Yasenia rested in her Cosmic Dragon Form, internalizing her gains as the energy of comprehension entered her body. She didn't care if people saw her. 'If someone comes to bother me, great! I'll have sparring partners to help me internalize my new understandings.'
With a body as large as hers in a relatively flat area where trees were the only sight impediment, a large number of people were able to spot her. To say that many were shocked was an understatement.
Dragons of Yasenia's size were usually near the peak level of the Sixth Beast Realm. So, even when many saw her, they made sure to take a detour, thinking that she was an impossible obstacle created by the Illusory World.
Yasenia ignored everyone. 'Celestial Sunder is the only skill I've managed to comprehend deeper. Is this the realm of Big Improvement? I can feel a strange force behind the skill.'
Celestial Sunder could be said to be Yasenia's most basic skill. The concept behind it was not deep at all. She gathered Celestial Energy and then created a sharp annihilation crescent that tore through the target. In a way, it was pure concentrated Celestial Energy mixed with some Weapon Concepts.
Depending on what Yasenia used, the effects would vary slightly—a sword, halberd, spear, gauntlet… each had its peculiarities.
After ten hours lying down, Yasenia's wounds and tiredness recovered for the most part.
'No one came to bother me? That's strange. I thought many people would besiege me.'
If anything, her face had a strange expression because the one who approached her was not even an immortal.
Yasenia's spiritual sense moved to her side, and she saw a peak-level mortal human woman looking up at her with glittering eyes. She was short, her body also quite slim, making her look very young. Of course, looking at her bone age, Yasenia could tell that this woman was over 700 years old and on the verge of achieving Transcendence.
The mortal woman tapped her chin and approached her side, poking her lower belly. The woman was even smaller than one of her scales. Honestly, a single sneeze would blow this girl into smithereens.
Sighing, Yasenia moved her head and twisted her neck to look down at her.
Everyone who was spectating was sweating coldly for the mortal woman. 'Look up, you stupid girl! Can't you sense a strange shadow above your head!?'
As if she suddenly realized the lack of sunlight, the woman blinked and looked up. "WOA! Giant Dragon!"
Everyone felt an urge to slap the back of her head. 'Couldn't you tell while poking the quite literally mountain-dwarfing dragon!? Did you really think that she was a mountain!?'
Yasenia asked the dust mote—human girl. "What are you doing?"
"WOA! Giant Dragon who can speak!"
The people from that girl's sect shrank their presence as much as they could. They were unable to watch any longer, wishing that the earth would swallow them whole, never to spit them out again.
The girl floated up on her sword, looking around with wonder. "This Illusory World is truly marvelous. What kind of dragon species is this? I've never seen something similar."
Yasenia was so exasperated that she became amused. 'Does this girl truly believe that I am part of the illusion world? Or is she acting stupid?'
"Of course you haven't. I am a Progenitor. The first of my species."
The woman blinked twice and tilted her head. "Hm… why are you answering my words? Are you the reward for defeating that awfully strong beast?"
"Oh?" Yasenia's scaly eyebrow raised minutely. "You've also defeated that thing? Quite impressive."
Now that she thought about it, all surviving participants should have defeated their Illusion Beasts. Otherwise, they wouldn't be here.
When the woman heard those words, things finally clicked. Her eyes widened, and she pointed angrily at the giant dragon. "You! You are not part of the illusion! Why did you deceive me!?"
Yasenia almost flicked her, but she resisted. Instead, she began to stand up, making the entire place tremble beneath her giant frame. The sight of the Celestial Cosmos Dragon standing up and stretching her wings was mesmerizing.
Once Yasenia stretched her wings, the Sun and Moon in them seemed to become the real deal, glowing in the starry night sky she created with her own massive wings.
"Such a beautiful dragon…" The woman muttered, awed by the spectacle unfolding before her.
The spectators couldn't really refute this time. They didn't have the time previously because of the battle, but now that they could roam their eyes freely, they realized that Yasenia's dragon form was empyrean and otherworldly.
"Girl." Yasenia's voice echoed majestically. "You were lucky this time around. However, never approach large beasts in the future if you are not confident in beating them up."
The girl blinked and nodded.
Yasenia then jumped up, her massive wings stretching for over 100 kilometers, carrying her to the sky with each flap.
As she flew, Yasenia suddenly recalled something. 'Wait…' She quickly rechecked the woman's information.
***
Name: Chen Xueli
Cultivation Realm: Half-Step Dantian Spiritualization Realm
Affiliation: Radiant Flow Sect.
Bone Age: 714
Race/Constitution: Lightblessed King Human
Bloodline: Pure Light Marrow Source
***
Chen Xueli sighed with reluctance as the giant dragon flew away. 'She was so pretty—such a shame. Ah, I didn't check her page! Let me see so that I can visit her later.'
Chen Xueli happily checked her information, but when she did, her smile froze on her face. The expression was extremely comical, her eyes rereading time and time again to make sure that she wasn't having a hallucination.
As she was in a daze, the group around her trembled again, her body losing footing as she fell on her butt. Chen Xueli quickly looked up and saw the giant dragon looking down at her with curiosity. Her body broke into a cold sweat. 'Isn't this dragon the super genius that the master told me to stay away from at all costs!? Agh! Master is going to spank me again when I return!'
Knowing that she had no chance to resist, she flopped on the ground with open arms. "Ah… the sweet release of death. I am sorry, Master, Uncle Master, Junior Brother… Chen Xueli could only come this far."
The people from the Radiant Flow Sect were either fuming with anger or hiding in embarrassment. Even Yasenia almost burst into laughter. 'This girl is so silly.'
"Hey. Don't worry, I won't eat you. I just wanted to ask you something."
Chen Xueli was as quick to give up as she was to recover. With an energetic jump, she looked up with glittering eyes. "Really!? You won't eat me!?"
Yasenia smiled playfully as she lay on the ground with her arms crossed before her body. "I've only eaten a few humans, and the taste is not that good. Don't worry. You are not appetizing."
"O-Oh."
"Anyway, do you know someone called Lidia?"
Chen Xueli blinked and asked, confused. "How do you know our number one talent's name? Little Lidia calls me Big Sister, for your knowledge!"
Yasenia was not surprised that she was called as such. If Lidia was at the peak of the Fifth Realm, that meant that she had achieved that benchmark at less than 200 years of age.
After all, Lidia was only as old as Andrea, around 15 years older than Yasenia. "Well, I do know her in passing. She was quite talented, so I was wondering if she is participating in this tournament."
Everyone's interest in Lidia soared for a bit. For someone like Yasenia to call her talented, the woman couldn't be less than a super genius.
Chen Xueli shook her head. "Master asked her to come, but she was in closed-door cultivation. She said that she didn't want to step out until she broke through into the Transcendence Realm."
"I see." Yasenia nodded thoughtfully and then asked. "Do you want some help? I can carry you around and help you hunt for a bit as thanks for the information."
Chen Xueli asked, excited. "I can mount you!?"
Yasenia finally couldn't hold herself and flicked the woman as gently as she could.
BANG!
"Waaaaaa!"
Yasenia blinked as Chen Xueli soared to the sky and became a new star on the horizon. "Sigh…"
With a shake of her head, Yasenia flew after her.
The spectators couldn't help but feel their lips twitch. 'Well… she deserved that. Who dares to tell a dragon that to their face?'
After catching up with Chen Xueli, Yasenia used her spiritual sense to help her hunt as she also attacked nearby beasts of her level. This place was quite a good opportunity, so she couldn't really waste time.
Chen Xueli noticed that Yasenia was about to leave and smiled. "Thank you, senior! I will remember this favor!"
Yasenia chuckled. "No need for that. There are only two days left, so try not to be eliminated."
Chen Xueli gathered her courage and asked, her voice trembling a little. "T-That. Can you help me? I promise not to say anything! I… um, I would rather not hunt beasts for the last two days and survive by accompanying you."
Yasenia paused and pondered. "These last two days might be a bit chaotic for me. Carrying you will only place you in danger. The geniuses of the world won't give up a chance to challenge me before the real deal. I can already sense quite a few spiritual senses locked onto me, ready to attack at any time."
"Oh…" Chen Xueli was like a deflated balloon.
Yasenia chuckled, and her tail moved.
BOOM!
She pierced the ground, creating a cave several kilometers long. "Go inside. I'll seal the entrance."
Seeing the massive cave created by a single tail strike, Chen Xueli was somewhat speechless. 'So strong…'
After helping the girl hide, Yasenia wished her good luck and soared to the sky, flying far away from that location.
Many people noticed what she did, but no one really cared. Instead, they followed behind her, ready to challenge her in the last two days.
Yasenia's easygoing nature quickly disappeared, coldness and majesty returning to her. The dragon soared across the Illusory World, stars raining in her wake and slaughtering countless beasts.
She was like a moving natural disaster, leaving a destroyed forest in her wake. The forest recovered after a while, though.
Even then, following her trails was easy as she left a wake of pure destruction.
As she flew, she noticed almost 20 figures flash around her and flare their auras at once. "Halt!"
The world around Yasenia was flooded by powerful people, but Yasenia didn't show a hint of caution. "Let's see if you can catch me first. [Celestial Intent Domain]."
Then, the dragon that covered the sky suddenly vanished, as if she were a simple illusion.