The proxy president thought deeply for a moment before saying, "We don't know if there really is such a Conceptual Superpower User, besides, the Volcano Race clearly has Space Superpower Users. If our people go out, they may be ambushed and the position of the thirteenth team might be exposed. For now, let's put a stop to this; let them fend for themselves. We've already acted like we don't care about one Conceptual Superpower User, we should maintain this facade until the end, keeping the opposition from distinguishing reality from deception."
The whole situation was quite problematic; normally, they would have rushed to bring the person in immediately.
After all, a Creator Conceptual Superpower User is a talent at any time.
But now, being watched by the Volcano Race, they dare not make any actions that would appear weak.
They even have to deliberately show internal conflict to make the opposition think they're confident enough to bicker, indifferent to the nearby major threat.
It's essentially a show of bravado!
Though it might be seen through, with marvels shielding the critical areas of the safe zone, it can at least buy some time.
The foundation of Earth Civilization is too thin.
Right now, Earth Civilization lacks time the most.
They have no choice because from speculations over this period, they suspect that the other side might have Celestial-level creatures. The volcano cluster ahead is probably caused by the existence of Celestial-level creatures.
Celestial-level creatures can cause natural disasters, affecting a vast area's environment, not something ordinary creatures can handle.
The Earthlings are newcomers, far too weak, requiring utmost care with every step, walking on thin ice.
"This world is too dangerous; the previous Superpower chaos was just the spirit of exotic beings stirring trouble; this time we directly face living exotic beings!"
"With Drought Fiends behind and Volcano people ahead, we're practically beset on both sides!"
This group of high-ranking officials now looked worried here, no longer calm like when facing the Volcano Race's envoys.
Fortunately, those chasing them were only small Drought Fiends; the True Drought Fiend seems to be elsewhere.
Those small Drought Fiends, they could spare energy to eliminate, but the elimination speed is not as fast as their birth.
"Focus on training the Mechanician, he is the hope of all humanity!"
"I agree; very soon, he will surely advance to Earth Level. Once he reaches Earth's Limit, there may be hope to create weapons capable of destroying Celestial-level creatures!"
"I agree too..."
"Before that, I suggest evacuation; this place is not suitable to linger."
"But our path is blocked by that volcano cluster, which harbors a very powerful civilization."
"Maybe...detour?"
"But to detour around this volcano cluster would require an additional journey of at least ten thousand kilometers..."
"Will the act of evacuation make them see us as afraid?"
"Then what do you propose?!"
...
After the Volcano Race envoy returned.
In the center of the vast volcano cluster.
Inside a massive stone palace.
A group of bald Volcano people sat around a large stone used as a conference table.
These Volcano people all had solemn expressions.
The elderly Volcano person sitting in the chief seat said in a deep voice, "The envoy is back and brought some information."
"What information?"
The surrounding Volcano people immediately asked.
The elderly Volcano person said in a deep voice, "Earth Civilization, the strongest is suspected to be just at Human Limit, yet strangely, the civilization seems to not care about a Conceptual Superpower User, even though they are of the Creation Class."
"Don't care?"
"Is that true? Conceptual Superpower Users are said to have no bottlenecks, how could they not care?"
All the Volcano people present expressed doubt.
"Could that civilization really have such confidence to disregard a Conceptual Superpower User?"
"Do you think there's a possibility, that the civilization doesn't even know the existence of Superpower Cultivation Technique?"
"That's unlikely, any civilization having been in this world for over ten years should know it."
"By the way, I remember that civilization is a technological one. The warfare execution of technological civilizations cannot be judged by apparent strength. From this perspective, not caring about one Conceptual Superpower User is understandable."
"When receiving our envoy, they appeared calm, seemingly confident."
The elderly Volcano person said in a deep voice, "If it's just a normal civilization, whether our Volcano Race can assimilate them, they can't threaten us anyway; just worried whether they truly have such confidence."
Around the huge stone conference table, all Volcano people frowned.
The elderly Volcano person continued, "According to our investigation, what they are truly wary of seems to be this volcano cluster we reside in; they might perceive it as a living entity, this point can be exploited."
He paused, then continued seriously, "The old ancestor has been stuck at Earth's Limit for two thousand years, unable to break through, nearing end of life. A civilization without Celestial-level masters cannot last long in this world. Our Volcano Race ultimately isn't a technological civilization; we lack the means to start developing technology from scratch. If possible, it would be best to swallow that Earth Civilization, immediately absorbing their technological foundation, saving us thousands of years."
According to the Volcano Race's understanding, the development speed of technological civilizations far surpasses other types of civilizations; they have coveted technological civilizations for a long time.
And now, there's an opportunity.
A middle-aged Volcano person raised his hand and said, "Is war necessary? Is there a possibility for trade?"
"Trade assumes equal strength, and who can guarantee that what they trade to us is genuinely the technological civilization's legacy?"
The elderly Volcano person in the chief seat said in a deep voice, "If Earth Civilization is too weak, swallowing them is quicker."
"What if Earth Civilization is too strong?" someone refuted.
The elderly Volcano person frowned, which was also his greatest worry.
Someone tentatively said, "Is it possible to ally? I noticed that Earth Civilization's race looks very similar to our Volcano Race, although they are a hairy race, quite unsightly, but of similar body size. Perhaps maintaining relations can be done through marriage? Anyway, shave off the hair, they look quite similar to our race."
"That might be unrealistic."
The elderly Volcano person shook his head, "Our Volcano Race naturally prefers a high-temperature environment, with normal body temperatures exceeding three hundred degrees, but according to the information we obtained, Earth Civilization's normal body temperature is only several dozen degrees, unless this problem can be solved."
And even if this problem is solved, equal strength is still required; otherwise, who would want to marry a weaker party?
In the massive palace, silence descended again, all Volcano people frowned.
If possible, no one likes war, and the Volcano Race is the same.
But facing external civilizations, being overly merciful is cruelty to oneself.
Even in an alliance, without a reliable covenant, it is difficult to trust the sincerity of the other party's willingness to ally.
On the side of the couch, how can others allow snoring?
Not of my race, his heart must be different!
So the best plan is to eliminate the threat to avoid constant anxiety.
The elderly Volcano person spoke again, "Five days from now, the Earth Civilization envoy will visit, we'll test them once more; if they are too weak, then we swallow them directly. Before then, you all control your descendants well, don't show any behavior that makes the opponent think we are weak, if they show any hostility, immediately counter, never exhibit weakness or give them a chance to strike first."
Around the huge stone table, the Volcano people hesitated for a moment, then nodded, agreeing to this plan.
...
"So full!"
Yang Yuan, with a bulging belly, burped as he exited the metal house, ready to continue crafting upgrade items.
Though Zhao Jiayan's cooking was just ordinary, it had been too long since he'd eaten proper food; he indulged excessively in this meal.
Outside the safe house door, soldiers were already feeding the six little girls inside.
Those six little girls might truly know nothing. After all, when Earth merged into this world, many of them were still unaware of things, seeing food was available, they joyously snatched at it.
Given the long duration, they no longer ask where their parents went, accustomed now to being fed by soldier uncles.
Yang Yuan specifically took a closer look, satisfied as he saw the safe house's experience indeed increasing, and happily smiled; he even specially took some Doraemon plush toys to the six little girls.
Anyway, a lot of these plush toys were piled up at the printer's exit hatch, Jiang Yiyi couldn't play with all of them alone.
"Thank you, uncle..."
The six little girls happily accepted the Doraemon plush toys.
Even though Jiang Yiyi had already given each of them one, they didn't mind having more.
Yang Yuan chuckled, just as he was about to continue cleaning up the layer of decayed leaves in the factory, two soldiers carried a box in.