The whole weird world is waiting for me to go to heaven

Chapter 977 Academic Conference (Part Two)

This wasn't just the case at the venue.

Many researchers who were simply watching the live stream from around the world suddenly found the sky above them ripped apart, a blood-red sky unfolding, a sacred mountain suspended in the heavens, and their original doors and windows sealed off by writhing crimson.

Even the underground palace, deep beneath the earth, was suddenly illuminated by the crimson light in the air.

And all of this seems very familiar.

It's like it was accidentally filmed on that show.

I never imagined this actually existed!

"Don't worry, everyone will have the opportunity to participate, not just those who are present at the event."

Shen Zhiyu sat on the crane, which had shed its feathers and was now just ugly flesh and blood, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

A vast scroll unfurled in the air, displaying a string of incomprehensible, multifaceted numbers.

As everyone looked up at Shen Zhiyu hovering beside the scroll, they were filled with shock and fear at this extraordinary sight.

"Wait, what the hell is going on?"

"Professor Shen, let us out!"

"I knew it! This woman spends all her time with corpses in tombs, she's really something else!"

"Hey, Mr. Shen! Stop playing games! Let's talk this out!"

"We weren't even there! We didn't say anything!"

"Help!"

Screams and angry shouts mingled together.

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhiyu revealed a rare smile, and the hard lines on her face lifted up.

"Didn't you want to see exactly how it was destroyed? I've already shown you."

"That kind of...destruction?"

"Impossible! Even nuclear weapons aren't that powerful!"

"No, you surnamed Shen, where did you get such methods?"

"Let us out!"

The crowd continued their incessant chatter, and Shen Zhiyu's face darkened completely.

"You have so many questions, I think it's because the situation isn't urgent enough that you have the leisure to question me."

"But you don't seem to realize who is truly in control of all this now!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a crimson lightning bolt struck down like divine punishment.

One strike after another precisely struck those who had just spoken, instantly charring their flesh and filling the air with a nauseating, burnt protein odor.

In an instant, the clamor subsided into deathly silence, with only the person struck by lightning rolling on the ground, groaning incessantly.

It was extremely jarring and made people feel uneasy.

“Of course, I won’t let you die like this,” Shen Zhiyu said softly. “After all, I still need your brains.”

With a wave of his hand, blood rained down from the sky.

The wounds on those struck by lightning, their skin torn and bleeding, were gradually healing. However, the rainwater seeping into their wounds was as painful as being pricked by needles, and they would scream in terror once again.

Now, no one dared to ask any more questions.

Shen Zhiyu glanced around and nodded in satisfaction:
"It's much quieter now."

"Any other questions you'd like to ask?"

These words sent a chill down one's spine.

The punishment was just handed down because someone asked a question, and now they're asking this kind of question again. It's clearly a malicious provocation and test.

However, amidst the silence, a clear voice rang out:

"Professor Shen, I'd like to know, what kind of reward would there be if this problem could be solved?"

His voice, clear and youthful, stood out prominently in the somber and oppressive square.

In the live stream, the camera moved and focused on the face of the girl who had just spoken.

Lin Yue and Long Yingxue, filled with surprise and doubt, discovered—

That was He Tao!
The people in the underground palace were also slightly startled.

Unexpectedly, He Tao was so bold as to speak to someone with superhuman power in such a tense and suffocating situation.

And... that's what they said.

Shen Zhiyu gave him a deep look, then said with a smirk:

"What, you think regaining freedom and stopping the world's destruction isn't enough?"

"I just feel that, logically speaking, this should be a transaction, right?"

"You're asking us to solve this inexplicable puzzle—one far beyond our current level of civilization, even threatening us with the destruction of the world—it can't be just a simple test, can it?" "In that case, what you gain from it must be extraordinary. You can't expect to get what you want from us while we're just threatened for no reason and get nothing in return, can you?"

This statement is even more audacious.

Countless people gasped silently.

Inside the underground palace, someone finally couldn't help but whisper to Lin Yue and Long Yingxue, "Are your roommates crazy?"

But how could they understand? They could only remain silent.

I always felt that He Tao in front of me was a complete stranger.

Shen Zhiyu narrowed her eyes.

"Makes sense."

"It seems you've already decided what you want."

"Yes."

He Tao nodded.

"You seem very confident."

"All I can say is that mutual benefit is the best incentive mechanism. Academic progress cannot be driven by oppression, Professor."

"You have a point."

Shen Zhiyu chuckled softly, a hint of appreciation appearing in her eyes.

"As expected of you, He Tao."

Lin Yue and Long Yingxue exchanged a glance.

His eyes were full of doubt—why would the famous Professor Shen recognize He Tao?

Even more unexpectedly, Shen Zhi's next sentence was:

"Thank you."

"If it weren't for your paper, I really wouldn't know how to describe all of this."

She spread her arms, clearly pointing to the intricate numbers on the scroll.

"You're welcome," He Tao said calmly. "Actually, we were just basing our research on yours."

“But you’ve already gone a step further,” Shen Zhiyu remarked. “Truly, the younger generation surpasses the older! In the field of 'Inscription,' I am no match for you…”

These few words caused an uproar among the scientists present, and those inside the underground palace found it even more unbelievable.

Lin Yue and Long Yingxue's hearts pounded like drums, as if they had realized something.

"Wait a minute..." someone realized and whispered, "The author of 'An Initial Explanation of Inscriptions', He Tao... could she be her?"

This article has caused a sensation in the archaeological community, and the same is true at the Jinwu site. Almost everyone is studying the inscriptions according to this article, and some even regard it as a guiding principle.

I never expected that the author of this article would be such a young girl, who looks like she has just graduated from university.

Lin Yue and Long Yingxue were also stunned.

Unexpectedly, this "He Tao" is indeed the same "He Tao," capable of producing such outstanding results across disciplines, and even being regarded as an expert by Professor Shen.

How can this be? This is absolutely impossible!
At the same moment, Liu Sheng felt that the "OOC index" was soaring and was about to break through 60%.

However, they had already prepared for this.

After all, they were destined not to remain hidden forever.

“Of course, given that you’ve done me a great favor, and also for what happened before…” Shen Zhiyu fixed her gaze on “He Tao” again and continued, “I agree with what you said—mutual benefit.”

"In that case, I will first announce the format."

"Since this is an academic conference, let's follow the rules of academic conferences."

"If anyone makes a discovery, please apply here to initiate a meeting and give a public presentation. At that time, there will be a mechanism to evaluate it, and whether it is approved or not will be a matter of public opinion."

"So, we still need to... give an academic presentation?" someone asked in a trembling voice.

“Of course, isn’t that the purpose of academic conferences?” Shen Zhiyu said slowly. “Moreover, everyone has a chance, including the students who are currently participating in the online conference!”

Her expression remained stern, but her voice rose with excitement, as if she were expecting a positive response.

Unfortunately, the surrounding area was silent, and there was little response.

"Of course, if you pass and satisfy me, you can obtain extraordinary power like mine—from ancient times!" She pointed to the highest palace, "That is, you will gain an opportunity to enter the Immortal Palace and choose a reward!"

"But if it doesn't pass..."

"I'm sorry, you will not be able to leave this place."

“Furthermore,” she said lightly, as if she were simply stating a routine meeting agenda, “if the final approval rate is less than 10%, then—the world will be destroyed.”

"Yes, the survival of the Federal Empire will depend on this academic conference. Isn't that interesting?"

This time, "she" genuinely smiled.

(End of this chapter)