Devil Professor

Devil Professor

It seemed this man would be of no use for the time being. Tang Xiao shook his head, turned, and left as well, taking a transport ship straight back to the mothership.

The moment he returned to the bridge, he saw Dr. Guan Yan waiting with a group of experts from the Research Department. Every one of them had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this Master Class expert.

"Administrator, where is the master? We still have some issues regarding scramjet mode that need to be resolved..."

"And, um, we've also got some problems with superconducting laser carriers that need the master's help..."

The experts immediately began talking over one another.

Tang Xiao frowned. "Aren't you all PhDs and postdocs? You can't solve these problems yourselves?"

Dr. Feng Yongwang gave a bitter smile. "It's not that we can't. It's just that these technologies are far too advanced for us. Even with ready-made data, overcoming these difficulties will take more time. I'm afraid we can't afford to wait that long..."

"The mothership database contains all the data on these technologies. It's practically an open-book exam. Is that still not enough?" Tang Xiao asked.

Qu Xuewen adjusted his glasses and explained, "You have to understand that even the technical data involved in a single fighter isn't limited to the fighter itself. Its materials, electronic components, engine, energy systems, aerodynamics, ergonomics, computer systems, and countless other aspects all come together to make a fighter."

"And once you expand upon any one of those related fields, you're immediately faced with an entire chain of systematic problems. It's like a great tree. The portion above ground is already lush with branches and leaves, but if you dig into its roots, it becomes even more vast and profound. So even in an open-book exam, for us to absorb this knowledge, we need far more than just an answer."

Only then did Tang Xiao understand. "So you need a master like Professor Chi, someone who has spent his entire life immersed in aerospace technology, to point the way for you?"

"To be precise, we need someone to point us in a direction through this tangled mass of data," Guan Yan said. "Some things can't be solved just by flipping through books. You really need years of accumulated experience to develop that kind of intuition."

"Intuition?"

"That's right. Intuition. Scientific intuition—the ability to find those barely perceptible patterns in an ocean of data."

Tang Xiao sighed. "Professor Chi... well, due to his physical condition, I'm afraid he won't be able to take on this work. Please overcome the current difficulties yourselves and treat it as a chance to improve through study. Besides that, I'll also think of a way to secure some assistance for us from the Galactic Republic."

Guan Yan, Feng Yongwang, and the others exchanged looks. Their disappointment was obvious, but they understood Tang Xiao's situation very well. They knew that no one craved the arrival of a Master Class expert more than Tang Xiao did.

"Let's get back to work," Qu Xuewen said tactfully when he sensed the atmosphere had turned awkward. He then returned to the laboratory with the others.

Seeing the research team's morale visibly plummet, Tang Xiao felt that things could not continue this way. He followed them and said, "Didn't you say the Gemini missile was ready for a test launch? Can I come see the results?"

When the subject turned to his specialty, Feng Yongwang's spirits immediately lifted. "Ah, yes, you can. The Gemini missile has actually reached the stage where it can be equipped and used, but we still need to make some modifications before the Blade-class fighter can use it. After all, the Wraith fighter is a heavy fighter—its size is nearly equal to three Blade-class fighters. If you want to watch the test launch, no problem. I'll arrange it right away."

Tang Xiao went with them to the mothership laboratory. But the moment they entered, they saw someone utterly unexpected.

Professor Chi Jianjun?

He was holding a stack of documents and flipping through them at high speed. When he saw Tang Xiao and the others enter, he did not wait for Tang Xiao to speak before saying bluntly, "I gave it some thought. This ain't entirely your fault. Since you were attacked by space pirates, and since this universe has an incredibly powerful Galactic Republic, I reckon there's still something I can do."

Tang Xiao's eyes immediately lit up. Overjoyed, he said, "That's wonderful! Professor Chi, I..."

Professor Chi raised a hand to cut him off. "I'm sixty-seven this year. I'll only work for you for five years. After five years, I'm retiring. Nobody can change my mind. I need to save some time for my wife and spend it with her properly."

"I'll arrange for your wife to be awakened immediately. Whatever she needs..."

"She's dead." Chi Jianjun waved his hand, unwilling to dwell on the matter. Turning to Feng Yongwang and the others, he said, "I looked through your research logs. Your fundamentals are solid, but you apply them too rigidly. You do whatever the materials tell you to do? How could that possibly work?! This Wraith fighter was obviously designed using a technological system different from that of our Fourth Civilization. How can you use our own methods to think through someone else's problems?"

Feng Yongwang and the others were immediately energized. He hurriedly asked, "Yes! This is indeed the most troublesome problem we've faced! Please enlighten us, Professor Chi!"

"You're still waiting for someone else to enlighten you? What the hell are you thinking with those brains of yours? We do scientific research! We aren't schoolteachers! Mindset! The mindset is completely different, understand?!" Chi Jianjun jabbed a finger at his own forehead and roared. "You've been going down the wrong path the whole time! The answer's right in front of you, and you still don't know what to do! As far as I'm concerned, you're partly responsible for that disastrous defeat too! Watch carefully!"

The entire group was scolded until their faces turned red. They lowered their heads and did not dare utter a word.

Only then did Tang Xiao understand what a devil professor was. This old man truly showed no restraint whatsoever when he spoke!

When Chi Jianjun saw that none of them dared speak, he sighed and waved a hand. "Let's begin. Look over these parameters. Their technological system may differ from ours, but one thing is important—the laws of physics in their environment are the same as ours. Based on that, this is how we should approach the problem. Come on, which one of you specializes in Mechanical Engineering?"

"I... I have a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering," Feng Yongwang replied, raising his head.

"A doctorate? Good enough. Look, you couldn't understand this set of equations before, right? That was only because your direction was wrong. Now look at this set of equations I wrote..." Chi Jianjun swiftly wrote a string of symbols on the blackboard that looked like incomprehensible heavenly script to Tang Xiao.

The moment Feng Yongwang saw the equations, his eyes lit up. "I understand! I understand! We can't use the formulas from our own system to force them onto their formulas! We need to transform their formulas into our own rules!"

"Don't interrupt! Keep watching! What I'm teaching you isn't just the answer—the most important thing is the method! You'll be taking over for me in the future! Learn properly!"

Feng Yongwang and the others immediately listened intently, pulling out small notebooks to take rapid notes. Tang Xiao was left standing off to the side. But he did not mind. He looked at the busy Research Department with great satisfaction, a smile appearing on his face.

However, at that moment, the mothership's Mainframe suddenly sent a message through the chip implanted in his brain. The instant Tang Xiao saw it, his expression turned ice-cold!

Thank you, slainpnier, for the 1,500 Qidian Coin reward! Thank you, Ziyue Yin, for the 100 Qidian Coin reward!