Before entering the dungeon, Cole made sure that Fernan, Fernand and Fernando already familiarize themselves with [Heavenly Beast God] Cultivation Method and made sure that they run it once.

"Because if you were sensitive enough and do not drown yourselves with the comfort of constant increasing strength, you would've feel and see that the improvement brought to you all by EXP actually follows the path of cultivation method you were practicing."

Realization suddenly dawn to the four people.

Indeed, as their young master said, the improvement happen to them everytime they receive EXP follows the path of their cultivation method.

Mikoes, in particular, was the most shocked of them all.

As the second leader of the Yin-Yang Paradise, what he practice was the core inheritance of their sect. And among the four of them, he was the one that was surprised the most.

That is because the growth brought to him by EXP was as high and pure as 100 session of dual cultivation! This was unprecedented to him and he don't experience all at once before!

Cole gave them some time to realize what he just said.

At the same time, after seeing the three again, there was now an additional task he have to do. With the successful cultivation of [Heavenly Beast God] method and this dungeon run will probably complete its first level, open a pet space in their dantian and finally acquire the ability to contract their beast companion.

Since he intend to cultivate this three as his main martial force, he needs to commit into it all the way and also look for beast for them with better potential.

However, the enviroment of whole Azure Territory is not that great and beast with good aptitude is hard to find in this part of the world. It was already a great luck that they manage to encounter Ricky's beast companion that has pure bloodline of Divine Beast.

He also don't want to spend his precious SP just to gave this group of people with particularly precious beast.

He could only hope that fate will favor those three and encounter their destined companion.

Cole also remember the main attribute of the three.

Fernan, the former leader of Scarface Bandits, has an affinity to Earth element and will have to contract a beast with this main attribute.

Fernand, the former leader of Shadow Walkers, has a rare talent of Dark-type affinity. Just the fact that he has a cultivation method with that rare affinity is amazing enough on its own rights.

Suddenly remembering something, Cole suddenly voice out to Fernand, "Oh, give me the copy of cultivation method you're practicing before."

As for Fernando, he was a member of Redskull Bandits that was caught by the Five Element Sect. He was parasited by Celia when he accept the task of interrogating him for information regarding to the bandit group.

And since the Redskull Bandits is a notorious pirate group that operates at sea, it was only expected that most of their members had affinity with Water. Fernando also has this affinity.

Therefore, he had to look for beasts with main attribute of Earth, Shadow and Water.

After thinking of that, Cole finally lead his party members and challenge the [Hard] difficulty of Forgotten Garden Dungeon.

This time, instead of appearing right in lotus pond, they appear into flower field. It was blanketed with rainbow color flowers and butterflies were dancing beautifully in the air, creating a picturesque sight.

Apparently, the [Hard] difficulty now includes a beast dungeon mobs instead of entirely sentient plants.

However, the beautiful scenery is everything but safe! Because his [Heavenly Eyes] reveals all the danger of the area they appear on!

Hallucinatory Rainbow Flowers [Monarch-Rank] Level : 45-49 Affinity : Wood Potential ∅ Skill : Rainbow Pollen, Pollen Spray, Pollen Explosion

Mindless Butterflies [Heaven-Rank] Level : 45-48 Affinity : Soul Potential : ∅ Skills : Clone Thought, Senses Corrupting Insect Powder, Death Explosion [Introduction : A clone created by butterfly mother with the main reason of collecting pollens in the surrounding. This creature is fragile but would bring a massive trouble upon dying.]

Unlike their first dungeon dive where the dungeons mobs would attack after entering their attack range, the area where they appear to don't have much of a threat.

However, the real danger and the most hardest part of this area is the flower field itself.

Although the flower mobs don't have any attack power, all of its skills were design perfectly on all of its innate characteristics.

With thousands of flowers in the surrounding, the pollens they release instantly made a domain of pollens as thick as clouds.

And the pollen of the flowers cause hallucination which was indicated by its name.

Since the flower itself is Monarch-Rank creatures, just a pollen by single flower could make one fall into hallucinations.

However, after appearing in the area, all the flowers spat out thick amount of pollens!

And with more than a thousand of them, not to say about inhaling it, one's body openings will be instantly filled just by standing there!

Cole, with [Transforming Soulbound Feathers]' [Spirit of Purity], the pollens that touch his body were instantly reduced into nothing, making him unaffected by its hallucinations.

But his four party members, who struggled in their very first dungeon dive, without a chance fall under the tyrannical effect of hallucinogenic pollens.

Fernan, as though he was in the water, were doing a swimming action the ground. From time to time, he's doing a scooping motion and laugh at loud with satisfaction. If Cole is to guess what's hallucination this one is experiencing, he believe that he's probably on mountain of gold coins and drowning himself with joy of his illusionary wealth.

Fernand, on the other hand, were covered with thick amount of shadow aura and remain still in his position like a statue. It was though he was a ninja hiding his presence in the dark.

As for Fernando, he was more violent than the others. After being subjected with hallucinations, he immediately launch forward several meters apart from their position, condensed a water sword and swing it back and fourth as though he was having a great, momentous battle. This one is more fortunate as his actions destroy the surrounding flowers.

Mikoes, the wrinkled old man, in Cole's opinion was the very worst. The moment he hallucinate, he immediately strip himself naked and 'vigorously' made his one man indecent action. As though he was ravaging a thousand beauties, his old back tirelessly made the pistoning action.

It was... an unforgettable sight that Cole want nothing but to discard if he can.

As a matter of fact, if he don't remember his grand plan for the future, he want nothing but to blast the old man into nothingness.

Still, he suppress Fernando and Mikoes, put them near to the two with mild reaction and cast protect to protect themselves from the cloud of pollens. Afterwards, he get close to each of one them so that they can enter the small area of [Spirit of Purity]. He didn't fully heal them but he only made sure that they won't be overdosed by drugged pollens. He do this with the intention of making their body made some resistance to this thing so that when he don't accompany them later on dungeon dive, they could resist from this kind of unexpected situations in fast manner.

Besides, eventhough the pollen cause heavy hallucinations, it doesn't without any merit. That is because with his sensitivity, Cole could tell that the pollen is actually a soul-type resource. It could bring a slight growth to soul as long as one manage to resist its hallucinations. One should not forget that this was a alchemist garden and every Flora inside is precious medicinal ingredients.

Only, the cloud of pollens released by the flower field all at once would drown victims on it without extracting themselves. It was like one is submerged in a whole factory of hallucinatory drugs.

Since Cole intend to wait for the four to naturally resist the pollen, he decided to take that chance to cultivate.

Not long after, he assume a comfortable, cultivating position and drawn the pollens inside his Sea of Consciousness.

Resources that could help on soul cultivation is rare and he decided to take this chance to increase his soul cultivation.

With the combine powers of his [Myriad Beasts Soul-Branching Cultivation Method] and [Tree of Light Soul Reincarnation], the drug properties of the pollen are immediately destroyed and its medicinal properties is quickly refined and fuse with his soul cultivation.

Unfortunately, despite its high quality, it only brought a considerable amount of increase in his soul cultivation. Without a doubt, this was also the aftereffects of Miracle Fruit.

When he open his eyes again, the four have already recovered majorly on the pollens' effect. Unfortunately, the pollen leave quite a heavy toll to the four of them, specially Mikoes who temporarily lose all his senses on his back.

"Alright, now that you gain consciousness, let's start on clearing this dungeon." He stated.

"In this area, the danger here is the hallucinatory pollens floating in the air. However, all this area's mobs is extremely weak and fragile." He pointed at the colorful flowers, "Attack and kill them at once. With their number, I believe that you four will acquire a considerable amount of EXP."

Cole himself needs a huge amount of EXP. Still, he don't worry about this dungeon since if he can't defeat any monster inside, he could just summon one contracted beast. At most, he could summon them all at once. He don't believe that with the rules and limitations of the dungeon itself, that there's nothing he can't solve inside with his squad.

The flowers have weak defense and basic stats. Not only they were immobile, they were also defenseless. The four madly attack the flowers and it was reduced in considerable speed.

The butterflies were also a pesky creatures that greatly compilement the Hallucinatory Rainbow Flowers. After they die, they will explode into dust.

But the said dust is not normal. Instead, it could enter the pores of the skin and paralyze the nerves. That is to say, as long as one is inflicted with this state, one won't be able to move anymore. If that happen, one won't have any choice anymore and inhale the dugged pollens.

Seeing this simple but hard to defend upon challenges, Cole can't help but get worried after he let this four lead the future dungeon run with his future whole martial force.

The randomization setting of the dungeon is without a doubt a wonderful thing. However, this means that everytime they challenge the [Hard] or [Hell] difficulty, without proper preparation, they could even face whole party wipeout the moment they enter.

After all, just like this one they were facing now, numbers don't have any effect if they were caught off-guard.

It looks like those who can challenge and clear [Hard] difficulty is a capable and elite cultivator and a genius, powerful and extremely talented for [Hell] difficulty. Of course, luck is also important since it could save them countless of troubles.

After clearing the mobs, the field boss appear. It was named False Rainbow Nymph, a Emperor-Rank creature.

Its main ability is also to fall victim into hallucinations but more potent and invasive than the cloud of pollens produced by the whole field.

Unfortunately, in front of Cole, all the hallucinations and illusions won't have any effect due to [Tree of Light Soul Reincarnation]. Its light could dispel all invasive and negative effects that affect soul.

After killing it, they clear the surrounding area with considerable speed.

Only half of the regions of the garden is randomized in [Hard] difficulty. Except for random areas, they clear the familiar area with more faster speed.

The levels of monsters of [Hard] difficulty is not much different on easier one. However, in this area, except for those butterflies, all of the mobs this time is not lower than Monarch-Rank. Eventhough most of the mobs are nobility-level, its main attributes are still more powerful than Heaven-Rank.

Several days later, Cole and his party clear all the field.

After clearing all the area, it was only then he confirm that this garden specializes of medicinal herbs with soul properties, just like the Hallucinatory Rainbow Flowers and False Rainbow Nymph.

Therefore, while walking to the center area, he already anticipate that the boss also specializes with soul attacks. In addition, it might be the mother butterfly of the clones' Mindless Butterflies.

Not long after, an enclosed area appear in front of them. The area doesn't restrict entry but bars anything from leaving.

The area, albeit a small, was like the mystical land of fairies. Beautiful, colorful butterflies were dancing in the air in harmony, the land is blanketed with harmonious flowers, and even the air itself were being tainted with rainbow color.

On the middle was a woman that could be described as fairy. She wears a gown with alternating nine colors. The butterflies were flying harmoniously around her.

In the middle of the flower field, she looks ethereal and holy.

Cole won't deny that it was a beautiful scene. However, if there's one thing he learn in this world in extreme way, it was that beauty is synonymous with the word deadly and poisonous.

While Cole and his party remain outside of the barrier, the maiden suddenly speak;

"It seems that this is the predestined day that I'll be 'harvested'..."

Cole frown, not expecting that the dungeon boss this time can speak.

Furthermore, she didn't just have the ability to speak, she's also clearly aware of her situation. In his opinion, this is not a good thing...

It is not good for mental health to be clearly aware from the fact of being raised in captivity only to be killed and harvested in the future.

It was only then it dawn to Cole that her warm smile contains the trace of being resigned on her fate...

This only means that the dungeon is not a stipulated scenery but a piece of reality.

Unfortunately, even if he felt bad for the others, the world of cultivation is full of battling about resources. Even a weak human would try to hunt powerful dragons just because of its resources.

For resources, humans could even eat their fellow humans if it means that it would make them powerful.

He can't leave this resources just because he felt pity for her.

Not to say that his whole party won't be able to leave this dungeon if they don't defeat this boss room.

Thinking of that, Cole focus and read its information. However, there's actually a two information window that pop out!

Nine Colored Prismatic Flower Fairy [Holy-Rank] Level : 50 Affinity : Soul, Wood Skills : False Fairyland, Mental Corrosion, Soul Sap, Mind Laxing Nectar, Demonic Prismatic Root

God-Eye Flower Mother Butterfly [Holy-Rank] Level : 50 Affinity : Soul, Bug Innate : Hypnotic Wing Pattern Skills : Clone Birth, Psychedelic Wave, Spirit Paralyzing Insect Mother Dust, Dream Eater

Cole frown upon reading the informations of the boss dungeons, in which he's still surprised that there's not just one but two boss. It seems that this is the thing that increase the difficulty of the dungeon.

Just like the other monsters of this dungeon run, the two dungeon boss also specializes in attacking soul. Only, this time, instead of making their victims fall into illusions, this two would try to make their victims fall asleep and should that happen, they will both attack the soul of the defenseless victim. And then, the unholy flower would absorb the body to make herself stronger.

If majority of beast specializes on physical attributes and offense, an straightforward means, majority of plant races specializes on debuffing through their unique fragrance or pollens, specially those flowery kind. This probably attribute to the fact that plants were inherently rooted on their spot. They can't reach their target in the distance so they use their specialties.

While they were still outside of the barrier, the pink butterfly like ornament resting on fairy maiden flew in the air and expand, revealing its true appearance and deadly beauty.

Without much of a choice, the five challengers look at the incomparably beautiful and mesmerizing butterfly wings.

It was undeniably a beautiful display but in truth, it was actually the starting assualt of the other party.

With the untaintinable Tree of Light, Cole didn't have to worry about the hypnotic effect of the beautiful butterfly wings.

However, the other four is not as fortunate as he is.

Instantly, the brightness of their eyes vanished and become dull.

For a moment, this makes Cole worry but just a second after, the light on their eyes return but their face scrunched in pain. The presence of foreign presence tainting their Sea of Consciousness awoke and alert the residing purple mist worm inside.

The parasitic medium Celia planted on them made a move!

Although it was a good thing that they manage to stay awake, it shouldn't be forgotten that they were still outside of the barrier partition between the normal ground and dungeon boss room. Under the rules of the dungeon, all the damage and effects of boss moves would be reduced by the barrier but it still manage to make the two Nascent Soul-Stage cultivator to almost falling asleep.

With that, it could be expected that it would become more powerful after they enter the dungeon boss ground.

Considering that, barred the four from entering the boss room. Instead, he step inside alone.

The moment he enter the ethereal flower field, the massive butterfly in the air vigorously flap its wings, arousing a powerful gust of wind.

Of course, it wasn't just a gust of wind.

Along with it were the butterflies' skill [Psychedelic Wave], its paralyzing butterfly dust, the hypnotic pollens of the medicinal flowers that blankets the whole ground, the strangely attractive fragrance of the flower boss and many more. It was a wave of attack capable of incapitating an individual, even a whole group.

Fortunately, he didn't let the other four to enter this boss ground or otherwise, even with the parasitic medium, he believe that they'll fall asleep and become a burden.

The gust of wind makes his flutter but what hit his face is nothing but a purified wind.

The flower and butterfly could see and feel that, and this makes the two of them frown.

Although they usually don't, or even never, battle before since they were caged in the area, they knew by themselves that their main way to protect themselves is to cripple their enemies in different ways. Make them sleep, paralyze their nerves and make them immobile...

And should those crippling attempts didn't work, this only means that their martial capability would be reduced by more than 80%...

Just the thought of that filled the two with bad premonition.

Since their sense crippling moves don't produce the desirable effect, the other two immediately made their other move.

The butterfly flew down to flower field and laid eggs in continuous manner. The medicinal flowers that holds the eggs wilted with speed visible to the naked eye. The eggs then were filled with needed energy and born a batch of Mindless Butterflies.

Those Mindless Butterflies would then flew towards Cole in wave and make themselves implode.

The explosion produced by single Mindless Butterfly is not that strong since its main purpose is not the explosion force but scattering its nerve paralyzing bug dust.

However, albeit the butterfly clones are negligible compare to those creatures on the same rank, it was still a Heaven-Rank creatures. With hundreds of them exploding all at once, it still produce a powerful force.

Without putting up the Summoning Grimoire's [Protect] and endure the explosion through his special physique and phoenix's feathers, he got pushed and repelled by his position. Still, he didn't receive any heavy damage and the 'scratches' inflicted by the attacks were instantly healed.

At the same time, crystallized roots rise from the ground. The roots looks normal except from the fact that it was red in color.

Nine Colored Prismatic Flower Fairy looks holy and ethereal but its roots are demonic and could absorb flesh and blood to nourish itself.

And those roots launch towards Cole with the intention of absorbing his flesh and blood.

Seeing that, a fan appear on Cole's right and hand and swing it towards the position of the two boss.

Wuuuu~~~

One flap of the fan defeats all the gust of winds produced by God-Eye Flower Mother Butterfly.

Furthermore, since the [Immortal Regal Phoenix True Feather]'s were still alloted on the Five Feathers Yin Fan, the fan area in front of him were reduced into fertile soil. The elements in the air, the Mindless Butterflies and even the thick bug dust, were purified into nothingness.

In addition, the two bosses health were reduced by 10%.

The butterfly and flower boss : "..."

This was a terrifying number. This means that their opponent only need to swing his fan nine times and they'll die.

This time, the boss look at Cole with ferociousness, but deep hidden within is also great fear.

As both of them are soul-type affinitted creatures, the two dungeon boss were more intelligent than beasts and spirits on the same level.

And according to the information mother butterfly gathered for several years, they knew that they were enlosed space. With the small inheritance they received from their race, they were aware for a long time that they were nourished but enclosed for a reason—they were being cultivated for resources.

This tactic were included from their inherited knowledge since their race practice the same.

Unfortunately, although aware, they don't have the ability to free themselves from their prison.

And this day... was the day the dreaded the most—the day that they'll be 'harvested' for their resources.

At first, they were afraid and confused but happy when Cole and his party arrived. They were many but they weren't as powerful as they imagine.

As a matter of fact, their cultivation were even inferior to theirs. They didn't match to someone that could make the powerful prison they were in.

But after receiving the attack and the unaffected by their abilities stance of the enemy, it was only then the two concludes that they won't be able to escape their destiny in the end.

And this thought fill their entire entity with fear.

And out of that fear, the two boss only remember their vision their bloody red and loss all their reason.

...

Cole frown at the sudden turn of events that clearly didn't follow the known rules of the dungeon.

That is because despite still have 90% of their HP, the two boss enter berserk state.

Yes, berserk state, which was suppose to happen when their HP is reduced to 10%.

Their eyes turn red and the flower boss immediately produced a pulse wave that change the surrounding into fairyland. It was its illusion domain skill [False Fairyland]. He also felt that it uses all of its other skills like the [Mental Corrosion] and [Soul Sap].

The mother butterfly boss is also the same. It release a continuous psychic wave while using its other skills as well.

And since they were in berserk state, all the skills were 20% more powerful than before.

Although that twenty percent don't gave any effect on Cole since he's basically immune to illusions or psychedelic effects due to his abnormalities, but this news make himself worry.

If every boss can enter berserk state while still healthy, it'll signify trouble. For him too, but most importantly, for the future run without him.

It seems that he have to research or look for equipments that could help for unusual situations before he send his future subordinates for dungeon run.

But for the meantime, Cole focus on repelling the attack attempt of the dungeon boss.

At that attack were just mainly the crawling roots since it was the only other offensive means of the bosses that specializes with soul and mental attacks.

Unfortunately for the boss, berserk state were usually used as last straw. That is because after using it, one will enter weakened state afterwards.

Indeed, ten minutes later, the two boss exit berserk but got weakened.

After that happens, he killed the two boss and clear the [Hard] Mode Difficulty.