C3 An Arts Student

Dickens was speechless, and a profound silence enveloped the entire venue.

Salin turned to Comrade Guoqiang, whose smile had frozen on his face, and asked in confusion, "A humanities student? Does the Terran Federation even have such students?"

"Yep, that's correct, a humanities student!"

"And what exactly does a humanities student do? Hmm... Director Lei Hu, would you mind explaining?" Comrade Guoqiang hastily deflected the question.

Lei Hu, the guidance director at Seventeenth High School, was still pondering the sudden mention of a humanities student when he was caught off guard.

Even Lei Hu, who wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, knew that this "humanities student" concept was a fabrication.

The separation of arts and sciences was typically a university matter!

But now the situation was different...

"Ahem, indeed, that's exactly the case!"

Under Comrade Guoqiang's intense glare, Lei Hu finally came up with a solution.

He earnestly addressed Salin, "Humanities student, yes, that's it. This is an innovation pioneered by Seventeenth High School."

"They don't wait for university; they start preparing for their futures while still in high school!"

Salin looked skeptical. "Is that really the case?"

She was somewhat familiar with the Terran Federation's practices.

In a less advanced civilization like Earth, specialization usually began after university. Some students pursued the path of cultivation, while others engaged in theoretical research and the development of technology.

But Seventeenth High School was already doing this at the high school level?

Comrade Guoqiang nodded vigorously.

Exactly, that's the truth of it!

Researchers are a group to be esteemed, even those from a less advanced civilization.

Dickens, still puzzled, inquired, "So, are you a scientist as well?"

Chu Yi replied with a proud smile, "No, you've got it wrong. You should refer to me as a research reserve talent!"

In that moment, Dickens looked at him with newfound respect.

Scientists were indeed the foundation of a strong civilization!

"We had no idea you were all scientists. Please accept our apologies for the earlier misunderstanding."

Chu Yi dismissed the apology with a nonchalant wave of his hand.

I must say, I'm quite clever!

"Given the circumstances, there's no point in carrying on with the competition. Let's wrap up this meeting right here."

Comrade Guoqiang arrived just in time, intent on bringing the meeting to a swift conclusion.

"Hold on a moment!"

And there she was again, the little loli wobbling into the scene.

"You don't really resemble those research scientists."

Chu Yi gazed at the little loli with an impassive expression.

Circling Chu Yi, the little loli scrutinized him before breaking into a smile. "Hmm, so are you a scientist?"

"I am a research reserve talent," Chu Yi clarified.

The little loli gave a nonchalant shrug.

"Fine, we'll see if you're really a research reserve talent!"

Suddenly, Chu Yi watched in amazement as the little loli produced an array of items, large and small, from seemingly nowhere.

What in the world?

As he eyed the mountain of gadgets, Chu Yi couldn't shake the feeling that they seemed oddly familiar.

The little loli grinned triumphantly. "This is the simplified version of second dimension technology."

"Even though it's simplified, it would still be quite a challenge for you to activate it with a manual."

"So, I'm not setting the bar too high. If you can organize ten of these devices and successfully activate them, then you'll have proven yourself as a research reserve talent!" She stressed the word 'reserve' with particular emphasis.

Chu Yi was at a loss for words.

Confronted with the overwhelming assortment of gadgets, his mind was flooded with question marks.

"Here, take the manual."

Chu Yi instinctively accepted the small crystal handed to him by the little loli, his bewilderment deepening.

Is this really...

A book?

Had his education regressed to elementary level, to the point where he couldn't even read a book?

Despair washed over Chu Yi's face.

But Chu Yi was still Chu Yi, a man who had witnessed grand spectacles in the Immortal Demon Temple; this minor issue wouldn't faze him.

And so—

"Dakun, come over and help me open this manual."

Chu Yi maintained a cool demeanor, exuding an icy confidence.

Dakun's lips twitched slightly on the other side, but he mustered unprecedented determination and strode to the middle of the auditorium.

He nonchalantly plugged the crystal into his wrist device, and suddenly, a display materialized before Chu Yi.

Damn!

This is some serious high-tech stuff!

This must be the proper way to engage with a book.

Chu Yi skimmed through it quickly.

Sure, he recognized every single word, but when you put them all together...

What in the world is all this?

All this talk about the first quadrant, third region, alpha particle impacts for three seconds, followed by a simultaneous double alpha particle assault on the third quadrant's fourth region for 1.5 and 2 seconds, and then, after confirming the second quadrant's sixth region has been activated, stopping the alpha particle input to the first quadrant...

The text was dense, and Chu Yi estimated it was easily hundreds of thousands of words.

"How about it, all set?"

The young girl had clearly read 'Self-Cultivation of a Villain', as she confidently stepped forward.

"The technology of the Second Dimension is crucial for a First Level civilization to break through to the Second Level. It's a technique revered as the God of War's..."

"I'd wager that the Terran Federation, having been at the First Level for so many years, must have thoroughly researched it by now, right?"

Looking at the array of devices before him, Chu Yi felt an increasing sense of familiarity.

As Chu Yi pondered, Lee Guoqiang finally let out a sigh.

"Enough, student, it's time to give up."

Lee Guoqiang gave Chu Yi a glance before turning his attention to Salin beside him. "I confess, my earlier words were false, a mere attempt to save face."

"We don't need to proceed with the test. Seventeenth High School concedes defeat."

In that moment, Chu Yi was taken aback.

In his recollection, Lee Guoqiang had been the principal of Seventeenth High School for over a decade, and the school's success was inextricably linked to him.

And Lee Guoqiang was someone who always cared deeply about his reputation.

But now...

Lee Guoqiang approached Chu Yi and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Go on, you're dismissed."

For some reason, seeing Lee Guoqiang in this state made Chu Yi feel a twinge of discomfort.

Lee Guoqiang then turned to the young girl, his demeanor softening. "Classmate, your Borali Institute is undeniably strong. Among the many Third Level civilizations in the neighboring star systems, you're among the elite."

"However, I have faith that Seventeenth High School will one day catch up to you!"

"We were wrong this time. We lied to protect our pride."

"And for that, I offer my sincere apologies here."

As Lee Guoqiang bowed, all the students of Seventeenth High School hung their heads in a collective sense of shame.

Having our principal apologize to someone else is an absolute disgrace for all students at Seventeenth High School!

Yet, there's nothing they can do to change the situation now.

"Principal Lee, it's not a big deal. It's merely a friendly spar between students. There's no need for you to apologize."

"If anyone should be apologizing, it should be him..."

Chu Yi watched Salin approach with a smile and clicked his tongue.

She didn't seem like a good person at all!

Lee Guoqiang offered a gentle smile and shook his head, "The words he spoke were my own. Therefore, if there was a mistake, it was mine."

"This incident is in no way connected to my students."

Just as expected!

Chu Yi felt a slight jolt in his heart as he observed Lee Guoqiang.

Maybe the world had undergone changes since his return, but some things remain immutable.

Salin appeared puzzled as she regarded Lee Guoqiang. She thought her previous statement had provided Lee Guoqiang with an honorable exit.

Having a student take the fall would not only spare Thirteenth High School from disgrace but also leave Lee Guoqiang unaffected.

But if not...

Was Lee Guoqiang unaware of this?

Impossible, he had to understand!

Yet, understanding is one thing; if he acted on it, the student's future would be destroyed!

So, alas!

Amidst the silence, Chu Yi's voice broke through.

"Principal, do you trust me?"