The speaker, about a meter eighty tall, came before the crowd, crushed a card, and the distinctive pure white protective clothing of the Longevity Star People transformed into a casual outfit with a distinctly 21st-century Earth style.

His skin was ashen like jade stone, glowing faintly with fluorescence. His features were well-defined and handsome, always carrying a subtle smile at the corners of his lips.

His eyes were bright, at first glance appearing like a young and innocent lad, but upon closer inspection, those eyes seemed to belong to an elder weathered by life’s experiences.

The complexity of his aura gave this Longevity Star Person a unique charm. Even by Earthling standards, one couldn’t deny that he was exceptionally attractive.

Even more so than the Crimson Hammer, who carries the dual attributes of a “pretty boy” and a “tough guy.”

As soon as the person appeared, Li Xing aimed his Perpetual Motion Camera at him.

Wu Di, on the other hand, immediately drew the sword he carried at his side from its sheath and lifted its blade.

“No need to rush.”

The moment Ma Ran saw the eyes of the counterpart, he immediately recognized the man’s true identity.

Within the Eternal Civilization, there was likely nobody other than the Extremely Effective Monarch who could utter those words.

“Another clone.”

Ma Ran focused his gaze on the Extremely Effective Monarch and said calmly, “When will your true self come over?”

Seeing the counterpart’s face, Ma Ran was not surprised at all.

The Extremely Effective Monarch was slightly taken aback when he heard this, then burst into hearty laughter, “Prophet, my dear old friend, no need for such jokes!”

“If it were only you here, perhaps I would truly consider coming personally.”

“But with both the Demon Son and Martial God present…”

“Doing so would be akin to suicide, wouldn’t it?”

“I haven’t lived long enough yet!”

After the previous “Soul Surgery,” the Extremely Effective Monarch had four clones killed, weakening his soul power and making his presence not as formidable as before.

However, from his words and actions, it was clear he had become more stable and rational, less erratic than before.

The Extremely Effective Monarch scanned the few present as he spoke.

Seeing the silent Water Quality Thunder Spear forming in Su Qiangwei’s hand, he immediately spoke, “Hey, hey! If you want to make a move, at least wait for someone to finish speaking first!”

“Martial God, you’re being quite ungentlemanly!”

“I came here this time to propose an alliance with you!”

Su Qiangwei slightly shook her hand, causing the Water Quality Thunder Spear to vanish in an instant. Her eyes shimmered with gold and blue electric glimmers as she remained silent, merely looking at Ma Ran.

“You have one minute.”

Ma Ran’s demeanor was relaxed, his tone casual, as if he were on an outing with some buddies rather than battling on an Outer Star: “If you can’t convince us within a minute, this clone of yours can die.”

The smile gradually faded from the Extremely Effective Monarch’s face.

Each of his clones carried a fragment of his own soul, albeit small, but if slain, the injury would feedback to his true self, making him weaker and weaker.

He pondered for a moment and then spoke, “After I, the Pursuer, and the Crimson Hammer descended upon Earth, the Mysterious Research Institute’s experimental material hunting teams began casting nets, trying to capture all the Title Holders.”

“Fortunately, I had been prepared and transferred most of the assets in advance.”

Shrugging, the Extremely Effective Monarch continued, “It’s not me who truly wants the experimenters to invade Earth, but those bigwigs at the Mysterious Research Institute.”

“You didn’t come here just for some field study, did you?”

“So…”

“At least for now, we have a common enemy.”

With that, the Extremely Effective Monarch looked intensely at Ma Ran, “With my help, you can gain half an hour of breathing space.”

“Hmm, starting from now.”

“If it weren’t for my involvement, the moment you arrived here, those scholars would have discovered you, igniting direct conflict, leaving no room to escalate the battle or expand the war gains.”

“I have the means, the trump cards, and the skill, making me an excellent temporary ally.”

“Once the Mysterious Research Institute is dealt with, whether we live or die will depend on our own capabilities.”

“Are these reasons sufficient?”

Years ago, the Extremely Effective Monarch had discovered several instances where, after the experimenters perished, the new clone bodies were intact but the individuals were unresponsive.

The Mysterious Research Institute publicly claimed that those individuals had exhausted their soul power and disintegrated in consciousness, dying naturally.

There was no information on the Mental Network.

Not even a ripple could be seen.

But the Extremely Effective Monarch had interacted with those unfortunate experimenters.

He had also inspected those individuals using Thought Essence collection devices, knowing that their souls, if not rejuvenated, at least wouldn’t die so prematurely.

After conducting some investigations, the Extremely Effective Monarch discovered that those unlucky experimenters might have encountered an irresistible foe, with both soul and consciousness shattered, leading to their complete demise.

Many beginners and ordinary citizens believed that during the century since the experiment started, not a single Longevity Person had died accidentally.

In reality, the Mysterious Research Institute had suppressed all information!

“Just as I predicted.”

Ma Ran responded leisurely, “But…”

“Only half an hour?”

“Looks like I overestimated your capabilities.”

Upon hearing this, the Extremely Effective Monarch’s smile froze slightly, his tone appearing somewhat displeased, not hiding his machinations, “Initially, I planned to seize more authority from the Mysterious Research Institute first, then use the triad’s battle situation to weaken your forces and become the ultimate victor.”

“But you came faster than anticipated, resulting in my preparations being inadequate.”

“In my design, given Earth Civilization’s current technological level, whether transporting the Interstellar Jump Pod or decrypting and utilizing it would be as difficult as reaching the sky.”

“I thought I wouldn’t see you until at least three to five years later.”

“Unfortunately…”

“The Victory Stone Superpower System and the Seven Vortex Swordsmanship, these two unscientific things disrupted my plans.”

“Not to mention three to five years, even if given just another half-month, I could have completed my arrangements and stood invincible.”

Shrugging once again, the Extremely Effective Monarch spoke with a slight arrogance, “Now, the danger level has heightened a bit, I’ll have to adapt and overcome as needed.”

Thus, when the Extremely Effective Monarch emerged from the “phone booth,” his “long time no see” was indeed a sarcastic paradox, simultaneously expressing admiration for Ma Ran and the others’ efficiency.

Ma Ran gave the Extremely Effective Monarch a faint look and, expressionlessly, demanded, “Hand it over.”

The Extremely Effective Monarch blinked and deliberately asked, “Hand over what?”

Without ceremony, Ma Ran openly demanded, “I want the map of the Eternal Civilization Main Base, the internal architecture diagram of the Consciousness Transmission Factory, Protective Clothing Technology, Genetic Optimization Technology, Mecha Manufacturing Technology, the complete data of the Interstellar Jump Pod, and a planet-destroying level Forbidden Card.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep