Ao Yuelan appeared in the middle of the grand arena and waved her hand, dispelling the illusion on the disciples. Everyone woke up slowly, their minds returning from the week-long deep illusion. Even when neither their souls nor bodies were harmed, the mentality of some took heavy hits.
Once it was done, Ao Yuelan was about to speak when some seniors moved toward the Violet Miasma Gu-Soothing Sect with angry looks.
"What is the meaning of this!?"
The people from that sect looked up with indifferent faces. Besides Zi Hua, there was a rather handsome man with dark eyes and hair. However, the good looks were ruined by the wicked expression on his face.
His master stepped forward, looking up with indifference. "What is wrong? The world was an illusion for a reason. On the contrary, what your disciples suffered was a blessing in disguise. Now they know what it feels like to get trapped."
One of them, a woman with white robes, exploded with fury. "TRAPPED!? Your disciple used his parasites to control and violate our disciples! He even made sure not to kill them!"
However, the people from the Gu-Soothing Sect were indifferent to the woman's fury and indignation. The handsome man even smiled at them. "Was there a rule that didn't allow what I did? Some demons did things similar to what I did, so I don't understand your outrage."
The woman's face went from furious to utter coldness. "From today on, the Thousand Peak Sect is at war with the Violet Miasma Gu-Soothing Sect!"
Then, she flicked her sleeves and turned around. The others who followed also declared loudly.
"Your sect has deviated too much from the Heavenly Path! Today, our Thirteen Island Sect also declares war!"
"The Burning Cloud Sect declares war as well!"
Another seven sects spoke up, clearing the skies from their pressure. Yasenia raised her eyebrow and glanced at the Violet Miasma Gu-Soothing Sect people. She noticed that not only were they not afraid, but some of them were showing faint smiles.
She had a premonition. 'Those sects that just declared war will suffer. There is a reason that a sect with practices as taboo as theirs still stands in the open. Without an incomparably powerful backing or foundation, they would've been exterminated long ago.'
A sigh escaped her, and Ao Xianlan noticed. "What do you think?"
Hearing the curious question of the dragon ancestor, Yasenia looked up to her wine-colored eyes and spoke calmly. "The Violet Miasma Gu-Soothing Sect has found themselves quite a few… nesting beds."
The other dragons were surprised, while Ao Xianlan flashed a satisfied smile. She turned toward Tatyana with her smile. "You taught her well."
Tatyana raised her eyebrow. "Of course. However, I don't dare take all the credit. Little Treasure has always been sharp in this subject. She even conquered an entire world by herself with minimal help."
Some people around were stupefied when they heard that. Ao Xianlan's eyes flashed with understanding. "No wonder… I was always confused as to where all the Faith energy came from. This makes sense."
Tatyana's eyebrows pulled together. "You can sense that? How?"
Ao Xianlan smiled. "Don't worry. I can because I am hugging her, and Yasenia has no guards around me. Otherwise, it would be impossible to do that."
Yasenia could put their words together and made sure to be more careful in the future about whom she approached. 'While I still don't understand what it is, I know that it's necessary for a Demigod breakthrough. I can't let others know, or they might try something.'
While she inwardly pondered, a Sixth Realm dragon couldn't help but voice out his confusion. "Um… Junior Yasenia, why do you think they will lose to the Violet Miasma Gu-Soothing Sect?"
Yasenia didn't answer straightforwardly. Instead, she asked back. "Why do you think a sect like theirs still stands and dares to be so arrogant and high-profile?"
Most dragons present were not stupid, and instantly, their faces changed. A single question perfectly chained all causes and effects that were about to develop.
With that, she turned to look at Ao Yuelan, who was about to speak of the second part of the tournament. Ao Xianlan couldn't help but smile, hugging the girl in her arms even tighter. She liked Yasenia more and more with each passing second.
Ao Yuelan's voice spread around. "I hope such interruptions do not happen again. Now, let's dive into the next part of the competition."
Yan Huang moved, appearing beside Ao Yuelan. "The next part is both an opportunity and a competition. I will summon all of you to the [Flame Sky Ancestral Lake]. Once there, you will have to advance as deep as you can. For you to pass, you will have to reach a layer beyond what your cultivation level usually achieves and stay there for a certain period of time."
The mortals who survived frowned at once. If they wanted to pass, they would have to bathe in the flames made to temper Transcendence Realm beings! That was straight-up suicide. A rogue cultivator with a lot of guts complained.
"This is unjust! We, mortal cultivators, won't have a fair chance at competing with Transcendence cultivators!"
Yan Huang blinked, not having expected someone to dare raise their voice while he spoke. Everyone looked toward the source and saw a strong man with sharp eyebrows and an impressive demeanor.
There was a sword on his waist, while his body was draped in green, fluttering robes. Of course, being impressed was one thing; allowing someone to stomp on his authority as one of the strongest Emperors of the world was another.
His voice was cold as he looked down from the sky and pressured with his aura. "Since you know and understand where you stand, make sure not to step into the Transcendence Realm flames. This is an opportunity that the myriad of cultivators around the world wish they could have."
The man's face turned pale as he was pushed onto the ground, his knees almost shattering from the impact. No one reacted to his actions. The fact that he didn't straight up kill him was mercy most seniors in Yan Huang's position wouldn't do.
Ignoring the fleeting interruption, Yan Huang looked at the geniuses and continued. "The time limit of this trial is two months. I wish you all good luck."
Then, he disappeared and appeared by Yasenia's side. Ao Xianlan showed a meaningful smile. "Two whole months? This is beyond generosity. You are basically pampering them."
Yan Huang smiled faintly. "This will help me rope in many geniuses that were filtered by the first trial. It's a win-win scenario. In just ten thousand years, today's investments will pay with dividends."
"...Just ten thousand," Yasenia muttered, her face strange. "Where will I be when I am ten thousand years old?"
As she pondered, Yan Huang spoke to her. "Yasenia, listen well. You must go as deep as you can and then cultivate. The [Flame Sky Ancestral Lake] is a miraculous Natural Treasure that evolved not for combat, but for purification and enhancement. Don't care about anyone inside, since they can't attack. After you are inside, the flames will incinerate anyone who dares to show hostility."
Yaenia nodded firmly. Honestly, Yan Huang's presence was very comfortable. Even when nothing developed between them, Yan Huang didn't take it as an offense and instead treated her well. She chuckled silently. 'A shame he is a man. Otherwise, I might've been somewhat tempted.'
She thought that, but her heart remained as placid as an ancient lake.
Ao Yuelan explained a few rules, which could be summarized relatively easily: Each one on their own, and they never bother each other.
After taking a deep breath, Yasenia felt Yan Huang's energy wrapping around her and didn't resist. Then, her vision changed, and she appeared in a mysterious cave. This cave was gargantuan. The ceiling of the cave was over 500 kilometers tall, and the profundity of the enormous space was several thousand kilometers deep.
Every single cultivator was standing on an invisible platform, right at the edge of a flame territory that extended deeply into the cave. Yasenia wanted to use her spiritual sense to look, but when she stretched it, it was instantly incinerated by the flames.
Surprise flashed in her eyes. 'Incredible.'
A voice reached her from the side. "Oh? So you are the one who scared my precious junior sister?"
Looking to the side, Yasenia noticed the wicked and handsome man of the Gu-Soothing sect approaching. She looked at him once, her golden eyes cold as ice, before looking away. 'He is not someone worth wasting my breath on.'
The man was stunned at the intensity of Yasenia's eyes. He smiled widely and spoke. "I love your gaze. When you are mine later, I'll make sure to see how your eyes change. Remember, my name is Gu Shen."
"Gu Shen, are you even worthy?"
A booming voice came from nearby, and Yasenia noticed a tall, muscular man with a pair of black-colored, fleshy wings and two magma-red ram horns. His body was bulky, but not excessively so. Yasenia quickly recognized him. 'Demon Monarch.'
The man grinned, showing a layer of serrated teeth. "Yasenia Dravory will be my, Drakar's, breeder in the future! You can all step away."
Gu Shen snorted at him, unafraid.
Yasenia continued ignoring them, but as she did, she felt a presence overcharged with sensuality appear behind her, wanting to hug her. Her calm face turned frosty, and her tail lashed out right behind her before whoever jumped her could touch her.
BANG!
"Oomph!"
The person who tried to jump her made a low, pained sound before flying off and smashing against the large wall behind them. Everyone became silent, not having expected Yasenia to dare attack.
Seeing that she didn't even turn to look at whoever jumped her, some people who wanted to jump, like Gu Shen and Drakar, felt a chill. 'This beautiful dragon is full of thorns.'
"Ouch… You are truly ruthless… I am so sad."
A sensual voice whined in a tone that softened the bones of many. Then, the woman appeared in front of Yasenia.
She was not tall, and her body was full of incredible curves. Honestly, her body type resembled Angel's in a way. Her skin was a light purplish color, with beautiful, white, crown-shaped horns. Behind her, a fleshy tail wagged playfully, like that of a dragon but much slimmer and more agile.
Her curvaceous body, barely covered, had a long, deep-purple mark across her chest from Yasenia's attack, showing that she had not gone easy on her.
If she had not done what she tried to do, Yasenia might've shown slight favor. After all, she loved cute girls a lot. However, Yasenia's golden eyes didn't even show a hint of warmth when looking down at her.
"Yasenia, right?" The woman smiled deeply, her face with enough beauty to send a thousand ships to win her heart. "I really like you. I can even feel that you are… delicious."
Yasenia finally opened her seductive lips, but the voice that left, although beautiful, was terrifyingly cold. "If you dare try to touch me again, Succubus, I'll slice off your tail and wings. Now, scram."
Her aura burst before the succubus spoke back, blasting her into the red flames down below.
Ao Yuelan blinked when she arrived and caught the succubus right before she fell. Her lips twitched slightly, and she coughed. "Um, Yasenia Dravory, please refrain from throwing people into the flames down there."
Yasenia nodded once.