Exchange of Fire

Professor Xia Congjun returned from class, opened the computer on his desk, and habitually browsed the web.

"The Journal of Chemical Physics seems to have released new issues, let's take a look." Thinking this, he clicked on the official website. The website was entirely in English, with only the six Chinese characters for "Journal of Chemical Physics" in the title.

China is growing stronger day by day, but English remains the mainstream in academia. Unless China's strength surpasses that of the West as a whole, top-tier papers will always be in English.

The English in academic papers is relatively simple. Professor Xia Congjun had written many papers himself, so reading English websites wasn't difficult. He quickly spotted a striking electron flow mechanics equilibrium diagram on the website. Clicking on it brought up three recommended papers.

"Electron flow?"

"What is that?"

He read the first paper. After only a few paragraphs, he became impatient. "Did they get paid for this? What kind of garbage electron flow theory is this? Are you kidding me? The Journal of Chemical Physics is getting worse and worse. Any paper can be published if you pay for it. Even fringe science is being published so brazenly. And it's even given a prominent recommendation. Is the editorial department so poor they can't even afford to eat?"

Complaining, he lost interest and casually closed the paper.

But soon, he saw the second paper, and below it, the third paper. There was even an editorial introduction: "The electron flow theory proposed by Du Ke is bold and novel, with exquisite mechanical equilibrium. It represents a completely new theoretical concept in condensed matter physics, opening up a brand-new atomic-level field. These three consecutive papers have already showcased its grand scope."

"No way."

Professor Xia Congjun felt he was running out of energy even to complain. "I remember Academician Yang is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Chemical Physics, and the executive editors should be Old Luo and Old Yang from Xiake University. These three shouldn't be doing this... for money. Could it be one of their children? Let me see who the author is."

The paper was authored by "Du Ke."

"Du Ke, does that mean Duke? No, it should be the surname Du, given name Ke... The surname doesn't match either, it shouldn't be one of their children." Xia Congjun was somewhat puzzled. The academic atmosphere had indeed been quite unhealthy in recent years, but the Journal of Chemical Physics was, after all, one of China's SCI journals. It was inconceivable that it would stoop so low. Even if they accepted payment for publication space, they wouldn't place it in the recommended section.

And write such a blatant, shameless introduction.

"Did I miss something?" He shook his head and decided to reread the three papers to figure out what the Journal of Chemical Physics was up to. He had published papers in the Journal of Chemical Physics himself and didn't want to see such an SCI journal ruined step by step.

So, he started reading the first paper from the beginning. Skipping the initial section that resembled a review and reeked of fringe science, his expression gradually changed. After finishing the entire paper, his changed expression turned to surprise. "This is interesting." Without further thought, he immediately clicked on the second paper. As a professor at a university of chemical engineering, though not specializing in physics, he could understand the content of the papers.

The more he read, the more surprised he became. After finishing the second paper, he clicked on the third without hesitation and began reading it earnestly.

"Professor Xia, it's time for class. I recall you have a class, don't you?" a teacher reminded him.

Xia Congjun immediately snapped back to attention. "Oh, it's time for class."

However, he didn't move. He continued reading the rest of the third paper before leaving his seat, textbook in hand, ready to teach his students. On the way, his mind was still replaying the paper's content, and he almost walked into the wrong classroom. After finishing his class, Xia Congjun immediately left the classroom, intending to return and continue reading the papers. Some of the viewpoints in the papers gave him too many ideas he wanted to express.

In the classroom, the students exchanged glances and became elated. "Teacher Xia didn't assign any homework today, hooray!"

In a fantasy world countless light-years away, Du Ke was naturally unaware that a Professor Xia Congjun was being captivated by his papers. He had spent a comfortable night in the Sea of Flowers.

When his alarm clock woke him, he opened his eyes to see Shawa Shawa staring at him with wide, innocent eyes.

"You're awake," it said softly.

"Is it morning? Hmm, it's already six o'clock." Du Ke got out of bed and looked out the window. The colorful flowers had disappeared, with only a single red flower still blooming in the distance. "Shawa Shawa, were you waiting for me? Thank you, you can go rest now."

"Mhm." Shawa Shawa waved and zipped away towards its flower home, settling on the flower and being enveloped by it, returning to its state as a budding flower bud.

The entire Sea of Flowers was quiet. A red sun was rising in the east, and the temperature had unknowingly climbed to 34℃. With a thought, Du Ke's nest-like dwelling rapidly transformed into Titanium Alloy Nano Armor, enclosing him. He jumped down from the large tree, carefully avoiding the blue reeds—he worried that if he accidentally snapped one, he would destroy a Flower Spirit's home, although the possibility was slim.

There were many blue reeds, but not every single one housed a Flower Spirit.

"Let's circle South Lake first." South Lake was vast, giving him the impression it was even larger than Shushan Lake, Luzhou City's largest reservoir, likely around thirty square kilometers.

The blue reed beds were only present on the north shore of South Lake; the rest was covered in bushes.

Du Ke advanced at a steady pace, holding his Assault Rifle. Many gentle herbivores nearby saw him and weren't alarmed, even taking a few steps forward, wanting to observe this iron contraption they had never seen up close. Suddenly, an animal resembling a marmot let out an urgent squeal, and all the grazing animals in the bushes took to their heels and fled.

"What's going on?" Du Ke looked around, not seeing any approaching abnormal Magic Beasts.

Then, as if realizing something, he quickly looked up at the sky and saw the Horned Roc he had encountered on his last transmigration circling overhead. It looked like a flying lion surveying its aerial territory. Seemingly noticing Du Ke looking up at it, the Horned Roc suddenly swooped down. Du Ke's gaze sharpened, and his Assault Rifle materialized into a Vulcan Cannon. He raised the muzzle.

Tutututututu!

A three-meter-long tongue of flame erupted, and countless bullets shot towards the sky, sweeping towards the Horned Roc. All the bullets were dumdum bullets.

"Caw!"

The Horned Roc let out a cry and dodged the barrage of bullets, but its diving posture was inevitably affected. Du Ke pressed his advantage, continuously materializing and firing an endless stream of bullets into the sky. The Horned Roc had to fly a long distance to evade the bullets, while he only needed to slightly adjust the muzzle, and the bullets would automatically track the Horned Roc. Watching the Horned Roc being buffeted by his attacks, he quickly experienced the exhilaration of a real-life paintball game.

Finally.

The Horned Roc, unable to dodge in time, was grazed by the rain of bullets, losing a few feathers.

But before more bullets could hit it, it let out a short "Caw!" and a red halo appeared on its body, expanding outwards—this was the Fire Resistance Ring, a magic spell. At that moment, the rain of bullets encountered the Fire Resistance Ring and disintegrated silently, no longer able to harm the Horned Roc. However, Du Ke didn't let up, continuing to fire his Vulcan Cannon.

"I don't believe your Fire Resistance Ring can last forever!"

Tutututututu!

Bullets tracked and rained down on the Horned Roc. The Horned Roc had to cast a Fire Resistance Ring to defend itself from time to time. Finally, after ten rounds of engagement, this aerial overlord reluctantly flew away from the sky.

Only when the Horned Roc was no longer visible did Du Ke lower the Vulcan Cannon, its barrel already glowing red, and reveal a triumphant smile. "So what if it's a Magic Beast? No matter how powerful the magic, one shot will bring it down!"