Yin & Yang Pleasures of Cultivation

Without stopping, Darcel casually jumped onto the Mage stage, his expression staying entirely relaxed. 

On stage, Darcel matched his calm gaze with Siren Star's cold, calculating one.

At this moment, it was like the entire world was against him. Thousands of people wanted to see him brutalized and or humiliated. By simply paying slight attention to the crowds of Siren Mages, Darcel already heard a variety of disdainful comments.

"Heh, I doubt this cultivation brat can even touch a hair on Senior Siren Star's head! No matter what Spirit Artifact he uses, it'll all be worthless in the end."

"After this, I hope this will open up all other dog cultivators' eyes on another reason why Mages are simply superior." 

"Truly a joke of a battle. At least this will be highly entertaining for all of us."

Among everything he heard, Darcel curled his eyebrows at that Spirit Artifact comment. 

'So they honestly believe we're using that? How delusional one can be….' Darcel found slight humor in just how crazed these Siren Mages were getting in their thinking. 

Although, he could understand why they devolved to this point. Throughout these conversations, he quickly connected the dots on what happened while he was cultivating.

Siren Blade must've spread our news around with Elder Yang backing, leading to unreasonable conclusions to draw into these Siren Mages' heads. 

Upon this thought, Darcel actually felt a bit pleased rather than annoyed.

At least this way, it'll come as a more tremendous shock when he easily crushes Siren Star beneath his feet. 

And as if he was reading his mind, Darcel suddenly felt Siren Star's Magical Aura gradually intensify.

"So I see. You've decided to come, and yet only one of you is going to fight for this match? That's some courage but also heavily foolish. Honestly, the three of you should simply come at me together so I can get this over with already."

Siren Star's tone was oozing with overwhelming confidence. Face to face with those suppressed rumors was truly a disappointment. 

Neither from Darcel, Aniela, or Masami did he perceive any kind of powerful latent Magical Aura.

The most he could sense was a Magical Aura that has some slight qualities of Spirit Magic energy. 

Other than confirming that they are indeed Spirit Mages, there was absolutely nothing special about this trio.

In fact, Siren Star was starting to believe these were the weakest Spirit Mages he ever sensed in his life! At this thought, the disdain he had only grew. 

He was more sure than ever to brutalize fake Mages like them.

'Che! This guy sure knows how to talk bullshit! Three at once, my ass!/ How much arrogance can one have just from sensing something fake?' 

Before Darcel could even respond, he heard Masami and Aniela's thoughts pop up into his mind, respectively.

At the same time, he also heard the crowds of Siren Mages become increasingly riled up at Siren Blade's boastful words. 

All of this simply made Darcel shrug his shoulders. With almost a bored-sounding tone, he loudly said, 

"Why should we do three against one? Honestly, this match won't be long for you. All three of us would just cause this fight to be over in an instant."

A rising sneer contorted Siren Star's expression. "Oh? Didn't think you're false bravado is this hi-" 

"Excuse me, but can we start immediately?"

Giving zero respect to him, Darcel snapped his gaze to the sky, seemingly talking to no one.

A flash of annoyance crossed Siren Star's eyes. Still, he also trailed his gaze to the skies, his expression promptly becoming respectful. 

"So you two are ready now?" 

A powerful voice boomed from the skies. Just from his voice alone, the whole Mage Arena quickly quiets down. 

"Ready Elder Ying." Siren Star bowed his head. 

"Ready Elder Ying," Darcel repeated the same motion.

At that, the seemingly quieting down crowd promptly became chaotic again. Their anticipation shot through the roof!  Everyone wanted to see Siren Star shred right through Darcel.

"Begin!" Elder Ying made the call, signifying the start of the match. 

And immediately, Siren Star raised a single hand. Instead of gathering his energy, he began putting his plan into motion.

Cracking a disdainful smirk, he began telling Darcel, "Since you are newly promoted Spirit Mages, I'll make this match as fair as humanly possible. Come at with five of your strongest moves while I will onl-"

Completely out of nowhere, Siren Star suddenly stopped himself. His eyes bulged in immense shock, almost threatening to pop out of his skull. 

Simultaneously, his body began to uncontrollably temple as if he was thrown into a freezing abyss.

Right then, a pool of crimson Magical Energy brightly flickered from Darcel's body like rays of sunlight. 

Everyone, even to Elder Ying, Aniela and Masami, went rigid with utter bewilderment. 

Darcel spared no expense, bursting forth his full Magical Aura and crimson Magical Energy, causing clear, powerful energy ripples to streak through the air. 

A violent tempest of immense Magical Energy swept through the entire Mage Arena, shocking everyone to their soul's core. 

"So-so powerful! But-but just how?!" 

The crowds of Siren Mages enter an uproar but for an entirely different reason this time.

Under Darcel's intense Magical Aura, their breathing painfully tightened as if they were getting pressured by a thousand-ton mountain. 

This kind of power was all the more shocking, considering Darcel is a full-fledged cultivator!

And yet, he can achieve this kind of power within mere hours?! Just what kind of cruel joke are the Heavens playing with this! 

Back on stage, Siren Star couldn't believe he was feeling.

He was someone who's been tempered by many experiences throughout his long, arduous life. Yet, it was at this moment he felt it, genuine fear! 

The intense power Darcel was raiding felt like he could genuinely squash him in just one move.

'Just what is-no, enough of this! None of that!' 

Suddenly, Siren Star violently clutches down on his palms. Blood was drawn from his hands as he desperately suppressed everything he felt in this moment.

His once bewildered expression forcefully contorted into a fierce gaze, showing off his undisguised killing intent towards Darcel. 

"So what?! Is that it! You're just merely a little stronger than I originally thought!" All of Siren Star's early arrogance and cruelty vanished. He was crumbling down without him even noticing it. 

Seeing this, Darcel decided to put the final nail on the coffin for everyone watching.

"Only a little bit stronger, huh? How about this then?" 

Immediately, Darcel's Magical Energy explosively rises to even greater heights! The crimson Magical energy flicking out of Darcel's body turns brighter and intenser, causing tiny cracks in the spatial zone.

Then, under everyone's awe gazes, a bright Siren Chain shot out from Darcel's back like a long tendril. 

"That's-that's the Siren Chain Arts! Wait, hasn't it only been a day?!" Any semblance of calm vanished from Siren Star at this moment.

After all, neither he nor any other Siren Mage can stay calm in the face of this. 

The Siren Chain Arts isn't some shabby Magical Art. It was a Grand Magical Art, meaning only true talent can ever hope to comprehend this!

Yet, before their very eyes, Darcel could so easily do it in a mere instant. 

All in a few seconds, everyone's worldview was getting destroyed. Everything they thought they knew now seemed utterly fake and a joke.

"Hey, since you seem to be having a hard time, I won't go too far to make it seem like a fair match. So come at me with your strongest moves, and I'll only use five moves." 

Darcel's ice-cold voice cut into the atmosphere, shaking the hearts of thousand Mages.

Without waiting any longer, Darcel snapped his finger, sending the single Siren Chain straight at Siren Star. 

Shock filled Siren Star's veins as Darcel's crimson chain was too fast!

He only had a couple of seconds to react, pushing forth all of his Magical Energy to form a crimson Magical Barrier. 

However, no matter how much Magical Energy Siren Star pushed out, it couldn't let up Darcel's immense pressure. Siren Star's Magical Energy was but a drop in the ocean, instantly getting suppressed by Darcel's overwhelming power.

Then in the instance, he formed his crimson Magical Barrier, Darcel's Siren Chain neared an inch from him. 

'Bang!' 

A resounding shattered rocked everyone's mind. 

Like it was made up of fragile glass, Darcel's Siren Chain shattered Siren Star's full power Magical Barrier to tiny wisps of fragments.

Without losing any momentum, Darcel's Siren Chain brutally tore right into Siren Star's shoulder, shattering his bones and tissue muscles. Blood gushed out of him like a fountain, and Siren Star nearly felt his entire right arm go entirely numb.

Unable to react, Darcel's Siren Chain then released a violent storm of crimson Magical Energy directly into Siren Star's body. 

Before Siren Star could fully register the pain, Darcel's Siren Chain flashed a blinding crimson light. 

Waves of Magical Energy made the sky tremble as the Siren Chain released a powerful burst of crimson Magical Energy!

'Bang!'

"Arrgh!!" 

Siren Star's miserable wails loudly echoed out as his blood trailed out like crimson rain. 

Akin to a ragdoll, Siren Star soared a hundred meters across the stage until pathetically tumbling close to the edge.

Fear was visible in numerous Siren Mage's eyes. They couldn't take their eyes off the large gaping bloody hole on Siren Star's shoulder. 

However, despite his wound, Siren Star's Magical Aura never stopped growing.