The sedative's potency was precisely calculated to ensure effective temporal control.
By the time Xia Qingyu regained consciousness, their group had arrived at the entrance of the underground research facility.
As Xia Qingyu's senses gradually cleared, the world around her sharpened, and a deep, gentle voice reached her ears: "You're awake. We've arrived."
Xia Qingyu looked around and realized she was being held in Tarik's arms. She froze for a moment, then immediately pushed him away and jumped out of his embrace. Her knees buckled as she landed, and she stumbled back into Tarik's arms.
"A dramatic embrace?" Tarik asked, a subtle curve to his lips as he looked at Xia Qingyu.
"If you say another word, I'll push you down again!" Xia Qingyu warned, her cheeks flushing.
"Heh." Tarik chuckled softly, refraining from further teasing.
Xiang Xueyuan, on the other hand, laughed heartily and said, "Youth is truly wonderful."
Xiang Xueyuan's teasing earned him an eye-roll from Xia Qingyu.
"Heh." Xiang Xueyuan smiled again before moving forward. After walking through a corridor about fifty meters long, Xia Qingyu was led to a changing room.
"There are clothes prepared for you inside. Someone will escort you through the complete disinfection process," Xiang Xueyuan said, pointing to the entrance of the women's changing room. "See you later."
Xia Qingyu felt a little bewildered but said nothing more, only nodding before heading towards the door of the women's changing room.
The entire process was not cumbersome, but it was highly standardized.
After emerging from the room, Xia Qingyu was led to rejoin Xiang Xueyuan and Tarik.
Meanwhile, Xiang Xueyuan was already seated in his office, his brow furrowed as he reviewed a report. Beside him, his assistant was briefing him on the recent situation: "The energy valuation is slowly declining. It hasn't reached abnormal levels yet, and the situation doesn't appear very clear."
"A sudden rise followed by a sudden drop?" Tarik's expression was also grave. The energy contained within this crystal was astounding. The laboratory had been researching it for years, finally achieving some results, only to now face such strange numerical fluctuations, which was certainly not a good sign.
"Continue monitoring," Xiang Xueyuan said. Knowing the purpose of her visit today, he dismissed the assistant and then beckoned Xia Qingyu over. "Qingyu, come over here."
Xia Qingyu, now dressed in a white lab coat, hesitated for a moment before walking towards Xiang Xueyuan.
"See that?" Xiang Xueyuan led Xia Qingyu to an observation window where they could see the crystal. "That."
"I see it," Xia Qingyu said, blinking. "It looks like... crystal?"
"Crystal is a quartz crystalline body, but this is not. Although it closely resembles crystal in appearance, possessing the same mysterious beauty, it has a much larger energy field," Xiang Xueyuan explained to Xia Qingyu. "If only one-tenth of its energy were extracted, its power could warp space, sufficient to create a very small black hole within the Earth."
"A… black hole?" Xia Qingyu looked at Xiang Xueyuan with astonishment. "Did you say a black hole? The kind from which not even light can escape due to spacetime distortion… a black hole?"
"Haha." Xiang Xueyuan was very pleased with Xia Qingyu's stunned expression. He had been just as shocked when he first discovered this. "With it, humanity possesses inexhaustible, state-of-the-art energy. All material and non-material energy sources in the world cannot compare to it. Mastering it is akin to mastering the future of all mankind!"
"Wait a minute!" Xia Qingyu felt her mind struggling to catch up. "So, for all these years, you abandoned my mother and me, all for the sake of researching this thing that could swallow the Earth and destroy the world?"
"You could say that." Xiang Xueyuan did not deny what he had done.
"Are… are you seriously ill?" Xia Qingyu could barely believe her eyes and ears. "You, researching this thing, aren't you afraid of causing some problem that could lead to the entire world being destroyed by you?"
"What difference does that make?" Xiang Xueyuan looked at Xia Qingyu with an open gaze. "Compared to it, what is the world?"
"!" Xia Qingyu met Xiang Xueyuan's gaze and could tell he was serious; he didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with his words or thinking.
That, was the biggest problem!
"Qingyu, the frame here is made of the latest metal materials, and there are sufficient reinforcement equipment and gravity control devices, with 24-hour data monitoring, so what you're worried about won't happen here," Tarik said, sensing Xia Qingyu's concern. "The radiation source issue has also been dealt with, so you have absolutely no need to worry. It's very safe here."
In fact, it could be said to be safer than anywhere else.
"Radiation source? This thing also has radiation?" Xia Qingyu blinked and immediately turned to look at the crystal.
"This aspect is also very similar to crystal. Crystal is a colorless and transparent crystal formed when pure, and it gains color through trace elements being irradiated to form different types of color centers. Its colors are incredibly brilliant; it's truly beautiful enough to captivate one's gaze," Xiang Xueyuan said, gazing at the massive crystal with a look of fascination. After a long while, he sighed and said, "If only I hadn't been so hasty back then, and had established sufficient protective measures first, perhaps… she wouldn't have left us so young…"
"What? Someone has already died because of this thing?" Xia Qingyu knew it wasn't anything good.
"Yes, but a little sacrifice is unavoidable," Xiang Xueyuan said with a smile, looking at Xia Qingyu. He paused before continuing, "Qingyu, this crystal symbolizes the future of the world. If you're willing, I will grant you research access. I believe you won't refuse, Mobius!"
"Do you have any idea what you're saying?" Xia Qingyu looked at Xiang Xueyuan in disbelief. "If the future of the world is this thing, then the entire world will be finished! I don't want to research this thing at all; I want it to disappear! Mobius? What is Mobius?"
Xiang Xueyuan's expression faltered slightly at Xia Qingyu's words.
Xia Qingyu's reaction was entirely different from what he had expected.
Was there a problem somewhere?
Nie Qingkong, standing beside them, wasn't particularly surprised. In his view, Xia Qingyu had been assimilated and dragged down by the so-called "kinship" of the Xia family.
"The Möbius strip?" Xia Qingyu was still bewildered. "Viewing rotation as a dimension that forms an infinite cycle of time and space, right? What exactly are you trying to do? Are you perhaps attempting to use this thing to achieve complete control over time in a three-dimensional world? You're insane!"
Insane!
Xiang Xueyuan was absolutely insane!
No normal person would do something like this!
Damn it, what should I do?
Sister, there's a madman here!