Calamity of Tomorrow

Seeing the staff involved in this mutation research on the hospital bed, Li Xiuzhu's eyes flashed a shade of deep sorrow.

Some of them were monks from the Sky Flipping Sect who had dedicated themselves to researching mutations over the years, while others were researchers sent over from Nanshan City to provide support this time.

Despite extreme caution, the mutation weapon created by the Blood Transformation Divine Sword from the Plague Department had a severity of distortion far beyond Li Xiuzhu's expectations.

Even though various preventive measures had been taken well in advance, there were still staff members who, due to the distortion, gradually lost their sanity, went mad, and little by little transformed into mutated beings.

Those present could be considered elites among humans, especially those from Nanshan City who had participated in past collaborative research with Immortals on the phenomenon of mutation. The knowledge in their minds, and the notes they had secretly kept, were all precious treasures of humanity.

At that moment, several elderly men on the hospital beds were dictating, allowing the staff beside them to take notes.

An elderly man exclaimed, "Li Xiuzhu, after we finish recording today, let us continue working."

Li Xiuzhu slightly furrowed his brows and said, "Your mutation has not reached its endpoint yet, if we use the purification array to delay it, you could still live for one to two more months."

"According to the materials you learned from the Immortals before, that knife is called the Blood Transformation Divine Sword."

"If you continue to be exposed to the pollutants from the Blood Transformation Divine Sword, or even come into direct contact with this distorted object, your condition will rapidly deteriorate."

The elder man said, "So you want us to lie in bed and wait for death?" He lifted his hand and looked at his palm, only to see it already covered in dense scales.

He spoke calmly, "Initially, when the recluse Qijing disappeared, and the researchers we built together with the Immortals were disbanded. I was imprisoned by the Heavenly Dao for a full 15 years. During those years, I was recalling the data and materials from our research every single day."

"Because these data and materials were created through countless efforts, they are built on lives."

"I'm afraid that once I go out, I will forget these data and materials."

"But when I was released and saw that all of humanity was focused on cultivating, striving to improve themselves, but almost no one was studying the distortion, researching the mutation itself, we were all very desperate."

"At that time, we thought that the research on mutation and the distortions of the Heavenly Dao had been completely severed."

"Back then, I ... All day and night I wondered, was our effort, our past, all meaningless?"

"Does humanity ... have no future?"

The old man looked at Li Xiuzhu and said, "Until I met you, Li Xiuzhu. Restarting the mutation weapon research program is a groundbreaking project, a hope for the rise of humanity."

"It's also a race against time. The true gods of the Heavenly Dao are listed in the Immortal Ascension Book, they hold the authority of Heavenly Dao and could discover the anomaly here at any moment."

"Once we fail to complete the research before they find this place, everything will be over."

The elder stared into Li Xiuzhu's eyes and said, "At a time like this, you want us to lie in bed?"

Another old man, his body covered in thick hair, said, "We're all going to die anyway, leave the most dangerous jobs to us."

Another worker from the Sky Flipping Sect, his face covered with piercings, also said, "The distortion propagation pattern of the Blood Transformation Divine Sword hasn't been thoroughly researched yet, right? We can be the test subjects."

"If something goes wrong, just kill us directly. At least before we completely lose our sanity, we can still be of some use."

"Rather than hiding in bed for a few more days, it's better to make a contribution."

Seeing their earnest faces, Li Xiuzhu sighed lightly, "I understand, I will make the arrangements."

"Two hours from now, those willing to go back to work gather at Test Site One."

Moments later, Li Xiuzhu left the sickroom and saw Jian Hui waiting outside.

Jian Hui looked at Li Xiuzhu with some admiration. During his time at the Sky Flipping Sect, he felt more fulfilled and exhilarated than all his previous days combined.

This place gave him a strong sense of mission, and the ever-progressing research let him truly feel that he was striving for human advancement and the future.

Li Xiuzhu asked, "What's the matter?"

Jian Hui said, "The third version of the computer has successfully started, they asked me to call you over to take a look."

Li Xiuzhu's eyes lit up, "It worked? Good, the mutation weapon research will definitely benefit from this."

Jian Hui nodded, his eyes also filled with excitement. The Sky Flipping Sect had always been dedicated to reviving ancient technologies using Daoist methods, and this computer was one of them, a project Li Xiuzhu had invested a lot of manpower and resources in.

The two of them hurried out excitedly, and soon Annie caught up with them.

Annie, as Li Xiuzhu's deputy at the Sky Flipping Sect, was also a well-known figure there, but her expression at the moment was somewhat ugly.

Li Xiuzhu asked, "What's wrong?"

Annie sighed, "He's back, but ... he didn't find it."

Sensing the subtle change in the atmosphere, Jian Hui quickly said, "Sect Hierarch, I'll go ahead then, you two take care of your matters."

Li Xiuzhu nodded to him, "Tell them I'll be over in a bit."

After Jian Hui had left, Li Xiuzhu spoke seriously, "Where is he?"

…

At Dao School East, in the training room rented by Zhou Bai, Zheng Wentian was stuffing himself with meat buns while staring intently at Nasha in front of him.

He saw a line of staff members file in, starting to move chairs and lay tablecloths, one exquisite dish after another was placed on the table, all made from extraordinary beasts and various medicinal herb essences. The aroma alone was tantalizing.

Watching Nasha eagerly awaiting to taste the food, Zheng Wentian's jealousy blazed fiercely. He bit into his own large meat bun, which usually tasted fragrant and rich, but now felt as tasteless as wax.

'Zhou Bai, this guy, is indeed a lecher. Accompanying me in cultivation, Nasha gets to eat so well? And I only get to eat big meat buns?'

Zheng Wentian was really getting angry: 'I treated him to so many meals before, and this is how he repays me?'

The more he thought about it, the harder Zheng Wentian bit into his bun.

Nasha, feeling a bit embarrassed by Zheng Wentian's stare, turned to Zhou Bai and said, "Senior Brother Zhou, I can't eat all this by myself, why don't we invite Senior Brother Zheng Wentian to join me?"

"Don't worry about him, I've prepared something else for him," Zhou Bai smiled at Zheng Wentian, "Your investment is paying off."