Bittersweet Victory

'Hmm. As easy as it might seem, I don't want to engage in direct combat with these late-stage Spirit Refiners.'

Aksai thought to himself, maintaining a neutral gaze as he assessed his opponents.

Aksai believed in overpowering his enemies using all the advantages he possessed. He preferred to avoid prolonged battles unless absolutely necessary.

Moreover, Spirit cultivators were notorious for their arsenal of tricks and techniques. Aksai understood that while he could gauge his opponents' combat skills, he couldn't underestimate the hidden trump cards they might possess.

Deciding to change the dynamics of the encounter, Aksai smiled at Aria and Darius before speaking calmly.

"Who said I was running away from you? I merely sought to create distance to avoid endangering my allies," he explained, summoning four of his Scarecrow Fiends from the Everwood farm.