Technology Tree System

At Lü Yongchang's request, Guan Hualiang swallowed slightly.

As the only audience member who understood the subject, Guan Hualiang's astonishment reached its peak!

Who could have imagined that an undergraduate could work out the various details of controlled nuclear fusion technology on the spot?!

"You... what do you want me to do?"

Perhaps because of the shock, Professor Guan Hualiang's voice was a little hoarse.

With a resolute gaze, Lü Yongchang said, "Professor, I request a review of my derivation!"

School of Materials Science, Sandao Kou University.

An insistent ringtone sounded inside an office.

"Hello?"

"Professor Guan?"

"What? You're serious?!"

"...Wait for me. I'll be right there!"

"All right, I'll go get Dean Tian!"

That single phone call threw the previously tranquil Materials College at Sandao Kou University into turmoil.

The same scene unfolded again in Sandao Kou University's nuclear physics laboratory!

"Professor Guan, you're not pulling my leg, are you?"

"A new material capable of withstanding nuclear fusion, derived on the spot by a sophomore?"

"Am I dreaming, or are you still half asleep?"

"All right, all right. I'll come over and take a look!"

More than twenty minutes later.

Guan Hualiang and Lü Yongchang sat quietly in the classroom.

After deleting the videos and photos on their phones, the other students had all left.

"Professor, those students..." Lü Yongchang looked at Professor Guan Hualiang uneasily.

"Don't worry. Someone will handle the follow-up."

Guan Hualiang fell silent for a moment, then spoke again to confirm.

"Yongchang, did you develop all this yourself?"

Although he had personally watched Lü Yongchang complete every step of the derivation alone... honestly, he still found it hard to believe that a sophomore could possess such advanced knowledge!

Granted, this was Sandao Kou University, the nation's top university.

But... an undergraduate was still an undergraduate, with limited exposure to the field.

Sitting opposite Guan Hualiang, Lü Yongchang met the professor's eyes with a profound gaze and nodded firmly.

"Professor, I developed all of this on my own."

He wasn't lying!

In his previous life, he had made enormous contributions to the controlled nuclear fusion research project!

That achievement had earned him considerable credit when he was being considered for the position of chief scientist.

After all, only by mastering controlled nuclear fusion had humanity gained the means to eke out an existence in underground cities!

"I hope so!" Guan Hualiang gave Lü Yongchang a searching look.

By now, he had recovered from his initial shock, and naturally, a few doubts had surfaced.

Still... everything would come to light in the upcoming joint review by the professors!

Whether this was a fraud or a born genius would become clear then!

As he thought, Guan Hualiang closed his eyes to rest.

He was getting old, and his energy was limited.

Seeing Guan Hualiang close his eyes to rest, Lü Yongchang's gaze flickered, and he slowly closed his own eyes as well.

Deep in his mind, an unanswered question still weighed on him.

The instant the helium flash erupted, he had lost consciousness.

But what exactly was that fluorescent green interface he had seen before waking up in his new life?!

With his eyes just closed, Lü Yongchang saw nothing but darkness.

The next moment, at a slight stir of his thoughts, a fluorescent green glow slowly emerged from the depths of his mind.

That strange tree diagram appeared before him again.

This time, he finally had a chance to examine it properly!

Just as in the tree diagram he had seen before, the highlighted white text at the very bottom read "Controlled Nuclear Fission" and "Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology."

One level above them was a line of somewhat dim text.

[Nuclear Energy Control: Fusion Reactor Miniaturization Technology]

A trace of shock flashed through Lü Yongchang's eyes.

Fusion reactor miniaturization technology!

This was the very technology he had been researching in the final moments of his previous life!

It was no exaggeration to say that fusion reactor miniaturization technology could bring human technology to an entirely new peak!

But... unfortunately.

With so little time, he had made no progress whatsoever.

Recalling his previous experience in this space, Lü Yongchang hurriedly focused his thoughts on that dim line of text.

No miracle occurred.

No knowledge concerning fusion reactor miniaturization appeared in his mind.

Just as Lü Yongchang was puzzling over this, a faint line of text appeared between the controlled nuclear fission and fusion reactor miniaturization technologies. The next moment, a somewhat dim white line connected them.

[Prerequisite: Sonoluminescence Analysis]

Recalling how controlled nuclear fusion technology had appeared in his mind, he began to form a few theories about the system inside his head.

This technology tree system could only guide him toward the correct research direction. It couldn't give him knowledge out of thin air!

Still, that was enough!

In scientific research, nothing was worse than heading in the wrong direction!

With the right direction, Lü Yongchang believed that his own abilities would allow him to solve those so-called research challenges, one way or another!

The next second, he looked toward the upper part of the technology tree.

[Electric Propulsion System]

[Quantum Communication Technology]

[...]

At the very top of the technology tree was a highlighted line of text: [Type I Civilization].

Lü Yongchang swallowed slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief.

This was only a Type I civilization?!

Then what should a Type II civilization have mastered?!

As that thought arose, an even dimmer line of text appeared at the very top of the technology tree.

[Basic Mastery of Energy Weapons]

The instant he saw those words, Lü Yongchang's pupils contracted sharply!

Energy weapons!

Then... what about a Type III civilization?!

A trace of "greed" flashed through his eyes.

As a scientist, he found future technologies irresistibly alluring, even if all he could see was a name!

The system gave no response.

A hint of regret appeared in Lü Yongchang's eyes.

Just as Lü Yongchang was absorbed in exploring the system, a soft knock came from outside the classroom.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Lü Yongchang and Guan Hualiang opened their eyes at the same time and looked toward the classroom door.

"Come in. The door isn't locked."

Guan Hualiang spoke in a low voice.

The next moment, the classroom door slowly opened.

Several professors with graying temples entered, their expressions grave.

The elderly man at the front turned his gaze to the blackboard behind the lectern the moment he entered the classroom.

After a quick scan of the blackboard and projection screen, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

Then he turned to look at Lü Yongchang.

When he saw Lü Yongchang meet his gaze without the slightest timidity, the surprise in his eyes deepened.

"Professor Guan, is this the... genius student you mentioned?"

Guan Hualiang nodded lightly. "Dean Tian, let me introduce him. This young man is a sophomore in the physics department. His name is Lü Yongchang."

Then he turned to Lü Yongchang and said, "This is Tian Zhixuan, dean of Materials College at Sandao Kou University."

"If you want to know whether your new material holds up, he's the man to ask!"