Volume One: First Steps on the Path Chapter One: The Mysterious Egg

"The remaining time for this trial is half an hour." A cold electronic voice echoed through the air. This was a space seemingly detached from reality—dark and silent, its primary hues.

Boom! Suddenly, a violent crash shattered the stillness, injecting a breath of life into the quiet. The tumult was relentless, thunderous roars one after another. In the direction of the sound, a man's silhouette was locked in fierce battle. His adversary was shrouded in dense black mist, their form indistinguishable. The fight appeared to be nearing its end: the man was panting heavily, while the shadow before him seemed on the verge of collapse.

Then, as if he had spotted a weakness, a glimmer flashed in the man's eyes. He raised his fist, focusing all his strength, and charged at the mist. "Break!" The shadow surged to block him, but the man paid no heed, pouring every ounce of his energy into his blow.

After a prolonged struggle, the black mist could barely hold itself together. Against the man's full-force punch, any resistance was futile. At last, the mist lost the force that sustained it, disintegrating in a swift, unstoppable tide. At that moment, the cold electronic voice sounded again: "Congratulations on completing the challenge. You have obtained the trial reward—‘Mysterious Egg’!"

A flash of white light. A golden egg, the size of a human head, floated in the air.

The man, as if liberated, fell backward and lay on the ground. "What the hell? I fought so hard for half a day, and my reward is an egg? Not even a name for it? Is it a dragon egg, a phoenix egg, vermilion bird, unicorn, white tiger, black tortoise—surely it should have a name? Mysterious Egg? Mysterious what?" The electronic voice in the space seemed oblivious to his frantic complaints—perhaps it heard, but chose to ignore him.

The man waited a moment; just as he expected, there was no reply. He wore a knowing expression—just as he thought: "Useless system. The day I completely master this place, you'll call me daddy, and it must be in a cute voice!" With this in mind, he rolled over and began inspecting his reward. "What use is this egg? Can it really hatch something? But I don't know how to hatch eggs—I'm not a mother hen!" he grumbled anxiously.

"Wait, that's not right. I might have a solution. How could I forget the properties of this space?" He called out, "Useless system, I know you can hear me. Make me an egg incubator, and fast!"

The electronic voice replied, "Please address me by my name, Dreamsource. Secondly, I am not useless—I am your most reliable companion." The man responded, "Yeah, sure. You know perfectly well how unreliable you are." "I do not." "Get lost." "Very well. Then you'll have to make the incubator yourself. Good night." "No, wait, I was wrong—Dreamsource, daddy!" "Beginning production. Please wait."

Ha, you beast, just you wait.

As the system, Dreamsource, began crafting the incubator, the man glanced about the space. "Hey, Dreamsource, I think my control over this place has grown a bit stronger." Before him, a virtual screen appeared, displaying: "Working, do not disturb." He chuckled bitterly—no matter the request, one must smile through tears.

Fine, keep busy. I'll try myself. "Sunlight!" As if responding to his words, the space began to transform. The darkness receded in an instant, and a realm that had long been shrouded in night was suddenly bright as day. The sudden sunlight made him shut his eyes instinctively. After a moment, he adjusted and opened them, delighting in the change he had wrought. "Dreamsource, Dreamsource! Quick, tell me my current control progress."

The virtual screen reappeared: "Space control progress—20%."

His joy plummeted at the sight. Two years, and only twenty percent? How long before this useless system calls him daddy—a lifetime? He mused quietly. "It's been two years already. Since then, has there been a single day I didn't train here? Seems not. Time…" He recalled a phrase: "Life passes like a fleeting horse shadow, gone in a blink." "Old man, it's been so long. Do you still remember you have a disciple?"

He remembered arriving here two years ago. An elderly man with snow-white hair, eccentric and enigmatic, had spoken: "Endless sky, cycles of lifetimes. Ultimately, one cannot escape fate. So be it. I now accept this thread of karma. May you sever your worldly ties in days to come."

"From today, you are my disciple. I am a free spirit, unconcerned with ritual. Call me Master, and our bond is sealed." Lost and unfamiliar with his surroundings, he had called out "Master" almost unconsciously. The old man laughed heartily: "Good, good! I have other matters to attend to and cannot guide your training. This Void Mirage and the Void Guidance Technique are yours. You will teach yourself. When your cultivation is complete, we shall meet again." Bewildered, he watched the old man depart. Two years had passed, and the old man hadn't even told him what constituted completion. He wondered if others had masters, and if they too were so unreliable. What to do with an unreliable master? Seeking answers urgently!

"Your incubator has been completed. Please check it." The sudden electronic voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Is it ready? Let me see." A machine with a transparent lid appeared before him. Its design prompted him to ask, "Dreamsource, since when did you adopt this technological style?" The thing looked revolutionary—cutting-edge, really. Besides the incubation chamber, it had several buttons. "Who says only animals can hatch eggs? Look at this—cool!"

"Alright, time to test it," he said, opening the lid, placing the egg inside, closing it, and pressing the 'start incubation' button. The transparent cover flashed, and words appeared: "Name: Mysterious Egg. Estimated incubation time: three months."

"???" The man was speechless with surprise. "Well done, Dreamsource. I promise never to call you useless again." "Alright, I'll leave it here to hatch."

Having settled the matter of the egg, the man yawned, suddenly feeling sleepy. "I'm exhausted. Time for bed. Tomorrow I have to report in. Good night." "Good night." Swept away by drowsiness, he failed to notice that this time, the voice held less coldness, sounding almost human.

"Two years… Tomorrow begins a new chapter. Will it be different? Who knows—only time will tell."