"Protect the Egg!"

"The egg shall be protected!"

"The egg's survival is a must!"

"Be careful! Don't break the egg!"

He never thought that the first order he must commit was to deal with protecting an egg. 

What egg? How will his family know? 

Lang Yuan was suddenly transferred to an unknown world without notice and while in a daze at what the hell was happening to him, he was pushed towards the chaos of people. Everyone is trampling, trying to form a human barrier while surrounding a square glass casket. 

Inside the square glass casket is an egg the size of an ostrich, which is yellowish with little red spots, and is wrapped in what seems to be fine silk, littered with golden runes and mystical symbols. 

As to why it seems that these people are worshipping this single egg, Lang Yuan has no idea. His little knowledge about human religion and what-not only valued a cent, but this does not mean that he's stupid.

Humans tend to make a religion out of a human being or a figure that brought salvation to a lot of people in times of unfavorable conditions akin to saving humanity. Or at least made some heaven-defying contribution that lead to a large-scale development that can be proudly written as part of human history. 

While some animals are also accounted for since idols and gods could not only be limited to a human form. There are many stories related to the world's creation or any pseudo-spiritual intervention that took animal forms that most often than not are utilized as guides. 

In history, it has been said that Egyptians worship cats, and even some Asian countries treat animals as gods or messengers. 

But he never heard of an egg religion, the egg worshippers.

Though, when he thought about it, maybe there was something inside the egg. Like an heir or a god-like creature that can be a descendant of some funny-cracking god who likes to watch people's lives as if treating it as a soap opera. That's reasonable. 

And once the god is bored, yes bored watching people, decided to have some fun and dropped a bomb - like this unknown egg - to create chaos. It sounds ridiculous but aren't gods fond of doing troublesome things?

If that's the case, then, Lang Yuan could only curse his bad luck. 

Who would ever think that after dying an unspeakable death, he will be sacrificing his life again to protect an egg? And whatever egg it is, what is his relevance towards it? It's not that he is the one who laid it, right?

Lang Yuan wasn't given time to contemplate as he was dropped right in the middle of the war. No matter how much he wants to just walk away and forget everything about this "egg protecting" scheme, he will either be pulled by those people back inside the formation or be pushed by the incoming reinforcements. 

Our family's poor little jade could only do nothing but follow the flow!

After being dragged by the flow of the tide, Lang Yuan somehow managed to land at the side of the glass casket. He was actually pushed towards the casket, his face funny, flattened unto the surface looking like a pressed pig. His nose was crushed in between sobs, and Lang Yuan is actually kissing the glass ah!

You, you... Stop pushing! Can't you see that he's becoming a pancake? ( •̀ㅁ•́;)

But who will listen to him anyway? And can even our little brother, no - even if he is a big brother, how could a single man without power or ability stop this mob of angry people? As a modern man who never encountered something dangerous, and possesses a meek personality, Lang Yuan could only silently cry. 

So the family's jade could only do nothing but let himself follow the flow and pushed himself slightly off to the glass to at least keep some space to breathe and not completely destroy his face by completely flattening it through the glass.

The people keep on pushing in when suddenly a loud bang reverberated. The ground shook in terror accompanied by a thousand steps coming in their direction. The people forming the human barrier yelled while hastily tightening the formation. This time, Lang Yuan can no longer resist with his meager strength and was pushed toward the glass.

Surprisingly, the glass did not break; not even a crack can be discerned. But Lang Yuan was shoved inside, passing through the glass as if it was a membrane. In an instant, he found himself standing inside the glass casket. 

Lang Yuan: "..."

The people are busy protecting the egg that they didn't notice a young man appearing inside the glass casket. Lang Yuan also didn't much have a reaction at first since he is too stunned by the sudden entrance. He only came to his senses when the glass casket shook from all the movements coming from the outside. 

He tried pushing the glass outwards lightly, wondering if he could pass through it like before but the casket seemed to solidify after his entry. He then tried knocking on it harder, then kicking it, until he resorted to punching but the glass didn't budge. 

It became hard as hell. 

Lang Yuan tried yelling help in hopes of getting others' attention but it seems like the casket is subduing his voice. No matter what he does, nobody noticed him. Lang Yuan found it funny. These people are barricading this glass casket like a treasure yet they didn't have someone guard it visually.

Are they not afraid that I will steal their egg?

It was only afterward when one of the people on the side of the casket found Lang Yuan banging into the glass while calling a soundless voice. This person was shocked and hurriedly pulled the person beside him to look at the object he was pointing at. This second person also has the same reaction and pinched a few comrades to look at the glass casket.

The crowd suddenly became silent looking at the young petite boy inside the casket. The egg is still in the middlemost part, safely tucked in. The chaos that seem to have no end fell into a deadly quietness. Lang Yuan stopped the banging and lowered his head, wanting to dig a hole and hide.

It's good they noticed him but it's really awkward to be looked at with such many people. And with the effect of the glass casket, it is as if they are watching over a specimen. 

In the middle of the petrified crowd, one man forced his way towards the glass casket. The said man has an imposing aura around him, don in distinct dark clothing printed with a symbol of dancing clouds over the lofty mountains, and a jade crest hanging on his belt. A frown was formed on his thick eyebrows as he looked at Lang Yuan with obvious disdain. 

One look is enough to know that this person is an official or someone with a high rank. 

The man unsheathed his sword and pointed it toward Lang Yuan. It carried out a force that made the other people cower and fall to their knees. The overwhelming aura reached Lang Yuan but unlike the people outside the casket, it didn't force him to kneel. The glass casket seems to be protecting him from it. 

"The Egg belongs to Mistress Ying Mei! I order you to go out and receive your punishment!"

Lang Yuan: "..." (・_・;) 

Wha-what? 

Why does he need to receive punishment? 

He is not even claiming the egg, and it wasn't his fault that he was inside the casket. Why is he being persecuted? Shouldn't this man ask him first why he is inside the casket than suddenly accusing him?

But unknown to Lang Yuan is the origin of the egg. What seems to be a glass casket is an impenetrable barrier erected by the egg itself. Nobody can touch and harm the egg, not even the highest cultivators unless the egg will do so. To have Lang Yuan enter the barrier means that the egg somehow favors him.

"I will say it once again, remove yourself from the egg and receive the punishment!"

"That's unreasonable," Lang Yuan cried. 

He really wanted to leave from here, from this casket, he would even give them the egg if they want it. But it can't really be done since the glass is difficult to break. And what's with the punishment? Are they seriously using this tactic to make him surrender?

Minister Jiang XeXun only looked at him, his brows creasing. It seems that Lang Yuan can hear them from the outside but the barrier is stopping them to hear what he is saying. Lang Yuan is like a fish, bobbing his mouth open and close with no volume, a mute towards their ears.

Lang Yuan noticed their expressions. 

He has been telling everyone that he didn't force his way inside but instead sucked in when he was pushed too much by the men. He also told them to help him break the glass, will even leave the egg to them if they really wanted it. 

Lang Yuan dedicated the last part of his hope to ask for forgiveness but instead received no reaction from the crowd. His face paled. He's totally oblivious that nobody can hear his words.

Minister Jiang XeXun is not a patient man. He doesn't like stalling time and would rather actually act than wait for later. He also hated people who didn't know their places. Like Lang Yuan, for example. He warned him twice but the young man didn't heed. Now he will bring his punishment.

The sword of Minister Jiang XeXun is a Celestial sword. It is said as one of the few swords that has a god-like spiritual value. The sword has consciousness and will choose its master instead, regardless of whatever level its master has. 

To own a Celestial sword is like a mortal being granted to become a god by the heavens.

It is true that no one can easily penetrate the barrier of the egg. But if the status is of a higher realm then breaking it would be an easy job. And as how this egg is still in its premature state, the offspring that will be born from it is still weaker by leagues from the adult one. 

A minister who is considered one of the strongest cultivators of the five empires can still break the barrier, especially since he's using a Celestial blade that is stronger than the cute little egg.

Lang Yuan was surprised when Minister Jiang XeXun leaped onto his front in a flicker, so fast that all he can see is the after image. The minister raised his sword and perform a slash, wounding Lang Yuan's arm when he was still leaning toward the glass. He quickly took a step back, stumbled from the cloth around the egg, and fell down beside it.

His wounded arm landed on the egg using it as a support. Lang Yuan knows that even though eggs are fragile, this one that is larger than his head must be sturdier than the smaller eggs. So leaning on it for support should not break the shell.

Lang Yuan cried from the pain. For a modern man, violence is something that is somehow contained in his world. Nobody will hurt you and the police will always be keeping everyone protected. Maybe there are brawls happening under the table but those are done in secret and both parties agreed with it. 

To be slashed by a heavenly sword isn't really common in his world...

The young man didn't notice it but the egg that was smeared with his blood emitted a soft glow. It slowly sucked in the blood from the shell as if feeding itself some food. Everyone is too busy watching Lang Yuan and was too late to realize that the sleeping creature inside the egg has woken up.

After slashing the barrier only Minister Jiang XeXun realized his mistake. 

Even though breaking the barrier is easy for the level of his sword, the barrier won't be called 'impenetrable' if it can break easily. Its restoring capability is faster than light, so when the blade of the sword broke it, another array emerged from nowhere and quickly sealed it before anyone can enter.

Not only that. It seems that his hasty action caused the creature to wake up from receiving its first blood.

The minister is now more eager to kill this unknown young man. Lang Yuan is wearing their sect's uniform, which means that he's part of the minority. The minister has no way to know everyone in his sect, except if they are of the higher class or have the talent to be noticed. This guy must be a new recruit with only a faint talent for cultivation.

Tsk. Their sect is not this scarce of people that they even accepted such a low-level disciple.

He wanted to pursue Lang Yuan when the egg glowed evidently. The ground suddenly shook, losing everyone's balance. Lang Yuan quickly extracted his bleeding arm away from the egg. He stood up but was pulled down again when the ground shook with higher severity.

Nobody knows what caused it to happen but the glass casket suddenly flew up in the sky. The object catapulted itself from the ground, taking its 'mother' away from these violent people, and looking for a perfect place where it can properly hatch.

---

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