Due to a sudden accident, the scheduled academic conference, of course, could not be held as planned.
Xing Chen had intended to return to school once he recovered, but his mentor suddenly told him that he had postponed the conference.
"We are the leaders for this conference. If we don't attend, there's no need to hold it."
So, after resting in the hospital for a few days, Xing Chen prepared to be discharged to attend the conference.
"Xing Chen, your medical bill is so... cheap."
Theresa held the bill, looking at the actual amount paid, and couldn't help but exclaim.
Xing Chen then suggested she look at the amount before reimbursement. After seeing it, she again remarked that the average person couldn't afford that much money at all.
"How is Kazdel's medical care system?"
"Before Babel was established, most people just endured it. The Royal Court's witch doctors generally only served the Royal Court."
"What about after Babel was established?"
"It was quite good at first, just lacking money. As for what happened later, hehe."
Of course, compared to money issues, Xing Chen was more concerned about his health.
There wasn't much to say about Theresa; aside from her "very peculiar" blood type, she was generally very healthy, and the doctor didn't elaborate.
The problem was with him, such as an abnormal heart murmur, unstable brainwaves, and a bone age much older than his actual age, among various other issues.
The doctor was probably stumped as well, unable to offer any advice. They couldn't very well say that Xing Chen was already a dying man, could they?
"It seems we need to find the sarcophagus as soon as possible," Xing Chen said to Theresa.
"Sarcophagus? Is that the one you use to deal with nuclear accidents?" Theresa had already learned a lot about human technology, naturally including nuclear science. "I think it's better if we don't bring such weapons to Terra."
"Then do you think the Victorians will abandon their Shard?" Xing Chen felt that for the Sarkaz to break free from oppression, weapons that could be stored at the bottom of the pile were a necessity. "Alright, I'm not talking about our sarcophagus, but something from the Pre-civilization."
"The Doctor's items?"
"Exactly. You should have seen it before. Kal'tsit awakened the Seer in something similar. To be precise, I'm looking for some kind of home treatment device."
"Then are we going to find Rhodes Island?" Theresa became a little excited. After all, Xing Chen had always opposed approaching Rhodes Island too early. If he didn't agree, she couldn't do anything.
"No, Rhodes Island's sarcophagus is not safe, and Kal'tsit won't allow anyone other than her to approach it."
"Is that so?" Theresa recalled the day Kal'tsit took her to awaken the Doctor when Rhodes Island's internal renovations were mostly complete. She and her former enemy and best friend were full of hope for Terra's future. "Then what do we do?"
"I know a place with a large number of sarcophagi..."
"Are you talking about the Stasis Chamber?"
Xing Chen and Theresa had already discussed Friston's situation. Anyway, he would need his assistance no matter what; this was a pre-determined plan.
Now, his physical condition merely made him forgo extra activities along the way, such as going to Kazimierz's mobile city "All In" a few times to earn some startup capital.
Money isn't everything, but without money, you truly can't do anything. With money, he could avoid many troubles; without it, he could only use his brain more... Xing Chen had also participated in academic conferences, but mostly as a listener.
It was his first time speaking on stage, with all the big names from various fields sitting below. Thanks to Theresa assisting him by his side, helping him share the pressure, he finally finished explaining the Originium motor smoothly.
"Phew~~~ Finally done."
"Xing Chen, I just looked at your PPT. It seems your civilization's development was just a back-and-forth between boiling water and throwing rocks, yet you managed to create such a prosperous civilization."
"Actually, it's pretty much the same on your side, but not including Kazdel. What truly drives civilizational progress is general Originium technology, not each person's unique Originium Arts."
The Sarkaz's powerful Originium Arts talent allowed them to overwhelm simple Originium technology in the early stages, such as driving mobile cities. Other races relied on Originium electric generators, while Kazdel used Revenant-fueled Soul Furnaces.
But once the latter developed, it could practically crush Sarkaz sorcery. Originium generators could be mass-produced, while the number of Revenants could not be stably increased.
"That's why I asked Theresis to bring back more technology from Londinium," Xing Chen said, tidying his personal belongings. "Alright, Theresa, send away everyone who's looking for me."
Xing Chen was not good at dealing with those bigwigs. Who knew what kind of power they had behind them, and he was just an ordinary student who had mastered unique knowledge.
However, their status could definitely not compare to Theresa's rank. She was the leader of a race, and Xing Chen didn't know who the leader of humanity was.
"OK, I've persuaded them all to leave," Theresa returned quickly. "So, where do we go next?"
"There's one more important thing to do."
"What is it?"
Honestly, top-ranked universities were indeed lavish; even their buffets were five-star hotel quality.
Xing Chen and Theresa changed into their casual clothes and then feasted at the buffet restaurant.
"Eat whatever you want, take as much as you want, and try to pick the good and expensive items," Xing Chen told Theresa, then grabbed several plates himself.
Seeing this, Theresa followed suit, though she didn't know which items Xing Chen considered "expensive."
The two of them grabbed piles of food from all over the restaurant. For some reason, there were very few students attending; everyone present was at the mentor level.
Seeing their actions, these distinguished individuals couldn't help but point and whisper, wondering if these two were beggars.
After Xing Chen finished getting himself durian, seafood, beef, and other dishes, he turned around and found Theresa had piled a large bowl of rice, with the rest being cheap items like chicken and pork.
What he found most unbearable was that she had also taken a pile of bread that looked like it would cost 9.9 yuan with free shipping and cashback on Pinduoduo.
"Are you sure you're just eating... these?"
"Yes, Camel meat and staple foods until we're full—we wouldn't even dare to dream of that," she said, then glanced at Xing Chen's plate. "Xing Chen, aren't you eating staple foods? Scaled meat isn't very filling, and those lean meats have so little fat; they probably don't provide much energy."
"Never mind, as long as you like it," Xing Chen said helplessly.
Theresa picked up a piece of dessert and put it in her mouth, then her expression became very strange. "Sarkota likes to eat this... Xing Chen, give me some water..."
"I think they're not eating, but rather fueling their halos," Xing Chen said, handing over a drink. Theresa's expression improved considerably.
"Hahaha, I like that analogy."
