Chapter 1393: Respect for Humanity

"What's going on? What happened to Lu Xun?"

Ji Xuan had just lifted the curtain and entered when he saw everyone gathered around Lu Xun, who was covered in blood. He was instantly shocked.

"Someone tried to assassinate us..." Wu Tongyuan gesticulated wildly and exaggeratedly recounted what had just happened, also roughly explaining his understanding of his own abilities.

After hearing this, the other Nine Monarchs' gazes became strange.

"You mean you can alter the physical rules of an area using mathematical models?" Dr. Qi's eyes widened. "Buddy, isn't that a bit overpowered??"

"Indeed... current developments in physics are inseparable from mathematical formulas. If what you say is true, your ability should directly encompass all of ours," Yang Xiao mused.

"No, no, it's not that exaggerated," Wu Tongyuan waved his hands repeatedly. "I can only change a portion of the parameters. Even if it could cover all fields, it has limits. The more complex the formula, the more exaggerated the parameter adjustment, the harder it is for me to do... I certainly can't specialize like you all do in your respective fields."

Wu Tongyuan paused for a moment, looking at Yang Xiao. "For example, no matter how much I change the parameters, I can't converse with souls... current human mathematical formulas haven't derived any formula about the soul."

"That's still very powerful. If you can use it well, one of you could be worth several of us," Dr. Wen concluded seriously.

Ji Xuan, standing nearby, flushed even redder after hearing this, looking utterly envious.

He turned his head, wanting to go back to digging immediately.

In the end, Lou Yu pulled him back. "There might still be enemies ambushing outside. It's too dangerous for you to go out now."

Ji Xuan gritted his teeth and struggled with the decision for a long time, but ultimately didn't go out immediately. After all, the meteorite crater was still there; if he couldn't dig today, he'd continue digging tomorrow!

"When you went to the crater earlier, did you encounter any enemies?" Chen Ling, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly asked.

"No," Ji Xuan shook his head.

"The power seemed to go out for a moment just now, but it came back on in a few seconds..."

Lou Yu, wearing a black raincoat nearby, nodded slightly. His thick glasses were covered in raindrops, obscuring his facial expression.

Dr. Wen looked at him, then at Chen Ling nearby, seemingly wanting to say something but stopping.

"It's good that nothing happened." Yang Xiao checked the time on the wall. Less than three minutes remained until the 24-hour deadline.

"So... shall we sit down and talk properly?"

Naturally, no one objected. Apart from Lu Xun, who was still receiving aid, everyone else returned to their seats. Wu Tongyuan remained silent for a moment before speaking up.

"So, we really have no retreat?"

"No," Chen Ling said calmly, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "I know you all acquired this power unintentionally, but fate doesn't bargain with anyone. Whether you willingly choose it or not, once you embark on this path, there's no turning back... Behind you lies the abyss of humanity's destiny."

"So, if we stand united, can we save humanity's destiny?" Dr. Qi couldn't help but ask.

"Not necessarily," Chen Ling paused. "But if you don't unite, humanity will certainly perish... and so will you."

Unlike Yang Xiao's attempt to persuade with reason and emotion, Chen Ling's words were calm and absolute. He had already witnessed that tragic era, and what he said was an undeniable reality...

It was never Chen Ling who was unyielding, but fate itself.

"It seems... we never had a choice," Dr. Qi said with a bitter laugh, slumping back helplessly against the small stool. "Alright, I have no objections."

"Nor do I," Dr. Wen's voice remained calm, as if he had long understood the logic and calmly accepted his mission.

"Please count me in... even if I have no abilities, please, please include me," Ji Xuan replied, almost pleading.

There was no need to mention Yang Xiao, Lu Xun, and Su Zhiwei; they had long been prepared...

Thus, everyone's gaze turned to Wu Tongyuan.

Wu Tongyuan's messy curly hair was stained with blood. He stood dazed for a long time, as if in an internal struggle... Finally, his gaze swept over Lu Xun, who was still being treated, and he let out a bitter laugh.

"Why is everyone looking at me...? Do I even have the option to refuse? I certainly don't want to die..."

"But let's be clear, don't have too high expectations of me. I'm not the great hero you imagine who can turn the tide... I'm just a lousy number cruncher."

With the biggest variable resolved, Yang Xiao finally relaxed. Su Zhiwei, standing nearby, proactively raised her cup of tea.

"Since we're all in agreement, from now on, we are comrades on the same front... Let's make a toast?"

One by one, the others raised their cups. Dr. Qi raised an eyebrow.

"At a time like this, shouldn't someone say something?"

"Say what?"

"I don't know... Don't those people in movies who give pre-battle pep talks always give a short speech?"

"Is this considered a pre-battle pep talk for us? And a short speech... who among you knows how to do that?" Wu Tongyuan looked at everyone with a strange expression.

Yang Xiao's face flushed slightly, as if trying to force out some words, but in the end, he couldn't utter a single one... Everyone present was a researcher in science and engineering, not adept at dealing with others, let alone giving impromptu speeches.

Just then, a weak but smiling voice came from nearby.

"We're all on the same side; there's no need for all that..."

Everyone turned their heads to see that Lu Xun had woken up from his unconsciousness at some point. He gestured for Yang Xiao to hand him a cup of tea, and after a moment of contemplation, he gently raised his cup to the others.

"...To humanity."

Those three simple words, like a rivet in the torrent of time, with a gentle tap, secured humanity's future for three hundred years.

Inside the swaying tent, everyone present raised their cups. Chen Ling, sitting nearby, picked up his teacup, thought for a moment, then put it down. However, seeing the expectant glances from those around him, he ultimately raised it.

"To humanity," everyone softly uttered.

"...Dr. Lou?" Ji Xuan, seeing Lou Yu hesitate to raise his cup, couldn't help but nudge him with his elbow.

Lou Yu remained silent for a long time, but finally picked up his cup of tea.

"...To humanity."

*Boom—!!*

The moment Lou Yu's cup clinked against the others, a thunderous explosion erupted from the sky. An incredibly vast and terrifying aura, like a meteorite, directly tore through the silent Shennongjia!

Everyone was startled by the sound. Before they could recover, the entire tent was split open by a single sword strike!

A gleaming particle longsword, like a divine judgment, pointed directly at the back of the black raincoat!

"Lou Yu... you madman!!" Monarch Xuanyu's aura surged wildly around them.

"You... you actually killed your own self from this era with your own hands??"