Yin & Yang Pleasures of Cultivation

Busting his eyes open, Darcel forcefully pushed down the feeling of severe whiplash. His eyebrows furrow as he couldn't help but think a fair warning would be delightful next time when getting teleported.

Right beside him, Aniela had fared even worse. Her deep black eyes were nearly left in a flash daze. No matter if they let that magical energy run through them, it was a totally different experience going through it!

However, she and Darcel soon couldn't focus on the teleportation. To where they were brought to had instantly captured their eyes and threw out all previous connotations.

Simply the place they gazed upon was enormous! Easily this building was as tall as the sky-piercing trees in the Necropolis woods.

The building didn't have any windows but was pitch black in color and exuded chilling, sinister vibes.

Taking a second, Darcel took one look around the area they were in.

Through what he assumed some magic formation, their large group was all teleported to a secluded spot in the Necropolis Woods. Nobody, not even wild Spirit monster beasts, was around for miles.

Truthfully, Darcel thought getting to this place would take a bit more time and be crowded when arriving. Luckily his suspicions of annoyance was proven wrong.

At the back of him, Darcel started to hear the other students' confused murmurs, also attempting to get rid of that whiplash feeling. Smirking to himself, Darcel turned his head to speak up to Aniela.

Yet, so abrupt and sudden did his senses latched on to an ominous looming feeling.

His attention spiked while his body was raised to complete alert. And looking at Aniela, he can tell she was experiencing the same feeling.

Her face gained a massively inquisitive expression, unsure of just what was causing this feeling. She and Darcel both knew this dungeon, of course, would be dangerous….but to the point where it's mere surrounding presence is setting off alarms?

For such a low-level province like there, it seemed highly unlikely.

And the duo wasn't the only one catching on to an ominous feeling. The Vice Principal had focused up her attention slightly, attempting to feel out this presence.

Given that her Spirit Sense is far higher and advanced than the duo, one would think she would immediately seek out the presence.

However….as soon as she spread her broad senses, the haunting feeling just suddenly….vanished.

'That was….' The Vice Principal briefly thought to herself but had quickly reoriented her attention to the students. No matter what, the students' safety will at least be assured with what they have.

Stepping a few inches ahead of the group, the Vice Principal turned around and got everyone's attention by saying, "Alright! Everyone assort into your groups and stick close to one another."

Swiftly the students responded to her orders and began reorganizing themselves. Only Darcel and Aniela didn't move from their spots. Though one lone girl did walk up to them.

"Fufufu~, With my one opportunity to spread out my wings farther than my brother, I'm glad it's with the two stars~." Hao Cao playfully teased as she got next to the duo.

Even for someone as casual as her, Hao Cao couldn't help but feel eager anticipation about this expedition. After all, she was one of the few that had the most knowledge of Darcel and Aniela's overwhelming prowess.

Back then, when they were just at the Supreme Order level of the Qi Formation Sea realm, they quickly crushed fourth level Nascent Core students.

And currently, at the second level of Nascent Core, just how powerful are they now?

Hao Cao couldn't imagine it, but she knew they would all become rich with resources! Though there was this odd nagging feeling about the Labyrinth, it was minuscule compared to the excitement she felt.

The excitement was also shared with the brightly smiling Aniela.

Eagerly, she grabbed Hao Cao's soft hand while saying in a passionate tone, "Mnh! It may just be one of the wisest decisions putting as three as a trio! We'll come out ring full!"

Hao Cao gently smiled while enjoying the feeling of Aniela's smooth hand and cheerful tone.

Just beside them, they had also heard Darcel speak up, having a bit more charm in his voice than Hao Cao remembered him having.

"Indeed, with companies like you two, I can give it up and admit this deadly place is already shaping up to be a good time." A slight surprise glint flashed through Hao Cao's eyes, hearing Darcel's words.

With a broader, teasing smile, she asked, "Oh~? The usual realist Darcel is genuinely warming up to be lively and charming~?" Giggling softly to herself, she expected to see a slight change in expression on him, but she only got his same calm facade.

"Hehehe~, Darcey, just slowly learning how to lighten up a little. All thanks to me, of course!" Though Darcel and Aniela were upbeat on the outside, inwardly, they were on red alert.

They believed no one besides themselves caught onto that peculiar ominous feeling. Nobody else raised any concerns about it, and the Vice Principal's face was as stern as usual.

Still, Darcel and Aniela weren't ones that would take their senses lightly. Now for any unexpected trouble that may arise, both will take the step to quickly react to whatever that trouble may be.

The Vice Principal, unaware of the duo's thoughts, simply nodded once seeing everyone in their position. Sparing no time, she then proceeds to tell them,

"Now, leaders, activate your reusable barrier talisman before going in. Since we're in groups, it should be obvious why we wouldn't people splitting off. Also, do remember you all have an escaping talisman that'll instantly cover your whole group for hopeless situations. Are you all ready now?"

"Ready!!"

In sync, all of the students fervently shouted. Each leader brought out a uniquely designed purple talisman for their group, it being the reusable barrier.

For Darcel and Aniela, Hao Cao held the barrier talisman and activated it around them. And though inside the barrier, the duo could feel everyone's eagerness and nerves were at an all-time high!

Seeing all groups wrapped up in their shimmering purple barrier, the Vice Principal nodded while telling them, "Remember as well, this barrier is not immensely sturdy and can only tank one attack before disappearing. Now, go!"

'Swish!!'

Right when the ok was given, the students blasted off with swift speeds. They didn't care who might've got in their eyes only held their eyes on the Labyrinth entrance.

The Labyrinth entrance was this profoundly deep black portal that dimmed even the darkness of the Necropolis woods. Watching from the back, the Vice Principal exhaled a small sigh.

'No matter what might change….those two kids will undoubtedly add to the shift.' The Vice Principal mused to herself. Shaking her head, she had then begun preparing to go into the Dungeon Labyrinth herself.

….

Immediately when Darcel's group opened their eyes after going through the black portal, they all came across the unique design of this Labyrinth. The first thing that stuck out to them was the color of this place.

It was this particular glossy black color….nearly identical to the shiny black of the Necropolis Woods.

This place's material was black polished stone, filling out with seemingly unending pathways and black glossy stone doors spaced out on the walls.

Amazingly enough, the outside doesn't do this Labyrinth justice on just how expansive it is. Even when spreading out their Spirit Senses a bit, neither of the three could tell the end of the place.

"For a dangerous place, it's quite….beautiful! Well, much like everything in our world. So Cao? Where to first?" Aniela asked while also noticing their barrier indeed did go away after going through the portal.

Darcel also expectantly looks towards Hao Cao, having no problem with her being in charge. Not wanting to disappoint the duo, her eyes began glowing a small spark of purple as she told them,

"I'm sure you two also sense it. The level of monsters here is nothing for us. If we want true valuable resources, then we're going to need to find a portal. It'll take us to the next level."

Darcel and Aniela witnessed small sparks of now purple lightning streaks running out of her eyes during her explanation.

Admittedly these bright sparks of lightning combined with her lovely face made for a mesmerizing scene.

Gesturing at the duo, Hao Cao began carefully leading the way to the next portal. Even as their Nascent Core level could trump this level, Hao Cao wanted to take it slow for Darcel and Aniela to get accustomed to the Labyrinth atmosphere.

And certainly so, the duo could tell this place was for the experienced minds.

An aura of death was sprinkled all throughout the floor. Dark, bloody stains were splatter everywhere from the ground to the walls and ceiling, creating an eerie look.

Hearing their shoes hitting the pavement echoed throughout the Labyrinth also brought about its own level of haunting.

For a short moment, nobody talked. Darcel and Aniela were actually delving into their senses, attempting to see if they could pick up on that heavy looming feeling from outside.

And not surprising to them, that daunting presence was nowhere to be felt inside the Labyrinth. Suddenly, during their trek, the trio had all picked up on Perfected Order Qi Formation Sea beasts running at them.

"Keh!!"

Several large rats all over ten feet long sprang out on to them from their back and front.

If the trio could say one thing about these monsters, though, it was that their appearances are far more grotesque than anything in the Woods.

Their teeth were massively long, sharp, and stained with dried blood. Their fur was all puffed up, revealing spots of gross black spots and spots of horrid fluid.

Furthermore, their tails all easily reached a length of at least six feet.

This sort of entrapment would've been threatening and daunting to any Qi Formation Sea group. But it was a shame these Spirit Monsters lacked the awareness to know when they're genuinely outclassed.

Nonchalantly, Hao Cao raised her hand high into the air. Looking up at it, the duo watched as a glowing bolt of purple lightning formed above her finger.

'Chi!'

With a simple snap of her fingers, the bolt of purple lightning split off into several bolts and rushed the rats at unimaginable speeds.

Before the rats could even process it, purple lightning tore through their heads, effortlessly killing them off.

When lowering her hand, it was then a bright spark of purple lightning went off in Hao Cao's eyes! Broadly smiling, Hao Cao told the duo, "Fufu~, it seems we're luckier than I expected! I already picked up on the next portal location!"

Darcel and Aniela raised curious expressions as they were told this was Hao Cao's power of the supposed sixth sense.

Neither of them knew exactly what this meant, but Hao Cao told them it was what got her to come to their duels.

Moreover, she also mentioned a friend wielding similar inborn powers to her. Still, no matter how strange it sounded, Darcel and Aniela were glad they had this cute girl on their team.

"No need to go slow for our sake, then Cao! Lead the way, and let's blast through this level!" Aniela gave her the ok, causing Hao Cao to nod her head.

Quickly now, the trio rushed off with Hao Cao in the lead. It didn't matter how extensive and broad the Labyrinth was currently; with Hao Cao, they were assured to be on the right track.

After only a few miles running, Hao Cao's right foot had sunken into the ground on one specific tile. She nearly tripped up from the lack of balance and also forced Darcel and Aniela to stop right behind her.

'Hua!'

Neither of three was paying attention to their surroundings until a large glossy black door flew open right beside them.

Taking only a single glance over, the three watched as many black arrows, all exuding a poisonous aura, shot towards them.

Igniting her hand in whitish black flames, Aniela casually erected a black flaming wall over the door's massive opening. The three soon turned their attention back on finding the portal as the sounds of arrows burning slithered into their ears.

"At least I would've thought the traps would be a bit entertaining….so, how far are we from the portal?" Darcel asked while unfazed from recklessly activating a trap.

Turning to Darcel, Hao Cao gave his charming face a cute smile while telling him, "It's ironic that the trap stopped us right here. We're actually pretty close to the portal. Full speed ahead?"

Towards her question, the duo nodded. Swiftly the trio began pouring a bit of Nascent Qi into their legs in hopes of not getting stopped by a trap again.

With Hao Cao in the lead, the trio blitz towards an ignorable, ordinary-looking black door only a couple of miles ahead of them. In only a few seconds, the trio blasted through the door, coming across an odd sight.

This particular room contained massive swarms of giant rats. And all rats there were at the peak stage of the Perfected Order level of the Qi Formation Sea realm.

Instantly the gruesome rats' attention turned on to the trio. But when doing so, every rat there met with the crushing feeling of death!

Darcel's hand sizzled a blaring black fire glow. With only a flick of his hand, he unleashed a torrent of wild raging black flames!

'Sssch!!'

The savage burning sounds of rats being burnt to death boomed in the trio's ears. Using only a second, Darcel rid the room entirely of rats to were only black ashes remained.

"Heh, always with the flashiness, Darcy! Oh?.... Hey, that has to be the portal, right?" All the way to the back of this large spacious room was a set of stairs in an odd sickly green color design.

And at the top of the stairs, the trio could spot a sickly green looking portal.

"Indeed, it is. Let's mosey to the next level, shall we?" Hao Cao confirmed and rhetorically asked the duo.

Darcel simply nodded while Aniela set up some eager anticipation for the rest of the Labyrinth. With hope in her voice, she said,

"No matter if this place is in a weaker state, I hope we can get a greater challenge now…."