After discovering Yasenia's pregnancy, Xing Jimie guided Yasenia to her cultivation peak and gave her a large room with concentrated and natural energy. Even if the zone was primarily filled with Death Energy, that didn't mean that other Yin Attributed energies didn't gather. For example, energies such as Darkness, Moon, Blood, and Ice naturally gathered within it.
Yasenia, therefore, didn't find it uncomfortable. Xing Jimie guided her around. "This set of houses is kept clean by maids and stewards. If you need anything, call them." Looking to the side, the Death Saintess spoke lightly. "Cai Xue, come over."
A pale woman with dark eyes and hair stepped forward and bowed. The dragoness was faintly surprised, since she failed to sense her presence before the Death Saintess called. Her eyes moved to the woman, and she noticed that her presence was basically non-existent.
The woman's hair was tightly tied in a bun, with a wooden hairpin across it. Her facial features were beautiful, but not eye-catching. She was more like a modest and easy-to-miss beauty who only caught the attention once you looked closely.
Her dress was even less remarkable, a plain beige robe with short sleeves and no accessories. The only thing that was even somewhat eye-catching was the brown gem on the head of the wooden hairpin. Still, Yasenia felt as if her eyes were having trouble focusing on that brown gem, as if it were trying to slip from her scrutiny.
Xing Jimie glanced at Yasenia and hummed. "Not bad. Your perception is quite sharp if you can notice so many details."
Yasenia blinked and asked, curious. "Lady Death Saintess, why am I having such a hard time detecting her?"
Xing Jimie, as old-fashioned as she was, answered matter-of-factly. "A maid must be invisible until called; they are there to serve their masters and not bother them with their presence. Therefore, all her clothes and accessories have stealth and aura-suppressing enchantments. You don't know, but there are currently four other maids in our room."
Yasenia was, once more, startled. Her senses spread out, and, for the first time, Xing Jimie showed surprise in her eyes. 'Incredibly sharp Spiritual Sense. How did she train it to this extent at her current age?'
While it was difficult, Yasenia was able to pinpoint the location of the four maids in the room, looking them straight in the eyes. The maids, not expecting to be found, were startled and quickly knelt down. "Please, forgive these little ones, Lady Death Saintess! We failed to hide our presence appropriately!"
Xing Jimie waved her hand. "You are forgiven; it is this child who is excellent, not you who is lacking." Then, she glanced at Cai Xue and spoke lightly. "You will become Yasenia's personal maid. She is pregnant, so I expect appropriate care." Her eyes then narrowed slightly as she glanced up at Yasenia. "Also, stop her from running around. This child's energy is too high, so she doesn't know how to stay still when she needs to."
Yasenia showed a wry smile. "Sorry…"
Cai Xue bowed lightly, her movements as silent as a ghost's. "This humble one understands."
Xing Jimie nodded and then looked at Yasenia sternly. "You've spoken to me about your pregnancy, so I will assume that you trust me to a certain degree. Child, tell me your real age. I will need to take it into account for some things."
The dragoness hesitated. Somehow, she could feel that her age would be even more shocking than her pregnancy. Xing Jimie looked at her hesitant expression and harrumphed. "What? Are you scared that I can do something with that knowledge?"
Yasenia quickly shook her head. "No, no… It's just, I feel that you might get too much of a shock if I say my real age…"
Xing Jimie rolled her eyes. "What talent have I not seen during my over 100,000 years of life? Just tell me."
Yasenia coughed and nodded. "Alright, here it goes, then… I am physically 126 years old."
When she arrived back then, it was just after her one hundred and second birthday. After spending 10 years in the secret realm, she had stayed in the Blue Pearl World for over 24 years. Then, without taking into account Yasenia's 23 years inside the War Trial, her age was only a little over 100 years.
When Yasenia spoke, even the maids at the side choked and lost composure. Xing Jimie's eyes were wide open, looking at Yasenia as if she were a freak of nature. The dragoness found the Death Saintess' current expression quite funny, but she held back her laughter. Even when her current mood was colder than usual, that didn't mean she was as stiff as a wood pole.
Xing Jimie quickly recovered her wits, her heart still pounding somewhat erratically. 'A 100-year-old Second Level Transcendence cultivator!? Is that even possible!?'
Yasenia coughed, startling Xing Jimie out of her thoughts. The woman reacted and put on a cold expression again. "It's indeed impressive. You are a talented child… Wait." Her face became somewhat awkward as she looked at Yasenia's curvy stomach. "...Who is the beast that got you pregnant!?"
There was a trace of anger in her eyes. Yasenia, in dragon years, was still a child. Of course, her mind, body, and everything else had long reached maturity through pills and forceful development, matching it with human-level maturity. Nevertheless, Xing Jimie was unaware of it.
Yasenia coughed. "Calm down, Lady Death Saintess. I am a bit unusual compared to other dragons. I've already reached maturity many years ago through unusual means. My birth and development are far too different from those of normal dragons."
Xing Jimie's eyes squinted, and she waved her hand, summoning a pill bottle. "Take this…" Xing Jimie looked at the pregnant stomach and showed a complicated look. "Right, you can't…"
"Um." The dragoness's silver eyes glanced at that bottle and asked. "What is that pill?"
Xing Jimie explained lightly. "There are many people who are touched in the head and who forcefully mature children for evil purposes. This pill helps those children regain their youth, aligning their bodies and souls with their true maturity level. It is called [Time Erasure and Body Regaining Pill], a Two Star Supreme Ranked pill."
Yasenia's little mouth twitched. 'So… If I take this, I'll regain my body as a child?'
She really didn't want to take it. 'Wait…' Yasenia suddenly had a very bad premonition.
Xing Jimie fulfilled that bad premonition. "When Lady Death Empress comes, I'll give it to her so that you can take it after you give birth."
"L-Lady Death Saintess!" Yasenia hastily grabbed her hands, her eyes full of fear. "Please don't! If Tatyana knows that she can change me back to my younger days, she won't be able to hold back! She is a big pervert who will take advantage of it!"
Xing Jimie was bewildered at Yasenia's insolence towards her respected Death Empress. However, seeing Yasenia's face, it was clear that they were close people. So, she didn't lash out and held back her critiques. 'Everything will become clear once they meet, so me poking my nose where no one called me will only make Lady Death Empress hate me.'
"Hm… Too late."
Yasenia opened her eyes like a startled deer. "What?"
Xing Jimie showed a slightly awkward look. "I already sent her a message about it."
"HOW? WHEN?"
Yasenia almost howled to the heavens; she could already see her future as a little girl in the evil claws of a perverted adult woman! 'That's a crime somehow and somewhere!'
"Anyway…"
"Don't anyway me!" Yasenia snapped at her. "Burn that pill!"
Xing Jimie sighed and patted Yasenia's shoulders. "Even if I do, this is one of the easiest pills to concoct at the Supreme Rank. It was created for children's consumption, after all. So, making it difficult to concoct would go against that very principle. In short, it is easy to get, just a little bit expensive."
The dragoness fell to her hands and knees, her eyes vacant. 'It's over.'
Cai Xue looked at her future master's kneeling figure with a strange gaze. 'I didn't know breasts could grow so large that they almost touch the ground when one is on her hands and knees… Should I give Lady Yasenia shoulder massages in the future? They must be very heavy…'
Xing Jimie sighed and looked around. "Anyway, let's move from this courtyard. I will guide you to the area where you'll live for the next few months. In the meantime, please tell me how you ended up in a situation where you needed to use that powerful life-saving treasure."
Yasenia sighed and slowly stood up, her tail serving as a support to straighten her body. Then, she explained her interactions with the Death Astral Sect's elders. By the end of her tale, Xing Jimie's face was cold enough to make the maids around tremble.
"Good, good, good. I didn't expect Shen Baihu to have such a big face that he considered himself a person who could act on the Lady Death Empress's behalf to judge others' worthiness! He is lucky he died and didn't fall into my hands!"
Her frosty mood made Yasenia curious. 'This person is so… contradictory. She clearly is not too fond of me, yet she protects me where it matters like a mother hen.' A small smile appeared on her cold expression. 'She is quite cute for a senior. Right, how did Mom call these people…? Tsundere? Was that the word?'
"I'll speak with Hei Lin later and also punish the others. Shen Baihu already got his punishment, but the others not stepping up to condemn his attitude are not much better."
Yasenia didn't come out to defend them. After all, what Xing Jimie said was not incorrect. If she were not strong enough, would they have come to her aid? It was difficult to say with certainty! Not to mention, some of them still felt resentful about Shen Baihu's death during their journey back.
In summary, Yasenia didn't feel that whatever punishment they would receive was out of line.
After they arrived at Yasenia's room, Xing Jimie left behind a few words of care before she left to deal with other matters.
Cai Xue bowed lightly and spoke in a respectful tone. "Lady Yasenia, this room is clean and perfect for your stay. What do you want to eat for dinner? Cai Xue will go and prepare it."
Looking around the room, Yasenia felt a sense of relaxation. She had been tense and alert during all her time outside. The ten years spent in the Secret Realm, especially after leaving it, were stressful and dangerous. A single wrong move could result in her doom.
She walked towards the bed and threw her body on top of it. Cai Xue almost jumped, moving forward quickly. "L-Lady Yasenia! The baby!"
The dragoness naturally knew. Her tail moved right before she bounced, gently decelerating her fall. The bed didn't even ripple as her body sank on the soft mattress. Cai Xue blinked twice, surprised. 'A powerful tail… It's quite useful.'
Seeing Cai Xue's frozen, extended arms, Yasenia smiled faintly before she spoke lightly. "I already have food. I am a Spirit Cook, so don't worry about it. Honestly, you will not be able to do much for me… Sorry if it becomes a bit boring to be my attendant."
While Cai Xue was a servant, Yasenia didn't intend to treat her as a tool. She felt that this girl was sincere, so there was no need to be wary of her.
Cai Xue blinked twice, recovering her straight and humble posture. "...This maid can give Lady Yasenia massages. They are suitable for stimulating blood flow and ensuring a smooth, healthy pregnancy."
Yasenia blinked and nodded, relaxing her body. "Alright then."