But for the old predecessors, face is the most crucial thing, and stubbornness is only natural.
Seemingly feeling a bit humiliated, the Batman on the other side said, "Junior, that stronger ability is not invincible... You shouldn't place all your hopes on it."
"After all, it's just a defective product."
Lu Yuan's face immediately lit up with eagerness, and he couldn't wait to ask, "What do you mean? Predecessor, could you share some insider knowledge?"
"Yesterday, we revisited history and saw the brilliance of the predecessors... Truly heroic, so inspirational. Those high-level civilizations, compared to you, weren't all that noble either."
The atmosphere instantly relaxed!
This flattery was... truly perfect, hitting right where it mattered.
People live for a breath, just like trees live for a bark. Their bitter perseverance here wasn't merely for the sake of 'duty,' but because they couldn't swallow their pride.
You fled, but I did not.
Because... I want to win!
They might once have been the elites of civilization, or perhaps cunning individuals. Years of hardship had molded their playful yet cynical personalities.
Now, someone acknowledging that slice of history sincerely boosted the goodwill of the Strangers—they all wore smiles that wouldn't fade, feeling that this junior wasn't so bad and had potential.
The Batman coughed lightly and said, "Stop blindly flattering. We don't need you buttering us up."
"That ability is indeed far stronger than [Steel]."
"But it requires burning one's soul and essence blood. This cost is unbearable in the long term."
"Moreover, don't focus on [Ghost]... If it's purely just [Ghost], it's incapable of causing world destruction."
Lu Yuan pondered for a while and realized: no wonder the strongest ability, [Powerful Wind], was really the synthesis formula of [Steel], [Hurricane], and [Complete Spiritification].
He envisioned a scene: the real [Powerful Wind] would consume soul and blood as fuel, blasting out as a raging storm.
In this way, [Ghost] might quickly be dismantled and sealed.
Indeed, it was incomparably stronger than his own blood-spitting technique.
"Thank you, predecessor... This information is incredibly useful to me."
"Before we leave, you can eat and play well. Whatever resources you need, I'll leave them for you." Confirming the synthesis formula was indeed a valuable trump card, Lu Yuan was grateful to them.
All those old folks nodded.
Then the large Crystal Man shook his head and sighed, "Ah, there's no need for resources. Once you leave, we'll have no choice but to live like dimwits, buried in dirt just to survive."
"It's easy to move from frugality to luxury, but hard to go back."
"Honorable predecessors, have you heard about [Blood Ghost], the mirror [Demon], or the Great Lai Empire?" Lu Yuan asked again.
These were actually high-level secrets among Humans, but their origins had always been a mystery.
Now catching an opportunity , he had to ask thoroughly.
Old Snake Man closed his eyes and contemplated for a while before shaking his head, "Don't assume we know everything. Our memories were all recorded through special means, and they're limited."
"Dragging on till now, we're on the verge of being burned out."
Lu Yuan felt a bit disappointed but wasn't overly disheartened: "Predecessors, just do your best."
The truth of history was really like looking at flowers through a mist; sometimes, you had to guess.
"The Great Lai Empire... seems familiar... it should be from the Sixth Epoch." Unexpectedly, the large Crystal Man picked up a stone, popped it into his mouth, and crunched it like eating peanuts.
"The Sixth Epoch was the strongest epoch among the first eight epochs."
"The Great Lai Empire might have been the peak civilization in other epochs, but in the Sixth Epoch, it was far inferior... Relics of the Great Lai Empire are rare, so its reputation isn't well-known. But it was still a mighty civilization, with a relatively positive historical evaluation."
"Ah?!" Lu Yuan was taken aback.
Hai Zhiyun had just analyzed yesterday that the Sixth Epoch might be a poor-performing epoch.
But now he'd obtained new information that the Sixth Epoch was the strongest epoch, surpassing even the Fifth Epoch, which created the paths of Mind and Materialism!
What happened in between that caused the Sixth Epoch's legacy to be massively lost, leaving almost nothing behind?
"Sigh... I don't know the specifics. I only know the Great Lai Empire was likely from the Sixth Epoch... As for [Blood Ghost] or mirror [Demon], those I'm unfamiliar with."
The large Crystal Man sighed helplessly and said, "Why, do you possess a relic of the Great Lai Empire?"
Lu Yuan coughed, "To be honest, I do have a [Ghost] head in my possession."
"It's called [Blood Ghost], and it's rather troubling."
As for the mirror [Demon], Lu Yuan didn't reveal any information.
But those words instantly shocked the six Strangers to the core!
In an instant, their old faces turned ghostly pale.
There's a [Ghost] in this small grotto heaven!
If this [Ghost] escapes and fights with [Ghost·Spirit Shrine's Eye], what happens to our centuries-long plan?
This level of shock rivaled the appearance of [Powerful Wind], like a high-explosive bomb detonating in their hearts.
One by one, they looked around nervously—some raised their scales, some sniffed uncontrollably, and some even began divination in an attempt to sense where that [Blood Ghost] was confined!
Lu Yuan noticed their reaction and quickly thumped his chest hard: "Predecessors, don't worry. That entity is already sealed and can't escape anytime soon."
"Rest assured, I promise on my honor!"