Chapter 35: A New Material That Will Shape the Nation’s Destiny

Chapter 35: A New Material Affecting the Nation's Destiny

Once Xiong Yan had clarified the benefits and dangers of refining the spirit, the others, though they said nothing, became far more diligent and focused during their meditation.

However, entering a state of meditation is not something easily achieved. Generally, even with professional guidance and while isolated from mobile phones, computers, and the internet, an ordinary person needs months of persistent practice to succeed. Yet, geniuses excel at everything, and meditation is no exception.

With this, Xiong Yan had finally explained the introductory methods for the Paths of Blood and Qi, Qi Cultivation, and Spirit Refining. The group threw themselves into their practice with enthusiasm; no one complained of hardship, and no one gave up. They were, after all, clear-headed people. In this era of great transformation, receiving such high-level training from the very beginning was an unimaginable stroke of fate.

Thirty-seven days after the stars appeared in the daylight—which was the thirtieth day since the arrival of the Void Realm—Jiang Ju arrived at Xiong Yan’s office. After eleven months in the Void Realm and one month in reality, her knowledge had reached an entirely different level. Following the awakening of her talent, her brain had evolved, making her smarter than Newton or Einstein—approaching the level of a black-tech protagonist in a web novel. This was not unique to her; Lu Zhou, Ji Zhen, Guan Ming, and Bai Mo had all undergone similar changes. The experts and professors were astonished; many had initially intended to take them on as disciples, only to find that their own knowledge was exhausted before they could complete their lessons, leaving them too embarrassed to claim the role of mentor. It was no exaggeration to say that Jiang Ju and her peers were now world-leading in certain fields. All that remained was to innovate and forge ahead. Xiong Yan had been waiting for their results. He valued the Void Realm, but he valued the people of reality even more.

People are the foundation.

When Jiang Ju arrived, Xiong Yan hospitably brewed a pot of tea. "This is Maojian tea from my hometown, one of the top ten famous teas in Great Xia. While it can’t compare to West Lake Longjing, it has one advantage: as long as you have the money, you can buy the genuine article."

As the boiling water poured, the tea leaves danced and unfurled, turning the water a lush green. Xiong Yan took a sip. Jiang Ju also drank, then produced a stack of documents. "These are my latest research findings."

"I see."

"I was reading about carbon-based materials recently and became so absorbed that I subconsciously activated my talent. When I finally snapped out of it, my internal energy was completely drained, and I had even lost a small patch of hair." Xiong Yan glanced at the top of her head; it was indeed a bit sparse.

"Based on the new knowledge that emerged in my mind, I created this new material in the lab. I call it 'Ju-Carbon No. 1'... the principle is..."

"In other words, you used this nano-scale material to create a mesh with molecular-level gaps—specifically, water-molecule-level gaps," Xiong Yan summarized. "Any molecule larger than a water molecule cannot pass through. Only water molecules and smaller particles can. Is that right?"

"Yes, that's a perfect understanding," Jiang Ju nodded.

"With this mesh, we could build a massive pipeline to draw seawater from the Bohai Sea. After filtration, what comes out would be essentially pure water. We could pipe this to the cities in the north, solving their water shortages, or even transform the vast deserts and Gobi regions of the Great Northwest into plains and oases. The Northwest has millions of square kilometers but a tiny population—it all comes down to a lack of water."

Desalination is not difficult, but low-cost, large-scale desalination has always been a global challenge. According to Jiang Ju’s method, the cost would merely be the mesh and the pipeline. Xiong Yan remained calm; having seen many such grand developments, he felt no inner agitation.

"What about the costs? Have you calculated them?"

"They should be low. I didn't use any overly complex machinery in the lab. The raw material is carbon, which is cheap. The value lies in the process—the craftsmanship of extracting 'Ju-Carbon No. 1' from it. Once we have the extraction method, anyone can produce the mesh and purify seawater."

"Excellent. Leave the paper. I will arrange for practical implementation immediately. As for you, think about what you want as a reward."

"Oh? Director, since when did you start moonlighting as a genie?"

Xiong Yan smiled slightly. "It is no exaggeration to say that once this paper is verified, a professorship, an academician title, and even the Great Xia Highest Science and Technology Award will be within your reach." In the past, there might have been petty obstacles or bureaucratic gatekeeping, but now things were different. "This paper of yours is enough to influence the nation's destiny. Such achievements will be rewarded accordingly."

Moreover, unlike scientists of the past who were merely flesh and blood, scientists in this transcendental era would possess high levels of cultivation, leading to profound changes in their personal strength and longevity. The era had changed.

After Jiang Ju left, Chu Xuan entered. He scanned the paper and looked seriously at Xiong Yan. "Beyond massive freshwater resources, this could also extract gold, silver, and even yellowcake—large quantities of yellowcake—from seawater."

Xiong Yan nodded firmly. "In the past, this technology would have caused regional tension, but today, it is simply what it is."

"Desalination, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, genetic agents, massive crop yields... inventions that determine the fate of the nation are emerging one after another," Xiong Yan noted. "Our job is simple: provide them with the honor, wealth, authority, and status they deserve."

Chu Xuan closed his eyes, silent for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice sounded weary: "So, you intend to use a borrowed knife to kill..."