Chapter 904: Hanging Jade Lord

"Activate!"

As a voice echoed through the base, a vast domain unfurled from the Tower Master, instantly enveloping the particle collider. The aura of the Craftsman God Dao Chief erupted with a roar!

Concurrently, the particle collider slowly began to activate, emitting a low hum.

After hundreds of years, the light symbolizing the pinnacle of human technology illuminated the operation screen. The researchers in charge had long memorized the sequence recorded in the manuals and methodically began to bring this colossal machine to life.

At this moment, everyone in the base held their breath, sweat beading on their anxious palms.

The Tower Master's eyes were fixed on the particle collider, his aura pushed to its limit. Every space covered by his domain began to glow with a faint blue light.

The light bulbs above their heads flickered, and all other electrical equipment in the base came to a halt.

The activated particle collider was like a gluttonous beast devouring electricity. Power generation methods in this era were still relatively primitive, and even though the people at Xuanyu Base had prepared in advance, the floating base's power supply was still somewhat insufficient.

Darkness gradually encroached upon every room and corridor of the base, as if an invisible monster was slowly opening its maw, devouring everyone within.

In the end, only the particle collider and the Tower Master's domain shone dazzlingly throughout the entire Xuanyu Base, emitting a dreamlike blue radiance.

Particles collided within the colossal machine, forming a string of encoded particles containing spatio-temporal coordinates, which were then launched towards Lord Xuanyu!

The domain's light grew more brilliant as the particle collider activated. Those behind the glass had to shield their eyes with their hands. After about ten to twenty seconds, the light finally began to fade.

Clang—

Everyone lowered their hands; the particle collider had ceased operation, and the base was plunged into darkness and silence.

The researchers who had been operating the particle collider shifted their gaze from the dark screen, exchanging confused glances.

"Did we... succeed?"

"The 'coordinate' particles should have been successfully launched..."

"And then?"

"I don't know. Has Lord Xuanyu shown any reaction?"

At the professor's command, the laboratory's emergency power was activated. A beam of light in the darkness illuminated the central stasis pod, where a figure still floated peacefully inverted in the liquid, showing no signs of awakening.

The professor placed his hands on the glass, almost pressing his eyes against it to observe Lord Xuanyu, searching for any changes.

But unfortunately, Lord Xuanyu remained unchanged.

"Did it fail?" The Tower Master walked over slowly, his expression somewhat weary.

"...Possibly." The professor sighed. "Lord Xuanyu said back then that even if he received the 'coordinates,' he couldn't guarantee he would appear... It seems we've worked in vain."

Just as the Tower Master was about to speak, a figure slowly emerged from the darkness behind them. With hands in the pockets of a white lab coat, the person calmly looked up at the massive stasis pod:

"I did say that... but this time, I've arrived."

The professor and the Tower Master's pupils constricted sharply!

Even as the Craftsman God Dao Chief of this era, the Tower Master hadn't sensed anyone appear behind him. The hairs on his arms immediately stood on end, and he whirled his head around to look!

In the laboratory, only the dim green glow from within the stasis pod dispersed some of the darkness. A young man, identical to "Lord Xuanyu," was observing "himself" inside the stasis pod.

"Lord... Lord... Lord Xuanyu??" Seeing the person's face clearly, the professor's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Is it strange?" Lord Xuanyu said calmly. "The coordinates you launched were sent to 'me' in a different spacetime... So, what does that have to do with this one who is still dormant? Why are you all staring at him?"

"Then, where are you from, Lord?"

"The year 2027."

Hearing this number, the professor was stunned.

According to the professor's plan, launching the particle coordinates now should have been a call for help to a future Lord Xuanyu... Yet, the Lord Xuanyu before him was from the time of the Great Cataclysm, meaning "the past."

How was this possible?

"How did you... come from the past?"

"My future self seems very busy and isn't in his proper spacetime. He must have received it and then forwarded these particle coordinates to me," Lord Xuanyu replied casually.

The professor's eyes were filled with deep bewilderment; even he couldn't comprehend Lord Xuanyu's abilities.

"It seems their 'stasis' plan worked," Lord Xuanyu said, nodding slightly as he looked at his dormant self. Then his gaze swept across the darkened base,

"Is this Xuanyu Base? Why is it dark?"

"Because activating the particle collider crippled the power system..."

"Oh."

Lord Xuanyu responded absently, then turned to look at the two men, "Are you two in charge here now?"

"I am, Lord," the professor replied respectfully.

"To be brief, why did you summon me?" Lord Xuanyu glanced down at his hand. "I don't belong in this spacetime. Once my retention limit is reached, I'll be forcibly returned... My time is limited."

The professor and the Tower Master exchanged glances, then immediately explained the situation with the Imperial Dao Ancient Vault to Lord Xuanyu, essentially asking him to prevent the emergence of a new 'Emperor.'

After listening, Lord Xuanyu nodded,

"You want me to destroy the Imperial Dao Ancient Vault, right?"

"..." Hearing Lord Xuanyu's understated yet world-defying summary, both the professor and the Tower Master were startled, silently breaking into a cold sweat.

Was this Lord Xuanyu really so overbearing and arrogant in his youth?

"Uh... the Ancient Vault itself contains the foundation of the Divine Dao, so it might not be able to be completely destroyed. You just need to ensure no new Emperors emerge from it."

"Oh, I understand," Lord Xuanyu said, waving a hand.

"Where is the Imperial Dao Ancient Vault? Point me in the right direction."

It was unclear just how much "understood" this Lord Xuanyu truly understood, but the professor didn't dare to ask. He simply raised his hand in silence, pointing towards a certain direction in the Gray Realm.

Lord Xuanyu said no more, simply pointing casually upwards.

Boom—!!

The next moment, the ceiling above him instantly shattered, as if an invisible sword had pierced through the entire base, tearing an exaggerated, gaping hole above his head!

Through the large hole, white clouds could be seen drifting leisurely across the blue sky. A corner of the previously pitch-black base was illuminated by a shaft of sunlight from outside the opening.

Under the horrified gazes of all the other researchers, Lord Xuanyu's figure levitated upwards as if defying gravity, rising to hover above Xuanyu Base.

Then, with a roaring blast, a sonic boom appeared, and his figure vanished instantly.

Everyone in Xuanyu Base looked at the exaggerated hole above their heads, falling silent simultaneously.

This Lord Xuanyu was so outrageous... he even tore down his own base?