183: Chapter 183 First Batch of Journal Published: All Contraband
Morning at the Heavenly River Sword Sect was still as... fluffy as ever.
Although Li Mo had the Artifact Refining Hall rush-produce three thousand sets of "Insulated Raincoats" (which were actually Daoist robes coated with the sap of a Rubber Tree Demon) overnight to temporarily alleviate the crisis of the entire staff being electrocuted, the aftereffects of yesterday's "static field accident" remained significant—everyone's hairstyles stubbornly maintained a state of "hair standing on end," and even the Thousand-Jin Weight technique couldn't press them down.
Looking out, the square seemed to be covered with three thousand black dandelions.
However, this comical appearance did not dampen the Disciples' enthusiasm. Today was the final deadline for "submitting homework" and the award day for the first "Tianhe Science Award."
Elder Liu Changqing, acting as the "Human Logistics Truck," was currently squatting at the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion with his mouth wide open in pain.
"Don't crowd! Don't crowd! Throw them in one by one!"
Elder Liu shouted indistinctly because his mouth was already stuffed with scrolls. "You over there! Fold your test paper before throwing it! Are you trying to choke this old man to death?"
Meanwhile, on the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion...
Li Mo was sitting in the only "static safety zone," wrapped in a thick electrical protection suit, holding a cup of Insulated Milk Tea. Before him lay a mountain of the first batch of "scientific research results" that had just been delivered.
"Squeak. (Boss, these guys have gone crazy.)"
Squeak the Treasure-Seeking Rat currently looked like a furry sea urchin. It pawed at a thesis with an insulated claw, its eyes filled with terror. "Look at the outrageous claims written here."
Li Mo calmly set down his milk tea and casually picked up a document.
Title: "On the Trajectory Correction of Electromagnetic Flying Swords for Attacking the Lower Body of Demonic Cultivators."
Author: Iron Pillar Zhao.
Abstract: "According to the conservation of momentum, hitting the head is easily deflected by the skull. However, hitting the lower body not only meets less resistance but also causes critical hits (though it is a bit unscrupulous). It is suggested to change the Flying Sword to a blunt tip to increase the contact area and enhance the sensation of pain..."
"..."
Li Mo's mouth twitched slightly.
"Though it's a bit vulgar, it does fit 'pragmatism.' I'll give it a 'Good.'"
As Li Mo finished his review, the System interface began to flicker slightly.
[Reading 'Iron Pillar Zhao's Tactical Analysis.' Extracted White Entry: Weakness Critical Hit (Faint).]
"Better than nothing."
Li Mo shook his head and accelerated his grading speed.
Most of the papers were still at the stage of "stumbling blindly into success," such as "On Temperature Control for BBQing with a Lightning Rod" and "Experimental Report on Whether Static Electricity Can Kill Mosquitoes." Although these papers had wild ideas, they lacked a rigorous logical loop. The rewards given by the System were mostly life skills like [BBQ Mastery] and [Mosquito Exterminator].
Until he flipped to Ye Guyun's paper.
It was a heavy scroll written on an unknown beast skin, the handwriting as sharp as a sword, and one could even feel a residual tingling sensation of electricity through the paper.
Title: "Conjectures on the Cooling Structure and Multi-stage Coil Acceleration of the 'tianhe no. 1' Electromagnetic Sword Casket."
Li Mo's gaze narrowed.
This paper was of extremely high quality.
Ye Guyun had not only detailed the data from yesterday's "Super Electromagnetic Cannon" shot but had also keenly discovered the limitations of "single-stage coil acceleration."
"...If we extend the acceleration track and set up multiple sets of coils for multi-stage acceleration, it would be like a relay race: the first set gives a push, and the second set gives another... Theoretically, as long as the track is long enough, the speed of the Flying Sword can be stacked infinitely until it breaks the endurance limit of the Materials."
"To solve the heat dissipation issue, it is suggested to carve an 'Ice Array' inside the sword casket and introduce a Liquid Spiritual Coolant for cyclic cooling..."
Boom!
As Li Mo finished reading the last word, the System interface suddenly erupted with a brilliant blue light.
[Parsing high-level logic model...]
[Detected the perfect combination of 'multi-stage acceleration' and 'thermodynamic cooling.']
[Congratulations, Host, for reading 'Ye Guyun's Weapon Blueprint.']
[Extracted Purple Rare Entry: Electromagnetic Control (Advanced).]
[Entry Effect Upgrade:]
Magnetic Dominator: You are no longer limited to creating static electricity. You can manipulate magnetic field lines within a hundred-mile radius as easily as kneading clay.
Metal Storm: All metal shall be your soldiers. You can instantly strip enemies of their control over metal Magic Treasures (or even undo their belt buckles).
"Good stuff!"
Li Mo snapped his fingers. No longer were there stray arcs of electricity at his fingertips; instead, purple magnetic spheres the size of coins drifted and hovered obediently between his fingers.
With this entry, the next time he encountered an opponent who used a Flying Sword, he wouldn't even need to lift a finger. With just a look, the opponent's sword would turn and stab its master.
"However, it's not over yet."
Li Mo's gaze fell on the last paper, which was also the thickest and featured a "skull and crossbones" warning sign on the cover.
Author: Chief of the Formation Department, Zhang Yuan.
Title: "Feasibility Report on Using Lightning Rods to Collect Heavenly Tribulation to Charge the Old Ancestor."
Li Mo's hand shook.
Charge the Old Ancestor?
Which Old Ancestor? Me?
He took a deep breath and opened this paper that was full of "rebellious" vibes.
"...Introduction: Yesterday's experiment proved that Heavenly Tribulation can be collected. But the Bottleneck lies in the fact that containers (batteries) are too easily damaged. So, is there a container that is both insulated and durable, and can infinitely devour energy?"
"The answer is: yes. That would be our beloved Sweeping Old Ancestor (Teacher Li Mo)."
"Argument: Teacher's cultivation is heavenly and unfathomable. Since he can crush an Upper Realm projection with one finger, a mere Heavenly Tribulation is surely no problem. If we connect the end of the 'lightning rod' to Teacher... no, to Teacher's 'Dharma Idol'..."
"...Construct a massive 'Tesla Coil Array' with Teacher as the core, converting the Heavenly Tribulation into a 'high-voltage defense field' covering the entire Sect. Once activated, within a fifty-mile radius, no mosquito shall survive, and neither man nor beast shall remain (except for us wearing insulated suits)."
Li Mo's scalp tingled as he read.
Does this kid want to turn me into a "human lightning rod"?
Is this the legendary "display of outrageous filial piety"?
But it had to be said, the logic of this paper... was actually sound.
Especially the modified design for the Tesla Coil Formation inside; it was practically a work of art. Using thousands of copper pillars to create resonance and generate a high-voltage arc network of tens of millions of volts—if this were actually built, the Heavenly River Sword Sect wouldn't need to fear any Demonic Path attacking the mountain. Whoever came would die, turned entirely into charcoal.
[Warning! Warning!]
[Detected extremely dangerous 'Weapon of Mass Destruction' theory.]
[Detected the Fusion concept of 'Tesla Coil' and 'Mountain Protection Grand Array.']
[Congratulations, Host, for extracting the Golden (Pseudo) Entry: Tesla Coil (Mass Paralysis / Life Reaping).]
[Entry Name: Tesla Domain]
[Grade: Golden (Pseudo)]
[Description: You are the Lightning Dharma King.]
[Active Skill: Upon activation, you can designate an area (current maximum radius of 500 meters) to instantly release ten thousand high-frequency, high-voltage electrical shocks. All biological beings within the Domain (friend or foe) will be forced to undergo 'electrotherapy.' Mild cases will result in foaming at the mouth and incontinence; severe cases will result in instant carbonization.]
[Remark: For safety's sake, it is recommended that you put on a diaper before using this skill.]
Li Mo closed the paper and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.
Although the System's remark was very annoying, this was indeed a powerful trump card.
"This kid Zhang Yuan, though his brain works in strange ways, is indeed a talent."
"This idea of turning the entire Sect into an 'execution chamber' has a lot of potential."
...
At high noon.
The Heavenly River Sword Sect square.
Three thousand afros were lined up neatly. Although everyone was tormented by the static electricity, all eyes were now focused on the high platform.
There sat three trays covered with red cloth.
Li Mo, wearing his insulated suit and holding a pointer, spoke in a booming voice:
"After an overnight review, the winners of the first 'Tianhe Science Award' have been decided."
"First, I must criticize a portion of you."
Li Mo's stern gaze swept through the crowd.
"Iron Pillar Zhao! Why is half of your paper about how to peep at your Junior Sisters bathing without being caught? Although you used the principle of 'optical refraction,' this is a moral issue! 50 academic credits deducted!"
Iron Pillar Zhao shrank his neck, looking aggrieved under his massive afro.
"But there are also those worthy of praise."
Li Mo's tone shifted.
"Bronze Award winner: Ye Guyun."
"Reason for award: Improved the Electromagnetic Sword Casket and proposed the 'multi-stage acceleration' theory, doubling the range of our Flying Swords."
"Prize: One piece of **[High-purity Tungsten Steel Mother Metal]**. Take it and re-refine your sword; don't let it explode again."
Ye Guyun excitedly went up to receive his prize. Holding the heavy tungsten steel, he was almost moved to tears. This was a top-tier material that couldn't be bought even with money!
"Silver Award winner: Junior Sister Liu."
"Reason for award: Improved the 'Rejuvenation Pill' using chemical equations, converting its side effect (diarrhea) into a positive benefit (detoxification and beauty enhancement). This is a giant leap for the Dao of Alchemy."
"Prize: One **[Explosion-proof Pressure Cooker (Alchemy Edition)]**. If the furnace explodes in the future, only the lid will pop off; it won't blow the roof off the house."
Junior Sister Liu happily carried away the pressure cooker, already thinking about how to use it to stew... no, to refine the next batch of 'Nitroglycerin Pills.'
"Finally..."
Li Mo's voice rose a few notches, and the entire field instantly fell silent.
"The Gold Award for this session, which is also the Grand Prize."
"Winner: Zhang Yuan of the Formation Department."
"Winning Paper: 'On the Feasibility of Using Lightning Rods to Collect Heavenly Tribulation to Charge the Old Ancestor.'"
The crowd broke into an uproar.
Everyone looked at Zhang Yuan as if he were a madman.
Charge the Old Ancestor? Do you think the Old Ancestor has lived too long?
But Li Mo smiled and beckoned Zhang Yuan to the stage.
"Many people think this paper is rebellious. But in my view, this is the true scientific spirit."
"Science is about having the courage to think, to do, and to include all indescribable things (including Heavenly Tribulation and the Old Ancestor) into calculation formulas."
Li Mo lifted the red cloth from the last tray.
What lay there was not gold, silver, or jewels, nor was it a cultivation Secret Manual.
It was a... pitch-black long whip, as thick as an arm, emitting a terrifying Aura.
No, that wasn't a whip.
It was something Li Mo had personally crafted last night using the sensory nerves of that "Shielding Giant Crab," mixed with the residues of the "Red Lotus Karmic Fire Lightning" collected last night, and the tendon of some Deep Sea Flood Dragon—
A **[High-Voltage Cable (Magic Treasure Grade)]**.
"This is the prize."
Li Mo handed this "cable" to Zhang Yuan.
"It is not just a weapon, but also the transmission end of a 'portable Tesla Coil.'"
"As long as you inject spiritual energy, it can instantly release a high-voltage power grid of one hundred thousand volts. In the future, if anyone dares to say you are just a Formation Master who can only draw diagrams, use this to give them some 'electrotherapy.'"
Zhang Yuan took the "cable" with trembling hands. Feeling the violent power contained within, he was so excited that he knelt down and kowtowed (fortunately, the floor was insulated).
"Thank you, Teacher! This Disciple will not fail your expectations! I will strive to build the 'Old Ancestor Charging Pile' as soon as possible!"
Li Mo's mouth twitched. "Forget about that one; just modify the Mountain Protection Grand Array first."
...
After the award ceremony ended, the Disciples dispersed.
But Li Mo did not remain idle.
He returned to the Scripture Pavilion and looked at the mountain of papers.
These things were all "contraband."
If they were to spread, whether it was the paper on "How to Peep Using Optical Invisibility" or the "Guide to Making Heavenly Tribulation Batteries," they would be enough to cause an earthquake in the Cultivation World and might even be classified as "Peerless Demonic Techniques" by the orthodox Sects.
"This knowledge is too dangerous."
Li Mo murmured to himself.
"But this is exactly what we need."
With a wave of his hand, the spring and autumn brush appeared in his hand.
He wrote several large characters in the void.
[Tianhe Academic Journal (Internal Top Secret Edition)]
"From today on, all papers rated 'Good' or above will be collected into this journal."
"Classifications will be: Confidential, Top Secret, and Self-Destruct."
"This is not just a book."
"This is the future... armory of the Heavenly River Sword Sect."
Just then, a hurried alarm broke the silence of the Scripture Pavilion.
It was the sensing Formation placed outside the mountain gate.
"Squeak. (Boss! Someone is storming the mountain!)"
Squeak, who was lying on the cable grinding its teeth, jumped up.
Li Mo frowned slightly and pulled up the monitoring screen (Water Mirror Art).
Outside the mountain gate, a group of Cultivators wearing fiery red Daoist robes were aggressively challenging them.
The leader held a giant sword burning with raging flames and roared at the Heavenly River Sword Sect's mountain gate:
"You softies of the Heavenly River Sword Sect! I heard you haven't been practicing the sword lately and have changed to playing with some 'science'?"
"What a joke! Heresy!"
"The Chief Disciple of the Blazing Fire Sect is here! Who dares to come out and fight me?!"
Li Mo looked at the arrogant red-robed man on the screen, then at Zhang Yuan, who had just wrapped the "High-Voltage Cable" around his waist and looked eager to try it out, and at Ye Guyun, who had just replaced his electromagnetic Flying Sword with a new tungsten steel blade.
He pushed up his glasses and revealed a smile known as a "live-fire exercise."
"Look."
"Lab rats... oh no, international friends, haven't they arrived?"
"Pass down the order."
"All departments prepare."
"It's the perfect time to test whether our 'first batch of journal results' can actually fight."