Mortrexo

Chapter 536. Investigating Reasons. Unpleasant Discovery. [AotSC]

With her ability to sense everything, Liu Shu used one week to understand what they were planning deeply. During the first day, she already had some results. 

A woman who left the Town Hall walked toward the Explorer Association and approached the counter. “Hello, I am here for the root base.”

Liu Shu tilted her head. ‘Is that a code of some sort?’ 

Her guess was correct, as the attitude of that receptionist became solemn and a bit nervous. His eyes darted around, as if he were fearful of something sprouting around him. Liu Shu’s Avatar showed a complicated expression. ‘If you are so scared, it means you know it is wrong. If that’s so… why would you do something like this? Sigh…’ 

The man cleared his throat. “Please, use the seventh root pass; it's the one with the canopy cover.”

The woman nodded faintly and walked toward the side of the reception room. The bark parted, and the woman stepped inside a hidden passage. Liu Shu was surprised. ‘Huh?’ Her senses focused, and soon, she could see through the concealment. ‘When did this passage appear?’ 

Her gaze, following the woman, became heavier as she noticed an oddity. ‘The <Lignified Tree> that houses the Explorer Association is strangely silent as well…’ Her roots gently touched the tree, and she spoke softly. ‘Baby, are you there? How are you feeling?’ 

The Lignified Tree tried to send her a message, but there was some kind of interference in her roots. Liu Shu’s real face slowly opened her eyes, coldness reflecting in her green irises. Then, she turned to look over. 

Many who walked around the city noticed the torso of the World Tree twisting faintly as its gaze fell somewhere within the city. Those curious moved over, but soon, the World Tree closed her eyes again and returned to her resting position.

“What happened?” Someone asked, confused.

A middle-aged woman muttered. “It is indeed rare for Lady Heavenly Willow to move. What was in the direction she looked? I can’t really recall.”

“Too many things to narrow it down…” A middle-aged man with knowledge of the city layout spoke. “Still, something must’ve happened. I could feel a trace of anger in Lady Heavenly Willow’s gaze.”   

Meanwhile, the <Lignified Tree> had her tangled roots untangled by Liu Shu, allowing it to communicate with Liu Shu without problems. A childish voice reached Liu Shu, full of wrongs. “Mama, these people are doing some shady business. I can’t really act myself because I am unsure of what they are doing, but they have taken control of some of my body functions.” 

Liu Shu’s anger surged for a second before she pushed it down. Right now, she didn’t need to show a blazing anger but a cold and calculated wrath. To relax one of her many children, Liu Shu spoke gently to it. “I hear you now, baby. Don’t worry. Bear with it for one more week, okay, love? I will soon clean up those who bothered you.”

The Lignified Tree hugged Liu Shu’s roots with her own like a spoiled child. “Okay, Mama! Hehe. I can finally talk with Mama again!” 

Liu Shu’s heart was soothed for a moment, knowing that nothing too extreme happened to one of her babies. Nevertheless, below her relief, there was a scorching feeling of hatred that she needed to deal with. 

Their conversation was not done through normal speech, but through tree speech. Thanks to the tree being high-level, it didn’t last that long, only around two and a half hours.

During those hours, Liu Shu didn’t stop focusing on the woman carrying the documents. That woman arrived at a small room and placed the stacks of papers on the table. “Here it is. This is the latest activity of the Dungeon delving groups from the government and the army.”

The man on the desk nodded faintly and snorted. “Do they think that the dungeons are theirs or something? They are lucky that we are not that interested, or Lady Heavenly Willow would’ve suffered a bit.” 

The woman’s face showed a trace of worry. “Um… Vice Association Master, what if Lady Heavenly Willow notices? Won’t we be in danger?” 

“How could that be?” The man shook his head. “You don’t really understand how large the Explorer Association is. While they don’t micromanage small branches like ours, we are still part of the large network that the power forms. If Lady Heavenly Willow dares to do something, she will receive some heavy repercussions. So, at worst, we will be done with a small warning.”  

The woman thought back on the Nexus and the Reform group with a worried heart. “I know that the association is stronger than the Abyssal Void Nexus, but… Even the Nexus didn’t react to the annihilation of their group. Won’t the Explorer Association also ignore us?” 

The man looked at the woman with a confused expression. “What’s wrong? You’ve been acting strange today.” 

The woman used a finger to tangle her hair. “Just… I feel anxious. I almost got caught today by Lady Verdantia. It seems that she is wary of our actions, and she has noticed a few traces.” 

“How?” The man asked, surprised. “We even used duplicated reports to not raise suspicions. There should’ve been no chance for them to know…” The man paused for a moment. “Perhaps… did the <Town Hall> tree say anything to Lady Verdantia? It shouldn’t have noticed with the Rune Amulets you are wearing, though.”

The woman shook her head. “I am not sure. But I just feel anxious.”

Hearing her tone, the man pondered for a bit. Having worked in Golden Sap City for over two decades, he knew better than to underestimate their World Tree. “If she noticed… You! Go tell the people to check if the <Lignified Tree> has its communication nodes clogged.” 

The woman’s face crumpled. “Y-You, what did you do to the <Lignified Trees>? Don’t you know that messing with them is the army’s bottom line? They are like everyone’s precious children, and there is no one who even dares to say a single peep to them!” 

The man rolled his eyes. “Do you think I don’t know? We never hurt it; we just blocked its ability to communicate and slightly manipulated the body with arrays so that we can modify it at will. Of course, none of this is painful for it. At most, it would feel as if someone were moving its hands and legs during the time we make modifications. Other than at those times, the <Lignified Tree> is free to do as it pleases.”

The woman’s eyes widened. “Y-You… What will you do when the <Lignified Tree> spills the information to Lady Heavenly Willow! You can’t keep it silent forever!”

The man leaned back, looking at the nervous woman with a calm gaze. “That won’t happen anytime soon. And, if it happened, shouldn’t you check it quickly instead of interrogating me?” 

The woman’s face changed colors a few times before she turned around and moved quickly. Liu Shu listened to the conversation with icy cold eyes. ‘You think you can manipulate my child and be free of consequences? It seems that people have started to forget the purge I did back then towards those who bothered my babies. Another one should refresh everyone’s memory.’ 

Part of her consciousness moved and contacted Flor. “Make an announcement for everyone to gather in the main plaza a week from now.” 

Flor, who was relaxing and looking out of the window, blinked twice and looked at Liu Shu. Her red eyes showed a hint of concern, while her long red hair gently spread on her chest. “What’s wrong, love? Your tone sounds cold.” 

Liu Shu spoke faintly. “Some people have started forgetting that my babies can’t be touched, not even if the effects are ‘mild’ and ‘unharmful.’” 

If they were just conspiring, Liu Shu would deal with them through the law. After all, her tyranny was usually directed towards those outside of her power. Moreover, Golden Sap City’s law was not forgiving.

However, they dared to touch her bottom line: her beautiful saplings. Liu Shu thought coldly. ‘Since they’ve forgotten that the houses they live in are the children of a World Tree, I’ll remind them.’ 

Flor also turned serious. The Flower Fairy would not allow her grandbabies to suffer. They already went through a rough patch when they were younger, and she didn’t want to feel upset once more. 

Meanwhile, the woman who arrived with the array masters at the bottom of the Lignified Tree sputtered, her hands trembling. “Check it quickly! We can’t make a mistake here!” 

She observed as the array masters moved while biting her long nail. ‘Why did I even join this? I was dissatisfied that I couldn’t climb higher, but my pay is not bad at all. I am living a comfortable life that allows for luxuries from time to time! Stupid and greedy woman!’ 

The array masters stood up, and the leading researcher spoke calmly. “As I told you, miss. The array is perfectly fine. The Lignified Tree is still bound and can’t send messages to Lady Heavenly Willow.

The woman’s anxiety was reduced by half, her legs almost softening from the relief. “That’s good… That’s good…”

When they all left the basement, a ripple of ternary essence spread from the middle as runes scattered around. With the ripple, the intact array scattered like light, showing a broken pattern with blue-veined roots wriggling about. Liu Shu sneered. ‘A bunch of useless people think they can see through my Runic Illusion Field? Ha! Overestimating themselves.’ 

In the entirety of the Golden Sap Arborarchy, only three people could match Liu Shu’s skill in runes. Those were Mariane, Mariane’s mother, and an uncle from Harmonixia’s family. 

After the woman went up, she communicated with the vice-chairman of the association and then went out. Strangely, she noticed a bunch of people gathered around the Explorer Association. Confused, she approached an old man and asked. “Sir, may I ask why there are so many people gathered here?”   

The old man smiled faintly, showing a healthy complexion. “Lady Heavenly Willow looked in this direction a while ago, so people are speculating.”

The woman’s body turned icy cold, as if her soul had dropped to the pit of her stomach. As she turned to look at the gigantic World Tree, she heard a voice in her head. “Say a single word about your suspicions, and you’ll be swallowed by the very soil you are walking on.”

The powerful voice almost shattered her soul with just its pressure. It was so vast and influential that her Phoer was damaged during that simple sentence, nearly forcing her to cough blood. ‘S-She knows…’ 

The old man, noticing the sheer terror and despair flashing in the woman’s face, frowned a bit. “Um… Girl, are you okay?” 

However, the woman didn’t answer and quickly left the place. However, each time she took a step, her mind flashed with the idea of roots coiling and pulling her underground. That day, the woman couldn’t sleep, eat, or do anything of value.  

Chapter 1324. Hunters or Hunted?

While flying, Yasenia’s mind was racing. ‘Did the [Crimson Lotus Hall] people really come for revenge? Even after that?’

Yasenia felt that it was surreal. The fact that the person couldn’t understand that he only lived because she was merciful baffled her. ‘Are juniors here that reckless when dealing with Transcendence Realm Cultivators? When I was a mortal, I stood on tiptoes around them…’

She was thinking about what would be the cause to be able to disrespect an immortal as a mortal. After thinking, she came to a conclusion. ‘One family member is probably a Seventh Realm cultivator. Otherwise, it makes no sense that he is so fearless of me. If he didn’t have such a powerful backing, the logical course of action would’ve been to deal with me after the Secret Realm. The arrogance he is showing must be related to his connection with someone at the Seventh Realm.’  

With that in mind, Yasenia was honestly doubtful about how to deal with that man. ‘If I kill him, I will be discovered. Even if this is a Secret Realm, the fact that we got into a confrontation is easy to learn. Then, even if it is to pacify their rage, I will become a victim.’ 

A deep sigh left her, cold calculations moving in her mind. ‘Even then… I have no other option. If their seniors are the indifferent type, they might force me to marry that guy through soft threats. If they are the meddlesome type, they might even threaten me or make me his cultivation furnace.’ 

Yasenia’s thoughts went to the talismans Tatyana gave her a long time ago. ‘I have two blows… Can they even defeat a Seventh Realm cultivator in one hit?’ 

She knew that her mother was similar to her, being able to fight above her own level. Even then, being able to kill a Seventh Realm cultivator in one blow was an entirely different matter. 

Lataria’s voice reached Yasenia. “Why are you showing such a worried expression?” 

Yasenia smiled wryly and explained her reasoning. “...So, I am backed between a wall and a hard place.” 

Lataria listened to everything and also became thoughtful. “Even then… You were able to easily face those people. Why would you be feeling danger now?”

Yasenia was not confused in that regard. “Clearly, that man also knows about my strength. Therefore, he most likely moved other sects with benefits. His type is a man who can’t take a loss. So, as long as it is to rebuild the reputation I tarnished, he will use any and all means.”

Lataria hummed. “That’s quite plausible… So, what’s your plan?”

Yasenia stayed silent before chuckling. “Well, isn’t it clear? There is only one way to deal with these kinds of people. Kill the child, kill the parent, and kill the ancestor. I’ll deal with them as they come. Also, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Since they are a demonic sect, they must have enemies, and I can use those enemies as protection.”  

Lataria’s eyebrow rose. “Oh? When you put it that way, your situation is not that dire.” 

Yasenia smiled wryly. “The problem is that I am part of a weak power. I need to gather all the hatred about this on me so that they don’t get involved.”

Lataria chuckled. “I didn’t expect this. You are actually quite caring.”

The dragoness looked at Lataria for a second and didn’t answer. ‘More than merciful… If they use the sect as hostages and I respond in a lukewarm manner, those who might ally towards my cause might become repulsed. To face a Demonic Sect, you need to show righteousness so that the elders of their opposing factions react for you.’

Her senses were stretched taut, and she looked at her surroundings. ‘They must not be near. What can we do to lose them, or at least confuse them and separate them?’ 

While thinking, Yasenia noticed that Lataria was quite calm. ‘Is she not planning on helping me? Perhaps, in her mind, it is better to betray me and give me to the demonic sect so that she is not involved.’ 

Lataria chuckled. “Don’t look at me so suspiciously. Don’t worry, I don’t plan on backstabbing you. My morals are not… common. I will not stand for an injustice happening in front of me if I have the strength to back it up.”   

Hearing those words was mildly surprising. “I didn’t expect you to be this kind of person. I thought you were much more materialistic.”

“Why? Didn’t I let you on that platform without asking anything in return?”

The dragoness snorted once. “Clearly, you were trying to make me owe you a favor. Moreover, from what you’ve shown, you were attracted to me. In this case, what you searched for was not materials, but me.” 

Lataria’s lips twitched. She couldn’t deny that the reason for her help was slightly biased because Yasenia was beautiful and she was interested. However, hearing it so crudely made her somewhat hurt. “Either way, I will help you. Trust me this once.”

Yasenia nodded. “Since that’s the case, here is the plan.”

Lataria listened attentively and nodded, her eyes flashing with interest. “I didn’t know you could do something like that? I wonder what they will do.” 

After exchanging a few words, they began executing their plan.

Several kilometers behind them, the pursuers were baffled. One of them asked, confused. “How were we discovered? We were using perfect stealth and treasures. Not even a peak-level Transcendence Realm cultivator should’ve been able to detect us in this Secret Realm.”

The leader of the [Crimson Lotus Hall] was not that surprised. “This just shows how particular she is as a Dragon. Her bloodline level must be high. Change of plans, try to capture her if we can. She will serve well for our Young Master.”   

A cold female voice reached him. “Our Young Mistress of the [Blood Moon Hall] would like a part of her. Since she is high-level, her blood must be a great tonic. A bath in her blood will speed up our Young Mistress’s cultivation speed.”

“Dragons have plenty of blood. I don’t see how our opinions conflict.”

The cold female spoke sharply. “Your Young Master is lecherous, but the only redeeming quality of that boy is that he treats his toys with care. I don’t think that he would allow us to extract her blood in large quantities after he gets his hands on her. Moreover, with the dragon’s beauty, she might even gain some advantages in your Young Master’s harem.” 

The man couldn’t deny that. While his Young Master stole females he liked, at least he didn’t treat them horribly. Of course, that didn’t mean that he didn’t violate them. The treatment referred to the care outside of their “duties” as a female slave. Objectively, it was still horrendous behavior. 

“We can do it secretly. When the Young Master goes into seclusion, we can capture and get some dragon parts in secret.” The man’s words were not bad, so the woman stopped speaking. 

“Now that we’ve solved our conflict of interest… Hm?” All 17 cultivators stopped and frowned. They looked left, right, and center. Confused as to how Yasenia’s trace suddenly divided into three. 

“What trick is this? Our [Blood Moon Pursuing Array] should be impossible to deceive in this manner. At most, it would show an incorrect path, not branching directions.”

Looking back and forth, the man came to a quick conclusion. “Let’s divide our forces. We are seventeen cultivators, so even if we divide into three, there should be enough to trap that powerful dragon and wait for the rest of us.” 

Nobody disagreed, so they all separated. Each of the three participating sects took one of the paths. The [Blood Moon Hall] people, four women and two men, looked around cautiously as they followed Yasenia’s trail. 

While following, suddenly, their surroundings shifted. The space changed into a void, full of stars, galaxies, and planets.

Looking around, their faces turned serious, and they quickly activated their own Intent Domains; all Intents were Level Three Intent Domains. 

“[Blood River Intent Domain].”

“[Night Falling Intent Domain].”

“[Desperation Moon Intent Domain].”

“[Blood Moon Intent Domain].”

“[Blood Sword Intent Domain]!”

“[Dark Path Intent Domain]!”

Six auras exploded outward, badly deforming their surroundings. However, as their power expanded outward, they saw five water spheres flying down quickly. These spheres shone and enveloped the bodies of five of them before they could even react. 

All of them show stern expressions before quickly trying to deal with them. The woman at the lead was the only one who was not surrounded. “Attack the barriers and break them! I’ll hold them back!”

“Can you?” A voice appeared by her side, as if a ghost had suddenly manifested by her side. As she turned around, she saw the dragon woman swing a giant sword at her. The sword exploded outward with scorching energies. 

“[Celestal Sunder]!” 

The woman was barely able to use her [Blood Moon Intent Domain] to protect her body before the sword struck her. 

BOOM!!

Pain filled her body as her body flew back, a large gash gushing out blood from her right shoulder. “Tsk. You blew your surprise attack by talking, you ignorant dragon.”

Yasenia rushed at her with a smile. The woman didn’t understand that smile, and suddenly the threat of death enveloped her body. Her ring flashed, and a bead appeared on her hand. She quickly crushed the bead, creating a dark sphere around her. 

CLANG! 

A terrifying force struck behind her. Turning around, she noticed a blue-feathered Divine swinging her sword covered with pressurized water at her. 

“You!?”

“Tsk. I didn’t expect a [Dark Moon Shield]. Weren’t items prohibited?”

The woman slashed at Lataria, blood and cold darkness enveloping her sword. “I had this treasure on my person. Just in case.” She sneered as she exchanged blows with the Divine. “Now that I blocked your surprise attack, you are all done for. The rest will arrive quickly, and you will be captured.”

Lataria showed no signs of flusteredness. “Oh, I am so scared. How about you first try to survive?”

BOOM!!

Behind the woman, Yasenia’s aura exploded like a bomb as several different auras interlocked within her. Her strength, now approaching her peak, was so overwhelming that everyone stopped for a moment. 

Yasenia stepped forward, Pegasus Gallop unfolding and carrying her body. “[Firmament Shaking Arc]!” 

Her body surged with strength, and Yasenia slashed forward. The environment around them seemed to follow her sword as stars and other celestial bodies moved with her strike. The woman’s face turned ugly when Lataria disappeared from her side. “Good luck defending.”

The woman shouted. “Don’t underestimate me! [Absolute Blood Moon Defense]!”

A red moon enveloped her body, but Yasenia’s strike didn’t slow down. “A single moon trying to block the cosmos… A frail defense.”

CRASH! BOOM!!

The woman’s body was struck and flew back, blood gushing out from her mouth. ‘What is this strength!? Monster!’

Yasenia, with her strength, started her fight against the seventeen enemies. 

Chapter 535. World Tree Crafters and the Explorer Association’s Reach. [AotSC]

Eight years after the defeat of the Nexus, the Golden Sap Arborarchy had officially become the most powerful empire on the planet. Liu Shu’s strength was obvious. However, what was most important was not her personal strength, but the numerous World Trees under her. Because of all her titles, temples, and other passive enhancements, a few of the World Trees and Life Trees stuck at Level 74 managed to reach Level 75. 

After being stuck at Level 74 for a while, their Accumulated Experience was also abundant, allowing all of them to surge immediately to high levels. 

It was not just the World Trees and Life Trees; thanks to the <Dungeons> Liu Shu controlled, the number of <Fourth Energy Cycles> among the intelligent species had surged to over 300, while the <Third Energy Cycles> were in the hundreds of thousands. Moreover, these numbers didn’t take into account the ant empire developing underground.  

As Liu Shu scanned her domain, she noticed Fortuna holding a potion with one of her thin branches. “Big Sister Fortuna.” 

“Liu Shu?” Fortuna’s elegant and gentle voice echoed softly. “What’s wrong, Liu Shu? Do you need my help?”

For World Trees, a few decades were nothing but a blink of an eye. Therefore, they weren’t affected by Liu Shu’s strength like intelligent creatures. They were reverent and respected Liu Shu, but they didn’t treat her as a superior being out of their reach. 

Liu Shu commented, curious. “What is that potion you are holding? It looks weak, but there is something strange about it.”

Fortuna chuckled. “How about you analyze it? I bet you’ll be surprised.”

Curious, our World Tree did as told. 

***

<Sap Regenerating Potion (D- Rank)>: It is a potion that recovers the sap of trees and heals injuries. It can also cleanse harmful substances up to E+ Rank. 

Note: This is an amateur potion created by World Tree Fortuna. The craftsmanship is that of a novice, but the quality can be qualified as super for a low-tier potion. 

***

The effects were nothing special. Potions many times stronger than this one were readily available in almost any market or Explorer Association Building. What surprised Liu Shu was the Note attached to the potion. “You created this, Big Sister Fortuna?”

“Hehe, that’s right! It took a while, but I finally managed to create a potion without it failing! It’s really complicated to manipulate the materials and medical herbs with the roots. But I am getting accustomed to it!” 

Liu Shu was truly happy for her. “That’s great! Aren’t you the first World Tree other than me to be successful as a <Crafter>?”

“That’s right!” Fortuna exclaimed proudly. Then, she added. “Of course, without the <Temple Of Craft> and a few other boosts you provide, it would’ve been too difficult to make a breakthrough for the first time. Now, though, I feel that I can continue to improve even without your help.”

Liu Shu was quite happy to hear that. She didn’t want their skills to be dependent on her. “I see. So taking the first step is what felt difficult. That’s interesting since I was the opposite, hehe.” 

“Right…” Fortuna paused and asked, her voice curious. “I never asked, but how did you manage to develop your understanding of runes?” 

“How?” Liu Shu thought back and answered. “I asked Mariane back then to use Runes to conceal my World Tree aura. However, something triggered within me, and I managed to absorb that rune field. Then, a basic understanding of runes popped into my head. From then on, I just studied runes and developed naturally. More than a crafter… runes are part of my strength.” 

Fortuna was speechless. “I shouldn’t have asked… It makes me feel as if my accomplishment is nothing.” 

“Not at all!” Liu Shu refuted passionately. “Big Sister Fortuna was able to develop even before Big Sister Prarya and the others, who are much older than you!”

Fortuna, similar to Liu Shu, was among the young World Trees. Her talent was truly exceptional, even when her Tier had not increased during the last few years. 

Prarya listened and used her roots to pull on Liu Shu’s roots. “You little tree! Why are you looking down on your Big Sister, eh!?” 

“Waah! It hurts, Big Sis!” 

Prarya snorted, pulling and stretching Liu Shu’s roots without any mercy. Prarya was still a <Third Energy Cycle> World Tree, so there was no chance at all to hurt Liu Shu. “Ask for forgiveness from Big Sister, then I will stop stretching your roots!” 

Liu Shu pleaded. “I am sorry! Big Sister, it hurts! Let me goooo!”

Prarya stopped and chuckled, using her roots to caress Liu Shu’s roots gently. “Good job. Good job.” Then, she asked. “By the way, Liu Shu, can you teach me about this rune? I’ve read your book about basic runes, but it's a bit complicated to grasp the meaning.”

“Oh? Big Sister Prarya is going to be a rune crafter?” Liu Shu asked, happy that a World Tree chose what she was learning.

“Yeah. I have tried a few crafting professions, and I think Runes are the one I feel most comfortable with.” 

Happy to help, Liu Shu moved some of her consciousness over while also dealing with the words other World Trees were spreading towards her. “Let me see… Oh, the Gharma rune. Yeah, this one can be a bit tricky among the basic ones. Gharma is a rune that represents cleanliness. However, it's not the same meaning of [Clean] that you use for surfaces, rooms, or hygiene in general. This clean is about rune division and regulation.” 

“Oh…” Prarya blurted. “I don’t get it. If it is about that, why would you add it to a rune string?”

“It’s not a permanent rune, haha.” Liu Shu explained step by step. “When you are creating a Rune Field or anything rune-related. You need to accumulate runes with different meanings and create a chain reaction of meanings to move the Aether, Phoer, and Anima of the world.”

Prarya answered positively. “Yes! That I know. For example, if you use the runes with the meaning of gas, inflammable, heat, and spark, you can create the most basic <Explosion Rune>, right?”

“Yes. Now you are learning elemental runes, so the rune-strings are short. You can easily check their ordering and effects. However, for more complex rune strings with hundreds or thousands of runes, you will need runes that help you see the integrity. Gharma does just that. You add it not for an effect, but to check that the string is [Clean] and won’t backfire.”

“Ohhhhh.” Prarya released a long exclamation. “I am inspired! Talk to you later, Liu Shu!” 

Liu Shu giggled and left Prarya alone. Her gaze moved above the city and observed the runes. Each building had complex runic arrays with hundreds of rune strings. Moreover, each rune-string was almost a thousand runes long, making a complex pattern that looked like an <Array>.

If <Runes> combined “meaning” for an effect, <Arrays> “interlocked and twisted” the world’s ternary essences for similar results. Runes were much more common on small artifacts and ranges, while <Arrays> could cover cities and larger locations. 

Only a World Tree like Liu Shu, whose calculation and processing abilities far surpassed those of normal intelligent beings, was able to use runes so easily for large-scale formations. Her skill’s name, <Otherworldly Rune and Nature Empire>, was not for show, after all. 

Other than runes, Liu Shu’s <Woodcrafting> had also increased by leaps and bounds. Now, she could develop and create B Rank or Profound Rank equipment. The only thing lacking was materials. Thankfully, her <Five Origin Essence Branches> helped her passively gather materials rather quickly.

Moreover, after taking over the entire continent, she acquired different mines and underground sources of minerals. The ants helped a lot in that regard as well. The wealth that flowed in and out of Liu Shu’s <Lignified Vault> daily was enough to buy an average city.

‘Hm~. Should I make a check on the structure to see if it is working properly? It has been two years since the last one.’ 

Her senses focused on the many <Town Hall> children, and she began observing, analyzing, and checking on the attitudes of the workers. 

‘Wah… I didn’t know that some people were brazen enough to secretly have intercourse during work…’ She was confused as to why they would do it. ‘It’s only these seven people, which is not much, but it is strange that even these seven exist.’ 

Looking at the man shaking his hips, she spoke to them. “Stop that. Work properly.”

The man and woman jumped, their faces turning pale.

“L-L-Lady Heavenly Willow?!”

“I am sorry! I am sorry! Oh, please have mercy!” 

The man and woman started apologizing profusely while haphazardly throwing clothes over their half-naked bodies. 

Liu Shu involuntarily came to notice something. ‘Oh. His small member became even smaller so quickly… does he have erectile dysfunction? Also… that’s the average human size? It’s only a bit longer than a finger when erect. I guess I forgot about sizes that make common sense after being with Cinderielle and the others. Aaaanyway, let’s continue our inspection.’ 

As she scanned the place, Liu Shu noticed some people moving suspiciously. She was somewhat speechless. ‘There is no way that there are still people who want to antagonize me… right? I literally deleted a few dozen <Fourth Energy Cycles> in front of thousands to send a message! QAQ!” 

Nevertheless, her thoughts ended up being slightly incorrect. There were people who were doing some scheming with bribes and such. Nevertheless, the purpose was not to oppose her openly. ‘Hm… The <Explorer Association> leader. Ugh.’ 

She had checked Wert’s successor a few times, and she didn’t like him. Not because he was incapable. The successor Wert chose was great when it came to administration duties, etc. ‘Only… His personality is a bit too haughty.’

This man placed no one in his eyes. The only people he was slightly careful about were Liu Shu and Flor. Other than them, his nose was almost pointing at the sky in each interaction. ‘Wert wasn’t as competent as him… But at least he knew how to deal with relations. Does he really think that having the backing of the Explorer Association is enough to deter me?’

The <Explorer Association>, according to Skyflower, was a monstrous existence. It was so vast that neither the Verdant Sanctity Covenant nor the Abyssal Void Nexus dared to touch it. 

However, Liu Shu understood that a power so large won’t really check on small branches of itself. Even if a few branches broke, the tree won’t really notice it. “I don’t want to get rid of the successor Wert appointed personally… But it is becoming a bit too blatant that he is bribing and manipulating the political situation from the shadows.’ 

After thinking for a bit, Liu Shu decided on her course of action. ‘Alright, let’s give him one last chance. If he continues to act as he has, I will have no other choice but to leave the Exploration Association headless for a few weeks.’

Chapter 1323. Beast Hunting and Pursuers.

A group of twenty people moved together. Among the group, there were three mortals, while the rest were Transcendence Realm Cultivators. The strong people fought a group of ten Endless Mud Beasts, slowly weakening them until they could barely regenerate or move a single part of their bodies. 

Then, the three mortals would join hands and attack the beasts, giving them the final blows. This method guaranteed around 0.1 points per beast for the mortals.

“Haha! I am twenty-three right now. You two are really pathetic.” 

“Boasting about not even being in the top ten… How far have you fallen?” 

“Shameless. Did that dragon woman’s rejection hurt your self-esteem that much?”

The man’s face stiffened and then crumpled. “That dragon woman…!” However, when he wanted to flare up, the shadow of two cold yet seductive golden slit eyes flashed in his mind, and his anger twisted into fear, making his body tremble slightly. 

Seeing him trembling, the woman’s lips arched mockingly. “Truly pathetic. A single glare and you are already growing heart demons.” 

“Young Master!” A shadowy figure appeared by their side, kneeling by the man’s side. 

The man snapped out of his daze and asked, his eyes shining with a bright light. “Did you find her?”

“Yes, Young Master. It was difficult to follow the trail. Thankfully, I was able to detect a powerful presence for a fraction of a second. After trying to search for two weeks, I managed to encounter the dragon woman.”

“Hahaha! Great!” His lips arched widely, and he looked at the other two mortals. “If you come, I’ll share the dragon with you two.”  

The other man showed a tempted expression. “Hm… I’d rather wait to see her strength first. She was able to blast one of your bodyguards flying with a single blow, so she is not simple.”

The woman snorted. “Why would I help you? I am not interested.”

The man sneered. “You are not interested? Hahaha. Dragons of her caliber had great regeneration. With the right drugs, we can make her our puppet and farm her until her vitality is exhausted. Not to mention… Wouldn’t you love to make that proud dragon grovel under your feet?” 

The woman got thoughtful for a moment, probably imagining that situation. As she did, her cheeks flushed slightly as a grin formed on her lips. “...Alright. You’ve convinced me. I’ll give you a hand. There is no way that she and that divine will defeat seventeen Transcendence Realm Cultivators.” 

The man grinned wickedly. ‘You slut… Not daring to accept my offer? I’ll take you by force now and make you understand who your master is!’ 

***

Far from that location, Yasenia and Lataria continued hunting for endless beasts. Their points were constantly kept within the top five. Sadly, Yasenia was not the only monster participating in the trial. 

Lataria glared at the flame that constantly kept the first place. “Ugh… To think that the perverted dragon is first.”

Yasenia punched an Endless Mud Beast into nothingness and looked up. “Are you sure that the first flame is that dragon man? We are currently second and third… Although the distance from the fourth and fifth positions isn’t even four points.”  

“Yeah. I am certain.” Lataria sighed. “Now that I think about it… I have not explained why I am hostile to him, right?”

Yasenia smiled faintly. “I am not that meddlesome. If you want to tell me, I will hear about it…” She stopped speaking and glanced to the side. There, she saw the pieces of the Endless Mud Beast gather together in an instant, reforming the monster. 

“GROAHH!” 

“Oh. It wasn’t dead. [Celestial Dragon Breath].” 

ROAR!

A celestial blue beam swallowed the Endless Mud Beast, and Yasenia’s score increased a second later. The breath flew into the distance, colliding against a distant mountain and exploding. 

Lataria noticed that Yasenia’s score went up by two additional points after the explosion. “Oh! You got two extra beasts with that shot. Lucky.” Then, she smiled and flew down. “We’ve been hunting non-stop. So it is a good way to rest for a moment. That annoying dragon is only seventeen beasts ahead of us.” 

Looking at Yasenia, Lataria felt a bit sorry. “Honestly… If I were not by your side, you would’ve been able to gather points quicker, right?” 

Yasenia smiled faintly. “Perhaps. But being together has deterred a few annoying people. So, I am not in a disadvantageous position.”

“Now that you say it…” 

During the last weeks, Yasenia and Lataria encountered other people. Some of them were from demonic sects and tried to approach. Naturally, Yasenia and Lataria shooed everyone away. What Yasenia noticed is that the reason they gave up so quickly was Lataria’s presence. ‘I don’t know who she is exactly. But she is quite a big shot for how silly she looks.’ 

Lataria, unaware of Yasenia’s rude thoughts, explained what happened with the dragon. “You know Astarea, right? That woman is actually my grandmother. She is a powerful Divine and has a lot of influence. However, this influence is more inherited than earned.”

Lataria sighed. “My grandmother is powerful, and she can easily hold the position she holds. But it previously belonged to my grandaunt, grandma’s sister.” Lataria frowned and said hatefully. “My grandaunt was deceived by that stupid dragon’s words and left our power to be with him! Of course, I wouldn’t have said anything if that was all. But that stupid dragon is now aiming for my grandmother as well!”

Lataria clawed the air with a nasty expression. “If I get my hands on that lecherous lizard… Ughhh!!!” 

Yasenia raised her eyebrow and chuckled. ‘It wasn’t that big of a deal. Since that dragon is stronger than Lataria, I bet that dragon feels that Lataria’s actions are more like the prank of a youngster than anything else.’ 

While she could feel bad feelings from Lataria, they were closer to annoyance than hatred. ‘If I have to give it an equivalent… It feels as if her cool uncle betrayed her expectations, and she wants to give him a beating for it.’

While it was less serious than Yasenia thought, that didn’t mean that Yasenia would dismiss it. Instead, she smirked a bit. “If we encounter him, I’ll help you a bit. My Dragon Bloodline is pretty strong, so I can probably make him slightly docile for you to give him a good beating.”

Lataria’s eyes flashed. “Really?” Then, she showed a bit of concern. “Yasenia… That lecherous lizard might target you if you show too much strength.”

Yasenia blinked a few times. “I mean… I am quite young in terms of dragon age. Even if he is lecherous, he won’t go for a junior my age, right?” 

Lataria looked conflicted. She wanted to say that he wouldn’t, but the words just wouldn’t come out of her mouth. 

Yasenia sweated a bit. ‘Perhaps helping her is not that great of an idea.’

The last thing she needed was a persistent dragon trying to make her his mate. ‘Although… If I show him my soulmate’s aura, he should give up… I hope.’ 

Either way, after that, they resumed their killing of Endless Mud Beasts. Their score slowly caught up to the powerful dragon uncle, and after a total of 24 days, Yasenia and he finally tied in the first position. 

Lataria exclaimed happily. “We caught up! Yasenia, you are super strong, waaah!” 

They’ve been fighting together almost daily, and there were times when more than ten mud beasts would appear out of nowhere. If Lataria were alone, she would’ve probably fled at their sight. However, with the powerful dragoness by her side, the mud beasts felt too weak. 

Riding Yasenia’s coattail, Lataria was currently firmly placed in fourth position. The reason for the disparity between Yasenia and herself was contribution. On average, Lataria earned 0.3 points per beast, while 0.7 went to Yasenia.   

“Alright. That’s great.” Yasenia chuckled. “However, we can’t stop here. We need to slowly push ahead.”

“Slowly?” Lataria blinked. “Isn’t it better to go all out and leave him in the dust?” 

“No.” Yasenia rubbed her smooth chin and smiled. “I know what he is thinking. He is probably gauging our clearing speed to compete with us. Regardless of how you think of him, that man is a dragon. He is competitive. So, as long as we show a similar hunting speed to him, he won’t use all his power. What we need to do now is maintain his pace and not reveal our true strength.”

Lataria’s eyes gleamed. “That’s a great idea. Then, during the last day, we can give our all and leave him in the dust!” 

“Yes.” Yasenia smiled. “As long as we conserve enough energy, the last day will determine who gets first position in the race. For now, let’s accumulate points steadily.”

While they hunted, always keeping their pace with the dragon, Yasenia felt something strange in her heart. As she fought with the mud beast, swinging Draheart powerfully and creating giant gashes on its body, her senses instinctively spread out.

She sensed nothing, though, confusing her. ‘Was I overthinking?’ 

Jumping backward, Yasenia released a barrage of [Celestial Sunder] to take down the mud beast. Then, she looked around. ‘Ignoring my instincts is not something I like to do. Even if it is a bit paranoid, I trust myself.’ 

“Lataria, finish quickly!” 

Her tone warned the woman secretly, and Lataria quickly caught on to it. This was the first time Yasenia had rushed her to finish a fight during all their time in the secret realm. “On it!”

Her wings spread, and several blue streaks of water sliced the mud beast into little chunks. Then, Lataria rushed forward and stabbed the core in one of the viable chunks. To do this, Lataria needed to use quite a bit of energy. However, it didn’t cause a strain. 

After landing in front of Yasenia, she looked up at the serious expression of the dragon woman. “What’s wrong, Yasenia? Your whole body is tense.”

“Tense?” Yasenia looked at herself and noticed. “...Not good. Come with me, quickly.”

Her wings unfurled, and she flew to the sky. Startled, Lataria followed behind her.

While they flew, Yasenia looked at their surroundings with a piercing eye. “There is a danger in this area… Or there is a danger pursuing us.”

Lataria’s expression turned serious. “Have you noticed something?”

“No.” Yasenia shook her head. “It's my instincts. As if something dangerous is coming.”

“Dragon instinct…” Lataria didn’t dismiss it. Dragons were perceptive of their surroundings. They could tell when hostile beings were nearby, even if they hid their presence. Of course, they were not all-knowing, and people could hide from them. However, it was hard to do so against a dragon with a very high level of bloodline.

While they flew, several shadows followed their tracks behind them, looking up with calm eyes. ‘How did they notice? We are using the [All Shadow Talisman]. That should’ve erased our presence…’ 

Still, they didn’t care. Right now, they were hunting the dragon. So, they would use some patience. ‘We have to keep her alive for the Young Master.’ 

Chapter 534. Lives That Go, Lives to Nurture, Lives That Come. [AotSC]

Author Note: Sorry for the delay! Had to retouch the chapter.

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Author Note: Sorry for the delay! Had to retouch the chapter.

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Author Note: Sorry for the delay! Had to retouch the chapter.

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It has been over five years since the fall of the Nexus. During this time, Liu Shu dedicated herself to three things. The first was expanding her roots into the world. She wanted to cover not only the surface but even the core of the world with her roots. 

The second thing she focused on was territory matters. She needed to keep an eye out for powerful criminals, organizations that surged wanting to do crime, and many other similar groups. While one might think that people would know how to behave, some lacked the self-control to do so. 

The third, but no less important, focus was her family. Her four lovers were very… fond of her, to a level that other people would call excessive. So, with such lovers, her Avatar had no other option but to be constantly pregnant. Every time she recovered from pregnancy, the four Sylvans would rush to fertilize the seeds inside her with eagerness.

Even during the months leading to the birth, they seem to believe that nourishment came not from the Avatar’s upper mouth, but the lower one. So, Liu Shu went from having twenty-five children to forty-one.

With Green, Red, Grey, and Purple acting as houses, the space left for the family was so ample that the houses still felt relatively empty. With the help of these four big sisters, Verdantia and the other three had a relatively easy time taking care of the children. Not to mention, Liu Shu’s ability to pay attention to many different matters helped tremendously. Even with over 40 children, none of them ever felt lacking in attention from their parents.

Sadly, today was a sad face. It was winter, with a grey sky, and Cinderielle and her mother were currently looking at an old man lying on a comfortable bed. The man’s wrinkled face was peaceful, a faint smile etched on the corner of his lips.

“Father…” Cinderielle’s face was somewhat hoarse, and her red eyes showed traces of dried-up tears. 

Cinderielle’s mother sat by his side, her smooth and beautiful hand tightly holding the man’s wrinkly one. Her green hair gently fell, hiding her face behind it as she looked down at the man who gave her a child. “Stubborn fool.”

Her voice was choked up, and clear tears slowly dripped down her nose. After Liu Shu completed the <Temple Of Life>, she was delighted that she would be able to live for much longer with her husband. However, to her surprise, the man didn’t accept the blessing. 

Her husband had told her back then that he was satisfied. That he had lived a life that he was proud of, and that extending it was meaningless. Liu Shu respected the man’s wishes and stopped providing her buffs and titles to him. 

“Don’t you want to see your great-grandchildren, you stubborn old man?” 

Cinderielle’s mother, Amarael, spoke with a reproachful tone. But anyone who listened could clearly feel the sadness behind it. 

Cinderielle stood behind Amarael, hugging her gently. She also didn’t understand why her father refused to live longer. However, since that is what he wanted, she couldn’t really come in the way of his desires. 

Amareal used the palm of her hand to clean her tears and sniffled once before she lifted her face. Cinderielle’s heart clenched when she saw her face. It was a mess. Still, Amareal smiled, her voice somewhat choked from her sadness. “Y-You know, Cinder. All Sylvans who decide to be with a human are mindful of this moment. It is something that will come… It's inevitable with our different lifespans.”  

Cinderielle grabbed Amareal’s hand, holding it tightly. The woman spoke softly. “Your father… He always knew. That’s why he has avoided meeting you lately. He understood that if you got attached, this momentum would be more painful. He is such a fool, isn’t he?” 

Cinderielle teared up again. “A big fool. How can a daughter not be attached to her father?” 

Amareal laughed, choking slightly from her crying. “R-Right? I told him so. His smile when playing with Pyara and the other grandchildren, him using all of his saved-up money to buy things… He really lived lavishly these few years! Leaving almost nothing for me, his wife!” 

Her words and tone didn’t naturally match. Her tone was soft and full of love, clearly proud of what the man had done. Now, though, that man was gone. 

“Cinder…” Amareal spoke, hesitating. “When Pyara and the others choose a partner… Let’s try to help her choose one with a similar lifespan.”

Cinderielle understood that Amareal didn’t want her grandchildren to go through what she was currently going through. Therefore, she didn’t deny her words. On the contrary, she hugged her and placed her mother’s face in the crook of her neck. “Alright. We’ll try. However, if that child ever genuinely loves someone, I don’t want to come in between too much.” 

“A-Alright. That’s good.”

Liu Shu looked at everything silently, her roots slowly crawling up and coiling around them. Amareal looked at the roots, and her gaze became tender. “Thank you, Liu Shu.”  

The following day, Cinderielle and everyone else changed clothes to bright green ones. These clothes represented nature and the cycle of life. They were the costumes that were culturally appropriate to wear during funerals.  

The procession was similar to before. In the middle of the lake where Tree and Aurelise resided, there were several flower beds to place the dead. These flowers were able to swallow and pour the life energy of the deceased into the surroundings. It was a way to return those who lived back to nature.

During the whole procession, the World Tree constantly looked over it. She spoke little to nothing, leaving the lead to the family. 

Verena held a flowerpot with Branthis in it. Branthis, Verena’s husband, couldn’t help but sigh. “He was a good friend.” 

Verena smiled and gently caressed the plant in the pot. “I know.” 

“He really liked playing with the grandchildren as well.” 

Verena gently caressed her husband, who had lost a friend. “I know.” 

While she answered, her gaze moved to the side. There, another human male with an old but relatively healthy body stood tall. His muscular body from when he was active had become much thinner, but his straight back remained identical.

He was Wert. Wert observed everyone and sighed to himself. Looking at the World Tree, looking at the city around him… He felt somewhat foreign. The growth of the Golden Sap Arborarchy has been meteoric, making it unrecognizable compared to what it was before.

Especially the World Tree that deceived him at first, passing as a Life Tree. Thinking back, Wert couldn’t help but smile. ‘Such a mischievous one.’

He knew that even when Liu Shu had matured, her nature remained the same. Liu Shu came to visit him from time to time, speaking with him, telling him about interesting events, and other things. ‘It’s like a granddaughter visiting to tell her grandad about her day at school.’

“Liu Shu.” His voice had also changed somewhat due to the stiffness in his vocal cords. 

“What’s wrong, Wert?”

“Just… I wanted to ask. The day I die, can I be buried below you?” 

Liu Shu was silent for a few moments before speaking softly. “Of course. I’ll gladly take that honor.”

Wert’s lips arched, satisfied. “Thank you, Liu Shu.”

“Yes… Thank you as well.” 

Liu Shu sighed softly as she observed the domain. Life and death were interlocked, and in hospitals, they mixed. While some doctors attended to the old and those injured, others brought new life into the world. 

Everywhere in her domain, Liu Shu could always lock onto someone breathing their last or breathing in their first. It was a sight that she needed to see constantly, to experience all the time. 

A gentle and ancient voice reached Liu Shu through her roots, enveloping her with warmth. “Are you okay, Little Sapling?”

There was only one being in the entire world who called her like that. Liu Shu looked at the willow tree by the lake with her real eyes. Her lips arched softly as she spoke. “Yes, Mom. I was just reflecting.”

Tree asked softly, her voice gently guiding the young yet powerful World Tree. “What are you reflecting about, Little Sapling?” 

“About… Life and Death. The concepts feel… foreign yet near. Like fog around me that I cannot grasp. It’s a strange feeling.” 

Tree spoke smilingly. “I see. What do you think that feeling means?” 

Now that Tree asked, Liu Shu realized that she had never really thought about it. “What does it mean…? I am… unsure. Does it mean that I am not really part of this cycle? Or does it mean that I am so interlocked with it that it’s difficult to sense? Like a fish in the ocean, not knowing they are surrounded by water.” 

“That question is difficult to answer. So… Don’t feel rushed. Don’t feel a need to answer it. Little Sapling, remember that you are really young. Ponder, sense, and observe everything. Don’t feel that you are stuck. And, if you ever feel lost, ask me, Flor, or Ignatia. Ask Warlya, Lady Skyflower, or Lady Azure Rose. Perhaps, you want to ask Cinderielle, Verdantia, and the others… The important thing is, don’t isolate yourself. You are not an observer, but part of the world.” 

Liu Shu stayed silent for a moment before answering softly. “I will try my best.” 

Tree didn’t speak anymore, and Liu Shu focused on the funeral. It didn’t last too long, and soon, they returned to their houses.

Amareal went into Red and stayed in one of her rooms for a few weeks. While Cinderielle was worried, Red reassured her mother that Amareal was okay. Cinderielle sighed and caressed the tree house’s wall. “Well, since Red is taking care of her mother, she can be reassured. Thank you, love.”  

Red giggled, using a root to rub Cinderielle’s cheek in a spoiled manner. “I love you, Mommy!” 

Cinderielle walked outside Red and looked up. Her daughter’s canopy and Liu Shu’s canopy layered above her, hiding the sky with beautiful interlocking branches. She could see fruits slowly growing in Red’s branches as well. “Red, love, are the fruits mature? Do you want Mommy to pluck your fruits today?”

“Ehh? Will Mommy really do it!?” Red’s excited tone made Cinderielle feel a pang of guilt. ‘Lately, I’ve been paying too much attention to my humanoid children. I can’t forget about Red and the other small flora Liu Shu gave birth to before Pyara.’ 

When Liu Shu was accepting their seed through her mouth, she got pregnant a few times. There were some bushes, flowers, and other non-intelligent flora planted around Red that came from Liu Shu’s avatar. So, Cinderielle decided to use that day to spoil these plant daughters. She watered them, changed their nutrients, and helped them by cutting some of their twisted branches or plucking their mature fruits.

The work felt fulfilling and peaceful, healing the grief and sadness from her father’s passing.   

Chapter 1322. Endless Mud Beasts.

While she flew over the swamp, Yasenia observed the surroundings and quickly noticed the monsters that had appeared. They were mud monsters with forms that didn’t resemble any animal. If Yasenia had to describe them, she would say that they were grey blobs with large mouths. 

To move around, these blobs used their bodies like slugs. Their speed was slow, comparable to a fast-running mortal. After a few seconds, Lataria’s voice reached Yasenia. “Oh? So we are fighting [Endless Mud Beasts]. It’s quite a tricky enemy to fight…” 

“You’ve arrived. It took a while.”

The dragoness didn’t move her eyes away from the monster while she spoke. She was trying to understand how this creature functioned. After all, creatures spread energy around their bodies through meridians. Only spirits and a few other species didn’t have the necessity of energy paths.

Lataria smiled wryly at Yasenia’s comment. “You are just too fast. Was there a need to use your full speed while flying?” 

“Full speed?” Yasenia blinked and turned to look at Lataria for the first time since they arrived. 

Lataria’s lips twitched. “That wasn’t your full speed?”

Yasenia chuckled and didn’t answer. Instead, she asked a question about the monsters. “So… How do you defeat them? They look like formless masses of mud. I bet their regeneration is ridiculous.”

“You hit the nail on the head.” Lataria sighed. “These monsters are a type of twisted spirit monster. Their most common origin is that of water spirits that have been in contact with demonic energies. Of course, there are many more ways of transforming wind, darkness, and many other types of spirits into them. Depending on their origin, their way of attacking is different, even if outwardly they look identical.”

Yasenia laughed hollowly. “That’s great. A mysterious monster that will reveal its present only when you fight it.” 

Lataria added, pointing at the large monster. “To kill them, you have to damage the core. It’s simple but complicated. That core can be moved around their body, and as long as they are in an environment suitable for them, they can regenerate their entire body in less than a second.” 

Yasenia hummed. “Then, you just need to kill them in a single second, right?” 

Lataria was about to deny that when Yasenia raised her hand. The second she raised her hand, the atmosphere around them became viscous, making moving and breathing a chore.

“While this is a very inefficient method… It’s good enough for an opponent that doesn’t even react until it is attacked.” 

Yasenia’s spiritual and soul energy surged to the sky, supported and enhanced by her beast core. 

Below, the mud monster looked around stupidly before it felt not a shadow, but pure, heated light falling from the sky. The glare was incomparably brighter than the cloudy sky. 

Looking up, it saw a star—a gargantuan star larger than an island, covering hundreds of kilometers in diameter.

Yasenia’s cold eyes were full of majesty as her energy surged like a hurricane around her. “Let’s see how you deal with a small Moon-sized Star falling on your head.”

Her raised arm lowered, and with it, the gargantuan celestial body dropped down. The mud beast roared, but it was too late to dodge. 

When the star touched the ground, it exploded, bathing the world in light. 

BOOM!!!

Lataria closed her eyes for a second due to the bright flash and then opened them again. Her lips twitched, and her eyes showed disbelief at the giant crater below. The explosion had opened the swamp, creating a depression that went down for several kilometers.

Then, while Lataria observed, the swamp around them shifted as if it were alive, filling the crater and returning to its previous state in just a few seconds. 

The blue-haired Divine looked at Yasenia with a face full of shock. “W-What was that?”

The attack was slow and easy to avoid, but the strength behind it was catastrophic. If, under the right conditions, a cultivator of their current level was hit with it, surviving would require the use of a powerful life-saving item.

Yasenia was looking at the sky as she answered. “A failed skill. While creating large area of effect skills, that one is considered a dud. It’s too slow, even if the strength behind it is enormous. Whoever gets hit by something so telegraphed… well, they would die from other skills as easily.”   

Lataria licked her dry lips. ‘If that’s the failure… Which skills are considered a success?’ 

“Look, Big Sister Lataria. My score has gone up by one point.” 

Lataria snapped out of her thoughts and looked up with curious eyes. There were a few flames that had gained points; some even had three or four points already.

“That’s… great. However, even if we are considered partners, it seems that only you received something. I am still at zero points.”  

Yasenia glanced at Lataria and spoke. “That’s normal. You didn’t even touch the beast. Look, there are people with decimal points. That flame has zero point sixty-eight points.”

Lataria hummed. “So, the system in place is aware of groups.” 

Yasenia tilted her head. “I… don’t feel like so. These monsters are probably made out of the bead’s energy. So, when killing or damaging one, you gain a trace of that monster’s energy. The amount of energy is what the formations, or systems, like you said, take into account.” 

Lataria spoke with a faint smile. “You seem so sure of it.”

Yasenia chuckled. “More than being sure of it… It is something I would’ve done. It feels natural to do it like that instead of a last-hit success. After all, if this is a formation to choose the owner, there must be a section to test teamwork. Trust, teamwork, strength… this second trial takes many things into account. It’s quite genius.” 

Lataria had also thought of many of the things Yasenia said; she hadn’t lived for over five thousand years for nothing. Still, there were details that she missed. “Whether that’s the truth or not, we will know when we hunt the next one.” 

Then, she added with a wry smile. “Also, to kill those monsters without overwhelming strength, you just need to tire their core’s energy. While their regeneration is absolute…” Looking at the former crater area, Lataria corrected her words. “Almost absolute, they recover energy extremely slowly. So, you just need to kill them many times over, and they will eventually die even if you don’t shatter the core.”

Yasenia nodded, thoughtful. “If that’s the case, the only problem will be stamina.”

Lataria cleared her throat awkwardly. “Actually, they are quite strong, so don’t be careless… I know you just blew up one of them, but don’t let your guard down. The true nightmare about them is when they are grouped up.”

Hearing her tone, Yasenia realized that she had misunderstood her. She chuckled. “I was not underestimating them, just making an objective analysis. Let’s go, Big Sister Lataria.”

Yasenia’s energy regeneration was ridiculous. Even after launching that enormous attack, she needed only a few seconds to recover her strength to the peak. Yasenia absorbed energy passively through her dragon tail, and overall, her dantian was like a voracious beast that worked by itself. 

If there was one thing Yasenia was confident in while fighting, it was stamina. 

In truth, even if Yasenia only slept, with enough time, she would eventually break through the realms. Of course, her advancement speed would be incomparable to her current cultivation speed. 

While flying through the realm, Yasenia noticed another one of these beasts. ‘Let’s see how powerful you truly are…’ 

Her energy moved, activating [Celestial Cosmos Dress] and [Celestial Dragon Body]. These two strengthening skills were innate skills and very comfortable to use. 

Her dress changed to the long white dress with a skin-tight top. The long sleeves, flowing floor-length skirt, and beautiful imagery of celestial bodies added to Yasenia’s presence, making her otherworldly presence feel even more ethereal. 

Then, as Celestial Dragon Body surged through her meridians, her entire body became stronger, and her celestial energy coated all her actions. 

Even now, Yasenia had yet to transform all her dantian’s energy into pure Celestial Energy. That accomplishment was still far away. Nevertheless, the diluted version of Celestial Energy in her dantian was, by no means, of low quality. 

While she descended from the sky, Yasenia activated the third form of her martial art: Comet Descent. To add to her speed and power, [Pegasus Gallop] unfolded and got imbued within her. 

With everything mixed and empowering her descent, Yasenia’s body was surrounded by tyrannical energy, Draheart slicing the air before her.  

When she reached five hundred meters away from the beast, it reacted. The reaction speed was so fast that even Yasenia felt a trace of surprise. Then, an energy pulse spread outward from the mud beast.

The rippling seemed to deform the land as if it were water for a moment before pillars of mud soared to the sky diagonally to meet Yasenia’s descending body.

Yasenia tightened the grip on her sword and accelerated, impacting against the mud pillars. 

A gargantuan explosion rippled outward while Yasenia sliced through the pillars of mud and arrived right in front of the mud beast. The mud beast was over ten meters tall and thirty meters long. However, the size was far from being intimidating for Yasenia.

“[Shattering The Heavens]!” 

Celestial Energies coiled around Draheart like snakes as Yasenia swung her sword vertically. 

SLASH!

The mud beast couldn’t properly react before its entire body was sliced in half, and even the clouds far in the sky were divided because of Yasenia’s sword.

“GOHHH!” 

A deep rumbling cry escaped the bisected beast before mud-like tentacles sprouted in the hundreds from the two divided halves. Yasenia’s quick perception allowed her to see the true speed of its regeneration. ‘Incredible. I have yet to finish my swing, and it has recovered from being bisected.’

This level of regeneration put Phoenixes to shame. The mud beast was about to attack, but it felt danger coming from the sky. 

“[Earth Shatter Waterfall].” 

A pillar of water descended from the skies, slamming the mud beast against the ground. Yasenia took the chance and enhanced her defenses. Then, she stepped into the waterfall.

Lataria was surprised in the sky, but she didn’t stop. ‘Yasenia wouldn’t do anything so reckless without a plan.’ 

Yasenia stepped forward and raised her left foot. Then, she stomped down powerfully and gently raised her right heel. 

“[Grand Cosmos Martial Art…”

Her ankles twisted, and her calves and thighs perfectly transmitted the momentum up her muscles. As her hips slowly started to move, Yasenia’s hand formed a palm. 

“...First Form…”

From her hips to her waist and up to her chest. The rotational momentum accumulated exponentially, together with her energy rising from the Dantian.

As her right shoulder rotated forward, her elbow and hand began absorbing the energy to be released.

“...Stellar Burst].” 

Using each and every fiber of her entire body, Yasenia’s palm landed on the mud monster. 

BOOM!!!

The energy released blasted more than half of the suppressed monsters into pieces. Even the constant waterfall was blasted open, the shockwave rising upward and reaching halfway through before it was stopped.

When the water began falling again, Yasenia stepped back calmly right outside the waterfall’s range. When the water struck down the remaining parts of the monster, it washed all the mud away, creating a large hole in the swamp below.

Looking up, Yasenia could see that her points had increased to 1.71, and the flame belonging to Lataria had changed to 0.39. ‘It’s dead. Did Stellar Burst break the gem?’

Lataria descended, her eyes full of awe and bewilderment. “What was that palm strike? It carried so much energy that it blew my waterfall back for a moment! The martial art you learned must be from a famous sect, right?”

Yasenia answered calmly. “It’s part of a martial art I created. Let’s go; we need to keep moving.”

Lataria lamented to herself as she followed behind. ‘Talented? In front of this woman, everyone who has called me talented will have to eat shit for lying to me! A little over a thousand years old, and she has created her own martial art! Ridiculous creature! All the masters who took tens of thousands of years to do the same are cursing at you from beyond the graveeee!’ 

Chapter 1321. Enemies and Hunt.

When they walked outside, Yasenia could see several gazes locking onto her. Even with a veil and a modest dress, Yasenia’s beauty was not something easy to hide. She didn’t feel bothered, though. Most people here were Transcendence Realm cultivators. There were not many at this level who were swayed by their lust during important situations.

Sadly, among the people present, there were some mortals who didn’t understand their current place. So, Yasenia’s wishes of not being bothered were cut short. 

A handsome man approached, followed by a few Transcendence Realm cultivators. ‘Well… It’s not like I was not expecting it. There is a reason I was holed up in that room to begin with…’

She didn’t react right away, even when she was sure that the words that would flow out of this person’s mouth would be worth forgetting. 

“This dragon lady. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am the son of the grand elder of the [Crimson Lotus Hall]. Would you like to talk over there? I have a suggestion that you won’t regret listening to.”

Yasenia’s gaze moved slowly, falling onto the man for a moment. ‘That sect is a powerful demonic sect… Well, not that it matters.’ 

Instead of speaking to him, she looked at the people standing behind the man. “I guess this mortal child is here because you have protected a spot for him. I can’t say that it was an incorrect action. Nevertheless, you should control him before he offends someone he can’t afford to offend. Here, accidents can happen easily.” 

Then, she looked at Lataria, ignoring the man, and spoke. “Let’s go. I want to check if there is something special other than residences in the town.”

While she was turning around, the man naturally felt the loud slap to his face. Burning with anger for being disrespected, he spoke coldly. “Miss, I’ve always gotten what I wanted. You are not the first nor will be the last immortal that I have fancied. Why do you bother resisting when you know things will get tangled?” 

Yasenia sighed and looked at Lataria. “Are you someone with enough influence? Can you send that annoying child away without causing extra trouble?”

Lataria smiled faintly. “Perhaps… But what is my reward?”

Yasenia smiled, her eyes slightly cold. “Not abandoning you. That’s your reward.” 

Lataria laughed awkwardly and turned to look at the man. “Give it up, junior. Haven’t your leaders taught you that you shouldn’t provoke dragons?”

The man smiled confidently. “So what if she is a dragon? She doesn’t dare kill me, so dragon or not, she is just another woman.” 

Yasenia turned once more, her eyes emotionless. “The world won’t miss you. [Empyrean Cosmos Dragon Sovereignty].”

The three elders behind him opened their eyes and tried to step forward. However, could they move faster than Yasenia’s presence? Clearly, that was impossible. 

The man’s smug expression twisted, and he bent down, opening his mouth to vomit a river of blood.

“You dare!?”

Sensing one of the elders approach with his hand coated in blood-like energy, the dragoness extended her own hand and reinforced her body. “[Blood Lotus Bloom Fist]!”

BOOM!

The wind kicked up and pushed those with weak strength away, while most managed to maintain their footing. The elder who had punched forward felt his eyes shaking. “Y-You…”

Yasenia looked down at the elder since she was half a head taller. Her face under her veil was icy as she tightly clenched the fist in her hand. The amount of damage that technique did was making her skin slightly redder, as if she had received a light bruise. “Annoying bug. [Celestial Sunder].”

Her tail flashed, blue energies interlocking into a sword shape. Then, she sliced upward from a resting position with immeasurable momentum. The over-two-meter-long dragon tail was like a sword-whip, slicing through the air with chilling strength. 

The elder’s face turned pale, and he shouted. “Help!”

The other two elders reacted quickly. They knew they kicked a steel plate when Yasenia used her body to resist the fist technique. 

“Stop!”

“Don’t follow through!” 

Yasenia’s tail didn’t falter and almost struck the chest of the man. Thankfully, a red aura coated with defensive properties was erected right in front of his chest. 

The tail collided with the red barrier.

BOOM!!

The shockwave, compared with the elder’s attack, was like a breeze compared to a hurricane. The strength behind the tail lash sent the elder flying to the sky, even after breaking through the red shield. 

While the elder flew, the shockwave pushed everyone except Lataria back several steps, some hitting their backs against the sturdy buildings around them. All mortals present fared far worse, rolling back with internal injuries. 

Yasenia didn’t follow through with her attacks. “This was a warning because I respect the power of the sect you four belong to. However, don’t confuse this with me fearing you.” Her eyes narrowed with killing intent, making the pale-faced people feel even more pressure. “If you use this event as an excuse for revenge, I’ll make it my mission to dismantle whatever you feel precious until you see it crumble like a sandcastle against the waves.”

When she stopped talking, she turned around and walked away. Lataria looked between the people of the demonic sect and Yasenia and gulped once. ‘Thankfully, she was lenient with me.’

Only now did she realize that she had almost provoked someone whom she shouldn’t have. ‘Even after living for over 5,000 years, I still can’t see through the personalities of most cultivators. Scary, scary. I need to be careful, or I won’t even know how I died.’   

The city they were resting in was very small, so it took less than three hours to check it. Yasenia tapped her chin. “So strange. There are no ships, only residences. Is this a settlement of some kind?” 

Lataria hugged Yasenia’s arm with a smile. “Who knows~? Walking around like this with you is so nice. Do you feel the same?”

Yasenia gave Lataria a side glance before speaking. “Do you know how many trials this bead has?”

Feeling ignored, Lataria wanted to sob. Still, she answered obediently. “Three trials. Don’t ask what they are; I only know that there are three in total and superficial information about them.”

A deadpan expression naturally appeared on Yasenia’s face. “So you have information. You know a little, even if it is not much.”

“Well… Yeah.” Lataria chuckled. “But I won’t tell you.” 

“Fine.” Yasenia sighed. They were in a partnership, but they were competitors in a way. So, it was normal for the other side to keep secrets about the trials. Especially so after she saw her strength. 

‘Perhaps, if I had asked her before we left the room, she would’ve told me. It seems that I dug this grave myself by showing off.’

When the third day started, Yasenia and the rest finally heard a voice spread around. 

“The Entry Trial has ended. All those who have not managed to use a Star Platform will be thrown out and crippled for a month.”

Large amounts of energy swept the area around them. Yasenia jumped up, looking at the walls of the small city. ‘Hoh? The city was a resting area that protects you from the energy outside.’ 

“The second trial will begin in 24 hours. The evil winds have awakened the slumbering monsters for 50 days. Kill as many as you can. Only the top 100 will pass to the final trial.”

Yasenia and Lataria looked up and saw a large scroll unfolding. These scrolls didn’t have names, but a flickering blue flame with a zero by their side. Each flickering blue flame had a unique aura, and Yasenia quickly found the flame with her own aura. ‘Ho? That’s an interesting method. Instead of using names, it uses auras to identify people. What if there are people who can camouflage or change their essence?’

She was interested, but naturally, there was no one to answer.  

“Yasenia, which flame are you?”

“Would I tell you?” Yasenia answered lightly.

“Tsk, tsk. So secretive. Mine is that one!”

The dragoness easily followed her finger. She squinted, her spiritual sense trying to distinguish the hidden aura inside the flame. ‘That’s… indeed her aura.’  

“Let’s go.”

Yasenia jumped forward and quickly arrived at the walls of the city. The wind that started before was still raging outside. ‘The terrain is similar to a swamp without trees. While there are some occasional ones, most of the area is full of mud lakes, wet terrain, and all kinds of moss. When did it change from the rocky wasteland?’

Lataria asked, curious. “Are we not going to hunt?” 

“With this wind still blowing?” Yasenia looked around and noticed that no one was stepping forward. “Let’s wait for someone to enter the wind, and then we can move. I don’t like being other people’s experimental subject.”   

The scores in the sky were all at zero, so Yasenia was not feeling anxious. Moreover, the message said that the test started 24 hours later. Clearly, this wind was there to prevent people from rushing ahead foolishly. 

‘The first few seconds of the trial will be the most dangerous ones. We must be careful and avoid being tracked.’ 

Lataria’s blue wings flapped without moving the wind while she looked at Yasenia’s thoughtful face. ‘She said that she was over one thousand years old… But the feeling she gives me is strange. She doesn’t have the typical weariness of time on her. Even if she is a dragon, a one thousand-year-old dragon is usually calmer than her.’

When Yasenia retaliated before, she was honestly surprised. She had thought that Yasenia would either walk away while ignoring the man or be polite and reject him. From the short time they were together, she understood that Yasenia would not accept the words of others just because of their background. 

‘If I had to describe her personality… A man-eating venomous rose. Beauty that tempts you to hold her, but once you do… She will swallow everything.’ 

While she was looking, Yasenia turned to look at her. That pair of soul-stealing golden eyes had a hint of innocent confusion when looking at her. “Why are you looking so intently? Is there something wrong?”

The mellow and charming voice, coupled with her honestly curious eyes, made Lataria’s heart itch. ‘Really… Even knowing that she is dangerous, I can’t help but want to be closer.’ 

“Nothing wrong. I was admiring your matchless profile.”

The curious eyes turned to helpless ones, and the dragon woman gently rolled them. That subtle eye-roll made Lataria’s throat dry and her heart thump. ‘...How can a woman be so alluring unconsciously! Ugh!’

Twenty-four hours passed quickly, and the winds constantly blowing outside the city came to a stop. During this time, a few people tried to use treasures to go outside. However, no one made it far and quickly returned. There were three or four that miscalculated and were swallowed by the tempest. 

Yasenia looked around and nodded. “Let’s go.”

Her large dragon wings sprouted outward, the Sun and Moon in the blue wings shining like the celestial bodies in the sky. Then, activating [Pegasus Gallop], a white horse made of pure starlight manifested behind her. The horse merged with her wings, and then, Yasenia used the wall and her wings to shoot forward.

Lataria was expecting Yasenia’s acceleration to be powerful, but when both of them flew forward, her eyes widened. The dragon woman was so fast that she was ripping open the distance between them at a ridiculous pace.

Chapter 533. Conversation Between the Main World Trees. [AotSC]

Azure Rose, Celestial Lotus, Verdant Skyflower, and Pelagia Tidemother were temporarily connected thanks to Liu Shu’s root system. They could talk to each other with just a thought, and they could also exchange information with a few actions. 

Of course, Liu Shu could communicate with them as easily and listen to their conversations as well if she wanted to. However, to show that she was trustworthy, she didn’t spy unless they called her name, cutting her subconscious attention from that particular area. 

If there were threats left on the continent, she wouldn’t dare do something like that. Now, though, there were no enemies left. Because of her ruthless approach when dealing with her enemies, anyone who would’ve originally formed part of the internal opposition was now either dead or silenced.  

Celestial Lotus spoke to the other three, her tone doubtful. “What do you think about this section of the contract?”

“Which one?” Azure Rose asked back, curious. 

Celestial Lotus commented. “The third section. It says that it will be prohibited to use flags that represent forces other than the Golden Sap Arborarchy. Together with a few other sections… it makes it impossible for even remnants of our powers to survive the passage of time. It won’t take a short time since Sylvans have long lives and can remember for a long time, but in three to four thousand years, people won’t even know that there were four global superpowers in Ceperet before the Arborarchy.”  

Azure Rose pondered for a moment and commented, her tone thoughtful. “I think… it is a good thing.”

Not expecting that answer, Celestial Lotus answered with a confused tone. “What do you mean? You and I have worked on our powers for so many thousands of years… Aren’t you reluctant to part with them?”

Azure Rose laughed faintly. “Haha, of course I am reluctant. However, what did we ever achieve? The number of dead people due to the constant conflicts during the last few thousand years is… too high to even count. Skyflower tried her best after she knew that her strength was lacking, but clearly, her approach was not correct.”

Pelagia joined the conversation, her mature voice having a hint of annoyance. “Lady Skyflower did her best. If it weren’t for her, the Nexus would’ve taken over this world thousands of years ago.”

Azure Rose asked back. “Do you really think so? Think about the World Trees that she didn’t micromanage and have become true powerhouses by their own effort. Be it Warlya or Liu Shu, they are natural World Trees that reached heights like no other. Who is to say that a World Tree wouldn’t have grown earlier if Skyflower didn’t intervene?

Pelagia retorted. “You are just speaking about chance. You don’t know if what you are saying would’ve become the truth. What if there were no Warlya or Tianlian Liu Shu? What if Lady Skyflower’s efforts in absorbing the burden are the shade that those two needed to grow amidst powerful foes? Your hindsight arguments hold no weight!”

“Pelagia.” The soothing and airy voice of Verdant Skyflower spread like a gentle breeze. “I know that you are biased towards me. However, Azure Rose’s words are not wrong. When Azure Rose grew… No, perhaps since the very moment that I considered myself incapable of becoming the True World Tree, I should’ve died peacefully to avoid getting in the way of the new World Trees.”

Among these four powerhouses, Pelagia was the World Tree that Skyflower was nurturing. Therefore, Skyflower’s pointed accusation of bias was not out of turn. Still, Celestial Lotus spoke up. “Leaving aside Skyflowers’ actions. You and I are no better, Azure.” 

Azure Rose answered matter-of-factly. “Of course I understand. We have kept a tight grip on five out of the seven continents for thousands of years. Our reluctance to give up has basically limited the space where World Trees were able to grow. Liu Shu’s existence is a miracle created by chance. Perhaps she is Ceperet’s last struggle to overcome falling into the hands of foreign influence.” 

Skyflower chuckled. “Celestial Lotus. I understand why you are feeling reluctant. But take into account our current conversation. What good will it do for the world to cling to the identities of our defeated powers?”

Celestial Lotus paused and sighed. “... I understand. It’s just… difficult to swallow in such a short amount of time. Liu Shu is barely forty years old! That child has grown at an average pace of two levels per year.”

Pelagia muttered, confused. “Even if she had the experience points necessary, isn’t her ability to digest them too out of the norm? I, being an underwater World Tree, had enough prey to kill and gain experience around me quickly. And yet, it took me over 500 years to reach Level 99.”

Azure Rose and the other two were also curious. Celestial Lotus asked cautiously. “Should we… ask? Speaking of which, we haven’t asked that little one about the Level of the <World Tree Wisdom> and <World Tree Heart>, have we? Perhaps that’s related.” 

Skyflower chuckled. “Most likely. <World Tree Wisdom> is what helps us perceive, learn, and understand the world as quickly as we do. Among us, you have the highest-tiered one, right, Lotus?”

“Yes. My <World Tree Wisdom> is at the A- Rank. All of you have it stuck at B+, right?”

Azure Rose and the other two confirmed it. Celestial Lotus added with a wry tone. “Our <World Tree Heart> is at the B Rank…” 

“Were you calling?” Suddenly, the gentle and pleasant voice of the most powerful World Tree reached them. “I’ve been hearing my name floating around your conversations… Sorry if I interrupted.”

Skyflower laughed gently. “You didn’t, Liu Shu. We also said that you didn’t need to cut your consciousness, didn’t we? We don’t mind you listening to our conversations.”

“I know… I just feel somewhat strange when I do that to World Trees that have not surrendered to me yet.”

Celestial Lotus spoke up. “Liu Shu, we just discussed the contract you shared with us. We have almost no problems. Still, is it possible to leave our powers as part of history books? I understand your intention of not allowing people to use our countries as identities, but making the knowledge disappear is a bit much. Don’t you think so?” 

“Huh?” Liu Shu answered, confused. “But they are already recorded. Why would I completely eliminate the history of the world? That’s a silly thing to do.” 

Celestial Lotus paused and asked, confused. “Then, this third section here… Doesn’t it basically prohibit spreading information about our powers when you combine it with your seventh section?”

“Of course not!” Liu Shu giggled. “Look at section nine, Big Sister Lotus. Doesn’t it say there that sensitive information will be written down and stored in the Endless Library’s deepest parts? We can use that section to accumulate all and any knowledge without falling into fallacies. Then, if we create a limited and controlled license for people to be able to check this section of the library, we can avoid the information spreading out from malicious groups.”

“Ohh…!” Celestial Lotus and the others suddenly understood. Azure Rose couldn’t help but chuckle. “That’s a cheeky underlining, Liu Shu. You really know your way with words, eh?” 

“Hehehe. Be careful, or I will eat all the big sisters and not leave a single twig behind!”

Skyflower spoke to Liu Shu, her tone gentle. “Little Liu Shu, can I ask why you are waiting for the events in the middle of the <Origin Water Continent> to finish before assimilating us?”

“Yeah!” Liu Shu spoke faintly. “Big Sisters can’t feel it because your roots are far. However, the energy in the middle of the continent is moving strangely. I’ve only seen this kind of movement two times before… So I can almost guess what is about to pop there.”

“Two times…?” Pelagia asked. “Can you tell us when you felt it?”

Liu Shu spoke seriously. “It was when the two <Dungeons> appeared in my domain.” 

“Dungeons!” Azure Rose exclaimed. “You really think that a <Dungeon> will appear in the middle of a continent? That will be a massive one if that’s true.” 

Skyflower spoke, her tone cautious. “Such a huge <Dungeon>... If the <Dungeon> breaks open, it will be a catastrophe. Can you stop the process, Liu Shu?”

“Impossible.” Liu Shu sighed, her tone full of reluctance. “When I tried messing with the energy, it felt as if I was about to create an explosion of ternary essences through a chain reaction. The dimension there is a bit too unstable.” 

The other four World Trees got thoughtful and then sighed. Celestial Lotus commented. “I guess we can’t do anything about it. I will tell the people I’ve sent to the <Origin Water Continent> to come back. Who knows if the creation of that massive dungeon will cause the environment to go crazy?”

Azure Rose agreed. “We can’t create settlements until the new <Dungeon> opens. Tell us when it opens, Little Liu Shu. We will help all we can.”

Skyflower commented, her tone curious. “Still, Little Liu Shu, you are quite lucky and unlucky. To think that three <Dungeons> appeared in less than a few decades inside your domain. Moreover, they are all high-level dungeons, right? The <Witch Of The End> is for <Third Energy Cycles>, while the <Terragore Empire> is still unconquered.” 

Pelagia commented, her tone somewhat cheerful. “Thankfully, underwater <Dungeons> are so rare that I have only encountered one in my entire life.” 

Liu Shu was suddenly interested. “Underwater <Dungeons>... I guess it can work if there are intelligent underwater species around, like mermaids and merfolk, right?” 

Pelagia spoke, unsure. “Underwater <Dungeons> are a bit too dangerous. Their inner environment is not only difficult to tread, but the monsters can be too difficult to defeat. Unless the challengers are also aquatic creatures, you can be considered dead if you fall into one.”

“Wow! Even <Fourth Energy Cycles>?”

Pelagia was again not confident, but she answered what she thought. “While <Fourth Energy Cycles> have the ability to move in different environments almost unfettered, there are limits. Of course, as long as the enemies don’t exceed a certain level of power, what I said would be like saying nothing. Above all, overwhelming power can defeat any and all obstacles.”

Liu Shu nodded to herself a few times. ‘I should use this knowledge to do a future underwater <Dungeon>. I can already imagine so many fun things to devise and change! A whole underwater exploration adventure, with different plots and twists and… Ughhh, I want to do one soon!’ 

Chapter 532. Liu Shu's Plans. Dungeon Knowledge. [AotSC]

After dealing with the last rebels, Liu Shu noticed a shift in the people. Before, she could still hear the voices of dissent and other similar groups that gathered because they couldn’t accept her.

However, those groups died almost overnight. She could guess the reason. ‘These people were influenced by influential figures. Without the courage that those figures gave them, they don’t dare show their dissatisfaction outwardly.’ 

She didn’t care. Liu Shu was the type to both leave her population to live as they please, but everything within certain parameters. As long as their actions didn’t fall under the guise of treason or any other crime, Liu Shu cared not about what people did. 

‘Still… I can sense a trend in terms of relationships. Is it because I am the role model? There are many harem-style families with quite a few children appearing.’

Not that she minded, as population was something that was needed to fill the Wild Continent. ‘Still, I need to keep it in check as much as I can.’ 

Strangely, she was the creator of the two places with the most casualties in the entire Wild Continent: her two <Dungeons>. 

‘The number of deaths will increase once the <Dungeon> in the <Origin Water Continent> opens. The dragon is basically unbeatable for the current inhabitants. Even if I face it one-on-one, my chances of winning would be half and half.’

Unless Ignatia and the others participated together while gearing themselves with enough treasures to bury a country with wealth, the dragon was bound to keep living. 

‘The thing that bothers me slightly is the potential of the dragon.’ It was a Level 99 boss, but clearly, the limits were far from there. ‘System, will I be able to modify the existing <Dungeons> in the future?’ 

[System Hint: Check your <Dungeon System> main interface.]

Liu Shu did so. 

***

Dungeons Owned: 3 (Click to expand and see the detailed information of each dungeon.)

Dungeons Opened: 2

Random Event and Plot Twist Generator (Click to see the details.)

Environment and Setting Management (Click to enter Editor mode. The Dungeon must be closed.)

Trap Management (Click to enter Editor mode. The Dungeon must be closed.)

Monster Management (Click to enter Editor mode. The Dungeon must be closed.)

Dungeon Resource Creation and Reward System (Click to see the details.)

***

After looking at the options, Liu Shu entered each section and tinkered with it. “Oh… I can! That’s great to know. I can modify everything about a <Dungeon>. It would take time, but that’s a small sacrifice. In the future, when people start reaching Level 100 and beyond, I’ll need new sources of exp for everyone’s growth and items.”

While the crafters took care of around 90% of the weapons and items, the remaining 10% came from <Dungeon> drops. The rewards, treasures, and events inside the <Dungeons> were very lucrative. There was a reason why people risked their lives so often by entering the <Dungeons>.  

‘In terms of energy balance, the <Dungeons> are currently accumulating essence. I guess there are enough deaths to keep them running indefinitely.’

In the <Witch Of The End> dungeon, the fatality rate was around 5%. This number was considered exceptionally high. After all, for every 100 people that entered daily, it was almost guaranteed that five of them would end up dead. 

The <Terragore Empire> was even more brutal. For those who challenged the first three floors, which were the easiest with the <Terragore King> as the boss monster, the fatality rate was less than 1%. It could be considered safe, as only one in every three to four hundred people died daily.

However, if you wanted to challenge the second part of the <Dungeon>, you needed to be prepared for a harsh battle. The dangers there almost guaranteed that every single participating group would end up with one death. The main reason was that the <Terragore Queen> had a berserk-like skill that gave her ridiculous levels of strength. 

Now, there were some brave souls who dared to challenge the lowest three floors. However, the fatality rate was over 99% for those who entered. Basically, everyone who had tried to defeat the <Terragore Oracle Queen> had died.

The only ones who escaped were those with <Dungeon Escape> artifacts, and their tales of the last three floors were nightmarish.

As the name indicated, the <Terragore Oracle Queen> had precognition abilities. She was able to analyze, identify, plan, and foresee future actions to a certain extent. In the opinions of experts, there was no better strategy to defeat the <Terragore Oracle Queen> than using overwhelming strength. Tactics would fall apart most of the time, and the failures would almost never go in the direction you planned them to.

Honestly, Liu Shu was somewhat wary of the <Terragore Oracle Queen>. ‘Thankfully, that monster was not the Queen we fed. She is almost at a similar level to that of Ignatia.’

Speaking of her beautiful royal mother, Liu Shu had asked the <Dungeon System> what qualification level it would give her two mothers. The answers were somewhat surprising. 

For Flor, it said the following.

[<Juvenile Flower Fairy (Unawakened)> is considered a <Legendary> creature. Her elemental powers are overwhelming, and she alone can decimate armies with relative ease. Hunting a <Juvenile Flower Fairy (Unawakened)> is something only experts in <Dungeon Delving> can do. If you encounter a hostile <Mature Flower Fairy>, pray that they are merciful and kill you quickly.]

Liu Shu still felt subtle when reading that message. “Juvenile AND unawakened? Mommy Flor is basically a Flower Fairy baby, and she is already so strong…” 

Imagining an awakened and mature Flower fairy made Liu Shu tremble. 

[<Young Humanoid Ant Queen (Awakened)> is considered a <Mythical> species. They are only just stepping out of their infancy. However, during that infancy, the <Young Humanoid Ant Queen> must’ve accumulated a large number of children. The ability to reproduce will only strengthen, but that doesn’t mean that a <Young Humanoid Ant Queen> a few years old won’t have hundreds of thousands of children. To hunt this creature, you need both stealth and patience. If you are discovered before reaching her royal chambers, please run. Only the overwhelming strength of a nation can defeat these creatures head-on.]

“Mommy Ignatia is so powerful! QAQ!” 

The fact that she was awakened was also a detail that made her curious. When Liu Shu asked Ignatia about it, Ignatia answered her easily. The reason she was considered awakened was that she had already gained the ability to recall memories of past Humanoid Ant Queens.

There were other inquiries that she made, like the Arboreal Winged Serpents and herself. Sadly, the system didn’t consider World Trees as monsterkind. Therefore, there was no information about her.

On the contrary, the information about <Arboreal Winged Serpents> was curious. There were so many different species of Arboreal Winged Serpents that they couldn’t be classified singularly like Flor or Ignatia. What she learned is that she had been summoning the children. 

All Arboreal Winged Serpents below Level 100 were considered hatchlings, and they even had specialized hunting locations where their chances of dying were greatly reduced. 

Liu Shu felt somewhat small after learning about it. ‘I am… basically playing in a playground. The big shots probably don’t even bother with my antics! They must be like, “Oh, look at this cute sapling! She is about to get her first world!” Or something like that! QAQ!’ 

Shaking off her momentary existential crisis, our World Tree focused on the expansion around the world. ‘While I could’ve covered more than half of the world by now, I am trying to dig deep into the core of the world and around it as well. I want the completion rate of my <Sylvan Quest> to be as high as possible, and right now, everything I have is time.’

She had thought about what the system would consider a basic achievement. “The basic win condition is the fourth temple and covering the surface of the world. So, what else can I cover? The inside of the world is the first thing that comes to mind. The second thing is… the natural <Dungeons>.” 

Liu Shu knew that there were natural <Dungeons>. In truth, there were natural <Dungeons> even in the former continent of the Abyssal Void Nexus. However, during her attacks, she didn’t have the time to care for them. These <Dungeons> were inside cities, and when she attacked them, the <Dungeons> collapsed together with the cities. 

It was one of the regrets of the process of that war. She prioritized speed, and therefore, she lost out on many benefits. Still, she would probably not do it differently even if she were given the chance to redo her actions. On the contrary, knowing many details, she might’ve tried conquering the place even faster.  

“Although the <Dungeons> in that continent are gone. The other powers have quite a few of them.” 

Since <Dungeons> needed <Ternary Essence> not to collapse naturally, it was natural for them to be active in the places where most powerhouses gathered. Any <Dungeon> that appeared within the major superpowers would quickly gain fame and be flooded by challengers.

“From what I learned, the Verdant Sanctity Covenant has seven <Dungeons>, the Azure Rose Confederation has five, and the Celestial Lotus Empire has four of them. All of the <Dungeons> scale up to Level 75, though. Nothing above that.” 

Liu Shu pondered how she should change them in the future, but she didn’t bother about it too much. ‘I’ll think about it when I get them.’ 

What Liu Shu needed to focus on currently was her plans on how to assimilate the people of the other global superpowers—especially the Verdant Sanctity Covenant. 

“The people of the covenant follow a major superpower. In the first place, the majority of the rebels came from Skyflowers’ power. These people were dissatisfied and went against Skyflower’s desires.” She felt that things would become troubled. 

“Ugh… I guess that I am both lucky and unlucky. If there weren’t any otherworldly superpowers, I wouldn’t have known this early about the existence of life beyond our planet. I might’ve rotted away in Ceperet, confined by just this planet alone.” 

With a sigh, she steeled her resolve one more time. “I need to look at things positively. Even when I swallow their Covenant, I won’t be doing it aggressively. Skyflower will remain alive, so if people of the Covenant visit in the future, our chances of being immediately hostile will be reduced by a large chunk. On the other hand, the Abyssal Void Nexus can’t interfere according to the deal that Skyflower explained to me…”

With that in mind, Liu Shu used all her knowledge in politics and similar subjects to create a process of assimilation. ‘There must be no vassals; this will only create lingering attachments to their previous identities. The new people must know that they are now part of my Arborarchy, not former citizens of some defeated power.’

With that principal idea as the core, Liu Shu worked tirelessly for the time it took for the new <Dungeon> to open.

Chapter 1320. Meeting Again: Divine Lataria.

While sitting on the bed, Yasenia was constantly spreading her spiritual sense around her. She could feel the presence of some people walking outside, but that didn’t really matter to her. Her spiritual sense could cover the entire city, and she had already checked for clues of what to do next. Not finding anything, she thought that this second part of the trial wouldn’t start until all the platforms were used.  

Her spiritual sense was sharp, so not everyone could match or even detect it. There were too many auras mixed to single out only hers. ‘Still, I can sense a few people looking into my room. Should I create a quick concealing formation?’ 

With her current level, anyone willing to spy on her would easily break her formations. Therefore, she eventually chose not to do anything and allow them to spy as they pleased. Of course, she also made sure to remember the auras and scents of those looking at her. ‘If I have the chance later…’

It was around three hours after she arrived that she heard someone knocking on her door. Her eyes slowly opened, and her nose twitched twice. ‘...It’s one of the people peeking at me.’ 

After thinking for a few moments, she took out Draheart and a defensive talisman. Then, she spoke up. “Open the door and state your identity.”

The person on the other side opened the door, and Yasenia saw their figure. Yasenia’s tensed expression relaxed, showing a hint of surprise. “It’s you?”

“Tsk, tsk.” The woman on the other side entered, her blue wings folding behind her back. “Is that the way you speak to your senior?”

Yasenia didn’t relax her guard, her hand tightly holding Draheart. “Tell me about our last conversation. Word by word.”

The woman paused and squinted. “Are you doubting me, little Dragon?”

“Yes,” Yasenia spoke calmly. “Your aura is different from before.”

This woman didn’t have the same scent as the Divine she met outside. She could tell that she was a Divine, but there were faint differences that were hard to distinguish with normal senses.

The woman’s eyebrows jumped. “You were actually able to distinguish that? Your senses are much sharper than I thought.” With a smile, she quickly explained their encounter from the very moment that she received a surprise attack. 

Only after hearing everything did Yasenia relax a bit. The woman smiled slyly. “Also…” Her aura rippled and shifted, transforming back to the one Yasenia was familiar with. “I was hiding my energy trail. I didn’t expect you to be able to trace me.” 

Yasenia tilted her head, her long black hair gently flowing down her shoulder. “Hiding? Your aura was in plain sight.” 

“For you, at least.” The divine woman approached and jumped onto Yasenia with a mischievous expression, pushing her against the bed. Yasenia’s tail moved, pointing at the woman’s Dantian. 

“Oh my~, so dangerous.” The Divine grinned, not afraid at all.

The dragoness squinted and then sighed. Her tail didn’t relax, though. “Why are you like this, Senior? Is skinship so natural amongst Divines?”

“If we like the other party, it is~.” The blue-winged Divine smiled deeply. “I just find you so… attractive. Even when we are both female, I feel as if mating with you would create extremely powerful progeny. Why? Are you secretly a male, little dragon?”

Yasenia was not surprised. The reason many females were attracted to her, other than her appearance, was her powerful Yang aura. In terms of presence, her body embodied both extremes, creating an extremely attractive aura. 

“You must be mistaken, Senior. Still, I would recommend not trying to mate with me. I already have a Soulmate.” 

The woman’s excited face diminished as disappointment flashed in her eyes. “...Already? You are so young, and you already linked yourself with another beast?”

Yasenia looked at the woman straddling her. ‘Her reactions don’t feel or look like acting. Did she really fall for me?’ 

She didn’t discard the possibility. After all, she also fell quickly for her lovers. Of course, she was purposely searching for lovers back then, and she had a mortal perception of time and relationships. “Senior, please get off me. I am in a relationship that I don’t want to betray.”

‘If she doesn’t get down… I’ll have to show forceful means next.’  

The Divine sighed deeply, her ocean-like eyes showing sadness. “That’s a shame…” Then, she rolled to the side and used Yasenia’s arm as a pillow. Yasenia’s eyebrows momentarily furrowed, but she didn’t react. Her tail tip was still in position to attack the Dantian area.

After five minutes of silence, Yasenia checked her surroundings and noticed that the number of people peeking at them had disappeared entirely. ‘Hm? Did she do something? Speaking of which… I still don’t know her name.’ 

“...Senior, what is your name?”

“Lataria.” The woman answered faintly, her tone somewhat sad.

Yasenia felt strange. ‘Is she that depressed that I already have a mate?’ Her head turned to the side and she noticed that Lataria was looking at her face. 

“...Um. That’s a pretty name.”

“Pretty enough to give up your mate and be with me?”

Yasenia started sweating. ‘This woman… Is she serious?’ 

“N-Not that beautiful, no.”

Lataria sighed. “Then it’s a useless name.” 

‘Is there a part of Divine culture that I am missing? Or is this woman just… strange? 

“So… Senior Lataria, do you know anything about this second trial?”

“Yes…” Lataria lamented. “I know that I won’t be able to get the Beautiful and Mature Dragon Girl Big Sister.”

A hint of strangeness flashed in Yasenia’s heart as the way this woman spoke reminded her of someone else. Someone she dealt with a long time ago. Pushing down the strangeness, Yasenia spoke again, carefully. “Um… Anything else?”

“Yes…” Her answer this time was like a sigh full of despair. “I won’t be able to put my face between your glorious peaks and brrrrr my head from side to side. I mean, look how they deform when you are on your back. They look so huge and soft… Hey, can I? I swear I won’t do anything strange.” 

“...Is Senior Lataria a pervert?” Yasenia paused, her lips twitching. “Ah. Sorry, that escaped me. I didn’t mean it.”

Lataria showed a surprised expression before bursting into laughter. “That came from the soul. Hahaha. You are so cute for being the mature-type character! Hey, can I scratch your chin like before? I really loved the face you made back then~.” 

Yasenia’s eyebrows trembled a few times as she caught the misbehaving hand. ‘If I weren’t slightly biased towards female sexual harassment, I would’ve probably cleaved her in half.’ 

Seeing Yasenia resisting, Lataria sighed dramatically once again. Then, she sat up with a small jump and smiled. “Hey. Let’s be partners until these events end. I swear I won’t betray you.”

Yasenia felt strange. Not because her words didn’t sound trustworthy, but because the feeling was the complete opposite. It really felt like this woman wouldn’t betray her as long as there wasn’t a conflict of interest. 

After thinking for a moment, Yasenia pushed her upper body up with her tail and also sat up. The motion sent her watermelons into a jiggling motion that Lataria leered at openly. 

“Alright. We can team up. However, Senior Lataria, try not to flirt with me too often. I am a bit sensitive about it, and if I lose my patience, I might react violently.” 

Yasenia had already felt a few surges of irritation in her heart, most likely because her pregnancy made her somewhat sensitive. Still, they were just faint urges that she could easily control. She couldn’t promise the same calmness if the teasing continued, though. 

Lataria was happy and screamed. “Ah! That’s great! Can I hug you? Let me hug youuu!”

Yasenia pressed her hand against the forehead of the Divine extending her hands towards her. “If you were normal, I would. But you just want to hug me to feel my body, so no.” 

“Tsk. You are a miser.” 

Yasenia sighed and stood up from the bed, letting the woman’s weight push her where she had previously been lying. “Hm… We should go outside. After so long, there has been no movement in the trial. Perhaps it needs to be triggered by… us…?”

Looking back, she saw the Divine’s wings fluttering as she greedily inhaled the place where she had been lying a moment ago. “Ahhn~, you smell so niceee. Mature, motherly types smell like flowerssss!” 

“...Lataria.”

The low, threatening tone brought chills down Lataria’s spine. Looking back at Yasenia’s cold eyes, she gulped and smiled nervously. “Y-Yes?” 

Yasenia leaned down, her softness hanging like a ripe fruit ready to pluck. But Lataria didn’t have the leisure to relish in that sight. “I don’t mind playful banter. But the second you dare cross the line, I won’t be merciful. I hope you have not forgotten that I am a Dragon.”

Yasenia’s cold, golden slit eyes and chilling aura made this powerful Divine feel a chill down her back. ‘This killing intent… She is the real deal.’

Therefore, she nodded like a pecking chicken. “Okay, okay, okay. I won’t cross the line. But let me be silly, okay? I promise that I won’t do anything that goes over the line without your permission.” 

Yasenia saw honesty in her gaze and felt somewhat helpless. ‘There is a strange innocence in her perversion… Or is it because these types of perverts remind me of Evelyn that I am more lenient? Honest perverts… Sigh, they are quite difficult to deal with when there is no malice behind it.’ 

After singing once, she straightened her back and nodded. “Alright, let’s go out.”

Lataria jumped from the bed and nodded, her gaze following the swaying motion of Yasenia’s greatness. “...Dragons are really unfair in this world.” 

Yasenia asked back, curious. “Are there more slender Dragons in other worlds?” 

Lataria answered with a cheerful smile. “Yeah! It’s a very far-away world, though. Hehe.”

“I see.”

Lataria frowned a bit. “Hey… Now that I look at you… Isn’t your personality too different from the first time we met? You were like an innocent and adorable junior back then.”

They were walking down the stairs when she asked that. Yasenia raised her eyebrow and smirked slightly. “You took a while to realize. I just thought that acting cute would make you easier to coddle. I guess I was right.” 

“Argh!” Lataria clutched her heart. “The cute but mature, motherly big sister type deceived me!”

“... Is it me, or are you adding more adjectives to that strange categorizing that you are doing?”

Lataria chuckled and didn’t answer, so Yasenia just let her be. 

Chapter 531. Dealing With The Resistance. Blooming. [AotSC]

To say that there was a battle after Liu Shu awakened the city was an overstatement. It ended almost as soon as it began. The <Lignified> species, being Liu Shu’s children, had offensive skills similar to Liu Shu’s. They were able to manipulate different Aether Mana or use their branches as weapons across long distances.

Moreover, Tree and Aurelise weren’t too far and involved themselves as well. The sky was instantly covered with several skills that shot to the sky, swallowing most of the <Fourth Energy Cycles>. 

Liu Shu observed this with calmness. She knew where these people came from, what their objective was, and the reason for such a nonsensical action. ‘I’ve been slowly discussing the assimilation process with Skyflower and the others, and the talks are going well. However, it seems that there are many who are not comfortable. These people used their connections and tried to infiltrate.’  

She knew that they had decided to fight on the Flower Day Festival because civilians and children gathered nearby. If she were to attack recklessly, accidentally killing these people along with the enemies, it could cause backlash. The people who formed part of the new alliance, who were left at home, would then spread what happened and label her as evil.

It was both a sacrifice and a scheme for her to be unable to dominate the world through dialogue. In short, they wanted to force Skyflower and the rest to fight Liu Shu. 

‘Well… Their scheme is interesting, but they just don’t understand me at a fundamental level. What they know is that I am capable of large-scale destruction attacks. They don’t think that I can make subtle and controlled attacks.’ 

It was a bit ridiculous, in Liu Shu's opinion. However, what else could they do when others at their level accepted her? Only one last attempt, even if it was suicidal, to bring her down would satisfy these people’s ambitions and egos. People like them would rather govern over the ashes of a burnt kingdom than relinquish their power so that the country can reach new heights.  

After the explosion, Liu Shu saw around fifteen of them appear from the cloud, heavily injured, and rush toward her with crazed expressions. “TIANLIAN LIU SHU!”

Liu Shu sighed. “Senseless struggles because you are unable to accept change. Now, rest.”

With her words, her Phoer surged inside her body. 

Before the fifteen people could reach her, Liu Shu lashed with exactly fifteen branches. These branches extended, slashing through the air with both ridiculous speed and precision. 

Those below could only see a blur as the giant branches struck the fifteen bodies simultaneously. The impact lasted for a fraction of a second, but those at high levels somehow felt the time stop as the branch deformed the bodies of the <Fourth Energy Cycles>. 

Then, the raw, monstrous force behind the World Tree’s strikes exploded and transformed into a numerical, blood-red value.  

BOOM!

[-614,560,000]! 

Over 350,000 <Physique> struck them, exploding in the form of over 6,000 <Phoer Cores> of damage. Their bones, muscles, and internal organs were like a mature fruit being struck by a wooden bat. Squished, broken, and eventually, exploding out.  

[Congratulations! You’ve defeated <Level 89 Ceperet Human (B+ Rank)>. You’ve earned 5,391 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations! You’ve defeated <Level 86 Lightning Catkin (A- Rank)>. You’ve earned 6,202 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations! You’ve defeated…

…

[You’ve earned a total of 103,030 Experience Points.]

After the loud shockwaves from the impacts, the world was silent. Fifteen people whom the citizens of Ceperet considered “peak powerhouses” disappeared just like that. A single strike from the Heavenly Willow sent them to the afterlife. 

Ignatia tilted her head and muttered. “I thought I could participate a bit… It seems that even I underestimate my baby.” 

Flor stayed silent. She was thinking the same. When the group decided to let this group grow, she was somewhat scared that they might grow too powerful and be able to hurt Liu Shu. Nevertheless, today, Flor learned that her precious baby had gained strength beyond her comprehension.

It was not like she didn’t know that Liu Shu was powerful. After all, a single World Tree alone was enough to bring down an entire continent. However, seeing and knowing were two different things. 

Liu Shu looked at everyone gathered and spoke gently. “The threat is gone. Continue with the festivities. Don’t worry, this time, nothing else will happen.” 

Then, they saw the World Tree look away and close her eyes, looking relaxed and calm like before. 

Everyone swallowed to wet their dry throats, while the children felt awe surge from the bottom of their hearts. 

Dewna and the others were all starry-eyed, looking at their mother with worshipful gazes. 

A young Alraune muttered, her cheeks red with excitement. “Mother is so strong…!”

Eluan snorted, his gaze somewhat disdainful. “Did those people think they could cause a ruckus in front of Mother? People overestimate themselves too much!”

Harmonixia smiled, amused. “Weren’t you worried and gripping my hand tightly when they appeared?”

Eluan’s handsome face flushed with a hint of red. “Y-You are misremembering, Mother.” 

With the threat cleared, the festivities continued without interruptions. Flor and Ignatia finished their speech, and then some locations to play around with children opened. It was around ten in the morning, so there were two hours left until the flowers bloomed.

Thanks to everyone being from a relatively noble standing, you could say that everyone was at the same level. So, knowing that you might find a big shot if you weren’t careful, everyone was respectful and welcoming. 

Of course, there were some second-generation and third-generation spoiled brats here and there. Nevertheless, they were quickly smacked down by their guardians before any problem arose. 

Particularly, in front of Dewna or anyone related to Liu Shu, no one dared say a word or show a hint of arrogance. The impactful image of fifteen <Fourth Energy Cycles> popping out of existence was vividly burned in their brains.   

Time flew by, and noon arrived quickly. Everyone gathered in the garden where the flowers were planted.

The garden was large, and each child had around 3 square meters free for their flowers. Between the sections, there was a meter of space, allowing you to walk without any problems. This allowed for enough free movement for everyone to stay near their flowers.  

To know whose flower was each, they use signs with the child’s name. 

Dewna was looking intently at the flower, slowly raising its head. “Little Dew, it's time to shine brightly! Shine the brightest!”

The signs that named whose flower it was were not simple. Mariane helped in creating a tool to measure brightness. The numbers ranged from 0 to 10,000, allowing for more accurate judgment, with 10,000 being bright enough to cause eye strain.  

Soon, the entire garden was illuminated by a wave of light. While each flower individually didn’t produce much light, together, they created a wave that made everyone shimmer in different colors.

The color of each flower was different, so when they bloomed together, it was like standing in the middle of a rainbow. Colors flew everywhere, illuminating the day. 

Those participating for the first time exclaimed at the beauty of the spectacle beyond their expectations. Dewna was clenching her fists, looking excitedly as her Little Dew opened wide and exploded with gorgeous brilliance.

Verdantia, standing behind Dewna, showed a hint of surprise. ‘Oh wow. The little girl put real effort into growing Little Dew.’ 

Her gaze moved toward the value, and she read it aloud, her tone full of pride. “7,560! That’s incredible, Dewna!” 

Dewna puffed her ample chest, showing a wide smile. “Great job, Little Dew!” 

For reference, the current record holder managed to make their flower bloom with a brightness of 8,141, so Dewna’s achievement was among the top 5%. 

She looked sideways and spoke to Eluan with a loud and proud tone. “Hehe. Little brother, my Little Dew is blooming with 7,560 radiance! What about yours? Don’t be shy and tell me, hehehe.”

Eluan looked at Dewna and sighed once with a faint smile. “Congratulations, Big Sister. You’ve won by 21 Radiance.”

Dewna’s proud face froze for a moment. “O-Only 21?” She moved with her thick, thorny vines and looked at Eluan’s signal. It was easy to see the 7,539 number in the display. 

Her face was complex, but soon, she snorted. “Even if it were just one point, I won! So, I am the best! You lose this year, Eluan. Hmph!”

The other years she lost it by over 300 points, so this didn’t feel like a true victory. But she was satisfied. Harmonixia patted Dewna’s soft hair with a smile. “Great job, Dewna. You’ve shown this cheeky boy.”

“Hehe.” Dewna’s smile widened with the pats. “Thank you, Aunty Harmonixia!” 

Around the place, you could see many different reactions. For those who scored over 3,000, it was an okay score. Normally, <Midyear Flowers> bloomed with a luminosity of around 2,500. So, surpassing that by 20% was quite a decent result.

For everyone who scored less than the natural brightness of the <Midyear Flower>, they would be somewhat looked down upon. But, as long as the score was over 2,000, it could pass as a barely passable mark.

Anyone below 2,000, though… You only had to look at their parents’ faces to know that it was a really bad score. A real scolding was waiting back at home. 

After the blooming, all the children stepped forward and moved to uproot the flowers. The movements were careful, trying to avoid hurting the roots. They had been taught, and they needed to do it by themselves. 

Some were clumsier than others, hurting more or less of their roots. 

In this regard, Sylvans and other plant species had an advantage because they could easily sense the roots underground with their inborn senses. 

It took around half an hour for every participant to transplant the flowers into a new pot to take home. Later, a group of teachers and botanists would come to renew the dirt to prepare for the new year’s Flower Seeding ceremony, to prepare for next year’s Flower Day Festival. 

While walking home, Dewna looked at Little Dew. The plant was slowly losing brightness, and by the end of the day, it would close entirely. Of course, she was thinking of planting Little Dew in her room together with the other <Midyear Flowers> she had grown in the past. These flowers had a lifespan of five years, so it was not a bother getting them. 

Verdantia looked at Dewna’s smiling face and then observed the rest of her children. ‘Ah… Such a fulfilling time. I hope it can last forever.’ 

With that, all mothers and children returned, while Liu Shu started her serious expansion. ‘The day the <Dungeon> opens is the day I start entering the domains of all the <Fourth Energy Cycle> World Trees.’ 

Chapter 1319. Getting Attacked for the Platform.

While the man approached, Yasenia circulated [Celestial Cosmos Dress], [Celestial Dragon Body], and [Immortal Breaker Body]. Among all her skills, this was the combination that increased her physical strength the most. 

The Celestial Black Hole Star rotated quickly, scattering energy from the accretion disc into the meridian system like a river of starlight. That energy transformed, interacted with the surroundings, and activated her cells to the maximum.

After a powerful heartbeat, Yasenia’s aura swallowed the surroundings. 

BOOM!

The approaching man’s quickly changed, his heart thumping with surprise. ‘What is this energy!?’

“[Pegasus Gallop], [Celestial Sunder].”

Yasenia appeared right in front of him, a giant sword swinging in his direction at a speed barely perceivable to his naked eyes. “Monster! [Triple Ash Wall]!” 

Three thick but slim grey barriers appeared between Yasenia and himself. The dragoness didn’t intend to stop her sword strike. Her cheeks puffed as her muscles tensed and she completed her sword swing. 

The man’s face crumpled as his barriers utterly collapsed, the feedback from it shaking his internal organs and the shockwave striking his body like a metal wall. 

Thankfully, the shockwave blowing him away forced him to avoid Draheart’s direct hit.

As his body flew back with uncontrollable momentum, his mind was in shock. ‘What is that strength!? That dragon is insane!’

As his thoughts raced, the sky transformed into an ethereal cosmic landscape. The sky, full of stars, a giant moon, and a giant sun, all collapsed right in his direction. 

‘Why am I so unlucky? I met a freak of nature.’ Feeling the strength behind each of the celestial bodies descending in his direction, he made a quick decision. ‘I need to flee.’ 

Without even feeling reluctant, the man turned around and ran, dodging the collapsing starry sky as shockwaves enveloped his surroundings. After a few seconds, he was able to escape the area of bombardment with a few light wounds and disappeared into the distance. 

Yasenia frowned faintly. ‘He fled? I guess I showed off too much strength.’

Usually, she would chase after him, but if she stepped off the platform, the few hours she had spent standing there would be for nothing. ‘Well, he won’t come back after that.’

Even as she thought that, Yasenia didn’t stop her skills. ‘Pathetic tricks.’ Her cold eyes lightly moved to her right and caught something else. 

A human woman was swinging a dagger at her side, her face cold and ruthless. “You need to cover your presence better.”

The woman’s dagger only managed to lightly graze Yasenia’s side before the thick and powerful dragon tail sank deeply with a thud into her stomach. The woman’s eyes bulged in pain, and her body streaked to the sky. 

‘How did I get discovered? That dragon’s senses are too sharp.’ 

The woman was unable to control her body and quickly overcame the one kilometer in height. Right as she did so, her sight turned white, and she was unable to see her surroundings. ‘Tsk, I need to fly down quickly and change my objective.’  

As she was about to do so, a deep dragon roar reached her ears. All the hairs on her body stood up as a terrifying feeling of danger enveloped her. ‘Defend! [Thousand Shadow Dome]!’ 

Then, [Celestial Dragon Breath] arrived and crashed against her defenses. 

BOOM!!!

A gargantuan explosion covered the sky, the shockwave pushing the rocks that made up the landscape and creating a profound depression. 

Yasenia squinted and clicked her stinging tongue. ‘She survived.’ Looking around again, she spoke aloud. “Come out at once, seniors. Since you think that I am easy prey, you should hunt me properly.” 

Six people appeared around her, all of them looking at Yasenia with solemn expressions. “How did you discover us?”

Yasenia’s lips arched into a sneer. “Petty tricks like that don’t work on Dragons. It’s insulting that you think you can hide by erasing your body, scent, and aura.” 

The people’s eyebrows twitched. ‘What else is there to hide, you freak?’ 

Tightly grabbing Draheart, Yasenia called out Dramel. ‘Soluna, you can appear later as a trump card. For now, stay put.’

An echoey and cheerful double-voice spread in Yasenia’s mindscape. ‘O~kayy!’ 

Meanwhile, the six people became even more wary when they saw the beautiful Pipa appearing. “Music? You were a music cultivator?”

Yasenia sneered. “So what if I am? So what if I am not? If you dare to challenge me, go ahead. You are a group, so you all should’ve decided on who will get the seat after I am defeated, right?”

The six people looked at each other and hesitated. They’ve seen Yasenia slap two people at their level as if they were annoying flies. So, they knew that she had enough strength to act arrogantly.  

“We’ll retreat. You are quite a monster. I would rather fight that Divine woman to the right.”

Yaseia was not polite. “Then, scram. I am barely holding back from stepping out to fight you bunch.” 

The six humans frowned but didn’t answer. Even if Yasenia was young, might made right. Their strength outside didn’t matter since Yasenia could currently easily face all of them. 

“What is your name, junior?” 

“Why? Do you want to take revenge after we exit this Secret Realm?” Yasenia sneered with a thorny tone. “Scram. I won’t answer any questions.”

They all didn’t hesitate much longer and retreated. 

After they left, Yasenia’s golden slit eyes moved to her left. “Impressive. You are quite persistent.” 

An incredulous female voice came from the side. “...How?”

A woman appeared, her body covered in burns and wounds. She was the person who received her [Celestial Dragon Breath] head-on. Yasenia didn’t answer and asked. “Why are you so fixed on me? After that attack, you should’ve known better and left.” 

“You won’t step out either way, will you?” The woman spun her dagger around her fingers, her face showing confidence. “How are you so strong? When your tail landed on my stomach, I felt as if I was being struck by a third-level Body Cultivator. Some of my organs ruptured from that strike.” 

If she were a mortal, she would have instantly died from that single tail strike. 

“Only a few organs?” Yasenia sighed. “It seems that I held back too much.”

The woman spread an ointment around her body while rolling her eyes. “Don’t boast. You used all your strength in that strike. There is no way that you can have stronger physical strength.” 

Somewhat bothered, Yasenia spoke coldly. “Are you going to stay there and move your mouth flaps? It’s bothersome, so go away.” 

The woman’s eyebrow twitched. “...mouth flaps? That’s one vulgar way of describing someone’s lips.” She sighed. “Also, junior. You shouldn’t be so prickly. You need to learn to build connections.”

Yasenia looked at the woman for a second and then sighed. “I’ve neutralized it.”

“...Huh?” 

Yasenia pointed to her side, where the woman had made a small cut. “The poison in your danger. I’ve already neutralized it. It won’t take effect no matter how much you wait.” 

“...” The woman’s face was quite the sight. “...That’s impossible. A drop of this poison can put a mountain-sized adult dragon to sleep. “ 

“Sorry to say, but I am a bit bigger than a mountain,” Yasenia answered flatly. “Now, be gone.” 

The woman was not convinced. “I don’t believe you. You are probably bluffing and trying to—”

Before she finished, she saw Yasenia use one of her sharp nails to dig on her side. The finger came out coated in Yasenia’s red blood. Then, Yasenia flicked her finger, and a single drop of blood struck the rock in front of the woman. “Analyze it and see if it is poisoned. Then, scram.” 

Skeptical, the woman analyzed the drop of blood. Other than feeling immense vitality, there were no traces of poison in the blood. “How is this possible?”

Yasenia’s constitution was extremely resistant to harmful substances. First of all, Dragon Blood was naturally purifying. Her level of dragon blood made this quality even more exceptional. Then, her Celestial Energy could also burn and purify the most harmful substances. Compared to Abyssal Energy, the poison the woman used was like a slightly spicy water. Finally, thanks to her body cultivation, her bodily resistance to harmful foreign substances was top-notch. 

Altogether, it made her incredibly resistant to poison. Even if it was a Soul Poison, her soul was no less protected than her physical body, thanks to the [Primordial Palace] and her naturally powerful soul and soul arts.

To even start having a chance to poison Yasenia, you needed at least a Two Star Supreme-ranked poison.

After confirming that Yasenia’s words weren’t a bluff, the woman shook her head with an incredulous expression. “You are really a monster.” As she turned to leave, she sighed with annoyance. “Why are all dragons freaks of nature? Can there be a single normal one? This one is even crazier than the Dragon Princess and Prince I met in the past…” 

Yasenia’s interest piqued. ‘Dragon Princess and Prince? I guess it’s not strange. This is a high-level Heaven, so there must be a powerful Dragon Clan out there.’

She wanted to ask the woman for more information, so she spoke aloud. “Senior. What do you know about the Dragon Princess and Prince?”

The woman paused, a hint of a smile appearing on her lips. “Oh? You want to know? How about we make a deal?”

Yasenia flatly refused. “Ah. No, thank you. If you don’t want to tell, you can leave.”

“...” 

Not knowing how to react to the blatant disregard, the woman felt as if something was clogging her throat, and she was unable to swallow or spit it out. “You… You are really infuriating, you know that?”

Yasenia’s eyes behind her veil arched. “I know.” 

“...If I stay longer, I’ll probably start having heart problems. I’ll leave now, so good luck with the trials, infuriating junior!” 

Yasenia chuckled, her tone calmer. “Good luck to you, too, Senior.” 

After that confrontation, other groups of three or four appeared. But none of them were able to move Yasenia off the platform. 

“Finally, 24 hours are up.”

Yasenia looked around. Eight people were looking at her with cold faces. She waved her hand with a faint smile. “See you later, seniors.” 

The man in the lead pointed forward with a cold look. “Attack.”

The dragoness chuckled. “I’ve been saving this for last. [Celestial Intent Domain].”

Before they understood what was happening, all their attacks were swallowed up inside the domain and disappeared. Yasenia had used the dimensional abilities to absorb the low-level attacks into her Intent Domain. 

That kind of method consumed too much energy, but since she was about to disappear, it didn’t matter to her. 

After holding on for around 2 minutes, her body was absorbed by the light and disappeared into the sky. 

No one dared to come close to Yasenia and only dared to do ranged attacks. The reason was that her fame had already spread, and she was known for her ridiculous bodily strength. 

Once Yasenia reappeared, she looked around and saw that she was inside a normal inn room. There was a bed, wooden furniture, and one window to the side. “Hm… I’ll wait here for a while until I hear what the second test is about.” 

And so, she sat on the bed cross-legged and waited. 

Chapter 530. True World Resistance. [AotSC]

The Flower Day Festival was a festivity that spread throughout the entire Golden Sap Arborarchy a few years ago. Flor created it in an effort to strengthen their culture and traditions. Flor’s objective with this, thought together with many great minds of the Arborarchy, was a more cohesive society. 

In the first place, since the Arborarchy was a new society, stigmas and different traditions clashed together, creating hostile environments. Simple customs, such as eating habits, diets, and how people viewed the world, would create friction and divide everyone if not treated with care.

So, Flor made a decisive move. Instead of trying to accommodate others, she would create a “culture” for the Arborarchy and make it mainstream. She would not deny other cultures, but she would make clear, through governmental efforts, what was considered a “local” custom and what was a “foreign” custom. 

Usually, this kind of forceful method would be met with resistance. After all, in most cases, no one wanted to give up what their parents taught them since they were little. It was a precious memory and a way to recall their traditions.

However, behind Flor, there was Liu Shu. As the sacred World Tree, the Heavenly Willow, and the being who brought down the Abyssal Void Nexus, her influence was all-reaching. And Flor, who was well-known as Liu Shu’s mother, held part of that strong influence.

In the entire Arborarchy, only a handful dared to raise their heads in Flor’s presence. 

Furthermore, if you look at how the protests against them turned out, no one wanted to be part of Flor’s track record. 

In a way, the Arborarchy was a Tyrant Nation. One ruler who commanded everything and created both law and order through pure strength. 

However, this was the only way for a quickly formed nation to get a grip on its citizens. If the top showed weakness, those at the bottom would start thinking that they could be defeated.

Flor gently floated above the podium, gazing at the large crowd of attendees. The <Lignified School> area was large, and the backyard was spacious enough for over 40,000 people to gather comfortably. 

The number of attendees was not exaggerated, but rather around 11,000. The specialness of these 11,000 participants was that they were all elites of the country and their children. 

Looking into the crowd at the front, Flor could easily spot Verdantia and the rest of the family. Gathering Aether Mana in her vocal cords, Flor’s voice spread far and wide without sounding loud. 

“To start, I want to thank you, everyone, for making space in your tight schedules to attend today’s festivity.” 

Her tone was calm, measured, and with an intangible dignity that left no doubt of her authority. Even if her body was petite, there was not a single person who dared to look down on her. 

“The Flower Day Festival is a day when we all look at our past actions, at our efforts, and see if our efforts will bloom into a beautiful future. The flowers that your children had taken care of for the last half a year are a representation of their will to put effort into a bright future, a way of teaching our children that results don’t come straight away. That, if you put in time and effort, that seed will eventually bloom beautifully, even when there might not be any signals in the middle.”

Flor’s beautiful voice, carried by her Aether Mana, swept the area like a light breeze. “Of course, if someone doesn’t put in effort, the flower will never bloom. A flower that doesn’t bloom is a flower that has no future, a flower that will be crushed by those who bloom earlier than it. Nature is, after all, ruthless to those who don’t put in any effort.”

Her words were spoken without any emotional fluctuation, as if she were speaking about the weather of that day. Yet, the words had enough weight to make some start sweating. Flor didn’t mind if this event made it difficult for some children.

In a world as cruel and opportunistic as theirs, a soft mind with “participation trophy” coddling would result in the destruction of the Arborarchy. She needed strong minds, talented children who would grow into the cornerstones of the Arborarchy. 

Moreover, the flower chosen was ridiculously easy to maintain. Just giving it water daily for around 10 minutes would ensure that it blooms. With the natural rain and such, just giving it an eye from time to time to avoid accidents was almost enough for the flower to open its petals on the fated day. 

So, if the flower didn’t bloom, the level of disregard for the flower would be easily seen. A person who can’t even take care of a simple flower won’t have the heart to take care of something much grander.

Ignatia stepped forward by her side, proudly showing off her figure in a red dress that matched her hair and carapace. The figure of the Ant Queen didn’t startle many; it was an open secret that Ignatia existed, and today, that open secret would become open knowledge.   

“The <Midyear Flower> is punctual. It always blooms in the middle of the sixth month. Sometimes, some days early, sometimes so many days late. But thanks to the Heavenly Willow, the flower has changed. It is a flower that blooms at noon on the eighteenth of the sixth month as long as it has absorbed enough nutrients.” 

Ignatia explained the flower to all those who didn’t know about it. Flor and the others had made extensive experiments with this flower to ensure that Ignatia’s current words were true. Among the millions they planted, not a single one failed to bloom during the desired hour.

Of course, that didn’t mean that there couldn’t be accidents, but that’s why several botanists were participating as judges during the trial. As long as the flower had been taken care of, even if it didn’t bloom, the botanists would know and announce it.  

The Ant Queen’s compound eyes swept everyone as she spoke with a strong conviction. “The Golden Sap Arborarchy is about to become the only World Power. Those who resist will have the same fate as the Abyssal Void Nexus. So, with today as the start, I declare in the name of the Heavenly Willow…”

“Tianlian Liu Shu is the True World Tree!”

Her voice boomed outward with extreme potency. The shockwave of sounds almost felt physical, sweeping everyone involved and even those listening from the outside. 

There were several reasons for this declaration. Among many…

“Those are some bold words, Ant Queen!”

Ignatia’s lips arched as she looked upward. In the sky, Ignatia could see 10 people. These ten people had powerful auras, and they wore a mix of clothes from the Celestial Lotus, Verdant Sanctity Covenant, and Azure Rose Empire.

‘Now that the final resistance has finally shown its head, it’s time for the final cleanup.’

Ignatia hid her grin as she spoke solemnly. “Who are you!? How dare you interrupt the Flower Day Speech? This is a direct declaration of contempt for my daughter, the Heavenly Willow!”

She proudly and boldly declared Liu Shu as her daughter. A rush of excitement filled her heart. ‘Ah… Finally saying it aloud in front of everyone feels so liberating! I can now love my darling as her Mommy openly! Kya!’ 

While inside she was gushing over her ability to speak so freely, outwardly her demeanor was that of an Empress without equal. 

Her aura was so heavy that even the ten <Fourth Energy Cycles> floating above the crowd showed a change in expression. 

The man leading the ten people spoke aloud, trying to keep his momentum. Sadly, with Ignatia’s pressure engulfing the aura like an unstoppable tide, he was severely lacking. 

“We are the <True World Resistance>! Tianlian Liu Shu is a murderous World Tree who has exterminated hundreds of millions without any sense of forgiveness in her heart. We, as the resistance, won’t stay silent and accept such a tree as a sovereign!”

Ignatia and Flor were prepared, but they almost lashed out when that man insulted their darling. Their pressuring auras shifted as killing intent filled the air.

The man, somewhat flustered as the heavy gazes of the World Tree’s two mothers locked onto him, raised his arm. “Now, know that we are not the only ones! Rise up, resistance! Bring down the evil Arborarchy!”

‘Finally, it is here!’ Ignatia and Flor’s hearts beat with terrifying, murderous intent. 

In the crowd of 11,000 people, around 70 rose to the sky, while many powerful auras surged all around the city around them.

Ignatia dropped her indignant act as she revealed a bone-chilling smile. “You ungrateful bugs. Instead of creating an all-out war that would cause countless casualties, my precious baby decided to bear all the evil by herself… And now, you all dare to act righteous and call her a threat!? Liu Shu, there is no need to continue ignoring those you’ve marked!”

A singular presence descended upon the world. However, the vastness and weight of this presence were such that it made breathing difficult.  

Their current location was in the Golden Sap City. So, naturally, Liu Shu’s main body could see everything that was occurring. 

During the last year, there have been people who wanted to incite a revolution in the shadows. Liu Shu was quick to catch up and told Flor and the others. 

But, instead of squashing it from the root, they decided to allow it to grow in a controlled manner. Now, on this special day, the resistance acted, thinking that Liu Shu wouldn’t be able to cause indiscriminate attacks in her own city.  

However, what did they know about Liu Shu and the Golden Sap City? Everyone was so blinded by the power of the World Tree that they didn’t realize something fundamental.

“All of you are truly tiresome…”

The World Tree spoke, and everyone turned to look toward the source of the sound. Looking up to the sky, they saw the gargantuan World Tree looking down straight at them. 

The gaze of the World Tree that towered over 6,000 meters into the sky was heavy. It felt as if the sky itself was glaring down at them. 

“...You are just a bunch of hypocrites who want to take control. A bunch of people whose egos have been so inflated over the years that you think you can actually make me submit and listen to your demands.”

No one dared to speak, or better put, no one could speak. If Liu Shu’s presence felt overwhelming at a distance, when you were by her side, the feeling was several times worse. It was as if a godlike being had taken over the space around them. 

“You are so pathetic that you don’t even realize that my direct intervention is utterly unnecessary to deal with a bunch of bugs like you. So what if you are a <Fourth Energy Cycle>? Do you think that 112 of you can do something against me?”

The leading man bit his tongue to snap out of the constricting pressure through pain. He shouted. “Don’t act all high and mighty, Tianlian Liu Shu! We have numbers!”

Everyone saw how Liu Shu’s lips arched mockingly. “Numbers? Look around you. How many houses are surrounding you? Do you know… Their strength? <Otherworldly Rune and Nature Empire: Awaken>.”

And, with a ripple of raw ternary essence, the city came to life.

BOOM!!

All the <Lignified Trees> strength surged and created pillars that pierced the sky, revealing their Level 99 strength. 

“Have fun fighting against over 17,000 children at Level 99.” 

Everyone, almost with no exceptions, showed a face full of terror, their hearts sinking to the bottom of their stomachs.

***

<Miracle Tree Architect>: All buildings will receive the following benefits if they haven’t already. 

All buildings created/assimilated by the World Tree will increase one Major-tier.

All buildings created/assimilated by the World Tree will grow and reach the World Tree’s level, advancing one level per week. 

Any building created/assimilated by the World Tree can’t be two major Tiers below the World Tree. Any building below that rank will be improved over time. 1 Sub-tier per half a year. (Current minimum Tier: C+ Tier)  

***

Chapter 1318. Platform Trial. Encountering a Peculiar Divine.

Yasenia hovered over the platform and analyzed her current situation. ‘While it looks like I have options, that isn’t the case at all. If I go outside, crippled for an entire month, the chances of me dying are through the roof. And dying would be the best among the bad outcomes. If a demon or divine gets their hands on me…’ 

She shook her head with a sigh. “My only choice is to participate and lose on purpose…” Yasenia stopped there. “If denying participation means getting crippled… What will losing mean for the losers?” 

It was clear that this trial was created to be activated in a controlled situation. The crippling punishment was likely used to deter opportunistic individuals from joining. That means that whoever won the bead would be resented by the other participants if they knew about it.

‘Following that train of thought, the winner should be protected one way or another by the treasure. The best way to protect a treasure from others is easy: hiding it. If the winner is not clear or known, then you can’t act freely after the trials...’

Yasenia knew that thinking in this manner was gambling her future. However, what other option was there? The crippling threat had already set a thought path, and unless it was purposely created to confuse those who think logically, there were no other options but to believe. 

‘Over all of that… Losing on purpose is not really something I like to do.’ A chuckle escaped her as her wavering gaze turned resolute. 

Her body descended, and then the tips of her feet touched the platform. When Yasenia touched it, she saw a spark before lights spread around the circular platform at lightning speed. 

When all the lines were illuminated in white, a pillar shot to the sky. Yasenia’s mouth opened lightly, barely revealing her pearly white teeth. “... That’s why you gave one day. There must be limited platforms so that people will fight each other for them.” 

Honestly, she felt the urge to step down and find another platform. Anyone who saw this pillar of light in the barren land would come to check. ‘Being the first in this type of competition is stupid and ridiculous. There might be extra rewards, but I will offend everyone who comes.’ 

The rewards and punishments were too unequal. 

Trusting her gut, Yasenia spread her wings and flew off into the distance. The pillar of white stopped emitting light and disappeared.

Her face suddenly tightened as a foreign energy entered her body and enveloped her spiritualized Dantian. The sensation made Yasenia break into a cold sweat. ‘Did the trial confuse my actions with giving up?’ 

“Do you want to give up?”

Hearing the question, Yasenia spoke quickly, gasping for air as the pressure increased. “N-No, I will find another platform. I am not giving up!” 

After she answered, the energy dissipated without any reluctance. 

Yasenia stopped flying and landed, breathing heavily. Her body was trembling slightly. The sensation of having your Dantian in the hands of a foreign entity was truly terrifying; it made her limbs grow cold and her heart pound. ‘Dantian destruction is basically the same as death… No, worse. Going from a transcendental being to a mortal without any power is something that most would be unable to take. At that point, your choices are either suicide or a life of regret.’   

She closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. After holding the air in her lungs for a few seconds, she exhaled and regained perfect control of her body. Her face returned to calmness, and with a single thought, her body returned to normal. “I’ll need to be careful and announce my actions so that the trial knows what I am doing.”

Flapping her wings, her body streaked through the sky at high speed. She was conscious of never breaking the one-kilometer limit.

Suddenly, she felt a faint ripple of energy and looked behind her. “The pillar of light is coming from my previous location… I made the correct choice to leave." She could sense, even from her current distance, that there were many different auras going in that direction.

Ignoring the pillar, Yasenia searched around for another three hours. During these hours, she saw dozens of pillars of light soar to the sky. These pillars sometimes flickered, showing a change of owner. 

While flying, her nose twitched slightly. ‘This scent… A platform.’

She moved silently and quickly arrived at the location. ‘It’s hidden underground.’

Holding back from digging straight away, Yasenia carefully spread her spiritual sense in her surroundings. Her face changed slightly, and she quickly jumped back.

BOOM!!

The place where she was previously standing had exploded violently, the shockwave pushing Yasenia back several hundred meters. 

“Tsk.” 

Someone clicked their tongue, and Yasenia looked toward the source of the sound. A tall woman with a pair of beautiful, blue, feathered wings was standing in the distance, looking at her with confusion. “You… Oh, you are not that annoying dragon. You are another dragon!”

Yasenia held back from showing annoyance at the surprise attack. Instead, she asked, showing innocent confusion. “Senior, why did you attack me? Did I do something to offend you?” 

The woman flew down and shook her head, her gaze apologetic. “Sorry, junior. I thought there was only one Dragon within this Secret Realm, so I made a mistake. Are you okay? …You feel like quite a young dragon.”

The woman approached and patted Yasenia’s head. Since Yasenia felt no malice, she went along with her and wagged her tail lightly. Even if the wagging was faint, there was no way someone at the Divine’s level wouldn’t notice. This made the Divine’s gaze even more tender. 

“I am okay, senior. That scared me quite a bit. It was a really strong trap.”

The blue-feathered divine spoke gently. “I am glad you are okay, little one. Tell me, junior. How old are you?”

Yasenia answered, her eyes honest. “I am… a little over a thousand years old.”

For someone at her current level, over one thousand years of age was absolutely monstrous talent, even among dragons. So, the woman’s eyes widened and she exclaimed. “You are so young! You are basically a baby, dear! Oh my, to think that I almost hurt someone like you…”

The woman started scratching Yasenia’s chin; it was well known that the spot was sensitive for dragons. Yasenia went along with her again and even started purring and wagging her tail. Her squinting eyes made the Divine laugh.

“You are so adorable. Come, come. Do you know how to pass the trial?” 

Yasenia acted as if her words snapped her out, and she quickly jumped back, her face slightly flushed and wry. “S-Senior, you shouldn’t touch me there without permission!” 

Seeing the slightly moist golden slit eyes made the woman’s body tingle. She smiled and approached again, hugging Yasenia’s arms. “Sorry, little one. I got carried away because you are adorable. Will you come with big sister?”

Yasenia didn’t answer straight away. She showed a thoughtful look and then nodded carefully. “Alright… But Senior needs to ask first if you want to touch in strange places!”

“Oh~?” The woman’s eyebrow rose as her wings fluttered with amusement. “So… If I ask, I can touch? That’s great to know, fufu.”

Yasenia acted flustered. “T-That’s not what I meant!” Even her tail slapped the ground a few times, showing embarrassment. 

The woman was delighted at Yasenia's reaction. “Yes, yes, I know. Now, come with me. I’ll show you something nice.”

The woman waved her hand, creating a giant water wave that swept away the rocks. The dragoness’s sharp eye quickly caught on after observing the surroundings. ‘No wonder it was unnaturally flat and a bit moist. The woman must’ve hidden the platform with the intention of attracting that dragon I saw flirting with Astarea.’

“Here. Stand on this platform. There is another one nearby that I can use. It would be a shame if a cute dragon like you were to die because you are crippled.”

This genuinely surprised Yasenia. She asked, unsure. “Are you sure it is okay, Senior? I… I don’t know how to repay this favor.”

“No need for something like that. Now go!” 

Yasenia felt the woman slapping her butt, causing a satisfying sound and creating ripples. 

Slap~!

Yasenia was stunned, and even the woman froze. 

“That’s… a really good ass. Impressive. Perhaps the softest one I’ve ever touched.”

Yasenia showed a strange expression. ‘...What’s the deal with this Divine? I don’t even know her name!’  

Seeing Yasenia’s tail stiffening, the woman thought that she was embarrassed, so she gently pushed her back this time. “Go, go. I’ll see you later!” 

The woman flew off, and soon, a pillar of light appeared quite nearby.

‘...Well, whatever. If we find each other in a competition later, I guess I’ll get back at her.’ Yasenia didn’t hesitate anymore and stood on the platform.  

A pillar of light shot up into the sky, illuminating the place along with the rest. She moved her thoughts away from the blue-feathered Divine. 

‘Now that there are so many pillars, the chances of a large number of people coming here are slim. Moreover, with another platform nearby, if I show strength, they will rather fight the other woman.’

It didn’t take long before the first contender arrived. He was a human man from a sect Yasenia didn’t recognize. 

The man approached and spoke solemnly. “Get off, Dragon. I can sense that you are quite young.”

Yasenia’s eyebrows furrowed. ‘Again? Why can people suddenly tell my age? Even Star Forge was unaware of it.’ 

Thinking until then, Yasenia looked at the man and spoke. “If you tell me how you can tell that I am young, I will come down.”

The man showed a hint of surprise. “Really?” 

Yasenia nodded faintly. 

Then, the man spoke up. “It’s your soul aura. Your soul is very strong, so if I focus, I can tell that your soul is at least 4,000 years old or younger.” 

“Soul…?” Yasenia was startled and rubbed her smooth chin under her veil. “Why couldn’t people outside tell so easily?”

The man squinted. “That’s another question.”

But Yasenia snapped back. “Are you being so stingy to a junior?”

“... Sigh. This area appears to have intensified the aura of people's souls. If you focus, you will be able to tell as long as you have enough experience.”

Yasenia finally realized. “I see… Now you can leave. I am feeling merciful, so I won’t kill you if you do.”

“Huh?” The man frowned deeply. “Didn’t you say that you would get off? You are a dragon! Are you going to lie so blatantly?”

Yasenia sneered, showing a mocking expression. “I never promised, did I?”

“You!” The man’s face twisted, and his aura exploded outward. “I’ll make you regret this, Dragon! [Ashen Ember Intent Domain Level 3]!”

The sky darkened as everything around them was covered with a thick layer of ash and embers. 

Yasenia looked around and sneered. “[Tyrant Warlord Intent Domain Level 2].” 

BOOM!

The ash that was trying to envelop her surroundings was blasted outward, creating a no-ash zone around Yasenia. The strengths of both domains were mostly equal, even when they were at different levels. 

Yasenia summoned Draheart and pointed exactly to where the man was hiding. “Come. The platform is large enough for us to battle.”

The man snorted and rushed at Yasenia.  

Fylia, Ten Eyes Moon Qilin. Cecile's companion. (Colored Sketch)

Following her master's bearing, she wears blue and white with elegance and a noble bearing.

Chapter 1317. Getting Involuntarily Entangled.

When the Throne Cleansing Divine appeared, everyone became silent and looked toward the middle. 

Before the woman could speak, a man stepped forward. This man’s aura was equally powerful to the woman’s, and on his back, two large black, fleshy wings flapped leisurely.

The man was clearly a Demon Monarch, one of high status and strength. 

When Yasenia thought that these two would be the protagonists and speak, she saw another man step forward. He was tall and handsome with a profound aura as vast as the ocean. ‘A human from the [Astral Death Sect]... That’s unexpected.’ 

The Divine and Demon didn’t say anything, just glancing at the man once before looking away. The three people stood silently in the sky, close enough that a surprise attack would result in catastrophic consequences for the receiver. 

‘Who are they waiting for?’ Yasenia was curious, but she didn’t dare ask. The worst thing she could do at this moment was draw attention to herself. 

It was only five minutes later that a presence flew over from a distance. Yasenia was quick to pick up the presence because it felt extremely familiar. Looking over, she saw a gargantuan winged creature flying over and quickly shrinking.

Once the creature changed forms, a wild, muscular, and attractive man took his position by their side. 

Yasenia’s eyebrows rose faintly. ‘A Dragon. An extremely powerful one at that.’

The Dragon spoke, his voice mellow and attractive, with a hint of devilish charm. “Sorry for making you wait. Especially you, Lady Astarea. A beauty like you shouldn’t be made to wait.”

Yasenia’s lips twitched. ‘Well… He is a dragon. I guess being a player is expected. If I didn’t have my family and a heart to maintain it…’ Yasenia knew that without Tatyana teaching her since she was little, she would’ve probably been a relatively promiscuous dragon because of her almost unstoppable lust during her mortal years. 

Astarea didn’t even blink. Her golden eyes, matching her hair, moved among all the present people, and she spoke up. “It is clear that there are too many groups who want the [Star Breaker Realm Bead]. We need to agree on a method that won’t cause bloodshed.” 

The demon, with a bulging body over three meters tall, snorted once. “Just because you say that, it doesn’t mean that it needs to go that way.”  

His deep rumbling voice made even the bones tremble with it. 

Astarea looked upward with a flat expression. “What do you suggest? If the demons want an all-out war, we are not afraid to start it. Here, you don’t have any advantage, so I am confident in my demon-slaying abilities.”

The dragon crossed his arms and spoke. “You are all a pain. This is why we told you to settle it outside first. Now, with everyone having a similar level of strength, it is difficult to give it to any one person or faction.”

The demon looked at the dragon and scoffed. “What are you suggesting then, Dragon? That we should all back down because you have your eyes set on it?”

The dragon smiled confidently. “You seem to understand. This treasure, I fancy it. So, naturally, I will take it. I am the strongest creature here, so it is only natural that it must fall in my hands.”

The human spoke for the first time, his tone paced and calm. “There is a legend about this treasure. It says that the [Star Breaker Realm Bead] has the ability to choose its owner. How about leaving it to fate instead of fighting together?” 

Astarea looked at the man with a squint. “I don’t know what you are planning, human. But don’t even think about doing anything strange.”

The demon and dragon also looked at the human warily. 

Yasenia’s eyes widened slightly at this. ‘...Does the human faction have the advantage? It is very different from my mortal days… All three factions are wary of them.’ 

Taking a glance around, it was easy to understand why. Humans formed more than half of the numbers gathered here. In terms of sheer power, the human faction was clearly superior to the other three.

Thankfully for the Demon, Dragon, and Divine, humans were prone to creating enmities amongst themselves, so not all humans would fight together for the treasure as a collective.

Astarea continued after warning the human. “We, the Divine, are clearly the most just among all races. Even if we want to use the bead’s ability to choose its own owner, we should do it outside. If you all retreat and give the bead to us, we will create a proper tournament based upon the bead’s qualification standards.” 

The dragon sighed. “Astarea, I like you very much, but that’s too much. Do you think we are lacking in intelligence? Look at the human; he is looking as if your head is filled with feathers instead of anything valuable.”

Astarea’s calm eyebrows twitched twice, making Yasenia’s lips arch faintly. ‘That annoyed her. I thought she was an indifferent Divine, but she is only acting as one.’

Among all races, the Divines were probably the species with the fewest desires. Other than a strong desire to reproduce, they were indifferent to most matters. They also considered themselves bringers of justice, and, in many situations, they were truly fair. But naturally, when it really mattered, only a fool would trust them. 

The human stayed silent for a little while, listening to the three people discuss back and forth. After a while, he released a breath from his nose before speaking. “I didn’t expect to reach a proper conclusion, but at least I expected a more fruitful conversation. It seems that I will need to be a bit forceful.” 

The three non-human beings glared at the man, but it was too late. The human pointed at the shimmering bead below and threw a laser-like light onto it.

“You! What are you doing!?” 

“Human!” 

Yasenia’s face crumpled. She quickly took out a spatial teleportation talisman, but she couldn’t tear it. The space around her had been locked. It was already too late. Yasenia thought with a wry smile. ‘If I die like this, it will be so… anticlimactic.’ 

Light exploded from the bead, swallowing everything within hundreds of thousands of kilometers around it. The light could be seen from almost everywhere within the Secret Realm.  

A few seconds later, the light disappeared, and everyone who was around the [Star Breaker Realm Bead] also vanished with the light.

There was not a single person left. 

Yasenia felt her body floating somewhere before gravity took hold of her fall. Feeling the ground coming, but having her sight still blurred, she spread her wings and quickly softened the fall.

It was not that she would get hurt, but if there was danger below and she fell unsightly, she wouldn’t be able to respond quickly. ‘Carefully, carefully… Done.’ 

Thankfully, once her feet touched the ground, her vision returned. She quickly checked the surroundings, and she gasped. “What is this place…?”

She was in a seemingly endless rocky terrain. There were no trees or any other life in sight, and the terrain extended far beyond her sight.

What was worse was that, when she tried to spread her Spiritual Sense, her head started hurting after just a few kilometers. Compared to her true range, it was just a fraction of her ability. ‘Also… I need to check something.’ 

Yasenia jumped once, but nothing happened. ‘Hm…’

Her face was thoughtful, and she decided to fly upward. After she crossed one kilometer in the air, her sight turned white. ‘Aha. So I was right. I recovered my sight when I touched the ground, which means that flying is prohibited to some extent.” 

Her Spiritual Sense was unable to reach the floor from her current height, so flying at this altitude was basically useless. When she flew down, Yasenia didn’t recover her sight until she touched the ground. ‘That’s important information. When fighting, I must avoid being thrown into the sky. Pushing someone back a kilometer with my current strength is too easy if you are not careful.’ 

Yasenia tapped her chin while looking at her surroundings. “Well… I guess I need to start exploring. If we follow what the human said, we should be in a trial space of the [Star Breaker Realm Bead]. Now, the important question is, will everyone know that I got the bead if I complete these trials?”

If she couldn’t find information about it, she would be reluctant to get the bead. Imagine getting the bead, and suddenly, all the previous people reappear in their previous locations. Thinking about the gazes of the hundreds of cultivators made a chill run up Yasenia’s spine. ‘I might actually die.’

She was powerful, but not to the point that she could swagger around the Secret Realm without any care in the world.

“Well, nothing can be done if I stay still. Let’s travel in a single direction and see what happens.”

With that in mind, Yasenia stepped forward and began running. Her speed accelerated, reaching the peak in just a few seconds. ‘Alright. My strength is the same as when I was outside. Can I use my spatial ring?’

Her mind went to her hand, and she thought of retrieving a barrier talisman. As soon as she did, her mind felt a pinch, and nothing happened. A sigh escaped her lips. “Alright… Let’s think positively. I am sharing a realm with some old monsters. There is no way I have more treasures and life-saving methods than they do. So, this is a good thing. If I can’t use them, they can’t as well.”

Thankfully, Draheart, Dramel, and Soluna all lived in her Dantian, not her spatial ring. 

While she ran, the barren land filled with rocks didn’t change even when she ran at her full speed for an entire hour. ‘There is nothing here…’ 

Her eyes scanned everything, and soon, she found a clue. Her nose twitched, detecting a very faint scent of a treasure. Yasenia stopped running and closed her eyes. ‘Let’s see… The direction of the scent comes from…’ Her eyes opened, and her head turned to the right. ‘Over there.’  

She moved, her body easily gliding over the hard terrain thanks to her speed. 

When she arrived at the location of the treasure, Yasenia looked around, confused. “Hm…? Where is the treasure?”

Her sharp dragon eyes glanced around, and soon, she found something below her. “It’s… underground?”

Her energy surged, and she palmed the ground.

BOOOM!!

The rocks exploded outward, a crater opening below her. Around 200 meters from the surface, Yasenia noticed a large circular platform. 

“Congratulations. You’ve found the [Challenger Platform]. Please stay on the platform for 24 hours if you want to earn the right to participate in the ownership of the [Star Breaker Realm Bead]. If you don’t, you will be crippled for a month and returned to the surface.”

Yasenia’s beautiful face crumpled as if she had eaten a bug. “Fuck me.” 

Chapter 529. Preparation for the Flower Day Festival. [AotSC]

After the party, Dewna moved to her own room with Halthia, and then, the night happened. 

Morning came quickly, and Dewna walked down the stairs with a refreshed expression and clear eyes. She carried a sleepy and tired Halthia in her arms like a princess.

Verdantia was drinking her morning tea when she saw her eldest humanoid daughter walking down. Her eyes observed Halthia closely. The human girl was exhausted, her body filled with red marks; obviously, Dewna had had her fun with her. ‘I guess… as expected of an Alraune, Halthia is utterly drained.’

Her green eyes were faintly glowing, looking at the life essence of the human girl. It was exhausted to the limit before it became harmful. “Good morning, Dewna. How are you feeling?”

Dewna planted her flower half on the ground before the table and sighed comfortably. “I feel so relaxed. It was so fun!”

Verdantia could sense that Dewna didn’t develop any emotional attachment to Halthia in a romantic sense. When she looked at the human girl, it was similar to when someone gazed at a very good friend. That calmed Verdantia’s heart. ‘If an Alraune got attached easily to their food, it would be a problem. Like someone eating steak once and falling in love with it while giving up on the rest of the foods.’  

What Verdantia wanted was for her daughters to grow strong and healthy, so a varied diet was necessary. Moreover, Halthia’s life essence could be considered only good, not excellent. Still, she didn’t voice her more calculated thoughts. After all, she didn’t want to hurt Halthia’s feelings. 

“I am glad you had fun with Halthia, love. Remember to take care of her, okay? You’ve absorbed her life essence, so she will be tired for a few more hours.”

Dewna nodded readily. “Of course! That’s why I am carrying Halthia with me!”

Halthia yawned and opened her eyes. “Dewna…?”

“You are awake!” Dewna smiled at the girl, and Halthia rubbed her face against Dewna’s skin. 

“Yeah… So comfortable…”

Verdantia coughed once, just in case, and noticed the human girl jump a little and look sideways with shocked eyes. Seeing Verdantia, Halthia’s face turned red. “O-Oh. G-Good morning, Aunty Verdantia.” 

“Good morning to you too, Halthia,” Verdantia spoke softly, an elegant smile on her lips. “I hope Dewna was gentle yesterday. Do you feel discomfort?”

Halthia shook her head quickly. “N-Not at all! I feel comfortable and relaxed…” Halthia closed her mouth, feeling somewhat embarrassed. 

Verdantia didn’t mind. ‘It’s great that she feels this way. That way, she will show others that there is no danger. Many are watching for how things turn out, so Halthia’s mood and emotional state are very important. She looks great, even if tired. This is good enough.’

“That’s great. Remember that today you have to go to school in the afternoon.”

Dewna blinked, her bright pink eyes showing confusion. “Why? Isn’t today a rest day?”

Halthia, still held in Dewna’s strong and reassuring arms, spoke while fiddling with her fingers. “Dewna, remember that today is the flower-blooming day. The flowers we planted half a year ago will be blooming.”

It was a tradition to teach care to children. They would plant the same flower species and take care of it themselves. These flower species were somewhat fragile, so if taken care of carelessly, they would not bloom. The degree of blooming was also related to how well they were taken care of during the half year. 

It wouldn’t affect the grading of the students, but those who did badly in this test would often be looked down upon by other students. Naturally, where there was competition, there was trickery. 

But teachers and the <Lignified School> took care of it for the most part. Anything that slipped past them would not be influential enough to mess up the blooming of the flower species. 

Dewna remembered, her slightly slow mind recalling the event. “Ah! I almost forgot! I hope Little Dew blooms prettily!” 

“Little Dew?” Verdantia blinked, amused. 

“Yeah! Little Dew will bloom and become the prettiest! Even better than Eluan’s!” Dewna smiled proudly. Eluan was clever; a Farlune needed much more mental capability than an Alraune. After all, attracting females and males needed different strategies. 

Dewna placed Halthia on a chair by the table while talking with Verdantia. Halthia showed a disappointed expression for a second. ‘Ah… The nice-smelling and soft body is getting away…’ 

Remembering what she did yesterday, her face flushed again. 

Verdantia naturally ignored the colorful expressions of the girl who had just lost her innocence. She spoke calmly, her tone gentle and elegant. “Eat breakfast first. I will go with you to the event this time around.” 

“Oh! Mommy is coming!? That’s great!”

Dewna bounced in excitement. 

“Big Sister, what is great?”

A younger voice came from behind, and looking over, Dewna’s smile widened even further. “Fauna!” Her vines moved, and she quickly hugged her little sister. How are you feeling today, Fauna? I heard that yesterday you had your first monthlies!”

Fauna smiled happily, rubbing her face in her big sister’s softness. “I am great, Big Sister. Big Sister Green helped me lots!”

Fauna then went to give Verdantia a morning kiss and sat in her spot. The rest of the Alraunes came down one after another, greeting each other happily. 

Looking at the group of beautiful Alraunes, Verdantia’s lips arched with satisfaction. ‘My daughters are so pretty.’

When everyone sat at the table, the floor parted and Liu Shu’s roots appeared. All the girls showed excited expressions as the root dipped in their honey and released the sap. 

Halthia was stunned when she saw them show a blissful expression. Verdantia explained softly from the side. “Liu’er… Liu Shu, their mother, is feeding them directly. They need lots of nutrients, and sadly, I only have one body. I can’t feed all these girls even if I wanted to.” She teased, pushing her abundant chest forward. “I am big, but not that big.”

“I-I see.” Halthia couldn’t help but mutter in her heart. ‘No wonder Dewna and the others are so extraordinary in appearance… Lady Verdantia and Lady Heavenly Willow are true beauties envied by many.’ 

The group prepared, and soon, they gathered at the front of the house. 

Halthia followed the ground and noticed other groups walking out of the other tree houses at the side. ‘I noticed it yesterday but… Everyone is so beautiful.’ Her heart felt a touch of jealousy; it was unavoidable. Her appearance was not exceptional, after all. 

Suddenly, she felt her hand being grabbed and looked to the side and up. There, Dewna was smiling at her. “Let’s go! Aunty Wind will come pick all of us up.”

“Aunty… Wind?” Halthia couldn’t remember someone with such a simple yet unique name. 

While she was thinking, the sky above her darkened, and a powerful presence descended from the sky. Looking up, Halthia’s breath stagnated. She saw a serpent several hundred meters long, with wings stretching wide enough almost to cover the sky above them. ‘Arboreal Serpent!?’ 

Everyone in the Golden Sap Arborarchy knew about them. The reason was that many considered them the guardians of the Heavenly Willow. 

This particular Arboreal Serpent was grey-colored, with beautiful silver eyes and a streamlined body. Even then, it was gigantic, enough to hold hundreds of people on its back easily. Halthia saw Verdantia step forward with the other mothers.

“Wind, thank you again today.”

Wind’s slightly round face showed a touch of softness. She hissed gently and lowered her giant head. Only then did Halthia realize that the skin was far from resembling that of a regular snake. ‘It looks like polished, grey bark.’ 

Tempestria was particularly fond of the wind-attributed serpent for obvious reasons. Her hand reached out as she petted the Arboreal Winged Serpent. Wind didn’t avoid it, showing a hint of joy from her caresses. 

Speaking of Arboreal Winged Serpent names, there were so many that Liu Shu didn’t know how to organize them. Therefore, she came with a system. The strongest of each element would receive a title-like name. For example, Wind was a female serpent who was excellent at Wind Aether manipulation, far more than her peers. Therefore, she received that name. 

Halthia mounted on Wind’s back with trepidation, but thanks to Dewna holding her hand, her nervousness was bearable. Flying through the sky was an experience that made her heart pound.

During the flight, Eluan approached Dewna. “Sister, are you prepared to lose?”

Dewna ignored the smug, handsome boy and looked down instead. Then, she pointed at the large flower below. “Eluan, I’ll make sure to defeat you this time around! I used a secret weapon to make Little Dew bloom brighter than ever!”

Eluan chuckled, his handsome smiling face making Halthia blush. ‘F-Farlune’s are really attractive…’ While she knew in her head that the handsome man was something like a “tongue” and “eyes” of the creature, the passive pheromones and looks made her human brain squirm.

Eluan glanced at Halthia and nodded once before looking away and continuing to tease his sister. He wouldn’t flirt with or try to get his sister’s prey.

Harmonixia hugged the flower that held Eluan’s body and rained kisses on it. “Why is my handsome boy so smug and adorable?” 

Eluan’s handsome human face showed helplessness, looking at her mother and hugging her as well. “There, there. I love you too.”

Harmonixia lightly slapped Eluan’s body with a fake blush. “Oh, Eluan. You know that you can’t taste your mother! You are as perverted as always!”

Eluan’s sharp eyebrows trembled with annoyance. Clearly, this was not the first time he was teased this way.

His siblings sniggered from the side. Their mother would tease them playfully in that manner, and some of them would go along with it. Others just showed helplessness. 

Melody spoke from the side with a hint of laughter. “Don’t bother about your mother's antics, Eluan. You know how she is.” Then, she smiled. “I will be expecting to see a beautiful flower blooming today.”

Eluan’s facial expression relaxed as he showed a hint of a smile. “Yes, Grandma. I will show you one of the most beautiful blooms!” 

Even Melody’s mother was here, looking much younger than in the past. Liu Shu’s buffs had, in total, increased her lifespan by several hundred years. So, as vitality flowed within her body, the wrinkles mostly disappeared, recovering part of her previous beauty. For human comparison, she went from looking like an approachable 70-year-old lady to resembling a well-maintained 50-year-old madam. 

Tempestria was at the side, speaking with her Sylphaith daughters with a soft expression. “Don’t be nervous today, okay, babies? Mother will be there with you.”

Sylvia and the others nodded shyly. They were the most “monstrous” among all their siblings. After all, their excessively large eyes and belly mouth were somewhat shocking for many humanoids. This made them conscious of the gazes from others, resulting in reserved, shy, but gentle personalities. 

Sylvia, especially, being the Sylphaith that “broke the ice” for her species' resurgence, was the one who received the most awkward gazes. This had affected her confidence, but not so much that it was a problem.

After all, she was loved by all her family in her house, while her World Tree mother always kept her company when she felt depressed in an isolated place.

Overall, Sylvia would never feel that her childhood had been sad. She was very fond of all her memories, especially so when she remembered Tempestria and Liu Shu’s efforts to make her feel loved and welcomed.  

Meanwhile, Pyara and the other Sanguine Blazes were somewhat indifferent to other people. Their species was a source of fear for some, but the fear was different compared to the Sylphaiths. One was fearsome in appearance, while the other was fearsome in personality. 

Moreover, being naturally attached to their parents, they didn’t consider others as worthy of interaction. Of course, as time passed and as their parents taught them, they all tried to interact and fit in. Lately, some of them have had small groups of friends and interacted with them. 

Cinderielle looked at Pyara’s dazed face while looking at Liu Shu and sighed softly. She hugged her from behind and placed her chin on top of her flaming hair. “What are you thinking about, baby?”

“T-That…” Pyara was silent before muttering. “Sorry.”

“No. Don’t worry.” Cinderielle was stern, but she was also understanding. Pyara was basically fighting with her instincts. So, it was very difficult for her. ‘Thankfully, Liu Shu always blocked their inborn skills. Otherwise, who knows what the result would’ve been…’

She tightened the hug on her daughter and lowered her head to kiss Pyara’s cheek. “You know that your mother and I love you dearly, right? Don’t misinterpret my sternness as me not loving you.” Cinderielle spoke seriously. “For you, I can do almost anything.”

Pyara nodded, her face showing a soft and heartfelt smile. “Yes, I know, Mother.”

“Good.” Cinderielle smiled and looked at her other babies. “Come, come, don’t just look with such envious eyes.”

They giggled and jumped into Cinderielle’s arms, their flaming hair flowing beautifully with the wind.

While riding Wind’s back, the family made it to the Flower Day Festival. 

Chapter 528. A Blooming Dawn: Alraune's Coming Of Age Ceremony. [AotSC]

Another year went by, and a big celebratory occasion turned up. 

It was morning, and the light entered through the window to illuminate the room. The room was exotic, utterly different from a standard room. The most significant difference was the flooring. Instead of using wood, marble, or anything of that extent, the floor had a thick layer of dirt. 

The dirt was adorned with many plants, and the wooden walls had vines crawling up them. These walls weren’t entirely smooth; clearly, they were part of a greenish-colored tree. The curved ceiling was shaped in an inverted bell shape, but it was tall enough to feel spacious. There were around three and a half meters to the lowest point of the inverted semi-sphere.

The most interesting part was that, other than standard furniture like cupboards, mirrors, and tables, there was no bed. Instead, where the bed would’ve usually been, you could see an enchanting giant flower similar to a lotus. The petals were slowly opening up with the first rays of the morning sun, revealing the contents inside. 

The flower possessed crimson-tipped, pink leaves. Their softness was clear at a simple glance, making one think that they were made out of a velvety and pleasant material. 

When the petals finished opening, they revealed a breathtaking sight. A sleeping, naked woman was curled inside, half her body submerged in a honey-like substance that filled the place where the capitulum would usually be. Her long green hair, glossy and soft, extended on the flower petal she was using to rest her head. 

As the first rays of morning light gently shimmered on her pristine white skin, creating a golden glow, the woman stirred. Her closed eyes fluttered open like two butterfly wings, revealing light pink, moist, and dazed eyes.  

If one were to lay eyes on her current looks, their mind would be hit to the point of becoming stupid for her.

The dazed woman looked outside the window and yawned adorably once, speaking with a soft and cuddly voice. “Good morning, Big Sister Green.” 

A root poked from the ground, gently caressing the woman’s head. Then, a soft and gentle voice reached her. “Good morning, Dewna.” 

Green was a <Lignified>-type species that Liu Shu’s Avatar gave birth to. Therefore, her intelligence was much more developed than that of other similar trees. The <Lignified> tree species were intelligent amongst flora, similar to a trained pet. However, Green and her other three sisters surpassed that by far, being as intelligent as a young human. 

This level of intelligence far surpassed what their mother, the Heavenly Willow, had previously predicted. Even Violue, a simple flower-type creature, had enough intelligence to be comparable with an average <Lignified> tree species. 

Dewna’s body rose from her prone position, the honey-like substance sliding down her curvy body as if her skin were a hydrophobic surface. Even her hair remained untouched; this was due to a special oil her skin naturally created. 

Dewna looked around the room with her captivating cherry blossom-colored eyes. Then, thick thorny vines extended from below her flower-half. The roots dug out of the ground and slowly lifted her above the dirt. 

The surface of dirt was thick enough for Dewna to hide her flower-like lower half.

Once outside, she wiggled slightly, causing ripples to spread throughout her body. “Sleeping in my room is so comfy… I want to sleep longer.”

Green’s voice reached her, caring and soft. “You can’t, Dewna. Today is your special day, isn’t it? Do you want to make Mother wait?”

“I don’t!” Dewna spoke seriously, her radiant face looking adorable. “I’ll show you how I can wake up early!”

And so, putting some inhuman, or inalraunic… effort? Either way, with enough willpower, our pretty darling woke up, took a bath to clean her lower half of dirt, and then put on a pretty pink floral dress.

Moving her body in front of a wide and tall mirror, Alraune spun around three times and smiled, confident. “How do I look, Big Sister Green?”

“Beautiful. You are incredibly pretty, Dewna.” 

Hearing her big sister say that made Dewna’s alluring face light up with joy. “Hehe! Thank you, Big Sister! I also think Big Sister is super pretty!” 

Her somewhat childish tone didn’t really match her frankly erotic body, but it added an innocent allure that made her almost irresistible. Green and the other elders always felt that they had to be careful with Dewna. After all, she was too attractive. 

Green thought to herself while she woke up all her alraune little sisters. ‘Today, Dewna will be able to start hunting for prey. I don’t know why Mother and the others decided 18 was the age of choice since Alraune matured at the age of 11… Well, it doesn’t really matter. I’ll follow Mother Verdantia and Mom’s wishes.’ 

Being a responsible big sister and caretaker, Green had studied books about Alraunes deeply in her free time. Being Liu Shu’s child, she had a very diluted version of <World Tree Wisdom> as a skill. It was called <Lignified Wisdom (A Rank)>. The function was similar to <World Tree Wisdom>, but with fewer perks.

Overall, it increased her learning speed and ability to retain information. Without it, Green doubted if her intelligence would’ve been even half as good as it was now. 

As Green observed her little sisters waking up, she caringly guided the smallest ones through their morning routines, helping them with their morning bath, clothing, and personal hygiene. As young Alraunes, they needed to take care of a few things, such as irritation, the first few symptoms of menstruation, and similar issues.

This morning, coincidentally, something like that happened. 

While Green was checking on them, she saw one of the younger ones stopping. 

This younger Alraune, aged eight but still looking like a 16-year-old, had purplish eyes and jade-green hair. ‘Why did Fauna stop?’ 

Fauna had frozen mid-step, a puzzled frown appearing on her face. “Huh…? That felt… warm?”

She shifted a little and pressed her thighs together, confused. “Weird… It’s not like when I need to pee…”

Curiosity winning over hesitation, she glanced down but couldn’t see past her chest. With a small huff, she used her hands to part the soft mounds in her way. What she saw made her blink in shock. There was a thin red trail pooling on the honey below.

Her eyes widened. “Eh!? Am I bleeding?” Her tone carried more surprise than fear, her brows scrunched in innocent confusion.

Green noticed at once, her tone softening. “Ah, Fauna. Don’t worry. It’s not bad. That just means you’re growing up.” She pointed gently toward a drawer on the right with one root. “Go there with your vines; I’ll help you.”

Fauna hesitated, cheeks flushing faintly. But when she heard her big sister’s gentle urging, she nodded and chirped. “O-Okay, Big Sister!” The anxiety slipped away as quickly as it had come, replaced by her usual brightness.

After taking care of the morning problem, Green refocused on Dewna. Today was her coming-of-age ceremony, so the party held in Green’s garden needed to be perfect! 

‘Let’s see… The food is prepared, and her first prey is also prepared. I have already informed Mom, Red, and the others. Grandma Melody, Grandma Verena, and the others should also be on their way.’ 

As she thought about things, a presence as vast as the sky above her surrounded her tenderly. “Baby, how are things? Do you want my help, dear?”

Feeling her World Tree mother’s presence made Green feel an array of positive emotions: excitement, love, calmness, the feeling of being protected… Green relished in her mother’s existence as she answered. “Yes, Mom. Everything is done.”

She heard her mother’s gentle and ethereal voice again, somewhat doubtful. “Was it a good idea to prepare Dewna’s first prey…? Honestly, I still feel that Dewna should hunt by herself the first time. What if she grows reliant?”

Green understood her mother’s worries. Nevertheless, she didn’t feel the same. “Mother, I think that the most important thing is making sure that little sister and the others are not considered a predatory species… even when they are as such. Additionally, framing their first “prey” as voluntary will make it more difficult for others to accuse them falsely.”

“Wow~.” Liu Shu exclaimed with a laugh. “You are so clever, baby! I love you lots. Okay, I won’t worry anymore then.”

Green was a bit embarrassed. After all, what she said was not entirely her idea. She had heard Verdantia say something similar in the past, so she was merely parroting what she heard. Still, since she understood the sentence, she didn’t feel that uncomfortable about taking credit. 

‘Dewna’s first prey is one of her female friends. Mother Verdantia didn’t want Dewna to accidentally fall pregnant so soon, so she asked Little Sister’s female friends instead of her male friends. Dewna was also fond of the human girl, so I guess that there won’t be any problems…’ 

Everyone gathered in the garden, and among all the plant-related people, there was one human girl with a stiff expression. Her face was ordinary—shoulder-length brown hair, dark eyes, and a dusting of freckles across her nose that lent her a quiet cuteness. Her body was slender, though not without softness in the right places.

Overall, she looked like a next-door lovable girl. 

Verdantia, standing by her side, chuckled and spoke gently. “Halthia, don’t be so tense. While you are being looked at as if you were a snack, they won’t try to eat you… probably.”

Halthia looked up at the tall woman while twisting her fingers. She had been Dewna’s friend for a long time, as she knew her from the private school that Liu Shu opened. This school was restricted to the children of people with influence. It was an elite school, so to speak.

In this way, Liu Shu could easily excuse being overly protective of the school and keeping a constant eye on her attending children.

Halthia was the daughter of a governor of a World Tree city far north. The World Tree in that city was a Level 54 World Tree. Neither too high nor too low for a World Tree. Still, being one of the 32 World Tree Cities on the continent, it was natural for her status to be high.

Even then, her personality was somewhat shy. The freckles were rare in humans, and they caused her to suffer a bit of bullying. If it weren’t for Dewna finding them cute and getting along with Halthia, the girl’s life would’ve been much more complex.

Therefore, Halthia felt very grateful and indebted to the gorgeous Alraune. 

When Verdantia came to her to ask about becoming Dewna’s first willing “prey,” she was internally delighted. With this, she could at least pay back a bit of her emotional debt to the innocent yet alluring woman. 

‘Also… Being Dewna’s prey means doing… that. Right?’ Her face flushed red, her mind going to pink places. ‘D-Did I bathe enough? I made sure to clean myself thoroughly… W-Will we be able to clean our bodies b-b-before that?’ 

Verdantia’s words snapped her out of her fantasies. “Dewna, baby! You look incredible!”

Halthia looked over, and her eyes widened. The Alraune walking down with her thorny vines could be described with one word: Enthralling. 

Long, smooth green hair; enchanting pink eyes; smooth, glossy white skin; and a body with vertigo-inducing curves. All that beauty adorned in a finely crafted pink floral dress. ‘N-No wonder that everyone in school calls her the flower of the school… She is truly pretty.’ 

Dewna interacted with everyone with a bright smile, her gentle personality shining through. After a bit, Halthia saw Dewna’s pink eyes land on her, and her body tensed. The Alraune smiled softly at her; it was a smile slightly different from usual that made her spine tingle with unknown emotions. 

“Halthia…” Dewna approached, leaning down and extending her arms to hug her. “Thank you. I’ll make sure you are happy.” 

Halthia’s face burned crimson, hotter than she’d ever felt before. ‘O-Oh, Willowy Branches Above, I-I think that I won’t be the same after today.’ 

Chapter 1316. [Star Breaker Realm Bead].

The island was comparatively large, but that didn’t make it safer, though. More space meant that more powerful beasts could take more territory within it. Yasenia was not worried about it. After all, her own bloodline and strength made it so that other beasts would not come in her way. 

Only very few beasts with high-bloodline levels would dare attack her. Naturally, if Yasenia tried to steal a treasure they were guarding, those truths would change.

When she arrived near the shore, the dragoness could sense dozens of auras approaching like hers. ‘This will be quite a mess. The number of cultivators is quickly increasing. If the treasure takes too long to appear, it will not be about individual prowess but group strength.’

When she thought about it deeply, her mind became calm. ‘I have a few cards I can play. Even if I can’t get the main treasure, I might be able to make a decent profit either way.’ 

Yasenia streaked through the dense jungle, her aura acting as a deterrent for beasts. It only took her a few seconds to arrive at the location of the treasure. 

Nevertheless, when she was approaching, many auras came crashing down from all directions. 

“HALT!”

Yasenia complied but secretly took out a [Profound Energy Shield Talisman]. When she stopped, she noticed three people appearing in front of her. 

The two men and one woman wore white robes with orange edges. The mix of colors was somewhat tacky, but the design made them look classy and pleasant. Yasenia’s eyes flashed when she saw such a characteristic design. ‘They are from the [Radiant Flow Sect].’

Thinking of Lidia, she decided to act properly with them. Her aura softened slightly, and she bowed once. “Seniors of the [Radiant Flow Sec], I am Yasenia Dravory. I came here after noticing the spike in energy; there are many others coming in this direction.” 

With this, she presented her identity and also warned the three of them that she was not the only one coming. It was clear to any person with some intelligence that she was trying to be amicable with them.

The leader of the group noticed and nodded. “We know. Sadly, we are not the only ones here. We’ve called for reinforcements, but it will take a while for them to arrive.” After looking at Yasenia’s calm golden slit eyes, the man spoke carefully. “If you don’t mind, would you like to ally with us until then? We could make some use of fellow daoist Yasenia’s strength. Of course, we won’t be stingy and compensate you after the fact.” 

Yasenia would usually not accept that kind of offer. She preferred to watch from a distance and extend her claws when opportunity arose. Nevertheless, her intention of making friends with the sect was more prevalent. ‘My chances of getting this treasure are slim either way. I might as well focus on my second objective.’ 

“That would be my pleasure,” she then added with a smile. “Still, my compensation will not be cheap.” 

The woman behind the man crossed her arms and smiled faintly, her look challenging. “That would be the case as long as you make some kind of contribution. Do you think you can make enough to back up those words?” 

The dragoness didn’t notice malice, but more competitiveness from her. Therefore, she matched the woman’s look. “Words mean nothing in this situation. I’ll speak with my actions later.” 

“Ho~?” The woman raised her willowy eyebrow and nodded. “That’s great. I am Meng Lihua, the [Radiant Flow Sect]’s Right Protector. This stubborn man over here is Ma Tianhao, the Left Protector.”

Yasenia’s eyes flashed with hidden surprise. ‘Protector? They must be near the peak of the Transcendence Realm outside of the sect. For someone of this caliber to have entered the Secret Realm… Were they aiming for this treasure?’

“Oy. Did you forget about me, Lady Meng?”

The woman gave the slender and playful-looking man a side glance. “No. Knowing you, the second I present you, you will try to flirt with Yasenia. I would rather have an extra ally than gain an enemy.” 

The man started sweating. “L-Lady Meng, I might be a woman-loving man, but I am righteous in my lust! Only beautiful and willing girls will end up gently hugged in my embrace!”

Yasenia’s lips twitched, a faint chuckle escaping her. ‘He speaks like Evelyn. A fun character.’ 

“Oh!” The man heard Yasenia’s very covered chuckle, and his eyes glittered. He went to one knee, extending his hand forward. “Gorgeous lady. My honored name is Chen Youle! This little one is mesmerized by your laugh, voice, and beauty. Please, let me pursue you!”

Meng Lihua deadpanned at him, sighing and speaking to Yasenia. “Forgive him. He is usually like that.”

Yasenia didn’t mind. He was direct, but his gestures were clearly measured and at a distance so that she didn’t feel uncomfortable. ‘Hm. Perhaps it is because his personality resembles Evelyn, but I don’t really hate it.’

Yasenia spoke while shaking her head. “Do not mind much, Lady Meng. I am desensitized to people’s pursuits. His way of doing it is refreshing and amusing compared to the grand majority.” 

Chen Youle’s eyes twitched. ‘A-Amusing…’ 

Meng Lihua’s lips arched faintly. “I see. Then that’s alright.”

The man, Ma Tianhao, spoke solemnly. “Those annoying guys are here as well.”

The other two looked where the man was looking, and Yasenia finally had a chance to look around. The first thing she checked was the people Ma Tianhao was wary of.

‘Demonic sect people.’

A single look was all it took. They were gaunt, with sickly pale skins, and a dark Yin aura surrounded their bodies. “Who are they? They feel like someone from a sect that deals with souls.”

“Oh?” This time, the indifferent Ma Tianhao showed a glint of interest. “That’s an accurate statement. They are from the [Ghost Flame Sect]. The six people you are seeing there are all quite powerful outside the sect… I didn’t expect them to get information about this item as well.”

‘Ghost Flame Sect… That’s one of the sects that Mo Yun and Star Forge told me to be wary of…’ 

Yasenia looked towards the middle to check on the treasure. 

In the middle of a cleared area, a fist-sized yellow bead floated quietly above the ground. This bead was emitting powerful Star Energies, distorting the space around it. Yasenia squinted her eyes. ‘That bead… It’s a truly powerful treasure. It is at least a Supreme-ranked treasure… It might be even higher.’

“May I ask what that treasure is?”

Chen Youle looked at Yasenia strangely. “You… Have you been in secluded cultivation for ten thousand years? First, you don’t know the [Ghost Flame Sect], and now you don’t know about the [Star Breaker Realm Bead]?”

Yasenia was startled at the name. She commented lightly, ignoring his first sentence. “That sounds imposing. What does it do?” 

Her gaze was fixed on Chen Youle, showing a bit of feminine softness as she asked. The man’s heart tickled at Yasenia’s gaze, and he opened his mouth to speak. “W-Well, that bead is—”

“Don’t run your tongue.” Ma Tianhao spoke up, glancing at Yasenia. “Don’t tempt him.”

‘Hm… If it doesn’t work on the man…’

After thinking for a moment, Yasenia nodded at Tianhao and then showed an openly disappointed expression. Even her proud swishing tail flopped on the ground behind her. 

Meng Lihua saw the tail flopping and laughed softly. “You don’t need to be so sad…” She looked at the tall and indifferent man. “It’s not a secret either way. Tianhao, I am going to tell her.”

“... Do as you please.” 

Yasenia’s lips arched below her veil. ‘I didn’t expect him to be so easy to convince through the woman… Is he romantically attracted? That would explain it. At least, I have confirmed that their relations are not simple. Moreover, the woman seems to hold the reins of that relationship.’

“Thank you, Lady Meng.”

Meng Lihua smiled back. “Don’t be so stiff. Since you are with us, and I can tell that you are quite a young dragon. How about you call me Sister Meng?”

Yasenia showed a proper junior appearance and nodded, purposely revealing a barely detectable admiration. “I will, Sister Meng.”

“Great.” Satisfied, the woman began explaining. “That [Star Breaker Realm Bead] is the artifact that made the past [Broken Star Sect] so powerful. It is a bead with a trial inside. This trial is available for all creatures up to the third level of the Transcendence Realm. If you overcome the trial, you can receive guidance from an expert in your energies, affinities, etc. It’s a miraculous treasure that any sect would want.”

Yasenia felt that the story about this bead didn’t end there. However, Meng Lihua had already revealed some functions, so pushing here would only make her appear rude and inconsiderate. 

“Thank you, Sister Meng! I can understand why seniors such as yourself have come to the Secret Realm now.”

Chen Youle nodded twice. “Right, right. There are also other treasures… Basically, the seven fragments of the Broken Star Inheritance. I heard that there is an Immortal Battle Formation—”

“Chen Youle.” Ma Tianhao glared at the man. “Your mouth can fit whales inside. Since it is so big, close it for a while.” 

Yasenia held back her laughter. She didn’t expect the serious man to stab Chen Youle with words so harshly. 

After learning about the situation, Yasenia planned in her head how to benefit the most in this situation. ‘Can I somehow get the item? Probably not…’ There was a hint of greed in her heart. But she understood that the situation must align perfectly if she wanted to get it.

The first and most important condition was that no one found out she had the treasure. Unless that first condition was checked out, Yasenia didn’t dare to get this treasure-shaped calamity. 

While waiting, the treasure was emitting increasingly stronger energy waves. It was clear that the treasure was up to something. ‘...It won’t explode, right?’ 

Stealthily taking a look at the three seniors, she didn’t notice any nervousness. This allowed her to relax. 

‘I wonder how I can bring out information about Lidia from them? Asking directly is too suspicious. I guess I’ll have to use indirect methods… The figurine I bought will come in handy.’

While she was pondering, she felt several presences approach—they were other people of the [Radiant Flow Sect]. 

“Right Protector! Left Protector! We are here!”

Around 12 people, all Transcendence Realm powerhouses, landed by their side.

‘Compared with the rest, they are not lacking at all. The groups I can detect all consist of ten to twenty Transcendence Realm cultivators.’

She could also see the [Astral Death Sect], but she decided to ignore them for now. While she was pondering, she saw a woman step forward.

This woman’s beauty was extraordinary, and behind her, two pairs of beautiful, white, feathered wings shone brightly. ‘That’s… a Throne Cleansing Realm Divine. I didn’t see them, so I expected them not to appear. I guess they just don’t like to do things publicly.’ 

Chapter 527. Family Development and Challenges. [AotSC]

While the dungeon was being created, Liu Shu’s personal fruit production came to a halt. It was not that big of a problem, though. After all, unlike before, she wasn’t the only one who could produce fruit. All her <Lignified> species had the ability to develop the same berries. If anything, the quality was the problem.

Instead of worrying about that, Liu Shu decided to rest. She was mentally and physically drained. Her gaze moved towards Red, Green, Grey, and Purple, where all her children had been growing. 

Dewna, the eldest among her children, was approaching adulthood. When Liu Shu began her Level Up, she was 6 years old. Now, after the war, the little girl had grown beautifully into a mature lady. ‘She will have her 17th birthday soon. Should I prepare something for her?’ 

Like she had expected, Dewna’s intelligence was slightly lacking. That didn’t mean that she was stupid, but complicated mental processes didn’t come easily to her. If she had to compare it, Dewna had the intelligence of an average 9-year-old human child. Nine-year-olds were surprisingly clever, but there were natural limitations. 

Of course, our World Tree didn’t care at all. Even Violue, Harmonixia’s “office plant” child, was taken care of and loved by the family. 

‘What would Dewna like as a present…’ Thinking about the last seven years, Liu Shu knew that she had been a bit detached from her family. Even with her ability to multitask, maintaining a warring state while keeping a check on her entire domain to avoid any breaches was really tiring.

As time passed, her subconscious developed and assisted her with the menial tasks. For example, if she needed around a fifth of her focus to check her domain, that focus was now at around fifteen percent. While it only reduced by five percent, her domain had become almost three times larger. This showed that her efficiency was developing at an accelerated pace.

Her gaze swept the living area, checking on her children. The numbers had grown a lot during the last years of the war. To keep her calm, Tempestria and the others almost constantly mingled with her Avatar. This meant that there was virtually no rest between pregnancies. 

Her birthrate was at a child every 4 to 5 months, so by now, she was the mother of over 25 children. Among these children, there were nine <Alraunes>, six <Farlunes>, six <Sylphaiths>, and four <Sanguine Blazes>. 

‘With this, I have confirmed that each of my lovers does indeed have some genetics similar to these Alraune species. It is because of my nature as a World Tree that I am bringing those characteristics to light and therefore giving birth to them… Now, the question is, why am I not having Sylvan children?’

This was a matter of puzzlement for our World Tree. It was not that she was actively preventing it. On the contrary, when having intercourse, she didn’t control her bodily functions at all. Whatever happened when her dears… pollinated her, that would be the resulting child. Yet, to her confusion, only the Alraune-related species were born.

Liu Shu thought for a bit and was tempted to ask Wisdom. But, after a while, she shook her head. “I would rather things develop naturally when speaking of my children. My babies are all adorable and lovely, so I can’t complain now, can I?”

Seeing the twenty children play together, Liu Shu’s soul felt a surge of warmth and peace. The sensation was somewhat different when she saw the humanoid children compared to her tree children. Not worse, only different. 

If interacting with her tree children was like a gentle wind during a warm summer, talking to her humanoid children was like entering a refreshing spring on a hot day.

Pyara stopped what she was doing and looked up with eyes that glittered and seemed to reflect only Liu Shu. “Mom.”

Her quiet yet lovely call made Liu Shu laugh. ‘Among all my children, Pyara is probably the most sensitive to my presence. She is usually quite silent, but her entire being is expressive and adorable.’

The others stopped playing and looked up at the gargantuan World Tree. After reaching Level 99, Liu Shu had already climbed to a height of 6,237 meters. Thanks to her ridiculous size, her actions were easily spotted from anywhere in the city. So, all the children could see that the giant World Tree had turned her head and was looking down at them.

The gorgeous face of their World Tree mother, with eyes glowing with vitality and love, made all of them grow radiant smiles. 

“Mom is awake!”

“Mommy! Mommy! Today I learned addition! I answered seven out of ten questions correctly!”

“Mama, when can we go to the <Core Room>? I want to hug Mommy’s Avatar…” 

“Mom! I reached Level 2 today! Can I have a hug?”

The voices of her children echoed together in a chorus of voices that one would normally fail to understand. Of course, that was not the case for super World Tree mom. Using her telepathy abilities, she answered all her children simultaneously. 

“Yes, love. I am awake.”

“Really!? My baby is so clever! I will give you a hundred kisses later as a reward~.”

“You just need to ask your mother, Harmonixia, dear.”

“Wow! Level 2 already? My baby is super talented~.”

Among the children, she reached out to Dewna with extra care. “Love, your birthday is going to happen soon. Do you want something from Mommy?” 

Dewna had grown to represent the <Alraune> species extremely faithfully. The half-flower, half-woman was tall and curvy with milky white skin, soft curves, and moist pink-colored eyes that seemed to drip with honey. Her every gesture was a lethal trap for those who looked, regardless of gender, and her thighs and waist were plump and luscious. 

Even with the modest leaf dress she was wearing, her body exuded an allure difficult to resist at a glance. The number of pursuers that Dewna already had numbered in the thousands, and that was only from her two or three public appearances with her mother, Verdantia. 

‘Ah! My Dewna is so pretty!’

The eldest Alraune spoke, her tone light like a floating leaf, and mellow like the rustling of leaves. “Mom, I saw a pretty doll in a shop the other day. Can I have it?”

“Of course!” Liu Shu didn’t even hesitate for a single microsecond. “I’ll get the money from the <Vault>, baby. On your birthday, you will need to come to my <Core Room> to collect it, though. That way, I can pamper you lots as well! Hehe.”

Dewna smiled prettily, her cheeks showing a faint blush of happiness. “Thank you, Mom!” Then, she spoke with a shy face. “Also, I am a bit hungry…”

As an Alraune, the girl naturally needed fluids to eat and get nutrients in the best way. Fluids with high amounts of life force were the best. Liu Shu didn’t hesitate when her child asked. One of her roots poked out of the ground and gently dipped into the honey-like substance below the Alraune’s thighs. Then, Liu Shu opened her root forcefully and poured her sap into the honey-like substance. 

Dewna hummed and trembled, her eyes glazing as Liu Shu’s nutritious sap mixed with her honey. Her body instinctively started producing other substances, but the poor girl couldn’t control that reaction. It was, after all, part of her species’ nature. 

After a few seconds, the root retreated back underground, leaving Dewna panting and with a flushed face and teary eyes. 

Sylvia and others noticed, and they all started saying that they were hungry. Of course, Liu Shu didn’t deny any of her children and quickly fed them all.

The previous garden filled with children’s laughter became silent, all of them looking ahead with dazed expressions and blissful eyes. To say that Liu Shu’s sap was delicious was an understatement. As a Level 99 World Tree with incredible potential and powerful life force increasing passives, a single drop of her sap was comparable to the life force a single human male could produce.  

Harmonixia and the others approached from a distance, confused as to why their children had stopped causing a ruckus. When they saw their state, they instantly understood. Verdantia chuckled. “Liu’er, you are here. Did you feed them?”

“Yes.” Liu Shu answered calmly. Feeding her children was her responsibility as their mother, so there was no awkwardness at all. After all, she wasn’t really touching any strange places.

Harmonixia looked at the large group and sighed. “We already have quite the troops. Dewna is already reaching her coming-of-age ceremony. Lian’er, will you block her from getting prey by herself? You can’t continue to feed her for her entire life, can you?”

“... I know.” Liu Shu sighed. “I will not stop Dewna if she wants to try hunting. Of course, the prey must be willing; we have not been teaching them all these years to fail when it matters. If she finds a suitable prey and wants to take him or her home, we should accept it after making a few background checks.” 

The four of them smirked at that last sentence. ‘As expected.’ 

When they started their family with Liu Shu, they expected her to be a hands-free mother, not in the bad sense, but in the sense of allowing her children to do as they pleased within certain limits. However, as time passed, they seemed to have underestimated the World Tree’s protectiveness for her children!    

While they talked, Cinderielle stepped forward, her face looking as if she expected something. Pyara’s body suddenly tensed, her eyes rolling up as she became limp. Before she fell to the ground, her mother picked her up. 

“You… Sigh.” Cinderielle shook her head, looking at Pyara with a complicated expression. “I have really tried, but nothing has worked.”

Pyara’s eyes slowly regained focus, and she saw Cinderielle’s face. Her languid expression hardened, her blood-red eyes regaining their focus instantly. “M-Mother.”

Cinderielle squinted. “When will you understand? I know that among all the children, you are probably the smartest. So don’t try to act stupid like in the past.”

Pyara looked sideways, feeling somewhat guilty. “I-I didn’t do anything wrong.” 

“No?” Cinderielle snorted and pointed down. “You are leaking fountains.”

Pyara jumped and looked down, only to see that Cinderielle had slightly exaggerated. There was only a very small wet patch on her clothes. “T-That’s only natural! My other sisters and brothers are similar!”

Cinderielle’s eyes squinted, and she pulled Pyara’s cheeks. “Do you think I don’t know that your clothes are secretly made so they don’t absorb moisture easily!? You cheeky girl, your mother will always be only your mother, understood!?” 

Pyara pouted with teary eyes, and she spoke piteously. “It hurts…”

Liu Shu couldn’t bear it and used her roots to snatch Pyara away. “Cinderielle, enough… Aren’t you being a bit too harsh?”

Cinderielle rolled her eyes. “Harsh? She still has to receive her butt-smacking later. And I won’t take a no for an answer! Until she stops reaching… well, high places just because she tasted your sap, I will not stop. If she still refuses to learn…” Her eyes turn slightly stern. “I will prohibit you from feeding her.”  

Pyara’s eyes widened as she tightly hugged Liu Shu’s roots. “N-No! I know, so don’t stop Mommy from feeding me!”

The other three Sylvans gazed at these everyday interactions with expressions of helplessness. Among all the children, the <Sanguine Blazes> were the most problematic. After all, their instinct pushed them to love their birth mother somewhat… strongly. 

They had done an outstanding job with the other three thanks to Pyara’s influence. They understood the hierarchy among them and properly used it. If even the “eldest” was unable to get what they wanted, then they had absolutely no chance at all, suppressing most of their instincts. However, Pyara, being the strongest and most emotionally intelligent, and also spending the most time out of everyone with Liu Shu, had grown extremely attached to her mother.  

It was an open secret that everyone knew. Liu Shu knew as well, but she couldn’t treat her child coldly, so she could only hope that she’d grow out of it someday in the future. 

Chapter 1315. A Deal With The Thousand Pills Verdant Pavilion.

Yasenia and the group of six cultivators from the [Thousand Pills Verdant Pavilion] moved to a safer place. Yasenia didn’t stop her transformed state, maintaining her dragon form. This form had greater defense than her humanoid form, which made her feel more secure against sneak attacks.

“Before we start, let me introduce myself.” The middle-aged man spoke calmly, neither servile nor overbearing. “I am Lan Shuyuan, Lan Qingsu’s granduncle. My cultivation outside of the Secret Realm is the eighth Level of the Transcendence Realm, and my position is an elder of the seventh pavilion.”

Yasenia nodded faintly. “I am Yasenia Dravory. Currently, I am staying as a guest elder in a weak sect, so I won’t get involved in naming it. You can consider me a rogue cultivator.”

Her words came as a surprise. After all, even if someone didn’t have any background, they wouldn’t say it aloud. This gave the people with more strength the ability to just silence the weaker party. 

In short, Yasenia had placed herself in a disadvantageous position on purpose. ‘What is her objective?’ Lan Shuyuan asked himself, unaware of what the dragon wanted to achieve with those words. 

Nevertheless, he didn’t falter. “What you want is the Profound Blazeflower. It is a plant that will help one of our elders by creating the Purification Blazepower.”

Yasenia spoke up. “Nevertheless, this is not a permanent fix. Only a temporary patch on a broken jar. The cracks will eventually reopen without proper fixing.”

“You are correct.” The man didn’t feel flustered. “However, that time is something we need if we want to find a perfect fix. At the rate things are developing, the elder we want to protect doesn’t have much lifespan left.”

Yasenia asked. “I understand that, since you are a sect that focuses on alchemy, your medical experts are superb. Therefore, I won’t doubt your words and will take them at face value. Nevertheless, that doesn’t take away from your grandniece stealing from me.”

Her words were true. While the other side might’ve found the treasure first, she didn’t stay in place and guard it. That was Lan Qingsu’s mistake, and no one could deny it. Then, Lan Qingsu stealing the flower from her very hands was not only a lack of respect and a show of arrogance, but it also reflected poorly on the overall reputation of the [Thousand Pills Verdant Pavilion].

Lan Qingsu spoke up, somewhat flustered and not wanting to take her words lying down. “I didn’t steal it! I needed the tools to take it out of the ground without damaging it. You just came in the time I took to get those tools.”

Yasenia’s golden eyes shifted slightly to look straight at her. “If I were you, I would’ve called for someone to guard the flower. At least, if someone came with the intention of getting it by force, you would have the qualifications to defend your treasure. But you didn’t. If I were flying around and acting like you, I could claim that all the treasures that enter my sight are mine and no one else's. And, if anyone dares to take them, I’ll snatch them back.”

The comparison was a bit of an exaggerated statement, but it worked to illustrate the problem at hand. Lan Shuyuan wanted to speak, but Yasenia stepped up before him. “I am not asking for the flower. I’ve already come to terms with the fact that I am not fated to have that treasure. Still, what your grandniece did is wrong, so I want compensation. I will not ask for a flower of the same value because I want to give your sect face. However, I want something that will not shame your sect’s reputation.”

With those words, Yasenia effectively blocked all paths. She first laid out her willingness to give up the treasure, and then involved the entire sect in her trade. If the aftermath of the exchange results in a low-level and useless treasure being used to exchange for the Profound Blazeflower, then it would be a stain and a shameful event for them. It would show that the people of the sect don’t really care about fairness, making future trades slightly more difficult. 

Yasenia could play many cards this way, even if she had no background.

Lan Shuyuan’s eyes flashed, understanding the implications of Yasenia’s words. “... Alright. I understand. Still, I have another proposal for you.”

Yasenia got thoughtful. She knew that he was about to bring up her previous willingness to try to treat that person in exchange for the Blazeflower. However, Yasenia wouldn’t just accept that condition; it was too unfavorable for her. “I’ll listen, Lord Lan.” 

“I can guess that you have some knowledge in the art of medicine since you previously spoke about helping us with the illness. However, I have never heard your name, and I also can’t smell the scent of herbs on your body. This means that you are not an avid alchemist.” 

Words like that were to bring down Yasenia’s self-evaluation a peg. Then, he struck again. “Therefore, we can’t accept your claims at face value. Not to speak, with your lack of background, the fact that I am giving you enough face and discussing matters should be taken into account.” He squinted. “Remember that, worst-case scenario, we can just get rid of you.”

Yasenia’s lips arched coyly. ‘He fell for it. I did well reminding him about my lack of background.’   

“Oh~? So the [Thousand Pills Verdant Pavilion] is one that refuses to make deals with rogue cultivators. I expected a sect that sells pills to have rogue cultivators as its main customer base. I guess… I was wrong.”

Selling pills to sects was profitable, but comparing the number of people in sects with the number of unaffiliated cultivators was ridiculous. There were many more unaffiliated cultivators than normal ones. Not because they didn’t want to, but because sects had standards of taking “above average” people.  

What did this mean? All people who were “average” and below were not even considered worthy of being enrolled. This left far more than half of the cultivation population free.

These rogue cultivators could then have some fortuitous encounter and become a powerhouse that was rejected by a sect. Creating neutral parties, mercenary groups, merchant caravans, and many more powers. 

So, the customers that bought the most from alchemy sects were not other sects but rogue cultivators and the neutral powers that lacked strong connections.

To put it simply, sects were a cake where all sects ate from and had clear boundaries, while the rogue powers were a larger cake placed in a buffet. 

Hearing Yasenia’s words was naturally unpleasant for Lan Shuyuan. If it was known that their sect didn’t treat rogue cultivators fairly, their sales would plummet. 

“... I understand. However, your words have nothing to do with qualifications. It’s not that we aren’t willing because of your background, but that your lack of background makes you unreliable.”

Yasenia naturally understood this as well. “That’s why I will offer you the following. When visiting this elder, I will be under the supervision of your medical practitioners. My strength is low, so if I dare do something strange, you can all kill me right away before I complete any scheme. Moreover, you should understand that I am not someone who treats my own life lightly. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have faced all of you like I have.”

Everyone was silent. It was the truth, after all. 

Yasenia added. “So, to decide on how to deal with the Blazeflower, I recommend that we postpone it until the Secret Realm ends. Once it ends, I will go as a guest to your esteemed sect, and I will try to treat the ailment that afflicts your sect elder. If I am unable to, I will receive normal compensation.”

Lan Shuyuan asked, his eyes squinted. “And if you can?”

Yasenia’s reptilian mouth arched in a grin. “We can talk about that when it happens. I am sure that the elder I saved will be delighted to speak to me.”

Our dragoness’s intentions were clearly laid out. She was saying that if she saved the elder, that person would feel indebted to her. Therefore, the rewards will become much more extravagant then. Speaking about them now would be like stupidly limiting her reward. 

Lan Shuyuan sighed and looked at the dragon in silence for a few seconds. “Alright, we understand. Our discussion will end here, then. When you exit the Secret Realm, activate this talisman. I will contact you through it.”

The dragoness used her energy to pick up the talisman and looked at it closely. She was not very proficient in talismans, but she knew some basics after reading some books. Of course, her knowledge was only enough to detect low-level tracking talismans and similar ones. 

Sensing nothing, Yasenia placed it inside her spatial ring with a nod. “That’s great. I wish seniors a great hunt in the secret realm.” 

Extending her wings, Yasenia shot to the sky and became a streak of light, speeding into the distance. There was nothing else to speak of after that. Even if there were no oaths involved, and she was basing the conversation on trust, she was not worried. Worst-case scenario, she could always resort to Tatyana’s talisman.

Yasenia placed this on the back of her mind and continued flying through the enormous secret realms. Islands appeared one after another, but her treasure senses failed to trigger. Since she had been in the secret realm for over three years, Yasenia’s threshold for treasures had become slightly pickier. 

After all, collecting a thousand low-level treasures couldn’t compare to a single top-tier treasure. 

While searching the surroundings, she could observe conflict in different locations. Nevertheless, she never got involved in them. ‘Whatever happens between other people is not my problem. I need to find the sects that I am searching for without losing chances to gain strength.’ 

It was eight months later that the opportunity appeared. In the distance, a bright pillar of light illuminated the night sky. This pillar of light clearly belonged to a powerful treasure. Yasenia pondered for a second before nodding. ‘Let’s go check it out.’ 

This treasure was both a source of calamity and opportunity. Even if you got the opportunity, that didn’t mean that you could keep it. After all, if your strength was lacking, no matter what treasure you obtained, it would get snatched. 

While flying in the direction of the pillar, Yasenia chose to return to her humanoid form. There might be Dragon Hunters, and the only thing she didn’t want was to give them a clear reason to bother her.  

Project Announcement.

Announcement for everyone interested: I am currently polishing the First volume of [Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos] to upload to Amazon. Don't worry, I am going to upload non-exclusively, so the rest of the online sites will remain unaffected. I am preparing to also make the paperback format, etc, as well. It is a project I recently started, so I don't know how long it will take.

The book will naturally have differences from the online novel. I will refine the story, correct mistakes, align some crooked plot lines, and much more. I don't want to sell you the "copy-paste" version of the online book; it would feel off and like I am trying to squeeze money out of you for nothing. You dears, who support me, deserve more than a half-assed version.

For now, though, I can show you the first two pages with the screenshots above me. Hehe.

I don't know how long it will take, but with constant daily work, it shouldn't be too long. I'll also ask for illustrators to help me draft a pretty cover for it. If you know any skilled artists, want to share ideas for novel covers for the first volume, or anything else, you can tell me. I will also upload a similar post on Patreon for all of you dears to comment and gather your thoughts on!

Thank you for supporting me, dears. I hope you like what I create for you. <3

Many hugs and smiles,

Mortrexo.

P.S.: HEM has a few instances that collide with Amazon's TOS. Therefore, I am being a bit careful with it. I will first test the waters with AotSC, and then focus on HEM and try to make it work. I don't want to change Yasenia's and Tatyana's dynamic, so I will trade with care, for now, HEM is not a project.

Chapter 526. Creating the [Rumbling Earth Domain] Dungeon.

When Liu Shu ordered the <Dungeon System> to take over the <Corruption Engine>, her energy drained as if a hole had opened in a water bucket. This feeling of having her energy being sucked in such large quantities had not happened for so long that Liu Shu gasped. “W-Woah… How much energy do you even need?”

She looked at her Ternary Essence reserves, and her mind shook. “I-I am losing 25,000 Aether Mana Shards per second! That’s almost higher than my regeneration!”

With her current stats, Liu Shu recovered around 1,000 Aether Mana Cores per hour, or 100,000,000 Shards per hour. Then, if you made the calculations, that translated to around 27,777 Aether Mana Shards per second. 

Now, Liu Shu was a World Tree; her regeneration compared to other living beings was incomparable. For reference, Ignatia naturally recovered around 1,500 shards per second for her best ternary essence, which was Phoer. Any other creature in Liu Shu’s position would be dried out in a matter of hours.

With no other way, Liu Shu needed to stop her berry production and every other passive skill that consumed any amount of ternary essence. Otherwise, she would be sucked dry by the <Dungeon System>.

“This is quite crazy…” 

Shaking off her shock, Liu Shu focused on the central area of the <Origin Water Continent> to see what was happening. “Hm… The <Corruption Engine> is… activating?” 

A trace of unease appeared in her heart. However, she didn’t stop the process. After all, even if the <Corruption Engine> were activated, there would be no important casualties.

The engine was a mechanical structure nearly ten meters tall. Its internal workings were a marvel that mixed blacksmithing, rune crafting, arrays, and other principles that Liu Shu couldn’t understand to absorb, change, and release ternary essence. 

“The fact that it isn’t an S Tier artifact must be because its effect area is small… no? Or is it because the charging time is too long? If it could work yearly, then it would’ve reached the S Tier without a doubt.”  

However, as she observed, the energy that the <Dungeon System> was using kept entering and altering the engine. “What is the system trying to do…?”

Unlike the normal System, the <Dungeon System> actually interfered with reality. The System showed your stats, abilities, and feats through numbers, while the <Dungeon System> used the energy of the world and Liu Shu’s to alter reality. 

“What is the <Dungeon System> either way?” A trace of doubt appeared in Liu Shu’s mind. She had not questioned it at first, but now that she was looking at it closely, she felt that it was strange. 

Gaining the ability to manipulate an area and transform it into a <Dungeon> was far from an easy process. 

It was when she asked that someone answered.

[Wisdom: The <Dungeon System> is part of your inheritance abilities. The ability is too complex to use at will, forcing you to need a medium for <Dungeon Creation>. The first time, it was a powerful item that manipulated space around it. Reversing its effects and taking it over, creating a dimensional breach that you could manipulate at will, was not a problem.]  

Liu Shu hummed and commented. “I guess you are using that same principle with the <Corruption Engine>. You must be changing it into something similar to a <Dungeon Core>, am I right?”

[Wisdom: That is correct. The <Corruption Engine> is a failed artifact. However, its inner workings are perfectly functional. Therefore, by changing a few runes and array lines, you can manipulate it and transform it into a <Dungeon Core>.] 

“I see…” Liu Shu muttered softly, her mind understanding the cause and effect involved. “So… If I were capable of creating something similar, I could develop a way to create <Dungeon Cores>.”

[Wisdom: That is only one of the conditions. <Dungeons> are able to manifest where important <Feats> have occurred. Of course, the <Dungeon>’s limits will be related to both the <Core> and <Feat> that occurred where it spawns.]

“What about the Terragore dungeon? There were no items there that could be used as the core, right?” 

[Wisdom: That’s incorrect. In the <Terragore Empire>, there was a powerful mineral drilled deep underground below the <Terragore Queen>’s living quarters. Tianlian Liu Shu never really discovered it before it was used.]

“Huh? What kind of natural material is so powerful that it can be used for a <Dungeon Core>?”

[Wisdom: The material found was a <Star Core Meteorite (A Rank)> of about 1.5 tons.]

“...A piece of a star’s core? Like, a literal star?”

[Wisdom: That’s correct. The <Terragore Queen>’s rapid growth and specialness were due to the influence of this meteorite. She inhaled some of the natural dust produced by it.]

“O-Only the dust? What if she had eaten it entirely?”

[Wisdom: The <Terragore Queen> would’ve died from an overload of energy. In the rare case that she was able to control her hunger and eat wisely, she might’ve been able to break the limits of <Ceperet World> and reach over Level 100.]

“...”

Liu Shu was speechless. She was fortunate that she discovered the <Terragore Empire> before any of that happened. The <Terragore Queen> was already strong enough with just the dust of that thing, so if she ate even a small chunk… “Things would’ve gone quite differently, huh?” 

Shaking the strange feeling, Liu Shu finally understood a bit about the conditions for a <Dungeon> to spawn. “I need a <Catalyst> and a <Feat>. Then, using large amounts of energy, I can modify the space in the area through <World Tree Wisdom> and create the dimensional layering for a <Dungeon> to spawn… Speaking of that layering… How is my energy enough to do something like that? I feel that my strength is far from reaching that point, especially during the first time I deployed a <Dungeon>.”

[Wisdom: Thanks to your <Hidden Attribute>, <Hidden Title>, and <Temple Of Summoning>, your energy has natural dimensional-manipulation qualities.] 

“Hidden Title… and Hidden Attribute? Which one?” 

[Wisdom: … It’s hidden.]

“Tsk. Useless.”

[Wisdom: …] 

Liu Shu knew which one Wisdom was talking about, though. It was the hidden title she gained when she first made contact with that giant serpent. The green serpentine eye that blotted out the sky, belonging to some kind of powerful creature, clearly came from another place that was far from Ceperet. Thinking logically, it was most likely another dimension where the <Arboreal Winged Serpents> originated from.

“As for the hidden attribute…” Liu Shu frowned, half-remembering. “When I learned about my affinities, the system clearly glitched. That attribute was probably too hard to control for me back then. Do I need to reach Level 100 for that attribute to reveal itself?” 

It felt like Level 100 was a significant dividing point. Her eyes subconsciously moved towards her level.

***

Level: 99 [0/3,737,460]

Accumulated Experience Points: 28,680,249

***

After sweeping the continent, Liu Shu accumulated around 50 million Experience Points. It was much less than one would expect. After all, even if all the creatures gave just a single Experience Point, the Accumulated Experience Points would almost reach a billion. However, the system took into account all the creatures that were too low-level, and after calculations, the real experience was around a fraction of what could’ve been: 48,500,450

So, Liu Shu leveled up to Level 99, spending around half of the earnings, and didn’t invest anything more. After all, the message that she couldn’t breach through the Level 99 cap appeared for her as well. 

“I need to take over the entire world before I reach Level 100… Or better said, without taking over the entire world, I can’t reach that level even if I want to.” 

Now that she took care of the world’s enemy, the rest was easy. Her roots just needed to stretch further and further away, taking everything over. “At my current pace, after Big Sister Skyflower and the others allowed me to enter their domain, I shouldn’t take longer than 30 years to envelop the entire world with my roots.” 

It was not an easy thing to do. After all, Liu Shu wasn’t randomly stretching her roots. As she expanded her domain, her complex and virtually perfect root net interconnected in a way that maintained perfect energy-delivering efficiency. Regardless of distance, the World Tree’s influence would be essentially the same. 

“At the current pace that the <Corruption Engine> is being influenced, it should take around 4 years to take over… right?”

[Wisdom: Time remaining until <Corruption Engine> becomes a <Dungeon Core> is 3 years, 11 months, 23 days, and 13 hours.] 

“...Basically four years. I guess I can develop the <Dungeon Settings> in the meantime, can I not?”

[Wisdom: Yes. However, due to the specialness of an <Open Dungeon>, there will be some settings that are unchangeable. Here is the basic structure of your <Dungeon Interface>.]

***

Dungeon Name: -

Current Status: Closed.

Dungeon Level: 25~??

Difficulty Rating: -

Number Of Floors: 2.

Dungeon Reputation: -

Dungeon Alignment: -

Dungeon Theme: Free Hunt.

Dungeon Type: Open Dungeon.

Boss Character Sheet: -

Unique Traits: Monster Domain.

Adventurer Log (Click to Expand).

***

Liu Shu was surprised. “Oh! So many prearranged conditions. Two floors should refer to the underground and the surface. The <Dungeon Theme> is expected, as this will be a free hunting area. The type is obvious as well… What intrigues me is the <Unique Trait>. System, show it.”

<Monster Domain>: This area is dominated by monsters. Monsters will gather in special zones restricted to their levels. Moreover, <Monster Nests> will spawn periodically at random locations and adapt to the zone’s <Level>. The <Monster Nests> create creatures that match the area at high speed. Finally, all monsters will have limited intelligence, regardless of level and strength.

“Ho~.” Liu Shu’s gaze gleamed. “This is basically an experience farm. I can also guess that all these monsters can drop items and other treasures as well, right?”

[Wisdom: That is the case. The chance is set at the minimum by force, around 0.001%. Boss monsters have a 0.1% chance.]

“Whoa… That’s one every one hundred thousand monsters for normal monsters, and one every one thousand for boss monsters. Ugly chances…” Liu Shu paused. “Although, won’t my <Destiny Blessing> affect these odds?”

[Wisdom: That’s a benefit you’ve created. The <Dungeon> won’t counteract bonuses you can give just to make it “fair.”]

“Aha. That’s a relief.” 

Then, Liu Shu’s eyes moved toward the <Species Roulette> of the <Dungeon System>. It was something she unlocked when she created the <Blood Curdling Cave>, which gave her suitable monsters to put in the dungeon.

[You have 14 <Super Rare Tickets>, 2 <Ultra Rare Tickets>, and 1 <Legendary Rare Ticket>.]

These tickets were obtained when Liu Shu encountered a species of that quality. For the <Super Rare> ones, creatures similar to the <Terragore Queen>’s children, which were fed her body parts, were just right. Those little ones were <World Nature Juvenile Terragores>, quite a terrifying species with the ability to manipulate nature and metals.

While sweeping the entire continent and ocean floor, Liu Shu encountered other similar species. The source of the two <Ultra Rare> species was the Kraken she found in the past, and the oceanic World Trees. Finally, for the <Legendary> ticket, Liu Shu’s encounter with the <Spirit Of The Lake> explained it.” 

“Tell me the chances, system!” 

[<Super Rare Ticket> chances: <Common> 35%, <Unusual> 20%, <Rare> 20%, <Super Rare> 15%, <Ultra Rare> 5%, <Legendary> 2.5%, <Mythical> 1.5%, <World> 1%.]

[<Ultra Rare Ticket> chances: <Unusual> 35%, <Rare> 25%, <Super Rare> 20%, <Ultra Rare> 10%, <Legendary> 5%, <Mythical> 3%, <World> 1.5%, <Core> 0.5%.]

[<Legendary Ticket> chances: <Rare> 40%, <Super Rare> 25%, <Ultra Rare> 15%, <Legendary> 10%, <Mythical> 6%, <World> 2.5%, <Core> 1.4%, <Star> 0.1%.]

“Wow! Two new rarities! <Core> and <Star> rarities! Please… Pretty, pretty pleaseeee. Let me get it! Roll for rewards!” 

A roulette popped in front of Liu Shu’s eyes. Then, instead of the roulette spinning, fourteen different arrows appeared at the top and began to circle the roulette. The spinning arrows were fast at first, but as time passed, they began to slow down. Liu Shu’s heart surged as she pulled all the <Super Rare> tickets simultaneously. “Come on… Give me something nice, something nice pleaaaasee!”

While she was praying, she also hoped for “The” message to appear. However, as the route slowed down, Liu Shu didn’t see signs of her beloved <Temple Of Destiny> triggering. 

Her face crumpled as the arrows started stopping on <Common>, <Unusual>, and <Rare> rewards. “AH! W-What are you doing!? Spin faster! Faster, I say! T-This will be the eighth arrow that ends up in those low qualities!” 

She was feeling so anxious that her roots started blending with the underground, where they would bother no one. Some animals in the distance shuddered as the earth churned under Liu Shu’s nervousness. 

Suddenly…

“...O-Oh. OH! YES! STOP! STOP THERE! YEEEEEESSS!!!” 

[Congratulations! You’ve gained <Juvenile Earth Dragon (Mythical)>!]

(Author Note: I actually made the roulette with the same chances and got these results randomly in my first 14 pulls: Common, Super Rare, Unusual, Common, Common, Unusual, Rare, Rare, Unusual, Super Rare, Common, Mythical, Unusual, Common. Hahaha. I wasn’t planning on the <Mythical> pull! QAQ!)

“WAHHHH! I GOT A DORAGONE!!! Even if it is a juvenile one, it will work perfectly as the [Main Boss] of the Dungeon!”  

Dragons were a mythical species, something of legend at least in <Ceperet>. Of course, from now on, that species would appear once more thanks to the <Dungeon>. Now, whether people could kill it or not… That was a completely different thing. 

Calming her trembling excitement, Liu Shu looked at the other three tickets. “Do I even need to use them? I have enough <Super Rare> creatures to act as mini-bosses… I’ll keep them for now. I feel that it would be a waste to use them when I already got something quite great.” 

[Wisdom: … To think that you’d get a <Mythical> creature. Tianlian Liu Shu, we need to put back the date for <Dungeon> opening. The current <Dungeon> will collapse if you place such a powerful creature within it. For your knowledge, the Average Star Level of a Juvenile Earth Dragon is 19 Stars.]

Liu Shu almost choked. “T-That’s a genuine S Tier creature! It’s stronger than me! QAQ!”

***

Dungeon Name: Rumbling Earth Domain

Current Status: Closed.

Dungeon Level: 25~??

Difficulty Rating: Normal~World Heart Epic (Difficulties: Sproutling, Easy, Normal, Thornbound, Hard, Sylvan Crucible, World Heart Epic, Corrupt Nightmare, and World Tree Withering difficulties)

Number Of Floors: 2.

Dungeon Reputation: -

Dungeon Alignment: Pride, Avarice.

Dungeon Theme: Free Hunt.

Dungeon Type: Open Dungeon.

Boss Character Sheet: <Level 99 Earth Juvenile Dragon (Mythical)>.

Unique Traits: Monster Domain.

Adventurer Log (Click to Expand).

***

Chapter 1314. The Chase.

After she escaped, the red-haired woman still had lingering fear in her heart. ‘That dragon woman would’ve attacked me if I stayed there for a single extra second.’ 

She quickly took out a communication talisman and spoke through it. “Seniors! I need help! There is someone who wants to kill me!” 

A man’s deep voice came from the other side of the communication device. “Who dares attack you? Have you told them your identity?”

The woman was going to answer when a chilling wave of spiritual sense swept her hiding area. Her heart thumped, and she quickly began to flee. “Seniors! She is a Dragon woman! Do you think someone with dragon genes will leave me alone because I said it after I got what she wanted? Please send help quickly; she is chasing after me!”

“Got it. Wait for three minutes.” 

“T-Three minutes!?” The red-haired woman’s face turned pale. “Faster! Come faster!”

“We can’t. We are currently fighting with another group for a vital treasure, and I can’t send anyone soon. We’ll deal with them within three minutes, so hold on until then.” 

The woman cursed the nine heavens when the communication device cut out. She was a Transcendence Realm cultivator. However, since she had focused on alchemy all her life, her combat strength was mediocre, to say the least. A single look at that dragon woman told her that she was an experienced fighter. 

“What do I do? I have a few life-saving treasures, but wasting them here feels like I am losing out.” 

Behind her, a profound presence approached at a ridiculously high speed. Looking back with her spiritual sense, she noticed that it was not a humanoid following her, but an actual dragon. While the size was not large, the wobbling air around it spoke volumes of her strength. 

“D-Dragon!? She wasn’t a beastkin but an actual dragon!?” Her already worried face crumpled even more. “If I knew she was a true dragon, I wouldn’t have touched her treasure…” 

Dragons were known for being actually crazy about the treasures they possessed. Unless you were ready to fight to the death, few people dared to snatch the treasures they found first. Moreover, while they loved treasures, they weren’t creatures that would steal something unless it was vital for them. So, as long as you let them be, they would also let you be if you took a treasure. 

However, once you robbed them, things got complicated. 

“Which dragon lets its tail out during their human transformation!? Is she trying to confuse people? Ugh… Why did I have to be greedy…?” 

Regret filled her heart, but she couldn’t recover spilled milk. Nevertheless, she gave it a try. “Dragon! I don’t want to be at odds with you! Let’s speak about compensation. This plant is important to me. I swear that I will give you something of equal or superior value!”

An ethereal voice full of pressure descended on her. “Give me back my treasure, and I’ll let you be. I don’t want to get involved in a fight right at this moment. I have other things to do.”

The woman scratched her arm in nervousness. “B-But I really need this flower. I have to create the [Purification Blazepowder] to save someone!” 

Yasenia continued pursuing from the back, shrinking the distance further. She would catch up in less than a minute at their current speed. ‘She is quite fast. Is it the treasures she is wearing? I can feel a powerful energy coming from the sword below her feet.’ 

She knew that the other side had called for reinforcements. Moreover, since she communicated about a dragonkin, her identity would also be easily discovered if they investigated a little bit. ‘Killing her will bring endless trouble.’ 

Even then, she didn’t want to give up the flower. With that flower and a Moon Attributed one, she could permanently increase her cultivation speed by 2%. The benefit was too significant to ignore. 

‘Still…’ Yasenia felt troubled. ‘I am too weak to face a behemoth like the [Thousand Pills Verdant Pavilion].’ 

If she were at the fourth or fifth level of Transcendence, Yasenia wouldn’t have hesitated and would have fought for her treasure. ‘But outside this realm, I am just a little level one dragon. Even with the energy I’ve accumulated, I can barely reach 20% of the second level once I am outside.’ 

Unless she found a terrifyingly influential fortuitous encounter, her future would be sealed once outside. ‘Seven years is too little to reach that level of strength.’

Her mouth felt bitter, but she understood that it was too late to recover the treasure. ‘I didn’t expect her to ask for help so quickly. Sigh… Let’s try to have a discussion then.’

While the red-haired woman was feeling troubled and anxious, she suddenly heard the ethereal and gorgeous voice of the dragon behind her. “Stop. We can talk about it. I won’t blame you.” 

The red-haired woman looked back, surprised. The dragon was still following, but instead of shortening the distance, she was keeping up with her. Nevertheless, she still felt doubt. “I… I understand. However, you have to promise that you will not attack me stealthily to steal my treasures!”

Yasenia sighed. “Alright. I promise I won’t harm you unjustly.” 

With that, the red-haired woman sighed in relief. No one in their right mind wanted to provoke a Dragon by stealing their treasures. She cautiously slowed down while standing on her sword. Then, she waited a second, and Yasenia appeared before her.

The dragon that appeared in front of her left her breathless. The human form was easy to distinguish as beautiful, but her dragon form was equally exceptional. The sleek form, large wings, celestial imagery, and blend of colors created an enchanting creature.

The dragoness slowly flapped her wings and spoke first. “Tell your people that I don’t have any intention of hurting you first. I don’t want to be attacked while we are discussing things.”

The red-haired woman snapped out of her daze and nodded quickly. “Alright, alright.” She picked up the communication device and spoke through it. “Senior. No need to come! I am striking a deal with the dragon. She is much more reasonable than those crazy ones living on our continent.”

Yasenia’s scaly eyebrow twitched, but she didn’t say anything. The man’s voice from the other side of the device came in quickly. “I understand. Even then, we will be there in a minute. Wait for the discussion until then. If that dragon is not agreeable, tell her to leave.” 

The red-haired woman carefully looked at Yasenia. The empyrean dragon nodded once, telling her that it was okay. 

“She is okay with it. We’ll wait for you, senior.”

Yasenia looked around and spoke calmly. “Let’s go to the coast of that island. There are quite a few dangerous fish in the ocean, and floating here might end up in tragedy.” 

The woman didn’t have anything against it, so she followed behind on her flying sword. As they flew, she spoke up. “Um… I am Lan Qingsu. One of the most famous geniuses of the [Thousand Pills Verdant Pavilion]! What is your name, Senior?”

“Senior?” Yasenia blinked after landing and turned to look at the woman. Her body was slightly larger than a tall horse, so she needed to look down with her dragon head to properly gaze at Lan Qingsu. “I am probably younger than you, so no need to call me ‘Senior’. My name is Yasenia Dravory. I am an [Empyrean Cosmos Dragon], and I am currently a guest in a remote sect.” 

Hearing the dragon species, doubt flashed in Lan Qingsu’s eyes. “I’ve never heard of that dragon species. Is it a new one?”

“Perhaps.” Yasenia’s lips arched faintly, her draconic facial features looking strangely beautiful. Lan Qingsu almost slapped herself. ‘S-Since when did I feel that dragon faces were beautiful? Ugh.’ 

Right after their presentation, a group of five cultivators appeared in the distance, quickly crossing thousands of kilometers and arriving at their position. The leading person was a middle-aged man with sleek black hair and a robust build. His temperament was praiseworthy, and one couldn’t find a single fault in it. 

The four people accompanying him didn’t lose out in temperament, but it was easy to tell that the middle-aged man was in charge of the group. Yasenia carefully observed their eyes. ‘The second I see a flash of greed in their gaze, I will leave as fast as I can. I can fight them, but winning might be difficult with so many powerful people.’

While they were restrained, all five cultivators were probably able to unleash Level 3 Intent Domains. She was confident in her own strength, but she was not arrogant.    

“I heard that you have business with my grandniece, Dragon. Let’s hear it.”

The red-haired woman was a bit flustered at her granduncle’s attitude. “Granduncle, in the end, I was the one in the wrong. I had discovered this flower first, but Yasenia didn’t know. Moreover, she didn’t know that I needed it for my grandaunt’s poison.” 

Yasenia’s eyes flashed, while the man’s face dropped slightly. “Lan Qingsu, stop talking. You are speaking too much.”

“Ah.” The woman blocked her mouth with her hands, looking a bit embarrassed. 

Feeling a tinge of hostility from the five people, Yasenia took the initiative. “I promise that I won’t reveal anything about what I heard. So, please don’t look at me like that.”

The five people landed on the beach after a brief moment of silence. Then, the man in the lead spoke. “A Dragon’s promise is trustworthy. I will take it into account. It is something we’ve kept hidden with difficulty, so please follow through with your promise.”

Yasenia nodded once, her face calm. “I have never broken a single promise I’ve made. You can rest your heart at ease. Still, may I hear about the affliction that your esteemed elder is suffering from? If I know a way of curing her without using the Profound Blazeflower, I would like to make an exchange.”

Lan Qingsu’s eyes flashed, and she nodded to the middle-aged man. “Granduncle! We should tell her. While the Blazeflower can ease the symptoms for another 50 years, it won’t cure the root of the problem.”

The man crossed his muscular arms and pondered for a little bit. “Alright. We’ll tell you about it. However, a promise won’t make it this time around. I’ll need a Heavenly Oath.”

Yasenia’s eyebrows scrunched and her gaze became cold. “Are you mocking me, elder? I told you that I’ve never broken a single promise. I am not stupid enough to make an enemy out of your powerful sect because of a single flower.” 

The five people raised their auras, not happy with Yasenia’s words. However, Yasenia was not one to be intimidated. Her presence ballooned and then exploded outward like a wave of pure pressure, enveloping everyone present. “Don’t misunderstand my willingness to cooperate with weakness, elders. If it comes to a fight, who will win between us is not certain.”

The six people opposing Yasenia widened their eyes, feeling as if a primordial predator had locked onto them. 

The granduncle became serious. ‘She is not simple…’

“Alright. Let’s talk.” 

Chapter 525. Seven Years Later. Surprise Discovery. [AotSC]

Seven years after Liu Shu began conquering the <Origin Water Continent>, previously the <Abyssal Void Nexus Continent>, her roots finally covered the entire place. All land was covered in her roots, and the landscape had changed enough to be unrecognizable compared to before. 

During the last year of her conquest, Liu Shu had been constantly summoning her purifying aurora, raining all around the continent for a straight year. Thanks to that and her many benefits and buffs towards flora and fauna, the previously barren lands sprouted life like no other. 

Another benefit was that small Life Trees and World Trees began to grow on the large landmass—a total of 6 World Trees and 17 Life Trees. 

Looking at the continent, Liu Shu was silent for a few moments. It felt… too sudden.

“This was… too easy.” 

After defeating Noxilva, there was no resistance. It felt as if all the high-level people of the continent had disappeared like a puff of smoke on a windy day.  

The <Fourth Energy Cycles> that fought her numbered 13. Only thirteen. Of course, she fought and easily killed all 13 of them. Nevertheless, from what Skyflower told her before she started her fight against the Abyssal Void Nexus, there should have been over 200 powerhouses ready to fight her. 

‘Are they planning an ambush? Have they gone into hiding? Have they fled?’ 

Escaping her sight should’ve been impossible since, before starting her attack, Liu Shu made sure to surround the entire continent with her roots. Unless these people were flying at over 20,000 meters in height, Liu Shu would be able to sense their departure from the continent easily. 

During these seven years, many people attempted to escape through land and sea, but, of course, none managed to succeed. The strongest among the groups that tried to escape was a group of 10,000 people led by 2,000 <Third Energy Cycles> and 3 <Fourth Energy Cycles>. 

Of course, the result was as anticipated; all of them fell under Liu Shu’s absolute strength, leaving absolutely no survivors. 

A trace of doubt and unease clung to Liu Shu’s heart. ‘Annoying. This feeling of being unable to scratch that hidden itch because it is out of your reach… It’s very annoying, ugh.’ 

After thinking for a while, Liu Shu decided to communicate with Skyflower. 

During the last seven years, Liu Shu made sure to speak with all four <Fourth Energy Cycle> World Trees that had yet to fall under her domain. It’s not that they were reluctant, but that they wanted Liu Shu to first prove herself. Therefore, they all came up with the same condition: The day Liu Shu conquered and defeated the Abyssal Void Nexus, they would accept Liu Shu’s roots in their territories. 

“Um… Big Sister Skyflower. There is something… odd.”

“Odd?” The airy but gentle voice of the World Tree sounded confused, not understanding what Liu Shu was referring to. “What is odd, Little Liu Shu?” 

Interacting with Liu Shu gave the four World Trees an idea of her personality. She was someone gentle and accepting, but simultaneously decisive and ruthless against those who went against her fundamental beliefs. 

For World Trees and other similar societies, Liu Shu would always try to communicate and convince them first. She would spare no effort, even delaying her objectives for a while to show the other side her intentions. Warlya’s case was such for different reasons. 

Therefore, they all became close to Liu Shu and acted like her seniors. After all, her victory was almost guaranteed, so they could start developing their relationship early.  

“Yeah. I’ve conquered the entire continent, and I can check that there are no intelligent species that have survived. However, I have not fought any large armies. The biggest one I fought was around 4,000 <Third Energy Cycles> and 7 <Fourth Energy Cycles>. No matter how I think about it, that army was too weak to be the strongest trump card of the Nexus, no?”

Skyflower was silent for a bit. ‘In the end, they decided to give up completely. I guess that was their only choice. After all, even if they send all their top powers, they can at most defend one Corrupted World Tree city.’ 

After recalling the information about the Abyssal Void Nexus, Skyflower concluded, “They left.”

“Huh?” Liu Shu was confused. “Where to? I’ve surrounded the entire continent. They can’t escape.” 

Skyflower chuckled. “They escaped upwards beyond the sky. It seems that whatever feats of strength you showed scared them all off. As <Fourth Energy Cycles>, they are people whose lifespan is already quite high. So, fighting you to the death is not something that they want.”  

Liu Shu became silent. “...They gave up?”

“Yes,” Skyflower answered softly. She could hear the incredulity in Liu Shu’s words, but Skyflower was quite sure that the other side escaped in their spatial ships. From her knowledge, the spatial ships were large enough to gather over 100,000 people. This number was more than enough for all relatives and important people to mount and leave. 

“But…” Liu Shu felt lost. “That doesn’t make sense… No? What about the <Fourth Energy Cycles> I’ve faced? Why didn’t they leave, too?”

“They are probably natives with strong convictions. Weren’t they speaking strange words while fighting you? They probably declared their loyalty and other precious values while fighting you to the death. Or, they were old and had exhausted their talent. Either way, they were people who decided to fight until the end for what they thought was right.”

Liu Shu hummed, her thoughts unknown to Skyflower. 

After a while, our World Tree spoke with a sigh. “I see… I guess it makes sense. They are not natives to this world, and they always had the option to just… leave. Why would they destroy their future for a lost battle?” 

Liu Shu understood, even if she couldn’t relate. While the other side had twisted views, in the end, they were other intelligent species. The fact that they wanted to destroy and control nature didn’t deprive them of the fact that they were humans, beastkin, and Sylvans. 

A sigh that echoed throughout her entire domain escaped Liu Shu. Then, tiredness came to her mind. All the tension that she had accumulated during the last 10 years of war against the Abyssal Void Nexus continent came crashing down.

Even as a World Tree, this war was mentally exhausting and draining. “I want… to sleep.” 

Skyflower smiled in her heart. She could feel the tiredness on the other side. “Go rest, Little Liu Shu. When you wake up, we will become part of your domain, as promised. Also… Congratulations. You’ve managed to cleanse evil from the world.”

Liu Shu laughed twice. “Well… Nothing like that. The Nexus is gone, but their ideas remain. There will be people who are born in my domain who think that the Nexus was right. For an idea to die… I would need to bury it with the Nexus.”

“Why not do it?” Skyflower asked.

“How do I do it?” Liu Shu asked back, smiling wryly. “Everyone knows about them. Do I have to impose a ban on knowledge about the Nexus? I feel that it would be counterproductive. After all, it's not like they are gone. My schools need to teach about the fact that there is still a threat beyond the sky, so that we don’t fall behind—” Liu Shu paused before blurting loudly. “HA!?”

“W-What’s wrong?” Skyflower stuttered, startled by Liu Shu’s scream. 

“N-No. Nothing.” Liu Shu answered, somewhat flustered. “Either way, Big Sister Skyflower, I’ll go rest now. Thank you for listening to my thoughts.” 

Skyflower didn’t pry further and answered back. “Okay, Liu Shu. Go rest.”

Liu Shu, meanwhile, was looking ahead with a baffled expression. 

[<Destiny Blessing> activates!]

[<Dungeon System> detects an unusual energy.]

[Scanning…]

[<Dungeon System> has detected a suitable <Dungeon> location.]

[Do you want to create a <Dungeon> in the middle of the <Origin Water Continent>?] 

Liu Shu re-examined the message, thinking she had misread it. However, it was clearly what she understood. 

“Um… Tell me more. How big an area are we speaking about?”

[The <Dungeon> would be an <Open Dungeon> style. <Dungeon System> has noticed a large source of corrupted energy in the middle of the continent. Would you like to absorb it and transform it?]

Liu Shu quickly shifted her gaze towards the middle of the continent. She was quite tired, so she was not really paying much attention besides her detection of living intelligent creatures. 

Once she focused, she finally saw a hidden Runic Field right in the middle. “What are you hiding here…?”

Her affinity and ability to manipulate runes were only second to Mariane's. Even compared with the super rune genius mothkin, Liu Shu surpassed her in terms of speed and quantity thanks to her ridiculous processing speed.  

So, while examining the runic field, she quickly devised a solution to pierce through it and see behind whatever it was hiding. 

It took around two days before her gaze finally pierced through, and the interior was revealed. When she saw what was hidden, her core thumped. “I almost messed it up right at the very end!”

What Liu Shu was currently looking at was revealed in front of her.

<Corruption Engine (A+ Tier)>: A corruption engine that will affect its surroundings every fifty years, creating corruption events in an area of 1,000,000 square kilometers. All creatures within the terrain will be corrupted. (Cooldown remaining [year/month/hour/minute/second]):

31: 07: 17: 54: 60

31: 07: 17: 54: 59

31: 07: 17: 54: 58

Liu Shu was slightly scared. This kind of artifact was powerful and something she didn’t dare mess with. Even with her current strength, once it was activated, it would be quite catastrophic. 

“Thankfully, my <Dungeon System> detected it.”

Now she needed to think about what to do with it. Her first option was to create the <Dungeon>. If she did so, the large-scale super dungeon would become the center of the <Origin Water Continent>. The surroundings would also be affected, probably becoming a dangerous continent. 

The other option was to destroy the thing and repopulate the continent. Being one of the largest continents, the number of people it could hold was not a joke. 

Nevertheless, Liu Shu eventually shook her head. “A world is hard to develop because Experience Points are limited. While my current <Dungeons> and the ones in the other continents are nice, there is nothing that [Everyone] can use. If I transform the <Origin Water Continent> into the new <Wild Continent>, that would give all creatures in the world a place to hunt and increase their strength.” 

Liu Shu’s eyes were determined as she nodded. “Let’s do that. <Dungeon System>, take over the <Corruption Engine>.”

[Taking over.] 

Chapter 1313. Yasenia's Wealth! Daring Woman.

Yasenia looked at the clear sky, squinting for a second before she became accustomed to the brightness. She had been underground, in that temple, for a relatively long time.

“Now that I have everything, I should continue exploring.”

To begin with, she had found the temple during the first month of the long ten-year secret realm. While the trials had lasted for nearly 3 months, it was not that much compared to how much time she had left. “I’ve gained the Battle Formation and many talismans.” 

She didn’t plan on saving in her talisman use. After all, these talismans were specially created for this Secret Realm where strength was limited. Outside, they would be useless against threats that could endanger her. “If I can get treasures by sacrificing the talismans, it’s not a bad trade.”  

She had four main objectives to complete during the duration of the four secret realms. 

The first and most important was increasing her own strength. A Secret Realm that limited people to the first levels of a realm usually came with plenty of treasures that helped people traverse the realm quickly and easily.  

The large amounts of energy she absorbed during the one hour were a testament to that. ‘While I can’t break through here, I can gather energy until I am at the verge of breaking through. Moreover, since my Dantian is slightly peculiar, storing energy to consume later is not a problem at all.’

Yasenia believed that, if she played her cards well, she would be able to accumulate enough energy to reach the Second or even the Third Level. Of course, that was her best estimate. 

She flew up, observing the island for a while. “I am far from being deep into the secret realm. If it wasn’t because of the temple and the Star River Rose, I would’ve already gone far deeper. Should I keep investigating here? I can smell a few decent treasures, but…”

After thinking for a moment, she decided to explore further. After all, while the most important objective was getting stronger, she needed to find the [Astral Death Sect] and [Radiant Flow Sect]. That was her second and third objective, in order of importance. 

“Plus… Star Forge and the others might’ve gone deeper and might need help.” 

Her fourth objective was to help the [Star Immortal Sect] if she came across them. She would not ignore them since they gave her the chance to enter here. “While I am going to share my spoils with them, the most important ones will naturally remain in my spatial ring. I am grateful, but things that will help me can’t leave my pocket easily.”

Thinking about it, she was willing to share a bit of the Battle Formation with them. She would keep the techniques besides the two most basic, Onslaught and Cradle skills. ‘That alone is enough to make them the top power of their continent.’ 

After sorting out her thoughts, Yasenia remembered something else. “The fauna of my spatial ring is a bit… stale.” 

Inside her ring, Yasenia had [Red Honey Bees], [Multicolored Caterpillar], [Soil Enhancement Earthworm], [Morning Sun Bat], [Spore Dancing Butterfly], [Soil Mineral Beetle], and a few others that she picked along her journeys. In total, the 14 species helped the environment and pollinated the herbs. With all things combined, each plant would grow 1,000 years for each year Yasenia kept them in her ring. 

If an alchemist could see Yasenia’s garden, they would go bloodshot and try to kill her. She had been in possession of her spatial ring for almost 100 years; therefore, [100,000-year-old Ginsengs], [70,000-year-old Life Lotuses], and many other miraculous plants were abundant in her ring. 

If you now added all the chances Yasenia had to snatch all kinds of spiritual herbs… the wealth gathered in Yasenia’s garden was enough to buy the [Star Immortal Sect] several times over. 

Of course, as a Dragon, “getting” was much easier than “selling.” 

Also, her wealth didn’t end there. When Tatyana decided to sacrifice one of the worlds in Distancia’s solar system to summon the Undead Overlord, she got dozens of Natural Treasures. Yasenia naturally had some of those. In her spatial ring, Yasenia had a whopping 8 [Natural Treasures]: 2 Earth Attributed, 1 Water Attributed, 2 Fire Attributed, 2 Metal Attributed, and 1 Magma Attributed one. 

Of those Natural Treasures, one Earth and one Water Attributed one were in her garden, supplying the space with pure energy. 

Then, the tens of thousands of minerals, weapons, and other miscellaneous treasures were stacked like mountains after robbing all the cultivators she had killed. Some of those cultivators were from powerful sects as well… In short, Yasenia’s hoarding had already stacked her a fortune that rivaled that of some millennial sects. 

While moving through the Secret Realm, Yasenia visited different islands and continued gathering treasures guided by her scent receptors. The herbs would be planted and organized in the garden, the minerals would be organized in the blacksmithing region, and the weapons would go to the general treasury in the middle of the five realms that her Spatial Ring spanned.

If any herb was ripened and unable to grow further, she would pluck it and plant its seeds, placing the matured herb in the almost endless cabinets inside the Alchemy Realm. 

For those who don’t remember, Yasenia’s ring was divided into five realms, with a central one. Yasenia named these realms as the [Life Realm], [Blacksmithing Realm], [Formation Realm], [Alchemy Realm], [Treasure Realm], and the [Vault Core].

Among them, the first five were enormous, their space quite literally large enough to be called a “realm.” Only the [Vault Core] was somewhat “measurable.” Even then, it was a space that spanned almost 100 cubic kilometers. 

Yasenia couldn’t help but look at her spatial ring fondly. “Honestly… I have not given it enough credit, have I?” Looking at the slim yet beautiful five-colored ring on her index finger, Yasenia smiled and caressed it gently. “Thank you for keeping all my treasures ordered and safe. I know that you are probably quite empty compared to when Mom used you, but I’ll make sure to get enough treasures to fill you up.” 

Her ring buzzed happily. Being a high-ranked Supreme Rank treasure, it had minimal spiritual intelligence. Yasenia was curious if her ring would develop an artifact spirit like Dramel and Draheart, but she didn’t have much hope. 

Dramel’s situation was exceptional, having been crafted by legendary materials of mythical creatures. And Draheart… Yasenia was honestly unsure what kind of materials she was made out of. Even now, when she used Draheart to clash with other Transcendence Realm treasures, Draheart didn’t even show a single notch on her edge. ‘Even if I used all my strength, forcefully breaking Draheart would be impossible. My bones would probably break first.’

While traversing the secret realm, Yasenia came across a few people. However, she ignored them and continued collecting treasures. 

Maintaining a constant pace, three years slipped by in the blink of an eye. During these three years, Yasenia’s wealth had increased a bit, but not by much. She sadly had no similar encounters like the temple she visited during her first month in the Secret Realm.

Currently, Yasenia was crouched, her tail happily swaying from side to side. “To think I’d find a [Profound Blazeflower]~. This will be a very good thing to mix with my usual bathwater. It makes it a bit more painful, but it makes the water almost 50% more effective.”

Each Blazeflower took around 4,000 years to mature, so Yasenia needed a bit of time before she could use it wastefully. Once there were enough of them, she planned to use them in her weekly bath all the time.  

“Speaking of which… The Star River Rose has accumulated quite a bit of liquid in the lake around it. I should gather a herb of similar strength for the Moon Attribute if I can and use all three in a single bath. The effects will be delightful.”

While Yasenia very carefully dug out the Blazeflower, she heard a woman’s voice from behind. “Dragon woman, stop right there! Don’t touch that flower!”

Yasenia’s adorably smiling expression disappeared like a wisp of smoke, annoyance flashing in her eyes. Her tail slapped the ground once, showing her mood, while she spoke aloud. “If I stop now, the flower will become useless. I recommend that this miss not meddle with me until I uproot it. Otherwise, it will go to waste.”

“You are not even an alchemist, and you dare try to get it!? Wasteful! Greedy! You should’ve called someone who knew how to do it. Do you even know how valuable that flower is!?”

Yasenia could hear the anger and frustration from the other side, but she ignored it and focused on collecting the flower. It took around ten more minutes, but Yasenia finally managed to get it. “Gotcha~!”

Her annoyance flew away when her hands moved upward and perfectly uprooted the red, flaming flower. However, before she could be happy, the plant disappeared from her hands. Yasenia’s smile froze.

“Luckily, you didn’t ruin it.”

Turning around, Yasenia saw the plant she had carefully uprooted in the hands of a beautiful red-haired woman. The woman’s clothes were those from [Thousand Pills Verdant Pavilion], one of the sects Mo Yun and Star Forge warned her of. 

But Yasenia didn’t care.  

“Return it.”

The beautiful, red-haired woman blinked and looked down at Yasenia with a sneer. “I can’t recognize your robes as being from any significant sect, and you speak to me like that? Do you even know what sect I am from? I’ll forgive you this time around because I am in a good mood. Now, go and stop bothering me.”

Yasenia’s pupils thinned, showing anger. That flower, once she planted enough of them in her spatial ring, would increase her cultivation speed by a whopping two percent! 

While it didn’t sound like much, when cultivation was as lengthy as it was, 2% was a ridiculous amount. 

When Yasenia saw the woman storing the plant in her spatial ring, Yasenia’s angered expression disappeared. Instead, a chilling calmness enveloped her entire being. 

The red-haired woman noticed a shift in Yasenia’s mood and looked over with a frown. Her body shivered for a moment when she saw the cold and indifferent golden slit eyes. ‘W-Why does she feel scarier than when she was showing anger?’ 

She knew that this dragon woman was not normal. Regardless, she didn’t care because behind her was the behemoth called [Thousand Pills Verdant Pavilion]. Who would dare to vie for herbs with them? Few did, even among top powers. 

“W-What’s with that look?” The red-haired woman wanted to speak arrogantly, but her tongue twisted for a second. Her guts were telling her that she needed to return the flower, but she was stubborn in her mind. 

Yasenia spoke one more time, her chilling voice seemingly covering the surroundings in frost. “This is your last chance. Return it to me.”

The red-haired woman knew that she had messed with someone she shouldn’t have and quickly broke a teleportation talisman. Her body disappeared and reappeared thousands of kilometers away.

Seeing the woman flee, Yasenia’s cold eyes sank deeper. “Since this is your choice, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” 

Her aura and spiritual sense exploded outward, covering tens of thousands of kilometers. Her neck twisted, and her golden eyes pierced the space and landed on a floating figure in the distance. “Found you.”   

Chapter 524. Noxilva and The Nexus. [AotSC]

Dain, the leader of the Abyssal Void Nexus, looked at a holographic image of a city with a giant Corrupted World Tree in the middle. In the distance, one could see the land wiggling; clearly, Tianlian Liu Shu had already arrived at the edge of this city’s domain. 

“Lord Dain.” By his side, Thyra spoke with a solemn expression. “Are you sure that we shouldn’t attack with Noxilva? If we mount a defense around her, we might be able to stop Liu Shu’s advance.”

Dain asked, his tone neutral. “What about the rest of the continent?”

Thyra couldn’t answer. Unlike a normal and healthy World Tree, a Corrupted World Tree’s ability to extend its roots was very limited. For reference, it would be comparable to a World Tree one entire Energy Cycle below.  

With that in mind, the thought of using a corrupted World Tree to protect an entire continent was nothing but a pipe dream. Only in more developed worlds would it be possible for a single Corrupted World Tree to cover such large distances.

Thyra commented. “Then… What does Lord Dain plan to do? We can’t stay with our arms crossed while Tianlian Liu Shu ravages the entire continent. Our current losses are high, but we can recover within 30 years. We only need to keep Tianlian Liu Shu at bay.”

“Only…?” Dain looked at Thyra with a mocking smile. “How do we contain that monster? We’ve been observing her strength, and from what I’ve seen, her strength is just utterly ridiculous. She is probably comparable to a <Fifth Energy Cycle> that has received no buffs whatsoever.” 

Thyra wanted to say that it was absurd to say that. There was a qualitative jump between the Fourth and the Fifth Cycle. After all, with the Fifth Cycle also came the <First Evolution>. Nevertheless, the words couldn’t leave her mouth. Liu Shu’s strength was that absurd.   

“Still… We can’t give up Ceperet just like that. We’ve spent thousands of years trying to take over this world!” 

A somewhat passionate response escaped the usually calm and indifferent woman. She was a Level 99 with her main attribute being A+ Tier. In terms of talent, she was second to none within the Abyssal Void Nexus domain. Her talent and strength placed her as the major commander who led the attacks against the Verdant Sanctity Covenant.

Nevertheless, that arrogance has been sapped away during the last months. Seeing Liu Shu utterly bulldoze her way into the continent was nothing but a crushing experience. 

Dain was silent. He was naturally reluctant to give up as well. He was the currently appointed leader, so if he lost Ceperet, he wouldn’t escape unscathed. However… His gaze moved toward the moving images. 

There, Tianlian Liu Shu had already started her attack. The giant sleek roots moved through dirt as if it were air, destroying, tearing, and quite literally flipping the landscape with her strength.

The Corrupted World Tree, a Level 99 Corrupted World Tree that the Nexus raised, counterattacked. A dark aura enveloped the land Liu Shu took from it, corrosive to the point that even the rocks were starting to melt.

And yet, Liu Shu’s sleek roots only sizzled slightly without losing much strength.

Thyra’s face crumpled. “She can resist the <Mountain Melting Mist>? It’s an A Tier offensive technique from a Level 99 Corrupted World Tree! How is it possible for her roots to be only somewhat damaged!?”

It was then that multicolored light filled the sky. Dain’s eyes were incredulous as he observed the aurora that covered the sky. “What… is that?” 

Rain began falling even when the sky was cloudless. It was clear that this rain came from the aura that manifested from nothing. Thyra pointed at the group with a pale face, “T-The ground! Look at the color!”

The grayish-brown dirt didn’t become darker when rain hit it. Usually, dirt darkens when it becomes wet. However, as the rain from the multicolored aura continued, the grayish tint melted away. What the rain left behind was a yellowish, healthy dirt, completely opposite of the previous sickly ground.  

Dain spoke with a sigh. “Purification… She is a World Tree who has learned purification.”

Thyra’s face contorted as her mood exploded. “That’s impossible!? How many eyes do we have in the entire continent!? Whenever a single World Tree with even a slight sense of purification appeared, we’ve gotten rid of them all! There is no way for a World Tree with such skills to escape our sight and become a <Fourth Energy Cycle>!”

Dain leaned on his fist, his gaze blank. “Yet there she is. Look at Noxilva’s roots. It looks as if it is Tianlian Liu Shu who deployed the corroding mist instead of Noxilva.” 

The Corrupted World Tree’s roots were quivering in clear pain, black smoke constantly rising to the sky as parts of the bark fell off like rotten wood.

While they spoke, Liu Shu’s roots had already advanced more than five kilometers. Each time the robust and healthy roots entangled with the corrupted ones, the latter would end up exploding like dry wood. 

It wasn’t even a competition; Tianlian Liu Shu’s attributes were just superior in every sense of the word. 

Thyra fell limply onto her chair. Her eyes looked with disbelief as Liu Shu approached the Corrupted World Tree with relative ease. “It’s almost as if Noxilva was not there… A Level 99 Corrupted World Tree is just… an inconvenience.” 

Dain sighed again. He didn’t even know how many times he sighed just today. “Now you understand? If we are stubborn, we will all die. She is just too strong. Ceperet has been lost, not to the Verdant Sanctity Covenant, but to a single native World Tree: Tianlian Liu Shu.” 

Thyra’s eyes were vacant. No thoughts crossed her mind as the force of nature known as a World Tree changed the landscape like a kid would play with sand on the beach. Mountains crumbled, forests were upturned, hills tore open, and the tremors spread like an earthquake throughout the continent. 

Overwhelming. That was the only evaluation Thyra could muster with her shocked mind. 

“...What do we do?”

Thyra was stubborn but was not stupid. She knew that resistance was useless. It was not a matter of numbers; only if over 10,000 <Fourth Energy Cycles> descended would Thyra start considering attacking Tianlian Liu Shu’s domain. Even with those numbers, she would not be sure if she could win. 

After all, what they were currently seeing was the “edge” of the World Tree. How much stronger is the main body? She heard that Tianlian Liu Shu was also massive, reaching over 5.5 kilometers in height.

Dain spoke flatly. “We retreat. We’ll use the emergency spaceships and return to inform the main power about Tianlian Liu Shu. Perhaps, with luck, informing them about a World Tree of her caliber will be enough to lessen our punishment.

Thyra laughed once, her lips arching slightly. “Thankfully, my family is somewhat influential.”

“Tsk.” Dain snorted. “You are a lucky one. I had to rise up until here all on my own.”

“Right…” Thyra muttered. “Your parents are middle-class citizens, aren’t they? You basically have no inheritance.” Looking at the man sitting on his chair with calm and acceptance, Thyra smiled faintly. “Hey… If you want, you can come to my family.”

“Hm?” Surprise flashed in Dain’s eyes, and he looked away from Liu Shu for the first time. He saw Thyra scratch her cheek somewhat awkwardly.

“You know… You are quite talented. So, I thought it would be a bit of a shame if your career ended because of that unavoidable disaster.”

Dain’s surprise face relaxed as a faint smile appeared on his lips. “Sure. I’ll take you up on that offer.”

Thyra secretly clenched her fists happily. She looked as Liu Shu arrived 30 kilometers from Noxilva and then stopped. This confused her for a moment. “What is she doing?”

Dain crossed his arms. “From what I’ve seen… She might be preparing to do one of her elemental attacks.” 

“Huh?” She looked at him with a stunned expression. “Isn’t she over 30 kilometers away? Not even our best artillery can aim accurately that far away.”

Dain moved his chin. “Look.”

The screen showed the land splitting. From there, roots thicker than mature trees soared upward impossibly. The blue-glowing, pulsing veins made the air twist, creating a mirage effect. 

Then, those imposing roots gathered ternary essences from the nearby area. The sucking of energies was such that whirlwinds were forming around each of the giant roots looming above ground and pointing in the distance. 

When that aura swelled to the point that it felt like it would explode, Dain and Thyra were witnesses to Liu Shu’s true attacking power.

White scorching beams streaked through the sky, all aiming at a single point in the distance. Dain quickly moved their view and changed it to the Corrupt World Tree City. 

There, Noxilva’s aura was soaring to the sky. Her ternary essences created a black pillar of light that pierced the clouds above her. The power that this World Tree wielded was incredible, but currently, it was desperately pouring everything it had into a defensive dome that covered her gigantic figure. 

A moment later, the white beams arrived and collided. 

BOOM!!!!

A flash of white light illuminated their moderately dark room, forcing them to squint their eyes. Thankfully, the vision was only blinded for a second or two. What they saw made both powerful Level 99s want to flee as fast as possible.

The dome had been destroyed, and the city around the World Tree was flattened. Noxilva’s body was burning in several places, as large chunks of her body fell down below her. Branches broke and descended in seemingly slow motion. The visual illusion happened because of Noxilva’s ridiculous size.

Noxilva’s aura swelled and exploded. Clearly, she was furious because of the damage, and her mana was going berserk. However, as she was about to attack, a gorgeous aurora appered right above her. 

Looking up, Dain and Thyra saw how Noxilva’s pillar of ternary essence was pierced by a multicolored light, descending and quickly enveloping the entirety of the giant Corrupted World Tree.

The branches of the World Tree thrashed around, creating whirlwinds and splitting the earth. Clearly, Noxilva was in immense pain. However, as the multicolored aurora enveloped the land, Noxilva’s struggles started to cease.

Not only that, the previous withered body began blooming. 

Flowers sprouted, life returned to her body, and her gorgeous appearance was revealed to the world. She was a gorgeous cherry blossom. 

The pink petals filled the sky and fell down, almost just as quickly as they appeared. 

This view somewhat shook Dain and Thyra’s hearts. 

However, this was not the World Tree blooming, but a final flash of splendor before her fall. Noxilva’s petals began falling, and her trunk started creaking. A few moments later, the giant Cherry Blossom leaned sideways and fell down, crashing onto the ground below and shaking the entire continent. 

Chapter 1312. Loot and Backstabbing.

Guo Yantao became ashes, leaving behind only one shiny circular object. Yasenia stretched her hand into the ashes and grabbed the floating ring. “Perfect.” 

With a smile on her lips, Yasenia tried to look into it. Sadly, the second her spiritual sense collided with the barrier, it shattered. Yasenia didn’t panic; her eyes remained calm. “It’s normal to have barriers. Still, that’s far from preventing me from looting your treasures.” 

A black rock with green and red glowing lines appeared on her hand. The rock was palm-sized and perfectly circular, clearly carved out by a master. Then, Yasenia lightly clinked the rock and the ring. 

A sound of glass breaking spread in Yasenia’s mind, and right after, the rock turned to dust. A smile appeared on the dragoness’s lips. “Perfect, the barrier is broken.” 

Before leaving for her own adventure, Angel and the others naturally gave her plenty of treasures. Among them, there was a [Formation Shattering Stone]. This stone could deal with powerful formations, although it was a one-time use. Yasenia didn’t mind wasting it on a medium-level formation, though. After all, she had over one thousand of these stones. 

“Let’s see… What do you have inside?”

Her mind connected the two Spatial Rings, and she started pouring all the demons’ treasures into her own ring. As she did so, the Five Realm Spatial Ring sorted everything by rank, use, and special characteristics. Yasenia ignored everything that was Heaven-ranked and below. Among them, there was a single thing that she paid attention to. “Oho~, he was quite rich. There are 23 Medium Spirit Stones.”

There was a jump of ten thousand between spirit stone levels. Therefore, this was equivalent to 230,000 Low-Level Spirit Stones—quite a nice sum.  

“Other than that… He has 13 [Area Healing Talismans], 12 [Thunder Strike Talismans], 5 [Flame Spiral Spear Talismans], 3 [Profound Energy Shield Talismans], 1 [Shadow Uprising Talisman], and 1 [Vulcan Eruption Talisman].” Yasenia blinked at the last two. “They are different from the ones I got. Well, this leaves me with quite a few for myself: 46 [Area Healing Talismans], 54 [Thunder Strike Talismans], 24 [Flame Spiral Spear Talismans], 18 [Profound Energy Shield Talismans], 2 [Fire Mountain Explosion Talismans], 1 [Blizzardshard Icefield Talisman], 1 [Shadow Uprising Talisman], and 1 [Vulcan Eruption Talisman].” 

After making an inventory of the talismans, she checked the Transcendence-ranked and above items. “Hm… Not bad. There are weapons, martial techniques related to charm, defensive formations, and also a technique about demon-body arts…” Her eyes gleamed. “These will sell quite well.” 

Personally, she didn’t need any equipment or life-saving items. At least, the ones the demon had were inferior to the ones in her possession. 

“Okay. With that sorted, we should return to the battlefield.”

[Celestial Intent Domain] disappeared, and Yasenia stepped back onto the battlefield. Looking around, she could see that the battle was still ongoing, but the advantage was overwhelmingly against the female demon and the other soldiers. Even when she and the demon had three large and one small army, they were currently fighting her own army, one large army, and two medium ones. 

Yasenia’s army had suffered some casualties, but their numbers were still above 14,000. The rest had lost around half of their numbers already, so it was not surprising that they were losing. 

Looking at the female demon, Yasenia activated [Celestial Intent Domain] once again. The female demon had not noticed Yasenia’s return, so she was taken by surprise. “W-What?”

Looking around at the purplish space filled with celestial marvels, her heart was tense. 

“I should try to see how strong the talismans are… Here you go, five [Thunder Strike Talismans].”

The female demon felt a chill as she quickly deployed a defensive skill. “[Millennial Ice Wall]!”

RUMBLE!

The sound of thunder echoed throughout Yasenia’s domain, and then, five giant lightning serpents fell from the sky. The first three were blocked by the wall, but the other two managed to pierce through and strike the woman.

“AHH!!”

Yasenia smirked. “Here, five [Flame Spiral Spear Talismans].” 

WHOOSH!

Flame burned around the female demon and transformed into five twisting spears. These spears streaked through the air, breaking through the Ice Wall again and exploding against the woman’s body.

The attack was so sudden that the female demon barely had a chance to defend before she was heavily injured. Having no choice, the female demon glared at Yasenia and prepared to use an [Area Healing Talisman]. 

“Not so fast.” 

Yasenia manipulated the [Celestial Intent Domain] and created thousands of celestial bodies, collapsing them towards the middle. “Yasenia Dravoryy!”

The woman's screams were swallowed by the magnificent explosion. The dragoness stepped forward with Draheart in hand, slashing at the middle of the magma sphere. “[Scorching Sword].”

The magma sphere was sliced in half by her golden flames, revealing the heavily injured woman in the middle. Not expecting Yaenia to attack while she hid within the aftermath, the female demon was hit without resistance and killed on the spot. 

Yasenia sighed ruefully. “Really… Crushing others with wealth pains my heart so much…”  

Of course, her words and actions were very different. Yasenia’s hand quickly snatched the spatial ring and used another [Formation Shattering Stone] to steal all the woman’s treasures. 

Looking inside, Yasenia’s eyebrow couldn’t help but twitch. The male demon didn’t really have many charm-related items other than the techniques. However, this woman’s spatial ring was full of… playthings. “I’ve never seen a literal mountain of artificial… well. Whatever. They will probably sell at a good price. To the mountain of items for sale you go.” 

Her talisman amount also increased quite a lot. Unlike the male demon, though, the number of talismans was much less. The reason was apparent: she had used them outside. “With this, I now have 49 [Area Healing Talismans], 57 [Thunder Strike Talismans], 22 [Flame Spiral Spear Talismans], 18 [Profound Energy Shield Talismans], 2 [Fire Mountain Explosion Talismans], 1 [Blizzardshard Icefield Talisman], 1 [Shadow Uprising Talisman], 1 [Vulcan Eruption Talisman], and 1 [Ice Mountain Drop Talisman].” 

Honestly, it didn’t change much from before. Only the Ice Mountain Drop Talisman was worth it among all the ones she got. “These powerful ones are at another level compared to the others… I will need to use them later to snatch more treasures.” 

Stepping out of her domain, she noticed that everyone was fighting against her soldiers, making her tilt her head. Her army was barely holding on, with deaths occurring each passing second. She looked coldly at everyone. “Hey. What are you all doing?”

Hai Lanyue looked at Yasenia with a cold look. “We are still in a competition. I am grateful that you helped, but now you should obediently give up. You are too strong and clearly a threat.”

Yasenia’s heart was tranquil and without any ripples. She looked at the four men and asked. “Do you four also think the same?”

They had heavy expressions as one of them bowed. “I am sorry, Lady Yasenia Dravory. But if we want to have a chance at winning, you must be eliminated.”

“Oh.”

Yasenia ignored them and looked at the woman. “To be honest, I don’t care about their betrayal. After all, my help was superficial, and they have no reason to give up this competition. However…” Her eyes turned terrifyingly cold as chilling killing intent oozed out of her. “You, having received my blood, dare to go against me?”

The woman’s heart trembled, and before she realized it, her surroundings had changed. “W-Where am I?”

Yasenia appeared before her, her golden dragon eyes tainted with a layer of red and looking extremely murderous. “You are in your graveyard.” 

Outside, the four men were confused and solemn. “Yasenia clearly has a displacement Intent Domain. We need to be alert and defend against it. I couldn’t catch its essence the first few times she used it, but now I am confident that I can resist being dragged by it.”

Tang Zhihui nodded, his face serious. “The other two demons didn’t come back, so we can guess that she killed them inside. Although I doubt that she will kill Hai Lanyue.”

Bo Tianrui, the man from the woman’s sect, asked anxiously. “What do you mean? We need to break through the illusion and drag them out! Her army is, for the most part, dealt with. So, we have to—”

Before he could finish his words, Yasenia reappeared before them while holding someone. Her eyes looked over to the four men and raised Lanyue. The four of them felt their hearts turn cold at the sight.

Lanyue looked like a dried-out corpse, extremely terrifying. The dragoness spoke indifferently. “You four still want to face me? Or do you want to end up like this woman and the other two demons?” 

Bo Tianrui shouted, his eyes bloodshot. “How dare you kill her!? Do you have no heart!?”

Yasenia’s lips arched in a sneer. “For backstabbers like you? I don’t. Now, will you continue fighting me, or do I end this here?”

Bo Tianrui wanted to charge forward, but Tang Zhihui grabbed him. “Wait.”

“What!?” Tianrui shouted, his heart twisting at the sight of Lanyue’s corpse. “Do you want me to let her leave?”

“Yes,” Zhihui answered seriously, his eyes full of caution. “Before you continue speaking, have you noticed how long it took for Yasenia to deal with those three people?” 

Bo Tianrui was silenced, and his mood plummeted. After all, how could he not realize that Yasenia only took a few minutes, or even seconds, to kill a Transcendence Realm cultivator? This clearly spoke volumes about Yasenia’s strength.

Zhihui sighed and looked at Yasenia with a complicated expression. “This time, it is we who kicked a steel plate. Let us go. We’ll surrender here.”

The dragoness didn’t bother with them. After all, she had nothing else to win in this competition. “Then, I’ll take my leave…” However, right as she was about to do that, her steps stopped. 

‘Hm… If I let them live, will they come back like annoying flies later? Moreover, they don’t even need to act personally. Just telling the Demon Sect that I killed those two will probably be enough to make me their enemy…’

“Actually… I’ve changed my mind.” 

All four of them tensed as Yasenia’s [Tyrant Warlord Intent Domain] spread around. Looking at them, she used five healing talismans and smiled coldly. “Let’s play till the end. [Immortal Big Dipper Battle Formation: Four Layers].”  

The remaining army quickly reorganized into four groups of four-layered Battle Formation. While the fourth group was creating the battle formation, Yasenia stepped forward and appeared in the middle. “[Three Layered Battle Formation Art: Big Dipper Legion Boost].” 

Strength surged within all four groups, but it was far from over. Right after Yasenia chanted, three other voices spread simultaneously. They came from the other four-layered armies. 

“[Big Dipper Legion Boost]!” 

“[Big Dipper Legion Boost]!” 

“[Big Dipper Legion Boost]!” 

BOOM!!

A terrifying aura enveloped the battlefield, making the other cultivators tremble. 

“Now… Let’s see what you guys do against this. [Four Layered Battle Formation Art: Big Dipper Star Field].” 

“[Big Dipper Star Field]!”

“[Big Dipper Star Field]!”

“[Big Dipper Star Field]!”

The sky turned black, and four constellations manifested, shining with the immense power of the stars. Then, pure starlight illuminated the dark space around Yasenia’s army, killing nearly half of the enemies. 

A single attack had reduced the enemy numbers to the point that their advantage had completely disappeared. 

The four cultivators looked at Yasenia as if she were a monster, bitter regret filling their hearts. 

But it was too late. Yasenia’s thoughts of silently leaving after dealing with the demons were already nothing but wishful thinking. 

Raising her sword, the dragoness pointed at them with a cold look. “Slaughter everyone.”

With the control and power of the Battle Formation, what occurred next was a massacre, not a battle. Yasenia dealt with everyone in the trial in just 35 minutes; the cost was a few healing and barrier talismans and losing one of her four Battle Formation groups.  

Chapter 523. Essence of the Experience Points. Soothing Time in the Core Room. (R-15) [AotSC]

In her domain, Liu Shu was constantly informing about her advances in the enemy continent. Flor and the others thought that the reason for not defending the outer edges was to avoid unnecessary casualties. After all, with the attack range of a World Tree, it was useless to use common tactics.

You could create a fortified location, but what did that matter when the World Tree could start attacking from the other side of the continent? Unlike soldiers, who took time to move from one place to another, the consciousness of a World Tree could appear in different locations at the same time.  

“Still… It doesn’t make much sense.” 

Liu Shu observed how the city before her crumbled, the earth opening as her roots pierced through. With their foundation destroyed, buildings collapsed, creating large dust clouds that blocked the vision of the remaining citizens. 

“If they wanted to create a more concentrated defense, they should’ve evacuated and gathered all civilians on the other side of the defensive line, no?” 

There was a chance that the Abyssal Void Nexus had hoped that she wouldn’t destroy everything in her way. However, that was not logical as long as they knew the rules of their confrontation. 

For Liu Shu to truly kick the Nexus out, she needed to annihilate it. Leave absolutely no traces of it on the surface of the planet. 

Liu Shu looked at the system messages. 

[You’ve defeated 132,499,801 creatures. War penalties are applied. You will only earn one experience point per 10 deaths. Further massacre of low-level creatures will reduce the efficiency of Experience Points for the final countdown.]

Liu Shu hummed when she read that message. ‘It makes sense.’ 

Experience Points were energy gained from the life force of the creatures you defeated. The stronger the life force, a.k.a. <Level> and <Tier>, the higher the experience reward. Moreover, this life force was also relative to your own.

It was not the same for a Level 10 to kill a Level 15 compared with a Level 20 killing the same Level 15. The first person would earn many more Experience Points as long as all the “variables” were the same. Moreover, if you killed low-level creatures, there would be Experience Points penalties.

At first, Liu Shu was confused as to why. However, now that she was being overwhelmed by the amount of death she was causing, Liu Shu could clearly feel the differences.

“The life force of too many low-level creatures is impure. As you level up and develop through <Energy Cycles>, your essence becomes more refined. So, for me, who is a Level 90 World Tree, the essence of a Level 74 is barely anything, while the essence of a Level 40 is straight-up harmful.”

The reason for the “penalty” was not that she was killing too many creatures. It was that she was killing too many low-level creatures. If she had killed 100 million Level 74s, she might’ve already accumulated billions of experience points. 

Of course, Liu Shu didn’t know what happened when the Accumulated Experience Points were so overwhelming compared to her own level. Perhaps there were limitations there as well. After all, too much of anything can be harmful. Even medicine, if taken in excess, can turn into poison.

Liu Shu continued her purge with a numb face. Thanks to Cinderielle and the others always keeping her Avatar company, her mental fatigue and stress were not accumulating in her excessively. Still, she would need a while of rest to return to her previous cheery self. 

Right now, Liu Shu felt numb. 

Verdantia was hugging Liu Shu’s Avatar in the room without any clothes. She was very slowly and tenderly kissing her lips, their bodies very slowly mixing. It was not an action for procreation nor pleasure. The reason was that the four of them wanted Liu Shu to feel peace and support. 

Since Liu Shu was a World Tree, they couldn’t hug her main body comfortably. Their size was too small. Therefore, to affect Liu Shu the most they could, they’ve been taking turns to fill Liu Shu’s core, her Avatar, with life. 

It was, comparatively, an insignificant amount. Nevertheless, the sense of pure bliss, love, and life her Avatar felt helped a lot with the mental burden. 

Liu Shu’s waist went up and down very slowly, her face buried in the abundance of Verdantia’s fruits. “Verdantia.”

Verdantia answered, her body flushed from tiredness and ecstasy. “Yes. I am here.”

“Hm~.” Liu Shu didn’t say anything else. Her rhythm was slow, moving up and down every two seconds. 

“Verdantia.” Liu Shu bit the two fresh fruits, drinking the delightful nectar that came from her pink and swollen cherries. 

“Y-Yes. Hn~ Love.” Verdantia shuddered, her muscles tensing for a while before becoming limp. 

Looking up with watery violet eyes, Liu Shu smiled and rubbed her cheek on the sweaty skin of her lover. She wanted to continue her actions, but the solid branch below had withered. There was a void dripping with thick nectar, making her feel somewhat anxious. 

Before she could complain, she was picked up from Verdantia’s body and placed on another one. The tall, athletic body and soft gray hair clearly distinguished her from others. The empty void in Liu Shu was filled quickly, and Liu Shu squinted and clung to her new support. 

Tempestria lay back, hard arms gently surrounding her and placing Liu Shu on top of her body. By her side, Verdantia had fallen asleep, utterly exhausted and drained. 

Not too far away, Cinderielle woke up slowly. “Ugh… How long has it been?”

Harmonixia chuckled. “Eleven hours since you slept.”

Cinderielle rubbed her forehead and yawned. “No… I mean since this started.”

Tempestria was too busy placating the voracious yet incredibly tender and loving World Tree, so Harmonixia answered. “I think… two weeks? It’s difficult to say when the natural light in here is scarce.” 

Cinderielle nodded, feeling that the guess was about right. “If we count the time since we all decided to enter the room together… Has it been four months?” 

Harmonixia chuckled. “Yeah. It seems that this big lady can’t really be satisfied.”

The Fire Sylvan’s passionate orange eyes rolled at the comment. “It’s clear that her drive is endless. As long as the World Tree itself is not tired, she won’t be tired. For us to tire her, we would need to ‘attack’ her main body… somehow.”

“That’s impossible…” Harmonixia rubbed her chin. “At least for now. Perhaps we will be able to do so after we reach a certain level of strength.”

Cinderielle stretched her elegant and well-built body. “By then…” Stopping the stretch, Cinderielle sighed. “I wonder how large she will become?”

Those words made Harmonixia pause. Her face became strange as she imagined herself embracing a World Tree larger than the entire world. “That… would be quite exciting, no?” 

Cinderielle deadpanned. “I don’t want to be seen by everyone in the world, thank you.”

Both of them stayed silent for a moment before looking up and asking. “Tiantian, how long do you think it will take to conquer the Abyssal Nexus Void Continent?”  

Liu Shu’s voice entered the <Core Room> area, not from the Avatar, who didn’t stop moving her waist for a single moment. “Probably… Half a year more? As long as they don’t put up any resistance, I just need to continue advancing. Also, I’ve decided to call this Continent the <Origin Water Continent>. It's less of a mouthful and also strips away the sense of belonging of these people.”

Harmonixia laughed, her fingers reaching out to the zither she had on her bare and plump thighs. “Is that name so that you don’t forget about that Lake Spirit you told us about?”

“T-That…” Liu Shu stuttered a bit. “...Perhaps.”

After laughing for a bit, Harmonixia started playing a relaxing tune. Her sense of music was simply flawless. Without any effort, her fingers crafted a melody that soothed the soul and heart.

“How is it, Lian’er? Do you like it?” 

“Yes…” Liu Shu answered softly. The perfectly paced chords made her insides resonate with the calming music, soothing many of her negative thoughts. Her real body relaxed, and she even closed her eyes. 

Her long canopy swayed very gently, her body moving at the soothing rhythm of Harmonixia’s music. Thanks to the four Sylvans, the scary aura of the giant World Tree had diminished to the point of being barely traceable.

Tempestria gently patted the very slow and rhythmically moving hips of the avatar. “Love. Do you think you’ll give birth soon?” 

Getting their dear pregnant was so easy that they all just assumed that pregnancy was a guarantee each time they mixed. After so many months, Liu Shu’s belly had grown quite a bit. 

The Avatar looked up with enamored eyes, her lips gently kissing and savoring Tempestria’s chin and neck. “Soon~. Yeah.”

Harmonixia hummed a melody, while Cinderielle muttered softly. “This would be, without counting the plant children, the seventh child, right?”

After Pyara’s younger sister was born, enough time passed for Liu Shu to complete another pregnancy. 

This time, Liu Shu gave birth to a Farlune, the male alraune species. Now, her full belly was about to give birth to another child. 

“While two extra children are not a large sample, we can guess that each of us can make Liu Shu give birth to a specific Alraune species.”  

Cinderielle commented, and Harmonixia agreed. “We’ll see with this baby. However, from the aura it’s giving, I bet it won’t be a common Alraune this time around.”

“Yeah.” Cinderielle agreed. “The life energy is no joke. It will probably be an A Tier Alraune.” 

“... Speaking of which,” Harmonixia asked, unsure. “Have there ever been A Tier Alraunes? I don’t have any recollection. After all, they are usually C Tier. 

Cinderielle commented. “Well, little Dewna is a B Tier, which is quite high for one. Moreover, Dewna was born when Liu Shu was still a B Tier. Now that she is A+ Tier… It’s entirely possible for an A Tier Alraune to be born.”

Harmonixia nodded, thoughtful. “Speaking of which… How are the laws revolving around these darlings going?”

Cinderielle groaned. “Don’t remind me. There are so many people who are reluctant to accept them as they are. I mean, I understand. Anyone is going to be scared or wary of a Sanguine Blaze or a Sylphaith. They are species that can be harmful just by being themselves.” 

Harmonixia frowned. “Regardless, they’ll need to swallow this bitter pill. We’ve managed to make room in our society for Poppy-related Sylvans. I don’t believe that we can make space for our own children.” A ruthless light flashed in her purple-blue eyes. “And if they don’t want to make space, we’ll carve it out by force.” 

Cinderielle didn’t show it so clearly, but she was of the same heart. For Liu Shu, these four could do almost anything. So, for the children they had with the being that they’ve devoted their souls to, they could do scary things…

While Liu Shu’s avatar was constantly soothed in the Core Room, she arrived at the edge of an inner fortress. This one was stronger for one simple reason. In the middle of the fortress, Liu Shu could see a giant Corrupted World Tree. ‘A high-level Corrupted World Tree…’ 

Chapter 1311. Gao Yuntao vs Yasenia.

Guo Yantao felt boundless pressure surrounding his body, tensing his muscles. When he wanted to resist, it was already too late. Something pulled on him, and his sight flickered for a second. 

When he recovered his vision, his spiritual sense expanded outward violently, covering thousands of kilometers around him. What he saw with his eyes and his spiritual sense left him baffled.

“I am… in space?”

A vast cosmos expanded around him, stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies flickering in the distance. The space was not pure black, though. Instead, a faintly purple gleam shimmered in his view, as if he were submerged in a primordial soup of matter.

“Not exactly. Although you are not entirely incorrect.”

It was a breathtaking view that he would have enjoyed if he had not spotted the person standing in front of him. The alluring voice that half-confirmed his thoughts made him doubt. “Is this an illusion? If you think you can shake my mind with visions, you are sorely underestimating me.” 

Yasenia smiled, her eyes curving above the black veil that covered half her face. “Illusions… I am too brutish to use such sophisticated methods. I prefer to overwhelm my enemies with absolute raw strength.” 

The man was wary, and his aura flickered. “[Charm Paradise Intent Domain… Level 3]!” 

A pinkish golden aura stretched the space around him, briefly distorting space. However, before he got liberated, Yasenia raised her hand, and the pressure doubled around him. The pinkish golden aura that had taken terrain was forcefully stopped and started shrinking once more.

“I see.” The demon smiled. “I understand. This is your Intent Domain. It’s not space, but a zone you can summon and control through your understanding of a concept. Looking around, you must’ve comprehended a profound intent like galaxy, cosmos, outer space, or something similar. Am I right?”

Yasenia was not flustered; her eyes remained calm, and she waved her hand once more. The golden-pinkish domain around the demon was suddenly assaulted by a reddish-black domain. 

A flash of surprise appeared in Yantao’s serpentine eyes. “Oh? A second Intent Domain. But… They are not combined. Individual domains that support each other…” Looking at Yasenia, he smiled faintly. “I must say, you are exceptional in other ways besides your beauty. I thought it would be too troublesome to make someone like you submit, but if you are this talented, the hassle is worth the reward.”

Yasenia’s calmness didn’t falter. The other side was probably a high-level demon with a Level 4 or 5 Intent Domain outside the Secret Realm. If each of them had their original strengths, Yasenia would flee at the sight of him. She might be able to face him using all her trump cards, but the risks were just too many. 

Nevertheless, inside here, he was restrained. Their cultivation realms were identical. So, for others to have a chance to defeat her, they must have a higher-level Intent Domain. 

But Yasenia had made a breakthrough. Her Tyrant Warlord Intent Domain was at the peak of the second level, and her Celestial Intent Domain was able to fight further developed Intents thanks to the profundity of the “celestial” concept.

“Demon. You and that other demon have been an eyesore since the first time I saw you. Now, it’s time for me to defeat you.” Draheart appeared in her hand in its giant broadsword form. Its scaly surface and shining double edge perfectly outlined her. Meanwhile, the giant red core at the bottom part of the guard pulsed like a real heart, exuding intense pressure. 

The weapon in Yantao’s hand trembled for a second. Surprise and caution flashed in Yantao’s eyes when he looked at Draheart. “That sword… What kind of ancient artifact is that?”

Yasenia grabbed the giant sword and pierced forward like a spear. “[Star Pierce].” 

A white line instantly crossed the distance between Yasenia and Yantao, piercing into his chest. Yantao realized and noticed that the white line was not damaging, but more like a locking mechanism. 

A fraction of a second later, Draheart’s red core shifted to pure white, and energy bloomed from the tip. 

White light. 

The dark, purplish space, illuminated by countless celestial bodies, was washed in white light. It crossed the distance between them at a speed that felt unavoidable, forcing Yantao to release a defensive skill. “[Dark Mantle].”

Waving his own sword, Yantao created a wall darker than a moonless night. The wall, however, was no match for the piercing white light. 

BOOM!!

Seeing the dark wall pierced and shattered, the calm face of the demon crumpled as he quickly expanded his Intent Domain to defend himself. Dreamy terrains like floating islands, gorgeous mountains, and other landscapes stood between him and the white beam. 

The terrains were destroyed for a bit until the strength behind [Star Pierce] completely disappeared. Yantao’s Intent Domain was not only a mind-influencing domain. Since it had the concept of a “paradise” in it, he was able to manipulate energy to create gorgeous pieces of terrain, delicacies, and other related concepts. 

It was by no means a weak Intent Domain, since, once you fell in it, most actions would end up exacerbating your situation. 

Yasenia shifted her stance, and Draheart changed forms. The edge slowly thinned, the length reducing and transforming into a rapier. Then, her energy surged around her, and she began a barrage of attacks. “[Star Pierce Barrage].”

Altering a small part of the activation sequence, Yasenia lowered the strength for a bit in order to be able to spam the skill at will. The second she did so, her body moved like a well-oiled machine as white beams of light pierced the Celestial Intent Domain space one after another. 

Yantao would not stay still, rushing towards Yasenia as fast as he could. Nevertheless, under the rain-like barrage of powerful beams of starlight, he was quickly restrained and kept at a distance. “Annoying!” 

His energy surged and moved, activating [Dark Mantle] and his Intent Domain as much as he could to defend himself. Yasenia’s reddish, golden-slit eyes followed his movements with ease, quickly evaluating the other party’s strength and ability to dodge. 

‘He is fast, and his body is stronger than the average Sixth Realm cultivator thanks to his demonic blood. However, he is clearly not accustomed to battle. It's expected that, as a Demon of charm, frontal battles are naturally not his forte.’ 

As she moved around and kept an appropriate distance, her draconic eyes pierced through all truths as her mind analyzed everything with incredible precision and efficiency. ‘His domain is dangerous; if I fall into it, I will be in trouble. However, it’s not impossible to resist. That’s a weakness I can exploit.’

“[Fractured Crystal Shift]!” 

The demon’s energy changed, and Yasenia was surprised to discover that this demon had Glass Attributed Affinity. The skill made the surroundings fracture like glass, and Yantao disappeared into one of the cracks. 

Yasenia quickly sharpened her senses, and her pupils thinned into vertical lines. Her world slowed down, and she quickly stepped to the side, turning her shoulder inwards as her tail lashed upward. ‘[Scorching Sword: Tail Slash].’  

Yantao appeared behind Yasenia, slashing his sword at her back. However, the sword missed, the tip missing Yasenia’s back by so little that her dress fluttered at the sword’s wake. The twisted smile on Yantao’s face faded as danger and heat hit him head-on. 

Looking down, Yasenia’s tail was ascending, covered in golden flames so concentrated that they could vaporize anything in its way. ‘She can use skills with her tail!?’

The absurdity of the situation barely had time to register in his mind before he changed his slashing motion to a defensive stance. However, the defense was flimsy.

BANG!

Yantao’s wrists hurt as his body was blasted upward together with a golden explosion. The burns around his body were enough to tell that he suffered from the precise, swift, and almost future-predicting counterattack. 

Yasenia didn’t stop there, pushing against the void and shooting up like an ascending meteor.

“You stupid dragon! [Fractured Crystal Shift]!” 

Using his movement technique, the man was sucked into one of the fractures and moved far away from Yasenia. The dragoness’s eyes followed, shining with incredible lethality. Then, her posture changed as Draheart shifted into a bow.

Her fingers grabbed the air, but where nothing was, a golden, flaming thread appeared, connecting the edges of the bow. Her back muscles perfectly moved backward, their alluring form visible from behind. When she pulled the string into a full moon, two arrows, each with the properties of the stars or the moon, manifested. “[Moon Ice Torment], [Star Pierce].”

Feeling a dangerous presence in the distance, Yantao reacted and deployed [Dark Mantle] once more, the islands of his paradise appearing behind the mantle. 

However, in an arrow form, [Star Pierce]’s penetration power was enhanced. 

CRASH!

The first arrow exploded the dark mantle and several islands, stopping not too far away from the demon. However, before Yantao rejoiced, he noticed a second arrow following right behind [Star Pierce]. His facial expression changed, and he quickly moved his energy to protect himself as much as he could. He had no time for skills. 

BOOM!!!

[Moon Ice Torment] exploded outward, covering thousands of kilometers in silver frost and creating a blizzard.

Yasenia was not done, though. She noticed how the man’s Intent Domain faltered for a second after being hit. “[Celestial Intent Domain]!” 

The Celestial Black Hole Star Energy Core spun, pouring Celestial Energy into the star that represented [Celestial Intent Domain]. The beautiful, glittering blue star shone brilliantly, and then, the cosmos fell under Yasenia’s domain. 

Yantao felt a chill rush down his spine and looked around. “What’s wrong!?”

His surroundings had changed; thousands of stars, worlds, and moons were streaking the void, falling towards him at incredible speed. It felt as if the entire cosmos around him was collapsing. 

“You—!” Yantao wanted to speak, but he was clearly cornered and needed to focus on the threat around him. He had no time to deal with Yasenia in the distance. 

From far away, Yasenia poured energy and saw as the giant celestial bodies collided into a massive ball of fire. Planets crumbled, moons shattered, and stars exploded. Magma hotter than the core of a star engulfed Yantao, making his life and death unknown.

Yasenia looked at the aftermath indifferently. While the attack was strong, strong enough to instantly kill most Level One Transcendence Realm cultivators, she didn’t believe that the demon would fall so easily. 

“Got you. [Charm Paradise Intent Domain]!” 

A voice came from behind, and soon, Yasenia was engulfed in the Level 3 Intent Domain. Looking behind her, Yantao was in a very sorry state. Half of his body was charred, while the rest was bloodied and with different degrees of abrasions, lesions, and injuries. She could easily tell that some of his bones were cracked, while the snake-tail behind him was lying limply, clearly too damaged to move.

Even in that state, his lips were arched in a wicked grin. 

The reason was easy to tell: when the Intent Domain enveloped Yasenia, the energy of the domain managed to pierce through and enter Yasenia’s body. Her eyes glazed over, and the overwhelming aura around her disappeared. 

The demon laughed and reached forward, wanting to tear Yasenia’s veil off. “Now, the only person you’ll see is—”

Stab.

“—me…?” 

His hand stopped, unable to reach Yaseia’s veil. Then, pain came from his already damaged stomach. When he looked down with confusion, he saw Yasenia’s tail deeply lodged in his dantian area. Around the tail, golden flames blazed, slowly spreading outward while consuming his flesh.

“H-How—”

Looking up, he noticed that the dazed eyes of the dragon woman had returned to normal. Now, she was looking down at him with disgusted and indifferent eyes. “A mere demon wants to charm me? Learn your place when you go to the Underworld. [Scorching Sword: Tail Blaze].”

Golden flames exploded outward and engulfed his entire body. 

“AHHHHHH!!”