Echo.

All the different echoes have vibrated in my ears for thousands of years.

At first, there was thunder. and incredibly huge shocks. It was the sound of the continents shaking and the oceans boiling. The storm swept through the heavens and the earth, even if the entire institute sank into the ground, it could not stop the thunder caused by the tsunami crashing against the mountains, and the vast majority of people were in a state of confusion and despair, which may be a kind of pity, because such a swift death is painless, and there is no need to face the reality of suffocation after the apocalypse.

Sobbing ensued. The survivors were lucky enough to save their lives in the face of the sudden disaster, but they still had too many things to preserve, such as the conversations of relatives and friends, elders and juniors, superiors and subordinates, the conversations of pedestrians on the streets, the swaying branches of the trees in the roadside, and the meeting with friends on the street. All the ordinariness that made up life is gone, and all that remains is the sobbing and sobbing that followed the destruction in the wind.

Then there's the questioning. Why Us? Why does disaster strike? Why is all this happening? Why are the best people dying? Why did an incompetent person like me survive?

In addition to the luck of surviving themselves, the survivors occasionally have such blank or angry questions from the depths of their hearts, and they deeply feel their powerlessness, and live more painfully than death, because they understand that they will never be able to usher in the happy ending of the story, civilization will definitely be lost in their hands, and they will be the first to enter the tragedy, so they would rather let others survive in their place. But in the end, there was silence.

No matter how angry and painful, desperate and dazed, reality will not change because of crying.

The Terra civilization has been destroyed, and the last vestiges of its breath have been forcibly maintained by the wisdom of a man, an old man who is about to die.

As long as he is alive, there is still a possibility of civilization being revived—because he has in his head a gift that can record all the information, a chip that shines with silver brilliance like a star.

With such an incredible gift, and that wisdom that transcends the times, even one person can carry civilization.

After the disaster, he did not give up his efforts, and the old man still experimented with some surviving researchers in the remaining research institutes, exploring the many possibilities of the path of sublimation, and sending those who had inherited some of his knowledge one by one to many shelters throughout Terra.

He was keenly aware of the suffering and torment that would ensue in Terra after the destruction - the Star God's ship had fallen, and the true dragon's plan had failed, but the spark of a thousand stars would still come as promised, and this time, they would no longer be greeted by the complete Terra civilization, but a turbulent but still life-nurturing planet.

A land where "Them" can take root and be revived.

They will not be adopted by Terra, but will grow freely, growing into their own fullness in all suitable places, wreaking havoc on the homeland of humanity.

They must be defeated.

This is the only goal that the old man has set for himself.

At least, at least, humans should at least leave themselves a graveyard that belongs to them.

- As for how to do it.....

Only the echo of footsteps echoed in the empty lab, and after the last researcher had been sent away, the entire research institute fell silent, except for the intelligent minions moving through the corridors.

It was in this silence that the Precursors stopped breathing. When did life leave the flesh?

Honored, revered, trusted and worshipped by all, ushering in a new era, he is undoubtedly an individual at the apex of the planet...... Such a person, even if he dies, should be an earth-shattering event that shakes the entire civilized world.

But alas, civilization passed away before him. So all that is left for the endless echo is silence. The light and shadow faded, and all images collapsed.

As if awakened, Ian removed his hand from the fragments of the computing chip.

"Ian?"

On the side, Anfa noticed that something was wrong with Ian, and she began to ask, but the boy came back to his senses, "Huh? Well..... It's fine." He is a friend

The man smiled peacefully, "It's just...... I saw something out of the ordinary."

It is indeed an extraordinary, even extraordinary, past.

There was no other possibility, and Ian could be sure that what he saw was the original owner of the silver chip, the "Precursor", in the last days of his life.

However, this time is not complete. Only the memory that he was at a loss and that his knowledge could not be passed on was relatively clear, and the memories of other time periods were just fragments, fleeting and fleeting, and they could not be seen clearly at all.

And in this memory, what Ian feels most deeply is not despair, fear and confusion.

It's a deep loneliness.

As a traveler to Earth, a visitor to another civilization, Ian is as lonely as the Precursors.

They are all in the same place in a world that lags behind the times in which they live, and the people around them cannot understand their wisdom, and it is extremely difficult for them to change the times in which they live...... They all know very well that if they die, then the last hope of changing the world will be gone.

The only difference is that the Precursor is dying, while Ian is only seventeen. The Precursors had no time to turn the future around, and Ian not only had, but was even a prophet, who could get more time out of future predictions.

But in fact, the environment in which the forerunner is located is actually superior to Ian's. The refuge humans of his time were all remnants of the civilization of the pre-Terra era, and they still remember that glorious golden age, and everyone has the morality and insight of the great contemporaneous era.... The most important point.

That is, they all know the stars—and they yearn for them.

As long as the Forerunners were given another ten years, the current Terra civilization may be far from what it is today.

(It's just a pity that there is no if)

Ian thought to himself. In any case, the Precursor did not succeed in saving the Pre-Era civilization, and when he died, the Pre-Era civilization vanished, and many of the Vaults became the original form of the current Terra Kingdoms.

Of course, he didn't fail completely. At least, the gift of the star god, that is, the silver chip, was indeed successfully transferred by him, and the silver chip can even be transferred again and again, cultivating many people, including Inaga II, to change the world little by little.

Now, that authority is in Ian's hands.

And he was about to go to the Xenomorph Research Institute..... Return to the burial place of the original owner of the silver chip.

"I think."

After settling down, Ian turned his head and said to An Fa on the side, "The essentia computing chip is so important...... Maybe it's because its complete ontology contains all the information in the Xenomorph Research Institute."

"In other words, essentia computing chips are the core of the Xenogeneous Research Institute, and we already have a fragment in our hands, which has an advantage in the process of exploration."

Ian didn't tell Anfa exactly the truth, the essentia computing chip may have the above functions, but its real function... Ian speculated that it was most likely related to the echoes of the Precursors.

Echo. The reason why the Chehalorvo family was degraded to Southridge was the method of immortality, a technique that Axel was now working on as a landdefender.

Its true essence is to use a certain method to record the personality and memory of the next person, and when the original owner dies, the reproduced personality and memory can survive in his place and continue his work.

It's like an echo in a valley.

But it is precisely because it is an echo that it will continue to deteriorate, because the experience is different, and there is no same soul, the echo will eventually become different from the original owner, or even the opposite.... This is far from the 'mirror' of the true method of eternal life in theory.

The technology of the pre-era civilization was not yet to the point where it could perfectly reproduce the soul, so it had to retreat and use echoes.

In other words.....

(In the Xenomorph Research Institute, maybe there are still remnants of the 'echoes' of the Precursors?) ）

Ian didn't say anything about this possibility, telling Anfa,

It's just that the vigilance in my heart has been raised: (Even, that dark gold dragon... The dark gold dragon that flew straight beyond the Prison Star Heavenly Prison as soon as it appeared was the echo of the Precursor? ）

It's not impossible, it could even be said to be very possible!

Although it is not clear why Echo turned into a dragon, it is also unclear why this dragon would go to the outer void and beyond the heavenly hell...... But Ian knew very well that the Echoes of the Precursors knew a great deal of the most precious knowledge!

Information related to the Star God, information related to the True Dragon, the core outline of the path of sublimation, the essence of the life of the sublimator and the related life extension surgery, life support system..... There are many, many, just a few tens of seconds of memory, there are at least seven or eight things that Ian is very interested in.

Have to. Definitely going to get it. Obtained a database owned by the Xenomorph Research Institute and Echo of the Precursors.

Ian had made up his mind.

So, after taking a deep breath, he said to the princess of the Ember Lamp, "But I see extreme danger behind this chip...... Anfa, I think that under the Xenomorph Research Institute, there is a fourth-level existence, and maybe even the peak of the fourth-level existence."

"The reason why I don't say it's the fifth level is because I can't be sure either, after all, I haven't reached the perimeter of the ruins yet, and if I do, I might be able to give an answer. But the peak of the fourth energy level is already very dangerous, are the exploration teams of various countries prepared to deal with such an enemy?"

"Of course."

Anfa listened carefully to Ian's words, but laughed after hearing this, as if he felt senseless about Ian's worries: "The exploration teams of all countries have fourth-level powerhouses to suppress the formation, not to mention that on our Canaan Moore side, my uncle Speaker Japhda will personally sit in charge..... The Silver Gatekeeper, the inheritance of the Silver Gate, will have the ability to cross space over short distances at the fourth energy level, and with him, no one in the exploration team will be in danger."

"And on the side of your empire, there is the eldest prince Carlos leading the team..... Surely you know that, right? The speed of the Imperial Imperial Family's bloodline 'Sun God Bird' surpasses the reaction speed of all other bloodline true forms, and without a certain ability to predict, it is impossible to counterattack their attacks, and it is extremely simple for them to protect others, even the fifth energy level may not be able to stop him."

"As for the powerhouse of the Heavenly Palace, it is the third son of the Great Khan, the controller of the Suyue Prairie, Gunta Ximor, he is simply very strong, and he may not have any advantage in protecting people, but even if he really has a fifth-level true dragon, with his strength, he can block it for a few seconds and hold out until our Canaan Moore powerhouse makes a move."

Anfa's tone was very confident, obviously, in order to ensure the smooth exploration of the tripartite hosts of Canaan Moore, the Empire and the Heavenly Royal Court, they had already made all the plans, even if there was really a fifth energy level (basically unlikely), they could deal with it and save most of the members of the exploration team.

If it is the fourth energy level, the strong people of all countries will join forces, and they will only be pressed to death in place. Even the Xenomorph Research Institute, the top large-scale laboratory of the pre-era civilization, is unlikely to be unable to cope with it.

"If that's the case, then I'll be relieved."

Ian smiled and nodded on the surface, but in fact there was something subtle in his heart.

Because he remembered the transmitter that Speaker Japhda gave him.... Obviously, the Speaker on Canaan Moore's side has other plans, he probably knows more about the Xenomorph Institute than everyone else thought, and the situation in the Xenomorph Institute is more complicated than everyone else thinks, and with the presence of Echoes and Dark Gold Dragons, this exploration will definitely go wrong.

But it is precisely because something big will definitely happen that Ian can fish in troubled waters and get more opportunities to harvest..... Therefore, Ian will not stop Speaker Japhda's plan, and will help him.

After all, it wasn't just for the sake of harvest, just to get Speaker Yafoda to acquiesce to him taking away the 'Ladder of Life Tree Fragments', Ian would cooperate with the other party, which is why the Speaker would believe Ian, he knew very well how big this young man's ambition and desire were, which was something that a simple researcher like Master Gravi couldn't see, so they could reach a consensus in a few words.

"Great

That's it."

Ian took a slight half step back, away from the box in Anfa's hand, "I suggest that you take it with you when you explore, this may be the key to controlling it when we find the computing chip itself."

It's not Ian's lack of purpose, it's a fact. Just now, Ian has reproduced the structure of this part of the computing chip through the silver chip, and later he can study its details, reverse its ontology structure, and then try to make an intrusion program against the essentia computing chip and even the essentia virus.

In the end, it's nothing more than programming to create artificial souls, and the pre-era civilization is also just starting in this regard, and it may not be more sophisticated than the current Terra civilization.

At that time, he only needs to bury the virus program in this fragment, and then send the fragment back to the main body, and then he can use the simplest means to embed the virus into the chip itself.

Of course, in fact, Ian also thought about the possibility that the essentia chip itself would directly give him the highest authority when he saw the silver chip...... But you have to prepare for everything, and as a prophet, Ian has always been cautious and leaves no flaws.

"Okay. Thank you so much, Ian, this is another great favor!"

Anfa nodded earnestly at Ian's suggestion, and then smiled brightly. With such key information, there is no doubt that the Ember Lantern Home will have a head start on this exploration.

Not to mention, her teammate is Ian, as a prophet, Ian can get so much information just by observing the chip fragments, so how much information can the other party get when they arrive inside the ruins?

Coupled with the fact that it is impossible for the prophet to be ambushed by traps and ambushed by all kinds of strange things, what an advantage this is for the exploration of ruins, and those who have explored it know it.

Teaming up with teammates like this is a pleasure in any way.

After making a few more notes for Ian, the happy Anfa arranged for Ian and Theo to live in the mansion, and in the absence of his mother, as the owner of the Ember Lamp House's main house, prepared an extremely lavish dinner for the honored guests.

The girl even invited Master Gosai and Isengard over, and Anfa knew very well that the two were Ian's friends and seniors, and they were also their future partners in the Xenomorph Research Institute, so they simply called over to celebrate.

"The best food in all of Canaan Moore? Dragon King.....

Theo was looking forward to this, and she even began to drool at the thought of the delicious dishes and snacks that might exist - for an unseen dragon who hadn't been out of the South Ridge for many years, Anfa was really the best friend, so she couldn't help but pounce directly on it and hug the dazed elf girl fiercely, and even lift it up and keep spinning in circles.

"It's not—eh—Theo!"

For Anfa, this is obviously a new and new experience, she was happily hugged by Xi'o's waist and turned in a circle, she was still a little blushing and angry at first, but soon the girl who experienced the other party's sincere joy through the dragon soul could only shake her head helplessly: "Okay, okay, since you are so happy, I will allow you to carry me in a circle..... But remember! You can only hold me when I'm using a female prosthesis, not a man!"

"Huh?"

When the red-haired dragon girl heard this, she stopped spinning in confusion: "Why?"

"Because my male prosthetic body needs a little bit of majesty." Anfa sternly admonished, "You are not allowed to hold me with a male prosthetic body unless it is Ian's face. Your original male prosthetic body was my face, and it looks so weird."

"Okay, listen to you."

Theo felt a little constrained, but she still respected her friend's thoughts, and just couldn't help but complain, "You Canaanite Moors are so old-fashioned, we real dragons never cared about that!"

"Why can you use my face, you don't use other people's faces to play so open..... Anyway, this is probably a way for a real dragon to express his passion."

A wry-smiling Ian commented on the interaction between the two dragon-blooded girls (at least on the outside) that Theo and Anfa were 'too cutting-edge, too avant-garde, is this really what Terra can allow these days?' But if you think about it, it's Terra after all, and it's not surprising that something happens, this

It's not surprising at all.

In fact, Ian had originally planned to talk to Anfa about her 'bloodline collapse'. The other people of Jegona may be just an ordinary passerby's stepping stone, but the news he said cannot be ignored, and the reason why Anfa pays attention to the secret method of the resurrection of the steel dragon must be related to the problem of her bloodline.

Ian now can't say that he knows much about the nature of the Shimmer Cradle System and the True Dragon, at least he can be said to be extremely proficient, Anfa as his friend and deep collaborator, her life safety must be very important, if such a friend and big money owner dies due to the collapse of the bloodline, Ian will definitely not forgive himself.

But seeing Theo's happy play with Anfa, and Anfa's own appearance that he didn't seem to be particularly anxious, Ian felt that he could wait until after the dinner party to ask - don't talk about heavy things when everyone is happy, and talk about realistic topics after playing, his emotional intelligence is not low at all.

As for Anfa inviting Master Goser and Isunggard over, Ian was very happy - he did have something to discuss with Gosser, and he was going to tell Isengard and Goser about his prophetic identity.

Now, when Ian has gradually established himself in the imperial system, with a backstage and his own territory, some secrets need not be secrets.

Exposed, on the contrary, is a solidification of confidence in the friendly side and a deterrent to the enemy.

Besides...... Before the dinner, Ian had one more question to figure out.

In the memories of the forerunners, the silver chip, also known as the gift of the stars, was described as 'the key to ultimate ascension' and 'the foundation of civilization's ascension..... In fact, Ian can understand both of these a little, after all, whether it is the meditation method created by himself or the essentia computing chip created by the forerunners, it can make an ordinary human become a superhuman with extraordinary computing power and psionic tenacity.

As long as there is a silver chip, the sublimation of the individual and the ascension of civilization will have the possibility of success.

But it was precisely because of this that Ian wanted to understand one thing.

"The silver chip, in the first place, couldn't be peeled off the boarder? That's where the Precursor's pain comes from, and he can't even pass on the gift of the Star God to anyone else."

Sitting in his own room, Ian specifically asked Anfa and Theo, as well as Master Gravi, not to disturb him.

After closing the door, the boy sat alone at his desk, staring at the rise and fall of the lava lamp in front of him, the red gold reflected in his water-colored pupils: "The Precursor solved the problem in the end—after I got the silver chip, I managed to fuse it and was able to 'unload' it directly."

"How did he do that? Did future generations of silver chip holders also make other improvements to the silver chip? Did Inaga II do the same?"

"I don't know the original form of the silver chip, and I can't be sure if the current silver chip is all or part of the gift of the stars...... If not all, then are there 'other components' in the Xenomorph Research Institute with a full version of the silver chip?"

This series of thoughts flashed through his mind, and Ian's gaze gradually became darker: "Of course, there is one more important thing."

"Perhaps.... It's time for me to give it a try."

"Let's see if I can actually uninstall ..... Silver chips."