The Position of the Egg . . .
Though Cha Eun Xiao's current strength fell short of his former glory in a past life, he had risen to become one of the most prominent cultivators in the Land of Han-Yang. His innate abilities set him apart as an unquestionable master within this realm. Even as he bore the burden of a troubled heart, he knew that he couldn't afford to be caught off guard in this critical moment.
Summoning his inner composure, Cha Eun Xiao cast his eyes upward, seeking the source of the disturbance. To his bewilderment, all he could discern was the presence of a singular object—an egg.
The egg, peculiarly, appeared to share his apprehension. Struck with force, it had been sent hurtling approximately ten meters away, quivering and careening through the air in a disoriented frenzy.
"What is going on?" Cha Eun Xiao wondered aloud, his anxiety growing. He had initially been surprised by the possibility of an ambush, but now a more profound fear gripped him. Very few things had the power to terrify someone as formidable as the once-revered Xiao Monarch, but this egg was now one of them.
It was no ordinary egg; it possessed the capability to obliterate a Dao Origin Stage cultivator like Gu Jinlong, a practitioner known for his near-invulnerable defenses. Cha Eun Xiao's memory was vivid with the gruesome spectacle of the egg reducing Gu Jinlong's unyielding head to a gruesome pile of minced flesh.
Now, this very same egg had struck Cha Eun Xiao squarely on the head. He gingerly touched his throbbing cranium, grateful that it hadn't inflicted greater harm.
"Unbelievable!" Cha Eun Xiao exclaimed, a mixture of relief and irritation surging within him. He furrowed his brow and directed his ire at the egg. "Leave this place!"
Yet, the egg refused to relent. It continued its erratic flight pattern, swirling and swooping through the air around Cha Eun Xiao's head. It almost seemed apologetic in its bizarre dance.
Cha Eun Xiao's mood grew increasingly sour. He had no desire to engage with this enigmatic egg, especially when his responsibilities weighed heavily upon him. Even if he had the luxury of time, he doubted that meaningful conversation could be had with an egg that had just expelled him from his own domain. Irritation boiled over, and he waved his hand dismissively before heading toward the exit, a dark scowl etched upon his face.
Nevertheless, the egg had other intentions. Swiftly, it positioned itself directly in front of Cha Eun Xiao's face.
"What do you want?" Cha Eun Xiao snapped, his exasperation evident. "I don't have time for your antics right now. My agenda is filled with countless matters demanding my attention. Even if I had the inclination, conversing with an egg isn't on my to-do list. You've already demonstrated your audacity by ejecting me from my own territory... You're clearly powerful; what could you possibly need from me? Let's go our separate ways and maintain a semblance of peace."
With that declaration, Cha Eun Xiao strode away, refusing to spare another moment for the peculiar egg.
Yet, the egg persisted, shadowing his every move and physically nudging him to prevent his departure. It was evident that this egg had no intention of allowing Cha Eun Xiao to leave its side so easily.
Cha Eun Xiao's annoyance reached new heights as he tried to resist the stubborn egg's unyielding presence. Despite his best efforts to nudge it aside, he discovered that the egg refused to budge even an inch. To his chagrin, his futile attempts only resulted in head-splitting pain while the egg remained immovable.
"What in the world do you want?" Cha Eun Xiao vented his frustration, his anger mounting. His irritation was entirely justified. This egg had displayed an astonishing level of aggression in its demand for cooperation. It was no ordinary egg; it possessed the lethal potential to single-handedly dispatch a Dao Origin Stage super cultivator with one lethal strike. For Cha Eun Xiao to forcibly push it away was, in hindsight, a remarkably foolish move. He had been fortunate that it hadn't turned his head into a shattered mess. It was a lesson learned the hard way—hitting the egg once had been sufficient to drive home the point. Attempting it again would be sheer folly.
Seething with anger, Cha Eun Xiao shouted at the egg, which continued to bounce up and down in front of him, as though it were in a state of excitement. Eventually, it came to rest before him, though its intentions remained enigmatic.
"It seems you're trying to apologize," Cha Eun Xiao mused aloud, deciphering the egg's intentions to some extent.
The egg responded with a series of jumps, almost as if nodding in agreement.
"I don't particularly care," Cha Eun Xiao declared, turning away in an attempt to depart.
But the egg appeared anxious and once again pushed against his head, obstructing his path.
In a fit of frustration, Cha Eun Xiao struck the egg with his hand, only to experience excruciating pain radiating through his limb. His anger flared further as he exclaimed, "Get out of my way! You're nothing more than an egg. You're not a dog, are you? Even a wretched dog wouldn't block someone's path!"
Yet, it seemed the egg remained impervious to his words. It maintained its stubborn stance, resolutely preventing him from moving forward.
For an extended period, Cha Eun Xiao found himself utterly baffled and powerless in the face of this obstinate egg.
Cha Eun Xiao couldn't contain his exasperation any longer. He massaged the sides of his head, his voice tinged with irritation. "You're nothing more than an egg. You shouldn't possess consciousness, let alone emotions," he muttered. "Yet here you are, blocking my path. What do you want from me? You can't even communicate. How am I supposed to understand you?"
In response, the egg finally stirred into action. It began to circle Cha Eun Xiao repeatedly.
He sighed, his exasperation deepening. "[What's the point?]" he pondered aloud. "[Even though you keep responding with actions like this, how am I supposed to comprehend your intentions? What do you expect me to say?]"
A lull settled over them, but then the egg suddenly convulsed in mid-air, as though struck by a moment of revelation. It darted behind Cha Eun Xiao and began pushing him forward. When he moved in the direction the egg desired, it swiftly returned to the front and halted him, only to return to the rear and nudge him again. It took Cha Eun Xiao a moment, but he finally grasped the egg's motive—it was attempting to guide him toward the tunnel.
This tunnel harbored the densest concentration of spiritual qi within the Space.
Due to the egg's unwavering tenacity, Cha Eun Xiao had no choice but to tread carefully, one step at a time. When he finally caught sight of a massive plate within the Space, the egg accelerated over to it, circling the precious object with fervor. Then, it returned to Cha Eun Xiao, bobbing up and down in front of him before once again moving to his rear to push him forward. As he drew closer to the plate, the egg continued to exert pressure, conveying its intent.
"So, you want me to... to stand on it?" Cha Eun Xiao studied the plate with a mixture of understanding and incredulity. He couldn't help but feel bemused.
This plate was the most coveted space within the entire realm. The egg had maintained sole possession of it for a considerable duration, yet now, it seemed willing to relinquish it to Cha Eun Xiao.
"[This is a gesture of goodwill, though I don't really desire it,]" Cha Eun Xiao thought, interpreting the egg's actions.
The egg persisted in its efforts to guide him, and Cha Eun Xiao found himself with no choice but to comply. He ascended the plate and seated himself, uncertain of the significance of this action, yet willing to entertain the idea that it might hold some value.
The egg's relentless efforts came to a sudden halt, and it began to hover in the air with an almost gleeful demeanor, circling Cha Eun Xiao happily. Then, unexpectedly, it descended and settled directly in front of him, stopping just at his crotch.
The atmosphere grew still as the egg remained motionless. Cha Eun Xiao found himself utterly bewildered by the egg's recent actions. A sense of disorientation washed over him.
"[What... What on earth is going on?]" he pondered, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion. "[Isn't this rather astonishing? When I was attempting to find a suitable spot in this vicinity for cultivation, the egg adamantly prevented me from doing so. It consistently chased me away. Now, it has compelled me to sit here. But... This certainly isn't an appropriate place for me to sit. The plate is evidently designed for an egg. Its edges curl up, and at its center, there's a small indentation—a perfect fit for an egg. How could it be conceivable for a man to perch upon it? Well, technically, it might be possible to sit on it, considering we all have buttocks...]" Cha Eun Xiao's internal monologue took a humorous turn as he contemplated the absurdity of his current situation.
What he couldn't ignore, however, was the surge of spiritual qi emanating from the plate's small indentation—a sensation of coolness enveloped his buttocks. It was an experience that left him both bemused and bewildered.
"[Well, I suppose I do,]" Cha Eun Xiao mused inwardly, uncertain whether to laugh or cry at the absurdity of it all.
He couldn't help but wonder if the force of this spiritual qi was akin to the intensity of all the flatulence he had produced throughout his entire life—a wild wind howling within the confines of his buttock seam. "[Well, it's quite the unique sensation, I must admit,]" he reflected with a blend of amusement and bemusement.