Seeing that everyone was ignoring him, An Guoqing paused for a moment, then glanced at the diamonds sparkling in the light of the gemstones on the cave wall, and suddenly realized what was going on.
How much wealth is there here? None of these diamonds are marked as belonging to An Guoqing. Anyone can take them if they want, there are so many that they can't take them all. Who would still care about his 100 million?
Zhou Xuan thought for a moment, then said to everyone, "Let's not talk about money now. Let's all search together and think of a way to get to the other side and get those Nine-Star Beads. Only by getting those beads can we get out of here alive."
Zhou Xuan's words were quite practical. If they didn't get those beads, everyone would still die in this place. The only way out was to get those beads as Zhou Xuan had suggested.
But how can we get those beads?
Once inside the cave, everyone had already taken off their wetsuits. But then they remembered that the wetsuits could protect against both heat and cold, so they quickly put them back on. However, their faces were still just as hot with their faces exposed. It was only after putting on their hoods that they felt much better. But walking on dry land in wetsuits was not so convenient or easy. The group awkwardly split up to look for any tools they could use.
Zhou Xuan also became anxious. An Guoqing definitely didn't want to go. You could tell from the expression on his face that An Guoqing was afraid of dying and only wanted someone else to take the lead.
Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying were also staring at the UFO opposite them, deep in thought. Judging from the old marks on the UFO's shell, it had probably been here for quite some time. It seemed that there were no living aliens. But how could they get to the other side and get those beads?
On land, outdoors, it would be extremely simple; you could just find something to put on top of and cross. But here, there's nothing but rocks.
Moreover, the crucial point is that even if they wanted to transform a rock into a bridge to support it, it wouldn't be possible. Firstly, the rock pillar, which is over four meters tall, is too heavy. Even if several of them could lift it over, they couldn't actually place it on top of the pillar. If they tried to fall it vertically, it would definitely break. That's one reason. Secondly, and more importantly, after arriving in this cave, Zhou Xuan discovered that he couldn't transform or absorb the rocks in the cave. Perhaps it was because the rocks had been impure by the energy of the Nine Star Pearl for too long, and the surface of the rocks was covered with the energy molecules of the Nine Star Pearl, so Zhou Xuan couldn't transform them.
Roger, Zhang Yage, Wolf, and Daniel searched the cave again, but still found nothing. There wasn't even a single fragment of rock in the cave; the entire cave wall seemed to be a single, intact piece.
The group returned to their original positions dejectedly. An Guoqing was still deep in thought, and Zhou Xuan couldn't guess what he was thinking. It seemed that he would have to rely on himself to get the Nine Star Pearl.
Zhou Xuan thought for a moment, then suddenly picked up his diving suit, tore it open with his hands, and then tied the strips together to make a long strap.
An Guoqing was stunned. This new type of diving suit was made of special materials that required a great deal of effort even with a knife, let alone to tear by hand.
However, when Zhou Xuan tore his diving suit to make a rope, everyone immediately understood his meaning. Zhou Xuan definitely wanted to use this to make a rope and then jump across with the rope, but there was still danger. If he couldn't jump across, even if they were holding him up, the lava below was only about three meters from the shore, and the distance in the middle was about four meters. If he didn't jump to the other side and fell down, he would still fall into the lava.
However, as long as they could jump over, it would be much safer, because there were several support-like structures under the flying saucer on the other side. The ropes were tied to the supports, and the seven of them could drag it across without any safety issues. They wouldn't fall off. However, if people climbed over the ropes while suspended, they would also have to endure the high temperature of the lava surface below, which was just as daunting. It was better to jump over with all their might.
After Zhou Xuan tied the rope, he pulled it hard with his hands. He estimated that it could support the weight of a person. The raw material of this diving suit was indeed very good. He used his superpower to convert and devour it when he tore it into strips. Otherwise, it would be difficult to tear it by hand. However, others could not see anything unusual with the naked eye.
The rope was about twenty meters long, which was definitely enough. Folding it into a double line would be even safer. However, Zhou Xuan did not say anything after finishing, but looked at everyone.
At the most dangerous moment in life, everyone is selfish. Zhou Xuan only needed to glance at the crowd, and they all shut their mouths tightly, no one saying a word.
"It goes without saying, everyone understands that we need to retrieve those beads from the other side to escape this place." Zhou Xuan said in a low voice, holding a rope torn from his diving suit. "In the face of life, no one has special privileges. What I want to say is, let's use a fair method, which is to draw lots. Whoever picks the first one gets to keep it. Do you agree to this method? If you agree, I'll do it."
An Guoqing, Roger, Zhang Yage, Wolf, and Daniel all paled. They looked at each other, their faces filled with fear. However, Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying, the two girls, didn't seem as scared as they did, which made them blush.
An Guoqing gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, I agree. There's no way we can get out without taking a risk. Our only hope is to jump over and get the bead. I think we should do as Xiao Zhou suggested and draw eight lots. Whoever's turn it is, that's who gets to go. If everyone agrees, then let's express our opinion."
"Alright, let them catch you. Someone has to go and get the beads, right?"
Several people expressed their opinions one after another. Someone had to go, otherwise the bead wouldn't have appeared out of thin air. Besides, if it were a lottery, there was only a one in eight chance, and it wasn't certain which one of them would get it.
“Alright, I’ll draw lots.” After Zhou Xuan finished speaking, he tore off the buttons from the shirt he was wearing underneath—the ones on the collar, the cuffs, and the ones in front of him—a total of eight buttons. But what surprised everyone was that among these white buttons, there was one red one. They were all exactly the same shape and size, only the color was different.
Everyone immediately understood that this method was fair. All eight buttons were the same size, and if you judged them by feel, they would all be exactly the same. No one could tell the difference. The difference in color could not be detected by touch. They just wondered how Zhou Xuan's clothes could have a button of a different color.
Zhou Xuan said casually, "A while ago, a button on my shirt cuff came undone. When I asked the hotel staff to sew it back on, they couldn't find a matching color. They only had one red one, but the shape was the same. It's perfect for drawing lots now."
He then covered the eight buttons with his wetsuit and said, "Who wants to grab them first?"
No one had anything to say about what Zhou Xuan did. He didn't show any favoritism and even prepared lots for the two girls. What else could those men say?
The lots were drawn, but the first person to draw didn't dare to step forward. Zhou Xuan thought for a moment and said, "Alright, since no one wants to draw first, I'll draw for Xiaoyu and Yingying. Does anyone have any objections?"
Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying immediately understood Zhou Xuan's meaning. This lottery seemed to be the fairest thing to do, but for Zhou Xuan, it was cheating. He had the ability to detect, so it was no different from picking the lots out in front of him. There was no difficulty at all.
To be honest, when it comes to drawing lots, the first person to draw is always afraid, and the last person to draw is also afraid. The first person to draw is more likely to get it first, and the last person to draw definitely has an advantage. But it's like gambling; it's all about probability. If the people in front are unlucky and draw first, then the people behind are incredibly lucky and don't even need to draw; it's a done deal. But equally dangerous is that if the people in front don't draw, then the people behind are in danger. Every person less increases the danger for those behind. At the very front, it's a one-in-eight chance; one less person makes it a one-in-seven chance; and if half the people in front don't draw, then it's a one-in-four chance.
Zhang Ya Ge readily agreed, "Alright, alright, Xiao Zhou can go first, no problem. But you have to ask both ladies first, in case they deny it after you catch them. Besides, you didn't specify which lady you'll catch first, and which lady you'll catch second. Once you agree on that, there won't be any disputes after you catch them."
Zhou Xuan said calmly, "Don't worry about that. I'm in charge of those two. Even if they're caught, it'll be my responsibility. I'll take care of it for them."
An Guoqing and the other four were all moved. Zhou Xuan seemed ordinary, but nothing he did was ordinary. He accepted both girls' lots, which meant he had taken three shares, making the danger level for him extremely high.
Although Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying knew Zhou Xuan possessed supernatural abilities, they were still very grateful. Fu Ying had previously been informed by Zhou Xuan's accurate description of the contents of her wallet; at the time, she had thought he was just performing magic tricks, a feint she simply couldn't see through. Now, however, she was certain that Zhou Xuan genuinely possessed supernatural abilities. Magic tricks couldn't reach his level; there was a huge difference. His supernatural abilities were real, while his magic tricks were fake.
Seeing that everyone agreed, Zhou Xuan shook the buttons covered by his wetsuit, scattering them inside, and said, "Watch closely, everyone. I'll take out two buttons first. If even one of them is red, then the first task is mine."
Seeing that no one spoke, which was a tacit agreement, Zhou Xuan immediately reached into his diving suit and, without hesitation, grabbed two pills and took them out.
This was no problem for him. After using his supernatural abilities to detect the buttons, all eight buttons were clearly imprinted in his mind. Zhou Xuan easily picked out two white buttons.
Then he gently placed the button on the rock on the ground. Eight pairs of eyes stared intently at the button, followed by a chorus of "Ah!" and "Oh!"
Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying already knew the result, but they were still a little nervous. Under everyone's gaze, the two small white buttons were placed there.
The five people's voices clearly showed disappointment. Zhou Xuan hadn't managed to grab the red button, so the remaining six people were definitely in greater danger, and the risk of each of them touching the red button had increased.
After ruling out Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying, Zhou Xuan asked, "Who will make the arrest now?"
After all, he had caught two people. If Zhou Xuan were to catch them himself, the others might suspect him of cheating. Anyway, it was fine as long as he had helped the two girls. Whoever caught them later would be responsible. If the other five people tried to catch them before him and failed, then it would fall on his shoulders.
An Guoqing immediately said, "I'll catch it."
An Guoqing quickly realized that while those at the front of the line seemed to be at risk of catching the red one, the probability was actually lower if there were more people at the front. Of course, those at the back were gambling. If someone caught the red one, then the people behind were safe. If the people at the front couldn't catch the red one, then the people behind were out of luck.
An Guoqing reached into the underwater pool, several pairs of eyes were staring at him. His hand trembled as he groped around for a long time, taking out a pill and putting it down, then touching it again, but he didn't dare to take it out.
An Guoqing noticed that everyone was staring at him to prevent him from faking it. Although his hands were trembling, he finally took out a pill and held it in his hand for a long time without daring to open it.
An Guoqing took another deep breath, then slowly opened his palm, revealing a small white button in his hand.
An Guoqing desperately suppressed the urge to shout, then slowly placed the button on the ground, alongside the two that Zhou Xuan had placed there.