Within the Mystic Realm, the Land of Gentle Delights.
Ye Yu's eyelids grew increasingly heavy. The carefree laughter of his companions, the gentle lapping of waves, and the rustling of palm leaves in the breeze wove together into a perfect lullaby.
Zhang Tian finished her sand drawing and came skipping over. Picking up a slice of chilled watermelon, she held it to Ye Yu's lips with sickly sweet voice: "Brother Yu, try some? It's so sweet!"
Xia Ling lazily turned her head, her sunglasses sliding down her nose to reveal eyes twinkling with mischief. "Hey, stop pretending to sleep. Come swim with us?"
Stay... enjoy... eternal happiness...
The whispers continued their gentle seduction.
Ye Yu's gaze swept over Zhang Tian's expectant eyes, Xia Ling's languid posture, and every face among his companions radiating pure joy. The corners of his mouth seemed to twitch upward slightly, as if genuinely moved by this tranquility.
Yet at this precipice of surrender, as his consciousness seemed about to dissolve into the beach and sunlight—
Deep in his eyes, that razor-sharp glimmer—flickering like a candle in the wind yet never extinguished—suddenly flared!
Wrong!
A cold voice exploded in the depths of his soul like thunder splitting the dead night sky.
These aren't them!
No matter how perfectly crafted, an illusion remains an illusion!
It couldn't perfectly replicate Ye Yu's profound understanding of his companions. The versions here differed subtly yet crucially from those he knew.
This slight but vital dissonance was like a stone cast into still waters, instantly creating massive ripples.
More importantly... it was the unquenchable fire in Ye Yu's heart!
My crew... they don't need false eternal peace!
They follow a Captain who constantly challenges limits, explores the unknown, and protects what matters—not some waste lounging on beaches wallowing in comfort!
True happiness... isn't stagnation!
It's the exhilaration after battle! The soaring pride after breakthroughs! The fulfillment of protecting what's precious! The grandeur of setting sail for celestial seas!
This counterfeit paradise blasphemes his convictions! Betrays his crew's expectations! Utterly denies the thorny path he chose!
"GET LOST!!!"
Bzzzt—!!!
The long-dormant Conqueror's Haki erupted—not as a raging hurricane, but as a blade of pure willpower honed to perfection. It embodied Ye Yu's absolute commitment to his path, deep understanding of his bonds, and total rejection of this false comfort.
This intangible blade didn't explode outward—it turned inward, slashing viciously at the sloth permeating his soul.
Riiip—!!!
An inaudible tearing sound seemed to echo. The gray mist enveloping him, eroding him, trying to trap him forever in this gentle snare—was forcibly split apart by this blade of pure resolve.
The warm, comfortable beach chair disintegrated into nothingness.
The watermelon Zhang Tian offered, Xia Ling's lazy smile, the joyful figures of his companions... all crumbled like sand paintings in the wind, scattering before Ye Yu's eyes.
Sunlight, waves, palm trees... the entire perfect paradise scene violently twisted and collapsed, revealing the cold, lifeless void beneath.
The gray mist of Sloth dissipated like a receding tide, vanishing into nothingness. Ye Yu's figure became clear and upright once more, the confusion and lethargy in his eyes completely gone, replaced by a deeper, firmer light! Though his spirit felt a strong exhaustion—a toll paid for resisting deep temptation—his will, like tempered steel, had only grown purer and more unshakable after enduring the erosion of Sloth.
Sloth Gate—broken!
He stood there, breathing slightly, his gaze sharp as lightning as it swept across the void ahead.
There, a new spatial distortion had already formed. This time, the door that appeared was an unsettling deep purple, as if it could devour all light. Its surface resembled living, writhing flesh, covered in fine, orifice-like pores. At its center was carved an enormous, gaping maw, so vast it seemed capable of swallowing heaven and earth, its depths an endless vortex of darkness.
A primal, savage, insatiable hunger—tangible as a shockwave—instantly flooded the space!
The sixth trial of the Seven Sins Corridor—Gluttony!
Ye Yu stared at the deep purple maw-like door, feeling the devouring desire that threatened to suck away even his soul. Instead of retreating, the corner of his mouth curled into a fierce, battle-ready smirk.
Stepping through the living, maw-like door, an indescribable hunger—one that stemmed from the very core of life itself—instantly consumed Ye Yu!
This wasn't the exhaustion of battle or the weakness of mental strain, but a pure, soul-deep scream from every cell in his body—Hunger! Food! Now!
The sensation was so violent, so primal, that even Ye Yu's formidable physique trembled slightly. His stomach roared like thunder, and his mouth uncontrollably flooded with saliva.
Beyond the door lay an enormous, opulent banquet hall. A seemingly endless dining table stretched before him, draped in pristine lace, laden with countless delicacies—each glowing with temptation and exuding intoxicating aromas.
Directly in front of Ye Yu was a whole golden-brown, crispy-skinned suckling pig, its surface glistening with juices, exuding the fragrance of fruitwood smoke. Beside it towered a mountain of translucent crab roe lion's head meatballs.
To his left, a steaming pot of milky-white, rich seafood Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, its briny aroma mingling with the scent of wine, assaulted his senses.
To his right, exquisitely plated top-grade Wagyu sashimi, its marbled patterns shimmering like art under the light, accompanied by freshly grated wasabi and premium soy sauce.
Further beyond—French escargot, Italian truffle risotto, Spanish paella, whole king crabs, tomahawk steaks larger than a face, hills of gold-flecked caviar... The world's finest delicacies gathered in one place, radiating a deadly allure.
"Gulp..." Ye Yu clearly heard the sound of himself swallowing. The hunger gnawed at his nerves like millions of ants crawling beneath his skin. Then a voice, brimming with utter satisfaction, sighed in his mind:
"Look... what a feast... what perfection... This is your reward for courage! You deserve all this! What are you waiting for? Sit down, pick up your knife and fork... indulge in life's most primal joy! Food is heaven's gift - is there any purer happiness than savoring such delicacies?"
(End of Chapter)