He did not know when he would return from this trip. Yuan did not linger either. As for his grandmother's abnormality, he had a vague suspicion in his heart.
Perhaps it was only because he lacked the ability right now. Maybe when he returned next time, everything would be different.
Back aboard the warship, Yuan raised an eyebrow at the somewhat awkward atmosphere in the command hall but said nothing.
He simply walked skillfully to the command chair, sat down, and opened the Supercomputer control interface to check the warship's repair progress.
"Bruis," Yuan called softly.
"Your Excellency!"
"The warship has been fully repaired. Have all your supplies been stowed?"
Ignoring Cole's ugly expression beside him, Yuan directly asked Bruis about the supplies.
Whether they truly intended to break away from the Taotie Civilization and Death God Karl, or were merely acting and probing him, Yuan did not care.
If they were genuinely willing to sever all ties with the Styx Galaxy, Yuan did not mind truly taking them in. On his path toward perfecting his Divine Body, he would not treat them poorly.
After all, he still owed them a life.
But if not, heh! The entire warship was now under his control. When the time came, he had plenty of ways to leave them to fend for themselves.
There was always a way out for the living!
"Your Excellency, all supplies have been loaded. If you are willing, we can depart immediately." After answering, Bruis stood respectfully to one side and waited for Yuan's orders.
"Commander Cole, is there anything else you need to do?"
"No. I will follow your orders!" A strained smile appeared on his somewhat stiff face, but Yuan did not care.
Yuan nodded in satisfaction. It was rare for someone to rise from being a prisoner to Cole's current position.
"System, activate the engines. Take us back into space first."
"Ding. Confirming command authority. Authority confirmed—Your Excellency. Highest authority confirmed. Stellar Furnace output increasing. Warship engines activating."
Boom!
Whoosh!!!
With the sound of the engines starting, the warship gave a slight shake before a thunderous roar rose from below.
Plasma propelled by powerful fusion energy crashed through the dense atmosphere with a deafening rumble.
"With a single order, all preparations were completed without anyone needing to do anything. And then it just took off like that?" Bruis's face showed astonishment and disbelief.
"Isn't that how it should be? Compared to a pre-nuclear civilization's carrier, a Taotie warship does not need many people either.
Once technology advances, the gap is no longer something the naked eye can measure, even if it is only a single tier."
As he spoke, the warship's engine output increased, and it soon shot out of the atmosphere into space.
Seeing the familiar scene beyond the window, the Taotie immediately erupted in cheers.
Yuan, meanwhile, sat in the main seat and activated a holographic projection. A massive star map appeared before him, as though it encompassed the entire universe.
Yuan studied the star map, then glanced at his own planet through the porthole and sighed. Whenever he saw such sights, he always felt unbearably small.
Steadying himself, Yuan's hands continuously moved across the star map.
"Come, take a look as well. I know too little about the universe, so help me see where we should go. The central database's information is not omnipotent either. It requires us to provide the necessary conditions."
Cole and Bruis exchanged a glance before walking over to stand opposite Yuan, using the same gestures to sift through the star map.
"I do not know what Your Excellency intends to do next, but I believe our most urgent priority is to leave the Styx Galaxy. Besides, the reputation of our Taotie Civilization in the universe..."
At this point, Bruis gave an embarrassed smile.
"The known universe is basically the domain of Divine River Bodies. Only the Styx Galaxy is our home base, so we must also stay far away from regions where Divine River Bodies gather."
After speaking, Bruis removed a large portion of the star map.
Yuan nodded, signaling for him to continue. However, he secretly ordered Qiming to record the regions of the galaxies that Bruis had deliberately excluded.
"We only have one warship. Even if we encounter an Astral Civilization, we do not have much ability to protect ourselves. These are the options left to us."
With that, he pushed both hands forward, and a huge blue screen displayed countless star map descriptions.
Though they had filtered out many options, the universe was so vast that there were still plenty of sparsely populated galaxies to choose from.
"Cole, what about you? Do you have any suggestions?"
"I will add one thing. Leaving the Styx Galaxy is a good idea. But we need a suitable Great Worm Bridge to aid our journey. Otherwise, relying on the warship's speed alone, we would die before reaching our destination."
"Mm, then so be it. System, begin screening the star map data. Remove galaxies with unclear information."
At Yuan's command, a large portion of the enormous number of galaxies before them disappeared.
"Remove galaxies with harsh environments unsuitable for the birth of primitive civilizations."
The number of star maps decreased again.
"Remove!"
"Remove!"
With each of Yuan's commands, the number of projections above the central system dwindled further.
Tap! Tap! Yuan, deep in thought, unconsciously drummed his fingers against the control panel before him.
There could not be any high-level civilizations nearby, but there also could not be no high-level civilizations. Otherwise, what would be the point of going there?
He had absorbed the Taotie Civilization's knowledge wholesale, and the data had also been recorded in Qiming. Without the knowledge of God-making civilizations, he had to obtain more information on Astral Civilizations or relics of God-making civilizations.
Until finally, a beautiful galaxy streaked with purple amid silver appeared before them.
"Tiannü Galaxy!"
"System, display the data for the Tiannü Galaxy."
"Tiannü Galaxy: approximately 900,000 light-years from the Styx Galaxy. A barred spiral galaxy with a diameter of 80,000 light-years, yet possessing only around 80 billion stars. Its galactic disk, core, halo, and other structures are chaotic, suggesting it may have experienced a devastating war. Civilizational remnants may exist.
There are five large stellar clusters nearby, with relatively abundant energy resources. Far from Divine River Body civilizations, it is an undeveloped region."
After seeing this information, Yuan nodded in satisfaction. Whether there were civilization remnants or not, they would go take a look first.
If it truly did not work out, he could spend some time stealing or taking what he needed by force. Once he entered the universe and acquired sufficient Dark Matter resources, he was confident he could advance further.
By then, aside from powerful God-making civilizations, there would be nowhere else he could not go.
"Very well, this one."
"Target confirmed. Destination: Tiannü Galaxy. Accessing central system database. Searching for Great Worm Bridge coordinates."
"Great Worm Bridge located. Destination coordinates confirmed. Beginning voyage!"
After the Supercomputer's mechanical voice fell silent, everyone felt the warship shudder. The planet behind them grew farther and farther away until it could no longer be seen.
"Goodbye. I will return," Yuan murmured silently in his heart. Then he closed his eyes and began accessing the data in the Qiming Knowledge Base.
Things were still relatively safe for now, but he had to prepare early. Compared to battle-hardened warriors like Cole and the others, his methods were far too immature.
Previously, his opponents had not understood his situation and had been caught off guard by the information gap. From now on, he absolutely could not let his guard down until he possessed truly overwhelming means.
The warship sped through the empty universe toward the Great Worm Bridge. The Taotie boasted and traded banter with one another, while Cole and Bruis diligently studied the central system's external Supercomputer.
In the distant Dead Song Academy, Carl, who was usually busy with research, was unusually free today.
"My god!"
"Has Morgana arrived?"
"Yes, my god. However, Queen Morgana's aura does not seem very good."
"That is normal. The last 'Holy War' nearly shattered her fighting spirit. The fact that she endured until now before coming to find me has already made me see her in a new light."
"Bitch, what the hell are you barking about? What do you mean my fighting spirit was shattered? That was a strategic retreat, recuperation, and preparation for war."
The one who arrived with the voice was none other than Demon Queen Morgana. Dressed in a dark style, she radiated immense wickedness.
"Such insolence!" Snow, the guard beside them, spoke with rare anger. Just as he was about to step forward and stop her, Carl, smiling broadly, reached out to stop him.
"There is no need, Snow. Go back. Liang Bing and I have much to discuss."
"Call me Queen!"
Before you continue