Graduate Student

Du Ke had no idea that Professor Tao Xun had already made up his mind to take him on as a graduate student. At the moment, he was worrying about how to write his third paper well. Simply writing it well was not enough; he also had to hide the real secrets while ensuring it still contained substance.

In other words, his research on electron flow had to be half-concealed and half-revealed.

He had to conceal all the core details, but firmly reveal what needed to be revealed. Otherwise, how could he attract investment? His plan was to write the paper first, then register patents based on it, and afterward negotiate with major companies like BYD for investment to build a factory producing Long-Haired Batteries. He estimated that the initial investment and production costs for Long-Haired Batteries would be no less than one billion yuan. Earning that much himself and investing it was unrealistic.

"I've spent this whole period researching theoretical support for electron flow. My head's practically grown a size from all the research. Scientific research really isn't something just anyone can handle. If I didn't have Mind Armor supporting me, I wouldn't be willing to do this... Once the laboratory is built, I'll just provide samples and ideas, and leave the rest to the researchers. Being the boss suits me better."

That said, he still had to personally conduct the research he needed to do. Otherwise, the secret of traveling between worlds would be exposed sooner or later.

He conjured a laptop and began summarizing his work from the previous period while looking ahead to the next stage. As he wrote, it gradually turned into a comprehensive development plan for Long-Haired Batteries.

"1. Propose the electron flow theory."

"2. Crack the structure of the Cell Chain."

"3. Design a new structure for Long-Haired Batteries."

"4. Solve the manufacturing process."

"5. Attract investment and build a factory."

This was the five-step plan for Long-Haired Batteries. Naturally, he only needed to personally go through the first three steps. The fourth could be placed after the fifth, when he could find experts to jointly demonstrate and research a feasible manufacturing process.

"Points requiring attention during the process—1. The energy density of Long-Haired Batteries must be lowered to ensure their safety; 2. The structure of Long-Haired Bombs must be hidden to prevent military use, while the new structure must be continually simplified until it reaches a level safe for use; 3. Patent rights must be clearly defined and kept in my own hands." The true Long-Haired Bomb absolutely could not be exposed.

There would always be clever people who could reverse-engineer it. If too much were revealed, they would derive the Long-Haired Bomb. If Long-Haired Bombs were to proliferate, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Even if Long-Haired Bombs could not explode because Earth lacked some material, the intense heat energy they released in a short time would still cause enormous destruction. A Long-Haired Bomb no larger than a caterpillar's hair could melt glass. If one were made as large as a missile, wouldn't it burn straight through Earth's crust? Perhaps that was a bit exaggerated, but Du Ke did not want even that possibility to arise.

After finishing his notes and summary, he saved the document. In an instant, the laptop disappeared, with all its data stored inside Mind Armor.

At this point, Mind Armor was a microscopic, condensed Ocean of Mind.

Du Ke crossed his legs on the sofa, closed his eyes, and silently contemplated a great many issues. This could solve practical problems while also helping his cultivation, steadily increasing his Mind Power.

"Compared with last year, the growth rate of my Mind Power has slowed somewhat. I might have to wait until May before I can save up enough energy to make another crossing."

He cultivated for an hour.

Having reached his cultivation limit for the day, he habitually walked out of the villa to the corner of the neighboring villa's wall, then stood quietly there. He activated his Mind Power and released Touch of Mind. His mental force instantly stretched forward like tentacles, passing through the wall to search the villa before locking onto the beautiful woman being kept there. Today, she was still wrapped within her spiked shell.

However, Du Ke could now easily find a gap and extend his mental tentacles inside, sensing her thoughts.

Boom!

Countless stray thoughts rushed at him.

Du Ke swiftly mobilized his mental strength to block them all back before those stray thoughts could suffocate him. Then he carefully sensed the clear, stable thoughts among them and once more felt the little thoughts of a young woman: "Bored," "Lonely," "Hungry," and "But I need to lose weight." One by one, he used Touch of Mind to make contact, trying to find a way to respond.

This was something he had been working on all along. He always felt that Touch of Mind was not merely a simple one-way reception of another person's emotions. There had to be a way to use it to let the other party receive information he sent.

Once Touch of Mind gained two-way communication ability, he would be able to communicate with the natives of the Fantasy World.

Just thinking about it, what would the Mushroom People tell him?

Would they speak of the history of the Great Blue Forest, or local customs and culture? Or perhaps what powerful beasts were in the forest? And if the Mushroom People could also use magic, could he learn it?

"Magic!" Du Ke sighed intensely.

Suddenly, among the beauty's thoughts, a powerful emotion caught Du Ke's attention. That emotion actually contained the meaning of "what magic?" This immediately shocked him, followed by delight. Clearly, he had transmitted the concept of "magic" to her through Touch of Mind, triggering her reaction. However, the emotion containing "what magic?" soon faded away.

The beauty continued to produce scattered emotions such as "I'm so hungry," "Should I order takeout?" and "No, I need to lose weight."

Du Ke withdrew Touch of Mind, already having gained an insight. "It seems that two-way communication through Touch of Mind depends more on me. My Mind Power isn't strong enough, so I can't transmit information. Just now, I poured a great deal of emotion into 'magic' for a moment, so I barely managed to send it through Touch of Mind... To forge iron, one must be strong oneself. I need to keep cultivating my Mind Power."

"Little Du, are you home? I need to talk to you about something."

"I'm out. What is it? If it's important, I'll rush back tonight. If it isn't, let's leave it until tomorrow." Du Ke had happened to take on a private job outside. The client paid so readily that he felt too embarrassed to refuse.

"We'll talk when you get back."

The next day, Professor Tao Xun invited Du Ke to dinner at his home. Professor Tao Xun's wife also warmly urged him to drink. When they were nearly done eating, Professor Tao Xun finally said, "Would you be willing to become my recommended graduate student? No exam and no classes required. When the time comes, just prepare an SCI paper... It doesn't need to be better than your three papers. Something passable will do... Graduate students at Xiake University are quite easy to graduate."

Graduate students at Xiake University's main campus were relatively difficult, but because it cooperated with the various institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on Science Island in Luzhou, it recruited many graduate students on their behalf. Thus, compared with the value of a Xiake University undergraduate degree, a Xiake University graduate degree carried relatively little weight.

"There's such a good deal? Then I'm willing. It's just an SCI paper—I could write one easily." Du Ke had drunk a little and was somewhat tipsy, making him less than modest. "Professor Tao, do I really not need to attend classes? My time might be tight in the second half of the year, and I truly can't spare time for school. It'd be awkward if I delayed my graduate courses and couldn't graduate."

"Don't worry. If you're my graduate student, whether you graduate or not is just a matter of my word. Come, drink. It's settled, then."

Professor Tao Xun's wife said from the side, "It just so happens that Little Du graduated from Polymer Materials and Engineering, while my Old Tao teaches in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Your fields match perfectly. My Old Tao loves talent, and Little Du, you have talent. You two are just right as master and disciple."