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Chapter 1318. Platform Trial. Encountering a Peculiar Divine.
🕑 Added 2025-09-06 18:59:17 +0000 UTCYasenia hovered over the platform and analyzed her current situation. ‘While it looks like I have options, that isn’t the case at all. If I go outside, crippled for an entire month, the chances of me dying are through the roof. And dying would be the best among the bad outcomes. If a demon or divine gets their hands on me…’
She shook her head with a sigh. “My only choice is to participate and lose on purpose…” Yasenia stopped there. “If denying participation means getting crippled… What will losing mean for the losers?”
It was clear that this trial was created to be activated in a controlled situation. The crippling punishment was likely used to deter opportunistic individuals from joining. That means that whoever won the bead would be resented by the other participants if they knew about it.
‘Following that train of thought, the winner should be protected one way or another by the treasure. The best way to protect a treasure from others is easy: hiding it. If the winner is not clear or known, then you can’t act freely after the trials...’
Yasenia knew that thinking in this manner was gambling her future. However, what other option was there? The crippling threat had already set a thought path, and unless it was purposely created to confuse those who think logically, there were no other options but to believe.
‘Over all of that… Losing on purpose is not really something I like to do.’ A chuckle escaped her as her wavering gaze turned resolute.
Her body descended, and then the tips of her feet touched the platform. When Yasenia touched it, she saw a spark before lights spread around the circular platform at lightning speed.
When all the lines were illuminated in white, a pillar shot to the sky. Yasenia’s mouth opened lightly, barely revealing her pearly white teeth. “... That’s why you gave one day. There must be limited platforms so that people will fight each other for them.”
Honestly, she felt the urge to step down and find another platform. Anyone who saw this pillar of light in the barren land would come to check. ‘Being the first in this type of competition is stupid and ridiculous. There might be extra rewards, but I will offend everyone who comes.’
The rewards and punishments were too unequal.
Trusting her gut, Yasenia spread her wings and flew off into the distance. The pillar of white stopped emitting light and disappeared.
Her face suddenly tightened as a foreign energy entered her body and enveloped her spiritualized Dantian. The sensation made Yasenia break into a cold sweat. ‘Did the trial confuse my actions with giving up?’
“Do you want to give up?”
Hearing the question, Yasenia spoke quickly, gasping for air as the pressure increased. “N-No, I will find another platform. I am not giving up!”
After she answered, the energy dissipated without any reluctance.
Yasenia stopped flying and landed, breathing heavily. Her body was trembling slightly. The sensation of having your Dantian in the hands of a foreign entity was truly terrifying; it made her limbs grow cold and her heart pound. ‘Dantian destruction is basically the same as death… No, worse. Going from a transcendental being to a mortal without any power is something that most would be unable to take. At that point, your choices are either suicide or a life of regret.’
She closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. After holding the air in her lungs for a few seconds, she exhaled and regained perfect control of her body. Her face returned to calmness, and with a single thought, her body returned to normal. “I’ll need to be careful and announce my actions so that the trial knows what I am doing.”
Flapping her wings, her body streaked through the sky at high speed. She was conscious of never breaking the one-kilometer limit.
Suddenly, she felt a faint ripple of energy and looked behind her. “The pillar of light is coming from my previous location… I made the correct choice to leave." She could sense, even from her current distance, that there were many different auras going in that direction.
Ignoring the pillar, Yasenia searched around for another three hours. During these hours, she saw dozens of pillars of light soar to the sky. These pillars sometimes flickered, showing a change of owner.
While flying, her nose twitched slightly. ‘This scent… A platform.’
She moved silently and quickly arrived at the location. ‘It’s hidden underground.’
Holding back from digging straight away, Yasenia carefully spread her spiritual sense in her surroundings. Her face changed slightly, and she quickly jumped back.
BOOM!!
The place where she was previously standing had exploded violently, the shockwave pushing Yasenia back several hundred meters.
“Tsk.”
Someone clicked their tongue, and Yasenia looked toward the source of the sound. A tall woman with a pair of beautiful, blue, feathered wings was standing in the distance, looking at her with confusion. “You… Oh, you are not that annoying dragon. You are another dragon!”
Yasenia held back from showing annoyance at the surprise attack. Instead, she asked, showing innocent confusion. “Senior, why did you attack me? Did I do something to offend you?”
The woman flew down and shook her head, her gaze apologetic. “Sorry, junior. I thought there was only one Dragon within this Secret Realm, so I made a mistake. Are you okay? …You feel like quite a young dragon.”
The woman approached and patted Yasenia’s head. Since Yasenia felt no malice, she went along with her and wagged her tail lightly. Even if the wagging was faint, there was no way someone at the Divine’s level wouldn’t notice. This made the Divine’s gaze even more tender.
“I am okay, senior. That scared me quite a bit. It was a really strong trap.”
The blue-feathered divine spoke gently. “I am glad you are okay, little one. Tell me, junior. How old are you?”
Yasenia answered, her eyes honest. “I am… a little over a thousand years old.”
For someone at her current level, over one thousand years of age was absolutely monstrous talent, even among dragons. So, the woman’s eyes widened and she exclaimed. “You are so young! You are basically a baby, dear! Oh my, to think that I almost hurt someone like you…”
The woman started scratching Yasenia’s chin; it was well known that the spot was sensitive for dragons. Yasenia went along with her again and even started purring and wagging her tail. Her squinting eyes made the Divine laugh.
“You are so adorable. Come, come. Do you know how to pass the trial?”
Yasenia acted as if her words snapped her out, and she quickly jumped back, her face slightly flushed and wry. “S-Senior, you shouldn’t touch me there without permission!”
Seeing the slightly moist golden slit eyes made the woman’s body tingle. She smiled and approached again, hugging Yasenia’s arms. “Sorry, little one. I got carried away because you are adorable. Will you come with big sister?”
Yasenia didn’t answer straight away. She showed a thoughtful look and then nodded carefully. “Alright… But Senior needs to ask first if you want to touch in strange places!”
“Oh~?” The woman’s eyebrow rose as her wings fluttered with amusement. “So… If I ask, I can touch? That’s great to know, fufu.”
Yasenia acted flustered. “T-That’s not what I meant!” Even her tail slapped the ground a few times, showing embarrassment.
The woman was delighted at Yasenia's reaction. “Yes, yes, I know. Now, come with me. I’ll show you something nice.”
The woman waved her hand, creating a giant water wave that swept away the rocks. The dragoness’s sharp eye quickly caught on after observing the surroundings. ‘No wonder it was unnaturally flat and a bit moist. The woman must’ve hidden the platform with the intention of attracting that dragon I saw flirting with Astarea.’
“Here. Stand on this platform. There is another one nearby that I can use. It would be a shame if a cute dragon like you were to die because you are crippled.”
This genuinely surprised Yasenia. She asked, unsure. “Are you sure it is okay, Senior? I… I don’t know how to repay this favor.”
“No need for something like that. Now go!”
Yasenia felt the woman slapping her butt, causing a satisfying sound and creating ripples.
Slap~!
Yasenia was stunned, and even the woman froze.
“That’s… a really good ass. Impressive. Perhaps the softest one I’ve ever touched.”
Yasenia showed a strange expression. ‘...What’s the deal with this Divine? I don’t even know her name!’
Seeing Yasenia’s tail stiffening, the woman thought that she was embarrassed, so she gently pushed her back this time. “Go, go. I’ll see you later!”
The woman flew off, and soon, a pillar of light appeared quite nearby.
‘...Well, whatever. If we find each other in a competition later, I guess I’ll get back at her.’ Yasenia didn’t hesitate anymore and stood on the platform.
A pillar of light shot up into the sky, illuminating the place along with the rest. She moved her thoughts away from the blue-feathered Divine.
‘Now that there are so many pillars, the chances of a large number of people coming here are slim. Moreover, with another platform nearby, if I show strength, they will rather fight the other woman.’
It didn’t take long before the first contender arrived. He was a human man from a sect Yasenia didn’t recognize.
The man approached and spoke solemnly. “Get off, Dragon. I can sense that you are quite young.”
Yasenia’s eyebrows furrowed. ‘Again? Why can people suddenly tell my age? Even Star Forge was unaware of it.’
Thinking until then, Yasenia looked at the man and spoke. “If you tell me how you can tell that I am young, I will come down.”
The man showed a hint of surprise. “Really?”
Yasenia nodded faintly.
Then, the man spoke up. “It’s your soul aura. Your soul is very strong, so if I focus, I can tell that your soul is at least 4,000 years old or younger.”
“Soul…?” Yasenia was startled and rubbed her smooth chin under her veil. “Why couldn’t people outside tell so easily?”
The man squinted. “That’s another question.”
But Yasenia snapped back. “Are you being so stingy to a junior?”
“... Sigh. This area appears to have intensified the aura of people's souls. If you focus, you will be able to tell as long as you have enough experience.”
Yasenia finally realized. “I see… Now you can leave. I am feeling merciful, so I won’t kill you if you do.”
“Huh?” The man frowned deeply. “Didn’t you say that you would get off? You are a dragon! Are you going to lie so blatantly?”
Yasenia sneered, showing a mocking expression. “I never promised, did I?”
“You!” The man’s face twisted, and his aura exploded outward. “I’ll make you regret this, Dragon! [Ashen Ember Intent Domain Level 3]!”
The sky darkened as everything around them was covered with a thick layer of ash and embers.
Yasenia looked around and sneered. “[Tyrant Warlord Intent Domain Level 2].”
BOOM!
The ash that was trying to envelop her surroundings was blasted outward, creating a no-ash zone around Yasenia. The strengths of both domains were mostly equal, even when they were at different levels.
Yasenia summoned Draheart and pointed exactly to where the man was hiding. “Come. The platform is large enough for us to battle.”
The man snorted and rushed at Yasenia.
Comments
Rizeres
Divines are worse than demons i swear. At least demons are not ashamed about what they are.
BeholdTheMOON!
No way this woman just gave Yasenia a little booty slap and then just fly away- kinky little shits
Kimball Black
If that were the case, wouldn’t the human who triggered the trial have noticed her? He was from that sect, and he was clearly quite powerful. Would he have put Yas into this trial if he knew she was there?
Andrew Miles
Well there's definitely a lot this trial is likely to expose then if that's happening. I'm guessing that the Astral Death Sect is likely to have something similar to Yasenia's life jade to track that energy signature. If that is it they should find Yasenia easily in here with her soul aura amplified, assuming they find Yasenia they would be more than happy to take her back giving Yasenia shelter from the coming storm. At least that's my thoughts on the matter. Even if she doesn't win the main treasure it would be useful to have them as escorts. Going to the Thousand Pills Verdant Pavilion would be much safer that way.
