Two years have gone by since she arrived in this city. During this time, Yasenia made sure to cultivate much longer than usual because she did not have much else to do while all of them investigated the place and tried to get closer to Ayanduin.
Today, she finally accumulated enough energy to reach the next level in her Spiritualization Path. Her cultivation realms were mid-level for the Body path, fifth-level for Spiritual, and fourth-level for the Beast path.
The Beast Path was significantly slower than the other two because the resources to increase its level were limited. Thankfully, commerce in this place was prolific, so they could find beast cores being sold here and there.
The coin system was also relatively simple. Sunderial was the highest-value energy crystal in the place. After them, there were Earth Crystals, Magic Crystals, Spirit Crystals, and finally, mortal coins. The difference from one to the next was 1,000 coins.
Yasenia was curious when she learned that. "Why are Sunderials not called Heaven Crystals? Your currency follows the treasure realms, right?"
Lady He, who was the person explaining it to her back then smiled and spoke. "Well, that's disrespectful toward the Heavens. Therefore, it seems that the ancestors avoided it and decided to change the name."
Yasenia was surprised. "Huh? Isn't the Heavens of this World dead?"
Lady He smiled sadly. "It is. However, people still have tribulations when they break through. It feels like the Heavens are extremely weakened and not dead. However, who knows? Not even the [Four City Kings] know about it."
Yasenia crossed her arms and asked. "What if they know, but they are hiding it because it benefits them?"
As an answer, Lady He shook her head and patted Yasenia's arm twice before leaving.
The dragoness opened her eyes from meditation and muttered. "Two years already, I have broken through once more in the spiritual path and made great strides in body cultivation and beast cultivation. My martial art mastery has also increased, and my understanding of the [Heavenly Constellation Steps] has increased."
Speaking of that movement technique, the dragoness was in awe at how complex it was. There was a constant stream of complex energy paths that she needed to keep track of while utilizing it, making going from one [Sky] to another [Sky] a difficult endeavor.
"Pegasus Gallop is relatively easy because it is a burst of speed that doesn't need to be maintained for long unless it is me pursuing or fleeing from somebody." Yasenia thought. "I had no other long-lasting constellation. So, Ursa never gave me problems. However… Orion is a burst skill that then needs to be maintained. It is complicated to do so while not breaking out of [Second Sky: Ursa's Grasp]. If I fail to upkeep Ursa's Grasp, [Third Sky: Orion's Shield] will leave me weakened right after, and it could be lethal."
The dragoness muttered. "What about the Fourth Sky? It is called Lyra's Harmony… A music-related skill!" Yasenia blinked. "Music?"
The dragoness had learned to play instruments in the past. While she had mastered many to a certain degree, her skills could be considered good among young cultivators.
Her skills could be considered horrendous for someone at her cultivation.
"I should practice."
Thinking as such, she stood up and approached Kali's room, knocking on the door. "Yes, Love?"
Kali's voice reached her from the other side. Yasenia knew that Kali was in the middle of something very important, so she was brief and clear. "I am going out. Ask Selena where I went if you finish here."
"Okay, Love."
Listening to the concentrated tone, Yasenia didn't bother her anymore and stepped out of the room. The maids naturally gathered, leaving ten of them behind to protect Kali while the other 30 accompanied Yasenia.
Doriel asked. "Where are we going, Young Miss?"
Yasenia smiled and said. "Music shop! There was one nearby, right? I need an instrument." She looked toward the right and saw one of the maids looking at her, lightly surprised. Yasenia chuckled. "Ilarune, can you teach me?"
Ilarune, the swallow beast human maid, had a graceful, ethereal body with delicate wings behind her and a slim bird-like figure. Her soft, porcelain-like skin and sleek, dark hair gave her an elegant and refined appearance, while her dark, expressive eyes reflected intelligence and quiet strength. Her gestures carried an air of effortless elegance, giving her walk a feeling as if she were gliding. She was the perfect classical beauty with extraordinary feminine charm.
To add to her appeal, a beautiful seven-stringed guqin with images of swallows and clouds gently rested on Ilarune's back, exquisitely blending with her elegant figure.
Ilarune stepped closer with small but quick steps, and she smiled widely. "Of course, Young Miss."
Her voice had a gentle melody that soothed those who heard her. Yasenia laughed. "This reminds me… Weren't you the one who sang me lullabies when I was napping in the garden?"
Ilarune covered her mouth and laughed. "While I sometimes did so, that was done by seniors more often than not. Us, mortal maids, very rarely took care of your most intimate moments, Young Miss. Transcendent Level maids were the ones doing so ninety percent of the time."
Yasenia laughed through her nose. "I see. Well, now it is your time to show me your talents. You reached the half-step Dantian Spiritualization Realm a few years ago, right? How is Body Cultivation going?"
Ilarune hummed, her hum making the ears of the listeners vibrate pleasantly. "It is nice, I guess. Although I prefer my softer body, I am undoubtedly getting stronger, not weaker. I just need to get accustomed to my body's newfound hardness. It is a bit complicated to play music as perfectly as before."
Alaia asked with a smile. "Have you tried a bit of a… harder? Type of music?"
Ilarune snorted softly. "I won't. I love soft, flowy, and relaxing music."
Alaia blinked and smirked. "The truth is?"
Ilarune muttered, poking her fingers together. "I am much worse at playing that type of music…"
Yasenia laughed and patted Ilarune's head. "So, Ilarune, what kind of instrument do you think would suit me? I personally think that something like a strong-sounding air instrument would be cool."
Ilarune instantly denied it. "That would be like sticking the most beautiful flower, you, into a massive dragon turd! Definitely no! You need a corded instrument, Young Miss! You have a beauty that needs to be shown while you play music. Young Miss's beauty is part of your music, and you need to take advantage of it!"
Yasenia blinked. "Beauty? How does that have anything to do with music?"
Ilarune raised her eyebrows high and asked. "What is music, Young Miss?"
The dragoness thought for a few moments and answered seriously. "Music is an art that tells a story through sound, but unlike a voice, it can break barriers between species and borders, reaching everyone."
Ilarune snorted. "Generic answer! Music is an art, Young Miss. It is an expression of the soul, body, and mind. It's not for others but for yourself. You are in the music; you are the creator of it. Trying to create something that will be liked by everyone is like creating a mediocre meal that will be liked by everyone! If your best food recipe has mushrooms, but some people don't like mushrooms, do you take out the mushrooms from the dish!?"
Yasenia couldn't even answer as Ilarune roundly negated it. "You don't! Music is the same; any kind of art form is the same! You create what you like and share it. There will be some who like it and some who don't. But, if it is good, even those who don't like it will appreciate it."
The dragoness pondered and nodded. "I see. So, the reason for me to choose a string instrument is…"
Ilarune looked at Yasenia's face as if there wasn't a veil and answered with glittering eyes. "Because your face is super pretty, Young Miss. Your eyes appear as if they can speak. If you use an air instrument, your cheeks will blow out, destroying that beauty!"
Doriel asked. "Aren't there techniques to avoid that?"
Ilarune snorted. "Awkward looking! People will not focus on Young Miss' face if she is there, trying to look pretty while playing an instrument. She doesn't need to 'Try,' she needs to BE!"
Seeing the passionate fire in Ilarune's eyes, Yasenia laughed. "Okay, okay. So, which instrument? Piano?"
Ilarune shook her head. "No, too… big. Any kind of guitar is also a no because Young Miss's breasts are huge. They will be in the way while you play… Well. Oh? I know!"
With her exclamation, Ilarune grabbed Yasenia's hand and dragged her toward the music shop. "Come, Young Miss! Let's buy you an instrument!"
The maids followed along, and soon, they were in front of the music shop. The music shop was inside the central area of the city. During the last two years, Yasenia has opened a shop in the inner area and gained quite a lot of money by selling items created by her maids. After all, her maids were not only a lethal combat group, but they also had several skills that allowed them to earn profit almost anywhere they traveled.
Since Yasenia was done holding back the resources she had, she, of course, created the [Astral Sky Shop] and sold items crafted by them. The items were a massive success, and soon, Sunderials started rolling in.
Now, armed with a few hundred thousand of them after two years, the dragoness decided to enter the outer parts of the central region.
Large concentric walls divided the city, and to pass through the different sections, one needed to cross a gate. The gates had no guards and were there more as landmarks. Of course, not having guards didn't mean that people didn't try to tax those who went through.
"Stop there!"
Yasenia looked over and raised her eyebrow. There was a group of women wearing luxurious dresses, led by a beautiful woman whose facial features were ruined by heavy makeup.
Ilarune was quite eager to help Yasenia buy the instrument she had in mind, so her usually calm and elegant face immediately filled with annoyance.
Yasenia looked over and asked, her eyes gaining a cold look as her aura spread from her as a warning. "Why are you stopping me?"
The approaching group of women paused when Yasenia's aura reached them. The one at the front spoke softer. "Lady Yasenia, we are here to invite you. Our Young Master is someone living in the center of the city and one of the richest in the entire place. Would you and your maids be interested?"
She was not surprised that someone knew her name. She had not been trying to hide for one second, so certain incidents would eventually force people to know who she was. The dragoness snorted. "Go back and tell your Young Master that I have urgent matters to attend to. Goodbye."
Yasenia ignored their faces and asked Ilarune. "By the way, what instrument did you choose for me?"
Ilarune smiled brightly. "The Pippa!"