CHAPTER 48: PUTTING ON AIRS? SORRY, THE TABLES HAVE TURNED.

"Well, I once read some records of Lord Beast King's past expeditions. A few of the more hidden details stuck with me.

"I remember the Beast King once said that the Outside is unimaginably vast, with tens of millions of planets forming a single star domain. Our planet used to be the center of one such domain, and that's how it came to nurture a unique will of its own."

As Wind Dragon revealed this secret, Lu Chen listened intently, carefully weighing every word.

He kept up an exaggeratedly clueless expression, nodding along with wide eyes and dramatic gestures, playing right into Wind Dragon's ego. Each time the dragon reached a key point, Lu Chen seized the moment to throw in a bit of flattery, helping Wind Dragon puff himself up even more.

Once Wind Dragon had finished that first piece of the tale, he turned to look at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen kept up the act, wearing a blank, clueless expression. Seeing this, Wind Dragon was thoroughly convinced he'd stunned him. "Ahem."

Feeling secretly pleased, he let out a soft cough and straightened up even more, proud to have regained his dignity. "Hahaha! Listen up, there's more. What I'm about to tell you next is something not even the higher-ups on the continent know about."

Wind Dragon dove deeper into his memory, trying to dig up something even more astonishing, something that would completely overwhelm Lu Chen. "Right, the origin of our planet. I'm sure you've never heard of this before.

"Our world was once the victim of a Dark Rebellion. Because of it, the entire star domain abandoned us. Every route to the outside was sealed, and the planetary will disappeared in the chaos.

"Now, no one can say whether this planet still has a will, or if the will that remains is still the powerful one it once had.

"This was something the Beast King found in the ruins of an ancient civilization. Aside from me, no one else on the continent knows about it.

"Hahaha! Are you shocked? These are secrets even the cultivation world's top circles don't pass down. You really have struck gold hearing them today!"

Wind Dragon watched Lu Chen, fully expecting the boy to be so shaken he'd fall to his knees in awe, weep with regret, and beg forgiveness for ever daring to disrespect him.

However, Lu Chen simply nodded. He had already heard about most of what Wind Dragon shared back at the Beast King Manor. He even understood it more deeply than Wind Dragon did.

Wind Dragon was taken aback. "Just a nod? I just dropped world-shattering secrets, and you're giving me a nod?"

Lu Chen glanced at the dragon's constipated expression and barely held back a laugh. He knew this was his chance. Keeping a straight face, he mimicked Wind Dragon's tone and posture, then said, "Actually, I've known all that for a long time. And I also know that this world has gone through multiple eras, each one far longer than you could ever imagine. Wouldn't that count as a world-shattering secret, too?"

Wind Dragon's expression slowly twisted, a deep discomfort spreading across his face.

A wave of defeat washed over Wind Dragon. He realized Lu Chen had been playing him the whole time. He stared at the wall and let out a long sigh. "Who would've thought, after a lifetime sailing smooth waters, I'd sink in a ditch."[1]

The truth had hit him. Lu Chen had been playing him the whole time. Somehow, a brat had managed to toy with him.

"Hahaha, alright, enough playing around. Let's take a proper look at this little planet. I can sense that its will is strong, but it's being suppressed somehow. Any idea why?"

The only response from Wind Dragon was a strange, drawn-out sigh. "Haah..."

Lu Chen saw that Wind Dragon wasn't responding and understood what was going on. After spending so much time together, he could tell the dragon was stuck on his pride. That sigh... was a cue. He wanted Lu Chen to give him a way out.

Hence, Lu Chen quickly changed his tone, gently trying to comfort him and offer a way to save face. "Little Dragon?"

Wind Dragon simply sighed again.

"Grandpa Dragon?"

Once more, the only answer was a deep sigh.

"Dragon—"

"..."

Seeing Wind Dragon only sighing, Lu Chen rolled his eyes and decided to provoke him instead. He turned away and spoke in a deliberately sarcastic tone, "Sigh... I figured as much. After all these years, not knowing these things is pretty normal..."

He dragged out the last word of every sentence on purpose. "Honestly, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone has their decline eventually..."

Each word was like a thorn digging deeper into Wind Dragon's pride.

Lu Chen watched him out of the corner of his eye, then twisted the knife further.

Wind Dragon finally snapped. "Who's declining? Who's old? I'm in my prime!"

"Oh? Then tell me. Do you know what that little planet is thinking? Because from where I stand, it doesn't feel like it has a strong will right now. It's like it's just following some kind of preset program. Can you explain that?"

"And what about this? There's something weird going on with it. It... likes being called Egghead. Why would that be?"

Lu Chen pointed at the little planet and rattled off every question in one breath. "If you can explain all that, I'll admit you're still in your prime. Otherwise... let's be honest, your best years are behind you. Isn't that right, Egghead?"

He turned to the planet as he said it, clearly taking a jab.

The little planet wobbled side to side, watching the two argue while making excited squeaky noises.

The moment it heard Lu Chen call it Egghead, it squealed even louder, spinning excitedly in his arms as its emotions flared. All of it was just adding more fuel to Wind Dragon's fire.

Wind Dragon huffed. "Then why don't you try asking it yourself? If its will really is that feeble, it won't respond, and you can go ahead and call it a lump of junk. But if it does respond... maybe you're just too stupid to recognize a strong will when you see one."

He glared at the little planet rolling in Lu Chen's arms, his eyes slowly turning red. "And if it turns out this thing is strong too, then what does that make you, huh? A bigger fool than I thought."

Wind Dragon knew deep down he was spouting nonsense, but Lu Chen had already latched onto his words. With no way to win the argument and the little planet unable to speak in its own defense, it naturally became the target of Wind Dragon's growing frustration.

Lu Chen knew Wind Dragon was joking, but to give him a way out, he played along and acted like he was seriously trying. "Alright then, I might as well give it a try. We don't have any other way in anyway."

He picked up the little planet and began asking it a series of questions.

To his surprise, the little planet seemed to understand. It let out a soft cry, turned around, and leapt down to the floor.

Lu Chen raised a brow. "Did it actually understand?"

He then smirked. "Wind Dragon, you really know your stuff."

Wind Dragon was genuinely surprised by what he saw. He figured he must have guessed right and shamelessly accepted the step down that Lu Chen offered. "Hmm? Didn't I say it'd work?"

Unwilling to appear weak, he kept up a dignified posture and didn't forget to jab back at Lu Chen with words. "See, I do know more than you. Little Lu, let me tell you something. Just because you've come into contact with some secrets doesn't mean you should show off. In the end, it's time and experience that matter."

"Yes, yes, I hear you loud and clear," Lu Chen replied without much thought, eyes still locked on Egghead, afraid he might miss even a single movement.

Egghead picked up a twig and began moving it along the ground. First, it pointed at the core essence floating above its head, then pointed at itself.

Next, it drew two stick figures and gestured to Lu Chen and Wind Dragon.

"Is that supposed to be us?" Lu Chen stared at the drawing, carefully interpreting. "Do you mean... you want us to give you the core essence?"

The little planet cried out excitedly, emitting a series of squeaks and clearly thrilled that Lu Chen was following along.

Then, it used the twig to draw five small circles and one large one. It pointed at the smaller circles, then at the core essence floating above. After that, it gestured to the large circle and finally to itself.

After doing all that, it looked up at Lu Chen with anticipation. "Squeak..."

Lu Chen took in all its gestures and slowly nodded. "You mean we need to find all five types of core essence for you?"

As soon as he said that, the little planet quickly connected the two stick figures to the large circle. Inside the large circle, it drew the same two figures again.

Seeing that, Lu Chen finally understood the general idea.

Back when the face transformed the planet into a jade token, it must've also programmed certain instructions into the planet's will.

When Lu Chen asked how to enter the planet, it began guiding him, telling him that entry would be possible only after gathering the core essence of all five elements.

Lu Chen reached out and poked the little planet. "Egghead, so if we do as you say, we can get in?"

The little planet bounced and spun with joy, clearly excited that Lu Chen understood what it was trying to say. "Squeak, squeak!"

Wind Dragon watched the little planet twirling and hopping about, and his face grew darker. Seeing how close Lu Chen was getting to Egghead, he couldn't help but feel his status was in danger.

He tilted his head and muttered with a strange tone, "This little thing's quite charming... and pretty intelligent too. I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes a formidable force someday. And you, if you can understand it now, then maybe you're destined to become someone truly powerful too."

"Pfft!" Lu Chen couldn't help but laugh, accidentally blowing a puff of air right at the little planet. "That was a bit sour, don't you think?"

The little planet swung its twig at Lu Chen, clearly displeased. "Squeak..."

Lu Chen quickly offered it a small ball of spirit qi and mocked Wind Dragon, "Seriously, Wind Dragon? Even an egghead like this isn't safe from your envy?"

Wind Dragon snapped at Lu Chen, "You... What do you know?"

He turned away and refused to look at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen seized the opportunity and ran up to him. "Aw, are you mad? Haha, I knew it. The rumors about dragons being jealous are true after all."

"Hmph... Who says dragons are jealous? I just can't stand you."

Flustered by Lu Chen's teasing, Wind Dragon quickly changed the subject. "Let's go. There's no way into this place for now anyway. We should head out to find Flame Demon."

"Leave? Fine, we've been here long enough anyway. We should hurry and meet up with Nantian Yijian and the others."

At the mention of Nantian Yijian, Lu Chen's eyelids twitched, and a wave of unease crept into his heart.

He decided to pack up and take Egghead with him, setting off as soon as possible to reunite with Nantian Yijian.

1. This is an expression of ironic defeat. It's Wind Dragon's way of saying that despite being wise, powerful, and experienced, he was bested in a petty, almost laughable way by someone far younger and less experienced. ☜