Chapter 3: Echoes of the Past

The morning after the Earth Dragon Clan departed, Sol and Kaslo finally dispelled the ancient magical barrier protecting the ruins. Upon entering the passage, Mels and the others quickly discovered that the interior was merely a small space, with no trace of a magic circle.

After a careful inspection, Sol confidently stated there were no traces of special elemental power—the kind left behind by magical teleportation! Sol’s answer finally dashed Mels and the others’ hopes. Although they had once again lost their chance to reach the Federal Continent, Mels and his companions were not disheartened, as the appearance of the Earth Dragon Clan had given them a new opportunity.

However, before the Earth Dragon Clan warriors returned, Mels and the others had more important matters to attend to…

“Everyone, what exactly did you call me here for?” Kaslo asked, feigning ignorance as he walked into the tent.

“Stop pretending! Who are you really? Why are you traveling with us?” Sha Luo demanded.

In truth, this gathering of Mels and the others to “interrogate” Kaslo was entirely Sha Luo’s idea. Although Mels did not want to force Kaslo to reveal his secrets, after seeing the Two-headed Dragon, he could no longer suppress his curiosity. Thus, with some reluctance, he agreed to Sha Luo’s suggestion, deciding to get to the bottom of things before the Earth Dragon Clan arrived.

“Brother Mels, Miss Sha Luo, what are you talking about? I don’t understand what you mean,” Kaslo said innocently.

“Kaslo, we really don’t want to pressure you—it’s just…” Mels said awkwardly, turning his gaze to Sha Luo. Though he didn’t say it outright, even someone as slow on the uptake as Kaslo knew that Sha Luo must have been behind this, and he shot her a displeased look.

“That’s right—it was me who insisted Brother Mels call you here! Hmph! Ever since I joined you all, I’ve noticed that among everyone, you’re the only one who’s always mysterious. During every battle, you hang back at the rear, never revealing your true strength.

That’s not all. Ever since we discovered the ruins a few days ago, your eyes have been completely different from before—like a bandit spotting treasure, filled with greed and impatience! We’re in a strange land now, facing all sorts of dangers every day. I don’t want to watch my back around someone I can’t trust!” Sha Luo glared, speaking without reservation.

Staring intently at Sha Luo for a good while, Kaslo suddenly let out a long sigh and said, “Miss Sha Luo, I admit I had my own reasons for deliberately getting close to Brother Mels, but I can assure you that no matter what my intentions are, I would never harm you or Brother Mels! You are my companions; I have no reason to help those beast-folk or future people of the Federation hurt you! Besides, Brother Mels said before that as long as we don’t do anything to harm our companions, he would never pry into our secrets! Miss Sha Luo, forgive my bluntness—but are you really here just to avenge Lord Xiu Lante?”

“I…” Kaslo’s words were so forceful that Sha Luo was momentarily left speechless.

Seeing things heating up between Sha Luo and Kaslo, Mels didn’t want to widen the rift between his companions any further. He stood up and said to both of them, “Alright, let’s not argue anymore. Everyone has their own secrets. Since no one is willing to share them, let time slowly unravel them. I believe that both of you are my companions and would never do anything to harm each other.”

Originally, Mels just wanted to mediate and prevent the conflict from intensifying. Unexpectedly, Sha Luo gritted her teeth and loudly said to Kaslo, “Kaslo, if I come clean about my secret, will you honestly tell us everything?”

“Heh, not necessarily. If you only tell me some trivial thing, I’d be getting the short end of the stick,” Kaslo tilted his head, teasing Sha Luo with a playful tone.

“A disciple of the Celestial Sword Sect values honor above all else! Since I’ve promised, I won’t go back on my word!” Sha Luo declared.

Hearing Sha Luo’s firm tone and earnest gaze, Kaslo hesitated for a moment before finally clenching his teeth and saying, “Fine—my secret isn’t that big of a deal to you all anyway. After you finish, I’ll tell you. Heh, Miss Sha Luo, I’m actually quite interested in you, you know.” With that, Kaslo walked past Sha Luo with a cheeky grin and casually took a seat.

Though disgusted by Kaslo’s flippant attitude, Sha Luo suppressed her dissatisfaction, took a deep breath, and turned to face Mels. “Brother Mels, you all must know that the Celestial Sword Sect was founded by the Patriarch, the Celestial Swordsman, right?”

Mels and the others nodded slightly. At that moment, everyone except Akafir sensed that Sha Luo was about to reveal a secret from the Celestial Sword Sect’s history, though they didn’t understand how it related to her personally.

Seeing Mels nod, Sha Luo sighed softly and said, “The Patriarch possessed extraordinary abilities; the martial arts he mastered were beyond anything ordinary people could imagine. For over a decade, he roamed the continent, challenging countless masters. Even those great figures who possessed super Summoned Beasts could only fight him to a draw.

However, over a decade later, the Patriarch suddenly disappeared from the continent! Rumors spread—some said he left out of loneliness, having found no more peerless masters to challenge; others claimed he went into seclusion to cultivate an even stronger martial art. Yet no one knew that the Patriarch had actually been defeated in a single battle, losing all his power and passing away to the divine realm within five days of that fight.”

Hearing this, everyone finally understood why the once supremely powerful Celestial Swordsman had suddenly vanished, and they couldn’t help but show expressions of regret.

Sha Luo, however, didn’t seem to notice their reactions, as if completely immersed in the distant story. In a voice heavy with sorrow, she continued, “After the Patriarch’s defeat, he wouldn’t have died immediately, but in order to pass on the Celestial Sword Sect’s martial arts to his disciples in a short time, he forcibly activated his *qi* and once again performed the peerless divine sword technique, teaching his disciples its essence.

How could he withstand such strain, already burdened by internal injuries? Before his disciples could fully grasp the subtleties of the sword art, the Patriarch was at death’s door. Before passing away, he said, ‘The skill and martial arts of this enemy are beyond what anyone on our continent can match. For self-preservation, you must never lightly speak of avenging your master! One day, when you can journey beyond our shores and learn the essence of the world’s martial arts, only then will you be able to face this enemy! You must remember this!’ After saying this, the Patriarch passed away, departing to the divine realm. In the years that followed, his disciples repeatedly sought information about the person who defeated the Patriarch, but that person seemed to have vanished, never appearing again. After decades of investigation, the sect’s predecessors finally uncovered some fragmentary clues. According to what my master told me on his deathbed, this master who could defeat the Patriarch had traveled from overseas! So when I learned that Brother Mels was planning to sail to the Federation, I wanted to join the voyage. Although my goal isn’t to avenge the Patriarch, I only wish to learn stronger martial arts so that the Celestial Sword Sect can once again command the reverence of the entire continent!”

After listening to Sha Luo’s account, Mels was thoughtful for a moment before asking, puzzled, “I see. Since your intentions are so simple, why couldn’t you explain them to us?”

Hearing Mels’ question, Sha Luo smiled bitterly and said, “Brother Mels, you are a kind and virtuous gentleman, so naturally you find my goals unobjectionable. But do you know how many times our Celestial Sword Sect has faced the danger of annihilation?

On the continent, everyone is obsessed with martial arts, and the prestige of our Celestial Sword Sect has shone brightly for years. Over the generations, no fewer than ten successors have been brutally killed by these so-called martial artists. Among these murderers were their close friends and even their own brothers. Even the closest of people would immediately reveal their狰狞 faces upon learning that a sect predecessor was from the Celestial Sword Sect! If I revealed my secret before confirming Brother Mels’ character, and once we reached the Federation, you all attacked me together for stronger martial arts, how could I defend myself?

Since childhood, I’ve been taught by my master not to easily reveal the secrets of the Celestial Sword Sect. To be honest, that day when I led you all into the Celestial Sword Sect’s training hall, if anyone had shown even a hint of greed, for the survival of my sect, I would have definitely killed you all! Now, having spent so much time with Brother Mels, I have come to deeply admire both his character and his martial prowess, which is why I’ve decided to reveal my secret.”

“Hmm, your approach is actually quite reasonable. After all, everyone thinks differently, and acting cautiously is the best way to protect oneself. Hehehe… But don’t worry—although I also wish to learn stronger martial arts, I understand what fate entails! What is meant to be yours will come to you without scheming; what isn’t yours, even if you kill everyone in the world, you still won’t obtain it!” Mels nodded slightly and said to Sha Luo with a smile.

“Alright, my purpose is now clear. Kaslo, it’s your turn!” Sha Luo said seriously to Kaslo.

After hearing Sha Luo’s words, Kaslo shed his irreverent attitude, stood up, and first bowed respectfully to Sha Luo with clasped hands, saying, “I truly had no idea Miss Sha Luo carried such a heavy responsibility. I deeply apologize for my previous disrespect toward you. I can guarantee with my own integrity that I have absolutely no desire to covet the Celestial Sword Sect’s secret martial arts manuals.”

Hearing Kaslo’s words, Sha Luo was momentarily stunned, then her face flushed slightly as she forced herself to appear composed and said, “Go on—who needs your apology? Just tell me plainly what I want to know.”

Upon hearing Sha Luo’s words, Kaslo once again flashed what he considered his most charming smile, waving his hand gracefully as he said, “Since the lady commands, how dare Kaslo disobey? But to speak of this matter, the story is quite long. I’m afraid you all might lose patience.”

At this point, Kaslo suddenly sensed Sha Luo’s murderous glare, so he coughed twice to cover his embarrassment before continuing, “Everything I told you before was a lie. I’m not a thief at all!”

Hearing Kaslo admit to lying so matter-of-factly, not only was Sha Luo infuriated, but even Mels and the others found it both annoying and amusing. Akafir, who didn’t quite understand human affairs, mumbled while chewing on a piece of fruit, “Lying isn’t good, you know. You shouldn’t lie anymore, or Brother Mels will teach you a lesson.”

“Yes, yes, of course, of course,” Kaslo said, putting on a serious, chastised expression before continuing, “Actually, from the Summoned Beast I possess, you should have guessed my identity roughly. I am indeed the eldest son of Duke Marshok, former commander of the First Holy Knight Legion of the Karanth Empire—Kaslo Marshok!

My purpose in infiltrating your group is simple: to seize the ultra-high technological power of the Federal Continent, use that power to return to Karanth, eliminate all those bastards who harmed my father, and restore the prestige of the Marshok family. That’s it—simple as that!” Although Kaslo made it sound easy, everyone could clearly see the deep-seated hatred in his eyes as he spoke, revealing a tale of bloody vengeance!

Sha Luo might not have known who Duke Marshok of the Karanth Empire was, but Mels, having spent some time in the Relkes Empire’s military, had long heard of Duke Marshok’s fame!

Just like in the Relkes Empire, in every large and small country on the continent, the strongest and most outstanding Summon Warriors would form units, and Duke Marshok was the commander of the Summoned Beast forces in the Karanth Empire. Possessing one of the eighteen holy beasts, Duke Marshok had joined the Karanth Holy Knight Order at sixteen and over the next thirty-plus years fought in hundreds of battles, large and small, earning illustrious military achievements for the Karanth Empire!

However, the straightforward Duke Marshok, despite his outstanding military talent, never understood politics. In the turbulent political struggles, his steadfast support for the orthodox faction finally cost him dearly.

Five years ago, following the sudden death of the Karanth Empire’s emperor, intense political strife erupted between the orthodox faction led by the crown prince and the reformist faction led by the second prince. Originally a military man, Marshok was not meant to become a casualty in this struggle, but due to his firm stance, he quickly became a thorn in the side of the second prince’s faction.

Half a year later, with the crown prince’s sudden “death,” the second prince smoothly ascended the throne. The senior ministers and elders who had supported the crown prince’s position immediately became targets of the new emperor’s suppression. At this point, most of the old ministers chose self-preservation, turning a blind eye to the new emperor’s actions. However, Marshok remained steadfast, repeatedly petitioning the new emperor not to destroy his own pillars of support.

Enraged and humiliated, the new emperor, incited by several treacherous officials, ordered the execution of Marshok’s entire family of over sixty people. Only Kaslo managed to escape. Since then, people on the continent believed the Two-headed Dragon had vanished and the Marshok family had perished.

Knowing these details, Mels understood how heart-wrenching the hatred from such a massacre must be. However, the uninformed Sha Luo still wanted to press further, asking Kaslo why he wanted to eliminate the high-ranking officials and nobles of the Karanth Empire.

Mels certainly wouldn’t allow Sha Luo to wound Kaslo again. As soon as she stood up, he immediately rose and said, “Everyone, it’s getting late. Since we now understand Sha Luo and Kaslo’s purposes for going to the Federation, there’s no need to say more. Let’s adjourn this meeting.”

Hearing Mels call for the meeting to end, Sha Luo was about to protest when Mels’ stern gaze stopped her. Sha Luo wasn’t foolish; upon second thought, she realized Mels must have his reasons for doing this, so she could only suppress her doubts, waiting for a chance to ask Mels later.

“Ah? That’s it? Phew… I thought you’d interrogate me with whips,” Kaslo said, standing up with a teasing laugh before turning to Sha Luo. “Since there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. Miss Sha Luo, aren’t you going to see me off?”

“Go die!” Sha Luo’s face flushed red as she angrily picked up a teacup and threw it at Kaslo. Amidst Kaslo’s loud laughter, she straightened her back and strode out of the tent, disappearing into the vast desert.

Midnight in the desert was exceptionally cold. Under the canopy of stars and moon, Mels walked out of the tent into the chilly wind. At this hour, aside from the necessary guards around the base, there were no signs of life in the desert; even the venomous snakes and scorpions had burrowed into the sand seeking warmth.

Mels had only taken a few steps when he spotted Kaslo standing alone on a large rock near the ruins, gazing up at the bright moon in the sky. His solitary figure, desolate posture, was just like the man himself—dreamlike yet carrying a hint of reality, with deep-seated hatred hidden beneath his smile.

“Kaslo, why aren’t you resting yet?” Mels leaped onto the rock and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Kaslo before speaking.

“Hehe, I’m just emulating the ancients. Look—stars and moon above, the vast desert, me standing alone atop this towering rock—doesn’t it have the air of a great hero?” Kaslo replied with his usual grin.

“The bright moon in the sky certainly holds infinite artistic conception, but with a chest full of hatred, how can one speak lightly of forgetting?” Mels suddenly fixed his gaze on Kaslo, deliberately using profound words as if to force the real Kaslo to emerge.

Under Mels’ piercing gaze, Kaslo quickly yielded. After a long moment, he said with effort, “Brother Mels, you’re truly a good person. You have a broad mind and can let go of hatred, but I can’t—I really can’t! That day, countless soldiers stormed into my home. My father fought desperately but was already severely poisoned, unable to even summon his divine beast. My mother, younger brother, sister, uncles, aunts—they fell one by one before my eyes!

My family has served the Karanth imperial family for generations, expanding the empire’s territory countless times throughout history. What wrong did we commit? Why slaughter dozens of members of my family? Is there truly nothing in this world but brute power? I can’t accept it—I won’t accept it! Since those demons only understand power, then I will possess even greater power than theirs. When that day comes, it will be my time for revenge!”

Seeing Kaslo growing more agitated, Mels gently reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, comforting him as he said calmly, “Do you think I can let go of hatred? I tell you, hatred is like a demon entrenched deep within the soul; no matter how hard you try, you can never shake it off! Come, sit down. Let me tell you a story. Once…”

In Mels’ calm tone, he narrated everything that had happened from his birth up until meeting Kaslo, speaking from a third-person perspective.

At first, Kaslo didn’t listen attentively, but soon he became deeply engrossed in Mels’ “story.” When the tale turned joyful, both laughed heartily; when it turned sorrowful, they grew somber; when it spoke of anger, both gritted their teeth, wishing they could travel through time to change the course of events.

The long night passed quickly. As the dawn light gradually appeared, Mels finally concluded his story. After hearing it all, Kaslo let out a long sigh and said, “I thought I was the most unfortunate person in the world, but I never imagined Brother Mels’ experiences were even more tragic than mine. I used to admire your martial skills, but now I truly admire you!”

“Hehehe… What’s there to admire? Actually, you could do it too,” Mels said with a slight smile.

"I?" Kaslo gave a bitter laugh. "Unless I can personally slay my enemies, I'll never be at peace in this life!"

Seeing Kaslo's pained expression, Mels smiled slightly and counseled him further. "Actually, everything can be viewed from a different perspective. For example, I grew up without my birth parents. Most people would certainly consider that unfortunate. But have you ever thought that if my birth parents hadn't been absent, how could I have met my foster father who treated me as his own? How could I have gained these abilities?

And you—although your family was killed and you're filled with hatred, that is already a fact. No matter how much you hate, your parents won't return to your side. The only thing you can do is get revenge. But before you have the ability to take revenge, why not be more true to yourself? Temporarily set aside the hatred and live life to the fullest. Even when you look back on your life a hundred years from now as an old man, it will be rich and full, not just filled with hatred and vengeance!"

"Set aside hatred? Be more true to myself?" Kaslo murmured thoughtfully.

"Alright, don't think about it anymore. It'll be dawn soon—let's go back and rest first." Seeing that his guidance had achieved some effect, Mels knew these things took time. He took Kaslo by the arm and led him back to the camp.

Just as Mels and Kaslo were heading toward the tents, far to the northwest, Long Yi, a warrior of the Earth Dragon Clan, was flying rapidly toward the base. As he gazed at the vast desert, Long Yi's mind was filled with thoughts of his meeting with the "Master."

One day earlier, at the headquarters of the mysterious organization in the northwest...

"Master, this subordinate has failed in his mission and was unable to take the heads of those humans," Long Yi knelt and reported.

"Oh?" An aged voice from behind a black curtain on the high stone steps inquired, "Were those humans truly so formidable? Even your team of Sub-Humans couldn't capture them all?"

"Reporting to the Master, we did our best, but among the five opponents, one of them had a Two-headed Dragon..." Long Yi replied.

"What? A Two-headed Dragon? Isn't that one of the Eighteen Sacred Beasts developed by the Federation's Sub-Humans on the new continent?" The aged voice seemed greatly surprised that a human possessed a Two-headed Dragon.

"Yes, I confirmed it with my own eyes—it was indeed a Two-headed Dragon!" Long Yi answered the "Master" with certainty.

"Hmm… Since a Two-headed Dragon has appeared, the five of you would indeed have had a hard time defeating them. It seems only the Three Saints would be a match for it!" The aged voice was heavy with worry, filled with a sense of helplessness.

"Master, although the Two-headed Dragon is immensely powerful, its controller seems unable to achieve the level of synchronization needed to fight cooperatively. The Two-headed Dragon still maintains its own will, showing no signs of obeying commands. Moreover, without the controller's orders, the Two-headed Dragon freely returned to its Summoning Gem, so it wasn't a threat to us," Long Yi explained.

"If that's the case, why didn't you defeat the humans? You must understand that even if the Two-headed Dragon couldn't fight today, tomorrow might be completely different! Don't you understand that to nurture a tiger invites calamity?" The aged voice spoke with slight anger.

"Master may not know—please allow this subordinate to explain in detail." Long Yi collected himself slightly and continued, "Although the Two-headed Dragon was unwilling to fight, there was another human's Summoned Beast that was nothing to scoff at. One of them possessed a Blue Witch, which absorbed third brother's Earth Lizard in the first battle. Another human, who was more skilled in martial arts, released a strange Summoned Beast we had never seen before. This beast was entirely green, shaped like a dragon, about one meter long, with wings on its back, capable of free flight in the air. Although it didn't display any abilities, the moment it appeared, the Two-headed Dragon angrily rebuked its master: 'Since you have it, why did you summon us?'

Although we didn't understand what the Two-headed Dragon was referring to, the only new arrival on the battlefield at that time was that strange Summoned Beast. Therefore, I believe that strange summoned beast must be a divine beast even more powerful than the Two-headed Dragon! It was its appearance that caused the Two-headed Dragon to angrily return to its Summoning Gem, unwilling to continue fighting!"

"Such a thing exists? Entirely green, shaped like a dragon, about one meter long, with wings on its back, capable of free flight in the air..." The aged voice repeated Long Yi's description. After a long pause, he suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Could it really be *it*? Long Yi, tell me quickly—was this Summoned Beast surrounded by purple aura? Did its flight accompany the sounds of wind and thunder?"

"I observed the beast carefully but did not witness what the Master described," Long Yi shook his head in denial.

"Right, right! Since it's not the Wind-Thunder Beast, then it can only be that! To think it would appear again! Whether our Sub-Humans can wash away a thousand years of humiliation and return to the Federation continent depends on this person and this beast!" The aged voice said excitedly, "Long Yi, return to those humans immediately. Whatever it takes, bring them here! I want to see that divine beast, and then decide how to deal with these humans! Go now—forget everything else. If you accomplish this, it will be a great achievement!"

As he flew, Long Yi thought to himself: I truly don't understand what the Master is thinking. Over all these years, we've developed our own Summoned Beasts. Although there's still some gap in strength compared to the Federation, we aren't too far behind. Why is the Master so interested in those humans this time? Could there be secrets the Master hasn't told me?

The more Long Yi thought, the more frustrated he became. Finally, he decided to stop pondering and simply increased his speed, flying swiftly ahead.

At noon, Mels and the others, who had been waiting for a long time, finally learned from Eagle Clan scouts that only Long Yi was coming alone. Hearing this news, Mels felt a weight off his mind.

Originally, letting Long Yi and the others leave the desert had been a huge risk. Mels' greatest worry was that Long Yi, realizing he was outmatched, would use a delaying tactic and return with a large number of Summon Warriors for revenge. In that case, even if Mels and his companions had three heads and six arms, they'd likely end up dead in a strange land. Now, hearing that Long Yi was coming alone, Mels knew they might not need to fight today. However, while relieved, the purpose of Long Yi's visit gave him a massive headache.

Fortunately, Long Yi arrived quickly. In just a short while, he was flying over the ruins, sparing Mels from worrying any longer. Watching Long Yi descend rapidly, Mels led his four companions forward to meet him.

When they came face to face, Long Yi stepped forward and greeted, "You are indeed a man of your word. Although I am half a day late, you still waited. Please accept my salute first." With that, he prepared to bow.

Mels laughed heartily, raising a hand to stop Long Yi's bow. "It's not that I keep my word, but that you keep yours. I said we would wait here for three days. Since the sun hasn't set yet, we're still within the time limit! Alright, let's skip the formalities. Please state your purpose so we can consider our response."

"You truly are an exceptional person. Since you prefer to get straight to the point, Long Yi won't beat around the bush either. To be honest, Long Yi holds no grudge against any of you. I only learned of your arrival on this continent a few days ago. Coming here to battle you was entirely following orders. Long Yi was a frog in a well—only after fighting you did I realize there are mountains beyond mountains.

Three days ago, Long Yi left with my brothers—first to treat Third Brother's injuries, and second to buy myself three days to return to headquarters for reinforcements. However, after returning to headquarters and reporting your situation to the Master, he became very interested in all of you. Not only did he stop my revenge plan, but he also decided to meet with you. Long Yi has come specifically to invite you to accompany me. I believe that after meeting the Master, he will surely give you a satisfactory answer.

Additionally, the Master has also invited the Eagle Clan Crown Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince to discuss resolving the conflict between the Eagle Clan and the Five Clouds Cave. The Master has stated that he will guarantee your safety no matter what and will definitely not detain or trouble you."

After hearing Long Yi's words, Mels sensed he was holding something back but couldn't figure out why the "Master" he mentioned wanted to meet them! Logically, humans were the great enemies of Sub-Humans—there was no reason for peaceful coexistence. Moreover, judging from Long Yi's shift from arrogance to respect, all this stemmed from the "Master's" decision.

Unable to decide immediately, Mels thought for a moment and said, "Please allow us to discuss this matter!"

"Good! You may discuss freely with your companions. I will wait right here!" With that, Long Yi calmly sat down, seemingly in no hurry.

Seeing Long Yi's actions, Mels apologized and led everyone to a distance.

"Boss, I think that guy has ill intentions! Maybe he's set a trap for us somewhere!" Sol suspected.

"I think that possibility is low! He made it quite clear earlier—he originally intended to return for reinforcements but was stopped by his master. Everyone, think about it: if they want revenge, they would need stronger Summon Warriors. Traps and such things would hardly work on us! If they have other Summon Warriors, why take the risk of us not falling for a trick by luring us to their territory? That would be taking a roundabout approach!" Sha Luo refuted.

"Actually, what Sol says is possible too! Maybe their stronger Summon Warriors aren't suitable for desert combat, so they want to lure us to a battlefield they've designed!" Kaslo loved contradicting Sha Luo.

Actually, Sha Luo knew Kaslo had a point—for example, water-element Summoned Beasts were absolutely unsuitable for desert combat. But whenever Sha Luo saw Kaslo, she couldn't help getting angry. Pouting, she immediately prepared to start scolding.

Seeing Sha Luo about to throw another tantrum, Mels waved his hand to stop her. "Alright, actually, no matter the situation, I've decided to agree to go with him to meet this 'Master'!"

Here, Mels scanned everyone and continued, "We already know very well that these ruins aren't a spatial teleportation gate! We've stayed in the Sub-Humans world too long. If we delay further, I'm afraid by the time we reach the Federation, everything will be too late! So, Long Yi's organization has become our only hope.

However, from the current situation, although Long Yi has deep ties with the Five Clouds Cave, he doesn't seem to be their subordinate. Whenever he mentions the Five Clouds Cave, he has a dismissive tone. So, I hope to use their power to temporarily suppress the Five Clouds Cave. This would be our final contribution to the Eagle Clan before we leave the Sub-Humans world.

Based on these points, whether for our own sake or to fulfill our promise to the Eagle Clan, we cannot easily give up this opportunity to connect with them! The reason I'm delaying now is just to increase our bargaining chips—to let Long Yi know we don't necessarily have to cooperate with them. This way, we'll have more leverage in future negotiations!"

"Heh heh, so Brother Mels has already thought it all through. I was wondering how to persuade you to agree to go with Long Yi," Kaslo chuckled dryly after hearing Mels' words.

"You're the most impatient one. To learn some super technology, I think you don't need to go anywhere—just stay here and live with these strange creatures!" Sha Luo had no fondness for Kaslo and spoke without mercy.

"Ouch, me staying here is useless! Although I'm very interested in them, they aren't interested in me. I think it's better for you, young lady, to stay here. Haven't you noticed that every time we walk on the street, those Sub-Humans drool over you?" Kaslo loved bantering and was much better at it than Sha Luo.

Listening to their meaningless exchange, Mels shook his head helplessly and walked aside, saying to Sol, "Sol, go explain Long Yi's invitation to the three princes. Tell them about the potential dangers of this trip. If they're unwilling to go, tell them I'll convey the Eagle Clan's unwillingness to be controlled by the Five Clouds Cave."

Hearing Mels' instructions, Sol nodded and headed toward the command post. In a short while, Ying Feiyu brought his two younger brothers before Mels. Even without speaking, Mels could see their determination in their firm eyes. Smiling slightly, Mels grasped Ying Feiyu's hand. "Crown Prince, I will definitely protect your safety!"

"Heh heh, if I can't trust you, then there's truly no one I can trust." After saying this, the two looked at each other and laughed.

Mels led the Crown Prince and the others to where Kaslo and Sha Luo were still arguing about "who should stay behind." However, by now, the two had traced back eighteen generations, debating from a genetic perspective.

"Alright, you two. If you keep arguing, why not both stay behind?" Mels glared, adopting an authoritative tone.

Hearing this, the two stopped quarreling. Kaslo, having gained the upper hand in the war of words, wore a broad smile, while Sha Luo, at a disadvantage, pouted and glared fiercely at Kaslo as if she wanted to take a big bite out of him.

Seeing their behavior, Mels shook his head helplessly, gave a wry smile to Ying Feiyu, and then led the way toward Long Yi.

Seeing Mels approaching with a large group, Long Yi vaguely guessed his decision and stood up. He said loudly, "Have you agreed to Long Yi's request and are willing to accompany me?"

"Correct. We'll trouble you to lead the way from now on!" Mels said to Long Yi with determined eyes.

Everyone put on their Sub-Human masks. Although the road ahead was still long, humanity's greatest and most powerful force—"hope"—resided in the hearts of these youths. Setting aside all worries, under the recitation of gentle incantations and the shine of sunlight, they rode the wind and flew toward a distant, unknown world.