Wow! It Attracted! . . .
As Cha Nan-Tian gazed upon the Cosmic Hades, a profound sense of determination filled his heart. He knew that the Purple Lotus Decree Master would eventually come for the supreme dan beads, providing him with the chance he needed to exact his revenge. With time, the Decree Master's condition would deteriorate, giving Cha Nan-Tian the upper hand.
However, there was a nagging thought in the back of his mind. If he were to kill the dan-maker, the Decree Master would lose his only chance for recovery. It was a last resort he hesitated to embrace unless there were no other options.
Meanwhile, Gu Jin-Long, the man consumed by the desire for the Cosmic Hades, paid no attention to these considerations. His eyes were fixed solely on the legendary stone that lay before him. The gelid aura emanating from it sent shivers of excitement down his spine.
With an almost fanatical obsession, Gu Jin-Long approached the Cosmic Hades, muttering, "That's it! That's it!" His body trembled with anticipation as he contemplated the treasure before him.
The surface of the Cosmic Hades shimmered with strange glows, and Gu Jin-Long noticed some spiritual jades scattered about, seemingly abandoned by the Purple Lotus Decree Master in his haste.
However, Gu Jin-Long's focus remained unwaveringly fixed on the Cosmic Hades itself. These spiritual jades paled in comparison to the treasure that had captured his heart.
He couldn't contain his excitement as he contemplated the possibilities. "The main martial art of the Sunlight Sect, Yin-Yang Strength Art, is a difficult but wonderful martial art. Normally, it needs 3000 years to reach the small achievement, but with the Cosmic Hades, I can reach the big achievement in only three years..."
His laughter filled the air as he envisioned the power he would wield, declaring, "Once I finish cultivating the Yin-Yang Strength Art, I will be invincible in the Qing-Yun Realm! Who dares to violate my order in the Qing-Yun Realm then?!"
Gu Jin-Long's laughter grew more manic, and he danced with unrestrained joy. His usually composed demeanor was cast aside as he reveled in the moment.
He envisioned a future where he would be unmatched, and his delirious laughter echoed through the Land of Han-Yang.
As he continued to express his wild fantasies, he declared, "I will take charge of the entire Qing-Yun Realm! I am the invincible monarch! When I unify the Qing-Yun Realm, I will build a kingdom in the mortal world, and I will be the everlasting king! I will live forever and rule the world forever!"
His ambitions knew no bounds, and he reveled in the idea of dominion. His laughter became more unhinged as he imagined himself as the ruler of all, proclaiming, "Every land in the world will be my land! All the capable men in the world are all my underlings! All the men should die! All the girls should be under my crotch!"
But as his fervor reached its peak, he failed to notice that the spiritual jades on the Cosmic Hades were no longer shining. Their radiance had dimmed, a subtle hint of impending consequences.
The Cosmic Hades exuded a peculiar and alluring aura, its radiance intensifying as if it possessed the power to influence the minds of those nearby. This captivating phenomenon began to exert its sway over Gu Jin-Long, slowly but surely.
Unbeknownst to him, his sanity was slipping away as the Cosmic Hades worked its enchantment.
He had thoroughly inspected the cave earlier and concluded that he was alone. This assurance allowed him to let his guard down entirely.
With the object of his deepest desires now within his grasp, he couldn't contain his elation. Gu Jin-Long shouted in jubilation as he advanced toward the Cosmic Hades. His eyes glistened with fervor, and tears welled up, moved by the fulfillment of his long-cherished dreams.
"All that I want in my life... The glory of my whole life... Will begin from now, from here. I will be the monarch of the three realms for the rest of my life. And the beginning of all that is now and here..." His voice quivered with emotion as he gently reached out his hand toward the Cosmic Hades, as if approaching a cherished lover.
But in an unexpected turn of events, the moment his hand made contact with the Cosmic Hades, a piercing scream escaped his lips. "Ahhhh!!! What... What the hell is going on?"
In an instant, the 99 spiritual jades resting atop the Cosmic Hades disintegrated into dust and scattered to the ground. Simultaneously, an immense force erupted from within the Cosmic Hades, pulling Gu Jin-Long with irresistible might, as if a malevolent entity sought to devour him.
Struggling with all his might, Gu Jin-Long found that his formidable strength, capable of moving mountains and seas, was rendered impotent against this mysterious force. He couldn't defend himself.
With a resounding impact, he was firmly affixed to the Cosmic Hades, and the stone's cold radiance intensified, tightening its hold on him. It was as if the stone had transformed into the world's most powerful magnet, and Gu Jin-Long was a small piece of metal helplessly drawn toward it.
Desperation filled Gu Jin-Long's eyes as he attempted every method at his disposal to break free. Yet, no matter what he tried, his spiritual power was swiftly drained, leaving him powerless.
Moments later, the force of attraction increased exponentially. Now, he dared not make even the slightest movement. Every fiber of his being was being drawn inexorably toward the stone.
Just as hope seemed to fade, a figure appeared at the cave entrance, and a familiar voice cried out, "What?! What is wrong?"
It was Feng Zhi-Ling's voice, and to Gu Jin-Long, it sounded like a lifeline. With a mixture of relief and panic, he called out, "Brother Feng, help... This stupid stone got me stuck..."
Ye Xiao, now Cha-Eun Xiao, entered the cave and witnessed the bizarre scene. Though he felt a sense of satisfaction, he concealed his amusement, appearing shocked and concerned instead. He hurried to Gu Jin-Long's side and inquired, "Brother Gu? Why are you here? What's going on?"
Gu Jin-Long groaned in response, explaining his situation, "I operated my special martial art to find my family treasure and got a reaction from the Cosmic Hades. So I came for it. When I came here and found it... I was so happy so I wanted to take it back as soon as possible. But some tricks had been set on it. That's why I am stuck on it now... I can't move even a single bit. Do something. Drag me off..."
Gu Jin-Long exhibited remarkable finesse in crafting a convincing lie on the spot, hoping to elicit sympathy from Feng Zhi-Ling and secure his assistance.
Cha-Eun Xiao, however, was no less skilled in the art of deception. With a pretense of surprise and genuine concern, he questioned, "That cold thing had some tricks on it? You are framed? You can't move? Why? Is it really that powerful?"
Gu Jin-Long, a mix of anxiety and embarrassment evident on his face, replied with a hint of frustration, "I was reckless so I fell into the enemy's trap! I know very well about my family treasure though. I know how to solve this. I just need a small favor of yours. Reach out your hand to grab mine. As long as you pull my hand off the stone a tiny bit... That will be fine."
The request to pull his hand off the stone, however, was an impossible one. Even Gu Jin-Long, the Land of Han-Yang's most formidable figure, couldn't contend with the Cosmic Hades's irresistible attraction. Feng Zhi-Ling was but an "ant" compared to him, rendering it utterly impossible for him to assist without becoming ensnared himself.
The situation hung in precarious balance, the potential consequences dire should their actions be misguided.