After processing the information for a while, Han Xiao pushed open the door and returned to the interrogation room. Iso, Harrison, and Lodi all looked at him at once.
"Lord Black Star, I..."
Lodi looked eager to ask a question, but Han Xiao raised his hand to stop him.
"I already know your basic situation. Stay with me for now, and I'll try my best to solve your problem."
Han Xiao pondered for a while about how to deal with Lodi.
Lodi is currently only a semi-finished product, not yet fully transformed, and unable to control his own abilities. Perhaps only after a complete transformation can he transform into the "Child of Destiny" form of the Germinal Organization, possessing powerful precognitive talents.
However, once the transformation is complete, Lodi's personality will change and be replaced by a completely new personality, which is equivalent to death in a certain sense.
A stable and controllable predictor would be far more useful than the current half-baked one who occasionally faints. However, having accepted the task, Han Xiao couldn't just sit idly by and watch the transformation proceed smoothly. Therefore, he decided to do his best and leave the rest to fate, trying to stop Lodi's transformation... If he couldn't stop it, he wouldn't mind gaining a new "Child of Destiny."
Given Lodi's current condition, it is necessary to control his movements.
Han Xiao specifically arranged for Phillip to set aside a new, private laboratory on the spaceship, and had Harrison take Lodi there, lock him in a nutrient tank, and inject him with hypnotic drugs to facilitate research. Lodi had no choice but to cling to his only hope and cooperate actively.
After the two left, only Han Xiao and Iso remained in the room, exchanging a glance.
"I saw you went out for a while earlier, did you find out something?" Iso curiously.
"The root of this guy's mutation might be due to the influence of some special Primal Esper Ability..."
Han Xiao briefly recounted some information about the Child of Destiny and his Germinal experiences.
"The Child of Destiny... Never heard of it." Iso muttered to himself.
"That's normal, I don't know much about it either."
Iso coughed, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "I'm not very clear about your past experiences, but assuming that the ' Child of Destiny ' you encountered before, like Lodi now, was a random product of Primal Esper Ability, why would two offspring appear on Planet Aquamarine in succession? If it were truly random across the entire universe, do you think such a coincidence would be possible?"
That's nothing, I've seen even more coincidences...
Han Xiao had this thought, but didn't show it on his face, simply agreeing, "It is indeed a coincidence."
"Following this line of thought, since the mutation occurred at the Information State level, I think Planet Aquamarine might have some peculiarities in this regard, such as the condensation of special fate lines... This isn't just me talking nonsense; I've seen quite a few people who were born with unique fate lines..."
Iso stopped halfway through his sentence, looked Han Xiao up and down, and seemed to be deep in thought:
"... That's true. Planet Aquamarine produced someone like you, and another Beyond Grade A Hila. Your rise has made our home planet unique, and perhaps this is the reason."
Han Xiao hesitated, then said nothing, only patting Iso's shoulder forcefully.
--Smart people are so easy to fool. I hadn't even put in any effort, and you'd already convinced yourself.
"Thanks. I definitely wouldn't have discovered this without your prediction."
Joking aside, Han Xiao was still quite grateful for Iso's notification.
"No need to thank me. Dragon Calm and Planet Aquamarine are neighbors now. I'm just ensuring a safe living environment. Besides, among the people I know, prophecy can only be most effective in your hands. I trust your abilities and character." Iso waved his hand.
Upon hearing this, Han Xiao couldn't help but feel as if he were in a dream.
Han Xiao used to envy Iso's powerful connections, where he could have someone hand him toilet paper wherever he went. But as he gradually rose to prominence, he unknowingly became the most influential person Iso knew.
People are willing to consult with me first when something happens, which makes me seem reliable.
As he spoke, Iso couldn't help but sigh:
"I've lived this long and seen a lot, but you are the most amazing person I've ever met. I've never seen anyone as incredible as you. When I first met you, I thought you had a bright future, but I never imagined that you would reach heights that countless people can't even dream of in just a few decades... History may forget me, but it will never forget you."
"... We were talking so smoothly, why did you suddenly start blowing smoke? It's kind of embarrassing."
Han Xiao chuckled, his face saying "Don't stop."
"Perhaps I'm really getting old, and I'm becoming more and more prone to sentimentality," Iso sighed, then said sincerely, "All these years, I'm so grateful for your help to Dragon Calm."
Seeing this, Han Xiao also stopped smiling and slowly said, "My achievements are inseparable from Dragon Calm's cultivation. If it weren't for Ames's protection, I wouldn't have been so successful. So there's no need to thank me. What I gave Dragon Calm was just the return and feedback I deserved."
Just like in business, having a powerful backer makes it easier to develop than starting from scratch. When he was still weak, Dragon Calm provided tremendous help. Therefore, although his current status in the universe far surpasses that of Dragon Calm, he still respects Dragon Calm's forces, treats them as equals, and has never stopped supporting them.
"Having the opportunity to sponsor someone like you is perhaps the greatest fortune for Dragon Calm."
Iso's expression was complex, a mixture of helplessness and relief, as he spoke earnestly:
"Ames is like my daughter, but as you know, all I can do is foresee the future. Unlike you, I don't possess great power. You, right now, can protect her better than I can..."
I have lived for many years and have never asked anyone for help, but today I beg you to protect Ames. I entrust her to you, and I hope that even after hundreds or thousands of years, you will still remember my words today.
After saying that, he gave Han Xiao a deep look, pushed open the door and walked out of the room, his slightly hunched the Sight of Father's Back disappearing at the end of the corridor.
"You old geezer..."
Han Xiao watched him leave, letting out a soft breath. He understood Iso's intention.
Although Iso is an immortal being, he is old after all and has little combat power. Even if he understands prophecy, what he can do is limited and far from being omnipotent.
He foresaw the turmoil that might ensue in the future, and the prophesied disaster filled him with a long-lost sense of unease. He feared he was incapable of protecting Ames, so he took precautions and swallowed his pride, privately requesting that Black Star continue to act as Dragon Calm's protector in exchange for a guarantee. In Iso's eyes, only Black Star possessed both the motivation and the ability to protect Ames, making him the best candidate he could find.
Aesop knew that Ames could never say these words, so Iso knew that only he could say them, and that it was necessary for him to say them.
This is why the old man, contrary to his usual behavior, took the initiative to seek cooperation—he was frightened by his own prediction.
"The old man suppressed his adventurous nature and stayed in a monotonous place like Dragon Calm for decades. Although he was nominally confined by Ames, if Iso wanted to leave, he would definitely find a way. Now, out of concern for Ames's future, he has swallowed his pride and come to beg me... Time will tell."
Han Xiao smiled.
In her past life, Ames destroyed Dragon Calm in her quest for Revenge; now it seems that old man Iso deserves such treatment.
But this time, with us here, we won't let Dragon Calm repeat the same mistake.
After composing himself, Han Xiao returned to his office and called Phillip.
He still remembered his goal of finding out the ownership of the Soul Flame, so he used his authority to retrieve the information on the First Ones "Spirit Emperor" from the Imperial Database and quickly browsed through it:
The Spirit Emperor's real name is Rovel Sisok, and he also has nicknames such as "Specter King" and "Master of Esoteric Spirits". He is also one of the First Ones and was already a powerful Beyond Grade A mental ability user before becoming the host of the Soul Flame.
This person comes from an advanced civilization and was a powerful figure during the exploration period.
At that time, Beyond Grade A had just emerged. Compared to other types of abilities, mental abilities that broke through the limits of natural Calamity Grade were more troublesome. The mental barrier device, which had not yet been updated, could not stop the Spirit Emperor. He could easily penetrate the shield and armor to kill or control the crew members, and soon established a great reputation in the Exploration Era War.
After obtaining the Soul Flame, he became even more powerful, using his strong personal abilities to conquer cities and strongholds for his civilization in war, winning many local battles, making countless contributions, and receiving numerous commendations and honors. He was regarded as a hero and protector by the entire civilization.
However, as advanced civilizations began to devote all their efforts to researching Beyond Grade A, the brief era of unparalleled dominance by the First Ones quickly came to an end. Battles became more difficult, and Beyond Grade A casualties gradually began to occur.
The Spirit Emperor was no exception. Although he was still powerful and a strong unit in interstellar warfare, he was targeted every time he appeared, making it difficult for him to play the role he once had in war. He could not open up a local war situation on his own.
Coupled with the fact that their civilization suffered repeated defeats on other fronts, their overall strategy was severely affected, and their favorable situation was gradually eroded by the combined forces of their enemies.
Therefore, Spirit Emperor's fighting style gradually became more aggressive. Sometimes, even if he was injured, he would try to turn the tide of battle. Although it was a drop in the ocean, it showed his vision and loyalty to contribute to civilization.
--the First Ones of the past are different from the current Beyond Grade A. Many of them do not have the idea of protecting themselves. In the Exploration Era War, the fate of individuals and the fate of civilizations are almost intertwined.
In the midst of years of tireless warfare, a turning point soon arrived. The civilization of the Spirit Emperor and numerous enemies, with two star systems as the main battlefield, deployed a massive amount of troops to launch a decisive and crucial battle.
Countless fleets clashed on various battlefronts, the situation constantly shifting. And just as the conflict reached its climax, this civilization faced a Choice...
On one hand, Spirit Emperor was targeted and surrounded, exhausted from the fierce battle, and urgently needed a full-scale rescue.
On the other hand, a crucial front is in dire need of support.
If this front collapses, it will trigger a chain reaction, potentially leading the entire campaign to defeat. Conversely, if it is held, it will provide a significant strategic advantage and greatly increase the chances of victory. It is precisely for this reason that the enemy is continuously sending reinforcements to this front.
This civilization has already committed a large portion of its forces to the battlefield, leaving only a small number of rapid reaction fleets available for deployment. It is known that dividing the reinforcements equally might offer a chance to rescue Spirit Emperor, but it is certain that they will not be able to hold the key battle lines.
This is where the choices come in... How should we allocate our forces, which side should we prioritize supporting, and what should we choose between?
For civilization, this Choice seems to be not difficult at all.
They abandoned Spirit Emperor and chose to prioritize the overall strategy, committing all reinforcements to key battlefronts. The outcome was as they anticipated: the battlefronts were successfully held, the stalemate was broken, the enemy was gradually repelled, and victory was ultimately achieved.
Spirit Emperor Ling died as expected. The civilization claimed that he died fighting bravely, and that Spirit Emperor sacrifice laid the foundation for their victory. The whole nation mourned him, paid him homage, and held a funeral with the highest honors. They posthumously awarded him the "Barvid Tower" medal, representing the highest Glory of the civilization, and erected a monument to Spirit Emperor Ling on their home planet in his memory.
However, in the ever-changing Exploration Era War, there is no shortage of enemies, and the key battle victories achieved by this civilization cannot always serve as their shield.
Ultimately, this civilization did not emerge victorious in the exploration of history. It was destroyed by a more powerful civilization, nearly resulting in genocide, and became a defeated and eliminated nation.
This is a general outline of Spirit Emperor's life, which has been marked "died in battle" in the archives.
Due to the passage of time and the fact that the exploration period was also a time of war, the databases of the Three Universal Civilizations only contain general information about Spirit Emperor. Detailed information is lacking. With the demise of the civilization to which Spirit Emperor Ling belonged, much information about him was buried by history.
After reading the information, Han Xiao fell into thought. He was used to the Spirit Emperor's experiences, and at this moment he was only interested in the whereabouts of the Soul Flame.
"The Spirit Emperor was the last known host of the Soul Flame. Could this guy be the Oathkeeper? Either the Spirit Emperor faked his death, or the Oathkeeper someone else who stole the Soul Flame from the Spirit Emperor. So there's a chance he was one of the opposing Beyond Grade A who participated in that battle, but the possibility of him getting lucky cannot be ruled out..."
At this moment, Han Xiao suddenly thought of those the First Ones were resurrected in his previous life, and it seemed that none of them were the Spirit Emperor. His eyes lit up immediately.
"In that case, the possibility that Spirit Emperor faked his death is quite high..."
Han Xiao's heart stirred, and he pondered to himself.
Many of the First Ones from the previous life have been resurrected. If we wait until the group from the Super Calamity is reborn, maybe we can find someone who knows the truth and ask them...
But just then, Han Xiao suddenly remembered something and froze.
Wait a minute!
Those in the know... are not just the First Ones revived by the Sanctum.
It seems that the Netherland Dimension inherited by Hila also contains the heroic spirits of the First Ones!
"That's impressive..."
Han Xiao opened his eyes wide.
Every drink and every bite, is it all preordained?
Or is it that collecting items belonging to those with Lucky Halo can truly improve one's overall fortune?!