Learning about Yasenia's pregnancy was something they didn't expect. Naturally, all three women were curious about who could even make Yasenia willing to bear their child. While Yasenia looked approachable and beautiful from a distance, only the three of them knew how misleading that was.
Yasenia was a woman who was warm on the outside but extremely cold inside. They didn't really know how deep Yasenia's coldness or ruthlessness reached. For them to know about her true attitude, they'd need to see her in a more extreme situation, something that had yet to happen around them. Nevertheless, Star Forge, Tai Qingzhe, and Mo Yun were close enough to our dragoness to see the hints of coldness radiating from deep within her soul. This let them know that Yasenia could be extremely ruthless.
With that in mind, their curiosity was nothing but a natural reaction. Yasenia pondered on how to answer their question. "Hm… I can't really tell you about that person without revealing a few personal details about them. If we get to know each other a bit better, I'll tell you. Still, my pregnancy is slow, and I can't really stay holed up during the entire process. So, I hope that you three don't start looking after me as if I am a fragile porcelain doll."
Star Forge laughed. "Are you sure?"
Yasenia pouted, her seductive facial features adding a charming, adorable touch that felt illegal. "You should nod to my words while protecting me in the shadows! Can't you be a bit romantic for once?"
Star Forge rolled her eyes. "Ask the person who made you pregnant. We are not your wives."
Yasenia blinked and looked at the other two with a slightly pitiful expression. "You won't protect my baby and me?"
Three critical hits struck the hearts of the women in the bath. Qingzhe coughed, trying to calm her pounding heart. "Y-You just be honest and stay by our side when we leave."
Mo Yun nodded like a pecking chicken. "Right, right, right. You are someone who needs protection, so of course, we will be by your side."
Star Forge clicked her tongue. "Seductress. I'll tell your husband later."
The dragoness smiled teasingly. "Sure. Tell my husband."
'After all, I have no husband. Only wives. Hohohoh.'
They all continued teasing each other for a while, and after two days of bathing together, they left the water. With their cultivation realm, staying in a pool for a day or two was not a significant matter.
Yasenia, Star Forge, Mo Yun, and Tai Qingzhe all went together to check on Yasenia's disciples. It has been almost 14 years since she accepted the first disciples. Therefore, there have been major changes in terms of the realm of the most veteran disciples.
After they all gathered in a large stadium Yasenia built, the dragoness smiled faintly. "Not bad."
While the increase in realms was not exaggerated, the changes she could see at a glance told her that they had not been lazing around. Looking at Luan Feixue, Yasenia could easily see the changes in maturity. The youthfulness of the past was mostly gone, leaving behind a beautiful and mature woman pushing 40. Of course, as a cultivator, her appearance remained perfectly young and beautiful. The change was more in aura and temperament.
'Has she gone through a lot during the last 14 years? I should ask her in depth later.'
Yasenia moved her gaze away and spoke to everyone in the room. "Almost 14 years have passed since I came to the Star Immortal Sect. During this time, I've stayed in the sect for about half of that time. Naturally, I've been observing you and know who practiced, who didn't, and who abused others."
Star Forge could easily keep track of these matters with a simple sweep of her spiritual sense around the area. Therefore, there was nothing that could escape her eyes. Also, while Yasenia was here, she marked the problematic disciplines as well.
Those who committed wrongs became slightly nervous. Yasenia commented. "I won't punish anyone, though. Well, not exactly." Yasenia started. "Those who have committed wrongs won't receive penalizations. Nevertheless, there are benefits to be divided among all of you, and those I marked will stay off of the reward list."
Her words caused a commotion. No one was happy about this. Those who were abused wanted justice, and those who abused were jealous of the ones who would receive benefits just for being "weak." After all, they were convinced that if the strengths were switched, the other party would've done the same.
Mo Yun, Tai Qingzhe, and Star Forge were somewhat confused about Yasenia's way of doing things. They could tell that she was quite good at teaching others. Therefore, instead of judging, they remained silent and observed Yasenia's next moves.
Yasenia smiled secretly while looking around and commented. "Now, those whom I call will leave the stadium until I call you again. Althan Farthur, Xie Fuxue, Tang…"
Yasenia's mellow and rich voice echoed around, pleasant for everyone listening except those who were named. She continued naming people for around 10 minutes.
"Great." Yasenia smiled at those who were left behind. "Now, the reward for all of you is the following: I'll pressure all of you with my presence. This will last until you can't hold on. If you faint, you will be taken out as well. So, there is no chance of death. We begin in one minute. Prepare."
The disciples frowned and were confused. They saw how Yasenia sat cross-legged and closed her eyes, her hands gathered in the hollow of her legs.
"Um. Elder Yasenia, how is this a reward?"
"Right. Elder Yasenia, isn't this more like a punishment?"
While there were people complaining, others were not that daft. Luan Feixue looked at those complaining with a sneer. 'Stupid people. You should shut up and follow Yasenia's orders.' Then, she sat cross-legged and regulated her breath.
Many others followed Luan Feixue's example before the minute passed.
After that minute went by, Yasenia opened her eyes, and pressure spread out without a single shred of mercy.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Those unprepared people were slammed against the ground with such force that some of them lost consciousness straight away. Yasenia's energy flowed, and they were thrown behind her, away from the area she was pressuring with her energy.
The others who were prepared fared better, their bodies instantly tensing up. Yasenia's pressure felt like a giant trying to squeeze their bodies, making even breathing difficult.
Everyone began perspiring under Yasenia's coercion, and after 3 minutes, the first people started leaving on their own, too scared to continue until they fainted.
When those disciples who had left wanted to stay with those who had fainted, Yasenia spoke to them. "Those who have not fainted stand on the left behind me."
Her cold voice compelled them to obey, not daring to ask for the reason.
For the following 3 hours, the disciples would either faint or leave on their own. By the time the event ended, Yasenia had separated the bulk into three groups. Those who fainted straight away, those who left on their own, and those who stayed inside her pressure until they fainted.
Yasenia looked at Feixue, who was among the last people to faint, and smiled. 'That girl has come a long way.'
After she stood up from her seated position, Yasenia turned and looked at all the disciples. "That was the reward. Now, those who fainted straight away will stop being my disciples and will be expelled from my mountain peak. Those who stood up and left on their own will have no extra rewards. Finally, those who strained their bodies until they fainted will receive an extra chance each month to challenge the Tower. Moreover, they will receive one pill that costs less than 200 Sect Points. That's all."
Those who fainted straight away were naturally indignant. Therefore, they stood up and began complaining.
"Elder Yasenia, that's not fair!"
"Right! We are no less qualified than others!"
"It was Elder Yasenia who ambushed us! You can't be so arbitrary with such important matters!"
Luan Feixue got annoyed and spoke up, her tone cold and piercing. "A bunch of trash who can't even follow one simple order wants a second chance? You should look into yourselves before speaking a bunch of rubbish in front of a Sect Elder."
One woman in the first group frowned deeply and spoke up. "It is easy for you to speak when you were not disqualified unjustly! Can you stop asking for affection from Elder Yasenia? She won't take you in even if you want her to!"
Feixue snorted. "You can't even understand the reasoning behind Elder Yasenia's test, yet you dare speak up. Your current actions are enough to justify Elder Yasenia expelling you!"
Yasenia didn't intervene and looked at them with an indifferent look.
The woman who complained snorted and spoke disdainfully. "If you are so clever, why don't you explain what Elder Yasenia is thinking!?"
"A cheap attempt!" Luan Feixue spoke coldly. "If you think that my guessing Elder Yasenia's thoughts is going to make her somehow angry, you are truly short-sighted. Now, let me school you."
"First! The reason Elder Yasenia didn't punish those who abused people is that they did nothing wrong! They are just competing within the Sect Rules for resources and showing strength in character. After all, there have been no cripplings, just a few beatings. Their methods are not reward-worthy, but they are not punishment-worthy! We, cultivators, rule by strength!"
"Second! Elder Yasenia gave out orders to see who here can follow orders from a superior and who can not. Outside the sect, going against a high-level cultivator's words, even if they are in the wrong and you are in the right, can very easily end up with you being the one who dies! Again, we live in a world where strength makes right! No amount of pity or correctness will save you from being killed by an annoyed senior!"
"Third! Elder Yasenia tested the strength of character through mounting pressure on us and pushing our wills to the limit. Those who left on their own were fearful, so they left! What is there to fear when there is no threat of death? Elder Yasenia even warned us that she would personally take care of our safety. So, those who left do not only lack trust in their Elder, but their will is weak enough not to push themselves to the limit in a situation where rewards await us."
"Fourth! We, those who persevered, had shown all the qualities Elder Yasenia considered positive. Therefore, we are receiving rewards. We've shown that, while we don't abuse others and show strength outwardly, we are not pushovers! In a situation where it is necessary, we have enough will to do what those abusing others are doing, and even more!"
Once Luan Feixue was done, everyone was looking at her with a stupefied expression.
Star Forge, Tai Qingzhe, and Mo Yun looked at Feixue with appreciation and faint smiles. 'A talent worth nurturing.'
'A great child. Her future is boundless.'
'What a cute girl! I should give her some rewards later!'
Meanwhile, the woman who was scolded without a single slur to such an extent was pale-faced, unable to retort a single word.
Yasenia chuckled and spoke. "Nothing else to add. Great job, everyone."
Then, she turned and left with the other three elders. They needed to prepare to depart for the Secret Realm.