Yasenia stood in the middle of the arena that Xing Jimie had prepared. It was large, with a stone floor. At first glance, there was nothing strange in the rocks used for this arena. However, Yasenia could feel how solid it was. The rock slabs had clearly undergone many different treatments, including the carving of formations on them.
Even then, Yasenia asked cautiously. "The arena won't break, right?"
Ling Suya answered with a snort. "The arena was created to be used between high-level Transcendence Realm cultivators. Naturally, your pitiful strength won't even scratch the slabs."
Xing Jimie blinked and looked at her strangely. She saw that Yasenia ignored her words, so she ignored Ling Suya's words and also answered. "Don't worry. Even if you break it, I won't find you at fault."
Yasenia nodded only after hearing Xing Jimie's words. Ling Suya spoke with a frown. "Lady Death Saintess is overestimating her. If she lasts over ten moves against Lady Death Saintess's shadow, I would consider it quite commendable."
"We'll see." Xing Jimie muttered and placed her hand on a wall.
For a moment, the entire arena was brightly illuminated as Xing Jimie's profound energy engulfed the arena. "Yasenia, we will start with a Level 1 Transcendence copy with a Level 2 Death Intent Domain. Do you have any complaints?"
Yasenia asked. "I am guessing that the fight is physical, so there is a chance of injury. Do you have any skills that seep Death Energy into the opponent?"
Xing Jimie shook her head. "There are no strong skills that will bother you in the way you are thinking. Don't worry, I have absolute control over the copy, so I can react if things go in an unwanted direction."
Since Yasenia had chosen to put trust in her, she nodded and summoned Draheart. Ling Suya crossed her arms, expecting Yasenia to be beaten down in a flash. 'Heh. Look how confident you look. I want to see if you can maintain that annoyingly indifferent face after the battle.'
Meanwhile, Yasenia saw Xing Jimie appear opposite her. She was holding a thin longsword, while her body was clad in an elegant midnight-black dress. Her long, black hair and eyes flowed even without wind, and her cold face bore traces of natural arrogance and nobility.
Then, she took a step forward, a shadow enveloping her body as her Death Intent surged outward. Yasenia didn't react, her silver-colored eyes observing her surroundings. After the step was completed, Xing Jimie's shadow streaked forward, her sword swinging diagonally.
Ling Suya had her battle sense enhanced by the formation thanks to Xing Jimie, so she could follow the combat rather easily. She sneered when Yasenia didn't react. "Heh. She is frozen in fear."
But her smile froze in the next moment.
When Xing Jimie closed the distance, Yasenia stepped forward, her tail moving at lightning speed and clashing against the sword. [Celestial Sunder] exploded violently, blasting the sword sideways, and before the shadow could react, her head was severed from her body by Draheart.
The copy stumbled a few steps forward by inertia before it dropped to its knees and disappeared.
Xing Jimie and Ling Suya were petrified on the spot. Unlike Ling Suya, Xing Jimie knew that her copy would eventually lose. Yasenia was a Level above the copy, and she had the strength of several paths. So, it was logical that, even when her copy was more advanced and powerful in martial ability, the result would be Yasenia's victory.
'...One exchange?'
Her eyes repeated everything that happened at a slow speed. Each movement from Yasenia, each gesture. She noticed that, when her copy stepped forward and slashed, the dragon girl had already noticed the copy's sloppiness and confidence. So, capitalizing on that feeling, Yasenia used simultaneous motions to deflect and attack.
There was basically nothing the weaker copy could do once placed at a disadvantage, and her head was severed.
"Lady Death Saintess, next level."
Yasenia's cold and indifferent tone echoed in the arena, snapping both Ling Suya and Xing Jimie out of their daze. "Y-You cheated!"
The Death Saintess, who was about to nod, once more looked weirdly at the woman by their side. "What do you mean?"
Ling Suya's face was slightly pale as she tremblingly pointed at Yasenia. "How is it possible that some nobody like her could defeat Lady Death Saintess's copy in one move!? She clearly cheated!"
"You are wrong." The Death Saintess sighed. "While it is indeed ridiculous, Yasenia used everything possible to her advantage to accomplish that. I was too confident, and that confidence was transmitted to my copy. With that attitude, the copy's death is a matter of course."
Her eyes couldn't help but show a hint of admiration. "Sorry, Yasenia. This time I won't make the same mistake. The next copy will be a Level 2 Transcendence with a Level 2 Death Intent Domain."
Yasenia nodded, her taut expression relaxing a bit. She was honestly annoyed that she had been looked down upon before. However, since Xing Jimie admitted fault, she naturally wouldn't keep the grudge. "Come at me with everything, or you won't even serve as a warm-up."
Ling Suya glared resentfully at Yasenia for daring to insult the Death Saintess. On the other hand, Xing Jimie's lips arched faintly. 'Trying to provoke me so that I won't be sloppy? Don't worry, I won't make the same mistake.'
She placed her hand on the wall again, and this time, her face became tense as she poured in her intent to slaughter at all costs.
BOOM!
Thick killing intent overflowed from Xing Jimie's body, and it was then absorbed by the formation and gathered where the first copy appeared. Ling Suya became pale under the torrential killing intent, while Yasenia stood indifferently in the middle of it.
While Xing Jimie had killed many, Yasenia had experienced slaughters repeatedly. Even if the total death count was not the same, Yasenia's concentrated experiences are what made her murderous intent fearsome.
The copy that appeared this time was very different from the previous one. This time, the Death Saintess's noble facial features were cold and terrifying. Her deep, dark eyes were like bottomless pits that could swallow the world. Around her, Death Energies billowed and tainted her surroundings.
Yasenia's indifferent expression eased a little, her lips tugging into a faint smile as her silver-colored eyes shone with interest. "That's a much better expression. Come!"
Xing Jimie on the stands almost chuckled aloud. 'Tsk, tsk. This annoying little dragon has a cute side as well. Don't expect me to soften because of this, though.'
As the copy took a step forward, the two on the stands noticed that Yasenia was also moving. This made them realize that Yasenia hadn't moved previously because she had labeled her opponent as utterly non-threatening.
The same dark shadow from before enveloped the Death Saintess, while a majestic pegasus made out of starlight manifested and overlapped Yasenia's figure.
BOOM!
Both sides shot forward, and Yasenia unfurled her [Tyrant Warlord Intent Domain], not only countering but also overwhelming the Level Two Death Intent Domain.
The copy showed a faint surprise, but her sword remained undisturbed. After meeting closer to Xing Jimie's starting point, showing Yasenia's superior speed, both swords descended and clashed together.
Before the clash, Xing Jimie and Ling Suya felt as if they could sense the air around Yasenia compress as her muscles tensed and transmitted her strength toward her sword slash.
BOOM!!
Xing Jimie's copy showed a pained expression as her wrists twisted under the tyrannical strength of the dragon woman's slash. Helpless to resist, she was swept off her feet and flung back ridiculously fast.
Yasenia didn't follow. Instead, she swung her lowered sword back the path it first followed in an upward strike. "[Shattering The Heavens]."
SLASH!
The world seemed to break in front of Yasenia's slash as a tyrannical wave of Celestial Energy crashed towards Xing Jimie's copy. The copy was startled and quickly mobilized her energy, summoning a defensive wall of sparkly white solid bones.
Even then, it was rather useless. When the dragoness's attack arrived, the bones crumbled down, a decent chunk of the attack piercing through and striking the copy.
BANG!
The copy vomited a mouthful of blood, her body bouncing back and barely stopping before she struck the wall.
Nevertheless, would Yasenia lose her opportunity to finish off an enemy? The answer was clear.
When her attack shattered Xing Jimie's defenses, Yasenia had used [Pegasus Gallop] and combined it with [Star Pierce] and [Fairy Moon Steps].
Xing Jimie's copy only saw a white line connecting her body with Yasenia's before white light flooded her vision.
BOOM!
A white explosion enveloped Yasenia's landing point, momentarily blinding Ling Suya. When the woman opened her trembling eyes, she saw Yasenia standing on top of a mangled corpse, Draheart's edge dripping with blood. A second later, all of that disappeared, leaving nothing behind.
Yasenia turned to look at Xing Jimie and smiled faintly. "Not bad at all. That's probably among the most moves that people at my same level have ever lasted in a fight to the death."
The Death Saintess's lips twitched, not knowing if to accept this as a compliment or not. Still, regardless of her complicated mood, she understood one thing. 'This young dragon is peerless in the same conditions. Her beast path combination with her spiritual path makes her terribly strong, but what's strange is that her mastery over combat is far beyond someone of her age.'
She couldn't help but ask, her confusion evident. "Say, Yasenia. Have you been fighting since birth? Are you the reincarnation of some strange god of battle? Not to brag, but anyone facing a Law Creator with the levels adjusted would normally lose, not win, in less than ten moves to boot."
Yasenia blinked and tilted her head. "While I am talented in fighting, you are exaggerating. I know a few people who would whoop me senseless in the same realm."
If Xing Jimie knew that Yasenia was referring to Tatyana, the overly talented Death Empress; Valeria, the original Spirit of Life; and Mirrory, a treasure even more ancient than those two combined, she would probably slap Yasenia out of frustration.
The dragoness's silver eyes glanced at Ling Suya, and seeing her vacant eyes and pale expression, she inwardly snorted. 'If your heart is so easily destabilized, whatever happens during your tribulation is no one's fault but your own.'
Ignoring that woman, she turned to look at Xing Jimie and smirked. "If you want your copy to have a chance at beating me, you should summon it at the Fourth Level and with a Level 3 Intent Domain."
Xing Jimie's eyes twitched. "...That's for a chance at winning?"
The dragoness nodded honestly. "Yeah. It will be challenging for the copy, but at least it won't be a unilateral beating from my side. Of course, if you prefer me to struggle and have a low chance at winning, you can either up the realm by two levels or the Intent Domain by one level. After all, there is a qualitative improvement at Level 4 Intent Domain, right?"
The Death Saintess sighed, feeling her forehead throbbing. '... And here I thought I knew what a monstrous genius looked like. This girl is not even 150 years old, for heaven's sake!'