As they flew through the forest, Yasenia's nose twitched, and she slowed down. "Wait."
They came to a halt and looked at her. They saw Yasenia sniffing around as her pupils shrank and dilated.
Her tail swayed languidly, and a slow smile spread on her lips. "Not bad. Is it more pronounced over here?"
Her dragon eyes kept looking around as she sniffed the air, slowly sensing a slightly metallic but sweet scent.
After a few moments, the dragoness smiled and pointed toward a mountain in the distance not too far away from them. "There are nice treasures in that direction."
They couldn't help but chuckle while Evelyn commented. "Having a dragon in the group is really convenient. Say, I'm really curious. How do treasures smell?"
Yasenia tilted her head and started walking in the direction of the treasure with the others. "Hm… I can't really describe it. The usual adjectives can't be used as it is a very different scent. How to say it… Low-level treasures don't have a smell, but the higher they are, the more pronounced the scent is. Moreover, it can't reach further out. If my instincts are correct, this treasure is between fifty to two hundred kilometers away."
Andrea laughed. "That's not very precise, love."
Yasenia pouted. "At least I can say the general direction."
The tall, tanned woman chuckled again and kissed her cheek. "Yes, yes. Our dearest is impressive."
"It is good that you know it." Yasenia's tail wagged as the corners of her lips arched.
Without any more delay, they deployed their movement techniques and flashed toward the distant mountain.
Meanwhile, quite a few cultivators were roaming in the mountain area. Although other races didn't have treasure senses, the high-energy density and impressive scenery attracted quite a few people.
The mountain was extremely tall, with a forest that climbed half of it, while the top half was completely bare and filled with rocks. It felt as if something was blocking the vitality halfway through.
A wolfkin from the Back Steel Wolf Clan spoke aloud. "Juniors, remember that you have ten hours more before us seniors start exploring." His voice echoed in the mountain, reaching the ears of the hundreds of juniors exploring.
Besides him, a very tall man from the Devil Smashing Ape clan guarded the entrance.
Both groups had met each other and were cooperating to monopolize this area.
A rogue group of cultivators appeared and tried to go up, but the four low-level Epoch Core elders appeared before them. The same man who announced that before said. "The Steel Back Wolf clan and Devil Smashing Ape clan are exploring this area. Please, turn around and look elsewhere."
The leading squirrel woman frowned. "Don't be unreasonable. The secret realm is a public area; you can't abuse your authority like this."
The wolfkin grinned, looking at the short and cute woman with mocking eyes. "You are just a squirrel-kin. Do you really think you can go against us? Scram before we change our intentions."
The woman's face contorted in anger, but a squirrel man beside her held her back. "Du Xian, let's go. It's not worth fighting here."
Du Xian looked at the man and sighed. "But, husband, even if we are a weak clan, we can't let others step on us! I'm the Matriarch of the clan!"
Du Lian shook his head. "Let's go. You know how violent the wolf clan can get."
Du Xian sighed. "Let's go, then…"
Suddenly, a few gasps were heard from the side, and they all turned their heads.
"Wow, who is that?"
"I don't really know, but I saw her face off against the top clans the first day. She must be a big shot."
"But aren't there cultivation limits? Was she bluffing all along?"
"I don't know."
Of course, not everybody knew them; they were just a minority because Yasenia's clan was a new power whose faces were still not public enough.
Du Xian's eyes widened and locked on the seductive, tall dragon woman walking forward with confident steps and seductively sashaying hips that moved the large, long tail behind her. 'So beautiful…'
After exiting the forest area, there was a vast space with no trees and just greenery connecting with the half-green, half-bare, rocky mountain.
Unlike other times, Yasenia and the girls had stopped hiding their strength. If a body cultivator tried to analyze it, the result would be similar to a high-level Ethereal Soul Body Realm.
Yasenia looked around, inspecting the dozens of cultivators. 'Hmm, there are eight Epoch Core cultivators, two wolves, two apes, one snake, one Garuda, and two squirrels… Hm?' Yasenia's eyes found the petite and cute squirrel woman with a huge and furry squirrel tail and rounded squirrel ears on the sides of her head, and her eyes glittered. 'So cute! I want to hug and pet her. Would it come as strange to ask her?'
Angel's Yasenia sensors quickly activated, and she instantly found the squirrel woman. Her eyes squinted. 'Hmph, I'm cuter.'
Mirrory stifled a laugh. 'Yes, yes. You are the cutest.'
Meanwhile, Du Xian felt a bit awkward receiving the sudden attention of the group of Heavenly beauties.
However, these thoughts lasted only a few seconds, and Yasenia stopped looking. 'Well, if we were outside, I would've tried.' Although the woman was very adorable, she had no genuine interest. 'Of course, if I can speak with her in the future, maybe becoming friends is possible? I can feel quite a strong aura from her. So, I might meet her again soon.'
The dragoness shook her head and continued walking forward, ignoring everybody else and following the thicker treasure scent. Yasenia commented. "It goes up the mountain."
Cecile asked coolly. "Should we fly?"
Yasenia shook her head. "Just in case, let's go on land. It might be in a cave or something, and if we are in the air, I can't detect it clearly."
Angel hugged Yasenia's arm and smiled cutely while blinking her large eyes. "Let's go, Yasenia."
Yasenia almost squealed at her baby's adorable face and leaned down to smooch her face.
While our girls ignored the people around, the giant ape frowned and spoke threateningly. "You, where do you think you are going?"
The girls stopped and looked at that giant black and red ape with symbols in his fur.
As usual, Yasenia was the one talking. "Is there something wrong?"
Her tone was calm and unhurried. She was past the phase of being careful with low-level Epoch Core people; now, they were within her claw's reach, and the only ones Yasenia was wary of were high-level and peak-level Epoch Core cultivators.
The giant ape spoke stoically. "This mountain has been reserved for the Devil Smashing Ape Clan and the Steel Back Wolf Clan. You can't go up."
Yasenia lifted an eyebrow and answered with a smile. "I have good relations with your race. I really don't recommend trying to act bossy with me. So, let me go up before you commit a grave mistake."
The senior ape sneered. "Who do you think has a better relationship with MY race? You or I?"
Yasenia smirked with mocking eyes and answered. "I do. Now that you know that, can I step inside peacefully, or will you continue being unreasonable?"
The people around gasped and murmured, feeling that Yasenia was too arrogant.
One of the juniors from the ape clan lashed at Yasenia with anger. "You arrogant lizard, who are you acting arrogant with!? My master can slap you to death!"
Yasenia's eyes moved and locked onto that tall and muscular ape woman, releasing her suppressing aura.
The woman felt a soul-deep terror rising up as her fur and hair stood up, and a feeling of dread invaded her stomach, and a scream escaped her mouth. "Ahh!!"
While screaming, she took a few steps back fumblingly and fell onto her butt while a wet patch appeared near her waist area on her robes.
The World seemed to have darkened for her, with only two terrifying golden dragon eyes remaining in her vision.
Yasenia spoke coldly, her face expressionless. "Juniors should know how to stay silent when the seniors speak."
The dragoness's aura was enough to face off against people many levels above her, so the effects on a person in a realm below Yasenia were absolute.
"You dare!?" The ape elder would naturally not stay still as Yasenia threatened the juniors and punched at her, making the air compress around his fist.
His huge fist was like a meteor falling as his raw physical strength twisted the air in violent whirlwinds.
Yasenia's lips arched in a smile that showed her fangs, and she stepped forward as her hand was covered in dragon scales. Then, she swiped like trying to rip the air apart. "[Sun Dragon Claw]."
The enormous phantom of a golden Dragon claw manifested, dwarfing the ape, and it swiped toward him.
Fist and Claw met in a giant explosion.
BOOM!
Yasenia's feet slid backward; after all, the body cultivator's raw strength was nothing to scoff about. Even then, the giant ape did not fare better, as the massive explosion of Sun energies accompanied by Yasenia's innate bodily strength also pushed him back about ten steps, leaving behind deep footprints.
Yasenia laughed lightly, quickly stabilizing herself with the help of her tail. "Not bad. But you are too weak."
The other three seniors, two from the wolf clan and another from the ape clan, stepped forward. The wolfkin that had been previously speaking stated coldly. "What if we are added to the mix?"
Cecile, Kali, Andrea, Ebirah, Angel, Sierra, and Evelyn behind Yasenia snorted and stepped forward, surrounding the dragoness while coldness emanated from their bodies. Cecile spoke in a low tone. "Then, we would also join."
The man squinted and asked. "Just a bunch of High-level Ethereal Soul Body Realm people act so arrogant. What power are you from?"
Yasenia answered nonchalantly, her transformed hand's fingers lightly moving. "Astral Sky Sect."
The surrounding people reacted with surprise.
"They are from the mysterious power that has raised to supremacy in five years?"
"I heard that they only accept extremely talented disciples."
"If the disciples are strong, no wonder the seniors are this strong."
"Didn't the Five Shadow Fang sect also get destroyed by them?"
"Right! Aren't the Wolf clan and the Astral Sky clan enemies?"
The two wolf elders released their aura, and the male sneered. "Were you the one who caused us to lose Koran City? The one who killed Fu Hao and many of our brothers and sisters?"
Yasenia laughed, unafraid. "I did kill Fu Hao. But I have nothing to do with Koran City changing owners. Even if I were, I wouldn't mind telling it to your face."
The wolfman scolded coldly. "Do you know how many problems your power has given us!? And you dare come here and flaunt it!? You are courting death!"
Yasenia nodded and used her tail to hug Tatyana into her arms, making the Death Empress chuckle. "Yes, I'm courting death and have been quite successful at it."
Then, her playful tone became freezing, and she threatened with a growl in her voice. "Now, move aside of your own volition, or I'll move you."
The wolfman was about to attack, but the ape-man who exchanged blows with Yasenia stopped him. He had a cautious face as he asked. "What is your name?"
The dragoness moved her cold gaze to look at him and answered. "Yasenia Dravory, Sect Master of the Astral Sky Clan."
The dragoness clearly saw his pupils shrink, and she sneered. "Now, I'm going up the mountain. Will you stop me again, Elder?"
The ape senior hesitated, and the wolfkin clearly felt it, so he urged. "How is it possible for her to be here? Even if it is true and she is hiding her cultivation base, remember there is a cultivation limit to enter the secret realm! This means we can kill her easily!"
The ape senior looked at Yasenia briefly while the dragoness looked back at him fearless. Those golden slit eyes were thinned, with a trace of anticipation and battle lust.
The ape elder felt an involuntary chill, and he shook its head. "We are not participating."
The Steel Back Wolf elder was confused. "What are you talking about? They are just Ethereal Soul juniors!"
The ape shook his head, turned around, and grabbed the terrified junior, moving aside. "Even if they fight, do not interrupt."
Unlike the Steel Back Wolves, Yasenia has done plenty of deals with the Devil Smashing Ape Clan. Therefore, they were more informed.
One of the most influential female elders had told them that provoking the Astral Sky Clan was not worth it unless it was absolutely necessary. Therefore, the ape clan elder stood aside.
Naturally, without the ape's help, the wolf clan people did not dare attack. They might appear weak, but Yasenia could exchange a blow with the ape elder.
Yasenia ignored them and proceeded up the mountains, not looking back.
This time, nobody stopped her.
Du Xian looked at Yasenia's back and shook her head. 'Sigh, people with influence have it much easier.' Then, she left with her clan.
Many other powers did the same, finding it not worth waiting around.
*********************************************************
Evelyn: Love, I'm wet. You are so cool~.
Yasenia: Hahaha, silly girl.
Tatyana: People think that courting Death is a bad thing. Am I not quite beautiful?
Angel: Mommy Tatyana is super beautiful!
Mirrory: Old woman, you are still too young to be called "Death." You need to become much stronger.
Tatyana: Did you lose your sense of humor after so many millions of years, broken mirror?
Mirrory: …
Author: Cough, let's summon today's dear. I summon you!
Arfa42: Hello!
Andrea: Welcome. What question do you have today?
Arfa42: Well, this is for all of you, girls. What is your opinion and advice about your children making a harem or being a part of a harem?
Tatyana: As long as she likes them and they are not trying to use her, I have no opinions, really.
Yasenia: It might sound hypocritical, but I would advise against it. Of course, if they are determined, I won't forcefully stop them, but I would look very closely at what is happening.
Andrea: I'm with Tatyana in this one. As long as they are happy and not at risk, they should be able to do as they please.
Evelyn: Oh? I thought you would agree more with Yasenia, Andrea. I personally do agree with her. After all, I'm not a fan of harems because of my mother's situation. I know that if a harem goes wrong, it can go very wrong.
Angel: W-Well, I don't know. I think I would need to be there to say something.
Cecile: As long as they are not hurt.
Kali: I'm with Yasenia this time. A one-on-one relationship should be the main aim. If it then changes to a harem, well, it is what it is. Both relationships have advantages and disadvantages. However, I think that leaving a one-on-one relationship is easier than leaving a harem… I might be wrong, though.
Valeria: I-
Tatyana: Why are you answering?
Valeria: Ugh, so mean… I just want your daughter's children~, don't be so harsh.
Tatyana: Nop.
Author: Hahaha, and with this, today's theater ends! Thank you for reading, little lurker.