Yin & Yang Pleasures of Cultivation

"Has your intuition gotten you so worked up?" Darcel asked the broadly smiling Aniela.

That excited prideful look in her eyes was something Darcel was all too familiar with. A smirk etched on his face since she'll at least have some good news then.

"Yes, don't keep us in the dark now~." Hao Cao managed to say. Even having a playful tone.

After resting for a while, the aching sore pain went down a bit, and she could at least talk now. Provided she doesn't move a muscle now.

Aniela, however, didn't respond to their questions.

Her smile only grew wider as she held up her fist at them. Under the confused gazes of Darcel and Hao Cao, she had plunged her fist right in between her legs!

'Chi!'

Amazingly enough, Aniela's fist still managed to drill through the stone dark, sickly green floor, even in a weakened state.

Feeling around in the ground, Aniela quickly managed to grasp her hand around a wooden like surface.

Firmly grasping whatever she touched, Aniela swiftly pulled her hand out of the ground. A prideful smirk encompassed her face as she watched Darcel and Hao Cao's expression morphed into one of shock.

In Aniela's hand was a small dark, sickly green treasure box.

The box surprisingly looked fresh and in mint conditions. It held a unique exotic design none of the youths could recognize.

Furthermore, Darcel, Aniela, and Hao Cao could smell the vibrant energy of crystals and monster cores naturally exuded from the box. Whatever was in the box, they had just unquestionably scored a jackpot!

Aniela's smile became unrestrained. After all the trouble and horrors they have just been through, now it seems lady luck is shining on them.

"Like always, our team has the hidden luck of finding good treasures!" Aniela happily proclaimed.

"Indeed, not only our efforts weren't wasted, but we also seem to possibly get triple the rewards from it," Darcel remarked, feeling a different sort of satisfaction swell up inside him.

It was the satisfaction of overcoming a challenging goal and being rewarded handsomely.

Hao Cao was similarly happy though she still had a slight worry in her eyes. Speaking up, she told the duo, "Yes, we truly made it big this time. But should we continue exploring now? That thing will definitely still be roaming this floor, plus there's the extra threat of running into True Soul Core wolves."

Throwing out her concerns, Hao Cao was pleased to see Aniela taking a moment to contemplate this issue. As energetic as she was, Aniela also knew when to back down and not get so far in over her head.

But Hao Cao didn't get this same vibe from Darcel. Instead, Darcel shot Hao Cao a charming, merry grin.

This bold yet devious look he gave Hao Cao did cause her heart to skip a few beats. Though mainly, she wondered what he was going to suggest.

"You certainly raise a good point, Cao. But truly, we don't have to worry about fighting that creature or any True Soul Core wolf for that matter, for the remainder of our time here." Darcel explained in an absolutely assured tone.

Hao Cao quirked her eyebrows, still puzzled about whatever Darcel could be suggesting.

However, Aniela's eyes had quickly lit up. She swiftly spoke up to say,

"Ah….Ah! Our hiding talisman! Realistically, it shouldn't have held up for nearly as long, unless someone had tampered with it~?"

To completely erase one's presence and aura from an even stronger cultivator's senses requires a tremendous amount of magical power.

Moreover, there was also the fact the talisman also shielded them from stronger cultivators auras, further adding on to the insane usage of magical power.

That last encounter lasted for only about three minutes.

Short, but it was even shorter than what their hiding talisman could initially hold out for. And that's precisely where Darcel stepped in. He gave the girls a smirk and nodded at Aniela.

"As your keen intelligence suggests, Aniela, I can indeed tamper with the talisman. My bloodline had slowly poured into it, making it last far longer than it should."

Aniela furrowed her eyebrows at Darcel's explanation. She clearly didn't feel any reaction from her own bloodline or any power seeping into the talisman.

While generally, she does get their bloodline isn't precisely the same, they do share a lot of similar qualities. Though she just assumes this one of their different abilities.

Hao Cao, however, didn't have a problem with this explanation. A hopeful inquisitive expression dawned on her face as she asked, "I see….so that's why! But, just how long can your bloodline last at full power?"

"First off, we're going to need to use some of our already resources to get back at full strength. And once there, I estimate I can hold for about….ten minutes or so. Provided that I'm not using any attacks or extra power." Darcel casually explained to the girls.

And they in return thoughtfully regarded the news. If any other ordinary cultivator or powerful mage were to hear how Darcel could forcibly extend the use of a talisman, a lot more shock would've been heard.

But at this point, Darcel's team was a bunch full of mind-breaking surprises.

Aniela nodded her head and excitedly said, "Ten minutes….it's enough for just one more room! We can take what we need and then swiftly leave this place."

Hao Cao knew at this point, there's no changing the duo minds. She already got accustomed to their incredibly crafty daring side.

Still, with caution in her tone, Hao Cao said, "Even so, we still have to be precise and especially careful when doing this."

Both Darcel and Aniela flashed Hao Cao, a charming smile at the same time. Aniela reached out and boldly patted her shoulder, telling her, "Of course! We won't just take any risk, only assured ones!"

"It's as she said, every move we make is always calculated." Darcel picked up in a boundlessly confident tone.

Hearing how unhesitating both Darcel and Aniela were, gave Hao Cao that extra boost in confidence to be secured in their plans.

"Fufu~, well then, shall we get to healing up first?" Hao Cao said as her purple spatial ring began to lit up.

While energy crystals are a far slower process to heal and regain energy than pills, it sure is faster than trying to naturally heal up.

….

Several minutes passed by, and soon Darcel's team was back in the dark, sickly green hallways. On Darcel, Aniela, and Hao Cao's faces, a rosy vibrant complexion could be seen.

For Darcel and Aniela, they were able to get back to top shape far faster than Hao Cao and with half of the resources. Mainly because their bloodlines helping with the recuperation process.

Hao Cao did have to use a bit more of their resources, but it didn't majorly impact their sums. They scored far too big for that.

Immediately when stepping foot in the hallway, did Hao Cao's eyes spark with dazzling streaks of purple lightning.

Quickly she poured soul power into her eyes, amplifying her sixth sense abilities. From miles away from them, Hao Cao managed to pick up on an excellent treasure room.

Though it was surrounded by numerous beings far stronger than them.

"I've got a lead….but everyone there is far beyond our prowess." Hao Cao had warned Darcel and Aniela. Yet she was already pouring Nascent Qi into her legs.

"Well then, lead the way, Cao." Darcel still spoke in a boundless confident tone.

Darcel knew when their risks are involved, the rewards will always be the highest. Plus, it would be too mundane for their team to simply cower away in front of potential danger and rewards.

Aniela didn't speak but gave Hao Cao the same assured, confident smirk. Her stance was in exact agreement with Darcel. Also, there's always this exhilarating thrill of skirting along immense danger for her.

Hao Cao lightly sighed, seeing their adamant stance. Then with a fire ignited in her eyes, she swiftly became determined like the duo.

Pouring more Nascent Qi in her legs, sparks of purple lightning enkindled under her feet.

No more words were shared as Hao Cao, Darcel, and Aniela blasted off with immense speeds!

'Swish!'

The trio traveled at lightning pace, avoiding all traps that attempted to stop them. Radiantly bright trails of purple lightning and black flames tore through the dark, sickly green floor in Darcel's team wake.

While running, Darcel seemed to pick up on a slight change.

After the battle with the wolf, Darcel could vaguely sense his cultivation foundation deepened. He could tell his Nascent Qi was the slightest bit stronger, providing him with slightly better speed.

Darcel also assumed this was the case with Aniela and Hao Cao since their top speeds had slightly increased.

Following a few miles of running, Darcel's team Spirit Senses had picked up on monsters at peak-level Nascent Core chasing them!

But just like everything else, Darcel's team speed far surpassed even the likes of peak level Nascent Core.

While in direct battle, the situation would be different but purely based on speed?

Not even these specialized agile wolves could keep up!

After a few more thrilling minutes of running, Darcel, Aniela, and Hao Cao all sensed monsters far more powerful than them coming up ahead. And it was at this time Darcel made a split decision.

Before nearing any True Soul Core wolf, Darcel ignited his purple spatial ring. Swiftly, he fished out their concealing talisman and poured his powerful bloodline into it.

Swirls of powerful magical energy surrounded Darcel's team. In only a split second then, the trio became entirely invisible!

All the wolves chasing from behind became stunned when suddenly their prey vanished from their senses and sights.

And Darcel's team didn't slow down once under concealment.

To run at their speeds barely cost any energy at all. Darcel did feel a draining tug at his bloodline power, but he knew, as long he didn't perform any attacks, he could keep this state up for a while.

And as expected, the trio dashed right under the noses of gigantic True Soul Core wolves. No beast had even picked up a whiff of their scent.

Still, nerves were high for Darcel's team. They knew one wrong move could end up disastrous for them.

Eventually, Darel's team came upon signs of fierce battles. After taking several turns, they saw destroyed parts of the floor, several corpses of True Soul Core wolves, and large cracks spreading into the walls.

This road of battle led to a large open room just on the dark, sickly green walls' right side. From a mile away, the trio could hear the sounds of raging battle and clashes of metals.

Since Darcel activated the talisman, the time it took to make it here was around a single minute. The drain of Darcel's bloodline power was still going strong, but he knew they had about nine minutes left now.

Not hesitating for a second, the trio sprinted up the long hallway of ruined battles.

Arriving near the large opening, Darcel's team spotted flashes of bright green light illuminating the whole room.

Frantic waves of True Soul Core power spewed out from the room, yet Darcel's team wasn't the slightest bit affected. Curiosity getting the better of them, the trio walked up to peer into the opening of the room.

But gazing inside the room, Darcel, Aniela, and Hao Cao all instinctively froze up.