Memories flicker.
August 12, 1983.
London.
"Long time no see, Sophia. You've really grown into a young lady."
"Professor, I'd like your help designing a laboratory. This is my initial concept—could you help me refine it?"
"Th-this can't be! How could a lab like this even exist? This is pure fantasy!"
"No, it does exist. It's called Tiberia. I hope you can help me complete its second phase. Professor, if you're interested, I'd also like to invite you to work at Tiberia and research the most exciting life sciences together."
'You?' Y-you're actually addressing me so formally? Sophia, you've changed. You're not the same as before.
"Yes, I've changed. People grow up; you can't always stay a blank slate." Sophia smiled gently, a hint of joy in her serenity. "But so far, I think my changes have been pretty good. I quite like them."
Memories pulse.
October 24, 1983.
Tiberia.
We've finally synthesized a brand new material using Genesis Sand! Not only can this material withstand the disturbance of spatial currents, but depending on the mix ratio of Genesis Sand, it can also precisely measure the scale of life. I've named this material White Element. It'll be the true cornerstone for hyperspace construction. Adam, we can finally start building the Conjecture Lane!
"Mm, I understand." Adam's gentle expression was tinged with a subtle gloom. "Pick a good day and start construction. Once Conjecture Lane is built, I want to be the first to try out the depths of hyperspace. Even I haven't gone that far before."
Memories fade.
January 1, 1984.
"Conjecture Lane is basically complete—1,584 units in total, each capable of independent experiments. Scientific research in Conjecture Lane will greatly accelerate any project. The lab I've envisioned is finally starting to take shape!"
"All projects can accelerate? Why does research in hyperspace speed up?"
"You've hit the key question. I think our understanding of hyperspace is still superficial. We don't know where hyperspace comes from, what's deep inside, or the mechanisms behind many of its properties. Adam, I don't know why going deeper speeds up research, but isn't that a great subject to study? Next, I want to dig into it thoroughly."
"Alright, you set the big direction for the future, but right now, we need to choose who will work inside Conjecture Lane."
"That's definitely an issue. Not everyone can enter Conjecture Lane. Even with White Prime's protection, ordinary Earthlings have varying degrees of tolerance for the depths of hyperspace. I'll draft a list soon—Conjecture Lane will truly become the hub for cutting-edge research." Sophia looked thoughtful. "But why is there individual variation? And why does tolerance seem linearly related to time spent in hyperspace...?"
There were also some noisy, flickering memories, as blurry as old films.
These memories didn't come from the source in the void, but from the minds of those 'offerings' who had docked here.
Sometime in 1984, date unknown.
"Peterson, this is the first batch of names Sophia drafted for entering Conjecture Lane. Including you and me, there are eighteen in total." On screen, Adam was completely different from how he was with Sophia—gloomy, repressed, and vicious, as if ready to devour someone. The memory's owner felt immense pressure, not daring to meet Adam's gaze.
He could only see Adam raise his hand and jab his finger hard at the list, hearing his cold tone emphasize, "Besides you and me, I want you to thoroughly investigate the other sixteen. Forget the usual clichés—the most important thing is to find out who they're really working for."
"For Sophia? Or for me?"
Smack, smack—the memory's owner's shoulders were heavily patted, and a deep voice rang in his ears: "I want them to know exactly who their boss is."
The memory's owner accepted the list, his eyes immediately focusing on the name of a certain math genius.
"Boss, I understand what you mean." The memory's owner replied with a similarly sinister tone. "The others should be easier to handle, but this one is a real blockhead. And Miss Sophia seems to rely on him a lot."
"As chief operating officer, you certainly have the authority to issue lab management rules. Young people are impulsive—one wrong move and they might mess up. We understand, and we're willing to forgive, but if anyone breaks the rules, they'll have to face the consequences. No one can cover for them." Adam Zade waved his hand lightly. "Let him cool off in a cell for a few years—maybe he'll mature."
The memory's owner bowed his head immediately. "Understood."
Endless memories surged in, flickering from place to place. The situation was dire—life and death in an instant, with no time for careful observation. Countless fragments rushed past, but only the deepest scenes could ripple outward.
Only one phrase echoed faintly from the depths of memory, like a loved one repeatedly reminding you.
"Spatial currents aren't like wind or water—they're more like a net."
"The bigger you are, the more you can resist."
"But the bigger you are, the more easily you're affected."
"Interference goes both ways."
"Remember—interference goes both ways..."
Buzz—the world of memory suddenly contracted, and the three people in the material world opened their eyes at the same time.
Collapsed space and the king's vanguard of destruction rampaged on. The raging elements—earth, water, wind, and fire—surged forth, relentlessly besieging the last patch of survivable ground in the Tiberia Laboratory.
"I've found it! I found the way!" Yang Qi shouted excitedly. "The very first cornerstone of Tiberia, in that original Gate of Science, there are four access points to Conjecture Lane. We can enter Conjecture Lane through these points and use White Element to fight for our survival!"
Fragments of memory still surged in her mind. Yang Qi had a feeling that the second level wouldn't be the end—there had to be deeper layers. And knowing Aunt Joan, as long as there was a deeper level, she wouldn't be lingering near the surface. Whether it was the hope of Aunt Joan's survival or a cure for Jonathan, both had to lie in the deepest part of the Tiberia Laboratory.
Like lightning, they dashed forward at full speed. Fierce winds battered them, and with the screech of twisting metal, the passage ahead warped and transformed like the maw of a devouring demon. A moment ago, the way was straight and clear; the next, it was twisted and tightly compressed. The terrifyingly expensive first level of Tiberia Laboratory was truly nearing its end.
Boom, boom, boom—Salamander's firepower was endless, blasting through mountains and barriers. Yang Qi didn't have to worry about any of that.
She only had one thing on her mind.
"Interference goes both ways..."
"The bigger you are, the more easily you're affected..."
Yang Qi glanced at her own profile, then at the Chosen Ones' boundary marks, and finally fixed her gaze on Jonathan and Su Muhua. Interference goes both ways—while the boundary marks could repel chaos, the spatial turbulence could also more easily target the Chosen Ones. In terms of multidimensional space, the smallest among them were probably Jonathan and Su Muhua, both ordinary humans.
Amid the raging wind, Yang Qi suddenly broke away from Salamander's grasp and appeared beside Su Muhua and Jonathan, who had always been kept in the safest spot.
Yang Qi reached out her left hand and firmly grasped her mother's left hand.
"Mom!" Yang Qi called out once, and Su Muhua, their minds connected, instantly understood. Still breathtakingly beautiful in middle age and utterly fearless in this life-or-death moment, Su Muhua nodded firmly to Yang Qi. "Don't worry."
No words were needed—the mother and daughter naturally understood each other's thoughts, worries, and intentions.
Then Yang Qi reached out her right hand and firmly gripped her cousin's right hand.
"Cousin." Yang Qi gave a few more instructions: "There's still a big fight ahead. That trickster definitely has a backup plan, and the naked guy isn't the type to die easily. I'll handle the other enemies, but you—I need you to stick to my mom like glue. Space is collapsing and being annihilated, but this hyperspace belongs to Aunt Joan. No matter how many obstacles or troubles there are, if anyone can reach the deepest level, it won't be anyone else—it has to be the two of you."
"Don't worry, I'll protect Aunt Joan with my life." Jonathan squeezed her right hand back with all his strength. "No matter what it takes."
"Mm." Yang Qi gazed deeply at the two of them, saying little but meaning much.
The unobservable Qi Meng glanced sideways at Su Muhua's left hand and Jonathan's right. Her eyes flickered, then she returned to her usual calm silence.
Boom—a massive metal wall was blasted open. All obstacles were cleared, and they finally reached the oldest, original Tiberia Laboratory.
The Gate of Science.
This was the most stable spot in hyperspace—the very beginning, and the last piece of untouched land. The destruction closing in seemed to pause here for a moment, as if in awe of some lingering mark. But in the next instant, the roaring waves of annihilation swept in even fiercer, ready to wipe out everything.
Looking at the access points, all the devices for teleportation had been destroyed!
Completely demolished—not a single scrap left!
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!!" someone shouted in despair. "Someone beat us here—they want us wiped out!"
Was this the fourth wave of the Nature Cult's elite, or the last-ditch effort of the surviving 'God'?
No one knew, but there was nowhere left to go.
But just then, at the spot closest to Conjecture Lane in dimensional space, white—the absolute, supreme white—reappeared.
Su Muhua raised her left hand high, spreading her fingers wide. In her palm, a mass of white appeared. She held the white aloft, as if bearing heaven in her hand. Then, with a crack, her left hand clenched tight.
Boom—the indescribable roar again, as the surging white flooded over everyone.
To the ordinary Chosen Ones, another segment of time vanished from perception.
That stretch of time, whether long or short, simply didn't exist for them. No one knew what kind of conflict had occurred or what had happened, but deep in their senses, a chorus of voices echoed—boisterous shouts, terrified howls, angry roars, and one insufferably smug voice that made you want to smack it.
"Just as I expected, you all showed up."
In the distance, the third cube suddenly paused. The Overlord Golem spoke leisurely, "But in my domain, you have no chance. A fully-prepared mage is unbeatable."
Then a middle-aged woman's voice rang out: "Your domain? Spouting nonsense like that—did I say you could?"
Buzz, buzz, buzz—formless ripples rose from the depths of hyperspace and swept toward the three-dimensional world.
Buzz, buzz, buzz—wave after wave, like brushes scrubbing the entire Earth. At this moment, Conjecture Lane and the world of Earth both wrinkled at once.
Whoosh—someone appeared at Tokyo Fortress.
"Wha... I-I'm back? I'm really back!" The Chosen One hurriedly patted himself down. "I'm back in one piece!"
Whoosh, whoosh—more people appeared at Tokyo Fortress.
"We're back too? Finally out of that terrifying space destruction!" "It must've been the Queen's mother who sent us back, right? She can even go toe-to-toe with the Nature Cult leader—long live the Queen's mother!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—one after another, people appeared in Tokyo Fortress.
But not all of them were allies.
More than thirty enemy Chosen Ones also appeared at the Tokyo base. To have survived such a deadly ordeal, these Chosen Ones were the elite of the elite—and they made up most of the remaining Chosen Ones on the 'God' side.
Their reaction was lightning-fast—they immediately prepared to attack and break out.
But the battlefield that Tianxia had prepared for so long was no joke.
Fierce fighting erupted instantly, and it quickly turned into a one-sided slaughter.
But not everyone made it back.
"M-my precious baby..." The utterly useless husband, having lost all purpose, hid behind cover clutching his head, his tears flowing like winding rivers, his cries as mournful as a cuckoo's: "My precious baby, where are you?!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world—ancient Egypt.
Around 3 p.m. local time, under the glaring sun, a handful of travelers trudged through the scorching desert. The once-bustling tourist spot—the Great Pyramid of Khufu—now saw hardly anyone in the mood for a sunbath.
But among the scant few tourists, one suddenly cried out and whipped out their phone, snapping pictures wildly at the scene ahead.
"Look! There's suddenly a meteor shower falling from the sky!"
More people looked up, then stared in shock.
No, on closer look, it wasn't a meteor shower—it was people! About a dozen people appeared out of nowhere in midair, then plummeted toward the Great Pyramid like meteors.
"Oh my god, there's a giant! There's a naked giant! Look, he's huge!"
While the tourists were still exclaiming, the giant, surrounded by crackling lightning, smashed his fist down on the pyramid. In an instant, the tip of the pyramid looked like it had been bitten off, leaving a massive gap.