I became a god by treasure hunting after arriving 500 years early

"If there's no other way, let him return the Immortal Palace to me before he dies."

The enormous figure of the Ancient Worm slowly emerged within the grand Immortal Palace.

Although still imposing with divine might, it wasn't its true form. Its size, reduced from mountain-like proportions to something akin to a large truck, somehow seemed to lack a bit of grandeur.

Oddly enough, standing on the other side of the table, alongside Lu Yuan's imposing giant form, were six bizarrely shaped creatures.

What was this? Guests already?

"Honored Ancient Worm, a pleasure to meet you for the first time." The Crystal Man said calmly, "We are a group of Strangers stationed at the Pangu Delta distortion point."

The Ancient Worm was inwardly puzzled. Who are you?

Do I know you?

Lu Yuan said, "Honored Ancient Worm, these individuals are old predecessors I encountered in that city plagued by [Ghosts]; you might share similar goals."

Similar goals?!

The Ancient Worm adopted a look of sudden understanding, becoming eager: "Oh, I see! Lu Yuan, you've messed up this time; you're handing over your legacy, aren't you?"

"Whatever, I won't worry about the rest. Life and death are destined; wealth and rank are in the hands of heaven."

"When you're dead, I won't care about the rest of your legacy."

"But the Immortal Palace… You must return it to me. This thing is a forbidden artifact—one that must be delivered to civilizations with potential. You Strangers shouldn't meddle in such matters; there's no civilization backing you.

Lu Yuan was beyond exasperated: "How would I even return it to you?"

"The Immortal Palace can teleport itself! Well, as long as there are no living organisms inside it. Hurry up; you're dying anyway, so transfer the Civilization Points to me as well."

This place forbids lying, and here you are scheming to take advantage. Damn, Lu Yuan broke into a sweat.

The Strangers looked at each other, then at Lu Yuan. Your old friend doesn't seem particularly bright, does he?

"Ahem, I'm still alive, you know? We've already found a way to deal with the [Ghosts], so you don't need to worry for now."

"Our shared goal is to address the Epoch Disaster!"

The Ancient Worm smacked its lips awkwardly.

With such a lofty and noble aim, you've completely obliterated the prestige I was trying to maintain.

Suddenly, it raised its fake "horn" higher, as if this posture alone could restore its lost dignity.

The Crystal Man rummaged around for a while before pulling out a bottle, about the size of an eyedrop container: "Honored Ancient Worm, I seem to have heard of you… Are you a parasite from the Myth of Demons?"

The Ancient Worm snorted coldly: "So what if I am? The Myth of Demons has long perished. Now, only I, the Ancient Worm, remain alive… so what if I'm a parasite?"

The Crystal Man said, "I come from the Crystal Concrete Clan, and long ago, our ancestors may have crossed paths with you."

"I don't remember… What do you want from me?"

"This is our gift to you… I hope you'll like it."

The crystal glass bottle shone brilliantly on the table.

Lu Yuan was a bit jealous. These Strangers, despite being ancient entities, were known for their stinginess. To think they'd bring out treasures now.

The globe-like device automatically performed an identification process and delivered the item's information straight into the Ancient Worm's mind.

[Healing Spring: A product derived from the Eternal Spring deconstructed by a High-level Civilization; possesses potent healing abilities, able to mend even soul injuries. Minimal side effects. (Epic·Man-made Artifact)]

[Using this spring water significantly reduces the cost of treating injuries.]

Old Deng has made quite the lavish move.

The Ancient Worm couldn't resist the temptation. This bottle of potion could speed up the growth of its glorious horn and also serve as a lifesaving tool.

Then, suddenly, it reacted: "What do you want me to pay for this?"

"Every Peak Civilization is supported by a group of elders from previous eras." The Strangers said righteously, "We naturally wish for you to lend a hand to humanity."

The Ancient Worm was shocked. These guys came here to ask for sponsorship?!

Lu Yuan sat brazenly in the center, pretending to be a worthwhile investment.

In the realm of human psychology, there's a mechanism: those whom you have helped may not necessarily help you; but those who help you will almost always do so again.

The Old Stranger said, "Since you aim to support Human Civilization, you ought to be more generous. Don't be so miserly. After all, you're an ancient myth—you must have some assets."

"Gaah!"

The Ancient Worm froze awkwardly, as if muted, with only the occasional twitch of its six insect-like legs.

What was this? Were these old folks openly robbing him?

"Lu Yuan! You brought me here just for a robbery?" The Ancient Worm voiced its anger.

"Ahem, esteemed predecessors, I'll take my leave now. You all chat amongst yourselves; just let me know the final decision." Lu Yuan felt like these eccentric elders were too much to deal with—even his thick-skinned demeanor was starting to crack. He quickly exited the scene.

...

The Crystal Man, having first suppressed the Ancient Worm, then began persuading earnestly: "To extend the Pangu Continent Era into the next Epoch, our own power alone is insufficient. We must support other civilizations, right?"

"Of course I understand; I have my Underground Alliance, which is thriving and progressing at a swift pace! There's no need to worry!" The Ancient Worm spoke with pride when mentioning its alliance.

Through time spent together, bonds had formed. Humanity, to it, was outsiders—the Underground Alliance was family.

"No, you're mistaken. Humanity's value is higher than you assume. Supporting two civilizations separately is less effective than concentrating support on one."

"Hm, how much higher could it be?"

"Humans possess [Steel] abilities—does the Underground Alliance?"

"Humans captured two [Ghosts], did you know?"

"They even caught two [Demons], were you aware?"

"And they managed to apprehend three [Monsters]..."

With each sentence the Crystal Man uttered, the Ancient Worm visibly quivered. It began doubting its perception of the Human Civilization.

Well, no wonder humanity has myths so early on—it all makes sense now.

"Can your Underground Alliance compare?"

"There's some truth to that…" Even though it cherished the alliance deeply, it had to admit defeat.

The Crystal Man shifted gears: "You may as well invest whatever remaining assets you have too."

"What?!"

"No matter the civilization, explosive development requires immense resources. If you invest generously, you could still be known as the prime investor in a future Peak Civilization. Otherwise, we might take that title ourselves."

The Ancient Worm racked its brain, considering the conditions—it sort of made sense...

The prime investor in a Peak Civilization? It was tempted.

Wait, were they freeloading? Just for a title, they expected large-scale donations?

Besides, could humanity really become a Peak Civilization? Even with potential, wasn't that a bit much?

Its thoughts were a jumbled mess.

After much deliberation, the Ancient Worm cautiously replied: "How much are you planning to invest yourselves? Don't think you can easily fool me, I've already contributed a glorious horn—surely that's far more than you've put in."

The Crystal Man said, "It seems we're already aligned in goals. Assets shouldn't simply be given away outright. Direct cash injections are akin to forcing unnatural growth—they must face their own challenges and opportunities."

"Then, what exactly are you proposing?" The Ancient Worm was confused. First, they asked him to contribute, then said not to make excessive interventions.

The opponent responded: "This Epoch is about to enter a flourishing period—external civilizations will become increasingly active."

"We could establish a joint fund. You'll go out and trade resources, while we act as strategists behind the scenes, earning more Civilization Points. This would strengthen the Ninth Epoch overall and prepare us for what lies ahead; plus, we'd make some profit ourselves."

"Wh… What chicken?!"

"Foundation—get it?"

The Ancient Worm's eyes widened. Thankfully, its dealings with the Underground Alliance gave it some frame of reference for recalling the term "foundation."

The Crystal Man explained, "We operate in the Different Space, where there are many logistical constraints."

"But you, active in the outside world, have far more freedom."

"When encountering other civilizations, you could masquerade as an Ancient Relic and trade for Civilization Points."

"As long as sufficient Civilization Points are accumulated, even at the end of the era, having resources at hand means peace of mind."

"What's more, trading is mutually beneficial… these civilizations wouldn't see it as exploitation—they gain something in return too."

...

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(P.S.: Asking for Monthly Tickets on the last day of 2024! Don't let them expire!)