge either of them." "I can't take it! This match is bound to be intense. Even though Fu Yan is exceptional, I still believe no one can best Fang Yu." "......" Amidst the fervent discussions, the platform remained remarkably quiet, with Fu Yan and Fang Yu gazing steadily at each other. It seemed unexpected, yet at the same time, inevitable. "It seems my intuition wasn’t wrong," Fang Yu remarked, looking at Fu Yan as he spoke slowly. He had sensed a threat from Fu Yan before, and she felt the same from him. Fu Yan's expression remained unperturbed as she calmly replied, "Perhaps." From the moment the storyline first shifted, Fu Yan and the male protagonist have influenced each other, as Fang Yu previously mentioned—they were destined to face each other eventually. In response, Fang Yu offered a slight smile, steadily observing Fu Yan. Sincerely, he said, "I look forward to our duel." Not only could Fu Yan not fully read him, but Fang Yu also found her equally inscrutable. Fu Yan said nothing, her actions speaking for her. The next instant, she flipped her hand, firmly grasping the hilt of her sword. The duel commenced.