The King of Materials

"... So, Boss Gu, you really have no intention of joining those large private sects?"

"Not yet, at least not until I prove my Golden Core."

"Independent cultivation, self-certification of the Golden Core, Boss Gu, you have quite the ancient style," Hu Mang laughed.

"But individual business owners aren't very resilient to risks," the other person retorted with a dry joke.

Although Gu Yunshu is also a biological sinkhole among the four great sinkholes, Hu Mang could sense that her family background was somewhat extraordinary.

Moreover, even disregarding family background, a Rogue Cultivator who can achieve "High-Standard Golden Core" anytime, anywhere, could easily join any large private sect or even a listed spiritual enterprise, even if only as a "figurehead."

Not to mention, the other party also possesses a swordsmanship that is astonishing and Ghost God; in an environment like Heavenly Gate, this is a rare and highly sought-after commodity.

Therefore, Hu Mang wasn't actually that worried about the other party's future.

Although the members of their "Little Heavenly Court" organization all proved that the "Immortal Ladder Project" ladder could actually descend rapidly.

But if this Boss Gu wants to rise in rank, he can do so anytime.

"I have my own ideas." Gu Yunshu finally revealed part of the truth.

"I don't want to spend my whole life as Golden Core cultivator."

Hu Mang nodded as if he understood.

I understand what you mean.

"Second brother, you don't want to just be a Golden Core cultivator, do you? Otherwise, you wouldn't be risking your life so much overseas," Gu Yunshu suddenly said.

Hu Mang laughed again, but was interrupted before he could speak.

"Holy crap, Second Brother, what are you up to? I've sent you so many messages and you haven't replied to a single one! And Boss Gu, why did you turn off all the chat? Are you having a private chat with my Second Brother? Don't you know that between us brothers, being gay means getting four holes and eight cuts? You're being so brazen!"

Inside the game, Old Fifth's loud shouts could be heard.

Hu Mang went online and spoke.

"You weakling has no right to interrupt. Fifth Old Fifth, don't rush off after you log off, I need to talk to you."

"You finally contacted me? I thought you weren't going to talk to me anymore, Second Brother. Turns out you still love me the most!"

"Damn it, can't you guys play the game normally? We still haven't cleared the ninth floor of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda. Old Fifth, have you gone crazy from your PhD studies? Why are you talking like a freak? Is your advisor male or female? Did you sacrifice chrysanthemums to graduate?"

"My supervisor? I'd love to offer him a chrysanthemum, but the problem is I might not even see him once a month. It's the kind of situation where I can't offer him a chrysanthemum even if I wanted to."

"Ahem, you guys play first, I'm logging off. My wife's nagging me, and I need to put my daughter to bed."

"You've become a doting father, huh? Don't worry, Fourth Brother, all four of your uncles will take care of your daughter from now on, and we'll definitely keep out any of that yellow-haired brat's intrusion attempts," said Old Fifth.

"Give me a break, I think you're the one who looks most like Huang Mao!" the Old Fourth laughed and cursed.

"Nonsense, I've already got a PhD, do you think I'd still have many hairs on my head now?"

The Old Fourth chatted with the others for a few more minutes, then inquired about Hu Mang's health before logging off.

Soon, everyone else logged off one after another. Apart from the Old Third was the most addicted to the internet and decided to stay up all night, the others weren't really that interested.

Teaming up for online games is just one way for them to reminisce about their youth.

Hu Mang shut down the computer, let out a breath, got up and stretched, then thought for a moment, went to the kitchen to get a glass of water, and brewed a pot of tea.

Perhaps influenced by "Father Hu's " daily cup of tea, he also became somewhat interested.

Soon, Hu Mang took a sip of the same green tea as "Father Hu," and then dialed the number again.

The first thing Old Fifth said after answering the call was--

"Second brother, why didn't you take my red envelope?"

Hu Mang glanced at it and saw that the other party had indeed sent a red envelope with an amount of "15,000 yuan," which was between the Old Third and Old Fourth highest amount. Given his status as a "doctoral student," he didn't know if doctoral students had any money these days.

He didn't get a doctorate.

"Alright, I'll accept it. Thank you for your kindness. I'll definitely repay you when I'm better off."

"That's more like it, Second Brother. Among the five brothers, the two of us are the only ones who are truly a team. Look, a civil engineer and a materials scientist are such a perfect match. We're a golden duo."

Hu Mang didn't see anything wrong with matching these two sinkholes; were they meant to merge two large sinkholes into one even larger one?

Hu Mang hesitated for a moment, then decided to get straight to the point; if they kept rambling on, it would be dawn, and he had an exam the next day.

However, before Hu Mang could finish speaking, Old Fifth let out a scream that was many decibels louder than usual.

"Second Brother, Second Master! Are you serious? You said you got your hands on a 'lightning-type spirit Spirit Stone's with strength comparable to a high-grade Spirit Stone?!"

"Keep your voice down. My old neighborhood has poor soundproofing, and I don't want to get a complaint," Hu Mang said, frowning.

"Yes, yes, keep it down, it has to be a secret! Holy crap, second brother, are you serious!? If it's true, I'm going to make a fortune!"

"Is it really that exaggerated?" Hu Mang asked, puzzled. "Even if it's just a high-grade Spirit Stone, you don't need to be so excited. Did you win the lottery?"

"It's like winning the lottery, Second Brother! Your Fifth Brother is really going to be rich! Don't you know about Heavenly Gate's 'New Spiritual Power Project'? They're going to use the lightning power of heaven and earth to replace 'Tribulation Qi' and 'Tribulation Oil' as the new source of Spiritual Qi. If you really find a new type of lightning-type Spirit Stone, I can write ten, no, twenty academic papers!!"

"What's most important in materials science? It's materials, my dear brother!!"

"... Okay, but I got these Spirit Stones from an overseas underground market, so they're not exactly clean. You can study them, but remember to keep it a secret."

"Of course I'll keep it a secret!!" The Old Fifth's voice rose another eight octaves. "This is your fifth brother's only chance to reach the pinnacle of academia! I'd rather die than let him keep it a secret! What senior or junior brother? Anyone who gets in my way will die!!"

"... Okay, but I have one request."

Hu Mang described the "professional-grade advanced Spirit Stone decomposition instrument" that he needed.

"Oh, what you're talking about is called a Spirit Stone Deconstruction Instrument. A more advanced one is called a 'Spirit Crystal Structure Instrument.' If you want to use one, I can steal one from the lab for you."

"..."

Hu Mang paused for a moment.

"Are you sure this is okay, Old Fifth? Don't get fired because of this, or I'll be in big trouble."

"It's alright. I only see my advisor a few times a year anyway. I'll just find an old model and scrap it early. If what you said is true, Second Brother, then it's only a matter of time before your Fifth Brother reaches the pinnacle of academia. By then, who knows who will own this 'Miracle Lab'?"

"Okay, how should I get it to you? Should I send it to you by express delivery?"

"What a joke! How could you send such a treasure by express delivery? I came to pick it up myself. We haven't seen each other in a long time, and I'll bring you that 'Spirit Crystal Structure Instrument' too."

Hu Mang calculated the time.

"I might not be home by then. If there's not enough time, I'll just find a place to store it for you, and you can come and pick it up later."

"Okay, okay, second brother, hurry up and take a couple of pictures so I can see them, I'm so excited!"

Helpless, Hu Mang could only send two photos of "Lightning Crystal" to satisfy the other party's curiosity, then emphasized that he had an exam the next day and abruptly ended the call.

It was almost three o'clock when Hu Mang hung up the phone. After hesitating for a moment, he decided not to bother his father any further.

Instead, he leaned against the headboard and closed his eyes to rest. In his Niwan Palace, the radiance of the "Heavenly Soldier Divine Office" was much dimmer than before.

Since the time travel, most of the functions of this "divine office" have been sealed.

It seems that this "divine office" can only be officially activated in the Demon-Subduing City.

However, Hu Mang could still sense that the process of the "Devil-Subduing Heavenly Soldier" merging with the "Half- Devil-Slaying Bladesman" seemed to be continuing.

And it seems to be almost fully digested.

The Hu Mang was completely absorbed in the process.

Until dawn.

The next day, or more precisely, the third day after the Hu Mang returned from its journey.

Following the directions given by the female healer, Hu Mang went to take the Foundation Establishment qualification exam.

Black Tortoise Road, Second Talisman Vocational Higher Education Institute

This is a vocational college, and as you can tell from the name, it's a career-oriented institution related to talismans.

The compulsory training system in Heavenly Gate has undergone several reforms. Currently, it is a nine-year compulsory training education that all school-age children must participate in. After completing this compulsory education, students are divided into different streams. Some gifted individuals directly participate in the "college entrance examination," and the lucky ones are admitted to academies. These academies are divided into three categories: Category A, Category B, and Category C, which are commonly known as first-class, second-class, and third-class academies.

Another large number of young cultivators will enter the vocational education system and become reserves for various industries in Heavenly Gate.

Hu Mang wasn't surprised when he saw the location yesterday. After all, it's an exam, and it has to be taken at school anyway; it doesn't really matter which school it's taken at.

However, after Hu Mang lined up in line half an hour before the exam according to his assigned seat number, he fell silent.

He stood out from the crowd.

No, it should be "standing out from the crowd".

The line was crowded with fluffy little heads, the oldest no more than a child, the youngest still in their teens; pairs of dark, grape-like eyes stared at him without blinking, full of innocent clarity and curiosity.

Wow, he's so tall!

"Is he really that old, and he still needs to take the exam?"

"Has he ever seen that old hag from the Yu Dynasty?"

"He's so old."

"Why is his skin so fair? Does he not need to attend PE class?"

"Will you leap through the Heavenly Gate Is Calling?"

Hu Mang felt that time was passing incredibly slowly.

Nobody told him that he would be taking the re-examination with a bunch of little kids!

I'm here to take the Foundation Establishment qualification exam!

Are you here to take some kind of exam, a preschool test?

Hu Mang felt his trouser leg being tugged. He looked down and saw a boy dressed in a neat little robe craning his neck, his eyes looking as if he were looking at some rare animal.

Have you ever met the last emperor of the Yu Dynasty?

Hu Mang pondered for a moment, then said, "I haven't seen him, but my mother did see Emperor Guangwu of the Liang Dynasty."

The boy straightened up, thought carefully for a moment, and then asked:

"Is it the one that eats children?"

"No, that was his father. Emperor Guangwu of Liang was the one who killed his father."

"Oh~"

"Do you know Xie Xianyu?" Hu Mang asked again.

"I know, he's amazing! He's featured on a whole page of the book."

"Yes, my mom and he are very close. I'll have her introduce you to him sometime."