The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 507: Puzzle; Awakened!

Puzzle; Awakened! . . .

It was exactly what Master Bai had urgently required. In the frantic rush to provide Brother Egg with the vast quantities of spiritual qi it demanded, Cha Eun Xiao had resorted to using the materials Master Bai had given him to craft the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan beads.

In reality, the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan, though splendid, relied on rather ordinary materials. Its power lay in the diverse array of materials it required, all of which had intricate and opposing relationships with one another. The complex interplay between these materials was the source of its remarkable potency. In essence, it was about harnessing conflicting elements and orchestrating them to achieve the seemingly impossible.

However, these materials were far from formidable.

When compared to the insatiable appetite of Brother Egg, these materials were quite mundane and readily available. In a frantic haste to address the dire situation, Cha Eun Xiao scarcely noticed that he had incorporated Master Bai\'s materials.

Nonetheless, the outcome exceeded his expectations.

Three Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan beads had materialized in the process, which fell slightly short of the original estimate but vastly exceeded his commitment to Master Bai.

Unsatisfied with this outcome, Cha Eun Xiao realized that he now possessed a valuable tool. He intended to use this newfound skill to obtain more materials, with ninety-nine percent of them earmarked for his personal collection.

In reality, he only required a mere one percent of the materials he had requested from Master Bai to produce sufficient Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan beads.

Collecting more materials served a dual purpose. It not only prepared him more thoroughly but also allowed him to support those around him.

In a world where survival outweighed the sacrifice of honor, Cha Eun Xiao was motivated to secure the necessary advantages for himself and those he cared about.

Though not inherently selfish, he understood the importance of garnering support for the greater good.

He applied this principle to Master Bai and Ling Wuxie.

Master Bai, whether good or ill-intentioned, remained an adversary due to the violence and chaos he had instigated. Cha Eun Xiao had no qualms about capitalizing on such individuals.

Ling Wuxie, on the other hand, appeared simpleminded but was genuinely loyal and kind-hearted. Cha Eun Xiao harbored a genuine desire to befriend such an individual, rather than standing at odds with him.

Regrettably, the circumstances left him little choice.

Ling Wuxie\'s formidable power and high status made it uncertain whether he would accept such a friendship. Furthermore, Cha Eun Xiao had his own obligations and could not simply abandon them for the sake of personal wishes.

In such a predicament, he opted to protect those he cared about.

The road ahead remained long, and Cha Eun Xiao would observe how events unfolded. Uncertainty clouded the future, but he remained determined to safeguard his loved ones.

"What I do now may not seem fair or honest to Ling Wuxie," he mused, "but it\'s a selfless act for the people surrounding me."

"We need a friend like him," he continued, "despite how ruthless he may appear to our adversaries. For our friends and family, he is unwavering and steadfast."

"In the eyes of our enemies, he is a devil, a ghost, a villain, and a calamity. But in our eyes, he is the one we can trust and lean on indefinitely. His presence brings a genuine smile to our faces."

"In the martial world, he is the friend I cherish most, never obsessed with fame. Whenever I think of these words, I think of one person."

This individual was dressed in pristine white attire, exuded an air of icy pride, and possessed deep, cold, and profound eyes. He stood tall, resembling a sharp, upright sword.

"He is my brother," Cha Eun Xiao thought, reflecting on these sentiments. "When he uttered those words, I wished to tell him that I am exactly such a friend to him."

"After your passing, my brother, I fought against the world for you. I spilled blood across the entire Qing-Yun Realm and fell beneath the clouds in your name."

"I have no regrets."

"Master Bai may have a royal friend in Ling Wuxie, but I have a brother. Though you may be gone, your memory lives on. Brotherhood endures."

"As long as I draw breath, you will never fade from my heart. Brotherhood knows no end."

Cha Eun Xiao smiled softly, gazing into the distance with profound eyes. He selected several supreme dan beads and exited the Space.

Notably, he left the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan beads behind.

As he was about to depart, Brother Egg stirred. It rose into the air, drawing near to Cha Eun Xiao.

It halted in mid-air, appearing to struggle, as if attempting to convey something.

Cha Eun Xiao\'s brow furrowed with frustration. He vented his irritation, saying, "What more do you want now? You\'ve nearly drained all the spiritual qi from my Spaces this time. You\'ve pushed all my Spaces to the brink! Do you comprehend the gravity of this situation? What vexes me the most is that... even after consuming countless valuable treasures, you\'re still just an egg! It\'s infuriating!"

With an index finger, Cha Eun Xiao prodded Brother Egg, causing it to sway in the air. The Egg was undeniably powerful, having once obliterated a Dao Origin Stage cultivator, and Cha Eun Xiao\'s actions posed no real threat. His frustration was palpable, and unable to find another outlet for it, he continued, "What do you want? How on earth can I get you to hatch? You might not feel anything, but I\'m quite perturbed!"

Brother Egg trembled, bearing an air of despondency.

[Please. Naturally, I want to hatch too. There\'s no one who desires my hatching more than I do!]

[I\'m just unable to hatch without the right conditions... What would you have me do?]

This was the message it sought to convey to Cha Eun Xiao. It couldn\'t articulate it directly, for all its power, it remained an egg.

However, its intention was effectively transmitted.

Cha Eun Xiao not only comprehended it; he could practically hear it.

"What the... you mad egg... you can communicate?" Cha Eun Xiao widened his eyes, observing the egg, which had expanded to the size of a watermelon.

[No, not at all. Why?] The Egg replied through mental transmission.

This time, Cha Eun Xiao clearly grasped its intent. He felt surprised and elated.

"Oh my god! I can converse with an egg! This is going to bring me more headaches!" Cha Eun Xiao chuckled, his anger having dissipated.

If Brother Egg had a face, it would likely display visible vexation. [Come on, dude. I\'m genuinely trying to communicate with you, okay? What do you think you did? Headaches? I\'m truly experiencing the frustration!]

"I mean... Egg... What do you need to hatch?" Cha Eun Xiao inquired.

He pretended not to understand the egg\'s previous grievances.

[Nothing out of the ordinary, really. I just require more energy. Much more energy...]

"Much more energy? Oh my god. How much? Alright, I get it. Hmm, what happened today? Do you realize that you\'re sapping the Space of its energy? That\'s not good. Do you understand how many valuable items have been ruined?"

Finally able to converse with the Egg, Cha Eun Xiao couldn\'t wait to voice his concerns. "Do you comprehend how much these items could have been exchanged for? Don\'t you think it should be sustainable? You may have enjoyed devouring them all, but do you realize the trouble you\'ve caused me?"

"Now, all the Spaces have ground to a halt. Nothing will be produced in the Space for days. Supreme Dan beads won\'t suffice. The sects indeed adore them, but they lack the resources to trade for more. You... You... You really..." Cha Eun Xiao couldn\'t restrain his scolding of the Egg.

[It was an accident. Truly, it was a massive accident.] Brother Egg attempted to explain. [Do you think I wanted this to happen? Of course, I understand the folly of draining the pond to catch the fish. I desire sustainability... but...]

The Egg elaborated, [Today, someone employed a special martial art to explore the enigma of the universe, a secret that should remain sealed. Unfortunately, I am an integral part of that riddle. I am powerless, and I must maintain balance when awakened...]

"Puzzle? Awakened? Balance? What on earth are you talking about? Do you even know what you\'re saying?" Cha Eun Xiao was bewildered.