Fang Xu

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Fang Xu (方旭)
Alias(es)	Academician Fang; Xu; Brother Xu 17 42 125
Species/Race	Human 934
Gender	Male 6
Affiliation	Sandao Kou University; Xia Kingdom Academy of Sciences; later, Human Federation Academy of Sciences 6 11 528 723
Occupation/Role	Nuclear physicist; head of Sandao Kou University's Nuclear Physics Laboratory; Lü Yongchang's deputy and the Academy of Sciences' second-in-command; director of the Light Satellite One conversion project 6 12 293 503
Status	Alive and active during the final battle 983
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Four-dimensional ascension aboard the Earth	934	High-Dimensional Printing equipment transforms the ship and extends the process to its crew, including Fang Xu. This is his first experience of dimensional ascension; no individual combat rank or independent dimensional ability is specified.

Background / History

Fang Xu is already an established academician and laboratory head when Lü Yongchang presents his controlled nuclear fusion proposal. He interrupts an ongoing experiment to attend Jiang Yongxing's meeting, where a cursory comparison with Lü's work reveals three flaws in his own laboratory's proposal. He immediately advocates reporting the discovery to Parliament and beginning material-synthesis experiments 6.

Lü's memories establish Fang Xu's importance in the previous timeline: despite the Western powers' technological monopoly, he advanced Xia Country's controlled nuclear fusion technology by decades. He also discovered flaws in the Tokamak Device after the country's research effort repeatedly failed to sustain fusion beyond thirty minutes 12 14.

After Xia Country withdraws from ITER amid accusations that its scientists stole experimental data, Fang Xu firmly defends their integrity. He redirects his laboratory's work toward preparing the new material described in Lü's blackboard notes 11.

Appearance

• Introduced as a middle-aged man 6.
• Has a smooth forehead, which he slaps in exasperation during Lü's quantum-computer announcement 94.
• Develops dark circles after losing sleep over the superconducting-wire experiment; prolonged rescue work on Dawn Star likewise leaves him dark-eyed and bloodshot 17 411.

Personality

Fang Xu combines scientific caution with considerable enthusiasm for discovery. He demands ways to verify Lü's claims, questions immature technologies, and worries about experimental costs and personnel safety. Once convinced, he commits fully: excitement over superconductivity keeps him awake overnight, and he eagerly joins the fusion-reactor miniaturization project 14 17 28 42 55 94.

His academic pride is frequently challenged by Lü's abilities. Initially embarrassed at the prospect of assisting an undergraduate, he privately considers arranging a professorship to make the situation sound more respectable. Direct experience of Lü's laboratory skill turns that embarrassment into sincere admiration, although their relationship retains frequent teasing, complaints, and profanity 15 16 17 321.

Humanity's survival takes precedence in his political judgments. He supports the extermination of the Proxima Centauri people and later explicitly advocates killing the surrendered Latorians. Nevertheless, he subsequently helps implement humanity's vassal-civilization policy and recruit suitable diplomatic administrators 288 375 664 705.

His caution does not prevent him from accepting dangerous research when alternatives appear worse. He objects to renewed study of Hua and to technology capable of controlling sapient beings' thoughts, but ultimately supports both after considering humanity's precarious position 528 723.

Abilities & Skills

Controlled Nuclear Fusion

A leading fusion specialist whose expertise allows him to assess reactor proposals and supervise experimental work 6 12.

• Identifies three weaknesses in his laboratory's proposal by comparing it with Lü's design 6.
• Tests reactor-chamber material and discovers its resistance to fusion radiation damage 18.
• Confirms reactor readiness during the Pangu One demonstration 40.
• Receives responsibility for finishing the fusion-reactor miniaturization task after Lü completes its most important components 56.

Research Administration

As Lü's deputy and the Academy's second-in-command, Fang Xu coordinates personnel, projects, and government support 293.

• Reports Lü's superconducting quantum-computer architecture to the Head Councillor and arranges outside verification 94.
• Is asked to recruit reliable artificial intelligence researchers 94.
• Directs the Light Satellite One conversion project, which has been underway for twenty-five years when Lü revises its design 503.
• Takes charge of Academy administration while Lü pursues biological research 723.

Mission Coordination and Risk Assessment

Fang Xu monitors operational hazards and raises concerns that Lü's rapid decisions can overlook 798.

• Commands preparations for Dawn Star's first landing and emphasizes the importance of Exoskeleton Armor and Medical Pods 395.
• Coordinates scientific consultation, storm warnings, and rescue operations for surface teams 400 402 404 408 411.
• Detects unusual gravitational fluctuations in the Bosa Fleet shortly before its Curvature Bomb attack 550.
• Questions antihydrogen storage, micro-black-hole safety, and the consequences of antagonizing the Tenth Empire 503 680 798.

Cross-Disciplinary Training

Lü requires Fang Xu to broaden his knowledge beyond nuclear physics because of his leadership position 293.

• Initially struggles with nausea and resists performing alien dissections 293 294.
• After several hours of practice, calmly removes organs and compares the Marus' anatomy with that of other Proxima Centauri people 294.
• Understands portions of Lü's gravitational-field reasoning, but acknowledges gaps in his knowledge of superstring theory 529.

Physical Conditioning

• Suffers prolonged coughing and unsteady movement after leaving a Deep-Sea Pod 321.
• Loses a wager about life on Ross 2 and must double his Gravity Chamber training for a month 322.
• Requires Medical Pod assistance during the first difficult days of training; afterward, his steps are markedly steadier during planetary exploration 323.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Fusion Breakthroughs

• Superconducting materials: Assists Lü for three days, independently verifies the superconducting effect of graphene layers twisted by roughly 1.1°, and operates the vacuum pump during the successful carbon-nanotube-wire test. He then mobilizes laboratory staff to modify the Stellarator 16 17.
• Power generation: Initially doubts the practicality of a magnetohydrodynamic generator, then recognizes that the new heat-resistant material solves its operating-temperature problem. Lü asks him to find specialists and arrange a prototype 28.
• Lü's graduation: Relays Jiang Yongxing's inquiry and suggests publishing the laboratory's findings in Science as Lü's graduation thesis 27.
• Miniaturization: Explains the small fusion prototype's estimated 1,000-megawatt output to the Head Councillor before being left to finish the project 54 56.

Solar Catastrophe and Interstellar Migration

• Early warning: Brings a Nature paper about abnormal solar readings to Lü's attention. When Lü reacts with terror, Fang Xu tries to summon medical staff before agreeing to arrange astronomical facilities and government assistance 43.
• Mars migration: Reports that the Tower of Babel is nearly complete following the introduction of a third-generation Quantum Computer. Lü directs him to prepare the Spaceport plan and advance the Luan Bird starships for evacuation to Mars 161.
• Fleet development: Works with Cao Liangcai's team on specialized Starship designs and discusses the need for laser weapons after electromagnetic-cannon testing 226.
• Ross 154 crisis: Reports an unusually long and bright stellar flare, then privately asks whether humanity has another destination 312.
• Ross 2 exploration: Insists that the planet's high carbon monoxide concentration rules out life. River-water microscopy proves him wrong by revealing single-celled organisms 322.

Dawn Star and Higher-Level Research

• Storm emergency: Calls Lü for help as Dawn Star's situation deteriorates, identifies the inability of Black Lady Two craft to take off, and arranges work on hurricane-resistant single-person shelters. He later announces the start of the modified robots' rescue operation 408 411.
• Antimatter infrastructure: Challenges the suspension of Light Satellite One's conversion project. Lü explains that the revised fortress will include an equatorial particle accelerator for antimatter research, prompting Fang Xu to ask how antihydrogen will be stored 503.
• Escape planning: Warns that the Dandelion Plan is unfinished, but follows Lü's order to prepare it regardless 522.
• Hua research: Opposes restarting research because Hua might revive or have left another contingency. He accepts the gamble after Lü argues that conflict between the Cleaners and Gardener Faction could provide humanity an opportunity to survive 528.

Vassal Civilizations and Advanced Ruins

• Diplomatic recruitment: Works with Hong Qiming to select councillors for inter-civilization relations. He approves Lin Shuguang pending further sociology tests and requests more candidates 664.
• Expansion duties: Receives orders to notify Lin of his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and accelerate the search for lower-level civilizations 705.
• Tenth Empire ruins: Eagerly pursues the ruins after learning that a spatial weapon came from their outer region. His excitement turns to disappointment when an explored area contains only emptied manufacturing shells 783 789.
• Scientific guidance: Explains to newcomer Lin Yongnian why Lü must carefully choose research directions: humanity is at the pinnacle of level five, while the recovered Tenth Empire technology belongs to level seven 805.

Dimensional Conflict and the Final Battle

• White Dwarf Fortress: Questions Lü about the enemy's apparent disappearance and learns that a Four-Dimensional Shield makes ordinary three-dimensional attacks ineffective 869.
• Quantum transformation: Accompanies Lü to Doctor Wen and witnesses his body disperse into green specks and reassemble. His first question concerns the origin of Lü's clothing, before he redirects the discussion toward whether the body can form other substances 918.
• Rebuilt humanity: Eighty-one years after Membrane's devastating attack, reports the Cleaners–Gardener war situation and suggests helping sabotage the accelerator experiment. Lü rejects this and reveals that Nus has already been ordered to invade its nodes 975.
• Final battle: Raises the alarm when humanity loses control of Genesis. Lü explains that Zero is independently attempting to change mathematical laws within quasi-universe bubbles 983.

Relationships

• Lü Yongchang — Scientific superior, close colleague, and frequent source of exasperation. Fang Xu progresses from evaluating an undergraduate's proposal to serving as his deputy; Lü entrusts him with major projects, administration, and operational responsibilities 6 56 293 723.
• Jiang Yongxing — Longstanding acquaintance of more than a decade. Jiang brings him into the meeting that introduces Lü's fusion proposal and later uses him to relay questions about Lü's graduation 6 27.
• Hong Qiming — Government contact and later collaborator in selecting diplomatic personnel. Fang Xu vouches for Lü's fusion proposal to him and helps screen candidates for managing vassal relations 7 12 664.
• Cao Liangcai — Colleague involved in specialized Starship development; Fang Xu works with his design team 226.
• Su Yutong — Fellow academician who challenges his joking speculation about Lü's humanity. Fang Xu also accidentally witnesses a private moment between her and Lü, then hurriedly denies seeing anything 394 632.
• Mao Zhengzhi — Biology colleague whose work Fang Xu reports to Lü. Both receive Doctor Wen's classified explanation of Lü's increasingly unusual physiology 394 632.
• Feng Yuanliang — Scientific collaborator during Dawn Star exploration; Fang Xu consults him about hematite deposits and connects him with the surface team 400 402.
• Hong Fan — Exploration-team leader whose drilling reports and safety Fang Xu monitors during Dawn Star's storm emergency 402 408.

Notable Quotes

“Every scientist Xia Country sent is an upright, honorable person! Not only are they outstanding researchers, their integrity is beyond reproach!” 11

“Which of us is the abnormal one...?” 94

“We... humanity doesn't have much time left!” 528