When they walked outside, Yasenia could see several gazes locking onto her. Even with a veil and a modest dress, Yasenia’s beauty was not something easy to hide. She didn’t feel bothered, though. Most people here were Transcendence Realm cultivators. There were not many at this level who were swayed by their lust during important situations.
Sadly, among the people present, there were some mortals who didn’t understand their current place. So, Yasenia’s wishes of not being bothered were cut short.
A handsome man approached, followed by a few Transcendence Realm cultivators. ‘Well… It’s not like I was not expecting it. There is a reason I was holed up in that room to begin with…’
She didn’t react right away, even when she was sure that the words that would flow out of this person’s mouth would be worth forgetting.
“This dragon lady. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am the son of the grand elder of the [Crimson Lotus Hall]. Would you like to talk over there? I have a suggestion that you won’t regret listening to.”
Yasenia’s gaze moved slowly, falling onto the man for a moment. ‘That sect is a powerful demonic sect… Well, not that it matters.’
Instead of speaking to him, she looked at the people standing behind the man. “I guess this mortal child is here because you have protected a spot for him. I can’t say that it was an incorrect action. Nevertheless, you should control him before he offends someone he can’t afford to offend. Here, accidents can happen easily.”
Then, she looked at Lataria, ignoring the man, and spoke. “Let’s go. I want to check if there is something special other than residences in the town.”
While she was turning around, the man naturally felt the loud slap to his face. Burning with anger for being disrespected, he spoke coldly. “Miss, I’ve always gotten what I wanted. You are not the first nor will be the last immortal that I have fancied. Why do you bother resisting when you know things will get tangled?”
Yasenia sighed and looked at Lataria. “Are you someone with enough influence? Can you send that annoying child away without causing extra trouble?”
Lataria smiled faintly. “Perhaps… But what is my reward?”
Yasenia smiled, her eyes slightly cold. “Not abandoning you. That’s your reward.”
Lataria laughed awkwardly and turned to look at the man. “Give it up, junior. Haven’t your leaders taught you that you shouldn’t provoke dragons?”
The man smiled confidently. “So what if she is a dragon? She doesn’t dare kill me, so dragon or not, she is just another woman.”
Yasenia turned once more, her eyes emotionless. “The world won’t miss you. [Empyrean Cosmos Dragon Sovereignty].”
The three elders behind him opened their eyes and tried to step forward. However, could they move faster than Yasenia’s presence? Clearly, that was impossible.
The man’s smug expression twisted, and he bent down, opening his mouth to vomit a river of blood.
“You dare!?”
Sensing one of the elders approach with his hand coated in blood-like energy, the dragoness extended her own hand and reinforced her body. “[Blood Lotus Bloom Fist]!”
BOOM!
The wind kicked up and pushed those with weak strength away, while most managed to maintain their footing. The elder who had punched forward felt his eyes shaking. “Y-You…”
Yasenia looked down at the elder since she was half a head taller. Her face under her veil was icy as she tightly clenched the fist in her hand. The amount of damage that technique did was making her skin slightly redder, as if she had received a light bruise. “Annoying bug. [Celestial Sunder].”
Her tail flashed, blue energies interlocking into a sword shape. Then, she sliced upward from a resting position with immeasurable momentum. The over-two-meter-long dragon tail was like a sword-whip, slicing through the air with chilling strength.
The elder’s face turned pale, and he shouted. “Help!”
The other two elders reacted quickly. They knew they kicked a steel plate when Yasenia used her body to resist the fist technique.
“Stop!”
“Don’t follow through!”
Yasenia didn’t follow through with her attacks. “This was a warning because I respect the power of the sect you four belong to. However, don’t confuse this with me fearing you.” Her eyes narrowed with killing intent, making the pale-faced people feel even more pressure. “If you use this event as an excuse for revenge, I’ll make it my mission to dismantle whatever you feel precious until you see it crumble like a sandcastle against the waves.”
When she stopped talking, she turned around and walked away. Lataria looked between the people of the demonic sect and Yasenia and gulped once. ‘Thankfully, she was lenient with me.’
Only now did she realize that she had almost provoked someone whom she shouldn’t have. ‘Even after living for over 5,000 years, I still can’t see through the personalities of most cultivators. Scary, scary. I need to be careful, or I won’t even know how I died.’
The city they were resting in was very small, so it took less than three hours to check it. Yasenia tapped her chin. “So strange. There are no ships, only residences. Is this a settlement of some kind?”
Lataria hugged Yasenia’s arm with a smile. “Who knows~? Walking around like this with you is so nice. Do you feel the same?”
Yasenia gave Lataria a side glance before speaking. “Do you know how many trials this bead has?”
Feeling ignored, Lataria wanted to sob. Still, she answered obediently. “Three trials. Don’t ask what they are; I only know that there are three in total and superficial information about them.”
A deadpan expression naturally appeared on Yasenia’s face. “So you have information. You know a little, even if it is not much.”
“Well… Yeah.” Lataria chuckled. “But I won’t tell you.”
“Fine.” Yasenia sighed. They were in a partnership, but they were competitors in a way. So, it was normal for the other side to keep secrets about the trials. Especially so after she saw her strength.
‘Perhaps, if I had asked her before we left the room, she would’ve told me. It seems that I dug this grave myself by showing off.’
When the third day started, Yasenia and the rest finally heard a voice spread around.
“The Entry Trial has ended. All those who have not managed to use a Star Platform will be thrown out and crippled for a month.”
Large amounts of energy swept the area around them. Yasenia jumped up, looking at the walls of the small city. ‘Hoh? The city was a resting area that protects you from the energy outside.’
“The second trial will begin in 24 hours. The evil winds have awakened the slumbering monsters for 50 days. Kill as many as you can. Only the top 100 will pass to the final trial.”
Yasenia and Lataria looked up and saw a large scroll unfolding. These scrolls didn’t have names, but a flickering blue flame with a zero by their side. Each flickering blue flame had a unique aura, and Yasenia quickly found the flame with her own aura. ‘Ho? That’s an interesting method. Instead of using names, it uses auras to identify people. What if there are people who can camouflage or change their essence?’
She was interested, but naturally, there was no one to answer.
“Yasenia, which flame are you?”
“Would I tell you?” Yasenia answered lightly.
“Tsk, tsk. So secretive. Mine is that one!”
The dragoness easily followed her finger. She squinted, her spiritual sense trying to distinguish the hidden aura inside the flame. ‘That’s… indeed her aura.’
“Let’s go.”
Yasenia jumped forward and quickly arrived at the walls of the city. The wind that started before was still raging outside. ‘The terrain is similar to a swamp without trees. While there are some occasional ones, most of the area is full of mud lakes, wet terrain, and all kinds of moss. When did it change from the rocky wasteland?’
Lataria asked, curious. “Are we not going to hunt?”
“With this wind still blowing?” Yasenia looked around and noticed that no one was stepping forward. “Let’s wait for someone to enter the wind, and then we can move. I don’t like being other people’s experimental subject.”
The scores in the sky were all at zero, so Yasenia was not feeling anxious. Moreover, the message said that the test started 24 hours later. Clearly, this wind was there to prevent people from rushing ahead foolishly.
‘The first few seconds of the trial will be the most dangerous ones. We must be careful and avoid being tracked.’
Lataria’s blue wings flapped without moving the wind while she looked at Yasenia’s thoughtful face. ‘She said that she was over one thousand years old… But the feeling she gives me is strange. She doesn’t have the typical weariness of time on her. Even if she is a dragon, a one thousand-year-old dragon is usually calmer than her.’
When Yasenia retaliated before, she was honestly surprised. She had thought that Yasenia would either walk away while ignoring the man or be polite and reject him. From the short time they were together, she understood that Yasenia would not accept the words of others just because of their background.
‘If I had to describe her personality… A man-eating venomous rose. Beauty that tempts you to hold her, but once you do… She will swallow everything.’
While she was looking, Yasenia turned to look at her. That pair of soul-stealing golden eyes had a hint of innocent confusion when looking at her. “Why are you looking so intently? Is there something wrong?”
The mellow and charming voice, coupled with her honestly curious eyes, made Lataria’s heart itch. ‘Really… Even knowing that she is dangerous, I can’t help but want to be closer.’
“Nothing wrong. I was admiring your matchless profile.”
The curious eyes turned to helpless ones, and the dragon woman gently rolled them. That subtle eye-roll made Lataria’s throat dry and her heart thump. ‘...How can a woman be so alluring unconsciously! Ugh!’
Twenty-four hours passed quickly, and the winds constantly blowing outside the city came to a stop. During this time, a few people tried to use treasures to go outside. However, no one made it far and quickly returned. There were three or four that miscalculated and were swallowed by the tempest.
Yasenia looked around and nodded. “Let’s go.”
Her large dragon wings sprouted outward, the Sun and Moon in the blue wings shining like the celestial bodies in the sky. Then, activating [Pegasus Gallop], a white horse made of pure starlight manifested behind her. The horse merged with her wings, and then, Yasenia used the wall and her wings to shoot forward.
Lataria was expecting Yasenia’s acceleration to be powerful, but when both of them flew forward, her eyes widened. The dragon woman was so fast that she was ripping open the distance between them at a ridiculous pace.