While not all Undead look similar, because of the Death Energy running in their bodies and the large amounts of Yin energy, it was normal for their appearances to be emaciated.
Naturally, the stronger the Undead, the better they got used to the overly large amounts of Yin and Death energies going around their body, and they would gradually be able to recover a human-like appearance. Once an Undead goes a transformation from undead to Specter, meaning reaching the realm of Specter Corpse Lord, the equivalent to Transcendence Realm, they would become indistinguishable from a normal living creature at a glance.
Of course, once their energies were unleashed, it would become more than apparent that they were not living beings. However, before that, if the other party didn't have any special means, passing as a normal living creature was not a problem at all.
Meanwhile, this fact didn't usually apply to undead created by skills. For example, Tatyana's "soldiers" would always be skeletal, regardless of their strength, and her "generals" would always be human-like.
The group leader stepped forward and spoke with a breathy voice. This creepy tone was caused by his lungs not functioning normally. "Dragon… We want to speak…"
Yasenia looked at him and nodded. "Sure. Go ahead and tell me."
The leader titled his head. "Hm?"
The dragoness looked at him for a few moments, and seeing that he was still observing her, she asked with a strange tone. "Is there something wrong?"
He spoke, blinking slowly. "My name is Wu Rongyao, Dra… No, Yasenia."
The dragoness nodded. Wu Rongyao got thoughtful for a few seconds and then commented slowly. "Our first intention in speaking with you was to check your attitude. However, I've changed my mind."
Yasenia blinked and nodded, not asking why.
Wu Rongyao said. "First, let me tell you about why all our groups have come to this place. While you might've already listened to it from the mouth of the Spirits, it's not bad to say our part."
The dragoness squinted. "Why the sudden goodwill? I could see that you were aiming to get my corpse and turn it into an Undead. Am I wrong?"
Wu Rongyao cackled slowly. "That thought has yet to change. Still, I feel like while alive, you have a certain beauty that you might lose when becoming undead…"
The dragoness couldn't understand. 'Hm… Do I trust them?' Honestly, Yasenia had felt a bit off since the beginning. While she didn't discriminate by appearances, the Undead were the antithesis of life.
They would always have this strange aura around them that made most living creatures feel odd. It was a thought that was uncontrollable, something aking to the nature of those alive.
That's why making honest alliances was highly complicated for the undead and the living. If there were any alliances, they would be entirely based on benefits. Naturally, this applies to alliances between the living, but you should understand what I mean.
I digress.
While Yasenia understood that the feelings were probably her natural resistance toward the Undead, she went and took a step ahead. "Well, speak about it. Listening is free, as some say."
Wu Rongyao chuckled. "Well… The reason for us and the others to come is because our seniors detected an anomaly this way. It was the creation of a very powerful technique, and after checking the source, it directed us toward this place."
Yasenia nodded. The spirits had certainly told her the same. However, Wu Rongyao was not done speaking. "While the other five groups only detected this, we detected another anomaly. Moreover, it happened twice. We ignored it both times because too many resources were needed to send someone to investigate. Still, the recent event that the other groups came for was an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone."
Yasenia tilted her head, not knowing what they were talking about. "Two events of a similar nature?"
Wu Rongyao clarified. "These two events I'm speaking about are pulses of really profound and pure Death energy. The first was a pulse of Death energy so profound that even our seniors felt it from several star systems away. It happened around 15 years ago. We've discovered a land filled with it in the southern part of the continent. Everything in a 10,000 km radius is completely filled with rich Death Energy."
The dragoness paused and recalled events from that time. 'Oh. I know.'
Andrea whispered in her head. 'It's Tatyana, isn't it?"'
Yasenia's lips twitched. 'Perhaps…'
"The second was around six years ago. This time, not only was there an extremely powerful Death Energy ripple, but after that, our seniors detected spatial weaves dwarfing the Death energy."
Kali smirked. 'Definitely, Tatyana.'
Cecile agreed. 'Tatyana screwed up.'
Eira coughed. 'Young Miss, we are not perfect. Everyone can make mistakes.'
Yasenia listened to them and snorted. 'I don't care. Once I return, I'll give her anything she wants.'
Wu Rongyao continued. "So, I wanted to ask. Do you know anything about this situation?"
Yasenia pretended to think about it and then shook her head. "I know about the first one because the leaders had isolated that area. They have even agreed not to involve themselves with the perpetrator because… Well. You've seen how powerful the Death energy there is."
Wu Rongyao nodded, getting thoughtful. "I see. Well… Thanks for answering."
Yasenia smiled a little. "You are welcome."
Wu Rongyao looked at Yasenia and then at the others. "Miss Yasenia, this is not meant to be offensive, but I can feel that only you and the woman with a sword at her waist are a match for us. We'll try not to be insidious as a sign of thanks, but I hope they don't force themselves and know when to surrender."
The dragoness nodded. "No offense taken. That's the truth, after all. I would appreciate it if you did so. We'll also place safety above all."
Wu Rongyao nodded and turned around. When Yasenia was about to leave, Wu Rongyao paused his steps. "Mis Yasenia…"
The dragoness blinked and turned to look at the undead. "Anything else?"
Wu Rongyao hesitated, and after a few seconds, he asked. "Who is the red-eyed woman in your group?"
To be honest, the first time they saw Tatyana, the undead had felt their still hearts thump. It was such a powerful emotion of raw fear that they chose to alter their initial plans.
At first, the undead planned to go to a place in this continent and start slaughtering left and right, creating a small army of Undead and eventually a sect.
However, they placed those plans aside when they noticed Tatyana's existence.
The corner of Yasenia's lips arched when she heard that question. "Why?"
Wu Rongyao looked at Yasenia's knowing expression and smiled wryly. "You should know why, even though I don't understand it myself."
Yasenia laughed. "Well, I can reveal one thing. She can control and summon undead. Perhaps your instincts are telling you to be careful with her."
Wu Rongyao's face lit up in realization. "No wonder, no wonder…" Then, they left while muttering.
Yasenia guided the girls toward the room by the Arena's side, where the participants rested as the others fought.
Andrea asked. "So, what order will we participate in this time?"
Yasenia sat on the couch and crossed her long legs. "No need to think too hard. Just decide on an order and go."
The girls nodded, and Cecile chose to go first.
After she landed in the arena, her icy blue gaze landed on the robe-wearing undead on the other side. Her eyes moved toward his waist, and she saw a sword.
Cecile thought. 'There seem to be two kinds of styles in their group: one that uses swords and another that uses staff.'
The undead on the other side spoke with a low laugh and brittle. "Little Phoenix, be careful. Or else, you might become an undead before you know it, hahaha."
Cecile lifted her white eyebrow. "A Phoenix turning into an Undead? Too bad, as my race is one that can even cheat Death."
The undead laughed. "Nothing can escape from Death, little Phoenix. Now, start with your skills; I'll wait."
Cecile squinted as her energy in the Dantian began surging. "If you underestimate me too much… You'll gain frostbite."
BOOM!
A hurricane of white flames and wind swirled around Cecile as all her buffing skills were released at once. Her aura skyrocketed, creating a massive layer of silver frost that covered half of the arena.
The undead on the other side changed his tone. "Ho…? I admit I underestimated you. However, that's still not quite enough."
After he spoke, his body began emitting a dense black mist, and a tremendous pressure that overpowered Cecile's exploded outward. As if that was not enough, he laughed as he spoke. "[Death Sword Intent Level Five]."
As he unsheathed his sword, the aura around him became extremely shard and deadly. The silver frost that had been consuming everything was sliced into pieces, stopping in its tracks wherever it touched his aura.
Cecile's face became extremely solemn. 'A level five intent?'
While overcoming a level four intent with a few level three intents was possible, overcoming a level five intent was another matter. To overcome a level 5 intent, you needed a few level 4 intents.
The reason was that each level allowed the cultivator to control a more profound and more complex part of the energy. Intents focused on manipulating a concept and releasing it outside or mixing it with one's strength and skills.
The difference between levels was not as simple as being stronger. The other side controlled energy better suppressed almost all auras and could bring out more strength with the same amount of energy.
Cecile, who was not even in the Fifth Cultivation Realm, had no chance of breaching the gap that the undead's cultivation and intents created.
A good representation would be if Cecile appeared in a fight barehanded while the other side had a spear. The chances of winning were hopeless to that degree.
Cecile's lips arched as her icy blue eyes were lit ablaze with determination. 'A difficult fight? Isn't this what I wanted since the start of this competition!?'
"[Innate Skill: Lunar Phoenix Body]! [Innate Skill: Moonlight Ash Domain]!"
The hurricane of flames swirling around Cecile sunk into her body as a new one entirely made of grey ash inundated everything.
The undead spoke. "Useless. [Death Slash]."
SLASH!
A massive black crescent cut the arena in half, passing through where Cecile was standing.
However, the undead didn't show a victorious look even after his attack seemingly bisected Cecile.
His sunken eyes looked around, and he whispered. "There you are."
Cecile appeared in the sky to his right, her bow drawn into a full moon as an enormous phantom bow appeared behind her. "[Moon Freezing Catastrophe]!"
The undead turned, sword in hand, and calculated the speed of the attack to cut it perfectly. However, to his surprise, the enormous black, silver, and green arrow disappeared and appeared right before his nose. 'Ho? Spatial movement?'
BOOM!
Cecile looked at the spot where the arrow exploded in a catastrophic mix of Wind, Moon, and Spatial energies with a grave face. 'He was able to see me long before I could attack.'
After the attack calmed down, Cecile realized no one was there, and she expanded her senses, becoming extremely alert. 'Huh? Where is-'
STAB!
Cecile's eyes widened as a sword pierced her back, appearing right in front of her eyes. Then, the eerie voice of the undead reached her ears. "Little bird… I got you~."