Meanwhile, the other people looked with interest at Angel. They didn't expect this human woman to be so talented in formations that she almost won the competition.
Even the judge found it worth speaking with her and getting close to her. It was strange in this world where most of the population looked down on humans.
Yet, looking at how snugly the little human fit between Yasenia's arms, they could more or less understand. Angel's low stature and soft body must be extremely delightful to hug.
Your arms would go over her shoulders comfortably, and her arms would circle your waist while she buried her face in your chest. It was a really cozy and snug experience.
Elder Song at the side commented. "Lady Yasenia's humans are different. They are all so talented and good-looking. Moreover, how to say it… They feel different."
Yasenia proudly smiled and answered. "My little dears are the best. It's a matter of course that you would think like that."
"I can see that, haha."
Jorey looked at Andrea and Tatyana and pondered a few things. 'Are these two as skilled as the other two humans? I wouldn't be surprised, to be honest.'
She decided to ask instead of thinking about it. "Are you two as skilled as Evelyn and Angel? I wouldn't be shocked if you answered yes, but I'm curious."
Tatyana humbly smiled and spoke calmly. "You are overestimating me, Lady Jorey. I'm just good with words. My proficiency is far below they, who were trained as Spirit Profession masters."
Yasenia and the others had to hold back from rolling their eyes. 'A tiger in sheep's clothing is not enough to measure the level of deceit she is pulling off. The level is almost literally that of a goddess in mortal clothing!'
"Good with words? What do you mean by that?"
Tatyana explained. "I excel at managerial skills. All my talents are focused on creating plans, sorting out information, and, in general, helping the Matriarch lighten her workload."
"Ho? So you are something similar to Lady Yasenia's right-hand woman?"
"Far from it, Lady Jorey. There are people like that that are not present today already. I'm a little extra helper." Tatyana answered smoothly and calmly, her bearing making a few take a second look.
Although Tatyana was trying to act like a lower-class person, her innate elegance and authority couldn't be ignored.
"What about you, Andrea? Are you as good as your other two slave sisters?"
Andrea felt funny when she heard that term. 'Slave sisters? Quite a unique way of grouping us up.'
Our tall woman pondered and then answered. "I'm a bit more experienced than them. My age is greater, after all. Regardless, I shouldn't be as good as little Angel."
Angel instantly denied it. "Andrea, you are very strong! I'm probably not as good as you!"
Andrea chuckled, and Yasenia couldn't help but frown for a second. 'Sigh, is my darling beginning to lose confidence? Well, she has always been someone who self-criticizes a lot. My darling always looks at herself strictly and objectively, so she should be taking into account Angel's saint inheritance before making the evaluation.'
Yasenia sighed again. 'Yet, she currently should be better than Angel profession-wise. Andrea has a decade more than Angel of experience. Even if my baby is a genius, isn't Andrea also a blacksmithing genius? She even impressed one of Mom's direct subordinates, Aunty Irina, which says a lot. If I didn't come by, darling would've probably developed to work for Mom in the future.'
A junior woman, a short bunny girl, asked. "Are you better than the blue-haired human?"
Andrea looked at Evelyn and patted her head. "I am. She is still the most inexperienced among us, after all."
Evelyn pouted, but she didn't answer because Andrea's head pats were very comfortable.
Yasenia snorted and walked toward Andrea. She forced her to sit and then planted her soft butt on her lap.
Andrea didn't know what to do with the gorgeous person that was suddenly sitting on her lap.
"Don't be humble, darling. You must brag if you are good. Who has time for shame? You are a very talented blacksmith, so brag about it! Also, why are your arms still down? Hug me!"
Andrea laughed helplessly with a doting gaze. She gathered Yasenia between her arms, feeling the dragoness's soft body squishing against her delightfully, and then spoke softly. "Then, I'll say that I'm confident in entering the top five. Is that enough, Matriarch?"
"That's much better."
Yasenia was still a little dissatisfied, but she answered like so.
She felt that Andrea had the strength to get first place.
However, she didn't force her darling to speak up since looking at the competition with wariness and always looking out for exceptions was an excellent way of doing things. That way, you would always give your all and never leave a window to relax and be lazy.
Of course, tackling every problem with this mentality was not something a person should do, but doing so in essential events was a perfect way of motivating oneself to self-improve.
One of Elder Yu's disciples, the blacksmith elder, snorted and crossed his arms. "Human woman, this time you are facing a Nine Sect disciples. I wouldn't be that confident."
Andrea lifted her eyebrow and smiled. "I'll be rude when answering, so forgive me. Since the Matriarch has told me to be confident and say my abilities without filter, I feel that there is no one among the people present besides Elder Yu who is above my skill level."
Elder Yu and the others were surprised. Elder Yu laughed aloud. "Hahaha, bold words. I like it! Let's see if your bragging speech can hold up to your skill."
Andrea nodded and bowed her head to kiss Yasenia's face and continue hugging her. Y
Yasenia felt Andrea's body heat and couldn't help but lean closer and snuggle on her. She really liked sitting on Andrea since she was the only one bigger than her who could hold her like this.
It gave her a feeling of wanting to get cozy between her arms and wanting to get pampered while listening to her deep and attractive voice whispering loving words.
Elder Hao asked. "By the way, what was the reward? I've heard the top three rewards are excellent for all competition."
Angel commented lightly. "Nothing much, a low-level Heaven-grade Formation Ink Bowl. The first was a formation pen."
Their lips twitched wildly. 'Nothing much!? That's a heaven-grade item!'
Elder Song asked curiously. "What rank is your bowl, Angel? You should have something better if you say that's nothing much."
Angel blinked twice and looked at Yasenia.
Yasenia lifted her head from Andrea's shoulder and nodded for others to see, but mentally she asked her to lower the rank from high to low level.
Angel therefore answered. "It is also a low-level Heaven-grade bowl, but mine is more compatible with my working method. Therefore, the other one is useless to me. I'll give it to the Matriarch so that she sells it and makes more money!"
Yasenia smiled and patted her head with her long tail. "Good girl."
Angel gave Yasenia the bowl, and the dragoness stored it, adding another Heaven-grade item to her collection.
After that, the morning went by, and the afternoon arrived.
Yasenia had been walking around the stages with her dears to observe the ongoing competitions and scout the humans.
She spotted no one.
The combats they saw were intriguing.
Body Cultivators beat each other up quite more heavily because their bodies could take much more punishment, making the fight exciting.
The blacksmithing competition began in ten minutes, so Yasenia and her girls moved toward the arena where it would be held.
Elder Yu saw them coming and smiled. "Did you find something interesting, Lady Yasenia?"
Yasenia nodded. "The fights are entertaining."
"Hahaha, are you a battle maniac? Elder Huo would be a good person to exchange pointers with if you are itching for a fight."
Yasenia chuckled. "I rather not fight. I'm not that big of a battle maniac."
Yasenia turned toward Andrea and smiled. "Well, darling. Now it is your time to steal their breath away."
Andrea chuckled. "I'll do my best."
Elder Yu patted his disciples' backs and grinned broadly. "Good luck, juniors. Don't let Lady Yasenia's human take all the glory!"
"Yes, Master!"
"We will make her eat her words!"
"Andrea, be careful, or we will smash you!"
Andrea lifted an eyebrow charmingly and smiled. "Bring it on. I'm all about a challenge."
Elder Yu's disciples laughed.
Yasenia grabbed Andrea's chin and lowered her head to her eye level. "Win for me, darling."
"As you order it, My Lady."
Yasenia smiled and kissed her lips, making many people gasp.
Andrea was also surprised, and by the time she wanted to answer, Yasenia separated and smiled softly at her. "Go and win for me, darling."
Andrea felt her heart skip a beat and nodded, determined. "I will."
Then, she turned around and jumped off of the stands with a confident gait, landing softly on the ground.
Elder Yu's disciples followed behind and landed beside her.
This time, although a few wanted to protest about Andrea as she was a human, Elder Yu's disciples were walking beside her.
Their blue cultivation robes with the emblem of a burning oven were more than enough to make many people take a step aside and let them walk.
A "Nine" titled sect's influence was as such.
"Andrea, let's have a fair fight!" A rather petite bunny woman approached and spoke. She was from a different clan from the one who attacked Evelyn.
Andrea wanted to pat her and caress those soft white bunny ears, but she resisted the impulse and smiled. "I'll be eagerly waiting to see what kind of treasures you will do, Miss."
The bunny woman couldn't help but feel her little heart jump around a bit. 'Woah, this human is very attractive~.'
A taller-than-Andrea bear man spoke solemnly. "Andrea, you are fortunate to have picked the interest of Lady Yasenia. She is the first person I've seen treat humans so nicely."
Andrea laughed. "It really is. The Lady choosing me is a blessing of ten lifetimes, and I don't want to disappoint her." Andrea looked at them and smirked. "Hence, senior brothers and sisters, do your best. I'm not holding back."
"Oh? Now you've said it!"
"Right, right! The fight is on!"
"Andrea, you better be as good at forging as you are speaking."
A man from a reptilian race suddenly asked curiously. "Say, Andrea. How does it feel to kiss Lady Yasenia? It must be delightful."
Andrea said solemnly. "Mister, I recommend not asking those kinds of questions. The Lady doesn't like us talking much about it unless she is the one speaking or she is near us."
"I see. Sorry for asking." Unknown to him, he had apologized to a human, something he might have never done in the past.
Andrea nodded, and they all focused on the judge walking toward the stands.
The judge was a tall man with a bird head and wings on his back. He was completely naked, and his lower part was only covered with a loincloth.
Andrea thought. 'A Garuda, the other side of the coin if we compare them to harpies. I heard from a few of the harpies that they are quite a fitting match for harpies, and if they can, they would choose one as a mate. I guess they'll be happy if I tell them I met one.'
Andrea was thinking about the harpies working under her, who had already surrendered to our imposing girl.
Andrea had an innate aura of leadership and dominance in her, making others feel respect for her.
Moreover, her delicious body was like an eye candy for the horny harpies, especially when Andrea worked hard and was drenched in sweat, her toned and athletic muscles and tanned skin shining with the glow of the forge.
At those moments, a few harpies wished they were one of those sweat droplets exploring Andrea's body.
Moreover, Andrea's curves weren't small at all. She was plump in the areas she should be. You wouldn't be able to hold her breast with one hand.
The Garuda spoke in a clear and loud voice. "I'll be the blacksmithing judge. The rounds will follow these steps. First round, you need to create a peak-level Magic Item in less than an hour to pass. Then, we'll focus on skill. We will prepare materials and give you a final product to copy. The ones that do best will pass to the finals."
"At the finals, you'll have a customer each and will have to create a weapon that suits them. The one with the highest compatibility, quality, and cost efficiency will win. We don't ask to create the most powerful weapon or armor with the most expensive materials. We ask for something that can be sold for profit without losing the needed quality."
Andrea looked at the tools they prepared and checked them one by one as she listened to the judge.
She saw the blueprint for the first item: a beautiful green dagger with an eagle head as the pommel.
The Garuda explained the basic rules and time limit and wasted no time.
"Begin forging!"