As Yasenia stepped into the sect, conversation faltered. Eyes followed her without permission.
The white kimono she wore opened boldly at the front, revealing more than propriety usually allowed. However, on her, it didn't become indecent; it transformed her beauty into raw allure and unbound elegance.
Each step drew attention to the curve of her body, but it was her golden slit gaze that held it there. With her hands gracefully gathered before her stomach, she looked imperial.
The white silk brushed the floor behind her, yet the front rose just enough to reveal white shoes embroidered with blue flowers. The same blue that shimmered along her starlit tail, weaving behind her.
Every detail was aligned, deliberate, and devastating.
Every movement became an accessory to her presence.
Some sect members, unaware of who she was, couldn't help but stare and whisper among themselves.
"Who… is she?" One muttered, breathless.
"Heavens… I didn't know a goddess like her had been born in the dragon race." Another spoke, a sour tone in her words.
"Even among dragons, her appearance feels… above." A third sighed, failing to find a better word to explain the complexity within him.
Soon, people who had learned of Yasenia began clarifying, making those who were unaware know that the woman with beauty that would make even a royal succubus feel lacking was the number one talent in the entire Blue Pearl World.
The knowledge was like a punch to all women who were initially jealous. After all, the imposing dragon woman was not just a pretty flower but the leader of the younger generation, who could compete with elders in their sects tens of times her age.
Of course, Yasenia didn't take any comment to heart, filtering everything that she didn't care about. Eventually, her ears finally reacted to one comment.
"Compared to her… Lady Lidia feels utterly lackluster."
Yasenia's golden slit eyes flashed, and her orbs finally stopped looking ahead to move to the side. Naturally, being the very center of attention, everyone around instantly noticed the shift.
Meng Lihua almost wanted to curse at the person who spoke. 'Why did he reveal Lidia's existence so easily? I wanted to pass this ordeal without bothering her!'
Yasenia asked, curious. "The number one talent of the sect is named… Lidia?"
Her mellow and rich feminine voice softened the listener's bones. Meng Lihua glanced at Yasenia, her mind spinning with methods to make their encounter not happen. After all, for every genius, Yasenia's existence was nothing but a walking nest of Heart Demons.
Every proud son and daughter of heaven, once compared to Yasenia, felt utterly lacking and plain. It was a blow that not many geniuses who had been praised for centuries could take without feeling cracks in their will and resolve.
The man who spoke, being stared at and spoken to by Yasenia, lost the ability to speak and became a stuttering mess. "T-That, Lady, um. Yes, Lidia. S-She…"
The incoherent chain of words made Yasenia move her gaze away toward Meng Lihua. She chuckled faintly. "It seems that he can't answer me. Can you answer instead, Senior?"
Meng Lihua's lips twitched. 'If I were a mortal, I probably wouldn't have done much better than that junior.'
She glanced at Yasenia's eyes and smiled. "Indeed. Lidia is our top genius. She is not 200 years old, but she is already a Half Step Dantian Spiritualization Realm cultivator. At her current pace, she should be able to break through before her 300th year."
Yasenia was faintly surprised. "That's… impressive."
She was not being sarcastic. While she knew Lidia's talent was great, as she was in the Violet class back in the Sky Continent, she didn't expect her to become a peak Fifth Realm cultivator so quickly.
Yasenia paused, looking thoughtful. Her alluring eyes squinted slightly, and she smiled. "I would like to meet her, if possible. Someone like her is rare to encounter."
Meng Lihua almost screamed a big denial. But, seeing the gazes of Tatyana, Ao Xianlan, and Lady First, she was forced to smile and nod. "That would be her honor, Lady Yasenia. Please, follow me. Still, she is probably in her cultivation abode. Therefore, would you like to first visit Chen Xueli? I'll guide Lidia to meet with you in time."
Yasenia nodded with a smile. "Sure. I am not in a hurry either way. I just felt like walking out and stretching a bit after cultivating."
Meng Lihua nodded with a smile. "Alright, let's move then."
As they walked, Luan Feixue couldn't help but glance at Yasenia's back and elegantly swaying tail. 'I probably spent my whole life's luck gaining a connection with Master.'
Meanwhile, Yasenia's lips secretly arched as a playful light flashed in her eyes. 'I wonder how Lidia will react before she knows it is me… or even after. Ah~. I am really looking forward to this!'
Seeing Yasenia's mischievous look, Tatyana couldn't help but chuckle.
The entourage quickly arrived at Chen Xueli's training area. She, as one of the top geniuses, was in the core sect area. Here, the buildings were all crafted with [Energy Gathering Formations]. You could see cultivation towers, training areas, and skill libraries spread around.
The resources in the core area were incomparable to the rest of the sect. Yasenia, wanting to expand a bit on knowledge, asked curiously. "Isn't the discrepancy between Core Disciples and the rest too exaggerated? I feel that 90% of the resources are gathered here, while the other 10% is divided among the other three areas."
Meng Lihua answered with some admiration. "Your estimation is spot on. 90% of disciple resources are spent on Core Disciples, 7% for Inner Disciples, 2% for Advanced Disciples, and 1% for Outer Disciples."
She smiled. "We believe in our systems. Therefore, when a disciple is placed in the outer area, we are not expecting much from them. Of course, if someone managed to claw their way up from those outer zones, they are treated with even more priority than those who land straight into the Inner Sect."
Yasenia hummed. "I see."
As they walked, they arrived at an open training area. Yasenia could see 13 disciples actively training there, and among them, Chen Xueli was standing at the side laughing with another female disciple.
Meng Lihua's face darkened slightly when she saw her slacking. "Chen Xueli! Move your ass over here!"
The cheerful girl jumped like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on. "M-Master!? Why are you…"
Her voice got caught in her throat, her eyes inevitably gravitating toward the tall Dragon woman in her white, seductive kimono. It wasn't only her, as every single disciple stopped what they were doing.
Meng Lihua spoke again. "Chen Xueli, you will get punished later. For now, come here. Someone has come to greet you."
Chen Xueli was stupefied. She, of course, didn't recognize Yasenia. When they met, Yasenia was in her dragon form, and later, she entered the flame lake area and focused on cultivating.
Absorbing the gains from entering the flame area took her months. Therefore, she was unable to see the rest of the tournament, leaving with the Radiant Flow Sect soon after.
The only thing she knew was Yasenia's name, but not her humanoid appearance.
Therefore, at this moment, she was so nervous that her hands started sweating. 'W-Who is that big beauty!? If I had ever met her, I would've known!'
"Stop spacing out!"
Meng Lihua exclaimed, only to sigh as she gave Yasenia a side glance. 'Not that I blame her.'
Chen Xueli jumped again and quickly ran over with small steps and a shy disposition. Arriving in front of Yasenia, who was faintly smiling at her, tangled her tongue. "T-That. Um… T-This beautiful lady, why would you require this humble one's presence?"
Even if she was a genius, Yasenia was clearly not a normal individual. Meng Lihua's attitude was extremely telling.
Yasenia, hearing her words, raised her eyebrow gently. The gesture made Chen Xueli scream in her head. 'Oh my god! She is going to steal my heart! Kya!'
"You don't remember me? I am hurt, Chen Xueli."
The mellow and slightly teasing voice sent shivers down Xueli's spine. "K-Know you?" The peak-level Fifth Realm cultivator squeezed her brain as hard as she could, but nothing came to mind… until she spotted Yasenia's swaying tail.
How could she forget that dragon tail? It was the tail that created a massive hole for her to hide in the Tournament's Illusion Realm!
"Y-You are Yasenia Dravory!"
Her exclamation sent all the curious and interested disciples into a stupor. That name, among geniuses, was as sonorous as thunder.
"That's Yasenia Dravory!?"
"The top genius of the tournament!?"
Yasenia chuckled and leaned slightly down to look eye-to-eye with the petite and adorable girl. "That's me. I am glad you remember me, this big dragon."
Chen Xueli's eyes moved down at the two very difficult to ignore "water drops."
"Hey, eyes up here~."
"Y-Yes!"
Chen Xueli squeaked, looking up with a beet-red face. Yasenia laughed softly and straightened again and smiled. "Alright, let's go talk a bit. I found you quite cute when we encountered each other in the Illusion Realm, so I decided to visit you. Also, you spoke to me back then about your junior sister, remember?"
Meng Lihua froze, and then, she glared as if she wanted to kill the girl. 'So it was your fault!? I am going to slap your butt red!'
A shiver went down Chen Xueli's spine when she saw Meng Lihua's stare. Trying her best to ignore it, she looked up at Yasenia and smiled with difficulty. "T-That, senior, your words are my blessing."
While she was innocent and quite pure, Chen Xueli was not stupid. Naturally, she would not act freely in front of Yasenia. Not to mention, Yasenia was already an immortal cultivator while she was still at the peak of the mortal realms.
The difference in status between them was as vast as the distance between Heaven and Earth.
Yasenia squinted slightly and stretched her long, elegant fingers to pinch her face. "Don't be so stiff, or I'll be displeased. Anyway, accompany me and show me your sect. I am curious." Her gaze moved toward Meng Lihua, and she smiled. "Senior, you can go get Lidia now. Little Xueli will accompany me from now on."
Meng Lihua smiled. "Alright."
At the same time, she sent a message to the girl. 'If you dare disrespect Lady Yasenia, I'll skin you alive! You heard me!'
Chen Xueli felt very miserable at this moment. 'Why did I have to confuse Senior Yasenia back then with an illusion beast?'
As the other Core Disciples watched Yasenia walk away with Chen Xueli, they all felt jealous.
"Ugh… If I knew that there would be a chance to meet Celestial Dragon Yasenia, I would've practiced harder to beat Xueli in the tournament."
"Do you think that you would've attracted Lady Yasenia's attention with your pitiful talent and strength?"
"Heh. You are not any better."
"Can you all stop embarrassing yourselves? Did you forget that Lady Yasenia is a Third Level Transcendence Realm Senior? She can probably hear everything you are saying!"
The others paused, their hearts skipping a beat.
Meanwhile, in a cultivation cave, a short and curvy blonde girl sat cross-legged with a serious expression. Although with her adorable facial features, the woman's seriousness felt like a child trying to be a serious adult.
Hearing the commotion outside, her green-colored eyes opened with confusion. "What's happening outside?"
Meng Lihua's voice reached her at that moment. "Lidia, come out! There is a very important guest you must meet!"
Lidia blinked and muttered. "Must? Master never used the word "must" previously…"
Knowing that she couldn't stay in the cave this time, she sighed and slowly stood up. Still, inside, her heart hardened. 'Soon, I'll be able to break through and go out to search for you, little sister. Wait for me, Angel.'