Heaven, Earth, Me

After getting to know all that information, Yasenia didn't say anything and got thoughtful. She was evaluating what else she could ask and, if she did so, how to compensate these two elders. They had truly helped her out this time around, so leaving without giving them something felt a bit too ungrateful. 

The rest also didn't speak and waited for Yasenia to speak up. They could see that she was thinking a few things over. After a couple of moments, Yasenia smiled and commented. "Elders, this has truly saved me a great deal of time. I won't ask for much more without proper compensation. I am truly grateful."

Grandma Dan waved her hand. "Aish! What are you talking about? This is something we elders wanted to do. Having the company of such a pretty woman for an afternoon is more than enough compensation!"

Yasenia laughed, her tone warm and gentle. "Worry not, Elder. I am someone with enough resources, and I bet that I can take out something that you will love."

Grandma Dan was curious, but before she spoke, Lady Gong jumped, feeling that she had a chance to turn things around from what had happened before. Even though Yasenia had not had other interactions with her, her resentment was endlessly growing for each second Lady Gong had Yasenia's face in front of her. "Lady Yasenia should be careful with her words. Grandpa and Grandma Dan are people who have experienced many things. Your gift might end up making all of us uncomfortable."

Yasenia blinked and looked sideways. Then, she smiled and asked aloud. "Did I ask for your opinion, Lady Gong? While I appreciate your words, instead of making it easier, now you've set a certain expectation for my gift, leaving the elders in an awkward situation." Yasenia sighed and shook her head. "Thankfully, my gift is more than fitting for them."

Then, she waved her hand and summoned two bowls with steaming hot noodles in front of them. Both elders blinked, stunned, while Lady Gong made a clearly mocking laughter. 

Dan Che smiled a bit as well, feeling that this was quite uncharacteristic coming from someone with Yasenia's looks. 'Food? That's really unexpected.'

Grandma Dan sniffed once, and her eyes widened at the rich and savory scent that caressed her olfactory sense. Even Grandpa Dan could feel his appetite opening. Grandma Dan looked at a maid, who quickly went to take some chopsticks. Then, she asked, her tone not at all disappointed. "This food smells delicious! What is it, Yasenia?"

Yasenia smiled and answered. "[Lifegrain Longevity Golden Noodles]. They will help the Elders expel toxins from the body and also increase your lifespan by 200 years. While not a lot, they take effect once every 2000 years. I can give the Elders the recipe for this dish I created, effectively increasing your lifespans by a tenth as long as you eat them every two thousand years."

Everyone in the room stood still in shock. This time, even the relatively calm Grandpa Dan was looking at Yasenia with a shocked gaze. Grandpa Dan stood up and gently bowed. "This precious gift is something we would've never imagined receiving. You will forever be a friend of our Dan Family, and my future generations will hear of your name from their ancestors."

Seeing the former Head of the Household bow down, everyone else from the Dan Family that was nearby quickly followed. "We thank Lady Yasenia for the generous gift!"

Yasenia looked at them gently and smiled, leaning forward slightly. "Thank you for your words, Elder Dan."

The Elder smiled and said. "Call me Grandpa Dan; no need for formalities between us."

Grandma Dan nodded firmly. "Right! Little Yasenia is our family's benefactor! You can't treat us as strangers!"

After speaking with them, she noticed that while Grandpa Dan was a Sixth Realm powerhouse, his wife was a Half-Step Dantian Spiritualization Realm cultivator on the verge of breaking through. However, since Grandma Dan's body had started aging, attacking the Tribulation was too dangerous.

So, as thanks for their hospitality, she offered the noodles she had crafted in the past. The recipe was not a concern since the ingredients were not easy to find. Even if they had it, producing it regularly was a hefty burden even for a Transcendent Realm Level family. 

Yasenia had plenty of them because her ring had started to bloom with the Transcendent Realm herbs Valeria and Yasenia planted back in the Sky Continent's Secret Realm. With the plant acceleration in her ring, she would have more than enough materials every 2000 years to eat this and many more delicacies. 

Yasenia looked at Grandma Dan and raised her eyebrow. "Grandma Dan, do you think you can break through into the Transcendent Realm with this? The detoxifying and extra years might help you recover enough strength for this step."

Grandma Dan froze while Grandpa Dan smiled. He knew that Yasenia offered this particular gift for that reason. That's why he thanked her so respectfully. Whoever treated his wife well, he would naturally treat her with equal respect. Grandma Dan looked at her husband and stuttered. "W-What do you think, Husband? Do you think it is enough?"

Grandpa Dan smiled and gently grabbed her hand. "Eat them for now. We'll know after you eat how effective they truly are."

Grandma Dan nodded obediently. This husband of hers had pampered her their entire life, and even when, as a Transcendent Realm cultivator, her husband could look more youthful and handsome, he decided to allow his body to age with hers. 

Dan Che looked at everything, and his respect for Yasenia skyrocketed. In comparison, Lady Gong, by his side, started to feel superficial and egotistical. The woman's previous comment had ticked him off, making him realize that they were uttered with malicious intent. While he might have a fancy for Lady Gong, as she was a beautiful woman with status, he loved his Grandparents, who raised him since he was very little with his entire heart. 'I will need to reevaluate the marriage proposal I was going to make… While finding someone like Lady Yasenia might be impossible, I at least need to find someone less superficial.'

Yasenia waited patiently as the elders took their meal. Then, Grandma Dan felt her stomach gurgle a little as her body started feeling hot. Yasenia spoke softly before anyone got scared. "Go to a restroom, Grandma Dan. You'll expel impurities and then feel anew. The sensations are normal." 

Both elders nodded, trusting Yasenia, and they left the room, leaving Lady Gong, Dan Che, and Yasenia alone. Well, the maids from both sides were there. Yasenia looked at Dan Che and asked. "How much do you know about the forbidden places? I will ask your grandfather later in detail, but I would like to start informing myself."

Dan Che straightened his back and nodded. "From what I've learned, these two locations are enchanted by powerful natural formations and auras that made them lethal for Mortal Cultivators in the outskirts, increasing in danger toward the center where the risk is high even for respected Immortal Cultivators like Grandpa Dan."

Yasenia tilted her head, fiddling with the cup with her long and elegant fingers. "I can guess that your families use those places to gather rare resources. So, your families should have a way to at least guarantee an acceptable level of risk. Right?"

Dan Che was stunned. "How did you know!? Is Lady Yasenia able to read minds?"

The dragoness remembered that this man was not too bright, so she smiled gently and answered. "I guessed, Young Master Dan. It is a basic rule of the world that risk and reward come along. So, a place as dangerous as those two must have many treasures. While your families are blocking it because of the danger…" Yasenia smirked. "I bet that the blockade has some other more selfish purposes."

Dan Che blinked twice. 'Oh… Is it like that?'

"That's right." 

A man's voice reached them from the side. Looking over, they saw a middle-aged man with an elegant disposition and handsome facial features, very similar to Dan Che. By his side, a middle-aged woman with an elegant dress and a fan walked, crossing her arm with his. She also had some similarities with Dan Che. From her attitude and those details, Yasenia guessed that these two were Dan Che's parents.

The dragoness smoothly stood up and cupped her fist. "It is a pleasure to meet you both. May I ask for your esteemed identities? I am Yasenia Dravory from the Astral Sky Clan."

The man and woman nodded. The man answered, his low voice having a touch of authority. "I am Dan Liangyang, the current Head of the Dan Family and Dan Che's father." He pointed at his side and continued. "She is first my wife, Dan Liangxian, and Dan Che's biological mother." 

The dragoness smiled. "Nice to meet you."

Dan Liangyang and Dan Liangxian walked to the table and sat down, Yasenia following after them. Dan Liangyang asked after observing Yasenia discreetly once. "May I ask what Lady Yasenia's purpose is for this visit?"

Yasenia answered, her tone neither soft nor overbearing. "I wanted to ask for directions and had the luck to ask the Dan Elders. They were very welcoming and gave me directions. As a thanks, I've given them a gift that they are currently digesting."

Dan Che spoke up, his face filled with excitement. "Lady Yasenia has given us a recipe for a dish that increases lifespan for 200 years! Not only that, it also deals with hidden toxins in the body that might've accumulated during the years!"

Lord and Lady Dan were shocked, but they didn't let it show too much on their faces. Of course, their evaluation of the gorgeous woman in front of them completely changed with that information.

At first, they thought that this dragon woman was here for information and maybe to ask for an alliance. However, now they were not so sure. After all, someone who could give away such a thing was either a wasteful fool or someone with deep wealth and ideas. They naturally leaned toward the latter.

Lord Dan bowed slightly. "If that's the truth. I truly thank you for such a thing."

Yasenia commented. "I am waiting for the elders to finish, but that might take a few hours. Therefore, instead of asking them, may I start asking both of you for information?"

Lord Dan got thoughtful and commented. "While I would love to do so, I don't know until what point my father wants to tell you about them." He smiled somewhat apologetically. "I wouldn't want this well-guarded secret to be spread, so I hope you can understand."

The dragoness nodded. "I know the location names and that your father lost his leg in one of those places. Still, I understand the prudency. You don't have to worry about it, Lord Dan." 

Instead of that conversation, Yasenia asked another thing. "How about you tell me a little about the atmosphere in this city, Lord Dan? I am completely new, so I know nothing about who to avoid and who to be at ease with. As you might see, I need to walk on my toes due to my appearance."

Lady Dan smiled. "Indeed. You might be the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Tell her about it, Lord Husband."