Yasenia appeared outside, the golden key in her hand. Before the others appeared, she tucked it between her breasts. Her soft mountains easily swallowed the key, making it disappear. 'This way, I will have it at hand. Just in case spatial rings don't function.'
A second later, the other seven people appeared nearby. The female Charm Snake Demon hissed at Yasenia before she pointed and shouted. "Attack and kill her!"
However, as she said that, a voice descended, carrying insurmountable pressure with it. "Fights are prohibited. You will be disqualified if you fight, and those instigating it will also receive penalties."
Yasenia looked over with a mocking gaze. The fact that the mocking gaze made the charmed men react was another slap to the Charm Snake Demon. Still, Lian Ruxue managed to calm down when her companion spoke. "We can wait. She won't be able to run either way." The male snake demon lustfully scanned Yasenia's explosive body and smiled. "You will be quite tasty once I swallow you."
Bored, Yasenia yawned once and commented. "Be careful. You'll choke." Her eyebrow raised, taunting. "I am quite big."
The man laughed, not understanding what Yasenia was referring to.
"The second trial will begin in twenty minutes. Use this time to recover."
A wave of pure energy descended, covering them. Curious, Yasenia absorbed a bit of it and realized that it had healing qualities. 'Oh? Quite mysterious. I can't sense Life Energy, but it is able to heal. Does it follow the principles of my [Aquarius' Rain] technique?'
Aquarius' Rain was the fifth sky in the constellation steps series, and it used star elements to heal injuries of both body and soul—a remarkable ability.
With that in mind, Yasenia sat cross-legged and greedily absorbed all the energy she could. Not because she was injured, but because she wanted to be petty and steal it away from the others.
Sadly, the amount of healing energy was too much, so Yasenia didn't manage to do what she planned. 'Such a shame. It would've been fun to see their reactions.'
"The second trial will begin now. From this trial onward, your techniques will be sealed. The only ones you can use will be based on how many you can learn from the stele."
This time, even Yasenia was stunned. "My techniques are sealed?"
"To overcome the second trial, you must learn at least one technique before a month passes: One movement ability, one offensive ability, or one defensive ability."
Then, the wall before them collapsed, revealing letters, images, and other symbolism.
"Whoa…"
The wall, pulsing with energy as if it were alive, filled Yasenia full of reverence. 'This is exquisitely carved. If I compare it with the Grand Cosmos Martial Art Stele I carved back then, it's like comparing a child's scribbles to the handwriting of experts.'
Yasenia ignored the other seven and sat down cross-legged, reading through the techniques on the wall. 'Hm… There is one for each attribute. I guess I can learn one of each attribute… Let's see. [Fairy Moon Steps], [Scorching Sword], [Star Dome]...'
After learning their effects, Yasenia nodded to herself. "I will learn these three first. If I have the chance to learn more, I will."
For the next week, Yasenia practiced them day and night, reading and going through the motions.
The other seven were paying attention to Yasenia as well. When they saw that she started with the Moon attribute movement technique, they didn't react much. Still, four days later, when Yasenia manifested it, their hearts jumped. 'Four days to learn one technique? What kind of comprehension talent is this!?'
The dragoness then took out Draheart and looked at the image for the offensive ability. "Scorching Sword… when you use it, your weapon will be enveloped by the flames of the Sun. The temperature can burn everything, while each sword strike will create fire sprouts that can damage your enemies…"
"Not bad." Yasenia nodded. "This ability is quite versatile, having both close and long-range capabilities, while also creating something like a damaging aura around it."
Preparing her stance, Yasenia followed the energy paths the technique required and started sword dancing. Her body moved firmly, each swing carrying weight and strength. For Sun-attributed techniques, the most valued trait was neither flexibility nor speed. It was strength and sturdiness.
Each strike must make your enemy feel that, if they take it head-on, they will be in trouble.
One of the rogue cultivators observed from a distance and asked. "Lady Lian, which one is she practicing?"
The charm demon frowned. "She isn't practicing the Moon attributed offensive ability. That's for sure. Her steps are too firm, while the Moon attributed techniques carry softness and agility."
After Yasenia learned the movement technique, she checked the other Moon attribute techniques to make sure that she understood what Yasenia was going to learn and then picked something suitable to counter it.
Nevertheless, what she practiced was clearly not something of the Moon Attribute category. One of the men suddenly commented. "Isn't that the one I am practicing?"
"You?" The female demon asked. "Aren't you practicing the Sun Attributed offensive ability?"
"Yes." The man was puzzled. "But… That shouldn't be possible. Sun and Moon can't appear in the same body."
However, while they discussed, Yasenia's sword suddenly ignited for a moment, a scorching heat engulfing the area.
This time around, everyone stopped and looked at the Dragon as if she were a monster. The male demon frowned deeply. "Sun and Moon… Moreover, it doesn't feel like she is forcing it. So, the affinities must be her natural ones."
After Transcendence, a cultivator could use techniques from almost any attribute. Of course, their natural attributes had an advantage when comprehending them, but if you learned another type of technique, it wasn't as limited. The reason was the Transcendent Cultivators' ability to commune with the surrounding energy.
Yasenia swung her flaming sword around, her figure the epitome of valiant beauty. Once she was done, she stopped and felt the stares from the side. 'What are they looking at? I have not seen any of them learn a single technique. Even then, they are losing time looking at me.'
Not that she minded. After all, the more time they lost, the better it was for her. So, with a gentle movement, Yasenia took off her veil, revealing a smile. Everyone felt as if a sledgehammer had struck their brains.
At this moment, the Charm Snake Demon suddenly realized something terrible. One of the rogue cultivators actually broke free from her influence!
The demon lunged forward, ready to cast her spell again. However, when she was about to do so, a pressure descended from above, slamming her against the ground.
"Fighting is prohibited. If you continue struggling, you will be punished."
The man who was freed from the charm demon's control snapped out of his daze. 'That was the most beautiful smile I've ever seen… Wait.' Looking around, he muttered, confused. "Where am I? Wasn't I in the fifth Broken Star City?"
Noticing the abnormality in the man, Yasenia's eyes flashed, and she decided to speak. "Oh? You actually woke up from that demon's charm. Congratulations."
"Charm…" A faint headache hit him as memories returned to him. After that, anger surged in his heart as he turned to look at the demon with murderous eyes. "You filthy creature! You actually dare to control me!?"
Ruxue snorted, patting her dress elegantly. "It's not my fault that you are lustful and easy prey." She smiled seductively as she asked. "Do you want another romp in the sheets, darling? This time around, I'll make sure to use all my techniques."
"DIE!" The man was about to raise his sword when, similar to what happened to the demon, a powerful pressure stopped him.
After hearing the warning, the man restrained his killing intent and walked toward Yasenia. "I don't know how I can pay you back, but this time around, let me be your ally and keep you safe."
Yasenia saw his solemn expression and decided to accept. If there were group battles later, she wouldn't want to be alone. "Sure. Let's cooperate. I am Yasenia Dravory. What's your name?"
The man smiled. "I am Tang Zhihui. A pleasure to meet you, Lady Yasenia."
'Tang?' Yasenia blinked. Then, she thought curiously. 'I do seem to have some kind of fate with Tang-surnamed people. Funny.'
After that interlude, the rest of the month passed by quickly.
Yasenia ended up learning six techniques during the month: two defensive ones, three offensive ones, and the movement technique.
The offensive techniques were [Scorching Sword], [Moon Ice Torment], and [Star Pierce]. While the Sun attributed ability was a weapon offensive skill, the Moon attributed one leaned more toward area of effect. It could cover a large terrain with damaging frost, creating an area difficult to fight for her enemies. Finally, Star Pierce was a long-range single-target technique. It allowed Yasenia to focus star-fire and create a laser-like projectile with a single sword stab.
For her defensive skills, [Star Dome] was a general area type defensive skill. It didn't latch onto her body; instead, it covered the zone around her to block external attacks. The second one, [Crystalline Moon Dress], was the opposite. It created a gorgeous silver dress to envelop her figure, increasing her defense many times over and hurting all those who attacked her with moon frost.
Fairy Moon Steps helped Yasenia move quickly and evade skills, giving her enough agility to catch up with her enemies.
Other than Yasenia, who learned six abilities, the rest could only understand one or two. After all, a month seemed like a long time, but to master a skill and then learn it, it took time.
The ones who managed to learn two skills were the two demons and the rogue cultivator who sided with Yasenia.
"Congratulations on passing the second trial. The third trial will start in ten minutes. You will be transported to a desolate space. There, you must search for a location where you will go through the fourth, fifth, and sixth trials. Good luck."
The man by Yasenia's side spoke up. "Do we go together? I feel that there won't be fighting restrictions inside this area."
The dragoness shook her head. "If we are transported to the same area, we can move together at first. But if we are separated, I won't lose time searching for you."
"Understood."
He didn't have anything against that. It was the best-case scenario for both of them.
Ten minutes later, everyone was transported to the desolate place. Yasenia quickly checked her surroundings and found no one nearby. She was about to move when she sensed a strange heat between her breasts. "Hm? The key?"