"No, and there's no need," Mes said. "The point of this experiment is to mimic the womb in total isolation, and achieve fetal education through the eradication of killing memories, thereby nurturing time talent. I couldn't possibly have any means of contacting the outside… but I assure you, if anything were to happen, those outside would be far more anxious than we are. The ones who most hope for our success are the people from Fangyuan Cicada."

At this, the legendary mages changed expression, all realizing a possibility. They looked towards the two strangers battling the reverse currents in the distance and asked, "Are you new here? What's happened outside?"

Weiser subconsciously glanced at Ash, but observed that Ash was looking at her. Even though Silver Lamp was not a good person, these unfamiliar legendary mages were likely no easy marks either. Just as Ash always left negotiations to Igula, now faced with these unknowns, to avoid saying too much, Ash decided to let Silver Lamp speak.

Weiser thought quickly and finally said slowly, "The year is 1668."

"Has it been that long!?"

"Impossible, the longest estimate at the start was only 10 years!"

"Over two hundred years… Wouldn't that mean many beautiful works of entertainment have been born?"

"Shouldn't the Gray Fox Era have passed by now?" Scatty asked. "What Divine Era is it outside now? What are the Great Skill philosophies? Why have you appeared here?"

Weiser wore a mask, so naturally her expressions weren't exposed, but Ash's face showed a subtle displeasure.

Legendary mages are extremely astute. The handsome middle-aged Uncle Mes saw this and immediately said, "Scatty, they are not your disciples, students; they have no obligation whatsoever to reveal anything to you. Even if they are just from the Holy Domain, but who here can use their own Technique Spirit?"

Ash and Weiser were shocked; why would Mes know they were not legendary? Clearly everyone here was a legendary mage, they should have subconsciously regarded them as peers!

However, the others showed no reaction to Mes's words, clearly they also saw that Ash and Weiser were the weakest trialists of their cohort. This could only prove one thing: legendary mages, even without any special means, could easily discern the highest faction realm of others!

No wonder the female mage Scatty was so imperious, legendary figures indeed did not need to be polite towards those from the Holy Domain, just like Ash never greeted Fish-Slicing Dragon. Mes pointing this out was also a subtle warning to them — any random person here could crush them once outside.

Weiser silently considered for a moment: "I ask a question, you ask a question."

Scatty said, "Then you go first."

The question itself was enough to reveal their bases, as playing with human relationships was almost second nature to legendary mages. Weiser had no choice but to ask, "What was your original plan?"

The legendary figures in the Flowing Gold River exchanged glances, many of their complexions drastically changing, clearly guessing that the situation outside was entirely different from what they knew. After all, "an interval of over two hundred years" and "ignorant trialists from the Holy Domain" both indicated that those in control of the experiment were no longer the ones they knew.

Scatty closed her timepiece eyes, and her aggressive face unexpectedly softened. She said, "To answer that question, I first need to clarify who we are, why we are here. So, you asked three questions, and later you will have to answer three questions as well."

Can't play word games with legendary mages, can we… Weiser exchanged glances with Ash and nodded: "Okay."

"We are legendary mages about to die," Scatty said. "Whether in half a year or ten days, we can precisely estimate our own day of soul extinction."

"In the last days before death, we received an invitation from the hidden sect 'Fangyuan Cicada' to participate in their Eternal Life experiment. Almost all the legends of the Gray Fox participated in this experiment before me, and there will be no exceptions after me."

"Even the most magnificent of life cannot contend with the fear of death. Life's instinct is just that ugly and irresistible."

"The Fangyuan Cicada sect secretly created the Divine Fire System, and with their centuries of experimental results, they successfully helped us condense time talent to the limit, opening the Gate of Truth straight to the Flowing Gold River. But the number of mages was still not enough; we needed at least 42 legendary mages to initiate the 'Yuanchan Sharing Ritual.' Thus, we were sealed inside statues, waiting for the beginning of the Yuanchan Sharing Ritual."

Ash frowned: "Yuanchan Sharing Ritual?"

However, Scatty very precisely cut off the conversation there and asked, "It's our turn to ask—outside, which Divine Fire Era is it?"

Weiser shook her head: "It's not in any Divine Era outside."

"Is it just the interval between Divine Eras?"

"Could it be that the fifth Divine Era has already passed? But two hundred years, indeed, that might be possible..."

The Legendaries were abuzz with speculation, yet Scatty shook her head and, pointing at Ash, said, "I want you to answer."

"Do I look like an easy target?" At this moment, Ash naturally couldn't disappoint Silver Lamp. "My answer is the same as hers."

"Then I'll ask another question. If you answer, it can count for two, but she only needs to say one word to count for one," Scatty said. "I'm old and don't want to play those word games—what exactly has happened outside?"

Even without looking, Ash knew Silver Lamp was signaling to him. The best decision here was, of course, to conceal the real information as much as possible, then bargain with these once-Legendary figures using the intelligence, not only to understand the truth behind this trial but even to deceive them for profit.

However, Ash himself was not on the same level as someone like Igula, and faced with a group of Grey Fox remnants who had been abandoned by the world for more than two hundred years, he didn't feel capable of telling a lie without any flaws.

I really am an easier target after all... Ash sighed and said, "Over two hundred years ago, there was a 'great catastrophe', and nearly all Mages were killed or wounded, most phantasmal creations ceased to function. To this day, Senluo is still in the chaotic era of factional warfare."

Unexpectedly, the Legendaries did not panic. Knowing what had transpired over the past two hundred years, they were already prepared for the worst.

"So it really is like that..." Scatty murmured. She paused, then spoke calmly, "The Cicada Feast ritual is our final step towards Eternal Life."

"The essence of the Cicada Plan is to integrate a Mage with a Great Skill, thus achieving Eternal Life through this life form of Great Skills."

Ash couldn't help but interrupt, "But Great Skills themselves can't last forever, they're fragile lives that can't exist without belief."

"Nearly all Great Skills are as you described," Scatty nodded. "But there's one exception."

Weiser had already guessed it: "Fangyuan Cicada?"

"During the Fire Cat Era, only one Great Skill ascended successfully, and that was the Fire Cat's 'Keeper of the Divine Fire'," Scatty said. "After the Fire Cat's ascension, both Fangyuan Cicada and Chasing Light lost their believers, and the Chasing Light Technique fell into obscurity. Then the Blue Bird Era began, and new Great Skills became the mainstream of the era."

"Fangyuan Cicada should have also vanished into history, but whether because it's the rare Time Series Great Skill or because its own obsession with 'Eternal Life' was too strong, it was actually able to linger on by drinking from the Flowing Gold River. Time could no longer wear down its essence, so Fangyuan Cicada became a 'hidden faction' that exists in every Divine Era."

"The so-called water of the Flowing Gold River is actually the flow of time for all things in the world, omnipresent, where all life originates. In other words, it is Eternal Life within itself, flowing with time, existing with heaven and earth."

"Hence, we aim to not only merge with a Great Skill but specifically merge with the Fangyuan Cicada Great Skill."

Scatty continued, "The Cicada Feast ritual involves gathering 42 Mages to open the Gate of Truth, converge 42 different tributaries of the Flowing Gold River, and fully awaken the Fangyuan Cicada, which is then referred to as the Cicada's Chirp."

"At the same time, we transform into beings of time capable of housing a Great Skill. But for a single Mage, it's still too dangerous to take on a complete Great Skill recklessly. Anyway, we're just in need of the ability for Eternal Life, so—"

At that moment, a call like a temporal shockwave resounded above the Flowing Gold River, causing even the river to stall, and time within the entire palace seemed to slow down slightly.

Then the Legendary Mages suddenly ceased their struggles and let themselves be washed away by the river's reverse current, even swimming toward the source of the cry willingly!

"—We only need to consume a part of the Fangyuan Cicada to suffice."

As soon as Scatty finished speaking, she turned and plunged into the reverse current.

Ash was still startled when he saw Silver Lamp already rushing to join the feast, leaving him no choice but to follow the crowd, drifting with the wave.

Save some for me!

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