The group that prepared to leave for the Secret Realm was organized quickly. The one leading would be Star Forge, while the Sect Master would stay behind to protect the sect. They were, after all, relatively active in terms of the conflict against the Demonic Sects.
The number of Transcendence Realm elders who went with Star Forge was 20. Other than them, some disciples, around 100 of them, at the peak of the mortal realms also accompanied them. A few of the elders would guide these disciples to see if they could get a great opportunity inside.
When everyone gathered, Star Forge whistled, the sharp sound echoing through the sky. Yasenia raised her eyebrow. 'Oh? Does the sect have a mount for long-distance travels?'
Knowing that Yasenia was curious, Star Forge explained to her and everyone who didn't know. "Our Star Immortal Sect has a robust foundation. All the ones who have gathered here today are trustworthy people, so I will reveal this small secret. The Star Immortal Sect has a guardian beast. This guardian beast is…"
Star Forge looked upward, and a gargantuan bird with white wings appeared from beyond the clouds. Yasenia's pupils thinned as the presence of the creature descended on her.
"...Part of the family of the famous [Moon Phoenix], the [Star Feathered Phoenix]. He is a Level 9 Mythical Core Beast and one of our strongest hidden aces."
Everyone opened their eyes in awe. Meanwhile, Yasenia thoughtfully muttered to herself. "No wonder I felt a familiar breath from this creature. It is related to Moon Phoenixes." Cecile's peerlessly beautiful face flashed in Yasenia's mind, and a pang of melancholy appeared in her eyes. 'I miss my sweetheart…'
Meanwhile, the majestic white phoenix with a wingspan nearing 5,000 meters landed in front of them. Then, as soon as he landed, he bowed down, and his deep, ancient voice sounded out. "I greet my Queen."
Everyone froze and looked at each other, not knowing who he was referring to. A mellow and charming voice spread out, the tone calm and natural. "Rise. You are a Guardian Beast of a sect. You shouldn't bow down to others so easily."
Everyone's head snapped towards Yasenia, their eyes full of wonder and awe.
The Phoenix raised his head and looked at Yasenia with a respectful gaze. "I will fulfill my duties. Nevertheless, a peerless beastkind of your level is someone I need to show respect to. Moreover, I can smell a trace of the Moon Phoenix bloodline within your soul."
Yasenia smiled faintly. "I understand, and I accept your gesture."
Seeing that no one was speaking, Yasenia blinked twice innocently and looked at Star Forge. "Go ahead. Weren't you explaining something?"
Star Forge almost choked on her saliva. 'You stupid dragon! I knew that your bloodline was strong, but not so much that a Peak-level Ancient Beast would bow down to you!'
Still, she managed to maintain an outward appearance and nodded. "Lord Guardian Beast. Please, carry us to the [Seven Broken Stars Secret Realm]."
"Understood." The Star Feathered Phoenix already knew the location, so he lowered his massive wing and waited for everyone to mount. When Yasenia landed on his back, the sharp people noticed the feathered tail of the majestic phoenix start to wag. However, out of respect for the majestic beast, they swallowed whatever they wanted to say.
Star Forge pinched Yasenia's side, her fingers easily twisting the woman's soft and elastic flesh. The dragoness blinked twice and looked at her with a smile. "Star Forge, if you want to pinch, my butt is softer."
The woman surrendered to the shamelessness of her friend. "You win, alright? I won't ask about the trace the phoenix mentioned."
Yasenia laughed and used her tail to drag the woman closer. Then, she hugged her side with a grin. "I will tell you if you tell me what your objective is in the Secret Realm.
"Don't even think about stealing the treasure." Star Forge looked up at the tall woman and poked her chin with her index finger. "This treasure is too important for you to snatch it. If you do, I will be forced to fight you to the death."
Seeing that Star Forge was not joking, Yasenia hummed and nodded. "Alright. I will be good this time around."
Mo Yun poked Yasenia's arm, getting the attention of our dragoness. "How are you related to Moon Phoenixes, Yasenia?"
The dragoness released Star Forge and hugged the short woman from the back, leaning her chin on top of her head. "Hm~. Perfect fit. Also, my Interlocked Soul is a Moon Phoenix. That's why Lord Guardian Beast can smell the scent of one on me."
"Wow!" Mo Yun looked up with a bright gaze like glittering stars. "I heard that Moon Phoenixes rarely decide on a mate outside of their tribe. You actually managed to seduce one?"
Tai Qingzhe was somewhat knowledgeable about beasts, so she added. "Since that Moon Phoenix is Yasenia's Interlocked Soul, that means that, more like seducing one, Yasenia and that Moon Phoenix were made for each other…" Qingzhe looked at Yasenia inquisitively. "Or am I wrong? I read a bit about beasts in the past."
"Haha." Yasenia chuckled a bit. "You are not wrong. One point for Little Zhe Zhe!"
Qingzhe gritted her teeth. "Can you stop calling me Little Zhe Zhe? Not even my parents called me that way when I was a child."
"Such a lost opportunity…" Sighed our dragoness. "It sounds so cute. Right, Mo Yun?"
"Yeah!" Mo Yun giggled. "Little Zhe Zhe is very cute~."
Qingzhe extended her claw and began pinching Mo Yun's face. "Should I call you Little Yun Yun, eh? Do you like that, eh?"
"It dhoeshn' shound baathh!" Mo Yun laughed even while Qingzhe's fingers deformed her soft cheeks.
The dragoness chuckled and leaned the side of her head on Mo Yun's soft and silky black hair. "Star Forge, how long will it take to reach this place?"
"Not long." Star Forge commented. "Even when this is the 102nd Continent, the location is very close to ours. As I said before, this continent was part of our continent cluster. Of course, what I am speaking about is a long time ago. Nowadays, no power controls more than one continent. It was an agreement made to maintain a certain level of… limits. Otherwise, war would be constant between continents."
Yasenia hummed. "It's an interesting but limiting method."
Mo Yun looked up and blinked. "How is it limiting?"
Yasenia looked at Mo Yun's cute face and smiled softly, making the woman blush. "Well, imagine this, Mo Yun. Where do you think a strong cultivator is more likely to appear? A world where war is constant, or a world where there is no conflict?"
Mo Yun looked at Yasenia's smiling face for a while before snapping out of her daze. "Eh? What did you say?"
"Hahaha," Yasenia burst into laughter and started tickling the girl between her arms. The girl burst into laughter and wriggled within her embrace. "You are so cute, Mo Yun~."
The other two caught what Yasenia was saying, and they also understood her perspective. Star Forge hummed and asked. "Do you think the death that would appear from such conflicts justifies the birth of an unmatched powerhouse?"
"No one is unmatched." Yasenia stopped tickling Mo Yun and returned to just hugging her from the back. Her love for adorable things was ever-present. "Still, for the security of the world, do you think it is better to have 100 peak-level Transcendence Realm cultivators, or one Demigod?"
Star Forge paused and understood where Yasenia was going. A true powerhouse was a deterrent not because it was unbeatable, but because defeating it was too difficult without people in the same realm.
Yasenia and the others continued discussing things, while some other elders actually joined the discussion. The dragoness didn't have anything against them, so she humored everyone. Meanwhile, the disciples listened from the back.
The journey was peaceful, with no beasts interrupting them because of the Guardian Beast's aura. Eventually, they could spot land in the distance.
Yasenia hummed. "Is that the 102nd continent? Speaking of which, I can guess that each continent has a name. You never mentioned this one to me."
"Well." Star Forge chuckled. "It has been named after the Secret Realm. It is an event that almost everyone in the world sends people to participate in." Making a slightly exaggerated yet elegant gesture, Star Forge presented it to Yasenia. "Welcome, Your Majesty, the Dragon Queen, to the Broken Star Continent."
Yasenia raised her chin. "Celestial Dragon Queen, peasant. Don't confuse it the next time."
Both burst into laughter right after.
The Guardian Beast arrived at the edge of the continent and flew inside without any problem. Yasenia could instantly feel several hundred auras sweeping over them the second they approached. Annoyed, the Star Feathered Phoenix's aura exploded, breaking the spiritual sense of everyone who dared to spy on them.
The dragoness smirked. 'Spiritual Sense breaking… That can give a good headache.'
Meanwhile, she took the chance to observe the place. Similar to the continent she came from, the Broken Star Continent was enveloped in rich Star energies. The other elements were not lacking at all, though.
Other than that, the diverse ecosystems changed constantly as they flew over the land, with some cities or towns appearing from time to time. Yasenia hummed. "We took a while to arrive. I guess that this [Blue Pearl World] is quite… large. The size feels more like a small galaxy made out of sea and land instead of space."
Star Forge explained to everyone. "We will be resting in the second city of the [Seven Broken Star Cities] group. These seven cities have some rivalry between them, but they are very united against foreigners. Therefore, be careful with what you do inside the city. Try not to offend anyone, because they are quite unreasonable. Moreover, as the 102nd continent, there are a few hidden monsters in here that are too dangerous. Our Guardian Beast's protection can only cover so much."
She continued. "We will be staying in the city for a month, and then, we will depart for the Secret Realm area. Once there, we will make camp and wait for its opening. While I won't tell you not to communicate with others, be careful. We are quite low in the rankings, so we will be looked down upon. Please don't lash out easily. Of course, don't let yourselves be bullied either. You have an honor to uphold as a disciple of the Star Immortal Sect."
"Yes, Lady Star Forge!"
Yasenia's eyes shone with interest. "I wonder what I will find here."