316 - Elasia Saga

In the midst of Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li's joint cultivation within the Xu You Jade Imprint, two figures suddenly soared across the sky, swiftly disappearing into the expansive, primal forest below. It was night, and a crescent moon hung quietly in the sky, casting a faint glow. Swish! Swish! Amidst the shadows of the trees, two dark figures flitted through the forest. Though their movements were subtle, they hadn't progressed far before encountering several ferocious beasts that launched swift attacks from the side. "Roar!" With a series of sharp cries, one of the figures swiftly brandished a blade, unleashing a tremendous force that swiftly dispatched a beast boasting a strength comparable to the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage, causing blood to splatter everywhere. The surrounding beasts, witnessing the swift defeat, hurriedly retreated, apparently deterred from approaching the two figures any further. Within moments, the forest returned to its tranquil state, and the two figures halted on a massive boulder as the clouds drifted away, revealing more than half of the full moon. The moonlight, gentle and enigmatic, poured down, illuminating the boulder. In the dim light, the figures were revealed, clad in black, waist-cinched brocade robes with their hair floating in the darkness. Their fierce eyes glowed with a bloody hue, emitting an unsettling chill. Strangely, the two figures bore striking resemblances to each other, almost indistinguishable to a casual observer. If Fu Yan were present, he would immediately recognize the figure on the right side of the boulder as the Corpse Guise Daoist, who had previously sought the Zhushen Sword in the Trapped Dragon Grotto. Unknown to most of the world, the Corpse Guise Daoist was not one person, but two—Corpse Guise and Corpse Ghost, each a distinct individual. At this moment, the two who had entered the primeval forest were the elusive Corpse Guise Daoist of the Corpse Ghost Sect. The nighttime forest was akin to a beast waiting to devour, each step potentially leading to one's doom, the surrounding darkness closing in with a suffocating aura. Corpse Guise, squinting, looked into the distance, finally furrowing his brow as he murmured, "This is truly troublesome." Beside him, Corpse Ghost took out a clean handkerchief, carefully wiping the blood from between his fingers, his crimson eyes in the moonlight gaining an additional thirst for blood. "It’s not your hands that are dirty," Corpse Ghost chuckled, his seemingly harmless demeanor inexplicably chilling. After cleaning his hands, Corpse Ghost blew gently on them. Corpse Guise retracted his gaze, turning to the nonchalant Corpse Ghost, his brow still knotted. "Are you sure the Wuji Divine Palace is within the primeval forest?" "Heh..." Corpse Ghost seemed unaffected by the other's fierce demeanor, simply snorted with laughter before casually continuing, "Was there any error in the location of the Zhushen Sword last time?" It was evidently Corpse Ghost who had provided the information about the sealed Zhushen Sword in the Trapped Dragon Grotto. Thinking of this, Corpse Ghost rolled his eyes at Corpse Guise, huffing, "But didn't you make a laughable mess of things? Ten years wasted without success, and nearly perishing at the hand of Heaven's incarnation." Corpse Guise's expression darkened with these words, his sour countenance turning Corpse Ghost away in mild discomfort before he muttered, "It's the result that matters, not the process." Corpse Ghost agreed, subtly nodding. "Indeed, it's better left to the Palace Master of Shuanghai Palace, who wields the power of law, to confront Heaven's incarnation." Hence, the pursuit of the Zhushen Sword in the Trapped Dragon Grotto was intended to combat the embodiment of Heaven. Although their plan fell through, the outcome was as intended, so it wasn't entirely a loss. With Fang Yu's demise, the Corpse Ghost Sect had suddenly grown silent, making no further moves. As the cool night air descended, Corpse Guise seemed disinterested in furthering this discussion, quickly asking, "Which direction exactly?" Upon hearing this, Corpse Ghost, slightly impatient, replied, "My astrology can only provide a general direction. The Wuji Divine Palace is indeed within the primeval forest, but the precise location remains uncertain." Corpse Guise's frown deepened, yet he held his tongue. Unperturbed, Corpse Ghost continued with a smirk, "You've suppressed your breakthrough indications for over a decade. What difference does a little more time make?" "I never understood what you achieve by establishing the Corpse Ghost Sect in this continent. The people here are only fit to be... materials for our cultivation," Corpse Ghost's laughter deepened, his red eyes flickering like a demon's. Ignoring Corpse Ghost's mocking, Corpse Guise lifted his gaze skyward, murmuring, "Heaven..." Corpse Ghost abruptly dropped his smile, his eyes flashing with a dark gleam, his tone growing frostier, "Overlooked that the Heaven of this continent had developed self-awareness, otherwise..." This place would have long been turned into their massive corpse refining cauldron. "It truly is a hassle. Now even breaking through the tribulations depends on the Wuji Divine Palace." With this thought, Corpse Ghost chuckled self-mockingly, appearing calm. The madness of Heaven's will made cultivators on this continent wary of attempting breakthroughs, greatly complicating matters for them. However, finding the Wuji Divine Palace would allow them to safely undergo tribulation and ascend within its bounds, beyond the reach of Heaven’s interference. "Check again." Corpse Guise redirected his gaze to Corpse Ghost. Though amused, Corpse Ghost did not refuse. After a brief pause, he produced his astrolabe weapon and, without hesitation, raised it, a vast light bursting forth. Between them, patterns appeared in the air, complex and interwoven, impossible to decipher by an ordinary person. Time slipped by unnoticed, and eventually Corpse Ghost waved his hand to disperse the celestial shine, restoring the surroundings. His expression showed little satisfaction, hinting at meager gains. "Strange, since entering the forest, the Wuji Divine Palace's direction seems ever-shifting, at times invisible, at others, echoed from all around," Corpse Ghost explained, his tone perplexed. Corpse Guise seemed to recall something, his voice lingering with thought, "The Wuji Divine Palace can apparently move at will." Corpse Ghost fell silent, eventually stowing away his astrolabe. The pair seemed uninterested in lingering further, vanishing swiftly into the depths of the forest, leaving the area desolate as if no one had traversed there at all. ... Inside the Xu You Jade Imprint. Ten years passed in the blink of an eye, though only just over three years had elapsed outside. Unnoticed, the soul stones surrounding the spirit pool had dimmed, their initial silvery glow faded away, the contained soul power utterly depleted. Now, the stones were no different from ordinary rocks, brittle and devoid of power. Time flowed on, indiscernibly long, until the light within the spirit pool began to disperse, revealing two tightly entwined figures amidst the mist. Emerging from the vast sea of consciousness, Fu Yan finally separated from Bai Yue Li. "Mm..." Bai Yue Li shivered slightly as she returned, her fair skin flushing a delicate pink, a soft moan escaping her lips. The sound, gentle and electric, coursed swiftly through Fu Yan, who instinctively pulled her closer, leaving no space between them, their warm bodies intertwined intimately. As Bai Yue Li’s consciousness gradually returned, she felt weak, and without Fu Yan’s arm around her waist, she might have sunk to the pool's bottom. As her awareness sharpened, her eyes fluttered open at water's surface, finally focusing on Fu Yan’s face, which quickened her heartbeat. Raising her hand, she felt the silky smoothness of her skin, and as she surveyed her submerged body, an involuntary lick of her lips followed. As Bai Yue Li found herself somewhat flustered, not knowing where to direct her gaze under Fu Yan's intense stare, Fu Yan's brow furrowed slightly. At that moment, with the return of his spiritual senses, his entire sea of consciousness began to churn, and a vast wave of mental energy spread out. After ten years of soul cultivation within the Xu You Jade Imprint, combined with the use of a third of the soul stones, Fu Yan finally felt his mental strength breaking through to the next level. "Swish, swish." Affected by his mental energy, the surface of the spirit pool began to ripple, spreading outward in concentric circles. Sensing this change, Bai Yue Li returned to awareness instantly. She understood that Fu Yan’s mental energy was on the verge of breaking through to the next stage, and as she looked at his tightly furrowed brow, she stopped moving. It was a crucial moment, and Bai Yue Li knew she couldn’t allow Fu Yan to lose focus. The ripples continued to undulate, and the turbulence within his consciousness caused Fu Yan to let out a muffled groan, unconsciously tightening his hold on Bai Yue Li. For a moment, Bai Yue Li felt as if they were merging into one being. The water continued to lap against the sides, and Bai Yue Li softly raised her eyes, reaching out to gently touch his furrowed brow with her fingertips, as if trying to smooth it. Time slowly passed, and with only half an hour gone by, Fu Yan abruptly opened his eyes, as if he had just completed a strenuous exercise, his forehead covered in beads of sweat. “Huff…” He gasped for air, still holding Bai Yue Li close, and after a momentary daze, his thoughts gradually returned. Gazing at Bai Yue Li, who was right in front of him, Fu Yan suddenly smiled brightly, "Senior Sister, I’ve successfully broken through!" The breakthrough in mental energy didn’t require a tribulation, so this outcome was within Bai Yue Li’s expectations. During these ten years of dual cultivation, not only did Fu Yan’s mental energy break through, but Bai Yue Li’s spiritual awareness also became exceptionally strong. Now, even cultivators more powerful than her couldn’t forcefully invade her sea of consciousness. Of course, apart from their spiritual awareness, both had improved their cultivation levels significantly. Fu Yan could sense this easily, although Bai Yue Li couldn’t detect it due to suppressing her own breakthrough. “I saw it,” Bai Yue Li replied, her right hand still caressing Fu Yan's delicate face. Hearing this, Fu Yan instinctively rubbed his cheek against Bai Yue Li’s palm like a contented cat, leaving Bai Yue Li feeling like she might melt like a puddle under his gaze. For a fleeting moment, it felt like a flame was ignited in her palm, prompting Bai Yue Li to reflexively withdraw her hand, but Fu Yan was quicker. Quickly, he grabbed her hand, ensnaring it in his grip. In the intimate atmosphere, Bai Yue Li found her gaze dodging instinctively, while Fu Yan, unfazed, gently lowered his head and placed a soft kiss on her delicate fingertips. It was as reverent as if handling a fragile treasure. "Fu Yan..." Bai Yue Li suddenly felt her throat dry out, the heat from his lips made her instinctively murmur. However, she didn’t realize that this low murmur shattered Fu Yan’s rationality. In the next moment, Fu Yan swiftly leaned down, sealing Bai Yue Li’s lips, and this time, instead of rushing in, she gently savored and explored them. His hand started to move upward from her back, lighting sparks in its wake. “Splash, splash…” The water erupted into a flurry again, with waves and ripples spreading all around as small water droplets scattered wildly. Once more, they drowned together in the depths of the pool. ... Of course, the pair didn’t continue their cultivation, engaging instead in a simple routine physical exercise. After finishing, another day had passed within the Xu You Jade Imprint. The spirit pool on the peak platform had returned to its calm, the light and shadows of the two figures vanished. Now, fully dressed, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li showed no trace of the intimacy from before. Both turned their attention to the scattered soul stones of various sizes on the ground. “I thought an entire mine of soul stones was plenty, but after just one breakthrough, we used up more than a third,” Fu Yan remarked, shaking his head in helpless reflection. Judging by this, the remaining soul stones might not suffice for his next breakthrough. Hearing this, Bai Yue Li chuckled softly, commenting casually, “No worries, there’s plenty of time ahead, and the primeval forest surely has more soul stones.” Indeed, the primeval forest spanned half a continent, rich with opportunities and resources, so finding soul stones wouldn't be much of a challenge. Fu Yan nodded, pushing aside any further thoughts. With a wave of his hand, the depleted soul stones crumbled to dust. Turning to Bai Yue Li, he said, “Senior Sister, let’s head out.” Bai Yue Li had no objections to this. In the span of less than a breath, the two flashed out of the Xu You Jade Imprint, once again finding themselves in the primeval forest. In the outside world, only three to four years had passed, insignificant to any cultivator. With their mental and physical strength improved, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li didn’t delay further, continuing deeper into the forest for more training. Less than a month later, they had reached the heart of the primeval forest. Here, danger and opportunity were abundant, with many beasts possessing strength at the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage, and even creatures comparable to immortals. A single misstep could lead to an attack. “Roar! Roar!” That day, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li accidentally stumbled into a den of Sharp-tailed Wolves. The forest echoed with terrifying howls, prompting the pair to exchange glances and shake their heads. Without hesitation, they quickly turned and dashed in the opposite direction. Despite the wolves’ strength not being particularly high, Fu Yan or Bai Yue Li could each easily handle a group, but dealing with the two to three hundred in a pack was akin to a small-scale beast tide. While they could fight them off with some effort, it would be a fruitless battle, a waste of time. Thus, they chose not to linger, opting instead for a swift escape. Swish! Swish! In the dense forest, Fu Yan and Bai Yue Li’s figures darted like lightning, leaving the pack far behind within half a breath’s time. A few hours later, ensuring no other beasts pursued them, they slowed their pace. “The depths of the primeval forest are truly perilous!” Fu Yan remarked, glancing sideways at Bai Yue Li. They shared a smile, the exhilarating feeling of their joint escape exhilarating, filling them with a sense of satisfaction and joy. Feeling refreshed, they continued their venture further into the forest. Shortly thereafter, they encountered a massive chasm. Fu Yan paused slightly, instinctively releasing his mental energy to probe downward. Since his breakthrough with the soul stones, his mental strength was greatly enhanced. If Fu Yan wanted to control a sword array now, it wouldn’t cause him the agony it once did. And soon, his eyes lit up. Turning to Bai Yue Li with excitement, he exclaimed, “Senior Sister, down there... there are a lot of Shadow Devil Flowers!” The last time they encountered the Shadow Devil Flower was in the Demon Hinterlands of the Northern Territory. Back then, they hadn’t confirmed their relationship, but to protect Bai Yue Li, Fu Yan was swallowed by a great python. Thinking back, it seemed as if it happened just yesterday. The Shadow Devil Flower was exceedingly beneficial for Bai Yue Li’s Pure Yin physique, and those growing in the primeval forest undoubtedly surpassed the ones from the Northern Territory. Bai Yue Li was equally surprised. “Shadow Devil Flower?” Since becoming a demon cultivator, Bai Yue Li was no stranger to the term, quickly regaining her composure. Fu Yan nodded, taking her hand, "Come on, let’s go." With that, they leapt into the chasm. It wasn’t as deep as they had assumed, and within moments, they landed steadily. Once settled, Fu Yan didn’t immediately look around at the Shadow Devil Flowers. Instead, he expanded his mental energy again, scanning the entire area inside and out. This time, they needed to avoid a repeat of the dangerous encounter with the Grayrock Snake inside the soul stone mine. Fortunately, the chasm was devoid of other beasts, relatively safe, leading Fu Yan to retract his gaze, nodding reassuringly at Bai Yue Li. As Fu Yan mentioned, the chasm was indeed filled with large Shadow Devil Flowers—at least a dozen by Fu Yan’s quick count—an astonishing number. Since Bai Yue Li was unable to breakthrough, she couldn’t directly absorb the Shadow Devil Flowers. Instead, she decided to pick and store them in her storage ring. Fu Yan quickly began assisting her. As they each picked flowers on either side, a firefly, flickering in and out of view, silently flew towards them. Immediately, Fu Yan sensed an unfamiliar aura and abruptly raised her gaze to investigate. The firefly seemed ordinary, but Fu Yan found it unsettling, especially as it flew straight towards Bai Yue Li. Without hesitation, Fu Yan raised her hand, seemingly ready to swat it away. "Fu Yan, wait!" At the same time, Bai Yue Li turned her head, noticing Fu Yan’s intent. She urgently called out, causing him to pause and look at her. Glancing at the firefly, Bai Yue Li explained, "This is the aura of Fire Elder from the three Ghostfire Elders." Sensing the aura of Fire Elder from the Ghostfire Elders, Bai Yue Li was equally surprised, puzzled as to why his aura was in the primeval forest. Could it be that the Ghostfire Elders had also entered the forest? Without dwelling on it further, Bai Yue Li swiftly waved her hand, releasing a surge of dark energy that engulfed the firefly. When the energy cleared, the apparition of Fire Elder emerged in mid-air. Bai Yue Li looked up at the figure. Soon, a familiar voice resonated in her mind. Throughout this, Fu Yan could only see the Fire Elder’s shadow move its mouth but couldn’t hear anything. Noting Bai Yue Li’s thoughtful expression, she understood the significance. After a while, Fire Elder's shadow dissipated, leaving Bai Yue Li looking grave as she raised her eyes. Fu Yan paused, asking, "What happened?"