Ever since their last conversation, Zorya had stopped insisting that Yuan go out and have fun. No longer opposed to his wholehearted focus on reading at home, Zorya even took out the many books hidden beneath the bed.
On this planet, books were precious things. At least, Yuan had never seen any in the hands of the other villagers. Although everyone had rough paper to use, it was only for going to the toilet.
So no matter what was recorded in those books—whether dull or entertaining—he read them with great relish, never feeling tired in the slightest.
Meanwhile, in the sub-central region of the Styx Galaxy.
There was a star system filled with countless shipyards, warships, and orbital structures. This was the original home planet of the Taotie Civilization.
This planet had once been somewhat similar to Yuan's, brimming with vibrant green life.
But now, all of that had vanished. In its place stood endless military factories, along with countless warships and spacecraft.
The only thing comparable to them was probably the wind and sand that periodically rose from the ground, sweeping recklessly across the utterly lifeless surface.
Inside the command hall of the largest warship, more than a dozen figures in white armor sat around a table with a circular hollow at its center, leaning close and seemingly discussing something.
"Hiss!"
The sound of gas venting interrupted them as the person at the head of the table removed their helmet.
The others followed suit, revealing more than a dozen black heads. They resembled the apes on Yuan's planet somewhat, though not entirely. They were simply a little too black.
"All right, how are preparations for the Thousand-Year War Plan coming along?"
"King, the new warships are all ready. We only await your command. Once the fleet heads to the Great Worm Bridge and makes the jump, we can begin."
"Good. Remember, this war plan is extremely important. My god Karl is watching it closely. There must not be the slightest oversight."
"Yes. The combat division has completed all strategic planning. Earth is currently no more than a pre-nuclear civilization."
Just as he spoke, someone beside him laughed and interrupted.
"No, there are many kinds of pre-nuclear civilizations. In terms of the Divine River Body, they can at most be called some kind of feudal civilization. They are still using sticks to poke each other."
"Exactly. Though I have to say, those weapons are pretty novel. I should grab a few to add to my collection later."
"Hahahaha! You kid just loves all that flashy nonsense."
"Mm, good."
After saying that, Shihao turned to the Gorilla-man beside him and asked,
"Fenglei, how have the arrangements from previous years gone? Have Cole and the others set out?"
"King, judging by the time, almost all the teams should have reached their designated positions over the past few years."
"Good. I will make no further arrangements for what comes next. Do not tell me anything either. I know nothing. Understood?"
"But if we do this, what about the academy?"
"Bang! Enough! I am the Taotie King." A pair of eyes glared fiercely at Fenglei before sweeping over the dozen or so Gorilla-men present.
"Remember this well. The Dark Dimension is everywhere. No one can keep secrets from my god Karl. It is only that you are not qualified to audience my god, and you are far enough away. Do you understand?"
Shihao practically roared the final sentence with all his strength. Then he put on his helmet and turned to leave.
Inside the command hall, the remaining dozen or so figures looked at one another, not daring to make a sound. Only after the doors closed did they slowly let out a breath.
"That scared me. It has been a long time since I saw the King this angry. Fenglei, you have some nerve. How did you dare say that?"
As soon as those words fell, several complaints gradually rose within the command hall.
Hearing them, Fenglei's expression darkened, but he still explained,
"You think I wanted to say it? Everyone here is involved. I do not believe you are unaware of the risks."
After saying that, he turned toward the view of the star exposed beyond the terrace at the front of the command hall, his eyes filled with endless confusion.
"Beast bodies and Divine River Bodies are natural enemies. Wanting to use a Divine River Body to break my god Karl's restraints is nothing but a fool's dream."
"Enough, Fenglei. I think you have truly gone mad."
"Shut up, Fenglei. You should inspect the Vanguard Flagship's operating status. Buck, go with him and watch that mouth of his."
The others, whose expressions had changed drastically from Fenglei's words, began discussing among themselves. Fenglei offered no further explanation. Accompanied by Buck, he slowly left the command hall, boarded a shuttle, and headed into space.
"Is something wrong with his brain?"
"Looks like it. The secret probably crushed him."
"Open a resolution. Let him take the vanguard next time. Find an opportunity to shut him up for good."
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
"...!"
Soon, the Gorilla-men in the command hall gradually raised their right hands.
Outside the command hall, Buck watched Fenglei beside him repeatedly open his mouth as if wanting to speak and shook his head.
"Fenglei, stop talking. I know what you mean. Although the Dark Dimension records all our information, just as the King said, we are not qualified to audience my god."
"So what? My god Karl possesses the Great Clock. Before the most powerful Celestial Computer, we do not have even the slightest chance of succeeding."
"You know that only my god Karl has it. Do you really think the Taotie Civilization is worth my god Karl making the Great Clock move even once?"
Soon, their shuttle arrived at the shipyard in space, where warships were being built.
"But!"
"No buts. My god Karl is supreme. The other gods are not worth even one of my god Karl's farts. But likewise."
Buck abruptly stopped speaking and turned to look at Fenglei beside him.
"The Taotie are also not worth one fart in my god Karl's eyes. Do not say that kind of bullshit in the command hall again. You, me, or even the King—we have never had any room to choose."
"Yes, we are not even worth a fart."
Though bitterness filled Fenglei's face, the heavy stone in his heart finally settled, more or less.
Surely no one would use the greatest Celestial Computer in the universe to calculate a fart. Surely not, right?
Centered around Dead Song Academy, the Taotie Civilization had secretly squeezed out dozens of small warships and scattered them in all directions.
With the tacit approval of the Taotie higher-ups, they headed toward the edge of the Styx Galaxy in search of suitable planets.
In the Styx Galaxy, which was practically occupied by beast bodies, finding a suitable Divine River Body civilization was already no easy task. Finding suitable people as well made it even harder.
It was not as though they had never considered searching for suitable targets in other star systems where Divine River Bodies gathered, but every attempt had ended in failure.
Under those damned angel beacons, once they left a death region like the Styx Galaxy controlled by Death God Karl, the Taotie had nowhere to hide in a universe filled with angel informants. The angels called them a civilization reeking of death from head to toe.
And to achieve the goal of the Taotie King and the others, the Divine River Bodies they chose could not be ordinary mortals. That further increased the possibility of conflict with the angels.
"You damned roast geese! One day, I will chop off your wings and grill them. Add chili, add cumin—fuck! You are only worthy of smelling my god Karl's farts."
"Hmph! You still dare foul your mouth? As expected, only flames can cleanse your sins. I am Angel Leng, requesting connection to the Sacred Knowledge Vault to carry out Heavenly Blade Judgment!"
"Approved!"
Before you continue