When Yasenia told Star Forge to prepare because there would be more similar interactions, it was not a joking statement. During the following weeks until the Secret Realm opened, Star Forge had to drive away people almost daily. She was confused why there would be so many people interested, so she investigated a bit.
She learned that there were some people who had drawn Yasenia and copied it to share around. Many people couldn't help but become interested and decided to shoot their shot using their influence, positions, or even strength.
Some were more forceful than others. Nevertheless, when those with high cultivation levels became forceful, the Guardian Phoenix's pressure descended from the sky, pressuring them away.
Star Forge sat down and sank into the comfortable, soft sofa, sighing deeply. "How do you even live normally?" She was not annoyed anymore; that phase passed during the second week. Now, she was fascinated. "Do you know that there were even some females among those who came? It's ridiculous."
Yasenia chuckled softly. "The hardest part is already over. So, don't worry. We should see a sharp decrease in people trying to court me from now on."
Mo Yun looked at Yasenia's strangely confident look and was curious about her reasoning. "How do you know?"
The dragoness explained briefly. "There is a difference between a beauty who rejects one person and a beauty who rejects everyone. If only one or two people get rejected, the ones who might lose face are those who asked in the first place. Nevertheless, once dozens or even hundreds of people have been rejected, everyone understands that it wasn't them but the beauty's lack of interest."
Star Forge chuckled. "Ah. You are using the same logic that some use for excellence, right? You can be jealous of someone who is slightly better than you. Nevertheless, when the distance between you and that person becomes too wide, that jealousy transforms. First, it is helplessness, and then acceptance."
"Basically, yes." Yasenia smiled. "Nevertheless, we've talked almost daily about this. Let's change the subject. Do you know at what hour the Secret Realm will open? I want to approach the [Astral Death Sect] soon."
Tai Qingzhe took out a jade scroll and poured her spiritual sense into it. "Hm… According to the energy readings, it should open early in the morning tomorrow at the earliest, or during the night of the day after tomorrow."
The dragoness nodded. "We should wake up all the meditating disciples then. Have all the groups been made?"
"Of course."
After asking, time was quick to pass, and the small camp they created was cleaned. During the wait, Star Forge warned the mortal disciples about the dangers inside. "You, as mortals, need to be extremely careful. I've given each of you a life-saving treasure that can transport you out of the Secret Realm and into the city we were previously staying in. Remember that before we return to the sect, we will visit that hotel to make sure that we have everyone. Therefore, if you ever use the life-saving treasure," Star Forge emphasized. "Stay. Inside. The. Room."
Her gaze made the mortals feel as if their muscles had stiffened.
Yasenia knew about this item, which was quite famous among the Secret Realm divers. Its drawback was that it only worked on mortal realm cultivators. Transporting a Transcendence Realm cultivator instantly out of the Secret Realm was a bit too complicated for a cheap life-saving treasure like the one they were using.
One of the mortal cultivators asked, confused. "But, Elder Star Forge, if a Transcendence Realm cultivator ambushes us, we won't be able to react to it, right?"
"Yes." Star Forge was quite frank. "But Transcendence Realm cultivators, even the demonic ones, won't attack you for no rhyme or reason. Only if they are interested in one of your treasures, they might."
That mortal cultivator was not convinced. "So, if a Sixth Realm cultivator wants my treasures, I can't do anything about it and have to give them away?"
"As long as you don't want to die, yes. Only if you are with one of our elders can you think of using the life-saving treasure to go out with whatever treasure you got."
There was no fairness in the world. Inside the Secret Realm, even more so. Strength made right, and those right were the strong.
Yasenia looked at their unsatisfied expressions and looked away. 'This is the problem of cultivators that grow inside a sect. They are not aware of how greedy and ruthless the true free-for-all cultivation world is.' She herself was not going to have any mercy on other mortals if they got something she wanted. Only a few things would bar her from acting if anyone had something she coveted.
Yasenia looked into the distance, and her sharp eyes suddenly caught a strange spatial distortion. 'Oh? Is it opening already? Quite early.'
Looking at the sky, the Moon was gently shining in the middle of the clear sky. The sound of waves crashing in the distance was very clear during the night, even among the murmurs of people talking. The sea breeze caressing her skin felt slightly ticklish as the sand particles grazed her face.
'I wonder, will this Secret Realm have a beach or island structure? There are six zones that can appear. Among them, two are beach-like, two are mountainous, and two are full-blown jungles.'
If Yasenia could choose, she would very much prefer the non-beach landscapes. That way, she could use her nose. After all, smelling treasures underwater was harder than those hidden in caves or tall mountains.
"Yasenia, what are your plans?"
Mo Yun's question was normal. Among all the elders, Star Forge gave Yasenia full independence. This decision was not based on preference but strength. She knew full well that Yasenia was quite strong inside the Secret Realm, no worse than herself. So, placing her to babysit mortal cultivators was a waste of resources.
"I don't know yet. I'll see depending on which Secret Realm we fall into."
Star Forge looked at Yasenia and spoke. "Yasenia, I know that it is sometimes difficult while searching for treasures yourself. Nevertheless, don't forget to get some treasures for the sect if you can."
"Got it." Yasenia smiled. "You've helped me get this opportunity; paying back is natural."
Tai Qingzhe snorted. "Trying to cut karmic ties?"
"No. I am trying to keep them even."
CRACK!
A crisp sound spread from the distance, attracting everyone's attention. Star Forge spoke solemnly. "Stay together at first. The first few moments can be a bit chaotic, so separating will do you more harm than good. If you see a chance to go, take it."
"Understood!"
Everyone tensed up, and Yasenia squinted. 'It seems that we will all enter together. This will be my first Secret Realm where I will not wait to enter. Star Forge told me that there are some sects that deploy formations to hurt those trying to take advantage of the chaos, so the waiting strategy is not ideal.'
Yasenia pouted a bit. 'If only my Baby or Mom were here… It would be much easier.' Yasenia paused and frowned. 'I am thinking of them more often lately. I guess I am missing them even more than I thought…'
She wanted to hear Evelyn's lovely banter, fulfill Angel's pampered requests, feel Kali's gentle reassurance, soak in Cecile's calm love, sink in Andrea's trustworthy embrace, and relish in Tatyana's supporting gaze.
Looking around, there was no lack of some malicious and lustful looks. Yasenia knew that she would be targeted inside the secret realm. Nevertheless, this only made her more determined.
CRACK—BOOM!
The portal opened, and everyone rushed forward while using defensive and offensive techniques. Star Forge waved her hand, her aura exploding outward like a supernova. "[Star Forging Intent Domain Level 5]!"
Yasenia's eyes flashed with surprise. 'Fifth Level? I still was underestimating her.'
Their surroundings were instantly enveloped by a space filled with different stars, each emitting dangerous and mysterious energies. Moving her hands, Star Forge manifested tens of thousands of stars around them and created a dome to protect the group.
The attacks that rained on them quickly dismantled and destroyed Star Forge's powerful Intent Domain.
Nevertheless, it gave them enough time to cross the distance and enter the Secret Domain's space. Once they did, Star Forge's domain and everyone else's attacks were suppressed by an incredible force.
The beachy landscape was revealed. Simultaneously, Yasenia could feel all the overwhelming presences squeezing her all around disappear and transform into lackluster ones. Her Celestial Black Hole Star Energy Core began rotating, pumping energy through her meridians, soul, and body.
'To see my dears faster…'
Her eyes shone with ruthlessness as she suppressed all superfluous emotions.
'To see them in the shortest amount of time…'
Yasenia's energy began boiling as her aura transformed.
'I mustn't linger here and grow my strength as fast as possible…'
A group of two men and two women appeared in their path, clearly wanting to stop some of them. Star Forge was about to move when time seemed to freeze for a second. During this second, a presence like an ancient primordial predator appeared behind her. A chill ran up her spine as she looked backwards. 'What is this presence!?'
When she looked over, her heart jumped. She saw Yasenia's aura transform as killing intent and raw energy surrounded her body like a cloak of blood and strength. Her warm, golden slit eyes were now swirling with streaks of blood-red light as her energy made even her breath stagnant.
"Those who delay me from seeing my dears! DIE! [Firmament Dividing Celestial Twilight]!"
Spiritual Energy gathered in her giant sword as she transformed into a beam of light and rushed forward. Everyone could feel the surge of energy and turned to look over, only to have their hearts jump with terror.
Where the Celestial Dragon was, the sky had transformed into a gradient of daytime. From night to morning, through twilight and daytime, back to midnight; all hours of the day seemed to each have taken a space in the sky as a gargantuan sword light enveloped the four cultivators.
Those four felt as if the world was about to collapse around them as Yasenia's overwhelmingly strong presence surrounded them. Extreme terror swallowed them before Yasenia completed her powerful technique. 'M-Monster.'
Every single celestial body the attack illustrated transformed into rays of light that collided just as the sword light enveloped the four Transcendence Realm cultivators.
What followed was a gargantuan explosion that swallowed the sky and created a giant mushroom cloud.
BOOOM!!!!
Star Forge looked on with a stupefied expression as the bodies of the four Transcendence Realm cultivators flew, blood dripping everywhere. Extremely heavy wounds covered them, limbs bursting into gore as they crashed against the sandy beach, creating four giant pillars of sand.
With Celestial Energy swirling around her body, Yasenia turned to Star Forge and nodded faintly once. Then, Pegasus's wings merged with her own draconic wings, and her body shot into the distance like a ray of light with a single flap of her wings.
Most spectators, especially mortals, had their mouths open in shock at what had just happened. In the Mortal Cultivator's mind, Transcendence Realm Cultivators were not only powerful but also resilient. So, even when they battled together, fights would take a while.
Seeing four of those all-powerful cultivators be slammed against the sand half-dead with a single strike was shocking, to say the least.
Mo Yun whispered to the stunned leader. "Star Forge, we should use this chance to get going."
"R-Right." Star Forge blinked and quickly guided everyone away.