Yasenia didn't break through in just a few moments; the process was gradual and took around two months.
During this time, she was not left vulnerable. The maids and Tatyana had meticulously crafted formations and defensive measures around her resting area in the heart of the Sect.
Other than the strongest maids guarding her, the weaker ones with architectural-knowledge started rebuilding the half-decimated sect. Yasenia's battle with the Sun and Moon soldiers was brutal, with each attack unleashing energy bombs that shook the very foundations of the sect.
The result of the high-intensity battle was around 10% of the sect being leveled to the ground, with around 40% of the entire sect receiving some kind of damage.
Of course, very few people complained. They'd just seen their Sect Leader fighting for her life with incredible persistence and power, making the hearts of everyone who saw pound with pride and excitement.
Before this event, while people were proud of the sect, the "stain" of the Sect Master being a weak fourth realm cultivator was prevalent around the continent. Those who hated or were against the Astral Sky Sect always pointed out the weakness of their leader.
People didn't care about Yasenia's age. After all, what mattered during a battle to the death was not relative power but absolute power. As a Sect Master, people wouldn't protect her when she was attacked by other sect masters because her position was the same. In the opinion of the grand majority, if Yasenia wanted to have the same protection as other juniors, she shouldn't be meddling in the business of the seniors.
It was an entirely valid point and position that many disciples of the Astral Sky Sect associate with a bitter aftertaste in their mouths.
Yes, their Sect Leader was probably the most talented cultivator that had ever appeared, but at that time, she was nothing but a blooming flower. Compared with the towering trees in her surroundings, regardless of how beautiful, she was someone who could be stomped at a personal level.
A sect master needing protection from other Sect Masters was not a good look.
However, those days were over for them!
Yes, their Sect Master just broke through, but so what? Didn't the world see that cataclysmic tribulation being pushed back by their Sect Master!?
Now, when an enemy sect disciple mocked their Sect Master, they would just slap their faces with the recording of Yasenia fighting the Sun and Moon soldier.
The scenes made people feel as if they had been injected with chicken blood, and not once did those scenes fail to make a person's heart pound and get excited.
Of course, seeing those who mocked their beautiful Sect Master be silenced by just her breakthrough made Astral Sky Sect members puff out their chests and act smug as if they were the ones who broke through into the fifth realm.
In short, the atmosphere after Yasenia's successful breakthrough was jubilant and full of celebratory feelings, and all those who complained about their houses being demolished were drowned in the spit of the grand majority.
During Yasenia's two months of hibernation, her video spread all around the Distancia Continent as she grew and absorbed all her improvements.
Many were in awe, while some felt resentful, and others became fearful.
BANG!
Someone's fist struck an Earth-ranked table, making it cave in with ease.
"What is this!?"
The man who screamed this was handsome, tall, and muscular, with attractive, wild facial features and golden eyes. His black-furred wolf ears and tail were puffed with anger and resentment as the video of Yasenia's tribulation played before him.
The elder who presented the treasure was on his knees, trembling in fear as a terrible pressure slammed down on his body with terrible momentum. The aura of a high-level Epoch Core was terrifyingly strong.
"P-Patriarch, with a lot of trouble, we managed to secure one video of Yasenia Dravory fighting her heavenly tribulation-."
"WITH A LOT OF TROUBLE!? FOOL!"
His roar echoed far beyond the room, spreading throughout his expansive cave city. Fu Lang Zu, the Steel Back Wolf Patriarch, roared. "Did you even hear about that dragon's sex toys tribulation!? You haven't, right!? Do you not understand that they are intentionally spreading these videos to demoralize our forces!?"
Fu Lang Zu pointed at the video, which was playing the moment Yasenia used [Starfall] to level several mountains and bury the Sun and Moon Soldier. "That was her strength BEFORE SHE BROKE THROUGH! WHAT DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WILL GUESS WHAT HER STRENGTH IS NOW!?"
At the side, a cold and aloof voice cut him off. "Fu Lang Zu, relax."
Fu Lang Zu looked sideways at the silver-furred woman and clenched his teeth, making a grinding sound. Greatly containing his emotions, he growled. "Zephyrith, if you just didn't make that stupid-."
Zephyrith looked at him with her piercing red eyes. "I told you when you were young, Fu Lang Zu. I won't marry you unless you are the strongest wolf-kin. If you want me in your harem full of females, you need to show me that you are worth it for me, putting my own pride aside and joining you as another woman."
Fu Lang Zu's hand crushed the armrest he was gripping and answered while the rage clouded his mind. "Bullshit. You are just a high and aloof bitch that poses herself as self-important to catch my attention. If I wanted to, you would be another one of those women crawling under my crotch and asking for my seed, as it should be!"
Zephyrith looked at him and sighed, her red gaze filled with nothing but disappointment. "Honestly, Fu Lang Zu, what are your options now? Even if you call all our hidden seniors, how many peak-level Epoch Cores are there in our group? Two? Three? Even if I don't know of a few because of concealing formations, there won't be more than six." Zephyrith continued. "However, these seniors have secluded themselves from worldly matters, and their only objective is to break through into the next realm. Their lifespans are burning out, and their only option for extending them is breaking this last barrier. Unless the race is on the verge of extinction, they won't move."
Fu Lang Zu growled. "That dragon wants to exterminate-."
Zephyrith cut him off. "Wrong."
Fu Lang Zu glared at her, and Zephyrith spoke. "She wants to exterminate you and your lackeys. From the start, that Dragon's sight was far beyond Distancia. Distancia was nothing but a stop. She is a dragon that was resting her wings for a while to then fly off into the far and vast skies." Zephyrith looked outside. "Yet, when that dragon landed and requested not to be bothered, little beasts all around couldn't bear her magnificence. And, like moths to a flame, they attacked, provoked, and tried to tame the dragon."
Zephyrith looked back at Fu Lang Zu with a cold gaze. "You forced the dragon who was looking up to the skies to look down at the earth. Now, you are about to learn with your own body why, in the far past, when Hero Distancia still roamed these lands, dragons were considered the strongest race."
Fu Lang Zu sneered. "A race that got decimated by Hero Distancia."
Zephyrith mocked. "But you are not Hero Distancia." Zephyrith slowly stood up, looking at him with cold eyes. "Those demons are also not doing you any good, Lang Zu. They are covetous, greedy, and eager to swallow this continent and forcefully make it their nest. Unlike a certain dragon who wants to clean the pests around her to fly into the skies, the demons have come to ravish everything and change it into their own backyard."
Fu Lang Zu felt frustration well up inside him. "Then, why didn't you-."
Zephyrith laughed as she left. "Have you ever listened to my words when they did not align with your plans? You seemed agreeable to what I told you because you were thinking similarly. However, you've started ignoring me since I started having differing thoughts because the situation changed."
Zephyrith opened the door, and while holding it open, she turned around and looked at him. "Fu Lang Zu, the arrogance of being the strongest for so long has blinded you. Now, it's too late for anything. The dragon's wings are fully stretched, and not even the Heavens themselves could stop her from extending her wings and creating a shadow all over the continent."
Fu Lang Zu shouted because of the accumulating frustrations. "The heavens are on her side either way! How could they even stop her? Such a talented creature is nothing but the heavens mocking everyone else about hard work-."
"Stop."
Zephyrith infused power in her voice as she ordered him, making him stop his ramblings. Zephyrith's eyes were no longer filled with any emotions as if she had given up on him. "Even after seeing that ridiculous tribulation, you think the heavens are her allies? There were also those two dragons in the sky that infused the tribulation with something, making it stronger."
"The Heavens are her ally?" Zephyrith's lips arched in a sneer. "Don't make me laugh. It is more than clear that the Heavens want her dead."
Without more words, she turned around and stopped holding the door, which slowly closed after her.
Fu Lang Zu roared. "I don't care about that. Zephyrith, we are marrying in 6 months, whether you like it or not! I need your Pure Yin Essence to make a full recovery, so even if I have to force you, I will get it!" Before the door closed, Fu Lang Zu's voice echoed around. "Don't even think of escaping because this is something I decided with the elder!"
Zephyrith heard him but didn't answer. Her red eyes looked forward as she walked down the halls toward her residence. 'I wonder, will your plans bear fruit?' Zephyrith's eyes flashed with Fate's energies, and her lips arched in a mocking smile. 'I am looking forward to our "wedding party.'''
Then, her eyes softened, and the image of a confident blue-eyed wolf woman with fur as white as snow appeared in her mind. 'It seems that you will not be strong enough. Your improvement speed is incredible, but not fast enough…' There was a bit of melancholy in her eyes. 'But don't worry, Sierra, I've made up my mind only to have you as my partner. Even if I have to end my life, I will not let Fu Lang Zu touch me.'
Zephyrith lifted her arm and revealed her beautiful white hand hidden in the long sleeves. She was holding a marble-like black pill.
Meanwhile, Sierra opened her blue eyes in the Astral Sky Sect, lightning flashing through them as snowflakes swirled around her. Her strength was incredibly high compared to more than a year ago, as her aura was close to a third-level Legendary Beast Realm.
Suddenly, Sierra placed a hand on her chest, feeling a strange bad omen that made her brows frown, and her heart clench. 'What was this feeling?'
Sierra remembered all her conversations with the girls and that, be it Yasenia, Tatyana, or Evelyn, all were agreeable to being cautious and not disregarding their feelings, even if they were vague. 'Should I bring it up with Lady Tatyana?' Sierra pondered. 'It was just a second, but the feeling was really… harsh.'
Thinking of their insistence on these matters, she stood up from her meditating posture, her long wolf ears flickering to clean the snow from her beautiful white hair, and decided to make a visit to Tatyana. 'Well, asking doesn't do anyone any harm.'