Chapter 268: A Way Out


    The mysterious entity of Magical Power always had greatly interested Darcel and Ani. Ever since their first exposure to it in Necrotic City, they both had ideas of one day learning more about it.


    Their interest only amplifies in their current position where it seems Magical Power would be the only way they could im back a stable footing of prowess.


    Darcel and Ani couldn''t say for sure how that would happen, but they at least had the hope of Magical Power changing something for them.


    While with Masami, she had only gained recent interest in Magical Power after traveling with Darcel and Ani. Her whole horizons were widely broadened by both of them, and she had gotten rid of her install cultivator prejudice.


    After experiencing two near-death experiences, it was inevitable for her whole mind to change.


    Still, despite how tempting that option was, Darcel, Ani, and Masami were confused about what Be exactly meant.


    Darcel focus his eyes on Be, asking her, "Just how us bing Mages would resolve our current situation?"


    Compared to the pessimist and cautious look the trio had before, Be much rather preferred this slight shimmer of hope within her eyes. With causal smile going strong, she simply told them,


    "I''m sure I don''t need to exin the mysterious stuff of Magical Powers. And you know, I''ve heard and read around that Mages have some sort of means to create bond links through the soul. Simr to what you did, Darcel.though this one requires all Free will."


    Darcel, Ani, and Masami didn''t immediately react to Be''s suggestion. At this point, the three of them were questioning whether or not her information would genuinely be liable.


    The sense of distrust was just too great for them to so readily believe Be''s words at face value.


    Masami was the one to snappily point her finger straight at Be and sharply spoke in an using tone. "Well now, isn''t that a little too convenient, hm? You say you''ve heard and read about this, but you''re a cultivator. So tell me.how could you possibly know they hold an ability like that? Last time I checked, your group isn''t so buddy, buddy with the Raven Mage Order group."


    Even barring their distrust in Be, Masami''s doubts weren''t anything unreasonable.


    Sure, Darcel, Ani, and Masami''s opinions of Mages vary heavily from the norm. But Be was someone firmly within traditional cultivators. No matter how standoffish the Snow Angel group was, they too held immense prejudice against all Mages.


    This prejudice wouldn''t allow them to get close to any Mages without it turning into a tense meeting. Furthermore, no Mage would be willing to give out information on their abilities to cultivators.


    Recalling more about this issue, Darcel and Ani could only remember one time where Mages and cultivators worked somewhat together.


    Back in the first-ever City they''ve been to, Necrotic City, the Mages there did own the Teleportation business.


    And in their business, not only ordinary mortals go there, but also numerous cultivators. Though there was a subtle tension in the air when Darcel and Ani had first visited the Teleportation ce, nobody had acted out of line.


    But out here in the fourth-ranked Province, things were far more intense and brutal.


    Besides only business transactions including various cultivation resources, herbs, or medicine, Mages strictly kept to themselves.


    Moreover, Mage''s belief that they were superior to all cultivators seemed to run even more rampant in the Icy Cloud Province.


    All of this contradicting informations just made Be even more suspicious that she could just casually know a or really any Mage abilities.


    In fact, Be had even expected this kind of suspicion to get thrown at her. This is why herzy smiling expression didn''t falter at all. Under Darcel''s group increasingly scrutinizing gazes, she lightly chuckled.


    "Fufu~. Seems like you all forgot to not lump me in with the general norm as well. As proudlyzy as I am, I still have a hobby of reading whatever I can. Plus, when we were under your control, I did reach out to that Mage woman. No matter her previous disposition towards cultivators, she readily answers my questions during those blissful times~."


    "Nnng.hmph. She keeps yammering about blissful times."


    Out of everything Be had told them, Ani''s mind focused precisely on her saying blissful times.


    Her suspicious gaze started to slowly turn into a slight re that would be rare for her to have. Masami also felt a pang of annoyance, and she gave a more overt re than Ani''s subtle one.


    If Be were to just say blissful times and nothing more, it wouldn''t have affected Ani and Masami that much.


    But Be made the mistake of leveling an affectionate gaze only towards Darcel, inly showing a touch of intimacy within her eyes.


    On his end, Darcel had to hold back a sigh. At this moment, he felt a strong mix of emotions swirling around in his Darkness Soul link. To Ani and Masami''s sudden jealousy, to Be''s increasingly warm feelings.


    In fact, ever since Be had first arrived to save them, Darcel sensed her emotions towards him turned gentler by the second.


    Darcel truly was a bit confused. In the past, Ani and Masami did show bouts of jealousy. Still, it was only when his Darkness Servants got overly affectionate.


    Like how Lauren and Abby ran up to give him a hug, but Ani and Masami nearly made them pass out.


    Just Be showing a slight affectionate gaze shouldn''t really affect them much.


    And then there was Be, who all intents and purposes should be hating him. Not warming up to him by the second.


    It was all such sudden, particr issues that Darcel wondered how Ani and Masami focused on such a small thing.


    Still, that was an issue forter. For now, Darcel focused on the essential bits of what Be told them.


    And at least for the Darkness Servant part, it would be true. No matter their previous rtionship with each other, they all would cooperate with each other under his Darkness Soul link.


    Darcel wasn''t precisely sure how that worked, but he could confirm there wasn''t any lie in Be''s words. However, though she wasn''t lying, there still were other concerns Darcel decided to bring up.


    "Alright, look. Say we give you the benefit of the doubt, how would us bing Mages even matter now? We''re trapped in the realm, and we have too many enemies that we could just unluckily stumble upon."


    "Oh, this? Isn''t this a simple solution as well? I mean.all I need to do is get you three out of here then so you can work to resolve this issue, right?" Be spoke in such a casual, rxed tone as if this was the easiest task in the world.


    But, Darcel, Ani, and Masami only heard impossible-sounding wordsing out from her mouth. Their eyes squinted on Be, remembering all that they know about this independent realm.


    Granted, Darcel, Ani, and Masami didn''t read much on this independent realm. Because of their previous overwhelming prowess and confidence, they simply didn''t have a considerable interest in how this realm worked.


    At that time, they all were more concerned with working on their own strength and mastering several abilities.


    Despite theirck of interest, the trio at least knows this realm was essentially a one-way trip.


    Without that Mage who had made the portals to travel to this realm, the trio had read they would be trapped until it was time to leave.


    Masami''s already displeased expression fell even more as she asked, "There you go again. Using that rxed tone as if you already cracked this case. What possibly hidden means could you even have to escape from here."


    Be was a powerful Heavenly King, but she wasn''t near the top rankings of the Heavenly Transformation realm. Darcel, Ani, and Masami just saw no way how she could be some miracle worker.


    In response to Masami''s harsh tone, Be''szy smile turned into a slight smirk.


    Without saying anything, she reached into her robe pocket and a bright purple glow shes from within.


    Darcel''s group attention gathered on Be''s pocket, and under their curious eyes, she began pulling out a profound Darkness glow.


    Soon enough, Be had pulled out a ck Magical Crystal Orb! "


    Th-that''s?!"


    Immediately, Darcel, Ani, and Masami were utterly bewildered.


    Appearance-wise, they instantly recognized this orb as they experienced the Raven Mages using it against them. And in their Innate Spirit Senses, they all could clearly detect Magical Power coursing from within that ck crystal orb.


    "Ho-where did you get that?? Even as Raven Sako was under my control, she would absolutely not be willing to part with a Crystal Orb!" Darcel quickly asked while Ani and Masami reeled in their surprise.


    Be was gently caressing the ck Magical Crystal Orb as she answered Darcel. "You see, our Snow Angel group has been around for years. And we always prepare for the worst-case scenario. It was a little bit troublesome to get this, but I had a feeling this woulde in handy."


    "Ah! I see.I suppose it would be inevitable for your group to steal at least something from those Mages. But.how will this help us?"


    Ani asked after calming down her mental state.


    No matter her thoughts on Be, she and Masami had no choice but to concede. A Magical Crystal Orb would for sure be protected within the Snow Angel group, and yet, Be got her hands on this one.


    "Apparently, with this, I would be able to feel out where one of the hidden teleportation portals in this realm. Not sure why those portals exist, but it does confirm to lead out of here." Be patiently exined.


    "Feel out a portal?? Just how urate is that thing?" Masami immediately pointed out a concerning thought.


    Be thought it over for a moment before answering with, "It''s.mostly urate. But, there won''t be any instant results. In fact, this may take a while."


    Right then, a sh of an idea streaked within Darcel''s head. He spoke in a cordial tone, asking Be,


    "Let me see that crystal. Before we met you, an old friend of ours lent us a specialpass that can detect treasure. With my abilities, I was able to make it instantly activate. Perhaps it could do the same here."


    "Sure. Here you go."


    Be readily agreed and tossed the ck Magical Crystal Orb towards Darcel without a second thought.


    Darcel swiftly caught the orb, though he, Ani, and Masami felt a bit weird.


    Though Be wouldn''t be able to properly use this thing, it still was a valuable object many cultivators would want their hands on. Yet, she gave it to them like it was just some ordinary object.


    For a brief moment, Darcel felt that sense of distrust gradually go down. However, he quickly pushed down whatever change of feeling running through his mind and focused on the Magical Crystal Orb.


    With his other hand, Darcel brought out the specialpass Fruna gave him, and he brought it near the Magical Crystal Orb.


    Even before trying this out, Darcel, Ani, and Masami felt a small rise of anticipation and hope swell in their chest.