Yasenia couldn't help but feel impressed at the strength of the [Astral Death Sect]. The number of Seventh Realm cultivators in the sect was only two: the Sect Leader and the Saintess. However, each of the other top 20 elders was a peak-level Transcendence Realm expert!
'Where did Mom even find so many top powerhouses? Each of these people could very well be a Sect Master of a top sect back in Sky Continent.'
From her memory, even the leaders of the Heavenly and Demonic sects were just at the peak of the realm. Even those powerful Ice Phoenixes, Eira and Boreas, who battled the demons, were standing on the same level of strength.
With that in mind, Yasenia decided to take it seriously. Her cold demeanor didn't change much, other than her silver eyes becoming minutely sharper. Hei Lin began the conversation. "Now that we've found the person Lady Death Saintess was looking for, let's start our conversation about the immediate future."
He looked at Xing Jimie, and the woman nodded lightly. Her tone was aloof. "Yasenia Dravory will become my temporary disciple and enter our sect with the identity of a Core Disciple. Don't look at her cultivation realm, since her age has probably not reached over 400 years."
She couldn't be sure due to how unique Yasenia's body was, but with her Death Affinity, she could tell that Yasenia's vitality was like a newly born star, bright and filled with endless energy and potential.
One of the elders frowned when he heard Xing Jimie's words. His daughter had been desperately eager for the Death Saintess to admit her, and for a while, there was a rumor that the Death Saintess would only take one personal disciple.
If this person took that spot, then what about his daughter? Therefore, he spoke up lightly. "I understand that her talent is great. Nevertheless, isn't this an injustice for those who have been eager to become Lady Death Saintess's disciples?"
Yasenia's eyebrow didn't even flinch when he spoke. She was indifferently glancing at whoever spoke, because she knew that she didn't even have to raise a finger.
As the dragoness expected, Xing Jimie's cold expression hardened, showing a trace of danger. "Elder Jun, I said it before, and I'll say it again. The only reason I came here together with Hei Lin to open a branch is to search for this person. In a way, this entire sect's strength was initially gathered just to search for Yasenia. Is that clear?"
Xing Jimie didn't like Yasenia, but she was clear on her mission. For her, sacrificing everyone in this sect just in order for Yasenia to make it out safely and reach Tatyana's side was not a far-fetched idea! This was also one of the reasons why Xing Jimie didn't like Yasenia taking risks. If she could, she would place Yasenia in her sleeve and only allow her out once delivered!
Elder Jun looked at Xing Jimie for a moment and then bowed lightly. "This elder understands." Then, he looked at Yasenia and spoke lightly. "Junior Yasenia, I hope you are merciful. The position you are in will call forth the jealousy of most of the sect members. Remember not to be too heavy-handed."
Yasenia glanced at Elder Jun and answered lightly. "I will retaliate appropriately. As long as no one wants my life, I won't take anyone's life. I have that much property. Nevertheless, know that I will not remain with arms crossed."
Since she just needed to live here for a few months, she could go into seclusion and just wait. Either way, she still had to stabilize her foundation. Her breakthrough had been very hasty, after all.
Elder Jun frowned for a second. "Your strength is for all to see. If someone who didn't have a chance to injure—"
Yasenia interrupted. "Elder Jun." Her voice was a few degrees colder than before. "You probably have an idea of who wants to hurt me. You also seem reluctant even to stop that person, so I will guess that it is a family member."
Elder Jun didn't show anything, but inwardly, he cursed at himself. 'I gave out too many clues.'
"If you can't manage that person, send them into secluded cultivation for a year. If you do that, she won't fall under any danger for trying anything stupid."
Yasenia's words were logical and measured, so Elder Jun didn't say anything else. Whether he would accept Yasenia's advice was another matter altogether, though. Age did increase one's wisdom, but it also made people harder to bend on their ideas.
If your experience over several thousand years about one thing remains the same, you won't be able to become flexible and think otherwise with just a few words from another person. Which is why many people with tens of thousands of years would seem like they were courting death, but instead, it would be their stubbornness and overconfidence that finally became that insidious killer it was meant to be.
Xing Jimie spoke again. "As I said, I will personally take care of Yasenia. What I need you to do is chase off any bugs and ants that come asking for her. Things will get resolved soon, either way. Only Yasenia took a few treasures from the Secret Realm, so there will be covetous wolves and vultures roaming the surroundings."
Elder Jun blinked and raised his head. "Did Junior Yasenia get the Star Breaker Realm Bead? If that's the case, shouldn't she give it to the sect so that we can integrate it into our teaching system?"
Xing Jimie didn't answer; instead, she looked at Yasenia. Personally, the Death Saintess was quite ignorant about this bead's effects. So, she decided to leave the decision to Yasenia.
The dragoness spoke lightly, her words cold and clear like a moon lake. "The treasure is linked to me. After I refined it, I changed its nature so that it became a personal treasure. It won't be able to nurture disciples in any way, as it is usable only by me."
Elder Jun was first startled, and then angered. He, with a few other elders, glared at Yasenia. Elder Jun took the lead in scolding. "You selfish junior! How could you transform a treasure that can create a sect of powerhouses into a personal treasure!?"
"Doesn't your conscience hurt!?"
"You've transformed a peerless treasure into some glorified training room! Death Saintess, please punish this impudent junior!"
Xing Jimie's expression turned exceptionally cold, and even before Yasenia could say anything, she lightly slapped the table.
BOOM!
Death Energy surged out like a black fog, enveloping everyone in the room. The Death Saintess's words became ghostly as she held her anger. "You all don't have any authority to bully or scold this venerable's disciple! Shut your mouths right now if you don't want to taste what the [Death Law] can do to cultivators of your mettle!"
Yasenia was slightly surprised, her silver eyes rippling as she looked at Xing Jimie. While this person had been somewhat hostile towards her, she did protect her during the important moments. This made Yasenia's guard reduce by over half.
Everyone in the room couldn't speak, feeling suffocated. The Death Saintess retracted her aura and stood up slowly. "Hei Lin, I will leave everything else to you. I will lead Yasenia away."
Her cold eyes landed on the dragon woman. "Follow me."
Yasenia blinked and silently stood up, following behind with light steps. The elders who were scolded couldn't help but glare at her gently swaying tail. It felt as if the long tail was mocking them as she left.
Hei Ling looked at everyone gathered with deep eyes. "Alright, since that's sorted out, let's see how we can continue our local development now that we've completed our main objective…"
Meanwhile, outside, Yasenia walked behind Xing Jimie silently. The Death Saintess was not a tall woman, measuring around 162 centimeters. Her long black hair reached her shoulder blades, a large part of it coiled into a simple yet elegant updo. Her body exuded a natural aura of deterrence, making it impossible for anyone to close the distance, even if they wanted to.
Xing Jimie spoke lightly without turning around. "I can sense that your cultivation is unstable. I don't know what you did, but you must start cultivation quickly to stabilize your foundation before irreversible damage is dealt to it."
Yasenia nodded lightly. "I will."
Xing Jimie's eyebrow twitched once. "You must call me master and speak formally to me from today onward. I will come to find you every day, and you must do as I tell you. At least, until Lady Death Empress arrives, you are under my care. Understood?"
Yasenia blinked and pondered. After a while, she answered. "As long as Lady Death Saintess's words are not unreasonable, I will be obedient." After hesitating for a moment, she added. "Um, Lady Death Saintess, there is a detail you must know. But you must keep it a secret."
Xing Jimie nodded lightly. "Speak."
"Yes. Lady Death Saintess, I am currently pregnant. So, please be mindful."
"Huh?" Xing Jimie stopped walking and turned around for the first time, her eyes full of bewilderment. Looking down, she couldn't see any bulge, so she was confused.
Yasena spoke lightly. "My stomach has become somewhat larger lately, so I've been hiding it with spatial pockets." As she spoke, she lightly waved her hand, and suddenly, her lower stomach popped out a few centimeters. In terms of human pregnancy, it looked like a 12-week-old pregnancy. Now, the volume was enough for Yasenia to use both her hands to cover it.
Xing Jimie was startled. "That…" Instantly, all the anger she had accumulated was slashed by half, only to quadruple right after. She glared at Yasenia and approached her, pointing at her angrily. "You are in this situation, and you still dare go out!? Don't you know how to stay silent in your home during your pregnancy?"
Xing Jimie was old, and therefore, quite old-fashioned. Still, her words were not overboard at all. Even when a female cultivator's belly was their strongest body part during pregnancy, thanks to the powerful placenta, that didn't mean that they could receive the same amount of punishment.
For example, a Transcendence Realm cultivator could survive even if someone made a hole in their stomach, but if that happened to a pregnant lady… well.
Yasenia spoke lightly. "I understand. Nevertheless, I am not in a position where I can stop."
"Not even for your child?" Xing Jimie asked frostily.
Yasenia's face was serious. "I can. But this time, I am not in a normal situation. If I didn't gain enough influence, I would be in trouble and hiding away all the time. Who knows when I would've been able to actually take a step forward in my cultivation?"
Xing Jimie glanced at Yasenia, and seeing a hint of distress in her silvery cold eyes, she couldn't help but soften a little. Even then, she sternly warned. "Since I know, you will now live like half a cripple! If you dare go jump around with this big belly of yours, I will smack you until you ask for forgiveness!"
Yasenia's lips twitched. 'Well, I have enough treasures to digest for a long while. So, there is really nowhere to go, even if I wanted to.'