When the Flame Duke heard Ma Ran’s words, he knew that this “Prophet” from a low-level civilization truly had some skills and wasn’t just someone with an unearned reputation.

The other party had only spoken a few sentences, yet had analyzed the situation thoroughly and clearly.

Although he hadn’t guessed the truth directly, he was not far off.

Now, those great scholars and scholars in the Mystical Research Institute had all been captured.

If the research institute hadn’t overstepped its bounds this time and used such crude methods, the Title Holders led by the Flame Duke and the Dawnbreaker wouldn’t have united, seized the opportunity, and with “that one’s” help, launched a counterattack to directly take down those who lorded over the Longevity People.

Otherwise, no one would have known that those “scholars” and “great scholars” were the “Title Holders” of the previous era!

The Title Holders of this era were supposed to become the next era’s “great scholars”!

Before the Soul Cultivation Experiment Field was initiated, setting aside that blank hundred years, the Eternal Civilization had also conducted several long-term mass “national experiments”!

Interstellar Arena!

All Heavens Chaos Suppression Blood Battle Circle!

Wisdom Killer Roulette!

These three are just the most representative examples.

Each national experiment would lead to the emergence of a group of elite figures from among the hundreds of billions of Longevity People at the main and sub-bases, simultaneously possessing force, power, intelligence, and reputation!

These people were named…

Title Holders!

Each cohort of Title Holders was the reserve staff for the Mysterious Research Institute.

As the saying goes: “An ironclad Mystical Research Institute, with scholars flowing through it like water.”

The Title Holders were inherently the potential backup staff for the Mystical Research Institute!

Taking advantage of the institute’s spread of forces to deal with the Earth Expedition Team and the Extremely Effective Monarch, the Title Holders seized the opportunity to usurp power and gained access to the core secrets of the Eternal Civilization.

They knew countless times more than ordinary people. Once they truly accessed the core part of the Mystical Research Institute, they understood that so-called great scholars were merely a group sanctified by public opinion.

Technological progress wasn’t fundamentally due to them!

But to those who mastered the ability of “Card Making,” that big figure who has survived from ancient times till now!

Tie a dog to the Mystical Research Institute, and it could perform the duties of a “scholar.”

If you replace it with a gorilla, it could fully handle the “great scholar’s” responsibilities!

The previous scholars and great scholars had tasted the flavor of extended life in the Soul Cultivation Test Field plan and were even less willing to relinquish their power, hence implementing a secret capture plan hoping to prematurely eliminate the “protagonists” of the new era and nip them in the bud.

Title Holders captured by the Mystical Research Institute were just a matter of the weak perishing and the strong taking their place.

In this way, no one would come to replace them.

However…

Something beyond expectations happened.

The scholars who had been comfortable for too long didn’t anticipate that the new era’s “Title Holders” would react so swiftly and decisively, and be strong enough in every aspect. Once their forces combined, they obliterated them all!

The logic is quite simple.

There were never many conspiracies involved; it was an open and honest comprehensive contest of power, means, wisdom, and momentum!

Of course, it helped that “that one”, who had been controlling the pace of the entire Eternal Civilization and adjusting its development course for countless years, lent his assistance.

The Flame Duke had a brief exchange with “that one”.

He knew that in “that one’s” eyes, the scholars who had been too comfortable in the Mystical Research Institute occupied a clearly different realm compared to the new era’s Title Holders and had weakened in their command over the Eternal Civilization, leading to a state of incompetence.

Thus, he shifted his support to the new era’s Title Holders, letting the “protagonists” enter powerfully and suppress all dissent.

Otherwise, relying solely on the comprehensive strength of the Title Holders to contend against such a colossal entity as the Mystical Research Institute, they would likely fall short, and even if bursting with potential and achieving ultimate victory, they would suffer significant casualties.

“Once we eliminate this group of interlopers, we can gain that master’s approval and truly replace the great scholars!”

The Peak Squad formed by Title Holders stood with hundreds of mechas, tens of meters tall, imposing in their presence. Although there were doubts in their minds, they never considered the possibility of losing.

No one dismissed the thought of killing that mysterious person who had lived from ancient times and consistently controlled the Eternal Civilization, to wrest the secret of immortality and replace him.

Unfortunately, such impulsive fools were few, and before action could be taken, they were effortlessly killed by a gesture from the Mysterious Man, without any chance to resist.

Moreover…

Everyone had already known.

The so-called Card Making Technology, its most core part, was tightly controlled by the Mysterious Man.

Even if by some miracle they managed to eliminate this person, what awaited them might not be a wonderful ending, but rather a regression of Eternal Civilization technology, outbreak of social contradictions, abrupt productivity reduction, and other issues.

“The Prophet truly fits the title of a Prophet!”

The Flame Duke’s gaze fell on Ma Ran, admiringly saying, “No wonder you could make even someone like the Extremely Effective Monarch convinced and view you as a powerful ally, pinning hopes on you.”

“So… do you know what has become of the Extremely Effective Monarch?”

Ma Ran looked at him with a calm expression, speaking in a steady tone, “Enough with the nonsense, let’s get started right away.”

“I’m just curious about one thing…”

“Who will be the first to come up and sacrifice their life for others?”

This is a simple logic.

The Earth Expedition Team is not weak, or they wouldn’t have been able to utterly destroy the Consciousness Transmission Factory, directly or indirectly causing the deaths of fourteen thousand nine hundred Longevity Star People.

Although the vast majority of them died participating in experiments within the “Soul Cultivation Map,” it at least demonstrates that the Earth Expedition Team’s strength and wisdom are not weak.

They didn’t choose to flee immediately, but waited on the spot.

Why?

The answer is simple!

They wanted to create more accomplishments and eliminate more Longevity Star People!

The Dawnbreaker took a step back, saying loudly, “Though I’ve never personally descended to Earth, I’ve read many of Earth’s documents, and one phrase struck me as very sensible.”

“The son of a thousand gold doesn’t sit under the eaves, and the son of a hundred gold doesn’t ride an unsteady horse!”

“It means someone extremely wealthy doesn’t sit below the beams at home to avoid getting hurt. Generally, a wealthy person doesn’t ride horses helter-skelter to avoid falling to death.”

“We Title Holders were once the ‘sons of a hundred gold’, but we are about to enter the Mystical Research Institute and become the ‘sons of a thousand gold’.”

“Dying in the last darkness before dawn is too tragic.”

“So…”

“Let others handle dangerous tasks.”

“All risks must be minimized.”

“I suggest a direct fire coverage to completely destroy the planetary transformation factory! Leave the hostages; no need to care about them!”

“The saying ‘No death of a friend, no death of oneself’ illustrates this principle.”

“Eternal Civilization lacks everything but people!”

“This approach does have many hidden risks, but as long as the post-war propaganda is done well, ensuring no opposing voices exist on the Mental Network, it’ll be enough!”

The Flame Duke glanced at him peculiarly and tapped on his armor, “It seems the deaths of the Crimson Hammer and Pursuer have made you a lot more timid.”

“Nevertheless, you are right in what you say.”

“All Mecha Masters, prepare long-range weapons!”

“Bombard!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep