The tension in the stone room grew palpable as Mo Dafu continued his conversation with the unseen presence—this mysterious figure, who was only identified as "Yu Zitong." Despite Han Li being unable to move or speak, he absorbed every word. It seemed Mo Dafu was hedging his bets, worried about the integrity of the technique that Yu Zitong had passed on to him. The ritual to seize Han Li's body was drawing near, but doubts lingered.
Yu Zitong responded coldly, assuring Mo Dafu that his technique had been flawless, and swore on his entire lineage, invoking a curse upon himself should he be lying. Han Li couldn't help but feel a flicker of disgust—these two were so deeply entwined in their dark dealings, treating his body as a mere vessel, a tool to be used, as if he were nothing more than a possession.
The two men then began discussing the benefits of their plan. If successful, Mo Dafu would not only acquire a new body, but would also gain access to the path of cultivation, something he had never had before due to the lack of a spiritual root. Han Li, still trapped in his own mind, was helpless as they made plans for his body, discussing it as though he weren't even there. The casual manner in which they plotted his fate sent a cold shiver through him, yet there was nothing he could do to stop them.
Mo Dafu, now seemingly less concerned, prepared for the ritual. He took several thin golden needles from his possession and expertly inserted them into his own head, presumably to stimulate his energy reserves and ensure the ritual would go smoothly. The action made Han Li's heart tighten, knowing that his body was on the verge of being claimed.
Finally, Mo Dafu set his focus on Han Li. He placed him in the center of a strange, glowing diagram on the ground, aligning him in the proper position. Then, with a deliberate motion, he summoned a bolt of red light from his hands, which struck the diagram beneath Han Li, causing the surrounding jade stones to glow brightly.
With a deep incantation, Mo Dafu began chanting. The words filled the room like a dark lullaby, heavy and hypnotic. Han Li could feel the pull of the sound, as if the very vibrations of the words were making his mind grow heavy, his consciousness dimming. Despite his best efforts to resist, the overwhelming force of Mo Dafu's spell was too much.
Han Li knew what was happening. This was the beginning of the possession ritual, the moment when Mo Dafu would attempt to claim his body. His thoughts became sluggish, as though the spell was trying to draw him into a deep, endless sleep. Han Li fought it with all the will he had left, but the more he resisted, the weaker he became. Before long, his mind gave way to the inevitable pull.
Just before everything faded into nothingness, Han Li caught one last glimpse of Mo Dafu's face. The once handsome, youthful features now seemed twisted and monstrous, as though the true nature of this man was leaking through his carefully crafted exterior. Han Li couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "You've become ugly..." and then everything went black.
In the depths of unconsciousness, Han Li found himself in a strange and surreal realm, a place that was as alien to him as any dream could be. He was no longer himself but had transformed into a small, green, floating orb of light. In this form, he was free to roam, exploring a small, self-contained world. It was peaceful and exhilarating at first—Han Li felt like he could drift forever in this weightless existence, completely untethered from the worries of his physical body.
But tranquility was short-lived.
A yellow light orb, much smaller than Han Li's, suddenly appeared from the void. This new orb exuded hostility, immediately charging at Han Li with sharp intent. Without hesitation, Han Li created his own mouth-like opening in his glowing orb and retaliated, confronting the smaller orb in midair. The battle was swift. Han Li, with his larger size and greater strength, easily overpowered the yellow orb, swallowing it whole in mere moments.
Triumphant, Han Li reveled in his victory, savoring the "taste" of his defeated foe. However, before he could fully enjoy his win, another intruder appeared—a larger green orb, similar to Han Li's own form but significantly larger. Its light was duller, weaker, but the orb's presence was intimidating nonetheless.
This time, the opponent hesitated, seemingly surprised by Han Li's earlier victory. But Han Li, having tasted the thrill of devouring another light orb, wasn't about to let this new arrival get away. He charged at the new foe without thinking twice. The battle was fierce, but the larger orb proved to be a hollow shell, a weak imitation of the power it once had. It lasted only a short while before it began to crumble, its body shrinking as it tried to escape.
Determined not to let it slip away, Han Li gave chase, managing to catch it and swallow part of it before the orb managed to break free, losing a chunk of its size in the process. Han Li's pursuit was relentless, but the enemy's evasion skills allowed it to escape, leaving Han Li to float alone in his domain once more.
In the end, Han Li's small, green orb reigned supreme in its territory, undisturbed for what seemed like an eternity. His small world was his alone, a vast expanse of solitude where no further threats appeared. He had conquered this space, but the dreamlike nature of the experience left him with an unsettling feeling.
In the distant, seemingly endless stretch of time that followed, Han Li wondered if this would be his fate—forever trapped in this strange form, unable to return to his own body. Was this his new reality? Was his mind forever imprisoned here while his body was stolen by Mo Dafu?
He didn't know, but he couldn't help but feel the stirrings of a deeper, unseen force, something beyond this strange, isolated existence. He was more than just an orb of light—he was Han Li, and he would not go down without a fight.