Gamble of the Strong . . .
"Alright, we'll find a solution," the man in white attire grinned and said, "I did contemplate doing this for him. I simply felt that the timing wasn't right for the young lady to be married. Nevertheless, with the fourth person's arrival and the imminent fifth, the star of love is ascending. I believe it's the right time for her to wed... Let's make the necessary arrangements this time."
"Indeed, to complete a necessary task," the man in black nodded in agreement.
After their conversation, several figures emerged from all directions, descending with a swift rush. "Chief!"
The vortex came to a sudden halt, and an image materialized in the center of the vortex's screen.
It was Cha Eun cultivating.
The men's expressions turned grave. "Is he the fourth?"
...
In the Mountain of All Medicines.
On the fourth layer.
Cha Eun was enveloped in a shimmering violet aura, seated in serene meditation.
Unbeknownst to others, he had been channeling energy for quite some time. Despite his East-rising Purple Qi's impressive endurance, he began to feel a hint of fatigue. Gently parting his eyes, he was astounded to discover the surface of the stele slowly melting. The stele was now one size smaller than before.
His sigh of relief was followed by a surge of determination. He was now certain he could ultimately refine the stele.
Closing his eyes once more, he resumed channeling energy. As the process continued, a series of sounds resonated from within the stele. The commotion seemed disordered, yet it was more akin to multiple individuals conversing.
How could there be voices coming from within a stele? Cha Eun was momentarily perplexed, causing him to lose focus on the East-rising Purple Qi. The strange sounds from within the stele began to wane.
Being a seasoned cultivator, Cha Eun had an inkling of how this phenomenon functioned, although he didn't fully comprehend it. Quickly, he intensified his spiritual power, directing it into the stele with East-rising Purple Qi.
Boundless Space's purple aura surged into his meridians and channels like tidal waves. Imperceptibly, his meridians and channels expanded significantly, rendering them more flexible and resilient.
Unaware of the physical changes occurring within him, he remained engrossed in the mysterious sounds emanating from the stele.
As anticipated, he distinctly heard voices this time, and it was evidently a conversation.
"Come on, how about a wager? I bet this guy will never succeed in refining the stele! Let's make this interesting; whoever loses the bet has to roll on the floor naked and then engage in a little romp in the fields! Who's game? Hahaha! Ahwooh... Dog Aunt!"
Recognizing the voice, Cha Eun's resentment surged. He was certain that this individual was the same one who had left those humiliating words for him.
"You imbecile! Rolling around naked? Is that supposed to be thrilling? A romp in the fields? Give me a break. We don't have any fields here, just a floor romp!"
"Wait, hold on. There's a problem here. How are we supposed to engage in a romp without a girl? What exactly are we romping with? My suggestion would be to ride a horse and have a horse romp! That would be incredibly thrilling!"
"Goodness, you feathered d*ck without wings! That's just cruel! What if we let the loser hop on your back and have a little bird romp?"
"Enough! Can't we avoid these complicated wagers? Let's keep it simple. Whoever loses will need to go to a planet and shout in the sky with a voice that reaches every inhabitant of that planet, declaring 'I, Ji Mo, am a d*ckhead!' We're brothers; let's not subject each other to such extreme embarrassment. Be kind, will you?" A milder voice chimed in.
"That's a solid point, Wizard."
"Indeed, Wizard makes an excellent case."
"Hahaha..."
A cacophony of voices erupted, each vying to have their wager heard.
The man who initiated the conversation remained silent for a moment before erupting, "You scoundrel, Wizard! Do you want to meet your demise? The loser shall merely shout their own name! Why must we hear my name? Do you even comprehend the concept of gambling?"
A chorus of laughter erupted from the men beside him.
A solemn voice chimed in, "I believe he can accomplish the task. I'm willing to bet my blade on it."
Following suit, a piercing voice declared, "I'm confident that he can do it, and I wager my sword."
Several others expressed their discontent, one noting, "That's not what we agreed upon. What's with betting a blade and a sword? Are you trying to outsmart us? Nobody would accept those items, I assure you."
Another man proffered an alternative, "Let's amend the rule. The loser will spar with the Chief for an entire day, with no option to retreat or terminate the fight prematurely. How about that?"
Silence blanketed the group upon hearing this proposal.
After a while, a man known as Bird Man hesitantly remarked, "That... that might be a bit... too harsh. Refraining from retreating is one thing, but not being able to end the fight... that's..."
Simultaneously, several others jeered at him, "You're a coward, Bird Man, despite your reputation as someone who never shies away from risking their life. That's why you're called Bird Man. You earned it!"
Bird Man grew exasperated, retorting, "You talk as though you dare to challenge me! I take risks because I have confidence! It doesn't mean I seek my own death. Repeatedly courting death only results in trauma!"
A composed voice intervened, "Let's cease the bickering. Each of us will propose our own wager. We needn't all make the same bet. The loser will abide by the agreement of the winner."
A gentle voice affirmed, "I concur. I shall act as the arbiter. Does anyone hold a dissenting view?"
Upon hearing the gentle voice once more, Cha Eun was convinced that the owner of this voice, Wizard, was indeed Master Tianji, the one who had left the stele for him.
Wizard had spoken merely twice, yet his voice exuded an elegant clarity, as if he held mastery over the universe's mysteries, maintained control over all aspects of existence, and could remain serene even if the entire cosmos unraveled before him.
"An excellent proposal," a resounding voice declared, "Very well. I shall wager a golden scale against Hua Hua, also known as Rabbit. If Rabbit loses, I shall claim a flower from him. We can use it on the fifth and sixth individuals as well."
Another voice interjected blandly, "Agreed, that presents no issue. However, I'd like to sweeten the pot with a Dragon Slayer Sword!"
The resounding voice expressed bewilderment, "Dragon Slayer Sword? What do you mean by that?"
A hint of irritation laced the bland voice's response, "What? You truly don't understand? If you had referred to me as Hua Hua, I might not have minded. But you chose to call me Rabbit! Now, I'm definitely taking that sword from you, no questions asked. Is that clear? I haven't allowed a single flower to bloom on your skin, a testament to my exceptional generosity and respect. Wouldn't you say so?"