After all the leaders sat on the chairs Yasenia pointed at, their expressions changed slightly. The chairs were done with heaven-ranked materials, and they also had ingrained formations that relieved fatigue and stress.
Moreover, there weren't only human-shaped chairs. Because Yasenia's power had lamias and such, even the Mermaid Queen found a comfortable chair that was suitable for her species.
As long as they weren't species with too large bodies, there were chairs for almost every race in the room's spatial storage.
While some might say that chairs that relaxed and helped the people who she was going to negotiate with could be a loss, Yasenia preferred to have non-hostile discussions that focused on not just profits but relationships.
Not being afraid of other powers didn't mean that she was going to go provoking everyone. Of course, this also didn't mean that if someone offended her, she wouldn't retaliate.
The one who took the lead in the conversation was the Emperor of the Holy Beast Empire. His expression was stern, and his tone regal, showing wisdom and power. "Lady Yasenia, we've come here today to meditate between you and the Continental Shadow. While none of the Continental Shadow representatives are here, we've gone to them first before coming to you, so we have an idea of what they want, what happened, and what we want you to do."
Yasenia looked at him with a neutral expression. "Hm. I think I've made myself quite clear, didn't I? However, as you all are here, it seems that my message hasn't reached them, and they are now demanding something from me. Let's hear it, Your Majesty."
The dragon man nodded. "We've heard from them that you have maliciously released some kind of plague on thirty main cities. People are dying even now as we speak, and a significant portion of those are innocent people who had nothing to do with the disagreements between you and their power."
Yasenia leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "Your majesty, do you know… Better said, did they tell you why I released this plague, as you call it, on their cities?"
The man paused for a second and commented. "While they haven't told us, I believe that an offense deep enough to release a disaster of this magnitude hasn't been done."
Yasenia smiled and started to look through some documents. Then, she retrieved one of them and, using proficient hand movements and speed, she copied it thirteen times.
It took her no longer than twenty seconds. Then, she waved her hand, and each copied document flew across the room and landed on their laps. "I've hidden some secret information, but that's a report two days before I took action. Everything can be verified. Please, take a look."
They all looked through, and their expressions turned gloomy. Coraline said coldly. "Holy Beast Emperor, we've come because we also think that little Yasenia's actions are going overboard. However, if you leave this matter unpunished, what kind of face will we have?"
The document showed a detailed list of the number of people who disappeared, and with the help of an energy technique, they could open a mental text that carried what happened to each victim on the list.
The list had a total of 2,000 names. The document was written with a special technique, so fitting all 2,000 names on one page was possible.
Between those 2,000 names, there were a few harpies, lamias, and other races from top powers that had come to the Astral Sky Sect to train. Moreover, it showed that these people had clear identification that discerned them from bona fide Astral Sky Disciples.
In short, about a quarter of the people that were attacked by the wolves, Garuda, and Assassin sect were not even part of the Astral Sky Clan.
This was not only a slap to these leaders' faces but also a lack of respect for the long alliance of powers that had been maintained for many years.
The Emperor of the Holy Beast Empire looked at the list for a while and spoke. "While I understand why you acted. The attack is still exaggerated. You've already killed more than half a million people. Moreover, we don't know if the plague will extend to other cities as people try to flee from the affected places. The plague you dispatched is too malicious and dangerous, and it can become a genuine continental disaster."
Yasenia looked at the Emperor and smiled. "So what?"
Everybody froze at her words. The Holy Beast Emperor frowned and looked into Yasenia's eyes. "What do you mean?"
Yasenia's smile didn't falter. "So what if millions die? Or if tens of millions die? Those three powers have been bothering me time and time and time again only because of their arrogance, not being able to take a single loss and their profound greed. Would you, mighty leaders of the powers, step up to dissuade them from attacking my power if they gathered an army and came here?"
Yasenia chuckled. "I know you wouldn't. After all, I'm a new and upcoming power. Speaking of utility and strength, my power is nothing more than a slightly bigger ant in your eyes compared to behemoths like the Wolf and Garuda race."
The dragoness's smile became cold as she swept her eyes across them. "Those three aren't just targeting me. They are trying to target those close to me. So, since they dare stomp my bottom line, why would I care if millions die? Why would I care if I exterminated their entire races from the face of the Distancia Continent? Why would I care if I unleash a disaster on the World?"
Her voice lowered, sounding ruthless and malevolent, and her pupils thinned to lines as a powerful aura spread around the room. "If I can protect my family and their smiles, even several worlds of people are worth sacrificing, what are a few million lives?"
They all felt their limbs getting cold as chills of fear climbed up their spines. It was not because of Yasenia's aura but because they realized her words weren't fallacious or an exaggeration.
The dragon before them would really sacrifice several worlds of living beings for the safety of her family.
A crisp and sweet voice interrupted the flow when the air was tense.
"Mommy?"
They all saw Yasenia's aura completely melt away as a warm and cozy presence surrounded the previous ruthless dragoness. "Baby, did I startle you? I'm so sorry."
Her soft tone and tender look as she looked at the dragon in her arms made them think that another being had suddenly possessed Yasenia.
Kaleina smiled and shook her dragon head. "No!"
"I'm relieved, then." Yasenia laughed softly and kissed her snout gently. That single action carried so much love and gentleness that even a blind person would feel it.
The little dragon giggled happily and coiled around her, closing her eyes again once she buried her face between Yasenia's breasts.
The dragoness looked at the leaders and sighed. "As long as you guarantee that those three won't touch any of my disciples or powers until the summit, where everything will probably get sorted out, I'll release the cure for it."
The dragoness said sternly. "However, you only have one chance. If they start bothering me again, I won't go easy on them the next time and target as little as thirty cities."
The Holy Beast Emperor contemplated for a few moments. In the meantime, Li Xianghua, the Sect Master of the Nine Herb Fragrance Sect, spoke with a doubtful look. "Yasenia, do you really not fear us looking at you with more wariness than them? I'll be honest with you. My people have already gone to investigate whatever you released, and there are no previous examples of the symptoms or even the method to cure them. The fact that you have a plague that you can spread at your will is something terrifying."
Yasenia naturally understood that. How could these superpowers live with such a threat on her hands?
Therefore, she spoke. "The knowledge of that thing is held by very few individuals. Moreover, the way to grow it is also very limited and resource-consuming. While it is true that I can release it in various places, I would have to burn through my treasury faster than I can ever maintain it."
It was a lie. The parasite Kali created was extremely cheap to produce. Kali could produce enough of them to infect a whole city water system in a week. The ones Yasenia released were very few, allowing them to propagate slowly and not cause as much damage. If not, the casualties wouldn't be as little as half a million.
You have to remember that these main cities usually had 500 million inhabitants each. To only kill half a million with 30 cities combined, it was very little.
Of course, with cheapness came fragility. Creating the antidote was extremely easy as long as you had the knowledge necessary to combat parasites. Even an apprentice who only studied a year would have an easy time dealing with it.
These people didn't know how to counterattack a parasite because they had never seen one reach such a level of power.
When the people heard Yasenia's words, they released a small breath. If Yasenia had a way to create this thing in bulk, they probably would consider joining the Continental Shadow to exterminate them.
The Holy Beast Emperor agreed to her condition. "As long as you spread the antidote, we promise that we'll stop them from bothering you until the summit."
Yasenia nodded and called Doriel. The woman appeared from the shadows and respectfully bowed. "You called, Young Miss?"
Yasenia nodded and gave her forty bottles with a white substance. "Spread them on the skies above those cities."
The leaders looked at the bottles deeply, knowing that it was the antidote. Li Xianghua, the Sect Master of the Her Fragrance Sect, and Li Yanhong, the male Sect Master of the Poison Grudge Sect, couldn't help but widen their eyes.
Li Xianghua spoke incredulously. "The antidote is magic-ranked?"
The dragoness didn't bother hiding it. "That's right. The plague we released is costly but also easy to clear as long as you know what you are doing. From the very beginning, we just wanted the other powers to stop underestimating us and take us as equals. If you protect others from certain things, you also should include the Astral Sky Clan in those things. We are more than worthy, and I'm tired of playing a 'Whose bigger?' contest with all of you. My Astral Sky Sect has wanted to develop silently and peacefully since the very beginning."
Hearing her words, many of the power representatives present had awkward faces. After all, it was true that the Astral Sky Sect had never taken the initiative to start a conflict, even when they had been involved in many disputes lately.
Cao Chenghua, the leader of the Jade Thunderbirds, suddenly asked. "By the way, Sect Master Yasenia, do you know anything about the ancient aura that spread around the other day?"
The fact that he called her sect master was a sign of admission on his part.
Meanwhile, Yasenia was slightly surprised that he asked something like that because it meant that he knew something was amiss on her part, but she didn't show anything on her face. She shook her head and spoke. "I do not know anything. I was supervising the Heavenly Tribulation of one expert who broke through into the Epoch Core realm, so I was not aware until I was later informed."
Cao Chenghua asked, his face unreadable. "Supervising a Heavenly Tribulation?"
Yasenia lifted an eyebrow and smiled. "Do you doubt me?"
Cao Chenghua nodded. "I do, in fact, doubt you."
The dragoness shrugged, not bothering to explain. "Suit yourself. Even if that ancient aura came from us, you can do nothing, so why would I bother hiding it?"
Cao Chenghua frowned. "Sect Master Yasenia, aren't you underestimating our powers too much?"
Yasenia smiled. "I'm not. Thanks to Tengliu and the others, I have a deep understanding of what kind of foundations your powers have. Even if you are five or ten times stronger than what their clans have shown to me, I'm confident in being able to defend myself."
The leaders didn't speak, looking deeply at the dragoness. The more they knew, the deeper the fog around this alluring and mysterious creature grew.
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Kali: Interesting.
Andrea: I wonder how they will react.
Author: I wonder who will appear today~. I summon you!
Arfa42: It is me~. Hello!
Cecile: Hi.
Arfa42: Tatyana, a question for you.
Tatyana: Let's hear it.
Arfa42: Let's say that Yasenia was not born because there was no reincarnated soul nourishment, and what was born were twins, a boy and a girl. What would you have done? Will you date the boy or the girl or both twins or be a parent?
Tatyana: If it was before I had Yasenia, I might have answered without deep consideration and answered "both."
Tatyana: However, now… I'm not so sure of what would've happened. Not taking into account that the Gods would've probably overtaken those two if I would become the lover of one, both, or none is something I don't know.
Tatyana: I can't honestly give you a definitive answer. I can only say that it would've been a mess.
Arfa42: I see. Thanks for answering.
Author: And that's all for today~. Bye-bye!