Yasenia and the Illusion Beast met in the middle, an explosion rocking the cosmos where both of them fought. Even inside the [Celestial Intent Domain], the strength of the Illusion Beast was nothing to scoff at.
After the collision, both sides rebounded back, Yasenia going almost three times as far as the Illusion Beast. This showed that even now, the Illusion Beast had an edge in strength.
Yasenia was not worried, though. Her Celestial Energy was healing her body thanks to [Celestial Dragon Body], with most external wounds already healed.
"GRAHH!!"
The Illusion Beast roared, the soundwave threatening to collapse the surrounding space. Yasenia waved her long sleeve, the empyrean gown flowing elegantly with her gestures.
Her energy spread throughout the cosmos, enveloping all the celestial bodies she controlled. Then, those bodies moved, speeding toward the Illusion Beast.
Seeing the hundreds of thousands of stars, planets, suns, and moons speeding toward it, the Illusion Beast's muscles tensed up, and it started attacking everything that came close to it.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions surrounded its figure, none managing to get close enough to damage it. Yasenia's indifferent face didn't change, though. Instead, she prepared her sword and flew forward. "[Firmament Dividing Celestial Twilight]."
The day hours manifested, from midnight to noon and back. The world around Yasenia seemed to reflect everything, including twilight hours.
The Illusion Beast was startled as it felt a sense of danger. Using its [Speed Intent Domain] to exponentially increase its reflexes, the beast looked over and saw Yasenia descending together with countless lights.
The Moon and Sun intertwined, and the stars manifested, linking the blue and black sky. Day and night mixed, all phenomena gathering in what seemed one line.
"GRAAHH!"
"Cut."
SLASH!
Yasenia transformed into a ray of light, Celestial Energy surging as if she had an endless furnace inside. She crossed thousands of kilometers in an instant, appearing before the Illusion Beast and slashing down with the weight of the sky in her sword.
The Illusion Beast roared, punching toward Yasenia. The claw of the creature deformed space around it, tearing even through the Celestial Intent Domain thanks to the Level Four Strength Intent Domain.
Even then, Yasenia didn't show any fear. Her eyes shone with boundless celestial radiance. 'A breakthrough to beat this trial? Why do I need it? My own strength is enough! This trial, I'll surpass with my own strength!'
Both sides collide, blinding lights spreading all around. Inside the collision, Yasenia's sword and the beast's claws clashed, but as Yasenia's cultivation paths surged and strengthened her, Draheart started to push back. 'Push forward!'
The Illusion Beast looked with disbelief as Yasenia managed to push its arm aside, and then, the weight of the skill collided with its body.
BOOOM!!!!
"GRAH!"
Blood splashed violently, Yasenia pushing through and passing him. However, she was far from done. After she slashed through his chest, Yasenia turned around, her Celestial Energy boiling inside her meridians. "[Celestal Sunder]!"
The Illusion Beast turned around, punching again. However, with the deep injury, his movements faltered for a fraction of a second. That was long enough for Yasenia to barely dodge and land Draheart on his body again.
Another explosion surged inside the ball of light that had yet to dissipate.
Pushing her muscles and energy to the limits, Yasenia turned around and slashed again.
"[Celestial Sunder]!"
And again.
"[Celestial Sunder]!"
And again.
"[Celestial Sunder]!"
And many more times!
Her back and forth created lingering afterimages, tearing through the expanding explosions as she attacked hundreds of times!
Her muscle fibers tore down, her soul strained to keep up, and her spiritual energy occupied her meridians to the point of bursting. But even as pain tore through her existence, she didn't stop.
Attack after attack, blood spurt after blood spurt, the Illusion Beast roared in pain and unwillingness as Yasenia hacked at it like a wild beast.
"[CELESTIAL SUNDER]!
With Yasenia's roar, one last attack landed on the Illusion Beast's neck, Draheart digging deeply into the flesh and passing through. Her face and body were smeared in red from both her and its blood, but her expression was determined and feral.
Everyone looking was utterly breathless, their chills going through their skin uncontrollably.
The Illusion Beast was in a sorry state, but the malice in its eyes only burned brighter. It turned around after the last attack, and Yasenia noticed a moment later. Clearly, the barrage of attacks was not enough.
Her reaction was sluggish, her body having overexerted from all the consecutive attacks. Yet, as they saw Yasenia turn around, there was no despair when the claw rushed toward her chest. Only determination shone through her soul-stealing gaze.
"[Celestial Dragon Roar]!"
ROAR!
As the Illusion Beast approached, wanting to skewer Yasenia in its claws, a blue sound wave struck it. Then, the injuries that had accumulated before in its soul erupted.
RIIPPP!!
The muscles and skin tore into pieces, the Illusion Beast's movements screeching to a halt as it roared in pure agony. Yasenia was not done, though.
"[Empyrean Cosmos Dragon Cosmic Transformation]!"
The already violent energies surging around her multiplied further, her body growing in size until the giant Illusion Beast became nothing but a dust mote in comparison.
The figure of the Empyrean Cosmos Dragon was breathtaking, looking as if the universe had decided to gain a draconic form. Then, the empyrean creature opened its mountain-swallowing maw, blue light illuminating the cosmos around them.
"[CELESTIAL DRAGON BREATH]!"
A pillar of blue light mixed with countless stars descended like the judgment of a god.
In an instant, the Illusion Beast was swallowed by the blue light, its figure disappearing from everyone's sight. This time, the Dragon Breath was not momentary, but a constant stream.
Seeing as the breath began damaging the mouth of the dragon, her lips and teeth melting under the outrageous strength of her own breath, everyone spectating held their breath.
A few seconds later, Yasenia was unable to maintain her dragon breath and stopped, the pillar of light vanishing into strands of light until it was gone.
With bated breaths, all eyes moved toward the middle of the attack, and they saw the Illusion Beast, or what remained of it.
The beast was looking up, its arms crossed above it. However, most of its flesh was gone, while the white bones revealed underneath were corroded and about to crumble.
Between the arms, the beast's eyes glowed dimly, showing that it was still alive. Yasenia looked down and spoke, her voice full of tiredness. "Thank you. You were a worthy opponent."
Then, her claw descended. The weight of the cosmos around her gathered in her claw, everything being sucked into her draconic palm. While this was not a skill, the terrifying aura of a concentrated domain in a single punch was terrifying.
Damaged beyond recovery, the Illusion beast was unable to dodge the incoming attack and received it.
BOOOM!!!!!
The world changed back into the forest, the explosion swallowing thousands of kilometers around them and eliminating all life within range.
A voice spoke lightly. "Congratulations on defeating the [Challenge Beast]."
The gargantuan dragon's tired face gained a hint of a smile, and then, she fell down. Her enormous body made the earth quake and tremble, while her wings covered the forest like cosmic blankets. "I… did it…"
Outside, there was a deafening silence. The eyes of everyone were locked onto the enormous resting dragon. Geniuses felt their blood boiling, while seniors felt their hearts shaking.
With the level of strength Yasenia showed, there was already no envy, only admiration.
"Incredible…"
"I never thought that it was possible to best someone so much stronger…"
"Her talent is incomparable."
Tatyana looked around and grinned, her heart filled with endless pride and love for her Little Treasure. Looking at the dazed Ao Xianlan, she chuckled. "Impressed?"
Ao Xianlan blinked and smiled. "No. Fascinated is a better word to describe it." She looked down at the innocently sleeping dragoness, and her eyes softened. "You are really full of surprises, aren't you?"
Tatyana felt the meaning behind her words. She was more than sure that not only Ao Xianlan, but also many other powerful figures also noticed the oddity in Yasenia's energy. 'Well, it doesn't matter. If anyone dares to make a move, they'll have to pay a heavy price.'
Yasenia's nickname had also seemed to evolve into something that everyone collectively agreed on.
"Celestial Dragon Fairy Yasenia is peerless within her generation!"
"I want to become her follower!"
Thankfully, Yasenia was not there to listen to the cheers, or she would've smacked them with her tail.
Inside the trial, Yasenia felt boundless energy surge into her body. This energy was much more profound than what she received from defeating other beasts or even cultivators. While the other energy allowed her cultivation to progress, the energy from the beast influenced her comprehension.
As she rested on the ground, her giant body towering over the already gargantuan forest trees, her mind entered a state of comprehension. It was not enlightenment, as she was still aware of her surroundings, but the heavenly secrets around her became much easier to read and understand.
Moreover, that attack she managed to put together at the end was something she had never done before. 'Using my domain and compressing it into a single attack. The attack is domineering and strong, but it is rather slow and easily avoidable. A strong but easy-to-avoid attack is not something I want. However, the concepts I used during that sequence are… profound.'
Her eyes, having returned to their gorgeous golden color, looked dazed and lost. Her understanding surged, the fight between the Illusion Beast and her constantly repeating in her mind.
Yasenia's mind entered a flow, and with it, her aura started transforming. The [Celestial Intent Domain], which this time she used much more comprehensively, was also affected.
Suddenly, Yasenia stood up on all fours in her dragon form, and her energy pulsed outward. "[Celestial Intent Domain… Level Three]."
BOOM!
The surroundings fell under her influence, the world entering the Celestial Intent Domain's dimension. Once inside, Yasenia didn't stop comprehending. Instead, her claw waved, and the principles of the world seemed to manifest very slightly in her movement. "[Celestial Sunder]."
This time, the skill not only manifested from the depths of her body, butalso used the surroundings for its advantage.
SLASH!
The sky was sliced in two, a line extending for a few thousand kilometers.
Every single senior who saw that felt their jaw slacken.
"Was that…?"
"Impossible! How old is she?"
"But… You can't deny it."
Tatyana also blinked twice, her face showing a hint of disbelief. "Big Improvement Skill Realm… She actually managed to break through into it?"
Ao Xianlan was almost tired of feeling surprised. She just caressed Yasenia's silky and smooth long black hair, refusing to comment on anything.