“We really don’t have any time left. If you have anything to leave behind, Senior, now is the time,” Lu Yin reminded.
Ancestor Shan let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know what to say. I have lived for far, far too long. Looking back, any random fragment of my life overlaps with the rise or fall of a civilization. There are too many important things to entrust, and yet precisely because there are too many, I find myself not knowing what to say at this moment.”
“Exactly what is the knowledge of a fishing civilization? What makes a civilization an actual fishing civilization?” Lu Yin asked.
Ancestor Shan replied, “That knowledge should not be spoken by me. When your human civilization truly reaches that level, you will naturally understand. You may treat this knowledge as the threshold to become a fishing civilization. Before you realize it, do not step outside of your own cosmic ecosystem. Only after you obtain that knowledge do you qualify to step beyond. At that point, you prove that you are already a fishing civilization.”
“And yet I want to know now,” Lu Yin said.
Astral Anura whispered, "I want to know, too..."
Ancestor Shan fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking again. “The cosmos can move. Because of that, one day, all cosmic civilizations will eventually encounter one another. With that knowledge as a basis, a conjecture can be made: the Aevum Inch is shrinking.”
Lu Yin’s expression tightened. No wonder. No wonder every fishing civilization worked to destroy other civilizations. It was not due to them being bloodthirsty, but rather that those civilizations were fighting for living space. They were fighting for the resources that they needed to defeat other fishing civilizations.
Eventually, there would be a day when they faced a life and death battle as well. Before that day came, they worked to desperately grab everything they could.
“Do all fishing civilizations have this same thought?” Lu Yin asked.
Ancestor Shan’s tone turned grave. “This is only a summarization. Civilizations do not communicate with one another, but while developing, they observe, they think, they infer, and they search for hints of the future. Ultimately, they reach the same conclusions from different paths. It’s possible that some fishing civilizations have considered things further or studied more.
“While I have lived a long, long time, I have never managed to raise my Seven-Treasure Anuras to the level of a fishing civilization. All of my knowledge is based on the past, on what I have managed to figure out for myself. Even so, this knowledge undoubtedly matches that of many fishing civilizations.
“During the time I have been imprisoned, I have sought many ways to break this seal. I have also spent time recalling the past and recording certain pieces of important information. I have written them on the plates that form this One-Hundredth Seal. On these plates may be many details that you wish to know, as well as the inheritance of the Seven-Treasure Anuras. If I die, do you best to gather the pieces of the One-Hundredth Seal. Doing so will surely benefit your civilization.
“I am not using this to push you into avenging me. That would be meaningless. It is simply that, before dying, the only thing I can leave any record upon is these plates. My apologies, human.”
Astral Anura mournfully asked, “Ancestor... are you going to die?”
Ancestor Shan’s voice grew much softer. “Little Anura, be good and do not be sad. Your ancestor has lived for much too long. It is time for me to go.”
Astral Anura’s expression dropped. Regardless of his personality, he had always felt like a homeless wanderer within the human civilization. After struggling for so long, he had finally rejoined the Seven-Treasure Anuras, and experienced what it was like to have family. He had met their ancestor on several occasions, and each time, Ancestor Shan had been gentle, offering Astral Anura guidance. The toad truly did not want his ancestor to die.
“Little Anura, follow the humans carefully. Protect our kin. They are not as clever as you and will not know what to do. You must lead them. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I understand, Ancestor.”
“Also, tell Old First that Old Sixth is not dead. Long ago, they made too great a mistake, and your ancestor had no choice but to cast them out. You may one day meet them again. Old Sixth is the most talented Seven-Treasure Anura to have ever appeared throughout the ages. Even I cannot compare to him. If you are one day able to reunite with Old Sixth, say something for me.”
After a bit of a pause, Ancestor Shan’s voice suddenly rose. “You little bastard! You finally came back. Make trouble again, and see if your ancestor doesn’t smack your ass to pieces!”
The shout was so loud that both Lu Yin and Astral Anura jumped.
Yet the voice clearly contained both anticipation and joy. Ancestor Shan must miss Old Sixth terribly.
At that moment, the void started to warp, causing Lu Yin’s head to whip around. Here it comes again.
“Fire Cosmic Shear. I want to see how many can survive this.”
“Firing Cosmic Shear.”
The technological civilization was clearly overestimating their own power and underestimating the Immortals present.
Given that Cosmic Shear’s first launch had not been able to threaten Huo, multiple uses of the weapon would have the same result.
At the moment, things were getting too dangerous. Lu Yin took Astral Anura and the others away. Huo could only watch, powerless to do anything.
Duan suffered the worst. This attack could very well finish the creature off, but at the critical moment, Huo shielded Duan with its own scales.
“Little Anura, what did Ancestor say to you?” Old First asked.
Old Fourth and Old Fifth also looked over with great curiosity. Astral Anura had been the only one who had managed to speak with their ancestor.
This was the first conversation that any of the Seven-Treasure Anuras had held with their ancestor since the moment Ancestor Shan had been sealed.
Astral Anura sadly replied, “Ancestor said that they cannot survive.”
Old First clenched his jaw. “I don’t believe it! After everything, we cannot give up!”
“What else was said? Did Ancestor mention me?” Old Fourth asked hurriedly.
Old Fifth also looked at Astral Anura expectantly.
Astral Anura glanced at the two and shook his head. “No.”
Old Fourth and Old Fifth were disappointed.
“But Ancestor did mention Uncle Old Sixth,” Astral Anura suddenly said.
All three Immortal toads twitched, and they stared at Astral Anura. “What did you just say? Old Sixth was mentioned?”
“Isn’t Old Sixth dead?”
Astral Anura shook his head. “Ancestor said that Uncle Old Sixth isn’t dead.”
By this time, the third Cosmic Shear had finished, and Lu Yin spoke up. “We can talk after we return. First, we need to try to save Ancestor Shan.”
With that, he delivered Old First and the other Immortals to the battlefield one by one, very considerately placing them right in front of Huo, which left the Blacklight creature absolutely furious.
Teleportation was an infuriating ability to have to deal with.
The Nest civilization had once used teleportation to frustrate humanity, and Lu Yin was using his innate gift to cause the same kind of frustration for others. He was absolutely vicious in his actions.
Lu Yin then took Astral Anura back to speak with Ancestor Shan again.
Huo wanted to stop them, but it could not shake Old First off.
The news that Old Sixth still lived had fired Old First up, and he was battering Huo so hard that it could not advance even one step.