299 - Elasia Saga

The surroundings were quiet, with verdant forests flanking the valley. As the golden sun began its descent, the evening's glow spread across the distant horizon, casting a dazzling layer of golden light onto the valley ahead, as if by design. At first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary in this place; it appeared quite normal. After Fu Yan emerged from the spatial rift, she instinctively surveyed her surroundings. It took her a while before she finally recognized that the mountain where Bai Yue Li had once found the Demon Child's heart was directly in front of the valley. There was merely a mountain peak separating the two locations. Gazing at the distant mountains, Fu Yan couldn't help but narrow her eyes slightly, realizing her suspicions were correct. Bai Yue Li's disappearance was indeed closely tied to that heart of the Demon Child. Retracting her gaze slowly, something flashed in Fu Yan's mind. Instantly, her eyes widened considerably, a hint of astonishment flickering within her sharp gaze. She recalled how she first speculated about the heart of the Demon Child having connections with the original Demon Lord when Bai Yue Li mentioned it. For some reason, this thought suddenly intensified within Fu Yan at this moment. With this in mind, when Fu Yan lifted her gaze toward the front once more, a cold glint passed through her eyes. Whoever intended harm to Bai Yue Li would have to pay the price. Taking a deep breath to calm her mind, Fu Yan understood the necessity of remaining composed without impulsive thoughts. Once her expression settled into calmness, Fu Yan wasted no time. She swiftly stepped forward. The soul-tracking technique indicated that Bai Yue Li had last appeared in this very valley. However, pinpointing the exact location would require her own search. Without dwelling too long, Fu Yan progressed forward, unleashing her full spiritual power, meticulously scanning the surroundings for any anomalies, no matter how minute. Since the sound-tracing mirror couldn't track her, and Lu Xiao Wen suggested it, Bai Yue Li was likely in a shielded space. The entrance to this space was most probably right here. Typically, such shielded spaces are incredibly concealed, like the tomb beneath Youxin Lake, whose shielding remained intact and undiscovered for millennia. Evidently, finding the entrance to a shielded space wasn't an easy feat. Even though Fu Yan had ascended to immortality, greatly enhancing her power, the saying holds that there's always a higher mountain. She couldn't casually break the shield set by this individual. Clearly, the opponent's strength surpassed hers by a considerable margin. Realizing this, Fu Yan's resolve only became more determined. Her pupils contracted slightly; she couldn't afford to give up, regardless of who stood in her way. Composing herself, Fu Yan refocused on the valley ahead. The valley was steep, its uneven rock surfaces lined with thorny brambles. The thickets of shrubs surrounding it thrived in lush green, leaving little room to step. Yet, this posed no obstacle for Fu Yan. Her figure swiftly flitted among them, her gown untouched by brambles or shrubs. In just half an hour, Fu Yan effortlessly traversed the valley, sweeping the entire area with her formidable spiritual perception. However, she found nothing out of the ordinary. Seeing this, Fu Yan frowned slightly. Upon verifying Bai Yue Li's aura once more and confirming its disappearance here, she pivoted, circling the valley again. Another half-hour passed, yet Fu Yan found nothing. Reluctantly, she came to a stop at the valley's entrance, realizing she couldn't afford to search aimlessly any longer. She needed to consider alternative solutions. But she held no other usable artifacts. Then, Fu Yan suddenly thought of the spirit of the celestial weapon, Bai Xiong. Having stayed in the tomb beneath Youxin Lake for so long, perhaps it knew about such shielded spaces. Without hesitation, Fu Yan consulted Bai Xiong in her portable space. "A shielded space?" Bai Xiong was momentarily taken aback before explaining, "It depends on whether it's a naturally formed space or man-made. The former is devoid of loopholes and relies purely on luck, while the latter may have some vulnerabilities." "How do I quickly pinpoint its location or break the shield?" Fu Yan wanted to know if there was a way to quickly locate the entrance. Prolonged stalemates were eroding her calm. Bai Xiong paused, then replied after a brief interval, "I'm merely a spirit of a celestial weapon, having slumbered for millennia. My memory is quite foggy—I wouldn't know such details." Fu Yan: "..." Bai Xiong truly didn't know how to lock onto a shielded space. Fortunately, Fu Yan wasn't too disappointed by this response, as she hadn't set high hopes on Bai Xiong. However, the situation was undeniably a headache. Not knowing whether Bai Yue Li was safe or in peril, no matter how calm she appeared, her emotions were in turmoil internally. "Have you decided? Will you acknowledge me as your master?" Bai Xiong, oblivious to Fu Yan's concerns, was primarily concerned with its fate now that she had approached it. "Alright," Fu Yan replied. "Possessing a celestial weapon can significantly bolster your strength, but... Wait, what did you say?" Bai Xiong was in the midst of persuasion when belatedly realizing Fu Yan had already agreed. Momentarily stunned, Bai Xiong was surprised despite having been granted recognition. Fu Yan remained silent, simply flicking her hand, revealing a transparent crossbow in her grasp amidst the vast valley. Swoosh— Bai Xiong's figure appeared not far off. In the next moment, an intense wave of true essence surged from Fu Yan, channeling into the celestial crossbow, while Bai Xiong felt enveloped by a powerful force. Instantly, Fu Yan began the recognition process with the celestial weapon in hand. Because Fu Yan had been acknowledged by the celestial weapon from the start, she didn’t need to defeat the weapon's spirit, Bai Xiong. Within moments, the recognition was complete. Holding the crossbow again, Fu Yan distinctly sensed the weapon's true power, echoing Bai Xiong's words. What she had previously perceived was merely the tip of the iceberg. The post-recognition celestial weapon could exert its greatest strength. Bai Xiong, observing, showed a satisfied smile, seemingly envisaging the picture of Fu Yan wielding it dominantly across lands. A good steed deserves a good saddle. As for why Fu Yan suddenly agreed, Bai Xiong didn't bother pondering further. Ultimately, it was a win-win situation for them, achieving their goals sufficed. Instantly, Bai Xiong transformed into a streak of white light, darting back into the crossbow. With a brief flash, tranquility resumed. Fu Yan then sheathed the celestial weapon. Having just ascended, Fu Yan acknowledged her power still lacked. To rapidly enhance her strength, she chose to bond with the celestial weapon without further hesitation. With everything done, her attention returned to the valley ahead. Having no other means, Fu Yan intended to meticulously scrutinize everything once more using spiritual energy. If she remained without discoveries, Fu Yan considered using the celestial weapon to attack the valley. With its formidable might, she hoped exposure of the shielded space was inevitable. Of course, this was a last resort. Unless absolutely necessary, Fu Yan did not intend to level the valley forcefully, as celestial weaponry power attracted attention. She believed that once she launched an attack, she would immediately draw the Central Plains’ immortals. Exposure of Bai Yue Li's identity could cause significant trouble. Thus, she preferred to avoid this outcome. Pausing briefly, without overmuch pondering, Fu Yan moved again through the valley. Yet, as another significant portion of the valley passed, she found no trace. This deepened Fu Yan's frown. However, as Fu Yan sped beneath a large tree, she inadvertently disturbed some fallen leaves with her swift movement. For reasons unknown, she glanced up at the rustling foliage. At that moment, a scene abruptly flashed through her mind. It was reminiscent of the scene on Yun Ni Platform, when Fu Yan and Fang Yu were undergoing a tribulation together. At that moment, she had harnessed a strand of law power and flung it at Fang Yu. She vividly recalled witnessing the fragmentation of Fang Yu's fortune through the brilliance of the law's power. Ordinarily, fortune is intangible, invisible to the eyes, yet then, Fu Yan had clearly seen it. With this thought, Fu Yan stopped in her tracks amidst the valley. Her previously somber eyes suddenly lit up. Perhaps... she could utilize the radiance of the law's incantations to once again reveal the concealed shielded space here? With this notion in mind, Fu Yan wasted no time. She quickly returned to the front of the valley. In mere moments, golden law power materialized in her hand. As Fu Yan deftly conjured the law power, she abruptly raised her hand. In the fleeting moment as golden light flickered, her vision penetrated forward toward the opposite side of the valley. A gentle breeze stirred, yet her view remained silent. The brilliance of the law's power was too swift for Fu Yan to observe the entire valley in one glance. Thus, she repeated the process, glancing again in a specific direction. By the third attempt, through the shimmering light of law power, Fu Yan finally noticed a ripple of transparent force. Her eyes widened in an instant, her pupils contracting. She saw it! Without hesitation, Fu Yan quickly moved toward the direction where she had detected the fluctuation. In the next moment, she raised her hand, releasing a powerful force that burst forth, striking a focal point in the void. Soon enough, a tangible ripple appeared right before her eyes. Seeing this, Fu Yan didn't delay further and swiftly charged through. It felt as if she had burst through water; the surrounding air currents swirled gently around her. As she steadied herself again, the scenery before her had transformed completely. The narrow, steep valley had vanished, replaced by an expansive, lush plain. Verdant grass stretched out endlessly, vibrant with life, and the air carried a hint of fresh grass fragrance. Directly ahead in her line of sight stood a wooden cabin with a small, simple courtyard around it, appearing quite ordinary. Upon entering this space, Fu Yan immediately sensed Bai Yue Li's presence. As she had suspected, Bai Yue Li was indeed within this space. Realizing this, Fu Yan felt a slight relief, but she quickly gathered her thoughts again. The surroundings were eerily silent, suspiciously so. Having come this far, there was no thought of retreating. Pausing for a moment, Fu Yan's gaze fixed on the wooden cabin ahead, and she cautiously stepped forward with her right foot. She knew the journey wouldn't be easy, but it was the only path available. As anticipated, the moment Fu Yan took a step forward, she heard a rippling sound around her. Instantly, an invisible force began swirling rapidly, enveloping her entirely in seconds. Simultaneously, numerous attacks materialized mid-air, converging toward Fu Yan with alarming speed. It was a high-level formation! Recognizing the anomaly immediately, Fu Yan identified the disturbance as the workings of a formation. This particular formation was exceedingly peculiar, offering no discernible crucial point. Perhaps there was one, but even with her celestial-level strength and immense spiritual power, Fu Yan could sense nothing. With no time to waste, as multiple attacks surged toward her, Fu Yan swiftly dodged and grabbed her Star Sword. A surge of immense true essence erupted, and without hesitation, Fu Yan flung several sword blades forward, colliding with the oncoming formation's assaults. Explosions erupted as the two forces clashed. Yet, the formation continued to rotate wildly around Fu Yan, with attacks intensifying and now coming in waves. Narrowing her eyes, Fu Yan scrutinized the formation, her mind whirring with thoughts. Facing an onslaught akin to a torrential storm, Fu Yan stowed the Star Sword, crossing her hands before her. A robust defensive barrier instantly shrouded her. Within moments, the attacks collided against her barrier, held at bay by her defense, with both forces locking in mid-air. Amidst the barrage ensnaring her barrier, Fu Yan looked like a pincushion, the sight enough to induce shivers. A loud boom echoed as Fu Yan abruptly thrust her arms outward. A massive force spread outward, reflecting the attacks back, and Fu Yan seized this respite, refocusing on the formation. The formation continued to shift rapidly, and moved seemingly with intent every step Fu Yan took, as if attached to her like an unshakeable shadow. With ample time, Fu Yan might have dismantled the formation at ease, but she refused to squander any more time. In the next moment, an overwhelming force erupted from Fu Yan. The air condensed into formidable sword intents, piercing into the surrounding formation waves ahead of any attacks. With a ripping sound, Fu Yan managed to forcibly tear open an opening in the formation. In a flash, she darted through, leaving the formation behind. Escaping the formation, the plain returned to a state of silence. A gentle breeze brushed past, invoking a sense of languidness. Pausing briefly, Fu Yan's gaze remained fixed on the wooden cabin. Within a heartbeat, she propelled herself forward, racing toward the cabin. However, barely a few steps in, another wave of force rippled through the surroundings. Concurrently, Fu Yan felt her true essence plummet back into her energy sea. With her true essence suppressed, her speed visibly slowed. Upon attempting to draw upon her true essence again, Fu Yan discovered she could no longer access it. It was clear that her inability stemmed not from her physical state but from a suppression effect in this space. As Fu Yan snapped back from her surprise, black shadows flickered into view, floating erratically before her and occasionally lunging at her. Despite the absence of true essence, Fu Yan was far from defenseless. Swiftly flipping mid-air, she wielded her Star Sword, slicing through the shadows with efficiency. However, this wasn't a sustainable method. Steadying herself once more, Fu Yan drew her celestial crossbow. Although true essence couldn't manifest its full power, it was more convenient than continuous sword strikes. With adept movements, she nocked an arrow onto the crossbow, aiming at one of the shadows. With a swift release, an arrow soared through, piercing the shadow and dissolving it instantly. Armed with this celestial tool, she found her task significantly eased. Within a quarter of an hour, Fu Yan danced across the plain, unleashing arrow after arrow, allowing no shadow to escape her aim. Often, from advantageous angles, she could pierce through two or three shadows with a single shot. As Fu Yan grew more adept, the shadows overhead diminished until nearly all were vanquished. She swiftly resumed her approach toward the cabin. A creak echoed as the final shadow dissipated, and the cabin door opened. Gripping her celestial weapon, Fu Yan paused, instinctively glancing up. She saw someone pushing the wooden door open, emerging gently. Cloaked in a black robe, without true essence, Fu Yan couldn’t discern the person’s features. Yet one thing she could confirm—the figure was not Bai Yue Li. As she lifted her gaze, the black-clad individual in the courtyard looked over casually, yet Fu Yan distinctly felt their eyes fall upon her. She was immediately struck by an overwhelming pressure. Though Fu Yan had never seen the original Demon Lord of the Demonic Realm before, in this instant, she was certain that the figure before her was indeed the original Demon Lord, who should have been long dead. So, even though the tribulation had supposedly failed, the Demon Lord was still alive, having used the Demon Child's heart to return. Furthermore, the Demon Lord had taken Bai Yue Li with her. However, from the current situation, Bai Yue Li didn't appear to be in immediate danger. After all, they had once bonded as Dao companions and even shared a soul connection. If Bai Yue Li's life were in peril, Fu Yan would be able to sense it. For a moment, Fu Yan couldn't fathom the Demon Lord's true intentions. Could it be just to reclaim the half of her power she had left in Bai Yue Li? Fu Yan knew she had to approach to discover the truth. Regardless of the Demon Lord's motives, she would not allow Bai Yue Li to remain in danger. As she pondered this, Fu Yan resumed her approach toward the wooden cabin. This time, nothing unusual occurred, yet Fu Yan felt her true essence still forcibly suppressed. Moreover, as she drew nearer to the cabin, the weight upon her seemed to intensify, as if an increasing burden pressed down on her shoulders, making it hard to breathe. Yet, despite this invisible weight, Fu Yan pressed on, determined not to falter under the Demon Lord's gaze. With each step, her right foot sank deeper into the grass. Time seemed to stretch, but finally, she stood just one step away from the cabin. Suddenly, a rumble of thunder echoed from the sky. The Demon Lord in the yard glanced upward. Startled, Fu Yan also gazed toward the heavens. The sky was covered with dark clouds, and lightning churned within, presenting a fearsome spectacle. This... it was a tribulation.