In the hundredth year after He Xi came to Aiur, she finally returned to the Angel Nebula. After all, many Angel research projects depended on He Xi; Liang Bing and Keisha alone were not enough.
What was more, ever since the Form War ended, the Angels had grown increasingly arrogant. Riding the momentum of their great victory, their million-strong Angel legion scattered in all directions, spreading the faith of justice throughout the Known Universe.
As for whether the Angels truly had a million soldiers? Anyone with a brain would know. During Yan's future reign, Angel City indeed had only twenty thousand active Angel warriors, but pay attention to the words "active service." The number of retired Old Angels over ten thousand years old was unknown. Besides, the times were different. After the destruction of the Deno Civilization, large-scale legion warfare was no longer the mainstream of the Known Universe. Individual God-Slaying Operations were.
So there was no need for too many troops.
Forget a million—even an Angel population exceeding a hundred million was not impossible. Angel genes could perfectly transform God River Body lifeforms into Angels, and mass-producing first-generation Angels barely even counted as consumption.
Of course, there was no longer any point in having so many people. Before a fully developed Third Generation God Body, no number of first- or second-generation warriors would matter.
Zeratul had also returned to Aiur fifty years ago and resumed his duties as Dark Prelate. He had not told Shen Jun about what happened on that planet.
After all, Zeratul at this time was not the wise and experienced Dark Prelate from the story. He was still young and did not blindly trust his vague intuitions.
Before leaving, He Xi gave Shen Jun her Heavenly Based King Sword as a testament to the friendship between the Angels and the Protoss. Naturally, that was nonsense.
Its real purpose was communication. He Xi had installed a communicator in the king sword and set up a private channel exclusively for herself. After Keisha eavesdropped on her last time, He Xi had come to deeply understand what a fake best-friend bond was.
However, she did not tell Shen Jun the details. So for a long time, Shen Jun believed the Heavenly Based King Sword was connected to the Angels' public channel.
As for why He Xi had set up a secret communicator, even she did not know. She forcibly explained it to herself, I just don't like being spied on. There is absolutely no other reason...
In the days after He Xi left, Shen Jun inexplicably felt somewhat irritable. He guessed that perhaps summer was approaching?
But the current season was autumn!
Just as Shen Jun tried meditating to calm himself once again, Selandis sent him a message.
"Hierarch, a Great Light Sphere calling itself Kiran has stopped outside Aiur's Invisibility Force Field. It specifically requested to see you."
"Kiran?"
Shen Jun frowned. What was he doing here?
The next moment, Shen Jun appeared aboard the Purification, which was docked in the outer space around Aiur, and immediately saw that dazzling Great Light Sphere.
Kiran no longer retained even the slightest humanoid form. He had completely abandoned his human body.
Shen Jun found it strange. Shouldn't Kiran be off exploring the edge of the universe at this time? Why had he come here?
"Principal Kiran, you have honored us with your presence and even specifically asked for me. What business brings you here?"
The Great Light Sphere flickered twice. "Protoss Hierarch, before long, this old man will set out to explore the boundaries of the universe. To uncover what lies there has always been the cherished wish of the God River Civilization." Kiran's voice had become utterly genderless, indistinguishable from a mechanical voice. This meant his personal emotions were fading away. Soon, Kiran would enter a peculiar state free from all desire.
"I have long heard of Principal Kiran's grand ambition. But you still have not stated your purpose in coming to Aiur. If you came to sightsee, I fear you will be disappointed. Aiur's scenery does not meet the standards of a tourist planet."
"Hehe, at my age, what planet in the Known Universe have I not visited? What civilization have I not seen?"
Kiran had not yet completely lost his humanity, and he could still joke.
"However... I am quite curious about an ancient civilization that existed long before the God River Civilization."
Shen Jun narrowed his eyes. The origins of the Protoss that he had fabricated for He Xi had indeed spread without his noticing. But that was precisely the result he wanted. No one could imagine what kind of strength a civilization with such ancient inheritance possessed. This way, the Protoss' air of mystery would forever linger in the minds of the entire Known Universe.
He just did not know whether He Xi had leaked the news, or... Keisha!
Holy Keisha—this woman absolutely could not be underestimated.
Shen Jun thought to himself, though outwardly he showed not the slightest reaction.
"It seems Principal Kiran has already learned quite a bit about the Protoss... Selandis, descend to the surface. I will speak with Principal Kiran at the Twilight Council."
"There is no need. My time is short, Hierarch. I came here today because there is something very important I need to entrust to you."
"And no second person can know about it!"
Suddenly, Kiran's Great Light Sphere fired a beam of light directly into Shen Jun's brow, causing him to faint at once.
"Not good! Templar, protect the Hierarch! Capture this intruder!"
Selandis was shocked and furious. More than twenty High Templar instantly appeared around them, surging psionic power continuously gathering as the positive and negative ions drifting through space were drawn in, eventually forming powerful lightning.
Using lightning to attack enemies was the hallmark of High Templar, as well as their usual method.
At the same time, the Purification instantly activated its Stasis Field and Tear Field to prevent Kiran from escaping.
"Stand down!"
At that moment, Shen Jun suddenly regained consciousness and hurriedly stopped the conflict.
That beam of light had pulled Shen Jun's consciousness into Kiran's Dark Plane. At first, he too believed Kiran intended to harm him, but during their subsequent conversation, he learned the true circumstances.
No one knew what they had discussed in the Dark Plane. They only knew that the future Three Great God-Making Projects had undergone enormous changes...
No, they were now the Four Great God-Making Projects...
Shen Jun looked at Kiran with a complicated gaze, filled with confusion, incomprehension, gratitude... and suspicion.
"Selandis, deactivate the fields and let Principal Kiran leave."
"But, Hierarch..."
"Do not worry. I am fine. Kiran is not our enemy. Let him go. That is an order!"
"...Yes!"
Selandis had no choice but to order the Templar to step back. However, she still watched Kiran vigilantly, guarding against any further incident.
"...Then I leave it to you, Protoss Hierarch..."
After leaving behind those meaningful words, Kiran transformed into a streak of light and departed. His destination was the boundary of that nearly boundless universe.
No one knew whether Kiran would find the end of the universe, nor did anyone know what sight he would encounter if he did.
Yet none of that was what Shen Jun cared about. Right now, there was only one matter on his mind.
For that matter, Shen Jun once again went to Gaius's underground research base...
Before you continue