Looking at the swamp around them, the girls smiled.
Evelyn laughed. "We are finally outside!"
Andrea hugged Yasenia from behind and placed her chin on her shoulder. "Our gains this time are exceptional. What do we do now, love?"
The dragoness pondered and spoke. "I mean, no matter how much more we look around, I don't think we'll gain much better gains, right? Should we return?"
The girls got thoughtful, and Kali asked. "If we get anything, what could we get?"
Yasenia pondered. "Well, we managed to get a Natural Treasure, but I doubt there is more than one in this secret realm. Natural Treasures are not cabbage that you can find at will, after all. Then, there is a chance of a second event similar to the [Library Of Trials], which can be interesting. However, there probably isn't. Otherwise, this secret realm would not be open to the public."
They found her logic sound, and Evelyn commented. "So... We leave?"
Yasenia looked around for a while and finally nodded. "The energy quality of this realm is certainly better than the outside, but that's only truth if we are not talking about our sect. The energy purity there is probably better than here. There are no extra benefits, and Yu Lei's words have created a suspicion in my mind."
Kali gently held Yasenia's hand and asked, looking up at her gently. "What did you guess?"
With a lot of certainty, Yasenia spoke. "I think they are trying to create an ambush outside the secret realm, or at least, something similar. We've been very aggressive, and Yu Lei knows that we got the [Diamond Keys]. This is nothing but a tempting piece of raw meat dangling in front of her eyes."
Evelyn chuckled. "That would only be tempting to you, love."
Yasenia scratched her cheek with her free hand and laughed shyly. "Well, you know what I meant."
The mischievous girl nodded with a smile.
At this moment, her communication device rang. Yasenia blinked and opened it.
"Young Miss, I can finally contact you. We have a small problem."
Yasenia's relaxed appearance tensed as she asked. "What happened?"
"We've received a secret message from Tengliu and Coraline. It says that the powers are preparing an ambush outside the secret realm. Even Luscia has received one from their Glass Scale Lamia Matriarch, telling her to get out of our sect because our survival rate is low. It seems that many people are targeting us."
Yasenia muttered. "I see."
Alaia asked, confused. "Did you already know, young miss? You are quite calm."
Yasenia laughed. "Well, I've provoked many powers. It would've been strange if they didn't react when I'm carrying a literal treasure trove with me. Speaking of which... Your words have clarified it, but just in case, is Tengliu's and Feathdra's situation solved?"
Alaia answered affirmatively. "It was a group out of her control that started most of the things. It seemed that this group appeared quite a long time ago, but they never did something extreme enough for Tengliu to be able to notice. Feathdra's involvement was also a good clue since her mother is one of the core members."
Alaia sighed and continued. "Young Miss, Tengliu is really competent. The plans she had shared with us were intricate and detailed to the point that the only faults I could find were those related to her ignorance about our hidden strength. I would've changed very few things if I had the same information as her. She has a level similar to us planning-wise."
Then, Yasenia heard the dragon woman grumbling. "Although I hate to admit it, I can assure you that the bird is 100% loyal to us and reliable."
The dragoness smiled funnily. "You hate to admit it?"
Alaia snorted. "After all, she did that in the past. However, I can now understand why Young Miss is reluctant to kill her."
Yasenia smiled. "Don't worry, I already know what to do with her. I'm sure the result will satisfy everyone."
Alaia answered. "Yes, Young Miss. What do you want to do with the current situation?"
Without delay, Yasenia began sharing a few ideas she had thought about.
The girls also joined the conversation, and a plan was formed.
After speaking with Alaia, the dragoness asked to place Kaleina on the device and spent the next half an hour chatting with her little baby.
Knowing Yasenia was returning soon, the little dragon began jumping and laughing happily.
Yasenia closed her communication device and talked to all her disciples. After contacting them, her brows furrowed.
'Not counting those who participated in the Library Trial, there were 25 people who came, and four of them died on the first day at the entrance. Even then, I can only contact 16... Thankfully, the four seniors who came together are safe. And the missing five people...'
Seeing their dragoness thoughtful, Andrea commented. "Love, how about using locators printed in their robes?"
Yasenia titled her head. "Hm... It only has a 100-kilometer range, though. It's quite small for this massive secret realm."
Evelyn suggested. "How about using it at the entrance? If something happened to them, they may have been captured or something to force your hand. After all, their aim is not to kill us but to get our treasures, no?"
Feeling that it was a plausible situation, they all took out their swords and streaked across the sky toward the entrance.
Meanwhile, outside the secret realm, a man with four green wings was standing before the enormous portal that led to the secret realm.
By his side, there were another five people. These people were the Mermaid Queen, Sky Scale Dragon King, Devil Smashing Ape King, Deep Sea Shark King, and Forest Sky Empress.
These six powers were part of the same alliance. It was one of the four "inner" factions between the top powers.
These four factions had grand names, born mostly from their arrogance of being strongest in Distancia.
The six gathered here were part of the "Supreme" faction, the "righteous" factions that kept order in the Continent by actively interfering.
For the second group, most of the Nine sects, the Holy Beast Empire, and the sixth strongest race, the Shadow Running Deer Clan, made the "World Arbiter" group, which was just a neutral group that minded its own business and had significant influence all across.
Then, the third group was made from objectively "evil" powers called "Continental Shadows," who actively invaded, robbed, and threw their power around for benefits without any consideration whatsoever. While at odds with the "Supremes," it was not to the point that they would start killing each other at sight.
Distancia's power balance was young, so it still didn't have time to shape itself through trials of fire and war as much as other continents where the Righteous and Demonic sides killed each other as if they considered the other side pests of the world.
"Continental Shadows" were formed by the remaining Nine Sects, the Nine Devil Puppet Sect, Nine Peach Blossom Sect, and Nine Silent Fang Sect, plus the ninth top clan Steel Back Wolves, the twelfth clan Sun Gleaming Garudas, and finally, the Ocean Chasm Empire.
At last, the fourth group was a recently emergent one, Yasenia's allies. They constituted six groups she had gathered during the previous five years, and they didn't have an official name.
The two main allies were the Storm Feather Harpy Clan, ranked tenth in the thirty-three clans, and the Sun Engulfing Ore Lobster Clan, ranked fifteenth in the thirty-three clans. The other four groups were the following: First group of pure beasts that had been shunned because they weren't beast humans, made of Dragons, Phoenixes, Turtles, Tigers, and Horses; second, the Squirrel kins Yasenia met in the secret realm, ranked eighteenth; third a beast-human Phoenix Clan called Ember Phoenix Clan she met by chance, ranked nineteenth; and last but not least, the Glass Scale Lamia Clan, ranked eighth in the Thirty-Three clans.
The Ember Phoenix Clan joined them after discovering Flame while visiting the Astral Sky Clan, the child Kaleina played with, and realizing how pure her bloodline was. Digging deeper, they learned the many benefits of the Astral Sky Clan, and they swore an alliance.
Of course, the fact that the Phoenix Queen had eyes for Yasenia and the Phoenix King couldn't stop looking at Cecile did not need to be deeply stated. Although attracted, they maintained a proper attitude, and our girls knew when someone had bad intentions and when it was just admiration.
Speaking of alliances, the Lamia clan was more of a loose ally because Luscia and her family joined them. Luscia was one of the most influential elders of the entire Clan, even having created a subclan focused on professions, which was the one Luscia had presented to Yasenia until now.
In short, while the Lamia's main group would help them, it was unknown if they would take their part during a significant conflict.
This was, putting it simply, the current power dynamic at the very top of the Distancia Continent, not considering any secret deals or favors that might be between each other.
The leader of the Jade Thunderbirds spoke. "Linghui Mingyu, did Qiao Mei Lan really say that?"
The Mermaid queen spoke, her voice cold and unchanging. "You know I don't like telling lies. Qiao Mei Lan has been an honest woman, so she should have some credibility."
The Devil Smashing Ape King, a bulky man three meters tall, spoke. "One of my core elders has made a lot of deals with the Astral Sky Clan, and she only has high praises for her. I think you've been lied to, Mermaid Queen."
"Well, I'll know once I ask."
The Forest Sky Empress asked, curious. "Do you think she will come out now or later?"
"Yu Lei told me that the dragon is very greedy, so she might stay inside until the last moment."
Hearing the Jade Thunderbird Patriarch say so, the Forest Sky Empress laughed. "She looks like an interesting person. Why not listen to Tengliu this time, Zhang Baofeng?"
The Jade Thunderbird Patriarch frowned. "She has killed so many people without considering our face. Isn't it normal to face repercussions?"
The Ape King snorted. "Wasn't she provoked first in the first place? Besides Qiao Mei Lan's report, every other incident was provoked by outside people. Moreover, we aren't even sure if Mei Lan's report is the truth."
The Mermaid Queen frowned. "As I said, we will know after we ask."
The Ape King sighed. "Hey, Linghui, do you really believe that the woman kidnapped your mermaids to force herself on them? I've seen the women by her side, and I can say for sure that they are not any less than the beauties of your clan. It doesn't make sense."
The Mermaid looked sideways, and a massive aura burst pressed onto the three-meter-tall Ape King.
His face changed, and his knees bent, almost falling face-first against the ground; the strength difference between them, even if they were at the same cultivation level, was horrifying. "I said, we'll know later. Didn't we receive reports that she has both sexual organs? The possibility is not to be ignored."
The Ape King coldly sweated and nodded. "Sure, sure. Don't get angry. I was giving an opinion."
"Unnecessary."
The Forest Empress laughed. "Did you get even stronger, Linghui? That was slightly scary."
The Mermaid Queen nodded flatly.
The Forest Sky Empress smirked. "You are so scary~. Also, I'm curious about the 'secret tool' of that dragon. Do you think it works properly?"
The Deep Sea Shark King, who had been silent, spoke deeply. "Weren't there reports of her having children? Maybe she didn't give birth but sired them."
The Empress placed a hand before her mouth as she smiled. "That's true. I really want to meet her soon."
Then, a message reached not only them but the other groups waiting for her. "We've spotted the target flying toward the exit."
"Oh? You were wrong."
"Hm. Let's prepare."
***************************************************
Kali: Do you think everything will go all right, love?
Yasenia: Don't worry, honey. I won't gamble with something like this.
Kali: En, I trust you.
Yasenia: Honey~.
Kali: Yasenia- mmmph~.
Author: Well, let's leave two do their thing. I summon you!
Ceara Denoir: Hi!
Angel: A new person!
Evelyn: Hm, how do we know about it, by the way?
Author: Well, I'm keeping track, hahaha.
Ceara Denoir: It's nice to be here~. I want to ask Tatyana something that has been bothering me.
Tatyana: Well, let's hear it.
Ceara Denoir: Since you have cultivated death to a high level, then have you really died to reach such heights and attainments in the Dao of Death?
Tatyana: Oh? That is a really interesting question.
Author: Hmm...
Tatyana: What?
Author: Won't' this answer be like a massive spoiler for your origin story?
Tatyana: Oh... Do you mean Rise of the Death Empress?
Author: Yeah. If you answer no, people will read without concerns, and if you answer yes, it might be a spoiler of a major arc.
Tatyana: Right... Ceara Denoir.
Ceara Denoir: Yes?
Tatyana: If you really want to know, send a private message to Author to receive an answer. However, answering it here might be a bit too large of a spoiler.
Ceara Denoir: Okay~. If I want to know, I'll make sure to privately message Author!
Author: Thanks for understanding, dear. And this is all for today! Bye-bye~.