302 - Elasia Saga

In a vast expanse of void, the silence was so profound that every faint breath seemed crystal clear. The ropes formed by the power of the laws continued to emit a faint golden light in the dim space, binding the Demon Lord's clone, rendering him immobile, akin to a motionless wooden figure. However, his gaze was fixated elsewhere. Once again, the Demon Lord's steady voice echoed beside her, and Fu Yan had the sudden feeling that some truth was about to surface. Abruptly raising her eyes, she met the indifferent gaze of the Demon Lord. "What does Lord Demon mean by this?" Fu Yan paused slightly, a quick flicker of astonishment flashed in her eyes but disappeared just as swiftly. She appeared calm as she gently spoke, gaze unwaveringly on him. For a moment, Fu Yan thought the Demon Lord had seen through her identity as a transmigrator. But as soon as this thought emerged in her mind, Fu Yan quickly dismissed it. Such an absurd notion as transmigration was impossible to detect, even by the most enigmatic and foresighted of beings like the Demon Lord. Because of this, Fu Yan remained exceptionally calm, as if entirely unbothered by the Demon Lord's probing. "Shortly after the Heavenly Dao sealed the entire continent, there emerged a cultivator capable of wielding the will of the Heavenly Dao," the Demon Lord spoke once more, his gaze meeting Fu Yan's with a hint of detachment. "I think this cannot be a mere coincidence." He was, of course, referring to Fang Yu. Upon hearing this, Fu Yan had a delayed realization. It turned out the Demon Lord's attention was drawn to Fang Yu due to the latter's power containing the will of the Heavenly Dao. However... Hearing this, Fu Yan couldn't help but pause. Previously, she hadn't thought much of it, assuming everything was due to the male protagonist's destiny. But upon careful reflection, something indeed seemed amiss. In an instant, something flashed rapidly through Fu Yan's mind, causing even her typically composed self to experience an involuntary shock. The Heavenly Dao... and Fang Yu... Indeed, how could it be such a coincidence? Even if Fang Yu was shrouded in the halo of a protagonist, how could he so easily grasp the will of the Heavenly Dao? Fu Yan recalled that the original book's early plot largely didn't touch upon this concept. "Could Fang Yu be the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao?" Fu Yan's eyes widened in sudden realization, intensely staring at the Demon Lord, her expression filled with disbelief as she instinctively blurted out. This speculation was audacious, having surpassed concerns about Fang Yu being the protagonist. Instead, it suggested that this realm's Heavenly Dao had developed its own consciousness, implying that all events were orchestrated by the Heavenly Dao behind the scenes. Alternatively, Fang Yu might no longer be Fang Yu, but rather the Heavenly Dao had occupied Fang Yu's body. In that moment, Fu Yan seemed to completely comprehend what had transpired on this continent. The Tong Xuan continent was merely a fragment of countless worlds, where generations of cultivators could ascend and explore higher planes, representing their peak era. However, over time, the Heavenly Dao of this realm developed a consciousness of its own. One day, it sealed the entire continent, and soon after, the land experienced great turmoil. Not only did the spiritual energy rapidly diminish, but the cultivators of this land were also inexplicably oppressed, forever trapped in the cycle of becoming immortals and eventually perishing under the heavenly tribulation. Thus, for thousands of years, everyone assumed immortality to be the pinnacle of cultivation. But this was not the case; Fu Yan believed that beyond becoming immortal, there existed higher realms. Yet, the Heavenly Dao enveloping this space prevented anyone from continuing their ascent, essentially severing the path for all cultivators in one stroke. Nobody knew what the Heavenly Dao intended. Until the arrival of Fang Yu... Fang Yu was the male protagonist of this continent, born with his own destiny's aura, or in other words, he was the child of this realm. Although Fu Yan hadn't read the entire original book, it wasn't hard to imagine that as the realm's chosen, Fang Yu would eventually break the shackles of the continent and successfully ascend to higher realms. This kind of aura naturally attracted the Heavenly Dao's attention. Since it wished to seal the continent, it wouldn't allow others to unlock it. Hence, it aimed to usurp the protagonist's position of realm's chosen. Perhaps, from the moment the realm's chosen was born, they were already under the control of the Heavenly Dao. In the context of the original book, the sealed state of the Tong Xuan continent was just a setting, but it had already quietly resulted in an unforeseen crisis. … In the void, Fu Yan subconsciously swallowed. She wanted to deny her conjecture, but the reality before her unfolded precisely in that direction. "How... can this be?" Fu Yan finally managed to recover slightly from her immense shock. Her usually composed face was now filled with disbelief as she almost instinctively murmured. Watching Fu Yan, who remained lost in thought, the Demon Lord's expression finally changed, though he did not speak further, instead choosing to wait for Fu Yan to regain her senses on her own. "Chirp chirp..." At some unknown moment, the Little Medicine Dumpling above her suddenly began to cry out once more. It furiously flapped its tiny wings, the sound from its mouth growing increasingly mournful. It was as if... at that moment, it was enduring some immense pain. In an instant, Fu Yan was pulled back to reality. She quickly reached up to catch the Little Medicine Dumpling, momentarily setting aside her earlier shock, and urgently inspected it, murmuring to herself, "What's happening?" "Chirp... chirp chirp..." The snowy-white dumpling in her hand was already writhing in palpable agony. It struggled desperately, as if unconscious in Fu Yan's grasp, its anguished cries involuntarily causing one's heart to tremble. "Buzz—" The next moment, a golden light flashed from the Little Medicine Dumpling. A familiar circle of law power abruptly entered Fu Yan's vision, binding the Little Medicine Dumpling tightly. In that instant, both parties seemed to have entered a stalemate once again. "What's happening? Why has the power of the laws suddenly emerged?" Fu Yan was genuinely pained by the sight of the suffering Little Medicine Dumpling. She immediately turned to the Demon Lord, urgently inquiring. Only then did the Demon Lord direct his gaze toward the Little Medicine Dumpling. After a while, his calm voice resonated in the void, "It is undergoing a Nirvana rebirth." For the Phoenix clan, undergoing multiple Nirvana rebirths was essential for significantly enhancing their power, though failure could result in their demise. They either achieved Nirvana rebirth or faced death. This was the true legacy and bloodline of the Phoenix clan, eternally noble. Fu Yan understood that the Little Medicine Dumpling should have reached the time for its Nirvana rebirth, but being bound by the power of the laws, it was unable to do anything. The last attempt using her karmic fire tribulation was unsuccessful in breaking through the bonds. Instantly, Fu Yan's gaze sharpened with resolve. Quickly deciding, Fu Yan hesitated no longer. Raising her hand, she began to channel her formidable true essence, directing it toward the Little Medicine Dumpling. Whoosh— When her power clashed with the golden law power, Fu Yan felt her force immediately repelled. She understood that freeing the Little Medicine Dumpling from its binding law power wouldn't be simple. Of course, she wouldn't simply give up. "Chirp chirp..." The Little Medicine Dumpling continued writhing painfully in front of her, the light from the law power on its body growing ever brighter. Seeing this, Fu Yan rapidly intensified her force, teeth gritted in determination, steadily approaching the law power, but the immense force continued to ripple outward. Bang! Bang! In an instant, Fu Yan was once again repelled by the law power, this time involuntarily stepping back several meters. Looking up at the golden glow resembling a chain ahead, Fu Yan suddenly moved her hand, and with a "swish—," the law power entwining the Demon Lord's clone was immediately released by Fu Yan's gesture. Freed from the shackles of the law power, the Demon Lord felt a sudden lightness, and the clone swiftly merged back into his body in a blink. Yet the main person did not show any trace of emotional fluctuation, her gaze remained fixed on Fu Yan from beginning to end. In that instant, her conjecture was about to be answered. At this moment, Fu Yan seemed utterly oblivious to the Demon Lord beside her. She devoted all her attention to the Little Medicine Dumpling. Grasping her power of the laws, she suddenly teleported beside the Little Medicine Dumpling without hesitation. Buzz— As she raised her hand, Fu Yan's law power was once again hurled out, directly colliding with the law power within the Little Medicine Dumpling, the two golden lights clashing in midair. A ring of golden light flickered throughout the entire void space. Not long after, a deafening rumble reverberated in all directions, causing the entire space to tremble violently as if it were being shaken to its core. At that moment, both Fu Yan and the Demon Lord fixed their gazes intently on the two opposing forces of law. Swish! In no time at all, Fu Yan's power of laws was similarly forcefully repelled, snapping back into her hold. "Chirp... chirp chirp..." Simultaneously, the Little Medicine Dumpling seemed to have reached its limit, closing its eyes heavily as its entire body sagged. With the Little Medicine Dumpling no longer struggling, the golden light of the law slowly contracted until it vanished back into its snowy body. The radiance faded, and calm was restored. After pausing briefly to retract her power of laws, Fu Yan swiftly stepped forward, reaching out to catch the Little Medicine Dumpling’s white body. Confirming that it was merely exhausted and not injured, she heaved a sigh of relief. Gathering the Little Medicine Dumpling back into her arms, Fu Yan took a deep breath and suddenly turned, her gaze meeting the Demon Lord's. "Lord Demon, you must have found your answer now." Fu Yan's expression was once again serene as she looked steadily at the Demon Lord, speaking somewhat cryptically. As expected, the Demon Lord finally frowned, appearing somewhat bewildered. "How can this be?" she murmured, staring at Fu Yan. Seeing this, Fu Yan chuckled softly, continuing in a leisurely tone, "Perhaps Fang Yu is the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, but..." Pausing, her gaze became solemn, "I am not the embodiment of any laws." The Demon Lord didn’t understand the male protagonist’s destiny surrounding Fang Yu; she merely suspected he was the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao. Fu Yan appeared at this time after the duel on Yunni Platform had spread across the land. The images of Fu Yan defeating Fang Yu and transcending her tribulation circulated swiftly among cultivators. Even if Fu Yan didn’t know when exactly the Demon Lord had resurrected, since she was watching the male protagonist, she would certainly have seen the footage of that duel. On Yunni Platform, the power of laws had flickered in Fu Yan's hand so fleetingly that almost no one, except Bai Yue Li, noticed. The Demon Lord, having her suspicions, had just now deliberately forced Fu Yan to use her law power. Thus, if Fang Yu were the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, the Demon Lord naturally wondered if Fu Yan might be the embodiment of the laws. If Fu Yan truly were the embodiment of the laws, she would have easily removed the bindings on the Little Medicine Dumpling with her law power. Yet, despite her efforts, she failed, making the answer quite apparent, which caused the Demon Lord to be quite taken aback. In response, Fu Yan remained unmoved. Although she didn’t understand why she could harness the power of laws, Fu Yan knew for sure she wasn’t any incarnation of the laws. Seeing this, the Demon Lord finally returned to her senses, turning her gaze to Fu Yan. "As this shows, whether it's the Heavenly Dao or whatever, they can be defeated." Fu Yan maintained her calm demeanor. She understood the Demon Lord's thoughts but remained unfazed. Even if Fang Yu truly became the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, Fu Yan didn’t see it as an inescapable situation. As the old saying goes, human strength can overcome destiny. Perhaps the manifestation of the Heavenly Dao could eventually prove to be an advantageous path. Hearing this, the Demon Lord's demeanor returned to its previous calm, though her eyes held a flicker of interest as she looked at Fu Yan. "Perhaps you are right." The emergence of laws also implied that the Tong Xuan Continent wouldn’t find itself in a complete deadlock. As she finished speaking, the Demon Lord flicked her wrist, and a sword, emitting a blue glow, suddenly appeared in her hand. Raising her gaze to meet Fu Yan’s eyes, she extended it towards her without any hesitation. "This is…" Fu Yan paused, seemingly not expecting the Demon Lord to present a spiritual sword, seemingly intending to give it to her. "This immortal artifact holds no use for me," the Demon Lord said, glancing indifferently at the spiritual sword in her hand, "Since I destroyed your spiritual sword, consider this its replacement." Hearing this, Fu Yan realized the sword in the Demon Lord's hand was an ordinary immortal artifact, and her eyes lit up at the prospect. "Thank you," Fu Yan accepted without pretense. After all, she indeed needed a suitable spiritual sword, and there was no reason to refuse the Demon Lord’s gesture politely. Besides, as the Demon Lord mentioned, the immortal artifact was merely gathering dust in her possession. After Fu Yan accepted the spiritual sword, the Demon Lord appeared to have nothing further to say. With a wave of her arm, the surrounding landscape rapidly transformed in a dramatic upheaval. When Fu Yan lifted her gaze again, the two of them found themselves back in the courtyard of the wooden house. The thunderclouds in the sky had long dispersed. Fu Yan refocused and, without testing the spiritual sword, quickly stowed it away and turned to look towards Bai Yue Li. Amidst the blackened ruins, Bai Yue Li was already sprawled on the ground, her appearance strikingly similar to Fu Yan's condition after enduring the heavenly tribulation, her body singed by heavenly lightning. "Senior Sister!" Without thinking too much, Fu Yan swiftly rushed over. Navigating through the scorched remains, Fu Yan appeared by Bai Yue Li's side in an instant. Feeling the faint breath from Bai Yue Li, she breathed a sigh of relief. Bai Yue Li had successfully passed her ascension tribulation, though the severe injuries rendered her unconscious. Without hesitation, Fu Yan removed her outer layer of light gauze, wrapping Bai Yue Li’s curled form with great care before gently lifting her. The Demon Lord remained motionless, quietly watching as Fu Yan carried the unconscious Bai Yue Li step by step out of the ruins. Until the moment they stopped in front of her. "I know the Demon Lord has been kind to my Senior Sister, but she has also guarded the Demon Realm for you these past years," Fu Yan said, meeting the Demon Lord’s gaze before glancing back at Bai Yue Li in her arms. "However, I must take her with me." With that, Fu Yan turned without waiting for a response, carrying Bai Yue Li, and continued walking outside. After a long pause, the Demon Lord finally turned around, watching Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li's retreating figures, her expression inscrutable. In that moment, no one knew her thoughts. … When Bai Yue Li awoke again, she found herself lying on Fu Yan’s spiritual ship, feeling utterly drained as she blinked and felt as if her body had been crushed by mountains. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Bai Yue Li slowly sat up from the bed. "Senior Sister, you're awake!" Fu Yan entered just then. Seeing Bai Yue Li attempting to get out of bed, she hurriedly stepped forward to support her, gently pressing her hands to restrain Bai Yue Li’s movement. "You haven’t fully recovered yet, Senior Sister; it’s best to rest a bit more." Compliantly, Bai Yue Li stopped moving and took a moment to assess her condition. With profound changes occurring within her, it was clear she hadn’t completely stabilized. Pausing, she dismissed her worries and looked at Fu Yan beside her, inquiring, "Where's Lord Demon?" "She probably returned to the Demon Realm," Fu Yan replied after a moment's thought. "Don’t worry, Senior Sister. The Demon Lord agreed to let me take you out; otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared face her,” Fu Yan laughed, gently squeezing Bai Yue Li’s hand. At this, Bai Yue Li nodded, setting aside her concerns. Over the next few days, Bai Yue Li, with Fu Yan’s help, quickly recovered. In just over half a month, she fully ascended to an immortal's power, much to Fu Yan’s delight. Pulling Bai Yue Li into dual cultivation for several days, Fu Yan claimed it was to stabilize their cultivation and strength further. After months in a state of focus due to the grand ceremony, this was a chance to finally relax. Before they knew it, their period of dual cultivation had extended. When they finally disembarked from the spiritual ship and set foot in an ancient city in Zhongdu, several months had passed. The city bustled with life, a lively scene as Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li walked hand in hand down the street. Thanks to her illusionary spell, they attracted little attention from passersby. "All these matters have finally drawn to a close. We can finally take a well-deserved rest," Fu Yan murmured to Bai Yue Li, glancing sideways with a smile. Bai Yue Li offered a gentle smile in return, about to speak when they saw a group of cultivators rushing towards the city gates with some urgency. "Did you hear? Fang Yu from Sword King Sect overcame his inner demons and is preparing to face his second ascension tribulation!" "Indeed, geniuses are truly remarkable. In just a few months, Fang Yu has emerged from his struggles. Those waiting to mock him will surely be shocked!" "Quickly, I heard he’s already begun. We’re close enough to Sword King Sect to see it firsthand!" "…" With Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li's strength, they overheard these words clearly. For a moment, Fu Yan paused where she stood, her brow furrowed as the speculations she had shared with the Demon Lord in the void space replayed in her mind. "What is it?" Bai Yue Li, knowing Fu Yan normally wouldn't pay attention or show interest in such things, looked at her with concern upon seeing Fu Yan's distraction. With Bai Yue Li's question, Fu Yan seemed to snap back to the present, refocusing on her. Suddenly, she spoke, "Senior Sister, let's go see for ourselves. There's something I want to confirm." Bai Yue Li hesitated briefly before nodding in agreement. "Alright." She had no objections since neither of them had pressing matters at the moment, so making the trip seemed perfectly reasonable. Before long, the two of them joined the crowd, swiftly moving towards the Sword King Sect's domain. Boom— By now, the sky was already shrouded in dark clouds, with thunder roaring ominously, confirming that someone was indeed undergoing the ascension tribulation. Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li did not advance any closer, opting instead to remain in the shadows at the back. Once settled, Fu Yan lifted her gaze to the silhouette battling the heavens above. The figure was none other than Fang Yu, whom she hadn't seen in some time. "Crack!" As the sound echoed, another bolt of heavenly lightning struck down, crashing into Fang Yu's body. Yet, he remained steadfast in the sky, seemingly unfazed by the impact. This sight left everyone astonished. As one bolt of heavenly lightning after another descended, Fang Yu endured the heavenly tribulation's trials with surprising ease, standing unperturbed in mid-air, his posture unwavering. Typically, when facing the ascension tribulation, most cultivators would find their lives hanging by a thread, becoming increasingly bedraggled as the process neared completion. Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li were prime examples, having ended up scorched and barely alive from their ordeal with the heavenly tribulation's wrath. But here, Fang Yu appeared exceptionally composed, his clothes untouched by the trials, until finally, the last bolt of lightning struck, and the crowd below finally realized—the tribulation had ended! As the realization sunk in, a wave of astonishment swept through them. "That was way too easy! Is the ascension tribulation supposed to be this simple? It seemed like Fang Yu just casually withstood a few bolts, and it was over!" "Exactly! I remember when Palace Master Fu Yan underwent her tribulation, it was a fight for survival!" "It seems Fang Yu's talent surpasses theirs. Fu Yan probably only defeated him on Yunni Platform because she was relying on some treasure!" Amidst the murmurs around her, Fu Yan remained unmoved, her gaze fixed intently on Fang Yu in the sky. As the tribulation passed, he finally opened his eyes, and with just one sweeping glance below, it felt as though he had completely assessed everyone present. A satisfied smile played upon his lips as he seemed quite pleased with the outcome. In that instant, Fu Yan's mind thundered with a realization. He was not Fang Yu, nor the world's protagonist. He was the Heavenly Dao itself.