"So, young man," Lu said, stroking his beard, "this is how we'll do it. One of us poses a question, and we both discuss it. Then the other gets their turn. At the end of both rounds, we vote on who made the stronger case."
'Simple enough. It's basically intellectual sparring. I like this guy already.'
"Alright," Haku nodded. "You're the guest, feel free to go first."
Lu chuckled heartily. "Hahaha! Confident, are we? Very well, I accept. Here's my question."
He gestured to Cinder. "We've been traveling in search of a method to fully absorb the energy from a dragon core. Legend says that in ancient times, this very world discovered a way to extract all of it, without any waste. What do you think of that claim?"
Cinder glanced sharply at Lu, then back at Haku.'Master, what are you thinking? Even you don't know the answer to that. And this mortal...?'
Haku folded his arms and thought for a moment.'Okay… I still don't know what a dragon core is. Probably a power source? If they can fly, it might be similar to an energy reactor or propulsion system. Either way, full efficiency is impossible. This is basic physics.'
"I'm sorry to say this," Haku began calmly, "but you might be chasing a myth."
Lu raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why's that?"
"In theory, sure, it sounds possible. But the problem lies in the process. You can't create or destroy energy, only convert it. That conversion always comes with loss."
Lu leaned in, intrigued. Cinder narrowed her eyes.
'He's stalling. Bluffing, clearly. There's no way he knows more than the sages of old. Just look at him, he's probably never even cultivated.'
"To put it simply," Haku continued, "take a campfire. You burn wood. That stored energy becomes light, heat, and movement. But you don't use all of it. Some goes up in smoke—literally. That waste is inevitable."
The room fell silent.
Lu sat back, eyes thoughtful. Then, finally, spoke:"So… the ancient texts lied."
Cinder jumped up, nearly knocking over another bottle. "What?! Master, are you saying energy is always lost?"
Haku gave a quiet chuckle. "Not lost. Just… transformed into forms we can't use. The concept is simple, but the implications run deep."
Lu gave Haku a long, measured look, then nodded solemnly."You've made your point. Cinder, he's right. Energy is never truly lost, just diverted. This is knowledge I never even considered. I concede the round to you, Sir Haku."
'Sir Haku? Well, I'll take that promotion, thanks.'
Lu sat up straighter. "Now it's your turn. Ask your question."
Haku smiled, sensing an opportunity. "Alright then. Building on what we just discussed… if energy can't be created or destroyed, what does that tell you about the universe?"
Cinder blinked. Lu's eyes narrowed.
'A question about the Dao? To pose something so fundamental to a cultivator... is he testing me?'
Lu closed his eyes and murmured, "If energy has always existed… then perhaps the physical world is the temporary manifestation. Energy is the constant."
Haku leaned forward. "Exactly. So now… what do you, this table, the stars, and the flame have in common?"
Lu opened his eyes, and they sparkled with revelation."We're all made of the same thing, just different arrangements. Matter turns into energy, energy into matter. The cycle never ends."
Suddenly, golden light erupted from Lu's body. His features shifted—wrinkles smoothing, hair darkening, his form growing younger and more regal by the second.
Haku stared, mouth agape.'What the actual hell…? Is he… transforming?'
"Master is ascending!" Cinder shouted, stunned. "He's breaking through to the next realm!"
As the light faded, Lu, now a man in his prime, stood before Haku and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your wisdom, great one. I was blind until this moment. You've opened the path forward."
Cinder, Alexander, and Haku thought the same thing simultaneously:'Did he just call him a GOD?'
"If it's not too forward," Lu asked humbly, "may I ask what brings a being like you here?"
'Okay, Haku. Breathe. You've read this in webnovels before. But why couldn't it be a sci-fi world with laser swords? Nooo… it had to be a cultivation world with glowing sages and existential crises.'
"I… inherited this place," Haku said slowly. "If I hadn't taken over, it would've been torn down."
He gave a half-shrug. "Simple as that."
Lu nodded gravely. "Then this place is truly sacred. I shall tell my sect of its importance. Thank you again, Master Haku. We must depart now. I need time to stabilize my new realm."
He turned to Cinder. "Come. Let's leave the great one to his peace."
The door opened on its own as they stepped out, then, with a shimmer of golden energy, vanished into the skies.
Haku stayed seated, wiping sweat from his brow.'Okay… so no flying machines. That was something else. Definitely… not a sci-fi world.'
Elsewhere…
"Master," Cinder whispered as they soared through the sky, "was that really… a god?"
Lu didn't answer immediately. He stared at the horizon, deep in thought.
"He must be. And if I'm right… He's here because this world is nearing its end. Even with every major sect combined, I thought salvation was impossible. But now… now we have a chance."
He smiled softly."He refused to speak of history, probably because it's his history. He was giving me a chance to catch up. Truly, this is the greatest blessing our sect has had since its founding."
Cinder lowered her gaze. "I hope I didn't offend him…"