While discussing things, the one presenting the tournament's final results slowly descended.
His tall and muscular body and robe were familiar to Yasenia, especially those tiger ears and tail.
His aura was profound and vast, far above Yasenia's strength. The presence of the Epoch Core cultivator was like a vast ocean with deep waters that didn't let you see the bottom.
Everyone in the arena got silent, as his absolute presence overwhelmed almost everyone.
The tiger kin Patriarch spoke aloud. "I'll start by thanking all the powers participating in our annual event. I understand that this tournament is one of the core events of the year. Therefore, I, Huo Yang, Patriarch of the [Azure Sky Tigers], will be your host during this final presentation."
A few beasts cheered, and others howled in respect. The people in the stands felt respect for being able to see one of the leaders from the Thirty-Three clans. Even if the Azur Sky Tigers were in the 22nd position, they were the representative of most beast humans of the continent.
Huo Yang continued. "This year's tournament has been full of surprises and interesting situations. All the powers that participated did their best, and their juniors performed to their best capabilities. A few were unlucky, and the opposite also happened. New alliances were created, and new enmities were born. It doesn't matter what happened. It is something developed and created out of the strong competitive nature of the beast human race."
"Our race was not influential. Humans oppressed our races. However, we managed to stand back up by following our hero, and now we live in peace with each other."
Yasenia's eyebrow lifted. 'It may not be a direct attack, but it can make me look bad. Was it planned? Or is every year's speech similar?'
Tatyana commented. 'I couldn't see any strange expressions on the ones beside you, so unless it is also their first time attending, this should be customary.'
'I see.'
Huo Yang floated up, so everyone could see him clearly, and continued his speech. "Now, our juniors can show their superior talent. They can show their infinite potential. The previous years, this year, and the following years will show this to us. Show that we deserve everything we have today."
Yasenia felt the speech was too elitist, but she didn't say nor show anything.
The tiger Patriarch's speech lasted fifteen more minutes. Yasenia listened attentively to the propaganda that promulged beast humans and bashed humans to the point of making them look diabolical.
'No wonder the human race is treated like shit. If all events had revered seniors preaching this ideology, a World without human discrimination is impossible to achieve. To end the discrimination of the human race, the thing to be done is not to promulge rights but to make it obvious and expected for them to be part of society. Both sides are bad. Making it a big deal will attract enmity, and naturally bashing it is also not an option.'
Yasenia blinked, thinking of many scenarios. Ultimately, she shook her head. 'Well, it's not my problem. It is more than enough as long as I can keep my dears safe.'
Evelyn commented. 'Well, making the conditions of the humans better can also help with that, right?'
Yasenia nodded. 'You are right. It is much riskier, though. People will eventually recognize what we are doing, and if the things get discovered before we are prepared, we'll have the whole Distancia continent after us.'
Kali asked. 'I understand your standpoint. But is it really impossible for humans to have better living conditions?'
Yasenia sighed. 'Honey. I understand you feel empathy. However, how many people we are, even if we include our clan. A thousand?'
Yasenia continued. 'This World is estimated to have at least one hundred billion beast humans. And that's just on land. What if we add aquatic creatures? The numbers are much crazier. We literally can't do anything to influence so many people to change ways taught for thousands of years. We can create small safe heavens, but unless I become strong enough to sweep the continent, kill all seniors, and then leave young humans and beast humans that have proper relationships with each other to reign the continent and develop, it is an unrealistic dream only achievable in unreal scenarios.'
Angel asked. 'Is it that hard?'
Yasenia. 'You have to consider their history, the current number of humans, their strength to resist, the general acceptance of the populace who have been fed with propaganda for generations, etc. The fact that all of you are now nicely treated is only because their impression is that you are all under my control. If any of you were rogue humans, you would either be dead or captured.'
Andrea commented. 'However, love. Distancia, the hero, managed to do what you said.'
Yasenia nodded. 'He did. That person must have had extreme motivation, ridiculous potential, luck, and methods to fight the human lords of that time one at a time. Yet, instead of creating a continent with all races living equally, he demonized humans and created this hell for them.'
Yasenia wondered. 'He had enough strength, resources, and time to create an equal World. However, he didn't do that. Why is that? Did he have a grudge against the human race? For example, I would do the same if one of you was severely wounded or worse by someone.'
Yasenia concluded. 'Either way, I do not know his life story. I do not know his motives. I do not know his objectives. Therefore, I can't judge anything more than the consequences of his actions with an objective heart.'
Tatyana nodded. 'He may have thought it was funny.'
They all looked at Tatyana weirdly. Kali asked with a horrified tone. 'Make a whole race become cattle and live a generational torture because he thinks it is funny? Is there anyone who would do something that insane?'
Tatyana blinked twice and smiled. 'You are right.'
Yasenia's lips twitched wildly. She was the one who knew this person best, and that reaction meant the following. "Well, I did something similar, but since your reactions are so extreme, I'll act as if it was just an extreme comment."
To not give hints, Yasenia focused on Huo Yang.
"Without further ado, let's rank the top one hundred powers! Depending on the position in the events, points were distributed. We've qualified the ranking by points, and if there was someone who had the same amount, the one above would be ranked by the highest position reached by their juniors."
"For example, if two powers have one hundred points, one by achieving two fiftieth places, and another by achieving one first place, the power with the first place would be ranked higher."
"It is easy to understand, so let's begin with the one-hundredth power! [Thunder Fawn Rain]. Congratulations to them. Their juniors…"
Yasenia then listened attentively to every power's presentation, memorizing their strengths for later.
After a few minutes, our girls heard the Patriarch smirk and shout. "…On the seventy-seventh position, Yasenia Dravory and her Astral Sky Clan! This upstart power has impressed many with its highly advanced crafts. Their ranking would have been much higher if a few complications hadn't occurred! They are situated in Koran City and will soon expand."
Yasenia lifted an eyebrow. 'Not bad publicity.'
Then, Huo Yang continued. "On the seventy-sixth position…."
Yasenia spoke aloud, not hiding her pleasant surprise at her high ranking. "That's not bad for participating in three out of the ten events."
Jorey smiled and nodded. "Your girls ended up very high ranked. There are extra points and such they don't explain for ending high in a tournament. Yet, the point advantage is not that much. With a first place, a second place, and a twenty-first-place, ranking in the top thirty should've been no problem."
Kali realized. "Right, although first place receives 100 points, second place receives 99 points, and so on."
Elder Mao commented. "The thing is that powers usually can't focus on many professions simultaneously. Hence, consistently being in the top section for each event is hard. More so when the ones participating are juniors."
Elder Hao added. "Moreover, your group hasn't participated in combat, which gives triple the points. All combat participants ranked sixty-sixth and above gained more than ninety-nine points."
Yasenia nodded. "I understand. That's why I'm pleasantly surprised. I did not expect to rank in the top one hundred."
Elder Yu laughed. "It would be strange if you didn't rank in the top one hundred. They should have also added a few points to your clan because of Andrea's work. It was such a beautiful masterpiece made by a junior. If they do not qualify it, it would be dumb."
Yasenia giggled. "Elder Yu is praising us too much. I think they didn't do so. Either way, the fact that our clan's name was said makes me satisfied. Thanks a lot for all the support during these three days."
Those that were friendly smiled back and nodded.
The top fifteen comprised seven of the nine sects, five of the thirty-three clans, and the three empires. The five clans were also in the top ten clans among the thirty-three clans.
Yasenia asked. "How is this ranking compared to the power ranking of the continent?"
Elder Mao answered. "Similar enough."
Elder Song added. "Sects focusing on combat are ranked much lower in this competition. Therefore, the top positions are usually occupied by our sects, which are big enough to have a wider variety of teachers and alumni. For example, [Five Shadow Fangs] has ranked below your clan. However, strength-wise, they are just a bit weaker than a top second-rank sect. I'm still unaware of the full potential of the [Astral Sky Clan], but you should be careful with them."
Yasenia nodded. "I was wondering about that. The senior I met from that power was not that weak."
'[Five Shadow Fangs]. We almost got into a conflict with them. I managed to ease the situation that day while speaking with them, but we must be attentive. They are not famous for being good people, after all. Luna also came from them… Sigh. Tiptoeing around is a bit frustrating. Sometimes I have the urge to change into my dragon form and raze everything to the ground.'
The other girls listening had their eyelids twitching. 'Thankfully, our love is a rational dragon, or we would be in trouble.'
Jorey added to the previous subject. "You also have to count that not all powers have come. Most of the aquatic clans are not here. A few land powers also did not bother coming because of enmities and other reasons."
Yasenia nodded.
After the rewards were divided, Yasenia and the rest left the stadium, ready to go back. The reward for ranking seventy-seventh was an earth-grade item Yasenia threw in her ring without an extra look after seeing it was useless for her.
There wasn't anything out of the ordinary in Torren City other than the giant coliseum. Therefore, Yasenia's plan of staying here for a few days was pointless.
After discussing it with the other powers, the time to return was agreed to be the following day, leaving the night free to relax and look around.