314 - Elasia Saga

Chapter 314 - Wrapped Swords and Escaping Senior Sisters (Transmigration) "Rustle..." Just as Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li focused their attention on the peculiar large tree ahead, a subtle sound suddenly emerged from the surrounding bushes, reminiscent of something crawling through the undergrowth. In an instant, Fu Yan snapped back to attention. Without a moment's hesitation, she leaped into the air, taking Bai Yue Li with her, somersaulting to land suspended in mid-air on the other side. Simultaneously, a dense thicket of green vines suddenly sprouted up where they had been standing moments before. Not only were these vines as thick as sword hilts, but they rose together in a twisted web, resembling a celestial net dropped from the sky. If not for Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li's quick reactions, they would have been thoroughly ensnared by now. Once she regained her footing, Fu Yan gazed at the eerie vines with furrowed brows, a grave expression shadowing her face. "Be careful, these vines are not normal," Fu Yan quickly warned Bai Yue Li, who was already alert and nodded in agreement. Swish! Swish! Swish! In a flash, the surrounding vines surged towards the two, resembling snakes slithering and dancing in the air, sending a chill down the spine. Without any delay, Fu Yan flipped her hand, summoning her celestial spirit sword. In the next moment, a fearsome sword strike swept forward. The powerful blade cut through the vines effortlessly, slicing them to pieces. In the blink of an eye, segments of the vine fell, landing on the ground. However, the fallen vine segments quickly dissolved into a green liquid, sinking into the solid earth below. Bai Yue Li turned, swiftly positioning herself behind Fu Yan. Observing the same scene unfolding behind her, she decisively raised her hands, summoning flames that blazed fiercely. As countless vines lunged at them, Bai Yue Li unleashed her fiery attack, the flames entangling all the vines with intense heat. In an instance, it was like sparks igniting dry grass, the vast flames engulfed the air, turning it into a sea of fire, though it didn’t spread beyond the isolated tree. Soon, the entire area resonated with the crackling sounds of burning. Once silence resumed, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li landed back on the ground. Yet, neither of them let their guard down, their senses keenly attuned to any further movements. Fortunately, it seemed the vines couldn’t regenerate and were easily destroyed by them. Barely had their feet touched the ground when Fu Yan heard another sound. Strangely, it emanated from under their feet, as though something was about to break through the earth. "Not good, we have to leave!" In a sudden realization, Fu Yan's eyes widened in shock. She didn't hesitate, warning Bai Yue Li beside her as she prepared to leap away. "Rumble—" Just then, thick roots surged up from below, quickly ensnaring Fu Yan's legs. The surprise caused her to stumble, failing to jump and almost falling headfirst. Simultaneously, roots emerged beneath Bai Yue Li's feet, locking onto her as well. "What is this?" Bai Yue Li exclaimed in surprise, eyes on the roots trapping her feet. Fu Yan ceased her struggles, seemingly preparing to channel her inner energy to explode the roots binding her. But then, a strange fragrance wafted through the air. Unprepared, the two of them inhaled the scent before they even realized it. Suddenly, Fu Yan felt dizzy, as if she were treading on clouds and threatened to topple over. She desperately shook her head to clear her mind, but it was all in vain. With a "thud," Fu Yan collapsed to the ground. Bai Yue Li was similarly affected, succumbing easily without a chance to resist, collapsing beside Fu Yan. Moments earlier so alert and energetic, the two now lay unconscious. Seeming to sense their unconscious state, the roots binding their feet withdrew, disappearing into the soil once more. "Rustle..." The treetop branches extended several thick vines that wound downwards, swiftly wrapping around Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li, gently moving them beside the tree trunk. Then, in a flash of light, the two women vanished. The withdrawn vines quickly retracted, and tranquility returned to the scene. The tree appeared as ordinary as ever, with no trace of disturbance on the ground beneath. "......" In the darkness, Fu Yan, who should have been unconscious, suddenly opened her eyes. Her gaze, sparkling in the dim light, was steady and calm, free from panic. Ignoring everything else, Fu Yan stood calmly, showing no curiosity about her whereabouts and instead turning to check on Bai Yue Li as she woke, offering her a hand. But Bai Yue Li was already on her feet. Despite the darkness, their abilities allowed them to clearly perceive their surroundings without need for light. They found themselves in a cramped, circular tree hollow. Fu Yan nudged the ground with her foot and encountered a skeletal bone; the floor was strewn with bones. Mostly beast bones, but mixed with some human. This spoke volumes about the tree having 'eaten' nearby beasts and even cultivators from the forest, meeting their demise here. Glancing at the human bones, Fu Yan quickly assessed that their capabilities fell short of the Great Circle stage, making them easy prey here. In the primordial forest, where opportunities abound, some weaker cultivators dared to explore, betting their lives. Success meant soaring to new heights, while failure led to such ends. As she pondered, Fu Yan's expression remained composed. She swiftly diverted her gaze back to Bai Yue Li, stating, "It's as we suspected, this is the rumored Raksha Tree." The Raksha Tree, also known among cultivators as the Hell's Tree, was said to grow in the underworld, thriving on spiritual energy and flesh. Its combat power was relatively normal, but it exuded an alluring fragrance with a powerful illusionary effect. A mere whiff could render one unconscious with delight, and even while being gradually consumed by the Raksha Tree, victims felt nothing. Eventually, those trapped here died in euphoric ignorance. With skills lower than the pinnacle of the Great Circle stage, it was challenging to resist its fragrance. Also, within its vicinity, ordinary trees naturally kept their distance. Such dread trees were rare in the four major realms; despite Fu Yan knowing of them, she hadn’t instantly recognized it when outside. Reflecting on this, Fu Yan sheepishly chuckled, acknowledging Bai Yue Li, "It was Senior Sister's quick thinking that recognized the Raksha Tree at a glance." Just outside, when Fu Yan had intended to slash down the tree, Bai Yue Li's covert warning had given them pause. Thus, they had staged a "panic" to find themselves here. Responding, Bai Yue Li chuckled lightly and explained, "I've encountered such a Raksha Tree in a secret realm of the Demon Domain, which is why I recognized it quickly." Fu Yan nodded, moving past the topic, and scanning their environment, suggested, "This place reeks of blood and flesh. We should quickly retrieve the Raksha Tree Heart and leave." Despite its fearsome nature, the Raksha Tree bore a rare treasure within—a heart of immense value. Interestingly, if the tree were cut down from outside, its heart would explode, rendering it impossible to obtain intact. That was why Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li had devised their plan to infiltrate its core. "But where is the Raksha Tree Heart?" Fu Yan scanned the area but saw nothing they sought. No sooner had she spoken than Bai Yue Li's voice emerged, "There." Following her gaze, Fu Yan looked up about five or six meters; a round wooden core emitted powerful energy. Regardless of how fierce it was, the Raksha Tree remained a plant, and feeding on spiritual energy and flesh was its nature. Its 'heart' wasn’t an organ but a power-gathering wooden core, holding immense strength within. Upon seeing this, Fu Yan wasted no time and called back, "Senior Sister, give me a moment!" With that, she propelled herself towards the wooden core. However, before she could reach it, an invisible barrier seemed to block her path. She hesitated slightly but did not stop, bursting forth with her full inner energy. With a loud "bang," Fu Yan broke through the obstruction, landing steadily beside the wooden heart. Without hesitation, Fu Yan extended her right hand, channeling her immense energy. The formidable resistance couldn't deter her. "Buzz—" As Fu Yan grasped the wooden heart, the entire trunk vibrated subtly. With success achieved, Fu Yan flipped once more, landing back beside Bai Yue Li. "I've got the Raksha Tree Heart, let's get out of here!" she exclaimed without looking back. As soon as she spoke, a vast sword aura erupted from Fu Yan, spreading rapidly around them. In less than a breath, a massive explosion echoed within the tree hollow. Something had shattered explosively. A flash of brilliant light ensued, with the two figures within disappearing instantly. When they landed securely outside, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li found themselves back outside the tree, which had been shattered into fragments by the powerful sword aura, scattering bones everywhere. The explosive noise echoed for a while before the forest resumed its tranquility. Fu Yan glanced back at the scene briefly, then turned her attention to the Raksha Heart in her hand, passing it to Bai Yue Li. "Here, Senior Sister." Though the Raksha Heart could benefit Fu Yan, it held even greater potential for Bai Yue Li as a demonic cultivator. Bai Yue Li accepted it with a simple "Hmm," their relationship requiring no overthinking. After placing the Raksha Tree Heart away, Bai Yue Li quickly looked at Fu Yan, suggesting, "Let's leave quickly; the explosion might attract large beasts." Fu Yan nodded, already sensing the presence of approaching beasts—more than one, in fact. Though Fu Yan had come to the forest for training, unnecessary battles would serve little purpose. Soon, their figures vanished swiftly from the scene. ... Brush! Deep within the forest, beneath a small mountain, a large creature emerged swiftly, landing confidently before a rocky wall, finally exposed to the sunlight. It was a Gallant Demon Leopard, its sleek black fur, powerful limbs, and menacing fangs glinting in the sun, with eyes sharp enough to easily dispatch a Void Transformation stage cultivator. The Gallant Demon Leopard, a formidable and fierce creature, had a speed that was hard to match without surpassing Great Circle stage prowess. Clinging to life in a land like the primitive forest, teeming with Great Circle beasts, was challenging without its speed. Upon halting, the leopard scanned its surroundings briefly, ensuring no immediate danger, before nimbly scaling the steep rock wall. It swiftly traversed the wall, pausing at a large rock. At this point, a small cave's entrance was revealed. The pitch-black leopard felt an unfamiliar presence as it steadied itself, widening its eyes. Without hesitation, it dashed into the small cave. "Hiss—" Inside, a massive Gray Rock Snake lay coiled on a nest of grass with two black beast eggs beside it. The snake flicked its tongue, its icy eyes fixed on the eggs. Slowly, it moved its head towards one of them. "Roar!!!" A dark shadow streaked in, clamping onto the snake's neck. Despite the snake's rock-hard scales evading penetration, the leopard bit down fiercely, preventing further encroachment. But as it bit, the Gray Rock Snake coiled around the Gallant Demon Leopard, squeezing tightly. "Oww..." The cave echoed with the leopard's painful cries. Driven by maternal instinct, the Gallant Demon Leopard refused to release the snake's head, enduring the suffocating pain as it dragged the snake toward the cave's exit. In a heartbeat, the two beasts were locked in a dangerous struggle. Meanwhile, two figures emerged from the forest. Both wore simple gauzy attire, their glossy black hair draping naturally. Engaged in conversation, their fair faces were adorned with gentle smiles. These two were Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li, venturing into the forest for training. Roughly half a year had passed since they entered, amassing numerous resources, and Fu Yan had grown stronger. Fortunately, no dire crises had befallen them during this time. However, Fu Yan still had no clue about the Tree of Life that Chu Ling Ling mentioned. But having just begun their search, they were not in immediate haste. After all, if Chu Ling Ling had no luck after scouring half the continent, encountering it quickly would be unlikely. "Wait a moment." Fu Yan paused, her smile vanishing. Bai Yue Li paused as well, sensing something amiss. In an instant, they directed their attention towards the rocky wall ahead. A black Gallant Demon Leopard was locked in battle with a Gray Rock Snake. The former couldn't break the snake's defense and was nearly on the verge of being crushed. Seeing this, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li were unsurprised. In this forest, fierce beasts abounded, naturally resulting in high competition. It was not their first sight of beasts battling each other. "Let's take another path," Bai Yue Li suggested, looking back at Fu Yan, uninterested and ready to move on. Fu Yan snapped out of her thoughts, explaining, "There are two Gallant Demon Leopard eggs above, yet to hatch." Born from eggs, this wasn't startling for beastkind. "Beast eggs?" Her curiosity piqued, Bai Yue Li glanced up again. Fu Yan nodded. Her mental scan had pinpointed the situation clearly. The black Gallant Demon Leopard was defending its offspring at all costs against the Gray Rock Snake, though it was clearly losing the fight, blood dripping from its mouth. "Oww... ugh..." The leopard's anguished cries echoed from the wall. Bai Yue Li watched, slightly troubled by the sight of the beast eggs inside but was not overly sympathetic, understanding sympathy could lead to complications in this land. Seeing her hesitate, Fu Yan shrugged and said, "The Gallant Demon Leopard has all its ribs crushed by the Gray Rock Snake. It won't survive much longer." "We should go," Bai Yue Li stated calmly, pulling her gaze away. But Fu Yan swiftly interjected with a smile, "Hold on, Senior Sister. I want those two beast eggs to raise in Shuanghua Palace as guardians." This wasn’t an impulsive choice; the palace had a peak master skilled in beast husbandry. As matured Gallant Demon Leopards matched Great Circle strength, they were rare and valuable. Plus, raising beasts from eggs ensured stronger loyalty. While stronger beast eggs existed, surpassing the Great Circle stage would be difficult for the peak master to manage, making the Gallant Demon Leopard eggs ideal. With that, Fu Yan sprang into action. Meanwhile, the Gallant Demon Leopard began to succumb, its grip on the Gray Rock Snake slipping as life faded, barely holding onto its last breath. As soon as the Gray Rock Snake regained its freedom, it wasted no time, opening its blood-red maw wide to attack the Gallant Demon Leopard, aiming to finish it off once and for all. "Whoosh!" However, in the next instant, a brilliant arrow of light sliced through the sky, shooting down with precision. By the time the beasts on the cliff responded, the light arrow had already pierced through the snake's head. With a resounding "thud," the enormous Gray Rock Snake, along with the Leopard, fell from the cliff, crashing heavily to the ground. Both beasts were lifeless. Fu Yan moved swiftly, landing gracefully atop the rocky ledge. Not pausing for long, she walked into the narrow cave. The two beast eggs lay undisturbed in the grassy nest. Fu Yan's eyes focused intently, confirming their safety before waving her hand. In an instant, she had whisked the beast eggs into her spatial space. With that done, she quickly turned to leave. As she descended, she noticed Bai Yue Li standing beside the bodies of the two beasts, seemingly engrossed in something. Pausing briefly, Fu Yan approached swiftly, noting Bai Yue Li's intense expression. She couldn't help but ask, "Senior Sister, what's up?" Without turning, Bai Yue Li pointed at the Gray Rock Snake's abdomen and said, "Look there." At her words, Fu Yan followed her gaze. The snake's belly had a noticeable bulge, as if something lay hidden inside. Fu Yan's curiosity piqued slightly. Without hesitation, Bai Yue Li lightly extended her hand, her potent magic slicing effortlessly through the bulge, like a sharp blade. "Plop..." Something fell from within as Bai Yue Li retracted her hand.