304 - Elasia Saga

**Translation:** Outside Kunlong Stream. A massive flash of light suddenly burst out from within, yet it was so fleeting that in mere moments, everything outside returned to its previous silence. Everything that just happened felt like a mere illusion. For a moment, Fu Yan couldn't help but slightly furrow her brows. She lifted her gaze, staring intently into the depths of Kunlong Stream, as if something truly monumental was about to emerge from there. The rumbling sound just now didn't quite resemble the dragon's roar described by the group from before. To Fu Yan, it sounded more like a mournful sword cry. The strange part wasn't just that. The white-clothed man clearly intended to lure Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li here with false information, yet the phenomenon they'd heard about had genuinely occurred in this eerie Kunlong Stream. Pausing slightly, Fu Yan shifted her gaze to the white-clothed man, her eyes slowly studying him. At that moment, the white-clothed man hesitated not a bit; he immediately knelt before Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li, raising his hands in a plea, "I know the two fairies possess great celestial abilities. Please, save my master!" Upon hearing this, both Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li were intrigued, though their faces revealed nothing, as they continued to observe the white-clothed man. "Who exactly are you?" Bai Yue Li's lips moved subtly, her voice suddenly breaking the silence. Seeing this, the white-clothed man seemed too afraid to deceive them. He quickly remained kneeling and explained, "I am Zhao Ping, a spirit creature of Kunlong Stream, tasked with guarding my master for generations." "A spirit creature?" Fu Yan paused and suddenly released her spiritual sense. What Zhao Ping said was true; he was neither a typical mortal nor a cultivator from the mainland, but indeed a spirit creature. In reality, he had no tangible form, and the appearance of the white-clothed man was merely an illusion he had fashioned. With just a sweep of her spiritual sense, Fu Yan confirmed his identity. Both Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li, while traversing the mainland, would often conceal their true powers. Ordinary cultivators couldn't discern their real strength. For Zhao Ping, being able to see through their celestial power made sense. However, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li weren't going to believe him based on a single statement. They remained unhurried, observing Zhao Ping and listening carefully as he swiftly elaborated further. It turned out Zhao Ping indeed was a spirit creature of Kunlong Stream. He wasn't sure how long he had existed, only knowing his duty was to guard his master, which is why he seldom ventured outside the stream. Ten years ago, a group claimed Kunlong Stream. As a spirit creature, Zhao Ping managed to avoid their wrath. Unfortunately, his master, due to a deep slumber, couldn't resist them and thus fell into their hands. All these years, Zhao Ping had sought celestial beings' help, but the place was secluded, rarely visited by even ordinary cultivators, let alone celestial beings. Given this, he held no hope in non-celestial cultivators. Therefore, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li's appearance rekindled his hope, prompting him to guide them here to rescue his master. After listening to Zhao Ping's account, Fu Yan exchanged a glance with Bai Yue Li, but neither revealed any particular expression. "Do you know who they are?" Fu Yan re-focused on Zhao Ping and calmly inquired. Help could only come from celestial beings, implying this group wasn't ordinary, possibly belonging to a sect seeking to harness a spirit creature's power for breakthroughs. Zhao Ping, looking innocent, shook his head but quickly added, "I couldn't tell what cultivation method they practiced, but they emitted a faint stench that was repulsive." A stench? "Corpse stench?" Fu Yan suddenly interjected. Upon this, Zhao Ping nodded eagerly, "Yes, exactly like the stench of corpses!" he agreed, his expression of disdain evident. For a moment, Fu Yan raised an eyebrow, a fast flicker of a smile passing her eyes. Nowadays, on this continent, corpse stench was the identifiable trait of the Corpse Demon Sect. At the mention of this, the answer was evident. "Why has the Corpse Demon Sect suddenly appeared here?" Bai Yue Li muttered, realizing something immediately. Over the past twenty years, the Corpse Demon Sect seemed to have grown unusually low-key, with no reports of their slaughters or corpse refining. However, the celestial beings in Zhongdu remained vigilant of their activities. Yet now, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li encountered members of the Corpse Demon Sect here. Indeed, it was quite puzzling. "Please, celestial beings, lend your aid. These past ten years, they've relentlessly tormented my master," Zhao Ping implored urgently, gazing at the two. If it truly was the Corpse Demon Sect, regardless of their intentions, Fu Yan would undoubtedly intervene. No matter the outcome, they couldn't be allowed to succeed and jeopardize the common folk. Nevertheless, based solely on a spirit creature’s words, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li couldn't fully trust everything he said. Yet, given the situation, not all of it seemed false. There was a mix of truth and illusion. "With everything said, we still don't know who your master is," Fu Yan eyed Zhao Ping with a dubious smile, her gaze carrying a hint of danger, "Certainly not another big spirit creature?" Even though the power of a large spirit creature was tempting, it seemed unlikely the Corpse Demon Sect would invest ten years here, and notably, Zhao Ping's master still appeared unharmed, which didn't match the Corpse Demon Sect's style. As Fu Yan's words landed, Zhao Ping's eager expression turned complicated and hesitant. After a long silence, he stammered, "My master... You can find out for yourselves when you meet him. I cannot say more." Zhao Ping’s face was truly troubled. The situation was riddled with mysteries. Whether it was the presence of the Corpse Demon Sect or the secrets within Kunlong Stream, Fu Yan found herself intrigued. Zhao Ping hadn't fully confessed, yet she and Bai Yue Li were already there, so turning away wasn't an option. "If that's the case, lead the way," Fu Yan instructed without further words. Upon hearing this, the apprehensive Zhao Ping brightened instantly. He hastily stood up, full of gratitude, "Thank you, celestial beings! Thank you!" "Please, follow me." As he spoke, a milky glow flashed, transforming Zhao Ping from a white-clothed man into a graceful woman. Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li remained unsurprised by this transformation. Spirit creatures had no true form and hence no gender, shifting between masculine or feminine as per their whim. Zhao Ping likely perceived that appearing male among two women felt out of place, leading him to become female. Without dwelling on it, she promptly led the way, stepping into Kunlong Stream. Seeing this, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li followed closely. Unlike the dry barrenness outside, Kunlong Stream was unusually dark and damp, with low-level poisonous creatures appearing occasionally — but to Fu Yan, they were as insignificant as ants to a mortal. Moreover, whether due to Zhao Ping guiding them or because the Corpse Demon Sect had already cleared the area, they encountered no surprises or dangers. The deeper they went, the dimmer the surroundings became, as if a mist was veiling their vision, making it hard to see through. Along the way, Zhao Ping seemed genuinely focused on leading them, devoid of any ulterior motives. "Sister, what secret do you think is hidden here?" Fu Yan asked quietly, her gaze calm, while discreetly transmitting her voice to Bai Yue Li. Soon, Bai Yue Li’s voice echoed in her mind, "The Corpse Demon Sect's recent quietness might all be related to this." Concerning the Corpse Demon Sect, Bai Yue Li didn't think Zhao Ping was lying — they were clearly here. Fu Yan shared this belief, though as something flashed in her mind, she paused, transmitting her voice again: "Moreover, during the anomaly in Kunlong Stream earlier, I think I heard a sword's cry." A sword's cry? Hearing those words, Bai Yue Li momentarily froze, but quickly regained her composure, glancing at Fu Yan, "Earlier, I only heard a chaotic rumbling sound." **Translation:** The so-called dragon roar was merely an exaggeration invented by those mortals. Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li hadn’t paid it any mind initially, but now Fu Yan was certain that at that moment, she had indeed heard a sword’s cry. It wasn’t the clashing sound of swords in battle, but a mournful, sorrowful sword cry. With these thoughts, the two fell into a contemplative silence. Clearly, the sword cry was strange, something that not everyone could perceive. As Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li pondered quietly, Zhao Ping, ahead of them, suddenly halted. She quickly glanced afar, then turned back to look at the two of them. It seemed there were people ahead, and she dared not speak aloud, resorting to indicating with her eyes instead. Upon seeing this, Fu Yan raised her eyes and cautiously extended her spiritual sense. In the blink of an eye, the situation ahead unfolded completely before her eyes. Enveloped in a haze, the peaks on both sides seemed to converge towards a single point, with the path ahead growing narrower. In the distance, a firelight flickered, revealing a vast cave entrance at the deepest part of the ravine. At this moment, Fu Yan seemed to understand why this place was named Kunlong Stream. The winding path from the entrance looked like a colossal dragon’s body, with the area ahead forming the dragon's head. The cave entrance lay beneath the dragon's head. Viewed this way, it truly resembled a giant dragon, trapped snugly underground by the surrounding mountains. After a brief pause, Fu Yan focused once more on the front, noticing four or five figures gathered around a fire, fueled by firecrystal stones, outside the cave entrance. The figures silently meditated, clearly in a state of contemplation while remaining watchful of their surroundings, ready to react at a moment’s notice should any disturbance occur. With just a glance, Fu Yan immediately identified them as members of the Corpse Demon Sect. Among them were two renowned figures, known as two of the Eight Generals during the Great Ascension Period, and the rest were also masters at this level. As for those inside the cave, celestial beings of the Corpse Demon Sect likely resided there. It seemed Zhao Ping hadn’t lied; celestial beings of the Corpse Demon Sect had converged here, indicating Kunlong Stream wasn't as simple as it seemed. "It truly is the Corpse Demon Sect. If they’ve been here for ten years, could there be a significant treasure about to emerge in Kunlong Stream?" Fu Yan transmitted her thoughts to Bai Yue Li while eyeing the distant cave entrance. Bai Yue Li withdrew her gaze, scanning their surroundings. After a while, she finally responded, "We don’t know how many of them there are. We must proceed with caution and avoid alerting them before understanding their intentions." Evidently, the Corpse Demon Sect had prepared extensively, and though Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li had little regard for those outside, any disturbance would notify the beings inside instantly. Moreover, Bai Yue Li sensed multiple layers of formations surrounding the area ahead. Without a doubt, once she and Fu Yan moved further, no matter how quickly they approached, entering the cave undetected was impossible. If those inside became aware, it might create an even larger problem. Therefore, until they understood the Corpse Demon Sect's purpose here, any heedless action must be avoided. Upon hearing this, Fu Yan nodded in agreement. While the two communicated through voice transmission, they seemed to temporarily forget about the presence of the, well, spirit creature beside them. Zhao Ping appeared clueless about voice transmission. Seeing Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li take no action, she anxiously paced in place, yet dared not make a sound, fearing they would be discovered by the Corpse Demon Sect. She looked at Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li, yet didn't dare approach for questioning, merely stewing in silent anxiety. Time slipped by, and eventually, Fu Yan retracted her gaze. With a wave of her hand, a transparent barrier enveloped the three in the shadows. Perplexed, Zhao Ping felt uneasy, until Fu Yan spoke without concern, "Your master is inside the cave?" Zhao Ping jerked, startled, instinctively wanting to clasp her hand over Fu Yan’s mouth but stopped, realizing the difference in strength, she merely widened her eyes in fear. At sight of this, Bai Yue Li calmly explained, "It's alright; they can't hear us. You may speak freely." Hearing Bai Yue Li’s words, Zhao Ping, slowly comprehending the situation, finally exhaled a breath of relief. The next moment, as though finally given permission to vent, Zhao Ping quickly confessed, "My master has been asleep inside. All the two of you need to do is drive out those people." Based on Zhao Ping’s account, Fu Yan deduced that the master must have been slumbering for thousands of years. It piqued her curiosity about what sort of individual required such recovery that even the Corpse Demon Sect sought to claim them, yet they hadn’t awakened or appeared. It was indeed puzzling. Unsurprisingly, Zhao Ping seemed steadfast in her loyalty, refusing to betray her master. Fu Yan didn’t intend to pry further from her, as she and Bai Yue Li were preparing to investigate the cave regardless. "Do you know how many celestial beings are in the cave?" Fu Yan suddenly asked Zhao Ping another question. After contemplating, Zhao Ping reported honestly, "I believe... there are three celestial beings." However, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li were just two. In that moment, Fu Yan wasn’t sure whether to think Zhao Ping naive or if she was simply trying to lure them into the cave, believing Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li could easily expel the Corpse Demon Sect. Though Fu Yan didn’t fear the three celestial beings, for ordinary people, it seemed a formidable and risky endeavor. Zhao Ping appeared to only realize the mismatch in numbers after her revelation, suddenly growing uneasy. If Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li chose not to assist, she had no other recourse. After a while, Fu Yan chuckled softly, addressing Zhao Ping, "We’re entering the cave, but to avoid alerting them, you should wait outside." Hearing this, Zhao Ping grew anxious, "But..." Meeting Fu Yan’s gaze, she couldn’t think of anything else to say, helplessly nodding and whispering, "As long as the celestial beings can drive them out, I’ll do anything." The presence of Great Ascension masters outside wasn’t the primary concern; the encircling formations posed the real hurdle, making it impractical to bring Zhao Ping along. Moreover, Zhao Ping’s identity remained somewhat suspect, yet Fu Yan was certain she wasn’t with the Corpse Demon Sect, thus refraining from detaining her. Without further delay, Fu Yan grasped Bai Yue Li’s left hand. "Whoosh—" In a split second, a golden light, visible only to Fu Yan, flashed, enveloping them in the power of the laws, intertwining them closely. From Zhao Ping’s perspective, they vanished instantly. She watched the silent Kunlong Stream ahead, anxiety gripping her heart, yet there was nothing she could do, continuing to hide and await their return. Meanwhile, Fu Yan, holding Bai Yue Li's hand, cautiously approached the formations up ahead. "Sister, hold tight," Fu Yan transmitted quietly, signaling Bai Yue Li. Bai Yue Li reciprocated, clasping Fu Yan’s hand with a slight nod. With the meticulous precautions the Corpse Demon Sect laid here, infiltration wouldn’t be easy, even with celestial power. Stealth navigation seemed unattainable. Luckily, Fu Yan wielded the power of law, perfectly concealing their presence. Entwined in its embrace, they were effectively invisible, imperceptible to any force. However, it also meant that now was not the time for any rash attacks. In the quiet Kunlong Stream, Fu Yan led Bai Yue Li along, swiftly nearing the distant cave entrance. Navigating through the partially veiled formations without triggering any energy disturbances. After a few breaths, they smoothly passed the formations and the cluster around the fire, landing softly at the cave’s entrance. Casting a glance back at the serene Kunlong Stream, Fu Yan hesitated not for a moment, guiding Bai Yue Li forward as they stepped into the underground passage. Torches lined the walls, crackling as they burned, casting fiery light throughout the cave, broadening their view. Just as they passed through a passageway, hurried footsteps echoed from within. Fu Yan paused, pulling Bai Yue Li aside to the wall. Several figures swiftly emerged, walking silently past them towards the cave entrance without a word. Judging by their cultivation levels, Fu Yan realized they were likely rotating the guards stationed outside. Without dwelling on that, the two continued to delve deeper into the tunnel. After an indeterminate amount of time, they encountered four or five branching paths, which left Fu Yan a bit perplexed. With the power of law binding them, she was unable to extend her spiritual sense to probe the surroundings. This limitation was indeed inconvenient. Having no other choice, the two randomly chose the leftmost path. However, they soon reached a dead end, faced with a repugnant corpse pool that made Fu Yan feel a surge of frustration. They had inadvertently stumbled upon the Corpse Demon Sect's refining area. Without lingering, Fu Yan swiftly led Bai Yue Li back the way they came, sighing lightly as she transmitted, "I'm sorry, senior sister; I didn't know that led to a corpse pool!" Bai Yue Li also shook her head helplessly. Back at the crossroads, Fu Yan found herself deep in thought. The law-bound duo was fumbling blindly, unable to sense disturbances effectively, which was clearly unproductive. They definitely didn't want a repeat of the previous encounter. At that moment, a massive sound suddenly echoed from deeper within the cave, causing the very stones beneath Fu Yan's feet to tremble slightly. Amidst the loud noise rang a sword’s cry, similar to the previous anomaly. This time, the noise faded even quicker, barely lasting half a breath before the surroundings returned to silence. Instantly, Fu Yan's eyes widened. Without a moment's hesitation, she lifted her gaze, locking onto one of the tunnel directions and quickly transmitted to Bai Yue Li: "This way, senior sister!" Saying this, she pulled Bai Yue Li and hurried off down a passage on the right.