303 - Elasia Saga

At this moment, Fu Yan finally confirmed that her previous suspicions were indeed correct: the Way of Heaven on this continent had developed a consciousness and had been keeping an eye on Fang Yu's identity for quite some time. Everything suddenly made sense. Initially, in the secret realm's immortal mansion of the Northern Region, Fu Yan had forcibly altered the original plot to sever the connection between Bai Yue Li and Fang Yu. This significant plot shift naturally impacted Fang Yu, the male protagonist, to some extent, affecting his destiny. However, the Way of Heaven wasn't as strong as imagined back then. It attempted to entomb Fu Yan in eternal ice but ultimately failed. What it hadn't anticipated was Bai Yue Li bringing Fu Yan back again. Since the Way of Heaven intended to use Fang Yu as its vessel, it would stop at nothing to enhance the protagonist's fortune, ensuring he became even more powerful. As the plot unfolded without Fu Yan's direct involvement, everything proceeded smoothly. Fang Yu was propelled to the pinnacle he desired, ultimately becoming the embodiment of the Way of Heaven. Now, the ascended immortal Fang Yu had become the Way of Heaven for this realm. Fu Yan suddenly understood why the Demon Lord had gone to such lengths to revive herself. Beyond mere dissatisfaction, she wanted to break the shackles of the continent once more. However, this time it wasn't possible to confront the Way of Heaven openly. Thus, the Demon Lord, after her revival, specifically created a perfect hidden space and used the heart of a demon to suppress her presence. At this moment, it's likely that the Way of Heaven had not realized the Demon Lord was already reborn. Since it planned to keep the continent entirely sealed, it certainly wouldn't allow anyone to easily break free of its chains. If the Demon Lord continued to gain strength, eventually, she might once again soar in power, something the Way of Heaven undoubtedly feared. Currently, it held the entire continent in its grasp. Thinking of this, Fu Yan couldn't help but slightly furrow her brows. She found herself feeling a bit of a headache looking at the figure in the sky. The onlookers around them hadn't yet snapped out of the awe inspired by Fang Yu's recent ascension to immortality. They continued to chatter among themselves, faces full of amazement. Meanwhile, Fang Yu in the sky slowly withdrew his gaze. He didn't linger there long, instead vanishing in a flash. In less than a moment, he was back at the Sword King Sect. In the shadows, Fu Yan finally snapped back to reality. Her eyes seemed somewhat obscure. Bai Yue Li, standing beside her, paused briefly but didn't say anything. Instead, she grasped Fu Yan's hand reassuringly, saying, "Let's go." Hearing this, Fu Yan hesitated, then glanced at Bai Yue Li beside her. The softness returned to her eyes, and she smiled, "Alright." With that, the two of them, without any hesitation, turned and disappeared from the scene. ... The vast sea of clouds stretched out, and a simple spiritual ship swiftly sailed in from afar, leaving a long trail behind in the clouds. "Chirp chirp..." In the next moment, a snow-white figure flew out from behind and perched steadily on the ship's deck. Bathed in the warm sunlight, it spread its delicate wings with a slight squint, seemingly very comfortable. As Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li emerged from the ship, they looked up to see the Little Medicine Dumpling basking in the sun atop the ship. They couldn't help but smile, a hint of amusement in their eyes. "It's nice for it to bask in the sun. Better than staying in the mustard seed space sleeping all day," Fu Yan remarked with a shake of her head, casually reflecting. After three months of slumber in the void space, the Little Medicine Dumpling finally woke up, albeit with an increased appetite, likely due to the exhaustion it previously experienced. It constantly hounded Fu Yan for spiritual medicine. Feeling sympathetic, Fu Yan almost always acquiesced, letting it eat and sleep to its delight, its snowy fur gleaming even brighter. Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li found themselves frequently giving its soft fur a gentle stroke whenever they were idle. In truth, the Little Medicine Dumpling wasn't entirely carefree. As the consciousness of the Phoenix clan, it remained in constant slumber; its current form unaware of much, hence its carefree existence. Perhaps, this was for the best. Since Fu Juan was no longer around, and no one was there to play with the Little Medicine Dumpling continuously, Fu Yan opted to let it roam loosely. On such a fine weather, taking a stroll and basking in the sun felt quite liberating. Upon hearing this, Bai Yue Li shook her head slightly without saying much. Indeed, today offered rare good weather. The bright sunlight shone through the white clouds, pouring naturally onto the spiritual ship, the warmth evoking a sense of laziness. Since leaving the Sword King Sect, seven or eight days had passed. Yet, Fu Yan was in no hurry to return to the Southern Region. The two on the ship walked forward slowly, their gaze falling upon the rolling sea of clouds ahead. "Chirp chirp..." As if adding to the scene, the Little Medicine Dumpling on the deck let out a crisp chirrup. At first, Fu Yan scarcely paid attention, but as she withdrew her gaze from the clouds, she noticed Bai Yue Li beside her momentarily lost in thought, seemingly pondering something. Upon seeing this, Fu Yan paused and tentatively called, "Sister?" "Mm?" Bai Yue Li, hearing her, snapped back, reflexively responding and looking up at Fu Yan's silhouette. Fu Yan chuckled softly and, with a leisurely tone, asked, "Sister, what were you thinking about so deeply?" She merely asked casually, not expecting Bai Yue Li to say much, but in the next second, she saw Bai Yue Li suddenly look toward the Little Medicine Dumpling atop the ship. Soon after, Bai Yue Li's voice, serious and curious, came through, "Do you think the law of power on the Little Medicine Dumpling might also be a kind of protection?" Hearing this unexpectedly, Fu Yan on the ship was momentarily taken aback. Bai Yue Li withdrew her gaze and looked at Fu Yan again, saying, "Since the Way of Heaven doesn't allow the creatures on the continent to reach a certain level of strength, the binding of the Medicine Dumpling’s abilities could also be a form of protection, don't you think?" Prior to this, Fu Yan hadn’t dwelled on such thoughts, but now, hearing Bai Yue Li’s perspective, she suddenly had an epiphany. That’s indeed the case: a Phoenix's power after rebirth would be highly formidable, enough to attract the covert pressures of the Way of Heaven. The Little Medicine Dumpling’s fate might mirror the Demon Lord's. The difference being, the Demon Lord could use the demon's heart for resurrection, while the Medicine Dumpling might truly face death. From a certain angle, the law of power was indeed protecting the Little Medicine Dumpling. So long as it doesn’t successfully rebirth, its powers wouldn’t grow enough to draw the attention of the Way of Heaven, making this the safest period. Upon realizing this, the two on the ship fell into a contemplative silence. After some unknown time, Fu Yan finally came back to herself. Glancing at the Little Medicine Dumpling, she found some peace, saying, “What you say is true, Sister. The law of power indeed protects it. Though currently, we can't remove the law of power, it ultimately doesn’t affect much.” While being unable to experience rebirth might bring some hardship to the Little Medicine Dumpling, there currently wasn’t another solution. Bai Yue Li sighed lightly, stepping forward to grasp Fu Yan’s hand without uttering another word. At dusk, Fu Yan specifically took out the sound mirror to inquire of Lu Xiao Wen, who had already returned to Frost Hua Palace. After the Immortal Gate Ceremony, a large number of talented disciples had flocked to join Frost Hua Palace, making it exceptionally busy recently. Naturally, Lu Xiao Wen was elated by this. It seemed as if Frost Hua Palace had returned to its prime. Fu Yan was thrilled by the news, considering that it was her, alongside everyone else, who had forged Frost Hua Palace's current reputation on the continent. The bustling crowds proved just that. With Frost Hua Palace truly carving out a name on the continent, Fu Yan suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. A few days later, Chu Ling Ling from the Godly Palace sent Fu Yan a specific message: the matter she needed Fu Yan's help with was somewhat challenging. To ensure success, Chu Ling Ling meant Fu Yan had to endure another heavenly tribulation before seeking her out. This didn't particularly surprise Fu Yan. Becoming an immortal wasn't the end. There existed a significant gap in strength between immortals. Fu Yan had merely taken her first step; each ordeal with the heavenly tribulation represented another leap in her prowess. A contest with the Demon Lord had shown; without the law of power, Fu Yan wouldn't stand a chance. Even without Chu Ling Ling's insistence, Fu Yan hadn’t planned on relaxing. She needed to perpetually advance her strength, especially now with the Way of Heaven’s Fang Yu as her greatest threat. Fu Yan had no ambitions of being a savior; her primary concern was self-preservation. Since she could control the law of power, Fang Yu wouldn't allow her to develop too rapidly. Facing Fu Yan again was only a matter of time. For now, Fu Yan wasn't overly worried. Even if the Way of Heaven wanted to cause her trouble through its incarnation, Fang Yu, it was untenable since she wielded the law of power. Until Fang Yu completely matured, the only arena he could manipulate was the heavenly tribulation. However, Fu Yan needed to face a tribulation to break through her current strength. With that in mind, Fu Yan devised a plan. That night, she released her puppet clone and infused it with a fraction of her consciousness skillfully. For someone like her, already ascended to immortality, splitting a thread of consciousness had little impact. The puppet clone had nearly reached the peak of the Fusion Stage in strength. Before long, the puppet clone departed the spiritual ship, making its way swiftly towards Frost Hua Palace in the Southern Region. Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li watched the puppet clone disappear into the night before retracting their gazes. "Frost Hua Palace is at a critical stage in its development. Are you sure you shouldn't return personally?" Bai Yue Li paused, glancing at Fu Yan beside her, voicing her concern suddenly. Fu Yan understood Bai Yue Li's worry but shook her head, answering truthfully, "It's fine. I've already coordinated with Senior Lu. Soon, we'll select a Deputy Palace Master. Combined with my clone, everything should be manageable." This was true. According to Lu Xiao Wen, numerous experts in the Mahayana Stage were considering joining Frost Hua Palace, and electing a Deputy Palace Master wasn't daunting. Lu Xiao Wen, having lived two lifetimes, had no intentions of further training adventures and would likely remain stationed at Frost Hua Palace. With him present, the palace was surely in safe hands. Moreover, with her puppet clone there, Fu Yan maintained real-time surveillance over Frost Hua Palace, ready to tear through space and return swiftly if any major issues arose. Hearing this, Bai Yue Li nodded, no longer dwelling on the matter. In the following days, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li traveled from corner to corner of the continent. Besides enhancing their strength through training, they would share cultivation sessions in the Void Jade Seal. In the blink of an eye, two decades passed. Through dual cultivation and exhaustive training, both Fu Yan's and Bai Yue Li's strengths reached substantial heights, though Fu Yan had yet to sense a breakthrough-worthy heavenly tribulation. Breaking through after immortal ascension was inherently challenging, often requiring a fortuitous opportunity. Yet, Fu Yan didn’t feel discouraged. That day, after a lively battle through a lush mountain range, they emerged with dusk setting in, the sun long dipped behind the western hills. Unbothered, they found their way to a quaint town at the base of the mountains. The night was alive, the streets bustling. On the eastern side, a circus troupe performed, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd; on the west, a storyteller animatedly recounted tales of continent-wide famous geniuses, engrossing his listeners. Ambling through the lively ambiance of the mundane town, Fu Yan remarked nostalgically, "In truth, living as an ordinary mortal, not delving into cultivation, isn't so bad—to live unworried, untouched by worldly matters." Beside her, Bai Yue Li chuckled softly, responding, "Mortals have their own struggles too. But whatever path one chooses, having someone by your side is life’s greatest joy." Fu Yan listened silently, then grasped Bai Yue Li's hand with a radiant smile. "You speak the truth, Sister." With that, she gently squeezed her companion's hand. With Bai Yue Li, Fu Yan had never felt lonely on her cultivation journey. The feeling was mutual. That serene night, they strolled along a riverside, hand in hand amidst the scenic surroundings, paying no heed to others. As they crossed a stone bridge, they noticed a group of people gathered beneath a giant willow tree. Initially inattentive, Fu Yan overheard a lively discussion. "Hahaha, you're at it again with your tall tales—talking about some treasure appearing—hahaha!" Someone burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. Opposite him, a man maintaining a serious face rushed to explain, "Hey, I'm not lying! There's really a treasure emerging in the dragon-trapping ravine north of town. I was chopping wood up there and heard sounds, like a dragon's cry, followed by a flash of light. There has to be a treasure!" "Hahahaha, stop it—you're killing me. Dragon cry, you say? Do you truly believe a dragon is trapped in the ravine?" "Exactly, exactly. If you're going to deceive people, at least come up with a believable story? Do you take us for fools? Hahaha..." Clearly, none of them believed the man's story and responded with ridicule, but he persistently tried to clarify. Observing this, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li exchanged glances. "Dragon-trapping ravine?" Fu Yan paused, remembering the name, chuckling lightly, "Sounds like a promising training spot. Since we haven't decided our next destination, Sister, shall we check it out tomorrow?" While the notion of a treasure didn't intrigue her, Fu Yan was simply eager for a new place to continue her training. Bai Yue Li had no objections and nodded briskly. Having settled on their plan, they didn’t dwell on it further, continuing their stroll to the other side of town. With night upon them, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li saw no rush to venture to the ravine immediately. Soon, their silhouettes faded into the bustling crowd. Sometime later, a white figure emerged from the shadowy alley behind the willow tree, stopping steadily under its boughs. Bathed in the dim moonlight, the drooping branches obscured his features, rendering him indistinct. Noticing his presence, the group who were laughing earlier immediately composed themselves and hurried to his side. "Hehehe, we've done as you instructed. So, about the reward..." one man stepped forward, smiling ingratiatingly at the man in white, rubbing his hands together suggestively. Without a word, the white-clothed man fetched a pouch of silver from his robes and tossed it over. "Well done." Greedily, the man hefted the pouch, confirming its weightlessness, and with a flattering grin, said, "Much appreciated, Master! Much appreciated!" Then, not waiting for the white-clothed man to speak further, he quickly ushered his group away from the scene. Under the blurry moonlight, the towering willow appeared starkly vivid against the night. As the man watched Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li's departing direction one last time, he sighed lightly before turning to leave silently. Yet the surrounding crowd remained lively, oblivious to the recent occurrence. ... Three days later, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li finally left the town. In truth, they had planned to depart the morning after their arrival, but as they indulged in dual cultivation within the Void Jade Seal, they lost track of time, unintentionally delaying for two more days. Even then, Bai Yue Li's cheeks were still slightly flushed, the heat of fervor not fully faded. Thus, after half a day's journey, they arrived at the Dragon-Trapping Ravine, surrounded by barren hills, devoid of any creatures for miles. For a moment, Fu Yan questioned whether they had arrived at the wrong place. Yet a few more steps led them to a stone monument inscribed with three characters: "Dragon-Trapping Ravine." Additionally, there was a small inscription on the right: "Site of Great Danger." "Site of Great Danger, Dragon-Trapping Ravine," Fu Yan laughed lightly, "This certainly sounds like an ideal training ground, Sister." Bai Yue Li nodded but added, "But we must remain cautious. We can't act recklessly." "Of course," Fu Yan agreed obediently. Confident they hadn't veered off course, neither hesitated as they wade deeper into the Dragon-Trapping Ravine until their forms vanished from view. Shortly after, a white-clad figure swiftly landed before the stone monument. The man in white gazed intently ahead, frowning abruptly. Despite only entering Dragon-Trapping Ravine, he lost track of Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li's presence. Realizing this, he sighed softly. However, given the Dragon-Trapping Ravine's limited size, the white-clothed man believed he could still track them down. His expression quickly returned to normal as he prepared to steal into the ravine. Suddenly, something caught his attention, and his eyes widened in shock. Without the slightest hesitation, he spun around in the next instant. There, standing right behind him, were Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li. Contrary to having ventured deeper into the ravine, they watched him with a casual, yet penetrating gaze. As her eyes settled on the white-clothed man, Fu Yan's expression suddenly turned sharp, her tone icy and demanding, “Who are you?” There was a glint of killing intent in her cold gaze, suggesting that if the man made a single wrong move, Fu Yan would strike him down with her sword without a second thought. She vividly remembered the words of the mortal under the willow tree that night; he claimed he found a treasure in the Dragon-Trapping Ravine while chopping wood. But when all around them were barren hills with no trees in sight, how could there be wood to chop? Moreover, such a perilous place like the Dragon-Trapping Ravine wouldn't be approached by mortals on a mere whim. It all seemed too coincidental, as if someone was deliberately luring Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li there, prompting them to play along with the ruse, only to successfully draw the white-clothed man out. "Buzzing—" Just as Fu Yan's words faded, a strange sound resonated from within the Dragon-Trapping Ravine, followed by an immense flash of light. ... Central Sword King Sect. Within a silent, incense-filled room, a thin wisp of smoke rose gracefully, passing through a hazy barrier. Inside, someone sat meditating. At this moment, however, the meditating Fang Yu abruptly opened his eyes, his expression shifting as though he sensed something unusual. Swish! Without a moment's pause, the hem of Fang Yu's robe fluttered, and the ambient air currents shifted dramatically. In an instant, his figure disappeared from the room.