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"Time: June 23, 2021, 7:30 AM."

"No signs of germination."

"After more than a month of observation, it can be basically concluded that the flora and fauna of the Fantasy World are difficult to survive on Earth. The fundamental reason should be the lack of necessary Magic Elements."

Du Ke recorded this in his experimental notes.

The seaweed, bean sprouts, and mushroom spores he brought back from the Fantasy World last time, as well as the summoned seeds he brought back this time, all failed to adapt to Earth's environment. The seaweed and bean sprouts could struggle to live for a while, but the seeds and spores simply wouldn't germinate. No matter what environment Du Ke set up, he couldn't ensure their survival on Earth.

He felt a bit disappointed, but also a bit relieved: "It's better if they can't live. I was really afraid that bringing back species from the Fantasy World would disrupt Earth's ecological balance."

After finishing his notes, he went to the gym he had cleared out for himself. Ever since his physical fitness exploded, he had grown to love working out. His goal was to look thin in clothes but muscular when undressed, and he was determined to have an eight-pack. At the same time, he downloaded some martial arts and Sanshou tutorials online and tried practicing combat routines, just in case.

Clang, clang, clang, clang.

He bent a 110kg arm exerciser one hundred times in a single go.

"I'm going to go boxing now. After a few months of professional training, I might be able to spar with a world champion," Du Ke said proudly. He looked like a slender, long-legged oppa, but who would have thought he hid a strong man beneath his clothes?

After a shower and a change of clothes, he drove to Tao Xun's house.

Today was Tao Xun's wife, Li Yun's, birthday. They had booked several tables at a restaurant, and Du Ke was assigned to the table with his graduate students. Tao Xun was a Master's Supervisor and had already guided two cohorts of graduate students.

"This is Du Ke. I'll be supervising him as a graduate student starting this fall. He's a true academic prodigy, so get to know him well," Tao Xun introduced Du Ke solemnly. Li Yun also came over and said a few words to Du Ke.

There were six men and three women at the table, with Du Ke being the youngest.

The other eight people were familiar with each other, but the five men had no intention of chatting with Du Ke, each engrossed in their phones. They rarely interacted with each other anyway. However, the three female master's students seemed quite interested in Du Ke, probably because women are generally interested in handsome guys.

"Hey, Du Ke, right? Did you graduate from Xiake University for your undergraduate studies?" one of the female master's students asked.

"No, I graduated from Anhui University."

"Graduated from Anhui University? Oh, you must have been recommended for graduate study, right? Are you planning to go to the Science Island branch?" the female master's student continued asking, though her tone was less enthusiastic than before.

After all, graduating from a 985, 211, or Double First-Class university was in a different league than graduating from an ordinary institution.

"No, I'm pursuing my master's at the main campus of Xiake University," Du Ke replied with a smile.

His handsome smile quickly erased the status gap caused by his ordinary undergraduate background. Another cute, round-faced female master's student joined the conversation: "Old Tao said you're an academic prodigy. Did you get in through your own efforts? That's not right, though, it's not time for the graduate entrance exams yet, is it?"

"I was recommended for graduate study, but I'm not too clear about the specific arrangements yet. Old Tao said he would help me with it, so I haven't worried about it," Du Ke said truthfully.

"Bro, you're not secretly a rich second-generation, are you?" a male master's student chimed in.

"No, I'm from a humble rural background. None of my relatives have ever been the richest person in the village, and the highest-ranking official is the deputy director of the town's power supply station."

"Then how did you get recommended for graduate study?"

"Maybe my thesis was good."

"Your thesis was good?" another crew-cut male master's student put down his phone. "Could it be that you've published in an SCI journal? At Anhui University's level, it's impossible for an undergraduate to publish in SCI, isn't it?"

Du Ke nodded. "An SCI journal in China."

"It's really SCI? Tell us, Du Ke, which SCI journal did you publish in? That's impressive! I haven't even published a master's thesis in an SCI journal," the cute, round-faced female master's student praised.

The crew-cut male master's student glanced at the cute, round-faced female master's student, then back at Du Ke, a hint of hostility in his eyes. "Publishing an SCI paper isn't cheap, is it? You must have quite a bit of money, bro. I wouldn't have guessed."

"Does publishing in SCI journals require a publication fee? I'm not sure. I published three, and they didn't seem to ask me for any money," Du Ke said thoughtfully.

"Ha, three SCI papers? Are you kidding me?" The crew-cut male master's student burst into laughter, feigning generosity. "You're something else, bro. Witty and humorous. Here, have a cigarette. It's a soft Yu Xi, not a great brand, but don't be picky."

"Thanks, I don't smoke," Du Ke declined, waving his hand.

With the crew-cut male master's student's interruption, the conversation had veered off course and become the crew-cut male master's student's stage as he entertained the three female master's students with jokes. Du Ke listened with a smile, not intending to interrupt. Bored, he took out his phone and opened his email. He had forgotten to check his new emails this morning, so he casually clicked on it.

He didn't have any high expectations. After all, his fourth paper, "Overview and Practical Application of Electron Flow Theory," was a review paper. Usually, review papers were written by well-known research personnel. He was an unknown nobody, and his correspondence address was the unheard-of Luzhou Du Ke New Energy Co., Ltd. The reviewers might have rejected it just by looking at the title.

However, this time, he noticed an all-English email. The sender's name contained the familiar English words "Physical Review."

A jolt went through him.

He immediately clicked on the email. It was an acceptance letter for "Physical Review B." It was only a short letter, but the meaning it conveyed made Du Ke overjoyed. This was proof of acceptance! Receiving an acceptance letter meant his paper had been officially accepted by "Physical Review B." His paper had passed and could be published in print!

"Little Du, what are you looking at? You're smiling so happily?" Professor Tao Xun appeared out of nowhere and sat down at the table.

"Accept Letter," Du Ke said in English.

"Acceptance letter?" Tao Xun was taken aback, then exclaimed in surprise, "Is it an acceptance letter from P.R.B.?"

"Mm."

"Let me see!"

Du Ke handed him his phone. Upon seeing the email, Tao Xun slammed the table. "Beautiful! Little Du, you've done brilliantly! Haha, with this one P.R.B. paper, you won't even need a master's thesis to graduate directly! Haha, P.R.B.! How many university professors haven't been able to publish there, and you got accepted on your first try! Amazing, amazing! I need to call Dean Chen."

Tao Xun's great joy made the graduate students at the table exchange glances. The cute, round-faced female master's student asked curiously in a low voice, "Du Ke, what are you saying to Old Tao? What's P.R.L.?" Although she was already a master's student, she had only published her master's thesis in general domestic journals and knew nothing about SCI journals, let alone foreign SCI journals.

However, someone understood. A male master's student exclaimed, "P.R.B.? Is that 'Physical Review B,' the one published by the American Physical Society?"