"After discussing it with my fellow judges, we've ranked the top one hundred as such. If any of you have any complaints, we'll hear them later. We have recorded every single result from every participant. Therefore, revising the results is simple and quick."
The judge paused and looked around. Nobody spoke, so he went ahead and started naming the ranks of the top one hundred participants."
"On the one-hundredth position, the Alchemy Herb Bazar, represented by Du Jian. On the ninety-ninth position, the Exotic Flower Sect…."
Yasenia and the others listened attentively. Jorey heard her junior land in the thirtieth position and nodded, satisfied.
Elder Mu asked. "Who do you think will win it?"
Yasenia lifted her beautiful eyebrow. "Your disciples are strong and talented, Elder Mu. However, you've already seen my little fox's performance. If the last competition didn't count double, it would be close. But I believe that Kali took the first position this time."
Elder Mu laughed. "Honesty is a good thing. I thought you would act humble and say that the results weren't definitive."
Yasenia shook her head. "How could I do that? That would be insulting your eye and experience in the trade. Acting humble this time would be inappropriate."
Elder Mu smiled and nodded. "Well said."
The judge continued for a while until he reached the last three. "In the third position, Golden Alchemy Shop, represented by Joseph. He managed to create five peak-ranked Earth-grade pills with seventy percent quality! Give him a big howl."
A few beast humans roared and howled, similar to applauding in other places. It was uncommon to do so, but a few judges would encourage the public.
"In the second position, The Nine Herb Fragrance Sect, represented by Mu Yang. This junior has performed exceptionally, creating a single low-level Heaven-ranked pill in the last batch! An excellent reversal against Joseph, stealing the second place right before his nose! Excellent courage and skill, worthy of a nine sect!"
Yasenia heard more howls and roars, so she smirked playfully. "Is it okay if I roar?"
Jorey remembered Yasenia's dragon roar when leaving the city and gulped. "Lady Yasenia, control yourself. I don't want our juniors to fall face-first onto the ground."
Elder Mu laughed. "It would be amusing if they did so. How about giving us your best roar?"
Yasenia chuckled and shook her head. "I rather control myself. Stealing the limelight too much will attract unwanted attention."
Unaware, Kali waited for her first position, slightly dissatisfied. 'I won without trying. The level of competition was slightly below my expectations.'
'Well, at least you've gathered honor for Yasenia, right?'
Kali looked around at the roaring beast humans and asked. 'Do you think Yasenia will roar?'
'Do you want her to?'
Kali smiled a bit. 'It would make me happy.'
Valeria smiled and didn't speak anymore.
"Finally, the competition's winner! A competitor no one expected to win. She had a rough start. Yet, she showed her high skills in the following tests. Finally, she blew all our minds away in the last production category by creating five low-level Heaven-ranked pills in a single batch! The Astral Sky Clan, represented by Kali Dravory!"
Yasenia took a deep breath and roared to the sky.
*ROAR!!*
Yasenia's deep and low dragon roar carried unmatched pride and authority as it reverberated between the other howls.
It didn't overpower them. Yasenia's dragon cry guided every beast human present to follow her example, making the stadium explode with the cheer of thousands of beasts.
Jorey and the other's felt a chill and an impulse to roar with her. 'Her roar sounds so powerful!'
Yasenia stopped after a few seconds and looked at Kali with a smile. Kali was also looking at her while grabbing the prize. Even with her veil, Yasenia could feel Kali's happiness.
Elder Mu sighed and smiled. "You win this time, Lady Yasenia."
Yasenia smiled politely. "Your disciple also created low-level Heaven-ranked pills, so it was well-fought. Elder Mu. Sadly, this time, Kali was present, hahaha."
Hearing the unconcealed bragging tone, they couldn't be mad. Seeing the usually calm, cold, and collected dragoness showing such a smirk was quite cute.
After grabbing the price, a low-level Heaven-ranked cauldron, our fox lady didn't store it. She returned it back to the judge and whispered the previous deal Yasenia had made to allow Andrea to finish her armor in peace.
Many were confused, but nobody asked since Kali quickly jumped up and flew through the arena, softly landing before Yasenia a moment later.
After lifting her veil, the dragoness welcomed her honey with a tight hug and a deep kiss. "Congratulations, honey. You've done fantastic."
Kali laughed sweetly and snuggled in her lover's embrace. 'Ha… I'm so lucky to have her.'
Kali had tied a small knot on her third tail to place it together and hide her third tail. However, that knot had snapped because of the previous heat, making her three tails sway distinctively behind her.
Kali didn't bother much about hiding the fact. She just used that thing lightly. If it broke, then it broke.
Naturally, the third tail fell into the eyes of everyone present, making those who knew her previously stunned.
Elder Song asked with a flabbergasted tone. "Huh? Why does Kali have a third tail!?"
Yasenia didn't bother because she was too comfortable tasting the delicious lips of her fox.
Kali laughed and moved her face to the side, dodging Yasenia's kiss and letting it fall on her cheek, where the dragoness didn't give up and began suckling.
Kali answered in this position. "I absorbed a unique treasure Yasenia gave me and managed to have my bloodline purified. There wasn't a change before I went to bed yesterday. Then, when I woke up, I had a third tail. I'm as confused as you all are."
Kali looked at Yasenia playfully and asked. "So, what did you feed me? I usually trust you, so I don't really care about it. However, this third tail is strange no matter how you look at it."
Yasenia was stunned when the fox directly placed the pot on her head.
Kali looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She knew Yasenia could see her gestures.
The dragoness's lips arched in a wry smile. 'Is this revenge because I used my Blood Essence?'
'What are you waiting for, my love? They are waiting for the answer~.'
Yasenia didn't free the fox from her arms, using her hands sneakily to grope her plump behind and almost making Kali yelp.
Yasenia spoke calmly as Kali's cheeks blushed. "This is my fault. I fed Kali a [One Thousand Years Old Golden Spirit Flower], and this happened. I really didn't expect the effect to be so drastic, even if it is a legendary herb."
Elder Mu asked with a confused expression. "A what?"
No one recognized this plant.
Yasenia knew it because this plant was from the Sky Continent.
Moreover, it was a high-level Transcendent-ranked flower, a mythical herb that appeared once every ten thousand years under the right conditions and was almost impossible to store away.
Tatyana laughed after hearing the name. 'Not even I have one of those, little treasure.'
The girls were stunned.
Mirrory snorted. 'That basic flower is precious for you? I saw a person with a garden made of those.'
Tatyana rolled her eyes. 'Are you comparing immortals and gods with us? Please, things they throw into the garbage are infinitely precious treasures for the lower realms.'
Valeria coughed. 'If I knew it was that precious, I would've taken a few from the lake.'
Tatyana's eyebrow twitched. 'Didn't you say you took the most precious plants?'
Valeria smiled. 'I did. That plant is nothing with a few of the ones I collected.'
Angel felt her little heart was about to be humbled excessively, so she changed the subject. 'Not even your subordinates have one of those, Mommy Tatyana?'
Tatyana shook her head. 'As far as I know, only three people have one. The leader of the Heavenly Sect, the leader of the Thousand Poison Valley, and the leader of the Medicine Valley.'
Mirrory: 'They escaped the conversation.'
Valeria: 'We should keep quiet in the future.'
Mirrory: 'Tsk, commoners.'
Valeria: '…'
The girls: '…'
Yasenia coughed and commented. 'I remembered it because you didn't have one, Mom. That's why I gambled with that one.'
Tatyana nodded. 'Its quality makes it impossible for it to grow in this continent. However, be careful, little treasure. Sometimes, the conditions of certain places can create miracles.'
Yasenia nodded. 'I'll keep it in mind. Either way, this plant would benefit honey if she consumed it, so even if there are, it isn't a big deal. If any effects don't match up, I'll account them to Kali's bloodline. I don't believe there is anything remotely close to her bloodline.'
As Yasenia communicated mentally, she didn't stop speaking on the outside.
Yasenia smiled. "I don't know if there is a second one in the continent. However, I couldn't plant it after plucking it, so I had to use it before it lost effectiveness. The day it began losing effectiveness was in a week. Therefore, I fed it to Kali. Her bloodline is related to nature, and I knew it would be effective."
Yasenia used her tail to caress Kali's three tails, quite an intimate gesture, and laughed. "I didn't expect to have her grow a third fluffy and beautiful tail."
The discussion changed from Kali's tails to that plant. Elder Mu was curious about it.
Yasenia didn't hold back and spoke about the flower all she knew.
She explained that she found it in a secret realm exploration a few years ago.
After a few questions, Yasenia convinced them it may have been the only one, making them give up on it for the moment.
For the rest of the day, there weren't any more interesting events. Moreover, since the point system was mostly automated, the results of the final winners came just an hour after the last combat between juniors happened.
Yasenia looked at the winner, a dragon man with a handsome appearance, golden scales, wings, and beautiful horns.
Angel's jealousy spiked as Yasenia observed the attractive and handsome man. "Does he look good?"
Yasenia blinked and gathered Angel in her arms. "Well, he is a good-looking child."
Every person waiting for a response felt that answer in their bones. They collectively thought. 'That guy has no chance.'
Angel's face also relaxed in a second and agreed. "He is indeed a good-looking child."
The other people almost spat blood. 'Weren't you about to cut your lover's tail!? Why are you agreeing now!?'
After the day went by, the tournament's final results were about to be broadcasted.
Yasenia met with all the people that came to Torrent City together from Koran City. All the clans were present.
Jorey spoke to all of them. "Good luck."
The other powers also spoke and politely encouraged the others.
Yasenia was holding Kaleina between her arms and also said a few words. "The juniors have done their best. The final result is up to the Heavens."
The small dragoness coiled up Yasenia's arm and used her arms to hug Yasenia's face as she looked around with her curious golden eyes. Everybody looking could see the resemblance in the mother-daughter's eyes.
Jorey couldn't resist laughing. "Although the dragon shape is different. Those eyes are inherited right from her mama dragon. They are like jewels."
Yasenia and Kaleina blinked synchronously and looked at Jorey, their golden slit eyes moving simultaneously.
That cute subconscious interaction was so precious that a few people clutched their hearts.
Yasenia then smiled. "Thank you, Jorey. Your black fur is also silky and beautiful."
Jorey used a tissue to clean her nosebleed and made a thumbs-up gesture. "You two are the best."
The gesture was taught by Yasenia, who was slowly integrating her culture into theirs for comfort. At the end of the day, she thought gestures from the Sky Continent were much more straightforward and universal.
Of course, it was a subjective thought, but it wouldn't stop her from trying.
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Author Note: Happy Fourth of July! I didn't know it was the American independent day celebration~. <3 By the way, for all of those who don't know. There is a discord for the novel in the description, just in case. Also... It's been a while since I asked... So... Umm... If you haven't made a review of the novel, I would appreciate it if you write one. <3