Chapter 61: The Students

"High-voltage current can solve that. It allows long-distance transmission, and once it reaches the outskirts of a city, we can use transformers like this to step down the voltage. For now, we can just build a power station near Mingdu. High-voltage cables, substations—those can wait."

Huo Yuhao took out a solenoid and waved it in front of Xuan Ziwen.

Xuan Ziwen's eyes lit up in sudden understanding. "Right. Different coils, different winding counts, generate electricity through magnetic field changes. That's how you reduce the voltage."

Over the past few days, Huo Yuhao had been teaching Xuan Ziwen bits and pieces about electromagnetism.

'You figured out how a transformer works with just a glance at a solenoid? You really are something else.' Huo Yuhao admired silently.

"Anyway, our current problem isn't about the power station or the grid. It's about what kind of electrically powered civilian soul tools we should develop. Right now, the only thing we've made is a lamp, right?"

"So troublesome. How are we supposed to know what civilians do in their daily lives?" Xuan Ziwen sighed.

Huo Yuhao was speechless. 'Have you completely disconnected from the times? All you do is research and ignore everything else, huh.'

Just then, Xuan Ziwen seemed to remember something. He slapped his thigh. "Ah! I can send my students to Mingdu to do a field survey. Yuhao, you should go with them."

Huo Yuhao blinked. "Wait, Teacher Xuan, you're just sending me off like that? Why aren't you going?"

Xuan Ziwen turned away, clearly not interested in explaining, and busied himself with something else. "I'm swamped. The sealed bottle's just been completed, and I don't even know how many soul tools I have to revise and hand over for improvement. If you're not there to supervise them, how can I feel at ease sending them out to gather data on electric applications?"

"..."

Fine. No point arguing with someone who has no emotional intelligence.

Still, a field trip to Mingdu for research... getting closer to the people...

After being worked to the bone for days, wandering around Mingdu and doing a bit of relaxed research actually sounded like a break.

'Maybe I should invite Senior Meng. Haven't seen her in a while.'

With that thought, Huo Yuhao walked out of Xuan Ziwen's lab in a much better mood.

---

The next morning, Huo Yuhao sat in a lab at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, looking a little listless.

Meng Hongchen wouldn't be joining him for today's academic research in Mingdu.

The reason? She had recently entered a deep meditation state, and no one knew when she'd wake up. Huo Yuhao was happy for her—after all, soul masters usually made significant breakthroughs after such meditation—but still, he couldn't help but feel a bit down.

She might be out for a long time. In the original story, didn't Huo Yuhao meditate for a whole year and a half?

Sigh.

Just then, he heard footsteps and conversation coming from outside the lab.

"Ugh, seriously. Even during break, we still have to do some academic field trip task? So annoying."

"Yeah, Juzi. And Teacher Xuan's not even coming. He said some assistant of his would lead us. What kind of joke is that?"

"It's tied to our credits, so it's worth it."

"Tch. I had a royal banquet at noon and now I have to miss it."

Four voices, each distinct. Huo Yuhao perked up at one of the names he heard.

A few seconds later, the door lock beeped, and the lab door swung open. Four students walked in.

From his seat, Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes slightly and studied them. A petite girl. A tall, dark-skinned young man. A handsome youth. And a beautiful girl with skin so fair it looked like it could drip water.

When they saw the young boy already sitting in the lab—looking even younger than them—they paused in surprise.

Though Huo Yuhao no longer looked like the frail child from his days at the Duke's estate—he'd grown well from all the nourishment and was hitting his growth spurt—he still looked a little too youthful.

So this... slightly baby-faced kid was supposed to be Xuan Ziwen's assistant?

"My name is Huo Yuhao. I'm Xuan Ziwen's assistant. I'll be leading you for today's academic field research in the civilian districts of Mingdu. Just call me by my name. You can introduce yourselves too."

Of course, based on what he knew from the original story, Huo Yuhao already recognized who they were.

Stuck doing more of Xuan Ziwen's work. No Meng Hongchen. Huo Yuhao wasn't in the best mood, and he just sat there, speaking casually.

'Huo Yuhao?' The name sounded familiar. Ke Ke and Zimu, who weren't particularly interested in school gossip, thought the same.

But Juzi's eyes narrowed slightly. She knew very well who he was. Xu Tiannan had been mentioning that name constantly during their private meetings lately.

As for Wang Shaojie—'Huo Yuhao? Never heard of him.' His brows furrowed. This kid wasn't even older than him, and he was acting like he was in charge? If he hadn't mentioned being Xuan Ziwen's assistant, Wang Shaojie might have already snapped.

A few months ago, Huo Yuhao had stirred quite a bit of talk at the academy when he was promoted three ranks at once and became Jing Hongchen's final disciple. But that hype had faded. He wasn't a high-ranking soul engineer yet, and most students had already forgotten the name.

After the academy's tournament victory, all the attention went to the official team members. As reserve team members, students like Huo Yuhao weren't meant to stand out too early.

So for a pompous royal brat like Wang Shaojie to not know him was completely normal.

"Nice to meet you, Huo Yuhao. I'm Juzi. Can I call you Teacher Huo?"

'Teacher, huh? Sure, whatever.' Huo Yuhao thought to himself.

Juzi smiled sweetly at him, trying her best to be charming.

She had already gathered that Huo Yuhao was favored—maybe even trusted—by Xu Tiannan. Naturally, she wanted to build a good relationship with him.

But in Zimu's eyes, her attitude looked very different. The handsome youth glared daggers at Huo Yuhao, whose appearance had only become more attractive recently due to the soul bone he'd absorbed and the nourishment he'd received.

Seeing his friend already stepping up, Ke Ke followed along politely.

"Hello, Teacher. I'm Ke Ke."

"...Zimu."

"Wang Shaojie."

The last two spoke coldly, their impressions of Huo Yuhao already sour.

Huo Yuhao didn't mind. He simply stood up and said calmly, "You're all aware of the field research task for today, right?"

Juzi raised her hand energetically. "Yes, Teacher! We're supposed to investigate which types of soul tools can be integrated into the daily lives of Mingdu's civilians. Right?"

Huo Yuhao nodded. "Correct."

(End of Chapter)

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