As Celeste Starweaver took her position, Serena could tell from the pressure she was casually emitting that she was half a step into the Star Core Realm.

Half steps were different from mere 9th-stage cultivators. They were people who deliberately suppressed their Soul Core from going supernova and advancing because they wanted to build the perfect foundation first. The only cultivators who did this were prodigies who could afford to waste time perfecting their foundation or had abused beast cores and wanted to overcome their heart demons before advancing.

I'm in the 9th stage and have enough Qi to potentially advance to the Star Core Realm right now, but it would be rushed. Without my sect's stone, I might struggle to draw in enough Qi to succeed in forming my Star Core, as converting untamed Qi is far too inefficient and slow. Serena mused as she shifted her weight and summoned a sword to her hand. Yet this girl is deliberately suppressing herself in the Soul Fire Realm. She must have influential people behind her to be so arrogant.

It was all terrible news for Serena's chance in this battle. Not only was Celeste Starweaver a half step into the Star Core Realm, but she also possessed one of the hardest to deal with and most lethal affinities. Meanwhile, Serena had a water-based affinity and was standing in an arena of sand with no water in sight.

Serena looked up at the booth where the Ashfallen Sect's overlords stood. The Princess of the sect seemed to be discussing with the Redclaw Grand Elder as the man leaned in and told her something. A look of amusement was on the Princess's face as she listened. While Serena didn't want to intrude on their conversation, since her death seemed assured, she decided to speak up.

"I understand you are putting on a show for my execution, but isn't this too unfair? I have a water affinity, yet I am suffocated by sand. My opponent is more powerful and possesses an unmatched affinity."

The cheering crowd fell deathly silent at her words as they all looked toward the booth with anticipating expressions. Serena had been here long enough to know that few spoke up against the Princess and lived.

Stella's gaze landed on her as she rested her head on her palm. "Serena Blacktide, while your crimes are numerous, I'm not unfair. The preparations for this battle are not yet complete."

"What do you mean?"

"I've received a request to make this a two-on-two battle and debated whether I should humor it." Stella smiled, "How about this? I'll let you decide. Do you wish to face Celeste Starweaver alone or alongside another?"

Serena was convinced that her loss was assured, so she would take any option that might help tip the scales in her favor.

"I'd rather make it a two-on-two."

"Excellent," Stella grinned as she casually opened the massive gates of the arena below the booth with a flick of her soul-flame-wreathed hand, "This is going to be a lot more entertaining."

From the darkness beyond the arena gate, a lone boy walked out into the light. Sandy blonde hair barely obscured his hate-filled gaze. It was the twerp who she had failed to assassinate before fleeing into the storm.

"This is Sam," Grand Elder Diana introduced the arena to the newcomer, "A farmer's son who we blessed with the ability to cultivate and has since ascended to the Soul Fire Realm. Such an impressive youth was almost killed in cold blood outside of the arena by Serena Blacktide during her escape attempt. He also requested to face Serena in a duel." Diana's cold eyes bore into Serena, "You made so many enemies in just a few days. It's quite impressive."

At the twerp's introduction, the crowd cheered with vigor. It seemed his story of farmer's son to cultivator ignited their passion, which made sense; most people in the crowd were filthy mortals, after all.

Serena let out a sigh of relief. The twerp was barely in the Soul Fire Realm and likely knew no techniques yet. His addition barely increased Celeste Starweaver's fighting strength. But there was just one problem... who would stand beside her?

"Who will stand at my side?" Serena asked.

Stella tilted her head to the side and spoke to someone she couldn't see. The conversation went on back and forth until Serena saw a blob of green hair move toward the booth's open-air window and jump onto its ledge.

"My Disciple wishes to join the fight. However, she does not support your crimes, so losing your light shield will still be considered your loss, even if my Disciple goes on to defeat your two opponents. Do you accept these terms?"

So Jasmine will be on my side, but rather than being a team, we are basically fighting independently. What a shitty deal, but Jasmine will definitely be more beneficial than Sam in this fight, and if I can use her as a meat shield. This should work to my advantage... Serena bit her lip. What choice did she really have? Who else would stand on her side than the crazy Princess's bored Disciple?

"Fine. I accept these terms."

Jasmine leapt down from the booth, throwing up a cloud of sand where she landed. The little girl then crossed the arena, passing their opponents on the way. She exchanged a look with Sam, which indicated a rivalry Serena was unaware of. Jasmine also nodded at Celeste Starweaver, who actually bowed in response to the little girl.

Being the Princess's only Disciple sure is a prestigious position. Serena mused as she thought back to the Abyssal Tide Sect Patriarch's son, who always strode around the sect with his nose pointed at the sky. At least Jasmine seems a little more humble than that brat.

"Hello, Daisy," Jasmine said sarcastically, pausing at her side and facing their opponents.

Serena gave a weary smile, "Sorry for lying to you."

"Don't worry, I'm here to save you," Jasmine said cryptically, which wasn't the response Serena had been expecting. "What's our battle plan? I've never participated in a cultivator battle like this." She gestured with her chin to Sam, "I need to beat that kid into the ground."

So they do have a rivalry. Perfect, that means Jasmine has the motivation to help me, at least somewhat.

Serena moved the Qi in her body toward her mouth. "Well, the first piece of advice I can give is when discussing what you plan to do, obscure your voice with your Qi like this. Otherwise, they can hear everything you are saying..."

Jasmine winced as Sam gave her a death stare from across the arena.

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"Like this?" Jasmine said, and Serena could hear her words directly in her ears like a pleasant breeze going over a lush meadow.

"Impressive, you picked that up quickly," Serena replied in genuine awe. "Now, as for battle tactics, give me a moment to think..." As she fell into thought, a portal of immense raw power opened, and a strange wooden being taller than a human with a crown of arms supporting an orb of pure light took center stage.

"Sol will now distribute light shields." Grand Elder Diana announced from Stella's side. "We have tested its defensive capabilities, and at maximum strength, it could survive a single hit from Evandor Starweaver. It should survive a few hits from you, Celeste, but we will observe closely and ask you to try and avoid two highly lethal techniques in a row."

"Fine by me." Celeste smiled.

I bet they wouldn't have given that warning if it was just me. Serena thought sadly as she side-eyed the Princess's precious Disciple. The wooden being lumbered over to Jasmine first, and one of the arms extended out to bless her with an aura of intense light that slowly faded to be more tolerable as it condensed against her skin.

The being gave Serena the same treatment before lumbering over to Celeste and Sam. Serena felt the light shield condense and realized it wasn't settling on her skin but was sitting on top of her own natural aura so she didn't feel suffocated by the foreign Qi.

"The All-Seeing Eye will now alter the terrain to give everyone the best fighting chance," Grand Elder Diana announced, and Serena felt the ground begin to shift under her feet. Under the excited murmurs of the crowd and praises for the All-Seeing Eye, pillars of stone erected from the ground, grass rapidly sprouted from the sand, water rushed out of holes in the arena's walls and carved meandering rivers, and finally, the illusionary sky over the arena became a sea of stars.

Along with these changes, Serena felt the actual Qi in the arena shift to mirror the changing environment. Instead of nothing, there was now a chaotic mixture of earth, water, and nature Qi. As for cosmic Qi? Serena wasn't so sure if she simply couldn't detect such a high-tier affinity or if it was lacking.

Either way, Celeste Starweaver didn't seem too fazed about it.

"How do you feel about taking the frontline?" Serena asked Jasmine while hiding her voice with Qi.

"Frontline? What do you mean?"

Do I have to start from there? How little training has this girl been given?

Serena suppressed a sigh and explained, "There are frontline and backline affinities. Most affinities excel at range, but a few do best when used in someone's face. Earth affinity is an excellent example of a frontline one. They want to get close as their bodies are their best weapon."

"How do I know which one I am?"

"Nature affinity can be either depending on your fighting style. What weapon do you use?"

Jasmine's spatial ring flashed with silver light, and a mighty whip made from a vine resembling the tree root Serena had struck with an axe that got her into this whole mess in the first place appeared in the little girl's hand. It was pretty long compared to her height, so most of it coiled and rested on the ground. The whip was rather impressive, and Serena couldn't even recognize the metal from which the platinum-colored handle was made.

"Okay, a whip user. Longer reach than a sword or hammer, but not enough to be considered a ranged weapon like a bow. I'd say you should fight in the frontline."

Jasmine nodded, "Alright. I'll be fighting Sam in the frontline then."

"Yes." Serena locked eyes with Celeste, who returned an amused smile. "Cosmic affinity is a backline affinity, as is my abyssal tide affinity, so both of us will be hurling techniques at each other from afar until one of us runs out of Qi."

"What happens then?"

Serena tightened her hand around the sword's handle, "We engage in a furious melee."

"Ah, so that's why you're terrible at fighting with the sword." Jasmine nodded in understanding.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Serena frowned as she stepped to the side to avoid being swept away by a rushing river passing by as the arena finished setting up.

Jasmine shrugged. "My Master said you were weirdly incompetent with the sword." They were now on opposite banks, separated by a raging river. So Serena couldn't slap her on the head for such a remark.

I might not be the most talented, but I was still considered quite good at the sword in the Abyssal Tide Sect before I left. These land dwellers just have different standards.

"It's a good thing you will be handling the frontline then," Serena said with a strained smile.

Jasmine tilted her head, "What's stopping Celeste from destroying my light shield and 'killing' me while I'm fighting Sam?"

"I will stop her. If you fall, the twerp will become annoying to deal with while I try to match Celeste's attacks. So I need you to hold the line. Understood?"

Jasmine nodded, and Serena could see the determination on the little girl's face.

It's slim, but maybe together, we can bridge the gap in strength and take down Celeste. Serena let out a breath and began to cycle her Qi throughout her entire body. Either way, she planned to go all out. She refused to kneel to the future fate had decided for her.

Stella stood from her throne, "The battle will now begin!" she announced, and Serena's desperate struggle for survival under this sect's overlords began with a clap of Stella's hands.

Dark blue soul flames coated Serena's hands.

Abyssal tide Qi was a higher-tier version of simple water Qi. While acting quite similar to water in most cases, as described by her elders, it was the type of water you see in your nightmares. The black depths conceal unspoken horrors and will pull you into the darkness if you let it. The more of the abyss Serena inserted into the water, the more nightmarish it would become.

I'll devote a third of my Qi to an Abyssal Water Cloak to protect Jasmine from Celeste and give her an edge over Sam. Cosmic Qi isn't known for its protective properties, only its unparalleled capabilities at destruction. So this should buy us some time.

Black water jumped out of the nearby river at her command, engulfed Jasmine, and began coiling around her body as if alive. Initially confused, Jasmine slowed for a moment to inspect what was happening to her. While distracted, the twerp had surprisingly closed the gap, kicking up a trench behind him as he shot forward like an arrow. Jasmine didn't raise her whip in time to meet the kid's sword, but the coiling water surged forward, punching the twerp in the stomach and sending him flying backward.

"Oh!" Jasmine looked over her shoulder and grinned at Serena. "Thanks for the shield."

"I said I would protect you," Serena grumbled under her breath in disbelief. For how fast Jasmine had picked up the ability to talk via Qi, the Princess's Disciple wasn't the brightest at combat.

Jasmine thankfully didn't waste Serena's charity as unfathomably pure nature Qi wreathed the whip in her hand, bathing it in a bright green hue. The whip seemed to come alive in the girl's hand, and she lashed out at Sam, who had already recovered from the brutal hit. Serena had expected the twerp to be fine as earth cultivators could take quite a beating before they went down.

Sam tried to stupidly block the whip with his sword, and instead of the blade slicing through the whip like the blockhead likely hoped, the sword simply got caught in the whip as the black thorn-covered vine coiled around the blade. Jasmine tried to pull backward to steal Sam's sword, but Sam was far stronger. The twerp dug his feet into the ground, and his muscles tensed as he pulled the sword over his head and made Jasmine stumble forward as she lost the contest of strength.

"I hope that light shield is as strong as the Princess claims," Celeste Starweaver said casually from across the arena. Serena eyed her opponent cautiously as the girl raised her hand.

Here we go. It's time for us to fight—or so Serena thought. But rather than pointing at her, Celeste aimed at Jasmine and Sam. "I can't fight at full strength with them in the way, so the children need to go over there."

Serena didn't even have time to react as there was a flash of blinding light followed by intense heat. Blinking away the light, color slowly returned. What in the nine realms... Serena gulped at what she saw.

Between Celeste and where Jasmine and Sam had been fighting, there was a trench of molten stone lined by grass that was on fire. The heat was so intense the air shimmered.

Serena had heard that cosmic affinity cultivators were capable of destruction, but she hadn't expected someone at the Soul Fire Realm to be capable of hurling literal Starfire. Glancing to the side, she saw Jasmine and Sam. Both seemed alive, and their light shields had yet to break, but they were in bad shape.

Thank the heavens. That means the light shields can survive a hit or two and Jasmine is still in the fight. Hope is not all lost. Serena looked back at Celeste. The girl was silently staring her down with her eyes that were like swirling galaxies while her finger was pointed at the stars above. "For fuck sake," Serena cursed under her breath as she looked up and saw multiple meteors hurled toward her.