"My name is Tang Xian. You did a great job, Yasenia. Since you were the one that managed to complete the Trial, you must have received a treasure. Now, give us the reward you got."
After that absurd declaration coming from her, Yasenia was flabbergasted.
Tang Xian's tone was extremely calm and soft as she requested that absurd request. As if it was a matter of course for Yasenia to give her treasures to them.
Of course, she ignored the crowd and looked back at her with a smirk. She lifted her straight eyebrow and said, "Did you fall off the crib when you were little? Else, I don't know how to explain your mental disability. How could someone ask something like that with a straight face and not have their cheeks redden in shame? I'm impressed."
Silence!
Everyone turned silent as they looked at Yasenia with wide eyes. Most cultivators thought of Tang Xian as a goddess because of the manipulation the Tang family did in the shadows. Of course, doing something like this wasn't easy, so they invested a lot of resources into it.
Angry curses immediately followed Yasenia's words. "How dare you speak to the Holy daughter like that?"
"She is a chosen one from the Heavens! You, a filthy beast, have no right to speak to her like that!"
Yasenia's got thoughtful for a second. Then, she looked at the angry crowd and laughed, "I didn't expect you to have so much influence. With how many of them did you lay? Isn't it sore after all the work you put it through?"
More angry curses followed, some of them ready to jump on her. However, Yasenia turned her head toward the barely alive cultivator at the side, stopping them in their tracks.
Tang Xian didn't get angry. Her smile became even more gentle as she said, "You are quite a funny youngster. Heavenly Dragoness, even if our families have a grudge, we can lay it to rest today. You just have to give us a single treasure. I think it is quite generous compared with the wrongs you did to us."
"That's right! Give it to her!"
"Don't be ungrateful!"
"We are going to sabotage the Academy if you don't comply!"
Yasenia didn't even flinch at their words. 'Sabotage the Academy? Only after leading a War could I begin to understand the capabilities of those at the top. Mother could not only lead Wars easily, but she could also create a Top Power in less than a thousand years in a place where Political power was already stretched throughout the land.'
Yasenia really disdained those that spoke without knowledge. 'Her skill, intelligence, and planning abilities are way above these delusional people or their families to challenge something.'
She shook her head and decided to ignore them.
Without responding to Tang Xian, she started walking toward the Black orb in the middle of the hall.
There were people in the way, and even other cultivators came in front of her. Yasenia snorted, and an invisible ripple spread from her. She had activated a skill she had developed inside the Trial, her [Dragon Strength]. After using it continuously inside the Trial, it evolved into [Dragon Authority].
After this ripple hit the angry people in the front, their minds blanked for a second, and even though they regained their bearings shortly after, a strange phenomenon was happening in front of everyone's eyes.
Under the shouts of other cultivators, Yasenia slowly walked forward, and the crowd parted seamlessly, leaving way for her.
"Huh? What is happening?"
"Aren't they shouting at her? Why are they letting her walk?"
Obviously, it wasn't voluntary. The dragoness's sheer pressure and authority didn't let anyone bar her path.
Yasenia calmly spoke as she sashayed sensually toward the black orb, "Tang Xian, I don't know which kind of lies you have fed these people, what kind of alchemy substances you yourself ingested, nor what kind of delusional world you are living in. Do you want to know the harsh and simple truth?"
As Yasenia spoke, the people around also quieted down. By the time she made the question, everyone was silent.
Yasenia reached beside the black orb floating in the middle of the room and placed a hand on it. Then, she spoke while looking in Long Baidi's and Tang Xian's direction.
"You are nothing in my eyes."
The next moment, a blinding multicolored glow flooded the crypt-like hall. Not even the columns in the surrounding stopped the light, making everyone close their eyes for one second.
The Black Orb shrunk and entered Yasenia's body, resting inside her Dantian. Yasenia knew what this thing was and many of its uses. However, it wouldn't be until less than a month later that she would understand why the Senior told her it was essential for her.
Everyone opened their eyes and saw that not only did the orb disappear, but the formation lines to enter the Trial were also gone!
Yasenia turned and continued talking to Tang Xian and Long Baidi. "Not only you are nothing in my eyes. Your families are nothing in my mother's eyes. The only reason your families are alive is that my mother doesn't want to destroy them. I'm ashamed it took so much time for me to understand, but the only reason you can even stand here today is that my mother wants me to end the grudge between us."
Yasenia saw that the eyes of Long Baidi and Tang Xian were getting colder and her mouth made her typical seductive smirk; this time, her allure carried a mature seductiveness that tickled the heart. "In short. You are just training dummies my mother left alive to temper me."
Long Baidi's aura exploded from him, pushing all the cultivators more than 100 meters away from him and Tang Xian.
This cleared the aura around them, making them face Yasenia without no one in the middle.
His voice was cold as he said, "You are too arrogant, beast. Do you really think you can fight any of us? We are already in the second level of the Unification Realm. You who are in the ninth level of the Mental Nourishing Realm are nothing but an ant before us!"
Yasenia laughed calmly, "An ant? You are confusing my race, Long Baidi."
Her face cooled as she asserted, "I'm not an ant, but a Dragon!"
*BOOOM!*
Yasenia's [Dragon Authority] exploded outward with a terrible might. The whole hall was fully covered in her presence, making people feel constricted.
After commanding armies for decades, Yasenia's [Dragon Strength] evolved to [Dragon Authority], and although it was just the next level, the effects were incomparable.
Together with her natural aura, [Dragon Authority] was enough to pressure all the cultivators under the Unification realm to feel suffocated, as if countless shackles had sprouted from the ground and tied their limbs and neck. Worse, those below her cultivation level couldn't hold on as they fell to their knees. Their hearts felt as if they were about to burst just from her presence.
This was especially true for the beasts and beast-humans within the crowd. They felt as if an ancient beast was in front of them, showing off who was the one above all.
Long Baidi and Tang Xian's facial expressions lost their calm for the first time. Although the dragoness's current aura release didn't affect them enough to lower their combat power, the effects on the surrounding people made it clear the difference between them.
Without saying another word, Yasenia took out [Draconic Heart].
However, its form was very different from before.
The previously rocky and rusted surface around it was gone, and a blue-colored greatsword with a red core was left.
The size was also smaller than before.
Previously, if Yasenia placed the blade tip on the ground, the sword would end on her shoulders, and the hilt would go even higher than her height.
Now, if Yasenia did the same action, the end of the hilt would reach Yasenia's neck. Of course, it was a small sword by any means. However, it was much more agile than before.
In short, the previous bulkiness has been replaced by a sharp edge and sleek body.
Moreover…
The individuals that could barely resist Yasenia's aura suddenly exclaimed, "A high-level Heaven-grade sword!"
"Is that sword the reward for the trial?"
"If it is, it is a worthy reward for a trial worth 300,000 points."
"The aura it gives is very profound, indeed an excellent treasure."
That's right, after nourishing it for 20 years with her limited energy, it had grown from the previous low-level Heaven grade to the current High-level Heaven grade.
The transformation to its shape came naturally and slowly as Yasenia fought with it, becoming increasingly compatible with Yasenia's developing battle style.
It became less cumbersome and strong, focusing on agility and maneuverability.
It was still a heavy and big sword, but it could be said to be light compared to the prior form. This way, Yasenia's powerful legs would be freer during combat, and implementing kicks to her arsenal was not impossible.
Yasenia declared, "You two are lucky that I have more important matters to deal with. However, I'm sure we will see each other soon. At that time, pray to the Heavens so that you can survive."
Yasenia pointed her sword toward the exit and exclaimed, "Those that don't want to die, MOVE!"
Then, Yasenia pushed against the ground, and after a golden aura surrounded her figure, she streaked across the room and disappeared, leaving a golden trail behind her.
She rapidly zoomed through the spiral stairs and went out of the underground chamber, leaving a stunned crowd behind.
With Yasenia gone, her pressure also banished. Many cultivators took a deep breath, filling their lungs with oxygen. The collective gasp was a clear sign of most people's situation.
However, those that were not that affected felt fooled. And their thoughts began drifting.
Someone asked, "Did she run away?" And this question sparked doubt a lot of in the cultivators. No one liked feeling like an ant before people of similar age. Cultivators also made a lot of excuses to hide their ugly inferiority complex, jealousy, and bitter resentment.
"So much for the Heavenly Dragoness! I will call her the cowardly dragoness!"
"I bet that the previous pressure was an intimidation skill! There are plenty of those."
"She must have been weak, and to take the treasure and escape, she must have bluffed her own strength!"
"Right! The next time we see her, we will kill her and take the sword from her!"
Tang Xian and Long Baidi heard the comments and also shared their feeling. 'We were fooled by a beast! The next time it won't go the same way!"