This did not stop the Emperor from seizing the technology and knowledge left by the Ancient Saints, but after understanding all of this, he was willing to grant these pitiful yet admirable creatures some room to live, for Chaos was the mortal enemy of both sides.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend, all the more so because the Emperor’s resurrection also came from the legacy of the Ancient Saints.

From a certain point of view, this was also a kind of transaction.

"Not enough. Our master’s legacy is not something that can be replaced by shared knowledge as you imagine." The Great Demon Lord shook his head. "In ten thousand years of slumber and contemplation, I have understood much. If you are unwilling to stay and fight our great foe alongside us, we will not hand over what I command, even if you destroy us."

"My offspring will remain." The Emperor fixed his gaze on Fugen. "He will lead the human armies to fight side by side with you."

"Not enough." Mazda Moody still shook his head. "That is our master’s legacy."

"I can reconsecrate your polluted Hatching Pools." The Emperor offered his second condition.

"Not enough." The Great Demon Lord still shook his head, yet its stance had already softened somewhat. "If so, we can only allow you to view three Pyramid chambers."

On the surface Fugen remained calm, but inwardly he was already filled with doubt and confusion; he thought to himself that these servants of the Ancient Saints were truly obstinate.

The Emperor seemed to notice the change in Fugen’s mood; with a simple Spiritual Energy transmission, he ordered him to calm down.

"The Sons of the Ancient Saints are indeed immensely powerful beings, but they are not invincible. His remaining behind can only grant our war against the eternal nemesis a tiny sliver more chance of victory, and that is far from enough... As for humans, they are too young, too naive, childish in many cases, and extremely susceptible to Chaos Corruption. Until now I believe the most important reason we failed to complete the Great Plan is precisely that these young races were not exterminated, allowing Chaos to acquire a vast host of claws and minions." The Golden Throne was slowly settled upon the altar within the Pyramid as Mazda Moody spoke, his words very slow. "You must bring forth more to move me, young Ancient Saint. This is my duty and my mission. I will devote my all to it, until the Great Plan is fulfilled."

"How pathetic." Fugen finally spoke, his tone mocking. "And yet even now you still do not understand what the true Great Plan actually is."

"Son of the Ancient Saint, you are also part of the Great Plan. Our master foresaw all long ago. The four Sons of the Ancient Saints still persist in this world; you are like faint points of Light of Order amid the endless Chaos—purple, red, silver, and blue." Mazda Moody continued, "It is not enough. It is still far, far from enough."

The Emperor’s gaze locked tightly onto this Demon Toad as he weighed gains and losses.

Due to the influence of the eternal Subspace storm, the Master of Humans was basically unable to teleport armies here; the Emperor even suspected that, without his own power to navigate within the Subspace storm, nothing could pass through the Subspace storm to reach this world.

No wonder the Ancient Saints chose this world as a playground, a laboratory, and ultimately a refuge.

The final legacy of the Ancient Saints must never fall into the hands of Chaos!

After long deliberation, the Emperor decided to reveal his final card.

The Master of Humans stood before the Demon Toad; upon his noble visage of endless light and miracles, he uttered several words.

For the first time, the Great Demon Lord showed an expression of surprise; it raised its head, seemingly in disbelief.

Yet the Emperor calmly nodded. The terms had been stated; now it depended on whether the other party would accept.

If they refused, then he would have no choice but to personally act, even at the risk of being discovered by Chaos.

The atmosphere grew taut. Within the Great Pyramid of the Sun City, above dozens of clear pools and the long stairways, amid countless sacred runes and ancient marks, beneath those moss-covered murals on the ceiling, the Emperor, Fugen, and the Demon Toad seated upon the Golden Throne fell into silence.

In an instant, hundreds of communications shuttled back and forth within the Holy Council. Every slumbering Shilan received Mazda Moody’s transmission and gave their response.

Consciousness gradually returned to the body, leaving the Great Demon Lord with a painful choice. Reason told him that their master’s legacy must not be given into the hands of these young races; yet reason also told him this might be one of the few chances to prevent the Moment of Destruction. The origin of the other party was unknown, his existence mysterious. When Mazda Moody closed his eyes and let his soul drift through the shadows between the Chaos Realm and the material world, he could sense, before him, that cold sun filled with the Light of Order.

The greatest and most brilliant minds still existing in the world were straining to calculate the pros and cons of this matter. Mazda Moody’s Magic Power even intrigued the Emperor; he had rarely seen a Magic creature so pure and powerful, yet untouched by Chaos.

After a long while—perhaps a minute, an hour, or even an entire day—Mazda Moody finally nodded. "This is an offer we cannot refuse, young Ancient Saint. But we must see you fulfill your promise."

The negotiation had succeeded.

New World, Lustria, Chief of the Cities, The First City, the first place the Ancient Saints reached—Itaza, the Great Pyramid.

The bright and pure Light of Order unlocked the complex password lock on the Pyramid gate, a lock woven of technology and Magic. Under Mazda Moody’s guidance, the Emperor and Fugen in turn ascended the long stairway. The creations of the Ancient Saints were so wondrous: countless empty corridors and vertical shafts led toward the very summit of the Great Pyramid.