"You... You're twisting the facts!" Director Su had held it in for ages, but that was all he could manage to say.
"I'm just classifying things scientifically."
Qin Feng couldn't be bothered to argue with him. He turned to look at the students nearby, who had been staring in stunned silence.
"Did you all see that? This is the power of knowledge."
"The first trick used a high-pressure stream of air to spray tiny particles and irritate the mucous membranes."
"The second used the stored energy of a powerful spring, converting it into kinetic energy."
"If you master math and science, even without Soul Power, you can hang a Soul Elder from a tree to air-dry like laundry."
At those words, the students, who had only been shocked and afraid of Qin Feng, began to look at him differently.
Their eyes brimmed with longing—the same hunger a pack of wolves felt at the sight of meat.
In a world where strength reigned supreme, who didn't want to grow stronger?
Especially the work-study students with low Innate Soul Power and weak Martial Souls. They were used to being treated with contempt.
They had thought they would spend their whole lives as stepping stones for others, but now Qin Feng had shown them a new path.
A path where they didn't need talent—they only had to use their brains to grow stronger!
Wang Sheng trembled with excitement as he stared at the mighty iron contraption, his eyes sparkling.
"Brother Feng! I want to learn this! I want to pilot a Gundam!"
He had no idea what a Gundam was, but the name sounded powerful—way more powerful than a Battle Soul Elder!
"I want to learn too!"
"Teach us!"
More and more work-study students began to shout, their voices growing louder.
Even some of the older students from commoner families couldn't help edging closer, afraid they'd miss out.
Tang San sat on the ground, watching Qin Feng bask in everyone's admiration and listening to their feverish cheers. It felt as if he'd swallowed a hundred flies.
This should have been his moment.
He should have stunned everyone with Tang Sect Hidden Weapons and earned their awe.
But now, this freak had stolen all his thunder.
"Qin Feng."
Yu Xiaogang, who had been silent until now, finally stepped forward.
He didn't even glance at the hapless teacher who was still sneezing. Instead, he walked straight up to Qin Feng and stared intently at the iron contraption.
"What powers it? I don't sense any Soul Power fluctuations."
"If it's driven by mechanical transmission, where does all that energy come from?"
"Even if hundreds of strong men pushed that spring together, they couldn't produce such explosive force in an instant."
Grandmaster lived up to his name. His theories might have been outdated, but his eye for detail was sharp.
He'd immediately spotted the key question.
The law of conservation of energy existed in this world, too.
If it wasn't Soul Power, where did all that force come from?
Hearing this, Director Su pricked up his ears. He even paused halfway through his escape.
He wanted to know what kind of treasure this kid had hidden away, too.
Qin Feng glanced at Yu Xiaogang. This time, he didn't mock him much.
After all, promoting science required a few clever people who could understand what he was saying.
"You want to know?"
Qin Feng patted the sheet-metal barrel behind him. The solid thump said it all.
"It's got a simplified Stirling Engine inside, along with a high-pressure steam boiler."
"The fuel is rotten wood and coal cinders I picked up behind the hill."
"The principle is thermal expansion and contraction. The expanding gas does work."
"Put simply, it boils water."
Yu Xiaogang froze.
Director Su froze.
The whole crowd fell silent. They could even hear the wind rustling the leaves.
Boil... boil water?
That was it?
Was he messing with them?
Who boiled water and sent a Soul Elder flying? Who boiled water to drive a giant iron monster like this?
Yu Xiaogang felt his decades-long worldview shatter into dust.
He'd spent his whole life studying Martial Souls, Soul Rings, and Soul Power.
And now someone was telling him boiling water was even more powerful than Soul Power?
"I know you don't believe me."
Qin Feng shrugged, wearing an expression that said, "You can't explain the ocean to a summer insect."
"This is the power of science. This is the charm of the Industrial Revolution."
"Even a pot of boiling water can unleash the power to move mountains and fill seas, as long as you seal it inside a container and give it enough heat and pressure."
"That's science. It doesn't care about bloodline or background. It only cares about the laws of nature."
When he finished, Qin Feng turned to look at Director Su, who was already swaying on his feet.
"Director Su, do you still want to confiscate my teaching aid?"
"If you insist, I don't mind having Brother Wolf demonstrate its 'automatic toilet unclogging' feature for you."
Grey Wolf obligingly pulled a lever, aiming the enormous plunger straight at Director Su's face.
The plunger was covered in indescribable stains and smelled absolutely awful.
Director Su's face turned green, and his stomach lurched.
There was no way he'd dare demand to confiscate it now.
Qin Feng was a lunatic!
If that giant plunger hit him in the face, what would become of his dignity as the dean? How could he show his face at the academy after that?
"Mis... misunderstanding! It was all a misunderstanding!"
Director Su forced a smile more pained than a grimace, backing away as he wiped his sweat.
"If it's a teaching aid, then... then make sure to take good care of it."
"But be careful from now on! Don't... don't hurt any students!"
With that, he grabbed the teacher who was still sneezing and fled as if for his life, leaving one shoe behind.
He didn't dare say another word for appearances' sake.
The students around them burst into laughter, their voices shaking the heavens.
Director Su, who usually threw his weight around, had been scared off by a work-study student!
It was so satisfying!
[Ping! Detected Director Su's fear and capitulation. Shock points +600!]
[Ping! Detected a large number of students developing an interest in science. Shock points +1200!]
[Ping! Detected Yu Xiaogang experiencing extreme self-doubt. Shock points +500!]
A huge haul!
Qin Feng watched the numbers soar on the system panel, his heart swelling with delight.
His total shock points had now surpassed three thousand.
That was enough to redeem the thing he wanted.
"All right, the show's over. Move along."
Qin Feng waved at the students around him as if shooing away flies.
Then he looked at Yu Xiaogang, who was still lingering.
"Grandmaster, if you really want to learn how to boil water, bring a notebook at this time tomorrow."
"I won't charge tuition. Just bring me a couple of pounds of cured meat."
"Brother Wolf's had nothing but bland food for days. If he doesn't get some meat soon, he'll start gnawing on the tables."
Without waiting for Yu Xiaogang to answer, Qin Feng leaped onto the tracks of Scrap King No. 1.
"Brother Wolf, let's head back. Park this thing outside the dorm as a guardian deity. Let's see who dares come looking for trouble."
"Sure thing! Hold on tight!"
Grey Wolf pushed the lever. The iron contraption belched black smoke and rumbled toward the work-study students' dormitory.
All that remained was a trail of destruction and a crowd of people still standing around in stunned bewilderment.
Before you continue