309 - Elasia Saga

Chapter 309: Victory and Aftermath "Ahhhhh..." In an instant, the entire space governed by the law resonated with Fang Yu's anguished cries. Entangled by chains of demonic energy, he threw his head back and howled at the sky, his face contorted in terrifying agony. In mid-air, Fu Yan and Bai Yueli had already exhausted all their strength, appearing so depleted as if they might collapse at any moment. Still, their eyes kept tracking the red Sword of Punishment, watching it shoot through Fang Yu's body. At that exact moment, the law-governed space trembled with waves of intense vibrations. "Boom——" With a thunderous roar, the Demon Lord within the dense demonic energy seemed to have been struck with a countering force. His entire body was violently flung back, fresh blood spurting from his mouth. All around, the demonic energy chains instantly shattered into fragments. As the Sword of Punishment returned to her human form, a massive storm vortex burgeoned out of the wound in Fang Yu's chest, rapidly sweeping outward. This terrifying force erupted from his body, consuming him whole, not leaving even the hem of his robe visible in the blink of an eye. Seeing this, Fu Yan finally let out a breath of relief. She excitedly turned around, quickly catching Bai Yueli's gaze, saying, "Shijie, we... succeeded!" Yet, just before Bai Yueli could respond, the force vortex explosively expanded, like a devastating tidal wave, surging with unstoppable momentum. The surrounding four couldn't react in time before being engulfed as they tried to turn away. Wham—— Fu Yan and Bai Yueli couldn't hold their ground and were flung backwards by the powerful explosion, crashing to the ground heavily. "Ugh—" Depleted of energy, both of them spat mouthfuls of blood as their vitality surged within their bodies. But seeing the massive swallowing vortex in front of them grow ever larger, Fu Yan urgently pushed aside other concerns. She understood that if they were swept in by this force, none of them might escape the realm governed by the law alive today. Even if their avatars fell, the heavenly ways seemed bent on taking them down as well. On the other side, the Demon Lord and the Sword of Punishment, having expended too much energy, also lacked any strength for resistance, solely fixating on the massive force vortex ahead. Seeing this, Fu Yan promptly sat up, extending her hand effortlessly, showing no hesitance. "Buzz——" As a resonating hum sounded, the law's space around her flickered intensely with golden light. Fu Yan weakly grasped at the void, straightening her hand. In the next instant, countless golden rays surged to her palm. Fu Yan gritted her teeth, letting the blood at the corner of her mouth continue trickling down, disregarding it altogether. "Fu Yan!" Bai Yueli shouted with urgency, sensing the golden light beside Fu Yan, almost blurting out. As a muffled groan followed, Fu Yan's body straightened on the ground. Bearing the immense pain, she flipped her hands together before her chest. In that second, the golden threads wove into a small cubic space, spinning rapidly between Fu Yan's hands. "Boom——" From the vortex ahead came another burst of explosive sound. The powerful force was already sweeping towards them, about to engulf the four, when Fu Yan suddenly clapped her palms together. At the critical moment, the surrounding law space seemed under immense pressure, all converging towards the golden luminescence. Quickly, all the law lines tightly wrapped around the central explosive force vortex, confining it in an instant. Simultaneously, as a brilliant light flashed, the figures within the law's realm vanished without a trace. The force vortex constrained by the law continued to explode within, yet the resilient space, strong as rock, bore no tremor of movement, steadily shrinking. When the golden brilliance dispersed, only a golden dot remained of the law-governed space, the captured power dissipating utterly. For a time, the dark, void-filled space around them returned to its former tranquility. ... Swish! Swish! In Kunlong Gorge, the cave sealing the Sword of Punishment had already collapsed entirely, the mountain outside also crumbling away. Who knows how long it had been when several beams of light suddenly flashed above where the cave used to be. Four figures fell heavily to the ground as they were hurriedly transmitted from the realm of the law. Naturally, the fallen were Fu Yan, Bai Yueli, and their companions, forcefully transported out. At present, appearing weakened perhaps from the grueling clash with the incarnation of the heavenly way, all four had faint traces of breath. Already nearly drained of power, they had been affected by the force of Fang Yu's explosion, promptly slipping into unconsciousness. Whirl—— Not long after, an unseen force moved gently in mid-air. An image descended steadily from above. "Master!" The reformed spirit form of Zhao Ping, upon landing, immediately recognized the red figure on the ground and rushed over without hesitation. Kneeling beside the Sword of Punishment, Zhao Ping's gaze fell on an ashen face; her lips had turned alarmingly pale. "Master!" Alarmed, Zhao Ping hurriedly lifted the Sword of Punishment from the ground, anxiously feeling for her breathing. Finally, with a relieved sigh, Zhao Ping relaxed slightly. Although the internal injuries were severe, her life was not in danger. The great loss of power had rendered her unconscious, but rest would bring recuperation and recovery. After confirming the Sword of Punishment was safe, Zhao Ping noticed Fu Yan and her companions. They too merely needed time to regain consciousness, free of life-threatening harm. Relieved, Zhao Ping's heart settled at last. Reflecting on the life-or-death ordeal within the law’s space, she felt drained, slumping to the ground. However, a surge of gratitude washed over her; all of them had survived. Letting out a heavy sigh, Zhao Ping was just about to rise when a massive flash of lightning streaked across the distant sky. "Crack, boom——" Soon after, deafening thunder boomed across the heavens, startling Zhao Ping on the ground into a shiver. Instinctively looking up, Zhao Ping saw the sky was now dense with swirling black clouds; thunder rolled, and enormous bolts of lightning tore the sky repeatedly. In moments, a torrential rain began to pour down. As heavy raindrops struck her face, Zhao Ping, deep within Kunlong Gorge, seemed to snap back to herself, rushing to the fallen four without missing a beat, her hand reaching skyward. Rumble—— An unseen shield of power stretched over the great gorge, sheltering half of it so that Fu Yan and the others remained untouched by rain. Satisfied with her handiwork, Zhao Ping withdrew her hand. These individuals before her were formidable immortals; she dared not move them outwards, opting to wait in place for her master and Fu Yan to awaken independently. Outside, the rain continued in relentless sheets; the roaring thunder above was terrifyingly loud, almost like it sought something to strike. All this combined left Zhao Ping apprehensive. Time passed incrementally, and after who knows how long, Bai Yueli slowly furrowed her brow and sat up. The instant she opened her eyes, Bai Yueli searched for Fu Yan, finding her nearby. Without hesitating, she turned towards her. "Fu Yan!" Bai Yueli held the unconscious Fu Yan, her hands trembling slightly from emotion. Nearby, Zhao Ping quickly reassured, "Immortal Fu is fine, just depleted in vitality and true essence like my master. She’ll awaken soon." Bai Yueli nodded, sensing Fu Yan’s condition and confirming Zhao Ping’s words, finally releasing a long breath of relief. Gradually, Bai Yueli calmed, then checked on the Demon Lord and the Sword of Punishment, both of whom were safe. Eventually, the trio stirred back to awareness. "Shijie?" Fu Yan blinked at Bai Yueli's face, momentarily dazed, her mind still clouded as she spoke absentmindedly. Bai Yueli nodded quickly, suppressing tears in her eyes, a smile breaking across her face. "Yes." "Master, you're finally awake..." Zhao Ping exclaimed, tears filling her eyes as she noticed the Sword of Punishment and the Demon Lord suddenly revived, sitting upright from where they had fallen. Her excitement was palpable as she called out loudly. The Sword of Punishment pressed a hand to her forehead, signaling her servant to quiet down with a wave. Meanwhile, the Demon Lord remained indifferent, regaining consciousness only to immediately sit in meditation and swiftly recover her strength. "Crack!" Lightning carved the sky anew, the rain pouring mercilessly. Fu Yan finally regained her senses, memories of the law's space flashing before her. She focused on Bai Yueli before her and asked, "Shijie, are you alright?" "I'm fine," Bai Yueli responded truthfully, shaking her head. Hearing this, Fu Yan sighed in relief, only then realizing her body felt as though it had been crushed by a mountain. Even the slightest movement brought sharp, piercing pain, causing her to wince in discomfort. "Ah..." "What’s wrong?" Bai Yueli's startled reaction prompted her to reach forward, intending to check on Fu Yan. Fu Yan shook her head with some resignation, managing a reassuring smile despite the pain. "It's nothing. I just need some rest to recover, no need to worry." With that, Fu Yan managed to sit up fully. Without delay, she retrieved a few pills and swallowed them, including two that would rapidly restore much of her depleted energy. After consuming the pills, Fu Yan began absorbing energy, glancing once more at the concerned Bai Yueli before speaking, "Shijie, you should recover quickly as well. This is not a place we can linger; if the Corpse Ghost Sect returns, we'll be in trouble." Bai Yueli nodded in understanding, her expression relaxing somewhat. She said no more, focusing on regaining her strength. Soon, everyone but Zhao Ping settled into meditation, as Fu Yan had suggested, to prepare against a potential threat from the Corpse Ghost Sect. The sound of the pouring rain and steady breathing filled the space. It wasn't long before the Demon Lord was the first to stand again. Looking towards the distant sky, she noticed the rolling black clouds, filled with terrifying thunder. A palpable pressure seemed to lower across the continent. The Demon Lord's usual indifferent expression shifted slightly, her brows furrowing as her eyes locked onto the sky. Zheng— The sound of a sword echoed beneath the rain-shielding light cast by Zhao Ping. Fu Yan and Bai Yueli instinctively opened their eyes, spotting the crimson Sword of Punishment holding a red shadow blade pointed directly at the Demon Lord's back. "Master?" Even Zhao Ping seemed taken aback by the scene. "What are you?" the Sword of Punishment demanded coldly, her gaze unwavering upon the Demon Lord, tinged with a sharp chill yet spoken with eerie calm. "How do you know so much about the Sword of Punishment?" Her question referred to the Demon Lord's authoritative command in the law's space, instructing her to revert to her original form to oppose Fang Yu, even lifting her with ease. Recalling this, the Sword of Punishment's eyes chilled further. Few in the world knew her existence; naturally, the Demon Lord aroused her suspicion. Yet, the Demon Lord appeared unmoved by the interrogation, continuing to gaze skyward before finally turning her attention back after some time. With a casual lift of her hand, she deflected the specter of the sword before her. "......" Surveying those present, the Demon Lord's voice finally broke the silence. "Though his avatar was destroyed, the bindings upon the Profound Continent remain, and they have only grown more severe." The Demon Lord paused just briefly before resuming her emotionless tone. At this, Fu Yan and Bai Yueli were taken aback, quickly looking to the tumultuous sky. Indeed, the oppressive will of the heavens had not dissipated. Their eyes widened at the revelation. The truth, both expected and unexpected, was as the Demon Lord said. Their efforts had merely obliterated the avatar of the Dao; the true Dao continued to bind the continent. Finished, the Demon Lord glanced at the Sword of Punishment, speaking casually, almost dismissively, "Instead of doubting my motives, focus on regaining your peak power." Sealed for too long, the Sword of Punishment's strength had waned significantly, leaving her no match for the Demon Lord. "Heh." The Sword of Punishment let out a short laugh, withdrawing the specter of her blade. "Cough, cough..." She began to cough, prompting Zhao Ping to rush over, supporting her with worry evident on her face. "Master, are you alright?" Fu Yan withdrew her gaze, her expression turning solemn. After some contemplation, Fu Yan spoke to the Demon Lord, "Ahead, for all cultivators, breakthroughs will become even harder." Beside her, Bai Yueli furrowed her brow, absorbing the stark truth. "Do not despair," the Sword of Punishment interjected softly, lowering her hand, her eyes returning to tranquility. "The moment one can ascend to godhood, the chains shall shatter, and the Dao will no longer tighten its grip upon this realm." As if the confrontation with the Demon Lord had never occurred, she shifted the conversation effortlessly. "Ascend to godhood?" Fu Yan murmured, considering the notion deeply. An ancient stone mural surfaced in her mind, depicting a powerful entity's path to godhood witnessed in the tomb beneath Youxin Lake. Yet, that path ended in failure. Cultivation was arduous, now further hindered by the Dao's shackles. Ascending to godhood seemed anything but simple. As Fu Yan pondered, Bai Yueli was reminded of the past when the Demon Lord attempted her tribulation. Despite her formidable power, the Dao's oppression led to her inevitable fall. If even the Demon Lord could not succeed... Bai Yueli felt a grim realization settle upon her. "Furthermore," the Sword of Punishment said suddenly, focusing on both of them, "until you possess enough strength, I advise against attempting a tribulation." With his avatar gone, the continent faced tighter bindings, and the Dao's lingering will was unlikely to yield. In the next centuries, any attempt at tribulation would likely lead to ruin. Fu Yan's complexion grew grim, contemplating these words. After all, she had only recently ascended to immortality. Calculating the illusory time spent within the Xuyao Jade Seal, it had been less than a century, the perfect time to overcome tribulation and advance her cultivation. Wham—— Before Fu Yan could process this fully, she felt her energy begin to leak, her sea of true essence roiling within her. She was on the verge of a tribulation... Everyone present noticed Fu Yan's shifting aura, stunned by the unexpected urgency of her breakthrough while the Sword of Punishment had just mentioned it moments earlier. "......" Bai Yueli quickly refocused, approaching Fu Yan and asking, "Can you suppress it?" Destroying the Dao's avatar had just occurred, attempting a tribulation now was a reckless move. But before Fu Yan could respond, the Demon Lord spoke with an unnerving calm, "The battle has cleared her channels, granting clarity. Such a moment of enlightenment cannot be suppressed." Hence, Fu Yan hadn’t realized her impending tribulation until her aura signaled release. Their silence deepened with the Demon Lord's revelation. Feeling the upheaval within herself and heeding the Demon Lord's wisdom, Fu Yan stood stunned for a long while, finally regaining full consciousness. She let out a muted exhale, steeling herself. Desiring not to attempt a tribulation now was not a denial of truth. However, faced with the inevitability, she steadied herself through measured breaths and faced her companions, declaring with calm resolve, "I will undergo the tribulation." "Fu..." Bai Yueli snapped to attention, conflicting emotions dancing in her eyes, her lips trembling slightly as she spoke. Yet, in a heartbeat, Fu Yan reached out, clasping Bai Yueli's hands firmly, lifting her gaze to meet hers. With a brilliant, resolute smile, she promised, "You've always said you believe in me. Please, trust me again this time, won't you?" For a moment, Bai Yueli subconsciously tightened her grip on Fu Yan. She wanted to pull her back, but under Fu Yan's steady gaze, she found herself nodding gently and replying, "Alright..." "Shijie, don't worry. Have you forgotten? I still possess the power of the laws. No matter how challenging the tribulation is this time, I am determined to return safely," Fu Yan said calmly. "I promise you," she continued. Upon hearing this, Bai Yueli felt a tremor run through her entire being. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, not a single word escaped her lips. Fu Yan finally released Bai Yueli's hands, her demeanor exceptionally serene. Turning her gaze to the others, she simply smiled and said, "I am ready to face the tribulation." "Good," the Demon Lord replied calmly. In the next instant, they watched as Fu Yan surged upwards, soaring straight out of Kunlong Gorge. Braving the pouring rain, she ascended towards the sky. From beneath the gorge, Bai Yueli's gaze never wavered as she watched Fu Yan depart for the tribulation. She observed silently, her lips slightly bitten in contemplation. "This isn't the ascension tribulation," the Demon Lord's low voice suddenly sounded beside her. Hearing this, Bai Yueli paused, realizing that since it wasn't the crucial ascension tribulation, the challenge could be mitigated with external assistance. If it became dire, they could intervene to help. The situation wasn't as grim. With this realization, Bai Yueli returned to her senses, looking up at the silhouette amidst the rain, unconsciously clenching her fists tighter. The sound of the rain suddenly became strikingly distinct around her.