Yao Yuan was the most unique among all the Homo Evolutis, an All-Rounder. His uniqueness lied in the fact that other than Deceiver’s power, he had access to all the other Homo Evolutis powers, including the Whisperer.
The supposed Whisperer’s power was something that was hard to describe; it was something beyond scientific comprehension. It was unlike other Homo Evolutis powers. The Perceptor’s power could be explained scientifically as a heightened sensory sensitivity. The Diviner (the Sage was an exception) also could be understood as a heightened sixth sense. Even Animas and Thinkers technically could be explained scientifically. Of course, their validity is another issue.
In comparison, All-Rounders, Deceivers, and Whisperers were the most unique. We shall focus on Whisperers for now. Their uniqueness lies in the sense that when Whisperers used their power, they hear an indescribable voice.
This voice is different from the Thinker’s situation. The voice heard by the Thinker has clues, details, and logical conclusions. Even normal people, given enough time, would reach these observations. In other words, the Thinker’s power greatly shortened the time needed to think. Therefore, if viewed from a scientific perspective, the Thinker’s power came from increased brain activity.
The voice heard by the Whisperes was something beyond scientific explanation. The Academy called it "Dark Technology." When the Whisperer needed to solve a scientific difficulty, they could find the key or break through with their power. They could even use experiments or examples to exemplify their thoughts. This process… or rather, this non-process, was because the Whisperer’s power was akin to providing the answer to a math equation without showing the work. It was not mental arithmetic, they arrived at the answer through intuition. This was something beyond scientific comprehension.
Because of this, Whisperers were highly valued on the Hope. Wang Da Bing included, they were considered treasured talents of the same level as Da Vinci, Newton, and Einstein.
Yao Yuan had access to the Whisperer’s power, so after the Hope decided to focus on the research of the Genesis, he too would spend all of his days researching…
However, after Yao Yuan joined the task force, he finally realized how complicated everything was.
This was because unlike the space merchants, mankind was not aiming to just design these products. It was worth noting that the scientists on the Hope were really carefully selected from Earth. They had indescribable drive and responsibility, a responsibility towards mankind’s scientific history, and they would not allow themselves to stop at just creating the products.
In other words, the scientific knowledge hidden within each product and technology needed to be completely unearthed. For example, the research on AI. The Hope’s robotics and electronics group had started writing quantum code, some even had started creating an AI game, a game world that was completely open and would change organically. This was only possible after mankind had uncovered everything about the AI technology.
After Yao Yuan joined the task force, he realized how difficult scientific research was. Its difficulty came from the series of complicated formulas. The application of these formulas could be left to the computers, but the verification of these formulas, their logic and theories, needed to be processed manually. Computers were, at the end of the day, computers. They didn’t contain the same level of imagination and creativity human minds had.
All these analyses, calculations, verifications, and experiments were not something pursuable with just instinct. They needed a large amount of experience and familiarity with the sciences to pull off. Therefore, only a researcher or an actual scientist was needed for these works.
Even though Yao Yuan was a Whisperer, and he could instinctually find out the correct answer when faced with these complicated scientific formulas, technologies, and theories, unlike Bo Li, Ivan, and Saburo, he didn’t have years of research experience behind him.
Simply put, the three Whisperers, after they arrived at the conclusions in the minds, they could use their scientific knowledge to work their way back, to simplify and connect the dots, to answer the question "why."
However, when Yao Yuan got the conclusion, he didn’t have the experience to ask "why." In fact, he couldn’t understand why he needed to ask "why;" therefore, he couldn’t show them the process but only the answer.
Science was not math homework, it was not something you could pass by just writing down the answer. The key was still in the process; be it verification, analysis, or the calculation of formulas, those were not only solvable by providing a direct answer. Therefore, when Yao Yuan joined the Genesis task force, he brought quite a bit of chaos.
Since Yao Yuan was the leader of the ship and also a Whisperer, the answers he provided needed to be followed, but normall,y after the researchers wrote down his answer, the next step would be…
Nothing. That’s right, it ended there!
Was there something more inflaming than this? However, Yao Yuan couldn’t see where the problem was in the beginning. He even ordered the researchers to build the Genesis using his conclusions. Of course, this craziness was halted by the leading scientists.
After a few incidents of this madness, the few great scientists that governed the Academy finally had had enough of Yao Yuan’s disturbance at the lab. They pooled together to confront Yao Yuan. Their sudden presence flustered even Yao Yuan.
There were in total four great scientists that held sway in the Academy, and three of them had gathered to confront Yao Yuan. They were Alan, Silewei, and Garfield. Silewei, befitting of his German ancestry, was the one to confront Yao Yuan directly. "Science is not politics! Captain, Chancellor! If you continue to give impossible orders, then me and the few leading scientists will have to bar you from entering the lab!"
Alan, who was beside him, thought his words were unintentionally harsh, so he quickly added, "Chancellor, we understand you’re anxious because the Diviners have sensed danger. You wish to finish the Genesis as soon as possible, but science is really not something approachable via direct orders. Research can’t be sped up with an order. We need a large amount of time, energy, and effort before we can get the things we want. Since you’ve already left the development of science to us, why can’t you trust us? Give us some time to finish the research behind the Genesis."
Yao Yuan smiled awkwardly and then asked, in a low voice, "Actually, I also know science cannot be rushed, but I’m running out of ideas. The Diviners have sensed the danger, but no one knows when it will arrive. Time is of the essence; is there any way we can hasten this process?"
The three scientists looked at each other before shaking their heads. Finally, Garfield said, after some hesitation, "Chancellor, you also know that there are no shortcuts in science… But if you’re adamant on finding one, then I can only think of one solution, that is your Homo Evolutis power. The Whisperers are the only ones who can find the shortcuts in science. Other than that, I see no possible solution to hasten the research on the Genesis."
After that, Yao Yuan left the lab. He knew he wasn’t a research material. If only his Whisperer power could be given to a researcher, no, even an intern would be nice. Alas, it was wasted on someone like him…
But the only shortcut?
Yao Yuan was not someone who gave up easily. Since he couldn’t use the shortcut himself, then he decided to visit Bo Li that night. He knocked on her door.
Bo Li was wearing snow white pajamas when she opened the door. Her face registered both surprise and joy. She didn’t stop Yao Yuan from following behind her when she sauntered back into her room. This was the first time Yao Yuan had been in Bo Li’s room after they left the new planet.
"What’s the purpose of your visit?"
Bo Li asked while Yao Yuan was studying the room's decorations.
Yao Yuan asked, with some excitement and weirdly some nervousness, ‘I’m here to ask you about the Genesis weapon system. You’re a Whisperer and the most familiar with this technology. Can you resolve everything within a year?"
"…I can’t answer that. I may be a Whisperer, but I’m not God. I can’t promise I will finish everything within a year simply because you ordered me too. Why don’t you do it yourself if you’re so desperate. You’re also a Whisperer, right?"
Bo Li replied with a straight face that was turning cold. Even her tone was icy. After that, she ignored the question that was on Yao Yuan’s lips and shove him out the door.
"If that’s all you’re here for, then you can leave now."
Yao Yuan had spent less than half a minute inside her room before he got the door slammed in his face…


Endless sky and infinite space, the cosmos isn’t some paradise waiting to be found, it is full of darkness and danger, death and terror of the great unknown. However, for that glittering swath of blue, we have no fear! For the longevity of men, we have no regrets! Nothing shall stand in our way because it is finally our time, our age! The age of cosmos exploration! 


On the second night that Tomcat observed Comet Tomcat-Tang-Mai I again, the point of light had brightened again. The comet's speed was extremely fast—it was probably the fastest moving celestial body in the Solar System. It could fly more than 70 km/s while ordinary planetoids only moved at 20 km/s.
In terms of mass, the energy brought by the comet was thirteen times that of the asteroid that blasted the dinosaurs into extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period. If Comet Tomcat-Tang-Mai I were to hit Mars, the catastrophe it created would be more spectacular than the fifth major extinction event.
Mars's volume density was much smaller than Earth's, and the comet had enough energy to throw large quantities of matter into orbit. This would leave a huge impact crater on Mars's surface while also forming a belt of particles around it, giving it its own ring.
Of course, it would be impossible for Tang Yue and Mai Dong to see such a scene. Comet Tomcat-Tang-Mai I came from above the Solar System's ecliptic plane, so it would definitely hit the northern hemisphere of Mars. It was possible that Kunlun Station would be instantly destroyed upon impact, and the space station would be ripped to shreds from the ejected rubble.
"How is it? That comet?" Tang Yue asked.
Tomcat moved the monitor towards Tang Yue.
On the screen was space. It was a picture taken from the space station's survey telescope. It had been constantly tracking the comet that had barged into the Solar System.
To Tang Yue's surprise, Tomcat pointed at a very faint point of light with its paw. It didn't stand out among the bright stars, completely at odds with Tang Yue's impression of a comet.
He originally imagined that he would see a bright comet with a sweeping tail.
"Unfortunately, the Dawn module on the space station has been destroyed. Otherwise, we could have telescopes with bigger apertures and precision. That way, you'd be able to see it more clearly," Tomcat said. "This is Comet Tomcat-Tang-Mai I that's flying towards the sun at high speeds. In the three minutes you have been staring blankly at the screen, it has already crossed a distance of 12,600 kilometers."
Tang Yue stroked his chin.
If this were ancient times, this comet would likely be labeled as a "calamity from the skies, an ominous portent." Be it China or foreign countries, the ancients had bad impressions of comets. The Chinese called it a jinx that represented bad luck, while Westerners believed that it was a sign of God's displeasure and fury.
After all, anyone who knew that there was such a huge object approaching from over their heads would feel uneasy, regardless if it was a nuclear bomb or a comet.
Tang Yue suddenly had a strange thought. "Tomcat, do you think that this is actually an interstellar missile? Certain civilizations create them as long-range strike weapons. They fly fast just like a missile… Don't you see the resemblance?"
"Not at all." Tomcat shot a glance at him and shook its head. "According to the light spectrum analysis, this object is 95% comprised of water. The rest is carbon dioxide, nitrogen, ammonia, and methane. Such materials rapidly evaporate when they approach the sun. If it's a missile, I feel that it should have a ferrotungsten core at the very least, or be a three-stage bomb."
"So it's actually just an interstellar water delivery boy?"
"Yes." Tomcat nodded. "A considerable portion of Earth's water might have originated from comets. Billions of years ago, when life had yet to be born, large numbers of comets and asteroids collided with Earth, bringing it rare metals and water, perhaps even organic molecules."
"If it hits Mars, and I'm only saying if… with it not affecting Kunlun Station or the space station… does that mean it will replenish us with water? So much, that we won't be able to finish that amount in all our lives."
"Impossible. What is going on inside your head? Do you think it will turn into a lake or ocean after the impact?" Tomcat shook its head. "All the water contained in the comet nucleus will instantly evaporate due to the high temperatures from the impact. They will evaporate into the Martian atmosphere, and you won't be able to get a single drop of water. Of course, this bit of water won't moisturize the Martian atmosphere. It's equivalent to pouring a bottle of mineral water in the middle of the Sahara desert."
"I was just fantasizing." Tang Yue curled his lips.
"The only way to extract the water resources from the comet is…"
"What's it?" Tang Yue asked.
"To fly up and stop it just like the Deep Impact spacecraft," Tomcat answered. "Then, you can extract however much water you wish."
When Tomcat mentioned such tales that bordered on the level of gods, it meant that it was very irritated by one's extreme stupidity.
"Is the result of this object's trajectory out?"
Tomcat shook its head. "It's still under observation."
Tang Yue knew that it was impossible for the comet to hit Mars… The possibility of having these two celestial objects collide, was lower than having a bullet hit another. However, he couldn't stop worrying. In the past, Tang Yue definitely wouldn't have worried over a comet, nor was it his place to worry over it. But ever since Earth had vanished, Tang Yue felt that the Universe was fraught with danger. The vast, pitch-black night sky seemed to be hiding all kinds of ferocious beasts.
Since it could swallow Earth with just one bite, spitting out something to drown you wasn't unimaginable.
"Mr. Cat?"
"Miss Mai Dong, is the light sensor on the S1 battery bank still operational?"
"Everything is operational. The light sensor is in good condition," Mai Dong replied. "The repair work was very successful."
Mai Dong's EVA missions had come to a perfect conclusion. She had smoothly swapped the damaged wires and Tang Yue had praised her for her talent as an electrician.
Tomcat curled its mouth as it couldn't be bothered.
What kind of talent was needed to be an electrician?
Only being Electrician Liu, Liu Cixin, needed talent.
"Mr. Cat, I've sorted out a portion of the development history of European technology and agriculture. I've also briefly mentioned a few key people in Western philosophy," Mai Dong sent the document to Tomcat. "I have St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Leibniz, and Descartes."
"Hmm…" Tomcat glanced at it. "Tang Yue, are you done on your side?"
"Almost. However, for people like Pythagoras and Democritus, do you plan on putting them into philosophical history or in scientific history?"
Tomcat thought and said, "Philosophical history."
"After all, the earliest science was the philosophy of nature," Mai Dong said. "Philosophers were scientists."
"But Aristotle was practically an antagonist in secondary physics classes," Tang Yue said. "He was criticized in almost every lesson."
"The next person is Francis cured meat… Ah, no. Bacon!"
"Next would be Nikola and Bruno."
"Going down the list would be Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo… These people should be placed in scientific history. The philosophers worth mentioning here would be Berkeley and Spinoza."
Tomcat babbled on and on.
They were organizing their records of scientific and philosophical history. They were taking note of all the famous experts in history, while science and philosophy were specially highlighted, placing them on equal ground with the human civilization's chronicles. Doing so made the presentation more orderly. In addition, agricultural and industrial development was made into a separate book by them. They went from slash-and-burn to the use of fertilizer, going from the first Industrial Revolution to the birth of the semiconductor. Human history was sloshing through this tiny scientific station.
"Kant… and also Hegel."
"That person is Schopenhauer!"
"Freud shouldn't appear here. Let's mention him when writing about psychology. Don't forget Nietzsche, heard that, Miss Mai Dong… Nietzsche's period is wrong."
"F*ck, I told you before, Tang Yue. Marx isn't a Soviet!"


Payload specialist, Tang Yue, who is a mechanical and electrical engineer by training, is left stranded on Mars when he receives news from his AI robot assistant, Tomcat, that Earth has exploded. He believes himself to be the last human in the Universe.
Turns out, he is only the last man in the Universe. Botanist, Mai Dong, had been left on the United Space Station (USS) orbiting Mars, to await Tang Yue's ascent to the USS before they make their journey back to Earth. But now, it's impossible.
Join the trio's quest for survival as they attempt to unravel the mystery of Earth's disappearance.

"Doctor Ling, Wei Jiayou's probably writing an article on prolonged CPR." When Yu Yuan found Ling Ran, she saw that he was typing furiously on his keyboard while he was bent over his desk, and she knew that she needed to put aside her story of running into a ginseng spirit with long whiskers first. She told him the more important stuff. 
Ling Ran's flawless fingers, fair and slender as they were, with their distinctive joints, heathily plump and smooth-skinned, stopped typing. 
"What's the reason for you purposely mentioning this?" Ling Ran looked at Yu Yuan, but he already had some guesses in his mind.
Just as he expected, Yu Yuan said firmly, "Wei Jiayou will definitely need to refer to our medical cases to write his research article."
"Yes… There aren't many cases of prolonged CPR, so it's very likely that Wei Jiayou will take our medical case as his reference." Ling Ran nodded slowly. 
Yu Yuan was surprised. "Is that okay? Can you accept this?"
"Of course I can't." Ling Rang glanced at Yu Yuan as if she was a fool. "Go and look for the Administration Department and have them block Wei Jiayou's login account. Also, don't allow him access to the ICU anymore. I'll call Department Director Huo. Also, I've almost finished writing my research paper…"
Ling Ran said as he made way for Yu Yuan as a hint that she could read it. 
Yu Yuan felt more at ease. She was just a bit angry with Ling Ran's expression. Ling Ran's expression made him seem as if he was looking at a fool, and it could truly make a person fly into rage easily, just as easily as that ginseng spirit looked at a pervert just now. 
Even though she thought about it in her mind, Yu Yuan still adjusted her seat to the highest and lowered the computer screen to the lowest position before she focused on reading Ling Ran's paper.
"Hmm, I thought you're writing an article on arthroscopy." Yu Yuan could not help but feel happy when she saw the title of the article, [Analysis on Continuous Successful Cases using Barehanded Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation].
"I wrote an article on knee arthroscopy surgery too. But this article will have priority in being amended first, and it will also be prioritized when it comes to publication," Ling Ran answered. 
Yu Yuan smiled. "That means our patients…"
Yu Yuan stopped talking as she kept reading. 
Frankly speaking, she was hopeless when it came to surgeries, but when it came to research articles, Yu Yuan became very confident. 
The impression Ling Ran's article gave Yu Yuan was that it was very crude. 
But most of the student's articles looked like this. The research articles published by resident doctors and normal attending physicians were not any better, and some associate chief physicians and chief physicians' research papers were also of this standard. Their old age did not make them become smarter, it would just make their writing become even cruder. 
In short, unless someone treated writing research articles as a proper profession and specialized in this for around ten years, it was inevitable that their writing was crude. 
Doctors who had studied three years for their Masters' degree, then spent four to eight years for their PhD were the ones who were the most experienced in writing research articles. There were also doctors like Yu Yuan, who were just talented in writing research articles.
The remaining people, including Ling Ran would already be considered good if they could explain things clearly. 
Fortunately, research articles only required the writer to explain the case clearly. There was no need for much flowery language. This was only required for some of the annoying journal publishers such as Science, which required its writers to explain profound matters in simple language. They actually asked the writers to write in simple language while they tried to explain scientific concepts. 
However, some articles with good grammar would stand a higher chance to be accepted and published by a journal publisher. 
Yu Yuan could see the highlights in Ling Ran's article after she adapted to his very crude writing in the beginning. 
The key points in prolonged CPR, the reasons of him using certain medication, the feedback from him using the medication, and so on… 
Since this was a surgical skill which had just begun developing, Yu Yuan could imagine that Ling Ran's article would receive a lot of attention from others.
CPR could be considered as a major topic in emergency medicine alone. 
"So, you have been preparing to write such an article all this while?" Yu Yuan was slightly relieved and said, "Then, we should publish this as soon as possible."
"Yes. I'll do some amendments and add in some references." Ling Ran did not seem too worried. 
Yu Yuan agreed with that too. Research articles on clinical medicine were mostly published by attending physicians themselves because it was difficult to get first-hand data. Some of the data was not expressed in numbers or texts in medical records.
Meanwhile, journal publishers would also question the validity of non first-hand data. They would not just accept or trust any data written by anyone. 
"I'll help you to check your references." Yu Yuan voluntarily suggested. 
The sources of the references used in the article must be checked and cited one by one. Of course, the main task in this was searching for certain resources with a certain research direction one by one, which could take up a lot of time. 
"Then, should we stop here?" Ling Ran's focus was a bit different. 
Yu Yuan scrolled the paper to the top and checked it in detail. Then, she said, "I think the content is quite sufficient, we have written all we can…"
"It's impossible to include everything. So, let's stop here first." Ling Ran had only performed CPR on a few cases, and he did not feel like he had written everything that he wanted, because he did not have enough medical cases as references. However, it was not necessary for him to include everything in one research paper. 
Once Yu Yuan confirmed Ling Ran's thought, she let Ling Ran email her the article so that she could search for more information, check the references, and do other things with it. 
This was a task with a lot of work. Yu Yuan worked for one whole day, and she stayed up for a few hours more later into the night before she finally completed the reference materials and citations for the research article and sent it back to Ling Ran again.
On the second day, Yu Yuan arrived at the hospital after the ward round, and this was considered as her taking some extra time to rest. 
In fact, Yu Yuan was very excited to see how Ling Ran would view the research article she had amended.
"Doctor Ling…" When Yu Yuan saw Ling Ran, she quickly ran over and stood in front of him.
Ling Ran had to lower his head before he managed to see Yu Yuan. When he saw her expression, he smiled and said, "Good job."
Yu Yuan beamed instantly. Compared to surgery, she was more confident in writing papers, and she also looked forward to receiving praise in this aspect more. 
"There's one problem." Ling Ran's words suddenly made Yu Yuan nervous. 
"Is there something wrong with it?" Yu Yuan tried her best to recall the content she had written. But perhaps she had stayed up too late, because Yu Yuan could not quite recall what she wrote. 
"There's nothing wrong." Ling Ran shook his head before he said again, "You just sent one more email to me."
"Extra email?" Yu Yuan was shocked as she said this. Then, she relaxed in the next second. She smiled and said, "Oh yeah, I was looking for a Hermes perfume at that time. Did I send a wrong picture to you?"
"It seemed to be an order email," Ling Ran said.
"It's just a fake one," Yu Yuan said, "People won't sell the real one."
Ling Ran nodded. Naturally, he did not concern himself with this problem after that.
…..
At the same time, Wei Jiayou also almost completed writing his research paper.
His paper was very simple. The content was just as it was in the title, [An Observational Report on Prolonged Barehanded CPR]. All he wrote was what he observed in a prolonged CPR and how the patient recovered. 
Compared to the surgeries or related research that he did, this kind of research paper was more suited to be presented in various meetings and lectures.
Wei Jiayou was a person who always participated in different kinds of international meetings. Therefore, writing this type of research article was just a piece of cake for him.
At noon, Wei Jiayou took out his tablet and keyed his account password, but he realized that he could not login anymore. 
Wei Jiayou was stunned, but in the next minute, he laughed. 'It's futile, you know?'


Ling Ran, a med school senior, begins to see the world like a game UI. He uses it to pave his way towards graduation, a residency, becoming the greatest doctor in the world... And finally getting a Transformer from his newbie packs? Maybe. We don't know yet.

This is a continuation of the first Prelude chapter (Chapter 0) at the very beginning. If you somehow managed to miss it, please find it in the table of contents.
Or you can just skip this chapter and come back to it later when you feel like it.
*   *   *   *   *
After five long years, I could say with confidence that I was now fluent in the spoken common language of this world. Unfortunately, I couldn't say the same about the writing system. I don't know who even designed this, but it was like a mix of classical Chinese and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. However, what surprised me the most was the population's literacy rate. They didn't fund public education here so hardly anyone could do mental arithmetic, yet somehow three quarters of the population could read and write without problems…
I tried to teach people basic mathematics and science during the time I've been here, but nobody took me seriously since I lacked fame and titles. The few who listened to my mini-lectures to the end were skeptical, saying the correctness of what I said was just some strange coincidence. I also tried introducing and teaching a new, simpler writing system to the people here, but that was coldly rejected as well. They said it looked too similar to random scribbles made by a toddler, and as a result treated it like a joke.
I also found out that learning magic was physically impossible, too. It's hard to explain in words, but apparently learning how to control and use mana was like learning a new language: it was easier to do so at a young age while one's brain was still in a "critical period". There was also some unexplainable phenomenon that happened only in the body of a child, which would start degrading over time upon entering puberty if not utilized properly by then. While one could technically still learn magic after puberty, doing so would take significantly longer, and such degradation within the body would have already happened for so long that one's potential for magic would be too low. I was already almost 40 years old so my potential, if I had any to begin with, would only be enough to lift a strand of hair up just slightly if I completely exhausted all my mana, according to the sage.
Alchemy was also out of the question. Making potions and scrolls was like making medicine: it required precise amounts of materials and ingredients. Unfortunately, specially converted mana was one of those crafting materials for most products. The only items that didn't require mana were poisons, but processing the materials that went into such products required using magic to prevent the people making that from poisoning themselves.
I had no idea why the sage let me stay at his home for the past 5 years when I was of no help to his research on magic. I felt bad about being a freeloader, so I worked various odd jobs to cover my own expenses, and helped with various household chores. Out of all the jobs I took, operating a food stall at the city's marketplace was the highest paying. All I did was introduce some fast-food items from home, but apparently such savory and unhealthy things were wildly popular with the locals who had never seen such "exotic" dishes before. It really puzzled me: these people sold bread and various types of meats at the marketplace, yet nobody had ever invented sandwiches or hamburgers before…
Servants of the regional Earl's household invited me to become one of his personal cooks at some point two years ago, but I declined. The only things I knew could make well were fast-food and instant noodles, and I was worried that feeding the Earl this kind of food every day would eventually put him into cardiac arrest, and consequently put me into trouble, so I just gave them some recipes instead. The next thing I knew, a large sack of silver coins was delivered to me, along with a letter of thanks from the Earl. There was even a note saying he shared my recipes with other noble families across the kingdom, and the "simple but exotic pizza dish" would even be served at royal banquets.
In any case, I failed to advance this world's knowledge on scientific matters, so it really seemed like I would never have any chance of returning home.
Maybe it was fate that my life would turn out to be this mediocre…
*   *   *   *   *
"Badoth, come to my room now!"
My evening routine consisted of heating up ready-made meals from the marketplace for dinner, cleaning up the house, and bringing the sage some herbal tea at around 8 o'clock. It was currently a few minutes past 7, so I found it strange that he called me this early.
"Yes? Erm… You seem different."
This old man who usually showed no emotion was now suddenly cheerfully smiling.
"Thanks to you helping with housework, I've finally completed my lifelong research!"
So that's why he let me stay here. He needed someone to reliably do his housework so he could focus on his research…
"Well congratulations, sir! Um… could I ask about what the research is about?"
"Magic that extends one's lifespan. Shall I test it on you?"
"Sure, I guess."
Maybe this was going to be the day my fate changed. If his research really was successful, then I would now have more time to try to spread my scientific knowledge to this world. If it failed, well, it's not like I have any regrets. I already thought about giving up on life several times when I realized it was essentially impossible to go home.
After drawing a large magic circle on the floor, the sage began mumbling an impossibly long chant. The magic circle glowed brighter and brighter, eventually reaching a point when the light completely whited out my vision.
"My body feels… weird."
There was an uncomfortable sensation running through my body that was hard to describe. As soon as I finished my sentence, the sage's mumbling stopped and quickly turned into laughter.
"Hohoho… so my magic is working! Ahahaha! This is splendid indeed!"
Now I couldn't tell what was more disturbing: the strange feeling in my body, or the creepy laughter.
"Let me tell you one thing: the reason why I kept you here! This spell transfers the remaining lifespan of one person to another! You, who came from another world, shall not be missed! Hohohoho!"
"Ugh…"
Of course. Nobody knew me that well in this world, so nobody would ever inquire if I suddenly disappeared one day.
I wanted to run away, but couldn't move my body. It felt as though the magic circle was binding me to one spot. I even tried screaming for help, but even my vocal tract wasn't cooperating, either.
There was nothing I could do but listen to the sage's cruel laughter as I grew dizzier and dizzier.
*   *   *   *   *
When the laughter and light finally faded away, my clothes and the world around me felt bigger. On the ground in front of me was the motionless body of the sage, who looked as though he had just aged 30 or so years before passing away.
I looked in a mirror to find that I now had the appearance of an 8 year old child. Even my Adam's apple was gone, so it seemed like my physical body got reverted to that age, too. Looks like the sage's magic worked miraculously, although in the opposite direction of what he intended.
I felt shocked and horrified at the events that unfolded just now, yet I was somewhat happy at the same time: I'm now at a youthful age that made learning magic possible!

Some say that being an adventurer doing quests for a living was a wonderful job because of the freedom and exploration that comes with the job.

Unfortunately, that kind of life wasn't suited for everyone. A mage who found the life of an adventurer too difficult decides to retire and operate an alchemy store instead.

He gains a bit of fame from running one of very few alchemy stores in the world, but things don't go too smoothly for him, as he is once again forced to go on adventures...

* August 7, 2018: Novel now also published on Royal Road. Same title and author name.

* September 12, 2018: A problem occurred with Chapter 13, so I have to re-upload it and all the chapters that follow...

After Lu Zhou got back from Brazil, he began his research on the plasma turbulence phenomenon.
Although he didn't go on another retreat, his lifestyle was very regular. He would either be in his bedroom, Princeton Institute for Advanced Study, or the PPPL.
Researching the plasma turbulence phenomenon wasn't much easier than solving the Navier–Stokes equation.
They were at a different kind of difficulty.
The latter was equivalent to using abstract mathematical tools to prove whether a smooth solution existed. The latter was equivalent to finding a special case and solution of the Navier–Stokes equation.
Until now, there had only been a hundred special Navier–Stokes equation solutions discovered in the mathematics world; most of them did not include the time dimension or were limited to two spatial dimensions.
For the people that did computational fluid dynamics or applied mathematics, most of their special solutions were done using observational models with empirical formulas and parameters; it didn't provide much reference value for Lu Zhou.
This meant that Lu Zhou had to do this daunting task entirely by himself as he didn't even have any literature to research.
Of course, he still had some tools.
For example, his L Manifold Navier–Stokes equation topology object was a very useful theoretical tool.
Not just that, but after coming back from the conference, his mathematics level went from Level 6 to Level 7, and he was only three levels away from the maximum Level 10. His intuition and talent in mathematics had grown exponentially over the past few weeks.
Lu Zhou wasn't 100% certain, but he was 90% certain he could solve this problem.
All he needed was time…
Three weeks after returning to Princeton and near the end of August, Lu Zhou finally received an email from the Clay Institute.
[Dear Professor Lu Zhou, I am James Carlson, the chairman of the scientific advisory board for the Clay Mathematics Institute.
[Based on the anonymous evaluation of 12 reviewers and the comments from the International Mathematical Union, we believe you have proved the existence of a smooth Navier–Stokes equation.
[The solution to this problem will greatly enhance the development and application of mathematical theory. We sincerely thank you for your contribution to the mathematics and scientific world.
[Based on the recommendation from your partner, Professor Fefferman, we are confident that your project work was crucial. After a vote by the Clay Institute board of directors, we have decided to grant you the one million dollar prize money in advance…]
Normally, solving a Millennium Prize Problem didn't mean one could immediately receive the price money.
According to the official rules, any solution had to be published in a reputable journal for at least two years and recognized by the mathematics community. Only then, could the Clay Mathematics Institute decide on whether or not to issue the million-dollar prize money.
However, this rule was malleable.
For example, Perelman's thesis had never been published in a reputable journal, and Carlson, the president of the Clay Mathematics Institute, didn't wait two years before heading over to St Petersberg to visit this hermit… 
However, Carlson wasn't able to meet Perelman.
Because Lu Zhou's report was held in the form of a special report at the International Congress of Mathematicians, and that Lu Zhou had answered all of the questions at the report sessions, there was no need to wait for the academic community to reach a consensus.
Therefore, the Clay Institute made this decision.
In the email, the Clay Institute also attached the conditions for receiving the award.
As an age-old proposition announced at the Millennium Conference, Carlson hoped that this award ceremony would be grandiose. 
The award ceremony location was at the Collège de France, which was also where the Clay Mathematics Institute first announced the Millennium Prize Problems. The million-dollar special award ceremony would be held by the Clay Mathematics Institute and European Mathematical Society.
No one knew what kind of ceremony it would be.
This was because Perelman, the mathematician that proved the Poincaré conjecture, was a peculiar person that didn't enjoy public attention. Even though he proved the conjecture over a decade ago, an award ceremony was never held.
If Carlson sent the invitation a month ago, Lu Zhou would be happy to buy a plane ticket and attend the award ceremony. After all, a million dollars was a million dollars.
But now that his research on plasma turbulence phenomenon had entered a critical stage, he was neither willing nor interested in traveling long distances.
Lu Zhou thought for a moment before he responded politely to the invitation. He said that his research was in a critical stage, and he couldn't find the time to fly to Paris. In addition, he said he didn't want to refuse the million dollars and even attached his bank account details in the email.
Which meant that Lu Zhou just wanted a wire transfer.
As for the medals or certificates, Lu Zhou didn't mind if they sent it to him by postage…
When Carlson read this email, he nearly spat on the computer screen.
This was almost more irritating than when Perelman refused to accept the award.
If that weirdo doesn't want the award, then it's fine! But what the hell is this bank transfer!
Why are all of these Millennium Prize Problem solvers so eccentric?!
Carlson wrote a response and told Lu Zhou it would be impossible to wire the money to him.
The reason was simple!
Two Millennium Prize Problems had already been solved, but the Clay Institute had never even hosted an award ceremony. If Lu Zhou wanted the prize, he had to come to Paris.
Of course, in Carlson's reply, he also wrote in a respectful manner where he stated that he understood the importance of a scholar's research.
If Lu Zhou really wasn't available, Carlson was willing to arrange a suitable award ceremony date with him.
When Lu Zhou read Professor Carlson's reply, he felt annoyed by the formalism of this guy.
The Clay Institute was located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it wasn't too far from where Lu Zhou lived. Lu Zhou could even get there without flying. He could do so just by driving in his Ford Explorer.
However, these people weren't happy to hold the award ceremony in their own country; they had to hold it across the pond at the Collège de France.
Attending the award ceremony would waste at least a week of Lu Zhou's time.
Lu Zhou had an interesting research project going on right now; therefore, this was unacceptable.
Lu Zhou thought for a bit before he wrote a reply.
[… I can't give you an accurate date. Maybe only after my research results on the plasma turbulence phenomenon is out that I might be able to take the time to accept the prize.]
After writing the email, Lu Zhou hit "Send". He closed his email tab and continued to study his half a year old experimental data that was sitting in his computer.
Professor Carlson, who was at the Clay Institute in Massachusetts, read Lu Zhou's email. He didn't say a word. Instead, he looked at his secretary, Daft.
Daft sighed and patted Professor Carlson's back as he said, "… That was probably the most euphemistic rejection we could've gotten." 
Daft didn't study fluid mechanics; he wasn't even in academia. However, working at the Clay Institute had exposed him to many cutting edge research advances. 
The turbulent flow was a well-known type of a chaotic system; it was also a problem that many mathematicians and physicists struggled with.
Not to mention, Lu Zhou's research object was on plasma…
In Daft's opinion, Lu Zhou's letter might as well have been a direct rejection.
Carlson took off his glasses and rested his arms on the table. He then pinched his glabella.
"I don't understand… Why? It's free money, why is it so hard to give?"
He was tired from the inside out.
He had experienced this feeling when he was the institute director, and now that he was the chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board, this feeling hadn't changed a bit. 
All he wanted to do before retirement was to grant a million-dollar prize bonus and medal to the solver of the Millennium Prize Problem at the grand hall of the Institut de France.
But why was this wish so difficult to achieve even though two Millennium Prize Problems had already been solved…


After suffering from a heat stroke while working under the scorching heat of summer, Lu Zhou, a hardworking but poor university student, somehow becomes the owner of an advanced technological system. With the cheat given by the system, his university life changes overnight. 
  
A Master's degree? Easy. 
  
PhD? Not a problem.   
  
From a nobody, he quickly becomes a huge celebrity in the world of science. With the missions given by the system, he is on his way to winning a Nobel Prize.   

"System, can points be exchanged for money?"
  
"No."
  
"F**k, what use are you then!?"
  
"This system will make you the ultimate scholar, the kind that lords over all of humanity. What use will money be to you?"

So, as some of you may know, the show Avatar: The Last Airbender was an excellent show, with great characters and plot, and I enjoyed every episode. I didn't end up watching Korra in full, but I know about some of the plot and assume it was an alright show, though I think that if I did wind up watching, I'd just start heavily comparing it to the first. Why am I bringing this up? Well, it's because this is the main part of this idea, to bring the bending abilities of the Avatar to the world of Magical Index, or Scientific Railgun if you'd prefer.

First off let me say that I would not want you to make Aang into the protagonist, though I could see how easy it would be to do it. I'll give a quick example: Aang's Spirit, after the Avatar Cycle is broken, is finally released from his limbo, meeting up with a being that calls itself a God. This God decides to give him new life after hearing of his journey during his youth. Boom, see how easy that was? But Aang isn't a good match for this world, he's much too naive and childlike. And it doesn't help that he comes from a world where the most advanced technology is steam engines (Okay, I'm kind of under-selling their technological progress, but it seems like an apt comparison to Academy City's).

I personally think it'd be much better to use a reincarnated MC, giving him all the abilities of the Avatar. This would include water bending, fire bending, earth bending, air bending, and the Avatar State. Obviously, he'd also have access to the more advanced bending techniques, like blood bending, lightning bending, and metal bending. Of course, since he'd have the Avatar State, that means he'd need past lives to draw upon, but I think we can simply settle for giving him every Avatar up until Korra, even though the cycle was broken with her. I think an eventual plot point should be his mastery of the State, being able to use it at will with complete control over his actions.

Now, if you do decide to have him fight Accelerator, he shouldn't start off overpowering him, it should be a slow lead up to the MC using the Avatar State, and completely shutting out whatever control over the environment he had. This way we utterly shatter Accelerator's ego and erase his title as the Strongest Esper. And again, I'm altering the power balance in a story that I'm not going to be writing, acting like I'm the Supreme Authority of what happens if someone uses this.

So, I have these ideas float around my head constantly. I figured since I'm not using them, someone else could. If you read them and feel like writing about it, feel free. I'd rather focus on my own novel, so they are fair game for anybody. I'd love to read them if they are ever used.

'Foundational Chinese Medicine'
This introduction to Chinese medicine, written according to the Encyclopedia, was a writing of basic theories. The first chapter was the preface but Lin Fan added slightly more, an overview of the origin of Chinese medicine and its developments in the past thousands of years. Anyone who studied Chinese medicine needed to know its history. If one didn't know the history, how would that person learn Chinese medicine?
Hence, before the first chapter, Lin Fan added in the history of Chinese medicine.
He buried his head in it and wrote furiously, occasionally stopping not because he didn't know what to write next but because he felt that his writing was too good, so he needed to stop for a moment and admire his own masterpiece.
The first segment, second segment...Second chapter, first segment: The Theory of Yin and Yang.
The Encyclopedia only included a word description and didn't have any images. If he added an image, it could add some vividness to the book.
The Earth consists of Yin, Yang, and the five elements and the human body was the same. Hence, using the human body to explain the five elements was not a bad choice.
*writing sounds*
The sound of pen against paper emanated inside the shop.
Fraud Tian and the rest were a little startled, wondering what Lin Fan was doing.
Lin Fan seemed to be very different that day and Wu You Lan was a little worried. "Brother Lin, what are you doing?"
Lin Fan didn't even look up. He smiled and replied, "Ming Qing asked me to write new basic teaching materials for the students."
"Er!"
At that point, everyone in the shop knew that Lin Fan's medical abilities were extraordinary, so they didn't doubt him. However, they had never thought that he would be writing teaching materials. That was rather shocking.
Chinese medicine was a large field of knowledge. Those who were able to write teaching materials were basically all expert professors aged seventy or even eighty-plus. As of now, Lin Fan was only twenty-something. For him to be writing Chinese medicine teaching materials, it really was shocking.
…
Shanghai's First Chinese Medical Academy.
Zhao Ming Qing was also working on this matter. He had already given the word that the First Chinese Medical Academy's foundational teaching materials will all be replaced with new teaching materials in future.
This news spread like a tornado within the academy. Everyone was in disbelief.
The current teaching materials were written by several old Chinese doctors decades ago and had been used until now. Now that he said they would be replaced, the students felt that it was inconceivable. After all, there were basically no teaching materials on the market right now that could compare to those they were using.
Some of the meddlesome students started to protest.
Of course, they didn't protest openly but they posted complaints on the Internet, expressing their unhappiness.
A student from a certain dormitory was furious and he immediately wrote a post and posted it on the Internet.
"Ever since Shanghai's First Chinese Medical Academy's Director Zhao Ming Qing discovered the medicine for anorexia, he has started to go crazy. Now, he wants to completely replace the teaching materials that we have been using for decades…"
The post was very long. The first part was normal. It just expressed his discontentment and puzzlement at the decision. But the later part consisted of his personal thoughts about the downfall of Chinese medicine and blamed it all on these old Chinese doctors.
They were unprofessional, constantly changing and thus, causing unceasing unrest in Chinese medicine, causing it to be unable to steadily develop like Western medicine.
This matter didn't attract much attention in the beginning. But after some people added fuel to the fire, this post was brought to Weibo and even became trending.
The next day!
When Zhao Ming Qing saw the post on the Internet, his heart shifted. He was a little angry. After reading the post, he could only say that this was abandoning oneself and not forging ahead for Chinese medicine.
Reporters gathered around the entrance of Shanghai's First Chinese Medical Academy.
When Zhao Ming Qing appeared, the reporters surrounded him.
The reporters didn't understand this kind of situation but they just felt that it was a big piece of news. When there are people protesting, that means there is definitely an issue. Hence, they wanted to find out more.
"Director Zhao, do you have any comments regarding that post on the Internet?"
"Is the Chinese Medical Academy going to abolish the current teaching materials and introduce new ones? According to our knowledge, the Chinese medicine teaching materials that still remain now are not many and the ones that are used now are the best there are."
"The various Chinese Medical Academies around the country have all expressed unhappiness towards your decision to abolish the old teaching materials. They feel that it is against the regulations."
The reporters kept asking questions, one after another.
The surrounding students spectated the scene. They knew that this was an eventful period for the academy and they also knew about the replacement of the old teaching materials.
To outsiders, this may not have been a significant thing but to them, this was incomparably significant.
Nowadays, the Chinese Medical Universities' teaching materials were all chosen by the Education Department and they weren't allowed to be changed without instructions being given.
Otherwise, it would be difficult to manage. If all the schools were in disarray in terms of teaching material, that would not be a good thing.
"Everyone, please quieten down," said Zhao Ming Qing calmly, "I understand that this matter will have repercussions but even so, this must be done because the reason why Chinese Medicine is declining right now has nothing to do with what illnesses it can treat. It is due to do with a lack of resources and manpower. The old edition of teaching materials are very good but times have changed and Chinese medicine must change as well. It has to stay with the times. That's why I'm going to replace the foundational teaching materials.
A reporter said, "Director Zhao, Chinese medicine is a crystallization of knowledge. It doesn't decline like scientific and technological products but it should get better with time. Don't you think this move is a mistake, Director Zhao?"
"Director Zhao, which books are you selecting as your new teaching materials?"
"Director Zhao…"
The reporters were questioning him excitedly. They made Zhao Ming Qing at a loss for words for a moment.
Then, Zhao Ming Qing waved his hand. "This interview shall end here. But I will declare that as the Chinese Medical Academy's Director, I put my students first. That's why I feel that changing the teaching materials is necessary. As for which books I have chosen, I can say this: They're much better than any other books that have been used as teaching materials in history.
Uproar!
The reporters were stunned. They didn't expect Director Zhao to answer with so much swagger and so much self-confidence.
Better than any other teaching material in history. Those were some really big words.
In the office.
Zhao Ming Qing made a call. "Teacher, there's an issue with the reforming of teaching materials."
Lin Fan replied, "What do you think of it?"
Zhao Ming Qing said, "I trust Teacher. That's why we must replace the current teaching materials."
"Then it'll be fine. What's the point of thinking so much? I'm very busy right now. Your teacher has been writing so much every day that my hand is sore. Teaching materials are teaching materials after all. The rigorousness of the content is exceptional. My brain is about to explode," whined Lin Fan.
Zhao Ming Qing was a little embarrassed. "Thank you for your trouble, Teacher."
The next day!
The Education Department held a large conference.
Shanghai's First Chinese Medical Academy was under their management. The whole nation's Chinese medical academies had the same teaching materials. It was all regulated. Now that Shanghai's First Chinese Medical Academy wanted to change its teaching materials, that was against the regulations and they had to stop it.
These teaching materials were crystals of knowledge left behind by predecessors. They were written by famous Chinese medical masters decades ago.
Why would they want to change them?
This Zhao Ming Qing was really ridiculous.


I am Lin Fan and I've become a jack of all trades just because of a powerful Encyclopedia. 
In the first ever competition organised for trolls, all the other contestants lost. The crowd exclaimed, "Brother, you're so good at trolling." 
Lin Fan replied, "But I've never been trolling..."

In the divine realm, countless phantoms roamed the air.
Jingbai opened a new passage in the air with a flick of his fingers, stepped through, and left. Every single one of the trembling phantoms let out sighs of relief at having survived the disaster. All sorts of emotions tangled together: panic, shudders, joy… Their feelings resonated, and in an instant, soared to a sublime level!
A golden ball of light slowly coalesced in the sky as petals wafted through the air. Formidable godly power spread out, and the phantoms nearby all kept away, not daring to come close.
Hundred-Winged God folded his wings and kowtowed to the golden ball of light. "Lord Thousand-Winged God…"
The ball of light, which was a manifestation of Thousand-Winged God's consciousness, spoke in a voice that shook and echoed incessantly in the divine realm. "Is he finally gone…"
"He's gone, Lord God…"
"He's gone, at long last…"
The godly ball sighed. "I'm also to blame for this. I forgot to tell the Divine Dragons not to provoke Earth. The Earthlings might look weak, but that planet is the most unpredictable."
Speaking of this, fear still lingered in Hundred-Winged God's heart. "So anyone who assaults Earth, no matter the distance, will be punished?"
"That's how it is."
The godly ball broke out in a cold sweat. "You will be in charge of establishing diplomatic relations with both the Domain of the Gods and Earth – don't leave either one out."
"Yes…"
"As for the liberation and resurrection of the people, this also has to be done perfectly."
"Yes…"
"The most important is crispy noodle snacks! The most important is crispy noodle snacks! The most important is crispy noodle snacks!"
"Yes…"
Hundred-Winged God: "Then, in Lord God's opinion… what form should this crispy noodle snack planet take…"
"Make a planet out of crispy noodle snack ingredients. It cannot be smaller than the sun."
"Alright…"
... 
Elsewhere, Wang Ming, Zhai Yin and the other research staff at the research institute all breathed sighs of relief when the abnormal energy fluctuations on Earth completely disappeared.
"The data gauges have finally been stabilized…"
"That was close! I thought that the Earth was going to explode just now! But what on earth is going on?"
"The abnormal energy is identical to the energy fluctuations six years ago when the Gate Between Worlds descended… Could it be a space leak?"
"Space leak? Then can we block it with Whisper pads…"
After surviving this disaster, many of the researchers collapsed on the ground, sweating profusely. Their emotions were complicated as they felt both weak and joyful. Just when the abnormal energy fluctuations in the Earth's core had been about to reach a detonation point, the fluctuations suddenly disappeared.
In fact, research institutes in all the other nations weren't in any much better state than Wang Ming's. The whole world was in a complete mess.
But fortunately, this abnormal energy had vanished in time… 
At that moment, Wang Ming received a phone call from President Qi.
Zhai Yin led him out of the lab to a secure room to answer the call.
"Little Ming." President Qi's voice sounded from the other end of the call. "Have you figured out the cause of the accident?"
"Old Qi, I was going to ask you about it; I'm still a little confused here myself." Dropping his forehead into his hand, Wang Ming sighed. "But perhaps there is someone who knows what's going on."
"Do you mean Guo Ping…" President Qi was Wang Ming's teacher after all, and quickly deciphered his meaning.
"The rumor is that Uncle Guo Ping is already dead, but I think he may still be alive, and moreover, has found the source of that abnormal energy back then," Wang Ming said. "And while I currently don't have any direct proof, based on my analysis, my guess is that this may be an energy-devouring phenomenon."
"Go on," President Qi said.
In fact, he also already had a theory himself, but he wanted to hear Wang Ming's opinion.
This was the disciple he was most proud of, after all.
"This energy came out of the Earth's core and expanded outward elliptically, assimilating all spirit qi in its path. My conjecture thus is that this was a premeditated engulfment, and after this abnormal energy covered the whole Earth… I'm afraid something like a black hole would have absorbed the Earth," Wang Ming replied.
"I was thinking more or less the same thing."
President Qi nodded. "Tonight, there will be an international video conference of research institutes. You will attend to explain the likely cause of this event."
"Me? Old Qi, you're not going?"
"There's something I need to look into. In any case, it's just trivial chatter."
President Qi said, "Your identity is a secret, so you'll need to hide it well for the video conference tonight. I remember the institute has leopard fetus transformation pills; your face will soften after eating one. Find someone adept to mold your face."
Wang Ming nodded. "Okay!"
When it came to face-molding, Zhai Yin was actually pretty skillful, as girls were more careful. Although Zhai Yin handled things casually, after she started learning how to cook in the last few months, Wang Ming realized that she was quite an attentive person – although the food she cooked wasn't edible, it undeniably looked good!
... 
Half an hour before the video conference, Wang Ming had already taken a leopard fetus transformation pill.
Zhai Yin held Wang Ming's face in her hands. "Tell me, what do you want to look like?"
Wang Ming didn't pause to think about it. "Please make me look like Odd Zhuo, but make sure to give me a pair of dead fish eyes, thank you."
Zhai Yin: "…"
At the international video conference that evening, the experts of research institutes from various countries came together. They were all world-renowned bigwigs in the cultivation black tech industry.
Zhai Yin sat next to Wang Ming. The people she saw on the screen were all familiar faces that had appeared in authoritative magazines on scientific magic treasures.
"What's the name of that good-looking one with the oval face?" Zhai Yin pointed to a little brother seated in the video.
The little brother's looks weren't bad, and he unexpectedly reminded Zhai Yin of some actor's familiar face, but she couldn't recall his name at the moment.
"This phD holder is called Zhai T Lin[1]. He published on a smart paper-writing device in a magazine previously. This writing device can calculate and extrapolate from existing research on scientific magic artifacts to draw inferences, and following a standard pattern, ultimately turn it into a new paper. What a brilliant trick! Such a dashing technique! Even the CNKI[2] wouldn't notice!"
"…"
"I heard when this device was invented, it was already well received at the Spring Festival alone this year! Half the scientific circle congratulated him. However, some experts also say it will have a severe impact on fairness in academia, so until now, this paper-writing device has yet to go on sale."
"Then… who is that elderly lady with the square face?"
"That is Teacher Jia Tingyue, the inventor of the transnational underwater tunnel. She's pretty amazing. Actually, she's a foreign citizen with Huaxiu ancestry. When she built the tunnel and crossed the sea to Mixiu nation back then, she settled down there… and never came back…"
[1] Zhai Tianlin is a Chinese actor who was stripped of his doctoral degree after evidence of plagiarism.
[2] China National Knowledge Infrastructure.


As a cultivation genius who has achieved a new realm every two years since he was a year old, Wang Ling is a near-invincible existence with prowess far beyond his control. But now that he’s sixteen, he faces his greatest battle yet - Senior High School. With one challenge after another popping up, his plans for a low-key high school life seem further and further away...
Wang Ling: I just want to eat my crispy noodle snacks in peace...
Father Wang: If you're careless enough to destroy the country, it’s coming out of your pocket money. 
Wang Ling: It’s not my fault that the backlash from punching me kills you.
Please support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/henyeetranslationsDLIK
If we hit certain milestones, we will release more chapters in a mass release!
Tags: comedy, school, cultivation, tsundere, popular culture, almighty protagonist, action

"Have you finished your work?" Mike asked when he noticed that Kanae had stopped typing. He was sitting across the two of them, so he could see their movements clearly.
Kanae nodded her head. "Do you want to see? This is the document for the contract and so on."
Taking the laptop, Mike looked at the document in front of him. He read part of it for a few minutes before nodding his head. There was nothing wrong with it.
"It's good. Boss's documents rarely have any mistakes."
"That's my writing," Kanae corrected Mike's words.
Hearing that, Mike was stunned momentarily. He glanced down at the document again. Even as someone who stayed by Kevin's side for this long, he could not differentiate their writing. This made him rather surprised.
"How did you copy Boss's writing?"
"Well, our writing is already quite similar in the first place," Kanae scratched her head. "I just tried to imitate some of his writing habits that I noticed to make it more similar to his."
"I see."
Mike nodded his head. With this kind of capability, there was no doubt that she could even replace Kevin behind the scenes. In fact, there was even the possibility of her imitating Kevin's writing for other things without his permission. Considering Kevin's position, having someone imitate his writing so well might be detrimental for them.
He quickly shook his head internally. Kanae would never do something like that to Kevin. He was sure about this, right?
Kanae stood up and knelt on her seat as she turned her body around. Alice and Misae sat behind her, so she could see them like this. Apparently, Alice had already woken up while Misae was listening to music from her handphone.
"When will we arrive, Kanae?" Alice looked up to see her best friend.
"In a few more minutes we'll arrive at the middle of the mountain. After that, we're going to hike to the inn."
"Wait, we're going to hike?" Misae exclaimed in surprise. She was going to experience hell later.
"Yup, the bus can't drive on the steep ground."
Misae groaned. This was going to be an exceptionally long journey. She hoped that the hike was not going to be long. Her feet wouldn't be able to hold on if that were the case as she rarely exercised.
"Make sure that you've eaten. It's going to be a few hours hike," Kanae reminded.
It was worse than she thought. Misae complained silently to herself while Alice shook her head. They were not going to reach the inn within a short time. Physical strength was not their forte.
Alice thought about something else. "Do you have any plans during the holiday?"
"I plan to stay with my sister. It has been some time since I spent time with her," Kanae answered. "What about you?"
"My father wants me to practice, so I'm not allowed to leave my house," Alice answered with a wry smile. It was obvious that she hated the notion.
"My mother signed me up for an intensive course. They don't want me to be behind in my lessons again, so I have to study," Misae had a miserable expression when she said that. She hated the fact that she had to study when it was the holiday. If not because she didn't pass the exam during the midterm, her mother would not come up with this idea.
"Good luck, Misae."
"We'll root for you from afar."
"Can't you just help me with my lessons?"
Alice smiled wryly. "I can barely learn my own lessons. There's no way I can qualify as your teacher."
Misae turned her head to Kanae, but the latter shook her head rapidly. "No, I'm not touching the books during my holiday. It's already more than enough at school."
"Then I guess I'm alone."
"Wah, don't be sad, I'll share more cookies with you later."
"I'll…" Kanae wondered what she could do. If she tried to cook, she was worried that she would just create a large accident.
"Just help me out in the hike after this."
"Don't worry, it's easier for girls," Kanae smiled knowingly.
"What?"
"Tell us!"
"No, wait until the bus arrives."
"You meanie!"
The three of them talked for a bit more before the bus stopped. Misae and Alice turned to look at Kanae in hope for the latter to tell them about the arrangement. However, Kanae just pointed her chin outside, telling them to wait until it was announced. Begrudgingly, the two of them could only go out and wait patiently.
The students looked around curiously as Mike explained that they had to hike for the next several hours. The Student Council members will lead the way and the third-years will bring up the rear to make sure that everyone climbed.
Kanae looked towards the steep road near her. She couldn't see the end of this trail as it snaked upwards with a few turns here and there. This was going to be a long journey.
"Can you climb, Misae?"
"Hopefully," Misae answered with uncertainty.
Neo drove out the car he had arranged near the start of the hike. After paying for the parking fee, he drove near the group of students with a grin on his face.
"The girls can put their bags in the car. The boys have to bring their own bags."
Some of the students complained, but the girls were squealing in delight. Girls' bags were generally heavier because of the extra stuff they brought. It was definitely not ideal for hiking.
Alice smiled. "I guess, it's not going to be so hard for us."
"Yep," Misae agreed.
Kanae pointed to the car. "Let's put our bags there. Don't worry, Neo won't steal anything."
"I'll be more surprised if he did."
After sorting out their things, the girls only brought their water bottles and handphones with them. The rest of the things were inside their bags and Neo drove off first.
"Why can a car drive up while the bus can't?" Misae asked when they started climbing. She stayed near the Student Council members who led the way.
"Buses have a higher point for their center of gravity. If the road is too steep, there's a risk that the bus will flip over," Kanae answered.
Alice was stunned to hear Kanae's explanation. She asked doubtfully. "It's physics, right?"
"You still remember?"
"No, I just have the feeling that it must be related because I feel my head is going to hurt if you continue your explanation."
Kanae: "…" I barely said anything that required a scientific explanation.
After that, they barely spoke anything because there was still a long road ahead of them. Time passed slowly as the students felt like they were experiencing hell. For those who didn't like to exercise, this was huge torture.
"Who in the world planned this hellish trip?" Misae asked when they stopped to wait for the other students who got left behind. She felt that her legs had turned into jelly as she could barely feel them.
By her side, Alice didn't feel any better. They have walked for hours, yet the destination was nowhere to be seen.
Kanae and Mike sneaked a glance towards Kevin. The two of them knew fully well that the one who planned this trip was Kevin. However, they definitely wouldn't sell him out to the raging students. There were quite a few of them who already yelled angrily because of the long hike.
"Can you continue?" Mike asked Misae worriedly.
"I just need some rest," Misae answered awkwardly. The distance at which Mike was standing in front of her felt too close. Wait, what was she thinking in this kind of situation?
Kanae shook her head when she saw their interaction. She turned her head towards Alice. "Do you want a piggyback?"
Alice was stunned. "No, it's embarrassing and you're going to be tired from that."
That was impossible. Kanae still felt rather well even after climbing for this long. At most, her forehead was filled with sweat, but her pace didn't falter at all.
"In a bit, Neo is going to return with the car. At that time, the tired girls can get in, and he will take them up," Kanae explained. This was the arrangement they made because girls' bodies were generally weaker than boys'. They didn't want to tire them all out on the first day, so this was the solution.
Alice thought about the offer. She was slightly taller but thinner than Kanae, so she shouldn't weigh that much. After some hesitation, she nodded her head and climbed onto Kanae's back.
Misae looked at the two of them enviously. "I want a piggyback too!"
"Don't you have your boyfriend?" Kanae smirked mischievously.
The words struck Misae as she peered towards Mike. Her cheeks blushed at the thought of him carrying her on his back. It was embarrassing, yet her heart slightly hoped for that.
Mike smiled wryly and glanced towards Misae. "What do you think, little princess?"
"…Okay," Misae shyly nodded her head.
Mike crouched down and Misae climbed onto his back. On his back, she could clearly feel their difference in build. Among the boys in the Student Council, Mike was definitely the tallest with a big build, despite the fact he was the one who had the most amiable smile all the time.
Kanae smiled as she watched the two of them. Her head turned to the back as she saw many of the girls were also asking their boyfriends for a piggyback. A trip was surely the best way for couples to bond.

In the City of Crime, one law stands above them all: Only the strongest can live.

Fighting is normal, extortion is common, and death is inevitable.

Born into a wealthy family yet forced to live in poverty, Kanae Nali vowed to become strong enough to take back what rightfully belonged to her—even if it meant that she had to face the consequences and brave the dangers lurking in every corner.

Yet on the outside, just like her mysterious peers, she was no different from the other high school students living their lives to the fullest.

“Under the ray of light, my ability will only make me die faster. Under the veil of night, my ability allows me to survive longer.”

____
Story set in fictional city. Any similarities with real world's event is purely coincidence. 

Special thanks for Coraphyll, Jiyen, Aistich, Cailin, Lyna, and Chip for their help in making the synopsis

Word count: 1000-1500 words/chapter
Update: 1 chapter/day

Link to Discord:
https://discord.gg/pBy2wGB

If you wish to support me (^-^):
Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/sorahana2
ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/sorahana

scientific writing course

I took a creative writing course he are my assignments.

Age of Cosmic Exploration

Dead on Mars

Great Doctor Ling Ran

The Alchemist's Tale

Scholar's Advanced Technological System

Fan-Fiction Ideas For The Masses

A Valiant Life

The Daily Life of the Immortal King

Under The Veil of Night

People search scientific writing course also like: