The following three days were rather uneventful for Yasenia. She encountered some groups, but the people who participated in the Transcendence Realm were not stupid. So, chances to kill others were few and far between.
Yasenia also realized something as she explored the surroundings. "There are no Sixth Level or above beasts."
The strongest she had found was a Level 5 without a developed Intent Domain. While that beast's strength was high, Yasenia could pummel it, suppressing it with the Tyrant Warlord Intent Domain.
"Is there not a single powerful challenge in this illusory world? There must be something else, right?"
Her mutters made many watching spasm with indignation. Of course, having observed the way she defeated all creatures that came across her, no one dared to call her arrogant.
However, that didn't prevent them cursing her with 'monster' and all its synonyms.
Tatyana was also curious and glanced at Yan Huang. "What about it? Is she right?"
Yan Huang chuckled. "Didn't you help us set up a few things for these formations? You should know."
Tatyana rolled her eyes lightly. "I just helped you because the illusion was not equipped enough to manifest all of Yasenia's powers properly. Had you used your initial design, Little Treasure would've only been able to use around 70% of her strength. After fixing those parts, I didn't bother checking anything else so that I couldn't give Yasenia hints."
Yan Huang hummed and decided to answer. "Well, if she continues her massacre, she should find something interesting soon. There is a reward midway, after all."
Tatyana nodded and refocused on the illusion.
Meanwhile, Yasenia continued killing creatures, calculating more or less how much time she had gained in cultivation during the last three and a half days. 'The amount of energy is… 25 years of cultivation? Something close to that.'
That was not as much as it sounded, mainly because her time of reference was "raw" cultivation. Meaning, she was comparing it to sitting cross-legged and just cultivating without any external help.
With her current realm, 25 years of raw cultivation were far from enough to break through. The amount of energy she needed was egregious, as she was traversing four paths.
Moreover, the time she needed was not as simple as four times the time. After all, comprehension of concepts, need of resources, and understanding of heavenly paths were necessary for all paths.
So, 25 years of closed-door cultivation allowed her to increase her realm by around 10%.
It was still an egregious speed, but compared to her usual Temple, Baths, and Bead combo, it was far from impressive. 'Were I to compare it with my resource-driven cultivation speed, the amount of energy would amount to 1.5 years of accumulation. It's not bad at all.'
While she was pondering those matters, she suddenly noticed a strange presence manifesting not far from her current position. Her eyes raised, looking over with confusion. "Where did this thing come from?"
The word 'manifest' was not used lightly, as this beast suddenly popped up in the middle of her perception range. The creature was similar to a mix of a boar and a bear, with solid muscles all around and able to walk on two legs.
Its body was incredibly bulky, with strong arms that ended in sharp claws and hooved hind legs. The black and green fur on the body created strange patterns, while the profound red eyes glowed with a menacing light.
Yasenia's face became serious, her instincts telling her that this beast was far from simple. "What is that? I've never seen a beast similar to that one."
The beast moved its head, the boar-like head with six giant, sharp tusks glaring straight at Yasenia. At that moment, two options appeared in Yasena's head. Flee or fight.
'This creature feels like a Fifth Level Sixth Realm beast, but the aura is far from any other beast I've fought until now… No, forget any other beast. This creature is probably the strongest creature I've faced, barring those cultivators that once encircled me.'
At that time, she used the talisman. However, while this beast felt incredibly dangerous, it didn't feel undefeatable.
Yasenia squinted and tightened her grip on Draheart. 'Prepare yourself, Draheart. This is a powerful foe.'
Draheart buzzed, sword howls piercing the sky as they faced the opponent.
While she was preparing, the beast disappeared from her sight.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, she felt danger everywhere. Following her most basic and trained instincts, she placed Draheart vertically to her side like a shield.
Right after, a horrifying impact landed on her side.
BANG!
Her body bent, and her eyes widened as her internal organs twisted inside her body.
"GAH!"
Blood escaped her mouth right before she was thrown flying like a streaking meteor. Her body slammed through thousands of trees, flipping about without any control whatsoever and destroying a large part of the forest.
'What happened!?'
She couldn't react!
After stopping her body, she looked at the beast standing thousands of kilometers away, her heart surging with both excitement and trepidation. Then, she saw the beast's hoofed foot step forward, and then, the world was enveloped in its influence.
Yasenia sensed it this time around. The moment the creature stepped forward, its Intent Domain swallowed everything. In the next instant, the creature lunged forward at a speed that made her own motions appear as if they had been slowed by some sort of power.
Her mind could catch up with the monstrous creature, but her body couldn't!
Thankfully, this time around, the several thousand kilometers between them allowed her to react. 'If I hadn't had my Tyrant Warlord Intent Domain, Celestial Dragon Body, and Celestial Cosmos Dress constantly deployed, that first strike might've left me half-dead.'
Without any option, Yasenia's aura exploded out from her body, most of her buffing skills flaring up inside her.
"[Celestial Tyrant Soul Unshackled]!"
Her soul and perception increased exponentially!
"[Immortal Breaker Body]!"
Her strength and resilience skyrocketed, the slowness of her movements easing up.
"[Crystalline Moon Dress]!"
The celestial gown's soft fabric took on a translucent sheen, further enhancing its defensive prowess.
Finally, to take control of her surroundings and gain a stronger influence, Yasenia activated her domain skill.
"[Empyrean Galaxy Domain]!"
While this domain's ability to throw celestial bodies at will was strong, its most important quality was the ability to gain influence over her surroundings. Even if Yasenia had no Intent Domain, using this skill, she would probably be able to resist low-level Intent Domains.
Once all four skills manifested, Yasenia's aura transformed. Like an immortal butterfly breaking from its cocoon, energy gathered around her before exploding with terrifying violence.
BOOM!!
The bear-like monster charged straight against the aura explosion, only slowing down for a second before appearing in front of Yasenia, its giant clawed paw raised high and ready to strike.
Yasenia roared, her bloodied lips arching into a bloodthirsty smile. "[SHATTERING THE HEAVENS]!"
Draheart howled, endless energies soaring to the sky. Yasenia swung the giant sword, and the celestial energies inside her dantian mixed and transformed, intertwining as they ran through Draheart's body.
Then, Yasenia slashed against the giant paw.
BOOM!!!
The world around them felt as if it was about to collapse, and they both clashed for around a second. Yasenia looked into the monster's eyes, that single instant stretching for a long time, before the energies were too much and violently exploded, sending them both flying backward.
Outside, everyone was silent, their eyes widened. Tatyana spoke with a solemn expression. "A Fifth Level Mythical Core Beast that has comprehended Level 4 Speed and Strength Intent Domains…" Looking at Yan Huang, Tatyana asked, her face somewhat angered. "Are you trying to disqualify her? That's an absurd monster for the current Yasenia!"
Yan Huang was also stunned. "The formation creates an opponent without our supervision. The creation will always be relative to what the cultivator has achieved during the first three and a half days…"
Ao Xianlan, who was glaring at Yan Huang as well, asked with a suppressed tone. "Are you saying that your formation decided that Yasenia's opponent would only be an absurd creature like this one?"
Yan Huang had no excuses, so he could only nod. He naturally didn't want an impossible opponent for Yasenia. Tatyana and Ao Xianlan knew that, which is why they were willing to ask and not snap at him.
Tatyana looked at the illusion world again, her red eyes flashing with a hint of worry. "Do your best, Little Treasure."
Inside the illusory world, Yasenia's energy billowed violently. Her arms were trembling from the previous impact, while the web between her fingers had cracked. "Speed and Strength-Related Intent Domains. That must be it."
Her mind was quickly reliving their two clashes. 'The worst case scenario is a Level 4 Speed and Strength Intent Domain.'
The monster didn't give Yasenia much time to think, though. After it stabilized its body, the monster stomped the ground, the world shaking under its tyrannical physical prowess.
Then, using both Strength and Speed, it lunges forward at a speed that Yasenia's sharp eyes could barely follow. The dragoness quickly used her movement technique, [Fairy Moon Steps], and dodged the punch that could shatter a world.
The monster seemed to have predicted her move, and its head swung sideways. Yasenia saw the white tusk appearing right before her, and she barely raised her sword and tail to defend.
BANG!
Her body spiraled backward, smashing through many more giant trees. "What a tyrannical strength!"
Thankfully, her defense was ridiculous, or her bones would've collapsed already. The monster chased after Yasenia, attacking her with a barrage of endless strikes.
Yasenia was constantly pushed back, their figures traversing thousands of kilometers as they clashed. Each time they collided, an explosion that leveled hundreds of kilometers around them expanded.
All beasts and other cultivators they encountered died or were grievously injured because of the aftershocks, almost not understanding what hit them.
Feeling suppressed, Yasenia's golden eyes took on a touch of red. "ENOUGH! [URSA'S GRASP]!"
The figure of a mountain-dwarfing celestial bear manifested, quickly entering Yasenia's body.
BOOM!
Her strength skyrocketed once more, and right after, Yasenia slashed fearlessly at the beast. "BEGONE! [Firmament Shaking Arc]!"
Bodily strength enveloped Yasenia's figure, her muscles rippling with endless physical power. As the sword slashed out, it felt as if she could cleave through several worlds.
The claw of the monster and Draheart clashed.
BAANG!
The forest around them disappeared, as if a mountain-leveling explosion had gone off. For the first time, Yasenia was not blown back helplessly. Still, her body slid backward in the air, her inner organs trembling as her muscles cried in pain.
Yasenia's draconic eyes glowed. 'I can fight back. If I can fight back… I can win!'
"[Peagsus Gallop]!"
The monster and Yasenia rushed at each other, exchanging thousands of moves during the following few minutes.