Section 34

The old man's eyes immediately flashed with intense shock; even with his experience and composure, he was stunned by Xu Zi'an's words.

He asked incredulously, "You… are only just about to take the college entrance exam?"

Behind the old man, every single person present, without exception, heard Xu Zi'an's words and involuntarily widened their mouths, dumbfounded.

After receiving Xu Zi'an's affirmative reply again,

the old man suddenly took a deep breath, his smile receding, and said with an extremely serious expression, "Young man, let's get acquainted. My name is Xia Dongliu. May I ask for your name, young man?"

"Xia Dongliu? Are you Xia Lao, Xia Dongliu, who authored the monumental work 'Several Differences and Similarities in starship Evolution'?"

Hearing the old man's self-introduction, Xu Zi'an immediately asked with pleasant surprise.

A smile appeared on Xia Dongliu's face: "Oh? Young man, you've read my book?"

Xu Zi'an nodded repeatedly: "I've read it, I've read it! I've read it no less than twenty times! It's just that there are still a few places I haven't fully understood…

Ah, right, my name is Xu Zi'an, Xu as in the character for 'promise,' and Zi'an as in 'hoping for peace for a child'!"

Xia Dongliu became interested: "What don't you understand? Come, tell me!"

"It's in the book, where it talks about the generation of energy shields, and it mentions the necessity of adding flammable and explosive Materials like sodium nitrate."

Xu Zi'an immediately stated his confusion: "But sodium nitrate will explode when heated or subjected to attack or impact.

Once it explodes, won't it also cause a certain amount of energy loss to the energy shield itself?

So I'd like to ask Xia Lao, what is the main purpose of adding Materials like sodium nitrate to energy shields?"

Chapter 30: The Surprise Came Too Suddenly!

Inside the public starship factory.

An old man and a young man began a heated discussion.

The reason it's called heated…

is because the questions Xu Zi'an posed gradually became more profound, while Xia Lao explained them to Xu Zi'an with great enthusiasm.

The more he explained, the more invigorated Xia Lao became.

Because he discovered…

that Xu Zi'an was, in some aspects, even more of a novice than a complete beginner.

From this, it could be confirmed that Xu Zi'an had indeed not lied…

His knowledge of starship Evolution was all self-taught!

But!

As long as he explained it clearly, Xu Zi'an could often instantly understand and integrate the knowledge, and even extrapolate from it, which made Xia Lao feel an indescribable sense of satisfaction when teaching.

This old man and young man.

began discussing various Evolution theories as if no one else was around.

And the more Xia Lao chatted, the more his eyes showed delight and affection for Xu Zi'an.

A Genius.

A truly peerless Genius!

This comprehension ability.

was no less impressive than that of his Personal Disciples!

By the way—

His Personal Disciples.

have all become famous figures throughout the Universe Federation.

And he.

had not taken on a Disciple for over three thousand years.

Simply because his conditions for taking Disciples were extremely stringent.

He simply didn't care for ordinary Geniuses!

But today.

At this very moment!

He finally felt that thrill of discovery once more!

At this moment, a middle-aged man suddenly stepped forward a few paces and respectfully whispered a few words into Xia Lao's ear.

Xia Lao's smile grew even wider after listening.

Just now.

This middle-aged man had gone to investigate Xu Zi'an's identity information, and it was exactly as Xu Zi'an had described!

Xia Dongliu immediately made up his mind, his expression becoming solemn as he said, "Xu Zi'an, would you like to become my Named Disciple?"

Xia Dongliu was a scholar specializing in starship Evolution.

He himself was also a strong practitioner who once piloted starships on the border.

His personality had always been straightforward and decisive.

Since he had the intention of taking a Disciple, he would state it directly!

The reason for a Named Disciple…

was simple.

Although he was extremely optimistic about Xu Zi'an's talent.

However!

His criteria for taking Disciples were not just about talent!

It also depended on their Heart-Nature and moral character!

He did not want his Disciple to one day become a Human Traitor, creating a major enemy for the Human Race!

Additionally, he also needed to see if Xu Zi'an was qualified to become his Disciple.

Only when Xu Zi'an, through his own efforts, became a true Registered Evolutionist.

And if his Heart-Nature and moral character passed the test.

Only then would he truly accept Xu Zi'an as a Personal Disciple…

Or even a closed-door Disciple!

Xu Zi'an was stunned.

The group of people behind Xia Lao were also stunned.

One by one, they were dumbfounded, unable to believe their ears.

Xia Lao's status and position in the Evolutionist circle were beyond doubt.

But precisely because of this!

They were shocked!

One must know that Xia Lao had not taken a Disciple for a full three thousand years!

Not even a Named Disciple!

For a moment.

These people looked at Xu Zi'an with envy that came from their very Souls.

There was no jealousy, however…

Because they had seen clearly, plain as day, just how outrageous Xu Zi'an's potential was, and how terrifying his talent!

They admitted…

that at Xu Zi'an's age, to reach such a level through self-study…

Xu Zi'an was stunned because this surprise came too suddenly.

Surprise, ecstasy, excitement, thrill!

He, of course, also knew Xia Lao's exalted status and position in the Evolutionist circle.

Precisely because of this.

He found it incredibly unbelievable that Xia Lao would actually accept him as a Named Disciple.

However…

The next second, Xu Zi'an reacted.

He bowed respectfully without hesitation and said, "Zi'an greets Master!"

In this era.

The Master-Disciple relationship certainly wasn't like ancient times, where one would kneel and kowtow at the slightest provocation.