259 Proliminary - Elasia Saga

As Fu Yan's calm voice broke the brief silence on the spirit ship, everyone finally regained their composure. Yi Tu found himself in a bit of a predicament. When Fu Yan tossed him the head, he didn't have time to think—he caught it reflexively. As the head landed in his hands, the warmth of fresh blood mixed with the smell of decay smeared Yi Tu's hands. Looking down, he found himself gazing into the terror-stricken eyes of the decapitated head. Yi Tu: "..." In that instant, Yi Tu was nearly overwhelmed with the urge to toss the head away, but managed to bring himself back to his senses. Taking a deep breath, he quelled the horror he felt. "One of the Eight Generals...?" Yi Tu stifled the stench and quickly freed a hand to cast a purification spell on himself, feeling like he could finally breathe again. Fu Yan nodded, her gaze seemingly inadvertently landing on Ji Xian, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I've heard the Corpse Ghost Sect is famous for its eight top-tier experts in the Great Ascension stage, known as the Eight Generals." Fu Yan had already thoroughly investigated information about the Corpse Ghost Sect. They had expanded rapidly in recent years, with at least four individuals surpassing the Immortal Realm. Those in the Great Ascension stage were numerous too. However, being one of the Eight Generals was no ordinary feat. Their strength was marked by having survived two heavenly tribulations, placing them at the pinnacle of the Great Ascension stage. In recent years, the Eight Generals of the Corpse Ghost Sect had become figures of dread for smaller factions, who found escaping from them virtually impossible once encountered. For this reason, the lives of the Eight Generals carried hefty bounties from various factions. Fu Yan kept the head as it was indeed worth something. Yi Tu, familiar with the workings of the Corpse Ghost Sect, was left surprised by Fu Yan's declaration. "So it really was one of the Eight Generals," he exclaimed, suddenly understanding, "I suspected that the strange blaze and corpse venom earlier weren't a coincidence. The Corpse Ghost Sect must be targeting us." Fu Yan offered no further explanation, instead turning a contemplative gaze towards Ji Xian, asking, "What do you think?" At her question, all eyes went to Ji Xian. Out of the corner of his eye, he still glimpsed the head in Yi Tu’s hand. This person, one of the Eight Generals, had died with eyes wide, as if witnessing something utterly terrifying right before death. The scene from before replayed in Ji Xian's mind, where Fu Yan had struck down their adversary with such overwhelming power that her opponent hadn't even had the chance to fight back. How could Fu Yan's power be so otherworldly? Even though Ji Xian had lost in their last confrontation, he hadn't considered her strength to be that exceptional. Although the head of the general was valuable, Fu Yan, as the leader of a palace, wouldn’t concern herself with it. Yet Ji Xian suddenly entertained a chilling thought—was Fu Yan deliberately showing him the head? Was his identity exposed? Impossible. Ji Xian dismissed the idea; he was confident his disguise, hiding the corpse energy within him, was flawless. With everyone watching him, Ji Xian maintained his composure, lightly laughing as he confidently voiced his opinion: "From this, it seems obvious the Corpse Ghost Sect has designs not only on us." He maintained eye contact with Fu Yan as he continued, "With news of the artifact from Phantom Heart Lake spreading across the continent, factions eager for gain are flocking there. The Corpse Ghost Sect likely recognized this and staged an ambush en route." Ji Xian understood that while Fu Yan might not be certain, she was indeed somewhat suspicious of him. Ji Xian's analysis dispelled any doubts among the others. Liu Bei nodded in agreement, "The Corpse Ghost Sect is truly despicable, even more so than Mo Ling. They only know how to ambush in secret, filthy creatures indeed." "It's a good thing our palace leader is here, or we would have suffered severe losses today," Yi Tu commented, taking some time to process everything before turning to Fu Yan with a cheerful acknowledgment. Carefree, Fu Yan withdrew her gaze, speaking nonchalantly: "You're correct. The Corpse Ghost Sect indeed harbors such plans." After a moment, a smile graced her lips again as she continued, "Let's hope we won't encounter a second ambush soon." With that, she looked at the group and gestured for them to continue their journey. Understanding Fu Yan's signal, they didn't linger, resuming their trek toward Phantom Heart Lake on the spirit ship. As for the head of the Eight Generals member, Yi Tu had already stored it away, intending to exchange it for a bounty from one of the prominent factions in the central capital. Fu Yan paid it no mind as she stayed behind on the deck with Shui Liu Qing. Under the vast night sky, the moon finally peeked through, restoring a semblance of tranquility with no apparent threats. A gentle breeze brushed across the deck, lifting strands of hair before Fu Yan and Shui Liu Qing, their garments softly swaying in the night like a delicate wash of color in an ink painting. With her hands behind her back, Fu Yan glanced at Shui Liu Qing and inquired calmly, "Have you ever dealt with the Corpse Ghost Sect before?" It was evident Shui Liu Qing had an acute sense about the corpse venom. Shui Liu Qing had already stored away her life puppet and was gripping her spirit sword without much expression. "I've encountered them. The first time, I was accidentally poisoned by corpse venom." Since Fu Yan had entered the Frost Palace's trials, she hadn't inquired much about Shui Liu Qing's past from over a decade ago. Given that cultivators have their own secrets, she never pried unnecessarily. However, due to the involvement of the Corpse Ghost Sect, Fu Yan decided to ask. Shui Liu Qing explained without concealment, recounting her encounter with corpse venom and the blood sacrifice array from that night. Naturally, she omitted details concerning Ji Qing Jue. After hearing this, Fu Yan was slightly surprised, not expecting Shui Liu Qing to have crossed paths with the Corpse Ghost Sect during their rise and yet managed to escape the blood sacrifice array. Lost in thought, Fu Yan found her brows knitting slightly. It seemed the Corpse Ghost Sect was indeed a significant problem. After acquiring some information about the Corpse Ghost Sect, Fu Yan didn't press further. She simply advised Shui Liu Qing to be extremely cautious should they cross paths with the sect again. Just as Fu Yan was about to turn back, Shui Liu Qing suddenly recalled something. She hesitated for a moment but chose not to speak aloud, opting instead to communicate to Fu Yan through divine transmission, "Palace Master, I find tonight’s events rather coincidental." Upon hearing this, Fu Yan was somewhat taken aback. She hadn’t expected Shui Liu Qing to be so perceptive, noting the peculiarities as well. Halting her step, Fu Yan turned to Shui Liu Qing. Considering for a moment, Shui Liu Qing candidly added, "I have a hunch someone aboard our ship isn’t trustworthy." This could be on the spirit ship or possibly the puppet ship. Fu Yan showed no reaction to Shui Liu Qing's observation, as if she hadn't heard anything, casually diverting her gaze before heading inside. Seeing this, Shui Liu Qing paused. Yet as soon as Fu Yan turned, a name echoed in her mind. "Ji Xian," Fu Yan voiced candidly. ... By the following afternoon, a spirit ship approached swiftly from the front. "Those are... members of Nan Luo Zong." Yi Tu was the first to recognize them, explaining to those nearby, although slightly puzzled, "I remember they set off for Phantom Heart Lake a day ahead of us, so why are they returning the way they came?" As they spoke, the Nan Luo Zong ship passed closely by theirs. As they drew near, it became clear something was wrong. The Nan Luo Zong's ship appeared battered as though it had been attacked, with multiple areas patched up with spirit stones. Aboard the ship, only three figures remained, and they all seemed to be severely injured. "What happened to them?" Liu Bei muttered curiously as he took a closer look. Fu Yan retracted her gaze, having likely formed a conjecture. She looked at Yi Tu, silently instructing him to investigate. With that, Yi Tu swiftly disappeared from their ship. During the entire exchange, Ji Xian remained silent, his face showing no particular emotion, seemingly indifferent and unfazed by the situation. Discreetly, Shui Liu Qing cast a fleeting glance at Ji Xian before turning to Fu Yan and proposing, "Perhaps Nan Luo Zong encountered a similar ambush from the Corpse Ghost Sect last night." Hearing her, Liu Bei snapped back to reality, affirming her suspicion, "It must have been the Corpse Ghost Sect. Who else could it possibly be?" Fu Yan remained silent, neither confirming nor denying anything. Before long, Yi Tu returned and promptly addressed Fu Yan, relaying the information he had gathered: "As expected, they also faced an ambush from the Corpse Ghost Sect last night." Nobody seemed particularly surprised by this revelation. "But," Yi Tu continued, "their situation last night differed from ours." Liu Bei appeared puzzled. "How so?" "It turns out there was a mole from the Corpse Ghost Sect among their elders, which caught them completely unprepared. If it weren't for one elder in the Great Ascension stage possessing some life-preserving techniques, they might have been wiped out entirely." As he spoke, a solemn expression crossed Yi Tu’s face, finding the situation quite unbelievable. Upon hearing this, Shui Liu Qing subtly glanced at Ji Xian once again, a fleeting look that was hard to notice. "Aren't they worried about another ambush on their way back?" Liu Bei questioned, concerned for the heavily injured trio they had seen earlier. Yi Tu responded, "Nan Luo Zong has already received word and will have someone meet them halfway for protection." "Were they also confronted by one of the Eight Generals?" Fu Yan finally broke her silence, her voice calm and measured. Yi Tu shook his head with a slight frown, "Uncertain. They likely don't know either." Without Fu Yan's intervention, they probably wouldn't have faced the Eight Generals themselves last night. This wasn't the time for a direct confrontation with the Corpse Ghost Sect, so once they had a collective understanding of the situation, the group didn't linger on the topic. Their current mission was to reach Phantom Heart Lake, and everything else would have to be set aside for now. Fu Yan glanced towards the horizon, contemplating. She suspected that apart from the protagonist and his entourage, the Corpse Ghost Sect might make a surprise appearance at Phantom Heart Lake. However, they would likely operate in the shadows and avoid overt exposure. Half a month later. Fu Yan and her group finally steered their spirit ship towards Phantom Heart Lake. They were not early arrivals; by the time they reached, the skies above the lake were already crowded with spirit ships from various sects. With so many sects present, Fu Yan and her group could only anchor over the forest behind the lake. Their arrival went unnoticed by most. "What's going on?" Yi Tu queried, puzzled by the scene before him. But before he could dwell on it, a sudden tremor emanated from deep within Phantom Heart Lake. "Boom!" The sound of an explosion echoed, causing the lake's surface to shudder violently, sending water splashing into the air. Yi Tu: "..." Clearly, the space under Phantom Heart Lake had not yet stabilized due to the emergence of an ancient immortal tomb. Entering now would risk being torn apart by the fractured space or banished to some chaotic realm. When the tremor subsided, several experts in the Great Ascension stage plunged into the lake to investigate. Retracting her gaze, Fu Yan assessed that the lake's depths had yet to stabilize and would require a few more days to do so. Thinking thus, Fu Yan shifted her focus from the lake and returned to the spirit ship, with Shui Liu Qing and Ji Xian close behind. Yi Tu and Liu Bei had no intention of staying aboard. Exchanging a glance, they disembarked to mingle with the multitude of cultivators gathered, eager to gather more intel. The following morning, another tremor reverberated from the depths of Phantom Heart Lake. As Fu Yan stepped out, calm reigned once more. Her gaze swept the multitude of factions gathered in the distance. Among the crowd, the emblem of the Sword King Sect stood out prominently. Fu Yan narrowed her eyes slightly, catching sight of the protagonist, Fang Yu. After decades, his cultivation had also ascended to the Great Ascension stage. Fang Yu was indeed a once-in-a-millennium genius, having achieved such heights before the age of one hundred. Some speculated he might ascend to immortality within a century. If the original narrative were to play out, it might indeed happen. Though Fu Yan appeared similarly accomplished, she knew her strength came not from innate talent but from the Xuyou Jade Seal and her relentless effort over the years. In truth, her cultivation journey spanned over a century. Nonetheless, Fu Yan possessed strength to rival the protagonist's, and using the seal was, in her case, good fortune. Fu Yan didn't dwell on it, soon shifting her attention to other factions. Unbeknownst to her, Shui Liu Qing had also emerged from the ship. Her gaze swiftly locked onto the direction of Hua Ling Gu. Hua Ling Gu, another of the top sects like Sword King Sect, exuded an equally impressive aura. Their spirit ship was anchored at the far left of Phantom Heart Lake, distancing itself from other sects to maintain privacy. Known for being aloof, Hua Ling Gu rarely engaged with others. In the vast sky, a quietude surrounded their vicinity, and apart from the ordinary disciples at the ship's fore, few others were visible. Inside Hua Ling Gu's ship, incense quietly burned, its smoke curling gracefully upward. Seated in meditation was a graceful figure who soon opened her eyes. Jing Qing Jue returned to herself amidst a mild commotion outside but dismissed it, realizing she couldn't continue meditating. Rising, she prepared to step outside. Outside the spirit ship, predecessors who had delved into the lake returned, entering a chamber with the elders. With a naturally seductive air, Jing Qing Jue carried an enchanting presence. She casually inquired with the disciple below, "What transpired?" "Sister Ji," the disciple stammered, startled yet promptly explaining, "Elder Chang has returned, and it seems they will allow entrance to the lake's depths tomorrow." Jing Qing Jue paused and nodded, unsurprised, as they had been waiting for nearly ten days. Although general knowledge of what lay beneath Phantom Heart Lake was scant, Hua Ling Gu had long since received intel about the imminent emergence of an ancient immortal tomb. Observing Jing Qing Jue fall silent, the questioner seemed slightly dejected, stealing a glance and blushing at her beauty. Sister Ji is so stunning, they thought. A breeze swept by as Jing Qing Jue casually surveyed the sects surrounding the lake, her gaze unfocused. Soon, she turned back to her quarters. Now, all waited for the morrow. ... Shui Liu Qing found no signs of the familiar figure she sought, and for a moment, a shadow passed over her eyes before she composed herself. "What's wrong?" Fu Yan asked, noticing the subtle shift in Shui Liu Qing's demeanor. Shui Liu Qing shook her head, her expression returning to normal. "Nothing," she replied, as if the prior moment had been a figment of imagination. Seeing Shui Liu Qing's reluctance to elaborate, Fu Yan said no more, respecting her privacy. By evening, Yi Tu and Liu Bei returned, eyes bright with the knowledge they had gathered. Yi Tu wasted no time, addressing Fu Yan directly, "Palace Master, it seems the lake's space will stabilize by tomorrow, allowing entry." This information, known only to the prominent central factions, had yet to spread widely. Yi Tu had gone to great lengths to uncover it. Fu Yan merely nodded, unsurprised. Even knowing beforehand wouldn't grant them earlier access, as only major factions from the central capital would lead the initial descent. Others would follow suit. "Oh, right," Liu Bei interjected, "Palace Chief Ji's words proved true. I've confirmed many sects were ambushed by the Corpse Ghost Sect along the way." Among their targets were weaker sects; the Corpse Ghost Sect was largely successful, inflicting heavy losses across the board. Only Frost Palace seemed relatively unscathed, with just one disciple poisoned but successfully eliminating one of the Eight Generals. Hearing Liu Bei’s remark left the group momentarily stunned, particularly Ji Xian, whose expression gave a slight yet telling shift upon being mentioned. "Remember, members of the Corpse Ghost Sect are skilled in disguise. It's certain they are hiding among the major factions outside," Yi Tu speculated, considering the chaotic scene beyond. Fu Yan mused, thinking there was already one nearby. Clang— Suddenly, the sound of clashing swords and the ripple of battle startled everyone out of their conversation, prompting them to step outside. On Phantom Heart Lake, two figures engaged in fierce combat. One pursued relentlessly while the other struggled defensively. Seeing the scene, Fu Yan was taken aback to recognize the combatant as none other than the protagonist, Fang Yu. "What happened?" Yi Tu asked, bewildered. "Who would dare duel here?" They soon got their answer. The commotion over Phantom Heart Lake naturally caught everyone's attention, leading to a growing buzz of conversation around them. "Sword King Sect's Fang Yu is as formidable as they say, spotting a Corpse Ghost Sect member among the crowd so quickly. And it's said he's one of the Eight Generals." "Look at that, even one of the Corpse Ghost Sect's Eight Generals can't stand against him. At this rate, it'll be over in a few more moves." "..." In the night sky, Fang Yu deftly flipped his sword, sending dozens of shimmering blades toward his opponent, targeting every vital point. With a sharp "sizzle," Fang Yu transformed into a streak of sword light, piercing straight through his opponent's body. In mere moments, the Eight General from the Corpse Ghost Sect lay lifeless. It was a moment of triumph for the onlookers. Amidst the cheers, nobody noticed Ji Xian's face turning pale as he swallowed nervously. In a separate dimension— Mo Ling lazed, munching on a stalk of demon miscanthus when it suddenly tensed, eyes widening with alarm, nearly darting out from its place. Thankfully, Fu Yan swiftly restrained it. "I advise against coming out now; I won't be responsible for what happens." Mo Ling's unique identity must remain hidden. "What just happened outside?" Mo Ling inquired, reluctantly staying put, yet curious about the outside events. "Someone was dueling," Fu Yan replied, not thinking much of it. Mo Ling fell silent, furrowing its brow. Moments ago, it had sensed a faint trace of a divine will. Outside, over Phantom Heart Lake, Fang Yu, having vanquished the Eight General, severed the head, then swiftly returned aboard the Sword King Sect's spirit ship. People murmured in astonishment. After the show, Fu Yan turned her gaze away, only realizing Mo Ling seemed unsettled. "What is it?" she asked. Mo Ling paused, collecting its thoughts before responding with a composed demeanor, "I'm not sure if it's a mistake, but I felt a faint hint of divine will." "Divine will?" Fu Yan was taken aback. For some reason, hearing these words, Fu Yan was reminded of the protagonist, Fang Yu. It couldn't be a coincidence that Mo Ling detected divine will right after Fang Yu acted. What could this mean? Though Fang Yu was the protagonist, he wasn't divine will. Sensing her doubt, Mo Ling elaborated, "Within that man's power, there was a subtle trace of divine will—similar to the law force you possess." Divine will and laws. Both are forces of their realm.