The lesson about the Transcendence Realms lasted for a little while, and the three seniors explained the peculiarities of it to the girls. Yasenia paid attention and could summarize it in three major phases. To make sure that she got it right, she spoke to them. "So, let me summarize. The first three levels, [Mortal Shackles], [Spiritual Awakening], and [Essence Refinement], are the realms where the Immortal Cultivator gets used to their new grasp of energy."
Evelyn nodded and commented. "That's how I understood it as well. In the first level, you completely rework all your inner workings about how you used energy in the past. Then, in the second level, you awaken your ability to manifest your energy sea and manipulate all the energy around you. Finally, in the third level, you refine your entire existence using the gained control."
Tatyana smiled, satisfied. "Yes. That would be a good summary. Of course, explaining it like that is easy. However, to do those things, you'll need tremendous amounts of effort. You are, after all, slowly breaching the distance toward powers far beyond what you can imagine." She added. "Remember what we said: reaching [Spiritual Awakening] is basically impossible without an Intent Domain to support it."
The girls nodded, many thoughts lingering within them. Yasenia muttered. "After that, you have [True Spirit Embodiment], [World Perception], [Spirit Illumination], [Domain Infusion], [Domain Expansion], and [True Transcendence]. Finally, the half-step level…" The dragoness realized something and looked at them. "Speaking of which, what is the half-step level called? Level 9 is True Transcendence, which I thought would actually be the half-step level."
Hearing that question, Tatyana smiled mysteriously and spoke. "This level is a bit special. It is called the [Domain Lord Transcendence Realm]."
"[Domain Lord]?" The dragoness was somewhat confused. Valeria patted Tatyana's shoulder, asking her not to explain much more. "That realm is a bit special. To cross into that realm, you need to gain total control over your own Domain. The Domain that you develop during the Domain Infusion level."
Yasenia hummed. "Interesting."
Andrea suddenly asked. "Are the Body and Soul paths similarly named?"
Tatyana looked at Mirrory, who shook her head. "They were in the past. However, nowadays it might've changed. More so when the Body Path had become extinct, and the Soul Path is very rare to encounter. At least in the lower Heavenly Layers, you won't find people naming them."
Even when she said that, Cecile commented. "Still, I would like to know. The names are hints at what direction to take. So, learning at least their names is quite nice."
Mirrory crossed her arms, getting thoughtful. "Okay. I can say the names. I'll just blurt them out as if I were listing some ingredients, so you better remember them."
"For the Soul Path, these are the names: [Soul Palace Surfacing], [Soul Expansion], [Soul Refinement], [True Soul Projection], [Soul World Seed], [Soul Illumination], [Soul Palace Projection], [Soul Palace Essence], [Soul King], and, for the half-step, [Soul Palace Lord]."
"Meanwhile, for the Body Path, I'll say those I know. You start at the [Skin Shedding] Level and go on to become a [Bone Carving] Undying Monarch, then [Viscera Reforging], [Marrow Ascension], [Endless Flesh], [Supreme Transformation], [Star Forged], [True Origin Body], [Eternal Physique]. And lastly [Void Breaking]."
The girls blinked a few times. Those were some grand names! Andrea chuckled. "The Body Path ones sound so grand and powerful. I am truly awed by them. Hahaha."
"I can't deny that." Kali chuckled. "Still, I prefer the Soul Path ones. It makes you look as if you are becoming the ruler of your own mind."
The names sparked conversation, and all of them began throwing theories about what they would be about. The three seniors, knowing that the serious explanations were finally out of the way, joined the others and started discussing what they thought. Naturally, each person had their own understanding, but hearing from others more often than not could give you that spark of inspiration that you needed.
Many thought Cultivation was a lonely path, and while they were partially right, they ignored how everything that they cultivated "alone" came about. If there were no conversations about how to advance, how to classify each realm, how to develop energy, and in what direction, no cultivator would be able to reach the heights that they have. After all, without the countless eons of research that came before them, almost no one would manage to find solutions and paths before their lifespan ran out.
So, cultivation was both a path of ties and solitude. It was a path that you built yourself, but with the insights from the traces of those who walked long before you.
Yasenia didn't want to focus too much on this, though. She would have who knows how much time in the future to ruminate about cultivation. Now, she wanted to do something else. "It's time to break through on another path!"
Everyone looked at Yasenia absurdly. 'What else do you want to improve on, you monster?'
Yasenia extended her hand, and after a small flash of light, a beautiful and rounded pan appeared in her grasp. "I am going to become a proper Transcendence Realm Chef!"
Everyone's eyebrows began spasming. 'Can you not scare us like that!? We thought that you were about to come up with a new path no one ever knew about!'
Even Mirrory at the side sighed in relief. 'I thought that this common-sense-destroying dragon was about to do something absurd again.'
Seeing the tall and curvy dragon walk toward the kitchen, the girls shook their heads and continued their conversations. Meanwhile, Yasenia entered the kitchen with two little tails behind her.
Blinking, the dragoness turned around and saw Katarina and Kaleina smiling at her. The two beautiful girls made Yasenia's motherly instincts surge like a tide, and her arms moved before her brain could process it, engulfing them in her soft embrace. "Babies~. Do you want something?"
Kaleina and Katarina were instantly buried in the most comfortable hug in the world. The sheer softness of their mother's body was sublime. After breaking through, that perfection was brought beyond mortal limits, making them feel as if their very souls were being gently coddled.
After purring and being pampered by their Dragon Mother for a few moments, they snapped out of their daze. Katarina blinked her beautiful golden eyes and started sweating. 'Dangerous. Each time Mommy hugs me, I return to being a little girl.'
Kaleina did not have such a problem. Instead, she was happily submerging herself in the profound abyss of love her Dragon Mother could give her. 'Ah~, I want to never leave Mommy's arms.'
Katarina poked Kaleina with her feathered tail. "Eldest Sister! Now is not the time to be pampered! We've come here for something important!"
The words of her silver-haired little sister snapped Kaleina out of her happy bubble. "Ah. You are right!"
Yasenia looked amusedly at her babies. She really loved them more than anything else. 'Ah~. How good would it be if I could always stay by their side?'
The number of years she had lost of their development far exceeded those she stayed with them, and this was always a source of sadness for her. Still, she didn't regret her actions. Her babies have grown healthy, powerful, and overall excellent.
After looking at each other firmly, Katarina spoke aloud, looking up at her tall Dragon Mother. "Mommy! I've also chosen cooking as my Profession Path!"
Kaleina nodded. "I have as well. After trying many things, I think I am most suited for cooking, like Mommy!"
Yasenia's eyes flashed with surprise and joy. She was prepared for none of her girls to choose cooking as their Profession Path. After all, the benefits it had for cultivation were somewhat lacking compared to other professions. Not that there were none. Many foods could improve the body of a Cultivator permanently, like Alchemy Pills. Still, the buffs were very small in comparison.
On the upside, there were no side effects, and the buffs were extremely gentle for the body. For lower-level cultivators, Alchemy was not the best at increasing their strength. A good spiritual cook could make marvels for the constitution and potential of someone.
Still, because it was rare for someone to truly focus on Spiritual Cooking and even rarer for someone to focus on foods for low-level cultivators, such cases were few and far between. Our babies were, of course, part of this very privileged pack.
The amount of food Yasenia had cooked for her darlings had yet to run out even after so many decades!
"So… You want to learn from Mommy?"
Katarina and Kaleina saw Yasenia's eyes glittering with happiness and expectation, and her happiness infected them as well, making them smile sweetly. "Yes!"
"Ah!" Yasenia squeezed them with a tight hug, making the two slender women feel all the Dragon Assets of their mother to their full extent. '... So big.'
After releasing them, Yasenia picked them up with her tail. "Let's go, babies! Mommy will teach you everything she knows and more!"
The people looking from a distance were startled when they saw their boss dragging her daughters along with her tail. Kaleina's and Katarina's feet were not even touching the ground.
They arrived at the kitchen shortly after, and Yasenia observed the place. "Wow…" Yasenia blinked a few times. "Why is this kitchen so… well-equipped?"
She could see plenty of Transcendence Realm cooking items all around the place. Many of which were some that she had always wanted.
Kaleina and Katarina blinked, and suddenly, Katarina remembered something, making her eyes widen. "Ah…"
"Hm?" Yasenia glanced at her, confused. "What's wrong, love?"
"Ah. No… Um…" Katarina's eyes awkwardly shifted around. "Well, all the items in this kitchen have been forged by Mama Andrea. I think she wanted to tell you herself about them, though…"
Yasenia was stunned before a deep but feminine voice reached them with a hint of laughter. "Little Katarina, are you trying to destroy my little surprise?"
Yasenia turned around and saw Andrea leaning on the door's frame. With her tall stature, the door was almost unable to hold her tall darling in. Yasenia approached with quick steps and dove into her arms like a little bird returning to her nest. "Darling~."
Andrea hugged her pudding-like lover and smiled gently. "Thank you so much, Darling~. I really love it! I'll carry all of them with me before I leave!"
Andrea looked at the loving smile on Yasenia's face. She kissed her dragoness's nose and smiled. "Congratulations on your pregnancy, love. I hope this is something you can use to make our little one food. Even if I am not around, this kitchen will carry part of my efforts to help you with the baby."
Yasenia's eyes trembled, and tears began pooling in them. "T-This… You made all of this because of that?"
Andrea smiled awkwardly and scratched her cheek. "Yeah… I wanted to give you and our baby a present. So, after much thought, I decided on forging an entirely Transcendence-ranked kitchen."
Yasenia's tears poured down like gorgeous pearls, and she forcefully pulled down Andrea before kissing her lips. "I love you, Darling. I love you so much."
Andrea answered by hugging her tenderly and returning the kiss. "I love you, too. My lovable dragoness."
****
Author Note: Hey, author here. It's been a while~. Hahaha. We are slowly approaching 500 dear little lurkers on Patreon! Let's see if we can reach it by the end of the year~. Thank you all for supporting me during all these years. We are also slowly approaching 100 illustrations in the gallery! That's a biiiiig gallery (My wallet QAQ)! Anyway, thank you so much for allowing me to continue this passion of mine, and I hope you are having a great time with both my novels.
A big hug for all of you~,
Mortrexo