Meanwhile.
As the Taotie scouts were routed, a small number of them returned to the main fleet at the Pluto Great Worm Bridge.
"My King Shi Hao, the team sent to scout Earth was... was completely wiped out."
"Only three escort craft made it back!"
In the command room, an armored Taotie Soldier knelt before a towering throne.
Seated upon it was a large Taotie with mechanical wings on his back.
He was King Shi Hao, the chief commander of this invasion of Earth.
He was also one of the Taotie Army's only two kings.
Tap, tap—
Shi Hao tapped the armrest of his throne, producing crisp sounds.
At that moment, every subordinate present could sense the chill beneath Shi Hao's mask.
"They were wiped out by a pre-nuclear civilization. Those scouts were truly... unbelievably stupid!"
King Shi Hao flew into a rage and slammed his palm against the throne.
The Taotie below changed expression slightly and fell to their knees in terror, not daring to meet Shi Hao's gaze.
"King Shi Hao, I suggest we send troops to wipe out those natives!" a Taotie officer proposed.
"Fine. This time, send the vanguard fleet. If scouts won't do, then I'll deploy the main force. Earth's civilization will be ours for the taking!"
Shi Hao spoke furiously, strongly approving of the suggestion.
Some of the Taotie, however, were hesitant and voiced their own opinions.
They had only just arrived in the Chi Wu Star System and had yet to understand Earth's situation.
Sending troops rashly could easily draw the attention of other civilizations in the universe.
Besides, who could say for certain that Earth's civilization did not possess weapons capable of dealing with the Taotie Army?
"King Shi Hao, please reconsider. Earth's civilization has been mysterious ever since its history of life evolution spanning over ten thousand years. We must not act rashly!"
"Bullshit! I think you're just cowards of the Taotie Army. A pre-nuclear civilization has scared you this badly? What useless trash!"
"That's right, King Shi Hao. Earth is merely a pre-nuclear civilization. Human bodies have not endured the baptism of ruins; they can never surpass us."
"Even an ordinary soldier like us can massacre all the humans in an entire city!"
The Taotie officers split into two camps and launched into a heated debate in the command room.
Shi Hao remained seated, rubbing his chin as he gradually considered this strategic decision.
But just as they were locked in a stalemate—
A ghostlike figure appeared at Shi Hao's side.
He wore the robes of Death God and a skull mask, while what seemed to be dark green flames burned within his eyes.
"Lord Snow."
At the sight of him, the Taotie all dropped to one knee and saluted Snow.
"Snow."
King Shi Hao straightened his posture as well, showing a degree of reverence toward Carl's capable subordinate.
"There is no need to be nervous. I came this time primarily to help you deal with Earth's civilization."
"According to my God Carl's investigation, Angel Civilization seems to have intervened in this battle ahead of schedule for some ancient reason."
"If you wish to deal with Earth, you will likely need some preparation."
"This time, the vanguard fleet cannot be deployed."
Standing with his hands behind his back, Snow's mask emitted a grim voice.
"But if we allow Earth's civilization to continue developing, I fear they will slip beyond the Taotie fleet's control."
King Shi Hao nodded and voiced his concerns.
It would not do to simply ignore Earth's civilization.
Their rate of growth was extremely fast. If left unchecked, they could very well become a major civilization.
"My God Carl left a contingency on Earth: a Beast Body Warrior. It can be used to cause Earth's civilization no small amount of trouble."
Snow spoke calmly.
King Shi Hao was slightly startled. As expected of my God Carl.
She had laid the groundwork a thousand years ago and planned for a millennium. Could she have foreseen this day?
Such far-reaching foresight truly made her the god the Taotie should follow most!
"Praise my God Carl!"
"My God Carl, the true god of the universe!"
"We swear to obey my God Carl's will unto death and follow Ultimate Fear!"
"Let the world feel pain!"
As though injected with stimulants, the Taotie officers shouted their praises for Carl at the tops of their lungs.
Watching this scene, Snow's eyes beneath his mask flashed with a profound light. These Taotie possessed exceptionally simple faith.
In other words, they were like Earth's dogs. Once they had an owner, they would follow that owner unto death.
They truly were a useful tool race.
Then Snow's body dissolved into a cloud of black mist and vanished.
Three days later.
In Earth's western hemisphere, in a nation that worshiped cats and pharaohs.
"Lord Snow, the map indicates that this is the location."
A Taotie Soldier pointed at the Pyramid of Khufu in the distance.
The surface of the sphinx-shaped pyramid was covered in traces of erosion, while dark yellow sand and stone swirled through the sky.
Amid the sand and stone, Snow took out a small cube resembling a Rubik's Cube.
As his fingers manipulated the cube, the pyramid before him began rotating like one as well.
The Pyramid of Khufu split open from the middle, revealing a pitch-black hole.
Buzz!
A flash of cold light burst forth, accompanied by a beastly roar that shot into the heavens!
Roar!
"I've finally returned to this world!"
"Hahahaha!!!"
A savage yet slightly foolish laugh echoed outside the pyramid.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two sharp axes sliced through the air, trailing icy arcs as they cleaved toward the Taotie Soldiers and Snow.
"Three delicious meals. Suo Dun loves eating them most!"
The two Taotie Soldiers felt a chill shoot up their scalps.
They looked fearfully at Snow beside them, but Snow merely smiled. His figure flickered, and he vanished from where he stood.
"Not good!"
"Lord Snow wants to use us as food for that crocodile!"
"Run!"
"It's already too late!"
The Taotie Soldiers scrambled backward in panic.
But in the next second—
With a whoosh, cold light flashed, and the two Taotie Soldiers were sliced directly in half.
Boom!!
A thunderous impact rang out.
A blood-red humanoid crocodile dropped onto the ground on his butt, kicking up a cloud of dust.
He held the Taotie Soldiers in both claws and began eating them like dragon fruit.
"Delicious! Fresh meat is still the best. Suo Dun got sick of those rotten cured meats long ago!"
"Suo Dun, I will represent Death God Karl in negotiating with you."
At that moment, Snow's body emerged from the void and came to Suo Dun's side.
Swish!
A blade flashed. Suo Dun froze for a moment, but failed to cut through Snow's body.
He was like smoke, able to evade physical damage.
"You're not meat. Boring."
Suo Dun stood up impatiently, scratched his butt, and headed toward the nearest river.
Meanwhile.
Lin Ye had solved Angel International's historic problem and was being praised by everyone.
"As expected of our Lord Lin Ye. This level of brainpower is truly beyond what ordinary people like us can handle."
"I heard Lord Lin Ye, like the angel sisters, possesses Angel Gene. I wonder if I could ask him to..."
"Pah, you little brat! Sister Linna hasn't even made a move yet, and you already want to ask Lord Lin Ye for his seed?"
In the hall, Lin Ye sat on the sofa as a system notification sounded in his ears.
Ding! Congratulations, Host, for solving the financial crisis and gaining a massive amount of shock. Your body's genes have been strengthened. Your divine body has advanced to the ultimate form of mid-tier fourth generation.
Before you continue