"Teacher Ruan Mei, is there something you need?"
Ji Yuan asked Ruan Mei why she was doing this.
"Of course, to tell him that I'll be taking you away." Ruan Mei said to him, "The sooner you demonstrate your talent, the better. I've always hoped someone could communicate with me in the field of life sciences. I intend to take you with me to the Herta Space Station and teach you my knowledge as soon as possible."
Take me away!?
Thinking of Ruan Mei's status, Ji Yuan could not help but look forward to it.
If she protected him, then even if Phantyl attacked him, he would still be able to escape.
Just as he was thinking that, a voice filled with sorrow and resentment rang out not far from the two of them.
"Ji Yuan, are you planning to become someone who abandons his lover and little sister?"
Ji Yuan looked over and discovered that the one saying this was Phantyl, disguised as Tingyun.
Seeing Phantyl appear here, Ji Yuan instinctively took two steps back.
His expression was far from natural, looking exactly like someone caught cheating.
Help Me, Miss Ruan Mei!
Ji Yuan's hand was held in Ruan Mei's, while Phantyl wore an exceedingly resentful expression. Inside, however, she was already beginning to burn with anger.
This was prey she had personally set her sights on. She had given him so many benefits, and now this woman Ruan Mei was taking him away?
Phantyl's expression was terrifying.
Ji Yuan felt a chill rise from the marrow of his bones.
He had originally planned to use Ruan Mei's intention to take him away as an opportunity to escape. As long as he could reach the Herta Space Station with Ruan Mei, with Herta and Ruan Mei—two great figures—there, he would no longer need to fear Phantyl.
Then he could find an opportunity to notify the General.
Ji Yuan believed Herta had the means to contact General Jing Yuan privately without being discovered by the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus around him. If that happened, then as long as General Jing Yuan acted, Ji Yuan believed this matter would reach the safest possible conclusion.
As for receiving fewer rewards by spending less time with Phantyl, that loss was nothing compared to Ji Yuan's safety.
But now that Phantyl had caught him red-handed, escaping would be extremely difficult.
Especially with those words of hers. To ordinary people, her tone sounded like that of a lover reluctant to be abandoned. But in Ji Yuan's eyes, knowing her true nature, Phantyl's words were a warning not to even think about running away.
He turned his gaze toward Ruan Mei.
Can you beat Phantyl?
After thinking about it briefly, Ji Yuan felt that would not be easy. Leaving aside whether Ruan Mei was an Emanator of The Erudition, even if she were, her combat strength would still be far inferior to an Emanator of Destruction.
How could a scientist fight a combat specialist?
Hearing Phantyl's words, Ruan Mei stopped and asked her, "What is your relationship with him?"
Phantyl said nothing. She merely walked to Ji Yuan's side, lowered the folding fan in her hand, and reached out to take his other hand—the one Ruan Mei was not holding. Tremendous strength surged from her slender wrist, making Ji Yuan feel that he could not break free at all.
One person held each of his hands, making Ji Yuan feel immense pressure.
Leaving aside the mental pressure, the sheer physical strain alone made Ji Yuan feel as though he might be torn apart.
This was not a battlefield of romance. It was an execution ground.
"I understand." Ruan Mei watched Phantyl's actions and nodded lightly to show that she understood.
She looked at Ji Yuan and said, "For people like us, the desires of the flesh are far too primitive. I do not understand them very well. But if you like them, I can help you."
As she spoke, she carefully examined Ji Yuan.
Phantyl raised the folding fan she had just lowered.
You aren't planning to do it yourself, are you?
Anything, no matter how outrageous, was possible for a member of the Genius Society.
Phantyl gave Ruan Mei a quick appraisal. Her temperament was gentle as water, her lovely lips slightly parted, and her words carried an orchid-like fragrance. Even if Phantyl tried her best while using Tingyun's appearance, she could not replicate that mature charm.
Especially since Ji Yuan had a foot fetish. Ruan Mei's legs and feet were also exceptionally beautiful.
Influenced by Ji Yuan, Phantyl had also developed a habit of examining people's legs and feet.
Ji Yuan had the same thought as Phantyl. He looked at Ruan Mei with an expression of surprise.
She...
Before he could think further, Ruan Mei scrutinized him and asked, "What kind of body type do you like? What species? What additional organs would you like?"
"What are you trying to do!?"
Ji Yuan and Phantyl both asked Ruan Mei at once.
"Of course, I'll make one for you. What is it? Do you have a problem with that? Would you like to make one yourself? That is also fine."
Ruan Mei looked at the two of them in confusion, seemingly curious why they were looking at her that way.
Was it not perfectly normal to cultivate a new life-form to satisfy one's desires after developing such desires?
Ji Yuan swallowed, feeling that his way of thinking was simply too different from that of a scientific monster like Ruan Mei.
"Let's forget about that, Teacher Ruan Mei. Let's talk about something else."
Ji Yuan hurriedly waved his hands.
Ruan Mei gave him a strange look.
This Ji Yuan was quite strange.
At that moment, Phantyl stepped forward and shielded Ji Yuan behind her. She said to Ruan Mei, "Miss Ruan Mei, that is the difference between you and Ji Yuan. A pure scientist can never understand the feelings of ordinary people. Ji Yuan has not only simple carnal desire, but also emotions between people. If he follows you, he will lose those emotions sooner or later."
As she said this, she glanced at Ji Yuan and warned him with a stern, righteous look.
You cannot become the kind of person who only knows how to conduct scientific research.
Ji Yuan silently recited in his heart:
Well said, but you're Phantyl. I really don't want to become a scientific monster, but I want to die even less!
So he looked at Phantyl and said seriously, "Well, there's actually nothing wrong with studying under Teacher Ruan Mei for a while."
I need to find a way to escape.
Hearing Ji Yuan's answer, Phantyl was stunned.
Since when did you become so eager for science? Is this still the Ji Yuan I know?
As for Ji Yuan's answer, Ruan Mei was very pleased.
Yes, only the desire for science was best.
As for other desires, if Ji Yuan was unwilling to resolve them by creating life-forms, then she would think of another solution.
Ruan Mei cared deeply about a genius who could grow to stand shoulder to shoulder with her.
As they conversed, a reward for becoming Ruan Mei's student appeared in Ji Yuan's mind.
Your intelligence has been recognized by Miss Ruan Mei. She is willing to acknowledge you as her student and teach you the knowledge of life sciences. Therefore, the system specially rewards you with one Dream Creature, ten minutes of Miss Ruan Mei's Thought Synchronization (can be used separately), and one thousand hours of Miss Ruan Mei's Lessons (can be used separately).
What was this!?
A Dream Creature? What was that?
Had he obtained a divine beast?
His demands were not high. Just give him combat power on the level of the Keeper of the Celestial Forge.
Ji Yuan looked forward to it immensely.
But the following note promptly poured a bucket of cold water over him.
Dream Creature: A creation produced based on the host's thoughts, an ultimate life-form capable of fulfilling the host's wishes. (Note: The birth time of a Dream Creature increases according to the host's envisioned capabilities. For example, a Dream Creature with Emanator-level combat power would require approximately two thousand Aeon Epochs.)
Two thousand Aeon Epochs? Even his bones would have vanished by then.
Glancing at Phantyl, who was still holding his hand, Ji Yuan instantly felt that the Dream Creature was far less useful than he had imagined.
Those with short growth periods were not very useful, while those with enormous usefulness took far too long to grow. What was he supposed to do?
Miss Ruan Mei's Thought Synchronization for ten minutes (can be used separately): You may allow Miss Ruan Mei to possess you at any time and place, assisting you with thought and judgment. Please rest assured that only you will make the final decisions. Miss Ruan Mei's simulated form has no authority to make decisions on your behalf.
Was this a ten-minute trial card for peak Ruan Mei?
Ji Yuan thought to himself.
Just as he was thinking this, several more figures appeared before him.
They were Yanqing, Huohuo, and Sushang.
Qianxun
"Big Brother, are you really going to study life sciences with Miss Ruan Mei? But wouldn't that waste your talent for swordsmanship?"
Yanqing spoke to Ji Yuan.
His tone was anxious, and his expression was full of reluctance.
Huohuo also quietly asked Ji Yuan, "T-Teacher, will your talent for, for talismans also be wasted? O-Of course, if you, you decide to do it, I-I will, will support you too, Teacher."
When a member of the Genius Society had taken a liking to her teacher, Huohuo had initially been very happy. She had even felt honored as his student. But after Tail reminded her, she realized something.
If Miss Ruan Mei took her teacher away, where would she learn talismans from?
With conflicted feelings in her heart, she stammered contradictory words to Ji Yuan.
Sushang also looked at her big brother.
"Well, well... forget it. I really can't think of any lines. Why don't you just leave?"
She waved her hand dismissively.
Ji Yuan was furious.
What kind of little sister was this!?
But looking at the three of them, Ji Yuan also knew that he could not simply leave directly.
It was not because what the three of them said made sense, but because looking at them, he knew Phantyl had hostages in her hands.
If he left, would she secretly attack Yanqing, Huohuo, and Sushang afterward?
Even if he later informed General Jing Yuan of the intelligence, would General Jing Yuan abandon the three of them for the sake of the entire Xianzhou?
To be honest, if Ji Yuan were in General Jing Yuan's position, he might hesitate because Yanqing was his student, but for the other two, he could only try his best to save them.
Was it his own safety, or the safety of Yanqing, Huohuo, and Sushang?
Ji Yuan fell into a state of indecision.
But fortunately,
he was not alone.
"Don't say anything yet. Wait a moment."
At that moment, Ji Yuan motioned for everyone to remain silent.
Then,
he looked at his third reward.
Miss Ruan Mei's Lessons for one thousand hours (can be used separately)
Sorry, Miss Ruan Mei. I'll have to ask you to be my strategist for now. A lesson is a lesson, after all. It doesn't matter what kind of lesson it is.
Ji Yuan thought to himself.
As for why he did not ask the Ruan Mei currently outside, on one hand, he was worried their conversation might be exposed. On the other hand, he feared that Ruan Mei would only consider how to protect him and not Yanqing and the others.
Ji Yuan closed his eyes and leaned directly against Phantyl's shoulder.
His consciousness, meanwhile, entered Ruan Mei's teaching space.
Seeing Simulated Ruan Mei sitting on the table, Ji Yuan immediately rushed over.
"Help me, Miss Ruan Mei!"
He shouted urgently.
Before you continue