310 - Elasia Saga

In the depths of Longjian, it seemed that because Fu Yan was on the verge of a breakthrough and facing tribulation, none of those below had left. Upon hearing Mo Jun's words, although Bai Yue Li was still filled with worry, her heart calmed slightly. This was not a dead end. If something went wrong, she would be able to save Fu Yan immediately. Holding onto this thought, Bai Yue Li's gaze, weary with determination, piercingly focused through the curtain of rain on the figure wielding a sword in mid-air. Her eyes conveyed a silent firmness. Beside her, Mo Jun did not speak further but also looked towards the sky. However, in her abyssal black eyes, there wasn't a hint of emotion, leaving no clue as to her thoughts. Aside from the sound of rain from outside, an eerie silence enveloped the surroundings. Watching this scene, Zhao Ping, standing behind the Zhu Shen Jian, seemed puzzled and softly asked the sword, "Master, why is it said that undergoing tribulation now leads to a dead end? Fu Yan should be fine, right?" Beneath the rain, Zhu Shen Jian, clad in a crimson hue, first stared intently at Mo Jun before subtly retracting its gaze. "You're not the one facing tribulation, so why bother finding out?" Zhu Shen Jian glanced sideways at its sword attendant, speaking in a calm tone, evidently disinclined to explain further. Zhao Ping could only softly respond, "Oh." She actually wanted to ask why Zhu Shen Jian showed no intention of leaving. Knowing its temperament, usually uninterested in others' affairs, it was peculiar for it to remain. However, Zhu Shen Jian's silence made Zhao Ping reluctant to ask further. Hearing the earlier conversation between Mo Jun and Fu Yan sparked a concern in Zhao Ping for Fu Yan. After all, she had misled both Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li, and Zhao Ping did not wish to see them in distress. Thus, for a moment, everyone in the Dragon's Constraint lifted their eyes to gaze at the resolute figure in the sky. At this moment, Fu Yan stood firmly amidst the torrential rain. Single-handedly holding her sword, her dress fluttered with the wind. Oddly enough, though surrounded by the downpour, Fu Yan remained unaffected. Not a corner of her attire was dampened by the rain, and her long, lustrous black hair swayed gently amidst the deluge. Zhengzheng— In the next instant, Fu Yan made a motion with her hand, and a profound sword hum resonated through the entire space. Within her, energy roiled tumultuously, yet Fu Yan seemed indifferent. She clutched her sword hilt tightly, gaze coldly fixed on the ominous storm clouds above. Countless dark clouds churned violently like ocean waves, pierced intermittently by massive bolts of lightning, slicing through the rainswept sky. Then, thunder resounded across the heavens. Despite the turbulent scene, Fu Yan's gaze remained unwavering. Her pale face bore no expression, and her deep eyes were unperturbed. At that moment, the heavenly tribulation commenced. "Rumble—crash!" In the blink of an eye, a tremendous sound erupted from the sea of lightning. Subsequently, two towering bolts of heavenly lightning hurled forth from the clouds, streaking towards Fu Yan. Typically, tribulation lightning descends bolt by bolt. Yet now, two such bolts fell simultaneously—a bizarre occurrence Fu Yan seemed to anticipate, unfazed. After all, this was the way of the heavens. However, on that celestial plane, Fu Yan had no time for contemplation. Without hesitation, her hand flipped, unleashing a torrent of true energy. Having consumed two Yin-Yang pills, Fu Yan's true energy was nearly replenished, so she held nothing back. Her form moved, and she unleashed a powerful sword strike. Instantly, the formidable sword intent surged forward, meeting the descending dual bolts of lightning head-on. The sky echoed with a tense hum, and within less than a breath, the sword intent began to shatter. Whoosh— In the next moment, the two lightning bolts struck Fu Yan directly, yet she merely furrowed her brows, her stance steady as a rock. Heaven's tribulation bolts grow progressively stronger. Though two bolts struck at once, Fu Yan could easily withstand them, especially after her initial sword strike weakened their force considerably. Thus, it seemed that Fu Yan remained unaffected. Nevertheless, as Fu Yan took a deep breath, trying to quell the rampaging lightning within, the sky once again resounded with a piercing sound. In an instant, two more towering bolts of lightning descended from the sea of clouds. Fu Yan paused briefly, then executed a complete Linglong Sword Technique, leaping without hesitation to meet the lightning head-on, sword in hand. Boom! Sizzle— In no time, the sky exploded with the collision of terrifying forces, the rain evaporating before reaching the ground, vanishing completely. Fu Yan felt a tremor of power through her hand as one bolt was entirely consumed, leaving only one to penetrate her body. The overwhelming force of the lightning surged within, bringing waves of internal havoc. "Ugh..." Fu Yan's body trembled slightly, and a muffled grunt escaped her, the impact greater than before. Taking a deep breath, she hurried to quell the storm of energy within. After a while, her energy stabilized somewhat, but there was no time to rest, for the next wave of tribulation descended. Each time, the dual bolts fell as if she were to endure two tribulations at once. If other cultivators heard this, they might refuse to believe it. Could one survive experiencing two tribulations simultaneously? "Rumble—" It's unclear how much time passed, but after two more bolts struck, Fu Yan could no longer hold on, violently coughing up a mouthful of thick blood. The scarlet mist intermixed with the rain, rapidly falling with it. "Cough, cough..." Fu Yan steadied herself, still with remnants of blood stuck in her throat, causing a fit of coughing before she expelled it. Now, for the first time, the rain began to dampen her light dress. Large raindrops struck her face, gathering on her eyelashes as tiny droplets. She appeared slightly disheveled. Witnessing this from below, Bai Yue Li felt her heart tighten, yet she knew the tribulation was far from over, and the challenges ahead would grow more arduous. Yet... as Fu Yan had insisted, she believed in her! Through countless life-and-death crises over the years, Fu Yan had always prevailed. Bai Yue Li was certain this time would be no exception. Despite her steadfast belief, without anyone noticing, Bai Yue Li clenched her fists tightly, her palms reddening from the strain. Time ticked away, the heavenly tribulation ongoing, Fu Yan casually wiping away the blood by her lips, resolutely seized her sword again, eyes fixed fiercely on the storm clouds above. Again, two massive bolts of lightning crashed down. Within a blink, Fu Yan soared up to meet them, her sword engendering a vortex of power, making the sky appear as if torn asunder—a truly fearsome sight. In such a way, another substantial period passed, and Fu Yan's tribulation was at last half suffered. But now, the figure in the sky swayed, struggling to stay aloft. Fu Yan couldn't tell how much blood she’d lost, her veins feeling ready to snap under the relentless lightning. Yet, despite it all, she had not a trace of surrender within her. "Crack—" a sound descended. In an instant, even fiercer bolts slammed forth, and as Fu Yan raised her hand, the heaviness of her sword hilt struck her, yet she gritted her teeth, unleashing her final strength to battle the oncoming tempest. With a thunderous "boom", the sky erupted in a massive explosion. Moments later, a figure plummeted like a kite with a severed string, its tattered clothes carried by the wind before being driven into the mud by the rain. Seeing this, Bai Yue Li, not hesitating for a moment, instinctively lunged forward, vanishing instantly. Yet, Mo Jun beside her did not intervene. Reappearing above, Bai Yue Li swiftly caught Fu Yan as she was about to fall, holding her tightly in her arms. Fu Yan's clothes were soaked with fresh blood, her entire being weak and seemingly devoid of vitality, as if she could cease to breathe at any moment. Seeing this, Bai Yue Li felt her breath catch slightly. "Fu Yan..." she whispered softly. Perhaps spurred by the familiar voice, the person in her embrace slowly opened her eyes. Fu Yan looked calmly at Bai Yue Li, her lips curling into a gentle smile. "I'm all right, elder sister..." Fu Yan spoke, her voice faint and weak. "Rumble—" But no sooner had Fu Yan finished speaking than another rumble of thunder echoed from the sky. Within moments, two more bolts of the Nine Heavens' thunder sprang forth, striking directly towards Fu Yan's location. Seeing this, Fu Yan had no time to think further. She quickly retrieved a petal of the Ice Spirit Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid and, without hesitation, tossed it into her mouth. Instantly, a warm current flowed rapidly through her body. This Ice Spirit Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid was a two-thousand-year-old elixir Fu Yan had obtained from the crypt at the bottom of Lake Youxin. Having given one petal to Yuan He beforehand, she found herself needing it now. With its power in hand, Fu Yan mustered the courage to face this tribulation. However, the speed of the Nine Heavens' thunder was swift, and the efficacy of the Ice Spirit Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid wasn't immediate. Even as Fu Yan tried to mobilize her true essence, a sense of helplessness pervaded her being, as if an enormous weight was pressing down on her. "Cough, cough—" Fu Yan couldn't help but cough heavily, furrowing her brows in pain. She focused on rapidly absorbing the elixir's power to quickly regain her strength. As the sound of thunder sliced through the sky, the two bolts of Nine Heavens' thunder descended. Fu Yan's eyes widened in alarm just as Bai Yue Li, who had released her, leapt into the air, a formidable aura of demonic energy unfurling around her. Bai Yue Li intended to shield Fu Yan from this wave of the Nine Heavens' thunder. Watching the figure above, Fu Yan quickly regained her composure, swallowing the words she was about to cry out. She didn't stop Bai Yue Li, understanding her intent. If she persisted in braving the storm, it would only cause Bai Yue Li more worry. With Bai Yue Li buying her time, Fu Yan focused on absorbing the elixir's power to restore her strength. With this resolve, Fu Yan let Bai Yue Li block the oncoming thunderbolt for her. In the next moment, Fu Yan sat crossed-legged midair, her true essence whirling rapidly as she began to digest the Ice Spirit Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid's potency. Above, Bai Yue Li raised her hand, unleashing a massive surge of power. In an instant, the Nine Heavens' thunder struck, sending waves of terrifying power rippling through the air, so intense it seemed the rainfall reversed— a testament to the vortex of forces. Buzz— A colossal tremor ensued as the weakened bolts struck Bai Yue Li, who managed to withstand them. When every last remnant of force dissipated, the sky briefly returned to silence. Bai Yue Li took a deep breath, steadying her energy. As she prepared to look down at Fu Yan, a figure abruptly appeared before her. "Are you all right, elder sister?" Fu Yan, who had recovered, watched Bai Yue Li with concern. At her words, Bai Yue Li shook her head, speaking slowly, "I'm fine. I've only taken two bolts of heavenly thunder." Though the subsequent bolts would likely be more severe, for Bai Yue Li's power, these were manageable enough. Sensing Bai Yue Li's energy remained stable, Fu Yan sighed in relief. As the rumble of thunder echoed again, she quickly reassured, "I'm restored now; you needn't worry." Bai Yue Li nodded, knowing that regardless of her willingness, this was Fu Yan's tribulation to face. Her continued assistance could only serve as a distraction. Without further ado, Bai Yue Li didn't wish to let her presence disrupt Fu Yan's focus. She promptly returned to her place in Longjian. In but a breath, the sky was once again left to Fu Yan alone. She had no time to ponder, watching as the next wave of Nine Heavens' thunder began to fall. Fu Yan gripped her sword tight, her figure darting forward. With the Ice Spirit Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, Fu Yan's cuts and bruises vanished, and her strength, bolstered by the elixir, was largely restored. Thus, she resumed her intense battle with the tribulation. Thunder roared and dazzling sword lights flashed in the sky. Time flew by, and most of the day had passed in an instant. Fu Yan finally faced the last wave of Nine Heavens' thunder with the aid of two more petals from the Ice Spirit Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid and help from the Zhu Shen Jian below. It was clear that the difficulties faced in the latter half of tribulation far exceeded those in the first. The power of the Nine Heavens' thunder increased dramatically. Yet, despite the daunting trials, Fu Yan held her ground. Only the final wave remained. If she withstood these last bolts, she would successfully traverse the tribulation. Meanwhile, Mo Jun had already lent a helping hand, whether Bai Yue Li knew it or not. Should Fu Yan triumph over this unprecedented dual tribulation, her strength would undoubtedly undergo a significant transformation. Success or failure hinged on this moment. "Rumble—" In this terrifying atmosphere, an overwhelming fear could be felt. As if in response, the sky darkened ominously, the lightning above casting a glaring radiance. Amidst the storm, Fu Yan's clothes were in tatters, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. Even after using the powerful Ice Spirit Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, her body bore fresh wounds, struggling to stay upright. With the Nine Heavens' thunder looming, now wasn't the time for another petal. Without hesitation, Fu Yan swallowed two Yin Yang pills. "Whoosh—" A golden glow flickered in Fu Yan's hand, her grip on this power of law firm, eyes fixed on the sky above. In the next second, two tremendous bolts descended. For a moment, it felt as though the entire continent quaked, the force threatening to obliterate half the Northern Realm. Under such dreadful circumstances, Fu Yan dragged her weary body forward, hurling the power of law in her grasp. This power transformed into a golden barrier, standing strong over her. In tandem, the Nine Heavens' thunder struck fiercely. A dreadful vibration filled the air, painfully ringing in Fu Yan's ears as she struggled to hold the barrier, attempting to withstand the last vestiges of the tribulation. "Ugh—" A warm gush erupted within Fu Yan, forcing her to cough up blood. Though the golden light remained intact, it was steadily pressured down. Fu Yan's arms, outstretched, quivered. Seeing this, Bai Yue Li prepared to step forward. However, Mo Jun had already acted, appearing beneath the golden barrier in an instant. With Mo Jun's assistance, Fu Yan felt a burdened lifted. Even so, it took both of them almost half an hour to endure this final trial. The power of law, once retracted to Fu Yan's hand, left her utterly exhausted, swaying backward. She didn't fall far, however, meeting a warm embrace instead. Cradled by familiar warmth, Fu Yan opened her eyes to meet Bai Yue Li's gaze, finding peace in that moment. As she was about to speak, Mo Jun's voice broke through. "The tribulation... is not over," Mo Jun's voice intoned. Startled, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li paused. Instantly, they looked upward, finding the skies still thickly shrouded, the storming tribulation unabated. Realizing this, Fu Yan's expression shifted as she softly murmured, "...Another round." The recent phase should mark the end, yet a further wave arose, implying two more bolts to endure. As the truth settled among them, a quiet weighed heavily. "How... how could this be?" Bai Yue Li's face turned pale with disbelief. "Crack—" another sound came crashing down. In an instant, two more bolts of Nine Heavens' thunder descended straight down. Fu Yan was forced to quickly regain her focus, her momentarily relaxed body tensing once more. Swiftly, she unleashed the power of law from her hand. A golden barrier formed before her again. There was no time to think. Bai Yue Li, beside her, quickly mirrored the gesture, unleashing a surge of power, while on the other side, Mo Jun also raised her hand. This time, the three of them simultaneously opposed the heavenly tribulation. A massive collision of forces erupted instantaneously, with none of the three beneath the power of law holding back, exerting all their strength. "Buzz—" In the whirlpool of power, the light of the law intensified, shining brightly through the rain. But even that was insufficient. The trio buckled slightly under the pressure when suddenly, a massive force surged forward from behind. With a resounding "whoosh," the figure of Zhu Shen Jian landed behind them. Having previously consumed a power of law from Fu Yan to break through heavy seals, Zhu Shen Jian had chosen to remain rather than immediately departing with Zhao Ping. With the commitment of all four, they successfully helped Fu Yan withstand the final tribulation. As peace returned to the sky and the surrounding rain ceased, the thunderclouds of the tribulation gradually dispersed from the heavens. Seeing this, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. Though Heaven's fragmented will could intensify the tribulation, it could only extend so far; the dual tribulations were the ultimate limit. Fu Yan had succeeded in passing her tribulation. Realizing this, Fu Yan finally could no longer sustain herself. Her eyelids felt unbearably heavy, drifting shut despite her efforts. "Sis—" Her voice faded as she collapsed into Bai Yue Li's embrace, unconscious.