Carbon Nanomaterials Laboratory

"What?!"

As Lü Yongchang finished speaking, Fang Xu's eyes widened slightly, and he cried out in disbelief, "You can solve the problem of room-temperature superconducting materials?"

Fang Xu's reaction made Hong Qiming frown.

"Room-temperature superconductivity... I remember our country already having that technology, don't we?"

"I saw a report just the other day saying an academician at the Academy of Sciences had made a breakthrough in room-temperature superconductivity technology!"

Fang Xu glanced helplessly at Hong Qiming and said quietly, "Minister Hong, you must be referring to the paper Academician Hu Changping published in Nature a little while ago!"

Hong Qiming's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes! You have a good memory, Academician Fang. That's exactly the paper I meant!"

"What? Can't that technology be used?"

A bitter smile flickered in Fang Xu's eyes as he slowly shook his head.

"Although the superconducting material Academician Hu Changping created exhibited superconductivity at a room temperature of fifteen degrees Celsius... there was a condition attached."

"It was achieved under a pressure of 267 billion pascals, roughly a million times the standard tire pressure!"

"What's more, the amount of material that exhibited superconductivity in Professor Hu Changping's diamond anvil cell was minuscule!"

"So small, in fact, that it had to be measured in picoliters!"

Seeing the confusion flash through Hong Qiming's eyes, Fang Xu hurriedly added, "A picoliter is a unit of volume. One picoliter is approximately 10^-9 milliliters!"

Hong Qiming sucked in a sharp breath.

Now he understood completely.

Such demanding conditions, such a tiny amount of material...

Applying that technology to controlled nuclear fusion was nothing but a pipe dream!

Fang Xu swallowed and murmured to himself, "So far, I haven't heard of any country truly mastering this technology!"

Then he took a deep breath, steadied his emotions, and spoke again with absolute conviction.

"A genuine room-temperature superconducting material must exhibit superconductivity at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure!"

"That is incredibly difficult to achieve!"

Hong Qiming's brow furrowed deeply.

When he had first heard Lü Yongchang's claim, he had actually felt a little excited.

Lü Yongchang's casual manner and absolute confidence had given him a false impression.

That room-temperature superconductivity technology was easy!

But now, after Fang Xu's reality check, Hong Qiming's overheated mind gradually cooled down.

He turned to the perfectly composed Lü Yongchang before him and asked with a frown, "Are you certain you can solve the problem of room-temperature superconducting materials?"

The corners of Lü Yongchang's mouth rose slightly, and he nodded slowly but firmly.

Yes, room-temperature superconductivity technology was difficult.

But in his previous life, that technology had long since been mastered.

And the scientist who had solved that problem for Xia Country was none other than Lü Yongchang himself!

After pondering for a moment, he said slowly, "I need a standard carbon nanomaterials laboratory and a few assistants."

"Barring any surprises, give me a few days, and I'll put the results right in front of you!"

Fang Xu's gaze shifted slightly. Clearly, he had picked up on something implicit in Lü Yongchang's words.

He stared at Lü Yongchang in astonishment, his voice instantly rising an octave. "You're certain carbon nanomaterials can achieve room-temperature superconductivity?!"

Lü Yongchang fell silent for a moment. From the curiosity in Fang Xu's eyes, he understood what the man wanted.

"How about... you watch me do it?"

Fang Xu said, "...I suppose that could work."

Perhaps realizing that he had given away his intentions, Fang Xu looked a little embarrassed. "Ahem. It's not that I'm curious. I'm mainly worried you might not be familiar with how to use the equipment..."

Lü Yongchang said, "..."

Sandao Kou University's Carbon Nanomaterials Laboratory.

"Lü... young Lü, take a look. Will this laboratory meet your requirements?"

As he spoke, a trace of awkwardness appeared in Fang Xu's eyes.

As an academician, this was his first time acting as a guide for a second-year undergraduate!

The thought that he might even become this undergraduate's assistant in the future made Fang Xu feel even more awkward.

No, I need to think of something.

How about... asking Old Jiang to get this kid a professorship?

At least that would sound better.

Then no one could say that I, a distinguished academician, was working under an undergraduate!

The more Fang Xu thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. He immediately approved the proposal in his mind.

"Achoo!"

Walking ahead, Lü Yongchang suddenly sneezed.

He turned and gave Fang Xu a suspicious look.

He had felt a chill coming from behind him just now.

Surely Fang Xu wasn't cursing me behind my back?

Under Lü Yongchang's meaningful gaze, Fang Xu's expression abruptly stiffened!

Then he forced a faint smile. "Young Lü, have a look and see whether this laboratory is suitable. If not, we may have to go farther afield to find a better one."

Lü Yongchang turned back thoughtfully and looked at the instruments in the laboratory.

After surveying them, a hint of disdain appeared in his eyes.

That's it?

In his previous life, he wouldn't even have spared a glance for a laboratory equipped like this!

But now...

Oh well!

I'll make do!

Tony Stark had managed to hammer out the Mark I by hand in a cave. Surely he could create room-temperature superconducting materials in this "backward" laboratory!

"It'll do, barely."

Lü Yongchang answered Fang Xu's question with an impassive expression.

The instant Fang Xu heard his answer, his eyes widened dramatically!

"Barely?!"

"Do you have any idea that this is the best carbon nanomaterials laboratory at Sandao Kou University?!"

"I'm not bragging. This laboratory ranks among the top ten in Xia Country right now, at the very least!"

Lü Yongchang glanced speechlessly at the indignant Fang Xu beside him. "Didn't you just say we could find a better laboratory if this one wasn't suitable?"

Fang Xu said, "..."

"I... I was being modest! Modest, understand?!"

Lü Yongchang raised both hands and said softly, in the tone of someone soothing a child, "All right, all right... I take it back. This laboratory is very advanced. It's excellent."

"Happy now?"

Fang Xu said, "..."

He swore he had never been so speechless in his life!

He followed Fang Xu without a word.

He was going to see just how capable this second-year undergraduate really was!

Surely he could at least identify the laboratory instruments?

At that thought, a hint of amusement flashed through Fang Xu's eyes.

After all, quite a few pieces of equipment in this laboratory at Sandao Kou had only just been upgraded!

Never mind an undergraduate like Lü Yongchang-even he was still a little unfamiliar with using them!