Necromancer, What the Heck Is a Summoned 055? Section 34

Beyond passing on knowledge, Instructor Morton had also put considerable effort into the practical arrangements.

He had personally secured a cultivation room belonging to the Advanced Morning Light Group. Elements were more abundant there, providing more psionic energy during psionic enlightenment and slightly increasing the chances of success.

That was not all. Morton had also obtained two stabilizing potions said to have no side effects, a mental amplification potion with mild side effects, and a piece of high-grade mind-clearing incense only as long as a thumb.

Chen Mo insisted on paying him in full. "Instructor, if you won't take my money, I can't accept these things."

And so everyone was happy.

According to the students of Glimmer Group Three, with that kind of setup, even a dog with a mental power of ten or more could succeed at enlightenment. Finding such a dog would be far harder than succeeding at enlightenment.

Chen Mo's talent was still a little better than a dog's, so naturally, his psionic enlightenment went smoothly, and he passed with ease.

Of course, since he was there anyway, he spent a little time practicing meditation in the Advanced Morning Light Group's cultivation room. He also made full use of the remaining time, carefully cleaning every nook and cranny of the room and collecting a large handful of dust and debris from the high-psionic-energy environment.

When the advanced group's instructor inspected the room afterward, he was deeply impressed. He went back and gave his own students a thorough scolding.

"Look at someone else's student! He even knew to leave a borrowed cultivation room spotless after using it. None of you know how to take care of your own!"

To prevent the elemental energy from dissipating, Chen Mo sent it home immediately.

He also sent along the mind-clearing incense he had secretly saved, as well as the small portion of the mental amplification potion remaining in its pouch.

Being able to send packages promptly was so convenient.

If Chen Mo's Bloodline Altar was a super cheat that defied common sense, then Psionic Diversion was a "high-frequency acceleration" module he had carefully loaded onto it, one he could activate as needed.

He had essentially installed another cheat on top of his cheat.

Using the Bloodline Altar with the diversion, he frequently exchanged information and supplies with home. Every time he counted the "living expenses" his family sent him, feeling both deeply ashamed and a little delighted, Chen Mo could only comfort himself as best he could: What can I do? Studying abroad in another world is a little expensive!

Of course, Chen Mo also spared no effort in giving back to his family.

Over this period, he had sent back every kind of otherworldly material he could get his hands on. At the same time, he had used the money from home to buy off his classmates on a grand scale, and everyone in Glimmer Group Three had seen their wealth soar.

In return, Glimmer Group Three's activity area had become Chen Mo's own private domain, allowing him to stake out a spot in the dormitory area and assemble a small weather station.

There was an anemometer and a wind vane to record wind parameters; a barometer, temperature sensor, and humidity sensor to record atmospheric parameters; a rain gauge, visibility meter, solar radiation sensor, soil temperature and moisture sensor, and so on for specialized observations... Naturally, he also had to hook up two solar battery panels.

Chen Mo had also claimed an area in the courtyard. At the outer edge of the maximum area where Glimmer Group Three was allowed to move about, he planted electronic beacons and put down two "robot vacuums."

The two flat, round contraptions climbed dirt slopes and crossed patches of grass every day, tirelessly "cleaning" the courtyard.

They were fully automatic sample collectors from the Eastern Xia Institute of Electronic Engineering 930. Wherever they went, they seized any new object whose spectral characteristics had not been recorded, without hesitation.

Their methods were versatile, too. They had small mechanical arms for solids, high-speed roller brushes for dust, and collection probes for liquids. For large objects, they also had cutting gears and impact drill bits.

If they encountered living creatures such as reptiles, they could cast nets, deliver electric shocks, or even administer anesthetic injections.

Each fully automatic sample collector carried a large transparent collection box divided into several smaller compartments. After collecting an item, it placed it in a separate compartment and pushed it into its belly, where a refrigerated area kept the samples as fresh as possible.

Objects with different spectra were stored in different compartments. Whenever the compartments were full, the collector automatically went to the solar charging station in the corner, recharged itself, replaced its collection box, replenished its coolant, and cleaned its collection equipment...

They were just like diligent workers who toiled without complaint.

Except that sometimes they overestimated themselves a little.

For example, when Chen Mo got up this morning, robot vacuum number two had gotten into a tussle with a large lizard over a meter long. Its two little mechanical arms were clamped tightly around the lizard's midsection, its anesthetic needle kept jabbing away, and every now and then electricity crackled, making the lizard's whole body twitch.

Clearly, because it had been designed in haste and was limited in size, the thing's functions were still quite limited. Originally, it could only catch beetles, earthworms, and the like.

Catching such a large "third sister-in-law" was clearly beyond its capabilities.

For a creature of this size, the doses of anesthetic and electricity were both woefully inadequate. It could neither knock the lizard out nor electrocute it.

The lizard, enraged by the persistent entanglement, crushed at the collector with its claws and teeth, making it creak and crack. Of course, flesh against steel could only leave it gnawing until its own tongue stuck out.

Only when Chen Mo rushed over to "break up the fight" did the two sides stop.

He returned the badly depleted collector to its charging station, put the lizard in a storage bag, and weighed it. It looked as though the weight of supplies he could send this time had reached the required amount again. Chen Mo took out the collection box, returned to his room, opened the altar with practiced ease, and placed the package inside.

Just then, a voice came from the doorway.

"Roy, someone's brought you a calling card!"

Chapter 56: Medicine? Yes, Please!

The one shouting at the door was none other than "Roy's" number one money-worshipping lackey, that booming loudspeaker Kato.

Chen Mo rushed out in a few long strides.

Finally!

If he had guessed correctly, the important people who had arrived were the nobles from Cloudmist Territory.

The important people Chen Mo knew on the Starry Continent could be counted on one finger.

Some time ago, Little John had come especially to tell him that Captain Peiwen had commissioned Luke the mercenary to find him. Old John had not dared treat the matter lightly and had hurriedly sent his youngest grandson traveling day and night to ask Chen Mo what he thought.

Chen Mo's response had naturally been: "Invite them! Quickly!"

He was still thinking about the little commandery princess's medicine.

Of the healing pill he had sent back to Xia State last time, a little less than half had been used for laboratory research. By now, they had a rough idea of the core medicinal principles and mechanisms of action, but the biggest problem was that they had no raw materials.

There were three crucial ingredients in the medicine's structure that were completely absent from Blue Star-or, more precisely, from the parts of Blue Star known to Eastern Xia. Nor could this technology be shared with other countries.

The medical team treating Academician Li Yunhai had divided the remaining half and more into five portions for use as a special medicine. Three portions had been used so far, saving the lives of three people who had rendered distinguished service to Eastern Xia.

Although the treatment had been kept under tight wraps, and the patients and their families had been ordered to maintain strict secrecy, some things could not be concealed.

A master of science and research had been terminally ill, with a burial plot, funeral arrangements, and memorial service already prepared. Family, relatives, and students had worried over him; colleagues had lamented his condition; admirers had prayed for him. Perhaps there had also been those with ulterior motives eyeing his position and research funding...

Now he had practically "come back from the dead." How could that fail to attract the attention of interested parties?

All the more so when it happened again and again.

Academician Li Yunhai immediately faced inquiries from all sides. After all, among those most reluctant to die, a considerable number were surely the powerful and their children.

But Academician Li Yunhai belonged to the hard-line camp. Because the medicine in his hands was extremely scarce, he controlled it personally and would have nothing to do with anyone other than those great national figures. As a result, he faced overwhelming pressure from certain quarters.

If Steward Cangming had not given him unwavering support and dispatched guards directly under Yongning Hall to handle security on site, Laboratory Nine at the Academy of Medical Sciences' Drug Research Center would probably have been torn apart long ago.

His family had not told Chen Mo any of this, probably because they did not want to put pressure on him.

But Chen Mo could vaguely guess at some of it.

In his letter to Chen Mo, Steward Cangming had made an earnest request and praised him lavishly. He had also included a photograph of a signed document conferring the Order of the Republic of Eastern Xia on Comrade Chen Mo in recognition of his outstanding contributions.

Back when Chen Mo was in school, even a single county-level excellence award could make people scramble to compete for it, let alone a supreme national honor like this. It was no exaggeration to say that this was a momentous event worthy of being recorded in family genealogies, county annals, and textbooks, bringing glory for generations to come.

Chen Mo felt that this was both a reward for his contribution and a tactful way of telling him that this thing was truly, very, very important.

So, upon hearing that the little commandery princess might visit again, Chen Mo had been unable to wait!

Now the message had finally arrived. Judging by the time Little John had taken to make the round trip, the other party seemed to be in a hurry too.

Cloudmist Territory's visit followed noble etiquette to the letter. A calling card engraved with an elaborate family crest, proof of identity bearing the seal of the lord of Emerald Territory, and a letter requesting a meeting, signed and stamped with the little commandery princess's personal seal, had been carefully packed into a weighty gilded gift box.

The gold leaf on the box, calling card, and proof of identity alone would probably fetch a good price if scraped off. This was the extravagant style of true nobility.

They said they had come to visit, but Chen Mo worried that too much commotion might expose his counterfeit identity. Besides, there might be some under-the-table dealings later, and this farm courtyard was not very convenient for that. It would be better to go himself.

He quickly asked Instructor Morton for leave. Under the instructor's complicated gaze, filled with conflicting emotions, Chen Mo went with Little John and Old Luke, who had come to deliver the message, and arrived at Commandery Princess Liushuang's temporary camp.

Although Cloudmist Territory had only set up a temporary camp here, they had still arranged a grand honor guard to welcome him. Guards in bright silver armor stood in rows on either side, their weapons lowered in a formal reception formation.

In the center of the camp flew the Cloudmist lord's banner, depicting a surging sea of clouds and swirling patterns. Several smaller noble heraldic banners had also been raised beside it, each representing the background and affiliations of one of the group's leaders.

The main road leading to the great tent had been carefully leveled and covered with a verdant green carpet that also seemed to be steeped in some kind of incense. When Chen Mo stepped onto it, trumpeters behind the guards sounded their horns, startling flocks of birds from the distant forest.

They had certainly gone all out with the ceremony.

During the ensuing feast and exchange of toasts, Chen Mo also learned the real reason for such a grand reception: the thermite grenade he had given away seemed to have helped them out of a major predicament.

Captain Peiwen came forward to greet Chen Mo and spoke earnestly. "If not for the weapon you gave me, I fear I would not have escaped my enemy this time. So, no matter what, I had to come and express my gratitude!"

There was, in fact, a little calculation behind those words.

After all, they had spent only a short time with Chen Mo and knew nothing of his background or character. If they told him the whole truth-that the "flame weapon" had saved everyone from Cloudmist Territory and even spared the little commandery princess from being abducted-no one could guarantee he would not use it to claim credit and make some absurd demand.

Thus, having Captain Peiwen, who had narrowly escaped death at the hands of the orc leader himself, come forward and assume the debt became a strategy that left them room to advance or retreat. Their gratitude was genuine, but it was confined neatly to a personal level.

Chen Mo knew nothing of the old foxes' thoughts. He had not seen the battlefield that day, and from their description, he assumed the others from Cloudmist Territory had held the line while the golden-scale swordsman charged forward alone. He could not help being deeply impressed.

"Well, that really was a lucky accident. When I was summoned from the altar, a great lord from another world gave me that weapon for self-defense. It's actually not very easy to use. Too close, and it's easy to hurt yourself; too far, and it's easy for the enemy to dodge. Throwing it into an enemy's armor is probably one of the most powerful ways to use it."

"Come to think of it, Captain Peiwen, it was your unmatched courage on the battlefield, breaking through the enemy lines, that made it so effective."

As soon as Chen Mo said this, Master Locke and Lady-in-waiting Linda, who had still harbored some reservations, felt greatly reassured, and the conversation between the two sides gradually grew warmer.

"You speak so exceptionally and have such a refined manner, sir. May I ask which family you come from?"

Chen Mo hated this question most of all.

At the end of the day, nobles still held pride of place here, and after a few words of conversation, people started probing one another's backgrounds. After thinking for a moment, Chen Mo gently shook his head. "It's not that I'm unwilling to be frank. It's just that I've come out on my own to make my way in the world, and my family... no longer has much to do with me. I don't want people to think I rely on them."

"Let's not talk about that. Actually, I also have to thank the commandery princess. I have a teacher who taught me academic subjects-not a professional, just an ordinary person-but he cared for me very deeply, and I regard him as an elder of my own family."

"He was seriously ill before, and it was thanks to the medicine the commandery princess gave me that he recovered!"

As he spoke, Chen Mo stood and bowed deeply. "On behalf of my teacher, I thank you, Commandery Princess, for the medicine you gave me!"

Seeing this, the leaders from Cloudmist Territory felt a little embarrassed. After all, their side had been harboring little calculations, while he appeared open and honorable. Some hurried to return his bow, while others exchanged courtesies, and the atmosphere grew even more harmonious.

Taking the opportunity, Chen Mo hurriedly made his request. "May I venture to ask whether you have any of those pills left over? I'd like to get a few more for my old teacher. I can trade for them or buy them, either would be fine!"

Locke and Peiwen exchanged a glance and were about to speak when the little commandery princess, who had been quiet all this time, jumped in.

"Yes, yes! I have four more. My aunt gave them all to me. I'll keep one and give you three. Is that all right?"

Locke silently dropped his head onto the table. Captain Peiwen sat bolt upright, the smile on his face somewhat stiff.

"Good!"

Chen Mo could already tell that those old fellows were clearly not as simple as the little commandery princess. He had to strike while the iron was hot and settle the matter quickly.

"It's a deal. I'll go back and get my things right away. Commandery Princess, you can take your pick!"

Chapter 57: Master and Disciple Part Ways

After hurriedly finishing the meal, Chen Mo took his leave.

To tell the truth, although the food from Cloudmist Territory was quite refined, in Chen Mo's view, it was not much different from what was served in the canteen at Har's "farm stay."