The pale golden orb hovered before Xiao Chen, its shifting halo revealing a measure of helplessness and gravity.
Xiao Chen looked dubiously at the orb before him, which called itself the plane spirit. He remained skeptical of everything it had said.
After all, he had no idea what the Command Block usually did. Even his use of the Command Block was passive.
As for whether the Command Block really was secretly devouring the Douluo Plane's origin, as the plane spirit claimed, he did not know either.
Even if he knew, there was nothing he could do with his current abilities.
But there was one thing he did know: his control over the Command Block was indeed improving over time, which seemed to line up with what the plane spirit had said.
Everything came at a price, but that price did not necessarily fall on oneself.
His control over the Command Block had improved, but the price was probably that the Douluo Plane was close to being devoured.
That had to be it. The Command Block was probably devouring the Douluo Plane, but the awkward part was that this, too, was passive. He could not stop it.
He took a deep breath, suppressed his tangled thoughts, looked up at the orb before him, and slowly asked:
"So you came to me because you want me to resolve this planar crisis you mentioned?"
As soon as Xiao Chen spoke, the room fell silent again. The orb's halo dimmed slightly, as though somewhat forlorn.
Only after a long while did that aged voice sound again, carrying a measure of heaviness and helplessness. "...That's right."
Xiao Chen frowned at the plane spirit. Had it run out of options, coming to me?
You've got the Douluo Plane's Plane Origin, at least, haven't you?
Although he did not know how much the plane spirit had reclaimed, surely it was better equipped than him to resolve the planar crisis, no matter how he looked at it.
"Aren't you overestimating me a little? I'm a ten-year-old Soul Master, and you expect me to resolve a crisis that threatens the survival of an entire plane?"
He knew perfectly well how much he weighed, and he had both seen and heard how powerful the Command Block was.
It had devoured Tang San's divine consciousness without hesitation and attacked Tang Hao, the Plane Master, without a second thought. What could he do on his own?
Wait until I gain control of the Command Block? How amusing. By the time I've gained control, the Douluo Plane will be finished too.
In any case, he could not control the Command Block at present, let alone make it stop devouring the Plane Origin.
Upon hearing Xiao Chen's doubts, the orb trembled slightly, and that aged voice sounded again:
"Do you know about the power within you? The power that is on the verge of destroying Douluo."
Xiao Chen's gaze shifted slightly at those words, and he made no attempt to hide it. "My Martial Soul, the Command Block."
He paused, then added, "I don't know whether the power you're talking about is that, but I can say for certain that I can't add any new Soul Rings to it. It should be the power you mean."
Although he could not be sure whether the plane spirit was telling the truth, an adaptation was not a license to fabricate, and a playful retelling was not a license to spout nonsense. Even if the plane spirit wanted to deceive him, surely it needed some basis in reality.
Judging by the plane spirit's concerns and the Command Block's abilities, the planar crisis most likely did exist.
The orb's halo instantly began fluctuating violently. It seemed entirely unfamiliar with the name "Command Block," yet also held a measure of apprehension. That voice asked again, with some urgency and unease:
"Child, can you control it... rein in this power and make it stop eroding the plane?"
At those words, Xiao Chen shook his head without hesitation, blunt and decisive. "No."
He was not lying. Even now, he could not fully control the Command Block's power.
Even when he used it, he was not actively wielding it. He simply summoned the Command Block and left it to do the work itself.
At most, he could call out the Command Block to "handle things on his behalf." He could not reach its core at all, much less command it to stop devouring the Plane Origin.
If he had been able to control the Command Block from the start, he would have killed Tang Hao long ago.
As his words fell, the room sank into deathly silence once again. The orb's halo dimmed completely, as though it had fallen into despair.
Xiao Chen watched the orb before him and said nothing more. The two remained silent, neither knowing what to say for the moment.
Only after a long while did the plane spirit's voice sound again, weary and unwilling to give up, its tone complicated as it asked:
"Child, do you think you will be the Douluo Plane's savior? A saint, a noble..."
Before it could finish, Xiao Chen interrupted it. His tone was utterly calm, without the slightest ripple, as he said bluntly, "Probably not."
He was merely telling the truth. He did not consider himself particularly noble, much less a saint.
His goal was simple: cultivate in peace, then do as he pleased once his cultivation reached great heights.
As for becoming a savior, that's a bit of a dark joke, folks. His Martial Soul had caused this planar crisis in the first place. If responsibility truly had to be assigned, he could hardly escape blame.
Surely they couldn't strip me of my Martial Soul? What a joke. I'd be the first to object.
The Command Block was indeed devouring the Douluo Plane, but he was benefiting too. His control over the Command Block really was improving.
The plane spirit was utterly speechless. It had not expected Xiao Chen to be so blunt, making no attempt to conceal his thoughts, and for a moment, it did not know how to respond.
Forget it. This is fine too. At least he's quite straightforward. He doesn't seem like Tang San or Huo Yuhao.
After another brief silence, the plane spirit slowly spoke, compromise in its voice:
"Then surely you can at least make a deal and keep your word."
Xiao Chen's gaze shifted slightly at those words. "That's no problem. I never break my word to others."
If others don't betray me, I won't betray them.
The plane still faced a crisis. If reaching an agreement with the plane spirit could help resolve it, there was no harm in it for him. Besides, the Command Block was what had caused this planar crisis in the first place.
If the deal was reasonable, he would agree. If not, the plane spirit could resolve it itself.
The orb flickered slightly, and that aged voice slowly spoke with a measure of self-mockery:
"Then I'll be frank. Even if you agree today and break the agreement later, I most likely won't be able to do anything to you."
"So I can only trust your moral standards. This deal rests entirely on your keeping your word."
Xiao Chen was instantly rather dumbfounded. He had not expected the plane spirit to be so direct, much less that this fellow lacked even the ability to restrain him.
As though seeing through Xiao Chen's confusion, the plane spirit spoke again, its tone somewhat helpless:
"Because you possess that power-the Command Block, as you call it-I dare not touch you. I probably won't have the ability to do so in the future either."
"This power is not something the Douluo Plane can rival. I cannot contend with it, much less restrain you."
"It should be passively, spontaneously devouring the Douluo Plane. If I dare touch you and draw its attention to me, I'll be finished too..."
After hearing that, Xiao Chen inwardly grumbled. This plane spirit really has no clout. Or rather, the Command Block has far too much.
He had originally thought the plane spirit might have some hidden trump card, or a way to suppress the Command Block's power. Now it seemed he had been overthinking things.
"Go on. Tell me about the deal."
"As long as it's reasonable, I'll agree."
Xiao Chen steadied himself and motioned for the plane spirit to continue. He, too, wanted to know exactly what sort of deal it hoped to make with him.
The orb slowly swirled, its pale golden halo softening once more as the plane spirit slowly said:
"Let me first explain our respective situations. First, I cannot contend with your Command Block, not even if I join forces with Tang Hao. Besides, there is no way I would join forces with him."
"Tang Hao seized more than half the Plane Origin for no reason. He and I cannot live under the same sky, so joining forces is out of the question. Moreover, he has already fallen unconscious."
"Second, my goal is simple: to let the Douluo Plane continue existing in peace. The Douluo Plane cannot withstand any more upheaval. I lack the ability to resolve this crisis and can only pin my hopes on you."
"If the plane collapses, not only I, but every living being across the entire Douluo Continent could be reduced to nothing."
"Finally, from my observations, you should be the Command Block's master. If that is the case, I hope you can gain control over it in the future and make it stop devouring the Douluo Plane. That is all."
"I am not asking you to become the Douluo Plane's savior either. I only hope you can control this power and restore peace to the Douluo Plane as soon as possible."
After hearing the plane spirit's words, Xiao Chen fell silent once more. There was simply too much information. He needed a moment...
Before you continue