Learning from Ruan Mei a Hundred Years in the Future[First Update, 3k] / 24. Ruan Mei: His Talent Is Even Greater Than Mine!?

Genyi's expression froze.

Wasn't this request a little beyond his capabilities?

If he asked for this, wouldn't he end up with nothing in the end?

Ruan Mei seemed to have guessed Ji Yuan's intentions and instead gave a slight nod.

"When you first saw me, I noticed that you wanted something from me. I just didn't expect this to be what you wished to ask for."

She took a book from the bag beside her and handed it to Ji Yuan. "Learning my techniques requires exceptionally high theoretical knowledge and talent. If you cannot understand this during your free time over the next few days, I cannot possibly teach you any further. But if you can understand it, that will prove you possess some talent."

Studying with Ruan Mei from a Hundred Years Later

Ji Yuan accepted the book Ruan Mei handed him and said seriously, "All right. I will."

"I hope you can. Many of my experiments are also lacking an assistant."

Seeing how certain Ji Yuan was, Ruan Mei merely smiled and said nothing more. She had met no shortage of confident people like him before. Yet after she gave them an introductory book, every one of them had backed down, wearing expressions as though they had been severely crushed.

The young man before her seemed quite courageous, but he would probably be like those people before him. Once he encountered dense, difficult scientific knowledge, he would wisely choose to retreat.

In the field of science, no amount of effort could compare to outstanding talent.

Ji Yuan was still deep in thought when Ruan Mei lightly flicked his cheek with her silk-gloved right hand. Her fingertip then brushed beneath his chin as she said to him,

"Come. You still haven't properly shown me around your Luofu Starfaring Vessel fleet."

"Mm-hmm, I'll take you around our star skiffs right away."

Ji Yuan hurriedly nodded and brought Ruan Mei around the fleet. After looking around for a while, Ruan Mei's expression remained unchanged. She quietly walked through the entire vessel, then told Ji Yuan that she wished to rest in one of the guest rooms.

After seeing her back to the guest room, Ji Yuan took the book she had given him and returned to their lounge.

You accompanied Ms. Ruan Mei on a tour. Reward: One Answer from Ruan Mei (you may ask her any question)

When he arrived at the lounge, Sushang, Huanlong, and Huohuo were eating desserts, while Yanqing was practicing his swordsmanship nearby. Seeing Ji Yuan return, Huanlong and the others put down their desserts.

Huanlong asked Ji Yuan curiously, "What happened? What did Lord Genyi have you do? Also, what is that book in your hand?"

She took a closer look and saw words such as "life" and "DNA" printed on the book in Ji Yuan's hand. It looked like something he had received from Ruan Mei.

"Mm, Lord Genyi asked me to show Ruan Mei around the fleet. I'll be taking her around the vessels over the next couple of days."

Sushang leaned closer to Ji Yuan and curiously asked as she looked at the book in his hand, "So what are you going to do with that book, bro?"

"I mentioned that I wanted to learn some life sciences from Ms. Ruan Mei, so she gave me introductory material." Ji Yuan happily raised the book in his hand and told everyone, "All right, I'm going to start studying life sciences in a moment, so don't disturb me. Ruan Mei said that if I master these things in the next few days, she'll give me the next set of study materials."

The others present were all shocked when they heard that.

"Bro, are you refusing to admit defeat? Sister Tingyun gave me a thorough explanation of how amazing the Genius Society is. Listen to me, we really can't compare."

Sushang asked Ji Yuan.

Earlier, Sushang had also heard Huanlong explain just how formidable the members of the Genius Society were. After hearing it, she felt as though she had been listening to some fantastical tale. Could her brother really learn the things such people had mastered?

Yanqing also grabbed Ji Yuan's hand with a serious expression and tried to dissuade him. "Brother Ji Yuan, let's not mess around. My teacher told me that everyone's talent is limited. Your talent in swordsmanship is already so high, so your talent in other fields definitely won't be that strong. Let's not waste our time."

He did not want to see a swordsmanship genius stray down the wrong path and hoped to pull Ji Yuan back onto the proper road as soon as possible.

Tail also mocked, "Exactly. That's research from a Genius Society member. How could someone like you, who has never even encountered that kind of knowledge, possibly learn it?"

"Tail, don't say that." Huohuo patted Tail, then thought for a moment before seriously saying to Ji Yuan, "Teacher, I believe you can do it."

A-Although it was difficult, hadn't her teacher developed the Suiyang Subjugation Art, something no one had ever managed to develop before? Since he could develop such a technique, he could certainly learn life sciences as well.

"Good. Huohuo, you understand your teacher best after all."

Seeing Huohuo support him, Ji Yuan gratefully patted her head.

At that moment, he felt pressure on his foot. Turning around, he discovered that Huanlong was secretly stepping on it while the others were not paying attention.

She looked slightly annoyed.

Seeing Ji Yuan turn his gaze toward her, Huanlong tilted her head and smiled sweetly. "Considering how much I trust you, I should support you completely. But when I think about the difficulty of entering the Genius Society, I feel I ought to dissuade you instead. So this little lady will simply say nothing. If you succeed, I will encourage you. If you fail, I can comfort you as well."

There was an indescribable meaning in her gaze that made Ji Yuan shudder.

"I should hurry up and study."

Ji Yuan shivered, then quickly headed toward his room.

Yanqing still wanted to dissuade him, but Sushang waved her hand and stopped him.

Watching Ji Yuan's retreating back, she said seriously, "It's useless. Once my brother makes up his mind about something, no one can talk him out of it. Back then, my mother wanted us to join the Cloud Knights so badly, yet he still dared to sneak away from the Yaoging Star-skiff and come to Luofu to become a Trade Official. Let him take a look first. In a couple of days, once he realizes he cannot understand any of it, he'll naturally give up."

"Will he really give up?" Yanqing asked uncertainly.

"I don't know. That last part is just my usual behavior."

Yanqing fell silent.

Ji Yuan entered his room.

The resting quarters aboard the vessel were not very large. Ji Yuan only had a single bed, a desk, and a chair.

Still, that was enough. Ji Yuan placed the book in his hand on the desk.

He did not immediately open it. Instead, he closed his eyes and opened his reward.

For welcoming Ruan Mei, he had been rewarded with an introductory life sciences book and her introductory life sciences course. As for that chance to ask a question, he was in no hurry to use it. A terrifying scientist capable of creating an Emanator—her answer was incredibly valuable.

After opening the reward, a virtual laboratory appeared before him. Two sets of books also appeared in his hands.

One set was the one Ruan Mei had just given him, while the other was the reward he had obtained through the system.

The crisp sound of heels tapping against the floor rang out. Ji Yuan looked over and saw Ruan Mei standing before him.

She was also a virtual creation.

Looking at Ruan Mei before him, Ji Yuan felt that the past hundred years had left few traces on her face. Only her eyes had grown deeper, proving how much she had matured over the century. A hundred years of continuous research would bring considerable advances in scientific ability, especially after successfully nurturing an Emanator. The level of life sciences she had mastered would only have become even greater.

While Ji Yuan was thinking, Simulated Ruan Mei poked his cheek with her finger as well. Her fingertip then slid down his neck, across his chest, and over his abdomen. After doing so, she nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad. Teaching you should not be too difficult. If you were an idiot, I do not know how long it would take to teach you. I hate teaching fools most of all, but because I am a virtual body born because of you, I must teach you until you have completed your studies."

"Can you tell whether someone is smart just by measuring their physical condition?"

Ji Yuan asked curiously.

If that were the case, he would definitely measure Changchang properly later and see what her level truly was.

"No. I was merely checking how much pressure your body can withstand."

Simulated Ruan Mei smiled and shook her head.

"I see." Ji Yuan nodded regretfully.

Before he could say anything else, Simulated Ruan Mei picked up both sets of books from Ji Yuan's hands.

She flipped through the set Ruan Mei had given him, then tossed it aside.

"The things in here were written a hundred years ago. Much of it is overly complicated by today's standards. You will master everything in it as we proceed with the lessons. There is not much point in reading it now."

After speaking, she took Ji Yuan's hand and led him to the experiment table. The table was covered in test tubes, computers, and other equipment, with quite a few of them continuously bubbling. On the other side were all manner of experimental materials. Some of them made Ji Yuan feel as though his sanity was plummeting just by looking at them. Simulated Ruan Mei only glanced at them, her eyes holding nothing but regret for failed specimens.

"Open the introductory textbook the real me recently wrote. I will teach you some beginner experiments while explaining the fundamentals of life sciences."

Simulated Ruan Mei pressed close to Ji Yuan as she spoke.

"Beginner experiments? What are they?"

Hearing Simulated Ruan Mei mention beginner experiments, Ji Yuan asked curiously.

Simulated Ruan Mei answered calmly, "Very simple experiments. We are merely making a fern grow wings and fly."

"Simple experiments?"

Ji Yuan's expression twisted slightly.

"Yes, they are not difficult."

Simulated Ruan Mei smiled and nodded.

Then, she brought a microscope over to Ji Yuan.

"Come. First, carefully observe the fern's DNA. I will explain my introductory course to you..."

The door to Ji Yuan's room quietly opened a crack. Sushang peeked inside and saw Ji Yuan leaning back with his eyes closed, his expression growing excited. She quietly closed the door again.

Turning around, she looked at the curious crowd and proudly puffed out her chest.

"Just as I thought. There are many top students in this world, but underachievers all act the same way."

"Hm? What happened?"

Huanlong asked Sushang.

"Heh heh, my foolish brother probably couldn't understand anything in Ruan Mei's book either. He's closing his eyes and resting right now."

Sushang became even more confident.

Let's see if he still has the nerve to lecture me about sleeping when I study next time.

Ruan Mei: His Talent Is Even Greater Than Mine!?

Seeing Ji Yuan choose to "give up," Yanqing let out a sigh of relief.

That was good. If his brother could recognize his shortcomings, then focus on practicing swordsmanship afterward, that would truly be wonderful.

Perfect. My salary for this month should arrive after we return. When that happens, I'll go to the Artificer's Workshop and buy the newest sword to give Brother Ji Yuan.

Yanqing thought to himself.

"Just as I said. I wasn't wrong."

Tail also agreed.

Huohuo did not argue, but she clenched her hands tightly, thinking that her teacher would never do something like that.

Huanlong gently opened her folding fan, and a contemplative look appeared in her eyes.

She did not believe Ji Yuan was someone who would give up so easily.

Perhaps this is his way of studying? If he really can learn some of it, that would prove he has talent in life sciences. That would be even better.

Huanlong thought to herself.

Such a person would make her feel an even greater urge for destruction.

At midnight, Ji Yuan suddenly opened his eyes. After opening them, he first patted his chest, then rubbed his head.

"Five hundred hours. I spent a full five hundred hours studying in there before I finally mastered the basics of life sciences. Even with Ruan Mei from a hundred years later teaching me step by step, it still took me five hundred hours to learn it properly. No wonder Simulated Ruan Mei said I could only be considered clever and had little to do with true talent."

Ji Yuan thought to himself.

In that virtual space, Ruan Mei had explained everything from the origins of life to DNA, genes, and all manner of academic knowledge. After he finished learning that knowledge, Simulated Ruan Mei began teaching him how to modify genes and immediately started conducting experiments.

Ruan Mei's teaching style was simply that direct and clear.

Only after Ji Yuan successfully learned how to make a fern grow tiny wings did the introductory course finally end.

It had taken a total of five hundred hours.

Looking at the time, Ji Yuan discovered that he had only been sitting there with his eyes closed for five hours.

Was the time ratio between reality and the virtual space one hundred to one?

Ji Yuan thought to himself.

After moving his stiff body again, Ji Yuan did not hurry to rest. Instead, he headed outside.

Now that the work had been completed in the virtual space, he needed to produce it in the real world as well.

In any case, if he gathered the materials aboard the vessel, there should be enough.

After going outside, Ji Yuan began looking for materials. Fortunately, he was still considered a professional, and his authority in this area was not insignificant. Very quickly, he gathered a pile of life sciences research materials and returned to his room.

Throughout this process, Huanlong had been watching him. When she saw him leave his room, her gaze followed him the entire time. Seeing him bring back a pile of what appeared to be experimental materials, her expression turned somewhat surprised.