Heaven, Earth, Me

After leaving the Star Beasts behind, it took them very little time to reach the planet closest to this solar system's sun. Getting closer to the sun was obviously not comfortable for them. Nevertheless, Tatyana purposely did not unfold the protective bubble of the warship so that Yasenia and Kali could experience the harshness of space.

It was an excellent way to get their bodies accustomed and also gain resistance to outward damage. With limits, the fastest way for a cultivator to get accustomed to different environmental hazards was by getting exposed to them.

Now that they were so close to the sun, the temperature had significantly increased, while the stingy feeling of the sun's radiation attacked them. That stingy feeling was the most dangerous, as it was the high-energy particles trying to mess up their own body's genetical code. 

Thankfully, a cultivator's regenerative power went as deep as genetic reconstruction as long as the soul was not damaged. Even then, Tatyana asked. "How are you two doing? Is there anything that you feel is wrong or uncomfortable? Approaching a star is not an easy feat that all Dantian Spiritualization Realm beings can do."

Yasenia moved her hand and swished her tail, feeling her own body and closely looking at it. After a few moments, she spoke with a relaxed tone. "I am not feeling uneasiness. I honestly feel increasingly comfortable."

Tatyana puzzledly looked at Yasenia, but knowing her daughter's bloodline and special energy, she could guess that their particular characteristics caused this strangeness. "I see… What about you, Kali?" 

Kali was slightly frowning as she turned 90 degrees. "I feel quite uncomfortable. The side of my body that's hitting the sun feels hot, while the other side feels terribly cold. The sensation of burning and freezing is far from "increasingly comfortable" as Yasenia said."

Tatyana nodded twice. "Yeah, that's the normal reaction. You don't get accustomed to space in just a few minutes. That's not normal." 

Yasenia smirked. "Sorry for being excellent even in this." 

Kali and Tatyana deadpanned at her, making the beautiful dragoness chuckle without a sound. Tatyana sighed with a smile and looked at Kali. "By the way, the reason you are feeling that way is because there is no air to spread the heat evenly. Therefore, you will only feel heat on the surface where the sun's rays hit you. The other side is literally freezing. A normal mortal would be cooked on one side while their other side turns into an ice cube."

Yasenia saw how Kali turned around amusedly, making her back face the sun. Kali looked at the dragoness and asked. "You don't feel like that? How?"

Yasenia explained. "I am just using my energy to carry heat around my body in an even manner. I also regulate my blood flow to keep the cold blood on my hot side while my heated blood goes to my cold side. Everything together creates a balance that is very close to what the air does. While the sensations are uncomfortable, I am getting better at doing that by the second. I think I'll be able to feel actually comfortable after one or two more hours."

Kali looked at Yasenia's body with wonderment and surprise. "Love, can I feel what you are doing by entering your body with my spiritual sense?"

The dragoness didn't even hesitate and agreed. "Of course!"

Tatyana laughed and gave context. "Of course you would let her enter the weakest part of your body with her spiritual sense where she can create permanent damage if she ever wanted!"

Yasenia looked at Tatyana and raised one of her eyebrows. Tatyana asked. "What?"

The dragoness laughed. "If you want to do the same, just ask. Come, come~ my body has enough space for more than one Spiritual Sense."

Valeria at the side blinked. "Can I go in too?"

Yasenia blinked a few times and looked toward the maids that came with her. "What about all of you?"

Seeing them nod with starry eyes, Yasenia sighed. "Okay, okay. Be careful, though."

The dragoness trusted all the people here with her life, so she had no objections to it. If any person saw it, they would honestly freak out. The level of trust one needed to allow another person's Spiritual Sense to go inside was incredibly high. 

The remaining of the travel toward the first planet was silent as everyone observed the incredible control and things happening inside Yasenia. 

When they were arriving, Soluna suddenly appeared and snorted. "Hey, can all of you be a bit less noisy? I am trying to sleep… huh?" Soluna blinked a few times and looked at Yasenia up and down. "Yasenia, you are poisoned!"

The dragoness smiled. "Good morning, Soluna. And, yes. I am poisoned." 

Soluna frowned and floated in front of Yasenia, touching here and there. "Why didn't you tell me? I could've helped!"

Yasenia pinched her cheek. "You were sleeping so comfortably that I didn't dare wake you up."

Soluna pouted. "Yasenia! Have you forgotten that I am not a child? I am more than 3000 years old!"

The dragoness blinked. "Well…" 

Soluna puffed her cheeks and extended her hand. "Silly!"

Then, the dragoness was engulfed in Soluna's flames. The maids tensed and reacted, but Tatyana lifted her hand, stopping them.

Kali hurriedly spoke. "Soluna! D-Don't burn her! She is already weak by the poison and… and… Huh?"

Soluna stopped roasting Yasenia, but instead of a burnt dragoness, the usual gorgeous dragoness welcomed them. 

Valeria's eyes widened, and she muttered. "She burnt part of the Soul Poison? How?"

Yasenia looked at herself and was similarly stunned. While she was not cured, her poison's spread was greatly reduced. "Um…" Yasenia looked at Soluna and asked. "What happened?"

Soluna looked around Yasenia as she spoke. "Have you forgotten that I am a spirit? I am a being without a body, so soul interaction is as easy for me as it is for Kali to open you up with a knife and take out an infected organ!"

Yasenia looked at Valeria and asked. "But… Valeria couldn't do this."

Soluna bonked Yasenia's forehead with her hand and floated in front of her with her arms akimbo. "I am your soul companion, silly! Navigating your soul is as easy as walking!" 

Tatyana rubbed her forehead, and Valeria scratched her chin. 

Kali looked at them, and she deadpanned. "You could've erased her poison if she was treated a few days ago by Soluna, right?"

Both seniors nodded. Kali's face cracked, and the gentleness disappeared. "Sit down."

Valeria instantly went to her knees, and Tatyana sat cross-legged with a resigned face. Kali looked at Yasenia and pointed at the ground. "You too!"

With a start, Yasenia went to her knees obediently. "What's this situation? Can someone tell me?"

The dragoness smiled. "Honey, mistakes happen, so…"

"So what?" Her ears straightened as her four tails danced menacingly behind her. "So I should ignore that someone with hundreds of thousands of years of experience and another with tens of millions of years or more have missed such an OBVIOUS thing!?"

Tatyana coughed. "You also missed… it…" The Death Empress saw Kali's death stare and decided that silence was her best option.

Kali snapped at her and with reason. "Are you really comparing ME, a woman who has barely reached HALF a century in age, with yourself and the literal Nature Spirit Queen!?"

Tatyana raised her arms. "My bad. I admit we made a mistake. However, even Mirrory forgot! You can't blame us; she is the super ultra senior!"

"And that's baffling, and I'll scold her when we get home with that antidote! However! You both are still as guilty! Did you two forget about Soluna's existence or something!?"

Tatyana and Valeria honestly admitted their mistakes. "We did."

Kali crossed her arms and pointed at Yasenia. "And you!? How couldn't you think that your SOUL COMPANION could have probably helped a little!? Why are you always so careless when it comes to things regarding yourself!?" 

The dragoness really had no retort. Kali pointed at Soluna next, making the little spirit straighten her back. "AND YOU! You didn't notice YOUR soul companion coughing up blood or feeling bad or something!?" 

Soluna stuttered. "I-I thought Yasenia was doing another of those baths she does. It wasn't as bad as usual, though, so I should've realized…" 

Kali's heart twitched when she heard that. 'Her reinforcement baths are worse than a Soul Poison?' 

The fox woman sighed, feeling a bit helpless. She rubbed her forehead and saw that Alaia was looking at her, wanting to say something but not daring to interrupt. "Speak, Alaia."

Alaia cleared her throat and said respectfully. "We are here, Madam Kali." 

Kali looked sideways and saw an enormous rocky planet that had a black and glowing red surface. She could spot the constant volcanic eruptions from where they were.

Kali looked at the three women sitting formally in front of her and snorted. "Get up! We need to find that person called… called… Right, what's his name? You never told me, Tatyana."

Tatyana stood up and smiled. "Quite a unique name, to be honest. The name of this merchant is Ayanduin. Quite a classy but kinda old name?" 

Yasenia asked, confused. "Old?"

Tatyana shrugged. "It gives that vibe to me. I don't know."

Kali asked. "So, what's the plan after we find him?"

The Death Empress pondered. "We ask for the antidote. If he says he doesn't have it, we torture a real answer for it. Then, we loot his possessions, kick his ass to another dimension, and hopefully, he dies."

Yasenia commented. "I mean… Killing him might not be it."

Tatyana, Kali, and Valeria asked, confused. "Why not?"

Yasenia commented. "He could get something so unique that even your 'Just in case' stock doesn't have an antidote for it. Don't you think he might be quite a nice asset to guide us through this lower dimension?"

Tatyana rubbed her chin. "So, we use him, exploit him, and then kill him? That sounds nice."

Yasenia rolled her eyes. "Why kill him? If he is talented, we can hire him for the Astral Sky Alliance. We don't really have a lead merchant, do we?"

Tatyana hummed. "I thought you were getting separated from it after you left Distancia."

Yasenia shook her head. "I will leave it as a safety net. If we get into trouble, we can always come back and seek aid. Giving them liberty and tools to develop as they want is enough for them to owe me one, right? Who knows, they might become an intergalactic power or something crazy with enough time."

Tatyana clicked her tongue. "Why not use my…" Tatyana paused, and Yasenia raised her eyebrow. "Your…?"

Tatyana coughed. "Nevermind. That's a good idea."

"Tsk." Yasenia sighed and pointed at the burning planet. "Go. Let's see if Ayanduin is there. If not… Well, let's hope he is not hiding enough that I lose my patience and agree with Mom."

Kali laughed. "Let's hope he hears you and comes out soon."