Chapter 129 - 91: An Enlightening Topic
"If problems arise and the experimental plan needs to be adjusted, the cultivation cycle might extend to five or even six rounds."
He didn’t have time for such low-tech chores.
This work didn’t require advanced Knowledge of Divination, only patience, meticulousness, and the ability to follow instructions step-by-step. Leaving it to assistants was the best choice.
In his current position, it was impossible for him to recruit assistants, so he chose to train his own.
Anya’s tone was unhesitating. "Understood."
Mo Ning added, "I will provide a detailed experimental plan and all the necessary materials. You just need to understand the plan, follow the steps, and record the results."
The Noble Lady nodded again. "Understood!"
Reina, feeling it was a bit rude to stay silent, quickly chimed in, "Understood!"
Mo Ning spoke directly in front of the two girls, "I’ll apply for the research project from the academy right now!"
He picked up a blank sheet of scale pattern paper, and with a flourish of his Ink Tube Pen, wrote a line of elegant, neat Secret Spirit Text with a SWISH SWISH:
An Exposé on the Growth Mechanism of the Steel Bamboo Black Moss’s Iron Crystal Shell—An Illuminating Explanation from a Divinatory Perspective
Explaining phenomena through Divination was Mo Ning’s specialty.
It was the first time Reina had witnessed the application process for a research project up close, and she found it all very novel.
She stared at the title, reading it word by word in her mind, and was suddenly struck by an indescribable sense of gravity.
The Dazed Girl had no idea about the project’s level of complexity, but watching Mo Ning write with such fluid grace, she had only one thought:
’Mr. Mo Ning is so professional!’
Anya, however, asked a more specific and crucial question. "Why did you add ’Illuminating’ to the title?"
The Noble Lady knew that words like "innovative" or "illuminating" couldn’t be added to a research project’s title lightly.
It was an unwritten rule at the academy—you could exaggerate slightly, but you couldn’t make fraudulent claims.
Otherwise, if the project’s depth didn’t meet the standard for "innovative" or "illuminating," it would be rejected outright.
Worse, even if you revised the title, removed the non-compliant words, and resubmitted the application, the chances of it passing were still very low.
To put it bluntly, the academy strongly disliked this kind of "clickbait" behavior.
Doing it just once was enough to get you "blacklisted."
Mo Ning smiled and explained, "There are quite a few special parasitic species like Black Moss in the natural world. The Divination analysis method I’ll be outlining in the paper has referential value for similar studies, which perfectly meets the criteria for ’illuminating.’"
He paused, a subtle smile playing on his lips, and then revealed his true motive:
"Besides, adding that word gives the project application higher priority and a bit more funding from the academy."
As Mo Ning explained, the Ink Tube Pen in his hand danced across the paper like a dragon, and he began writing a list of requirements.
This was the list of resources he needed from the academy: experimental materials, equipment, and most critically—Black Tower Points.
Reina tilted her head to look, her eyes landing on the first line of the list. Her pupils suddenly dilated.
"800 Black Tower Points!"
In that instant, an unprecedented shockwave went through the Dazed Girl’s heart.
She suddenly felt that the 2 Black Tower Points she had earned after an hour of hard work in the Steel Bamboo Forest were utterly insignificant.
Reina swallowed hard, a faint GULP sounding in her throat. Her expression was somewhat dazed.
She finally understood. ’So, this is how geniuses do things.’
Anya’s gaze scanned the list of requirements for a moment before locking onto a few unusual words.
A hint of confusion appeared in her eyes, and she couldn’t help but ask, "Does cultivating Black Moss require a Warm Sun Furnace?"
The so-called "Warm Sun Furnace" was an item that used Low Level Magic Stones as an energy source and was specifically designed for heating.
It wasn’t an ordinary stove; it created a uniform field of warmth around it, and sitting beside it felt like basking in the afternoon sun on a spring day.
The Noble Lady remembered clearly that the optimal growing temperature for Steel Bamboo was a little over ten degrees Celsius—slightly on the cool side, but not cold.
That didn’t seem to be the temperature range a Warm Sun Furnace provided.
Without looking up, Mo Ning’s right hand continued to dance with the Ink Tube Pen. "Of course cultivating Black Moss doesn’t require a Warm Sun Furnace."
Anya was a bit dumbfounded.
’If it’s not needed, why write it on the list?’
’It makes no sense!’
Mo Ning offered an explanation. "The Cold Pine Forest is a bit chilly. We’ll need to meet here often in the future, so having a Warm Sun Furnace would make things more comfortable."
He pointed to his own head, a faint smile on his lips. "In a comfortable environment, we might have more inspiration. Therefore, the Warm Sun Furnace is an important auxiliary tool."
Anya was dumbfounded, letting out a small "Ah." "Will the academy even approve this list?"
Reina, sitting beside them, felt her facial muscles twitch several times.
She had always thought that applying for a research project was a very serious matter.
And yet here was Mr. Mo Ning, trying to put something like a Warm Sun Furnace—which had absolutely nothing to do with cultivating Black Moss—on the list of requirements, for the sole reason of "making meetings more comfortable."
This move, which was tantamount to embezzlement, dealt a considerable psychological blow to the Dazed Girl.
Mo Ning retorted, without a hint of guilt, "Why would the academy refuse?"
He tapped the scale pattern paper filled with his list of requirements and said confidently:
"A Warm Sun Furnace costs 12 Black Tower Points. That’s pocket change. Believe me, the academy has always been very generous; they won’t be stingy with such a small amount."
This sentence left both girls speechless.
Reina thought about the 2 Black Tower Points she had just earned. ’Is the academy really generous?’
Anya thought about the rewards posted for tasks in the Steel Bamboo Plantation. ’Is the academy really generous?’
Mo Ning paid no mind to the two girls’ silence.
He activated his Guiding Ring. Spiritual Power extended like a thread from the black ring, precisely locking onto the Spirit Seal that represented "Image Transmission."
A solid beam of light emerged from the Guiding Ring, blanketing the stack of papers on the desk with the steady illumination of a searchlight.
The project application process had begun.
Under the beam’s light, the scale pattern paper instantly turned translucent, while the Secret Spirit Text upon it grew even clearer.
It was the first time Anya and Reina had seen such a thing, and both pairs of beautiful eyes widened in amazement.
「Five breaths later.」
The submission was complete, and the beam of light dissipated.
Mo Ning smiled again. "Alright, we should get a response shortly."