Author Note: Happy New Year! 2025 is ending, and time lately seems fleeting. Even then, I am glad to spend it with all of you. I hope you had a great year, and I hope the next is even better than this one! Thank you for liking the story, whether you are a lurking dear or someone who writes comments daily.
With a lot of love and hugs,
Mortrexo.
***
Yasenia stepped forward, wearing a special band around her waist. This was a treasure that Tatyana gave her to protect her stomach. The item was called [Care Of A Mother], a Nine Star Supreme Ranked treasure specialized in protecting a pregnant cultivator's belly.
Tatyana had gotten this treasure to protect herself when she got pregnant with Yasenia. In the end though, she didn't need it as she stayed cultivating for the entire pregnancy.
Looking at the beautiful white band with golden lines, Yasenia asked Tatyana. "Didn't you say that you wouldn't give me treasures that were too strong? What is this, then?"
Tatyana shrugged. "Did you think that I would let you spar without any protection? Not to mention, this band just protects the belly. Take it as a special reverse-scale armor."
Yasenia caressed the smooth and warm waistband, her face thoughtful. "Where did you get it?"
"I got it from someone who didn't need it anymore."
Yasenia deadpanned at Tatyana's sentence. "They didn't need it and gave it to you? Or… did they stop needing it so you stole it from them?"
Tatyana smiled. "Neither. I killed that woman and got it as spoils from her rings. I asked Xian Xian to get it before I came to get you."
"Xian Xian… Is that your treasurer?"
"Treasures, Personal Secretary, Advisor…" Tatyana tapped her chin. "She should have other titles, but meh, who cares. I just leave the bothersome things to her, and eventually, she gained all those titles."
Far in another Heavenly Layer, a Half-Step Transcendence Realm cultivator with eyebags from overworking sneezed. '...Have I finally become sick? Am I the first Transcendence Realm cultivator who got sick from overworking? Heh… A record to be proud of…'
Yasenia had heard of this woman before, so she nodded. She was very curious about her, though. 'For Mom to trust her so much… I guess her capabilities are extraordinary.'
Sui Xing spoke. "Alright, Yasenia. Time to start treading the [Perfection Stairs]. Take it with time. Even if you don't reach your limit during these two months, it doesn't matter. The most important thing is that you internalize each step."
Yasenia nodded and got serious. "Alright, I am ready."
The world was enveloped in the illusory aura particular to the [Star Breaker Realm Bead]. Then, around 100 meters away from Yasenia, her copy appeared.
White-haired, dark-skinned, and purplish-blue slit-eyed. Yasenia's copy stood there with a faint yet seductive smirk, her orange-colored battle dress and black waistband adding to her beauty.
The orange-colored scales on her extremely long tail gleamed like amber, while the purplish-blue rings imitated Yasenia's golden-colored ones.
Yasenia glanced at her copy and asked, puzzled. "Why are you not holding Draheart?"
The copy raised her eyebrow. "Why should I? Don't we have something better?"
She extended her hand, and in her hand, a large flag with the ancient words "Endless War" appeared.
Yasenia frowned. "Do you really think that's better than using Draheart?"
The copy glanced at the flag and chuckled. "Even a stick that's a Two Star Ancient Ranked is better than the current Draheart. While treasures are a bit different, the gap of a whole treasure rank realm is too hard to breach. Still, using this flag excessively will drain me. So, you are not wrong in thinking that you shouldn't use it from the start."
The copy smirked. "But I am your copy and should try to defeat you as fast as possible. Naturally, I will use your strongest non-consumable item."
Yasenia glanced at Sui Xing and asked, confused. "How can I learn anything if she does that?"
Sui Xing agreed with Yasenia, and he had already thought about it. "Don't worry. The reason I have not banned the use of the flag is that I want you to use it. Draheart is strong, and it will continue being your main weapon. Still, during these two months, you should try to explore and discover some functions of the flag and how to fight with a flag."
Yasenia noticed Draheart in her hand becoming listless. "Draheart…" She caressed the blade with her fingers and sighed softly. "We will fight together in the tournament, alright?"
"...Alright. I'll get stronger. It's not like I have absorbed the entirety of the [Ancient Tyrant-Dragon Heartcore]."
"You haven't?" Yasenia blinked.
"It's a Nine Star Supreme Ranked material. Do you think I will only reach One Star Supreme Rank after absorbing that unparalleled treasure? I just wanted to be awake during your fights, so I stopped cultivating."
Draheart's calm words almost made Yasenia slap her forehead. "You are right… I just thought that you needed a lot of energy in comparison with other weapons due to your specialness."
Draheart smiled internally and spoke with a faint chuckle. "I am glad you thought that and didn't decide to kick me away, though. Even I would throw something so voracious."
Yasenia laughed. "Don't worry. I won't kick you out. Alright, Draheart, go back to my Dantian to cultivate."
Draheart's copy did the same, returning to the Dantian. Then, Yasenia summoned the large battle flag.
She was utterly clueless about this thing, though. So, she glanced at her own copy and asked, confused. "How do I even use this?"
Since the copies could talk, why would Yasenia lose the opportunity to ask questions? The personal copies were like personal trainers, much more different compared to the ones it produced before.
The copy shook her head as well. "I can use everything you have to a high perfection level. Nevertheless, you don't even have a single clue on how to use this, so the perfect form of that is using it like a giant stick to cave in your head."
Yasenia caressed the top of her head, her eyes somewhat strange. "...Can you not be so brutal when being explicit?"
The copy chuckled. "Don't worry. Just try to connect with the flag, and as you increase your understanding, mine will go up as well. While I am quite miraculous, I can feel that as a no-aura copy, my knowledge is very limited. If I were that multicolored copy you saw in the past, I would be able to guide you even if you had no idea about this flag." The copy smiled evilly. "Of course, guidance can only be in the form of a beating."
Yasenia took in all the information and squinted. "So that's how you use these stairs. When you get stronger, your copies also get stronger. However, each stair has a limit on how strong it can be. So, eventually I will defeat the copy and move on."
Sui Xing smiled. "You hit the nail right on the head. Now, fight already. You can understand that flag as you fight."
Yasenia grumbled and nodded. "Alright, since Dramel, Draheart, and Soluna are sleeping, the flag is our only weapon. Let's first use it as a large stick, as you said."
Yasenia and the copy stepped forward simultaneously, and then, they activated [Pegasus Gallop]. Two gorgeous pegasi manifested, one white in color and another black. The two majestic winged horses merged with Yasenia, their wings appearing on their back.
A second later, Yasenia and her copy flashed forward, the flag fluttering as they dragged it behind them to reduce drag as much as possible. Even if Yasenia has never fought with a Battle Flag, that didn't mean that her weapon mastery was useless.
She could instinctively feel how to use it. Even if it were not optimal, it would at least be useful.
When they arrived in front of each other, neither the copy nor Yasenia used any skills. Instead, they swung the giant flags, colliding in the middle.
BOOOM!
The energy in the Ancient Ranked treasure exploded, surprising Yasenia. The shockwave was brutal enough that even Yasenia's strong body felt strained to keep the flag from flying out of her grip after the collision.
The copy chuckled. "Don't be so shocked. I am supposed to be weaker than you. Why are you the one stepping back?"
Yasenia noticed that she was dragged back almost 100 meters, while the copy only moved for 20. Her lips twitched. "Alright, this is the first clash, so let's not get too mouthy."
The copy giggled and rushed forward, using the sharp backside of the flag as a spear. Yasenia moved to the front, using the flag's cloth to try to wrap it around it. The copy smirked. "Bad choice."
The tip of the flag was much more agile, so after moving it side to side a few times, the copy was able to move the cloth to the side and pierce Yasenia's neck.
The dragoness quickly tilted her head, barely dodging the ruthless stab. She wanted to react, but the copy pushed down diagonally, sticking the flagpole by Yasena's neck. Then, with a forceful twist of her torso, she flung Yasenia, dragging her by the neck.
"Ugh."
Yasenia flew, using her hand to backflip three times before regaining her stability. The copy was already close by, so Yasenia quickly lowered the flag, preparing to counterattack once the momentum dragging her was gone.
The copy used the front of the flag again, swinging it diagonally this time. Yasenia frowned, a quick sideways movement striking the side of the flag.
BANG!
The copy's flag was embedded into the ground, and Yasenia stepped forward, thrusting the pointy end like a spear while the fluttering cloth followed her movement artistically.
The copy was quick to dodge and jumped back with a smile. "Not bad."
Yasenia nodded, not taking offense at the dismissive tone. Then, she and the copy exchanged movements one after another. The copy wanted to defeat Yasenia, but she was currently focusing on using just the flag. Hence, the number of skills they exchanged was actually quite low.
While Sui Xing didn't have much control over the copies, he could at least tell them what to focus on for a little while. Of course, Yasenia was the master and could always override Sui Xing's orders.
Additionally, Yasenia was well aware of whatever limitations Sui Xing placed on the copies. So, even when Sui Xing had no reason nor intent to harm Yasenia's growth path, it would be impossible to do even if he wanted to.
After twenty minutes had passed quickly, both sides moving their flags as if they were as light as a branch, Yasenia took the upper hand.
In the first place, Yasenia's physical body and everything else were superior to the copy. This would make the matchup uneven.
Tatyana nodded from the side, while Tian Long observed curiously. This was his first time seeing Yasenia actually fight. "Little Princess is much better than I expected."
His tone was quite solemn. While he knew that Yasenia was talented, he had never really witnessed her talent. The rate at which Yasenia was starting to get comfortable swinging the giant flag was honestly soul-shaking.
Tatyana smiled at Tian Long. "She is indeed good. I think she can step into the next level soon."
Sui Xing shook his head. "No. I will not limit the copy next. The stairs are there for overall control, not flag mastery."
Tatyana blinked and nodded. "If that's what you think is best."
She had no problems following his suggestions as long as they made sense.