Chapter 19: No talent for cultivation? Let technology help

It only took a few seconds to circulate the "Qi Induction Technique," and Chen Feng immediately felt a strange power existing in his surroundings.

"This is spiritual energy!"

Chen Feng instantly became excited.

As he had suspected, there was no such thing as spiritual energy in the modern world. It only existed within the world of the scroll.

Following the contents of the "Qi Induction Technique," Chen Feng began to draw the spiritual energy into his body. Once spiritual energy enters the body, it can activate one's spiritual apertures.

However, after the spiritual energy circulated through his body once, it all flowed right back out. He felt no special changes in his physical condition.

Chen Feng gave a bitter smile: "It seems I have no aptitude!"

Chen Feng had actually considered this; those capable of cultivating immortality in the scroll world were likely one in ten thousand. If everyone could cultivate, there would be cultivators everywhere. It wouldn't be the case that immortals were a rare sight even in the entire State of Yue.

Having obtained an immortal cultivation technique only to find he could not practice it, Chen Feng felt a profound sense of loss.

"Do I really have to pursue martial arts?"

Since he couldn't cultivate immortality, his only remaining path was martial arts. But with martial arts, one's lifespan is only slightly longer than that of a mortal, and even at the peak of one's strength, one cannot match even half the power of an immortal cultivator. Furthermore, the "Xiantian" expert was the limit of martial arts known to Chen Feng—though he didn't know if even more powerful levels existed, they could certainly be killed with modern weaponry.

What was the point of practicing such a martial path? In the modern world, he would still be just like an ordinary person, with a fate not controlled by himself.

"According to the description in the 'Qi Induction Technique,' spiritual energy activates the spiritual apertures upon entering the body. The less spiritual energy required to activate them, the better one's aptitude."

"My failure to activate them doesn't mean I lack apertures; it likely means the spiritual energy I absorbed was insufficient."

"Insufficient spiritual energy..."

Chen Feng fell into deep thought.

If he were a person from the scroll world, he would surely choose to give up immediately if he lacked aptitude. Even if he forcibly activated his apertures, it would mean his path to immortality would be short-lived. Therefore, the cultivation techniques created by immortals were all designed based on the assumption of having aptitude.

But Chen Feng was different. He was a person from the 21st century with a modern mindset. The resources at his disposal were incomparable to this era.

"As long as I find a way to absorb more spiritual energy, or store it within my body, there is still hope of activating my spiritual apertures."

Chen Feng thought of modern technology; perhaps modern scientific means could help him solve this problem. He would not give up easily until the very end. If he couldn't absorb more spiritual energy naturally, he would find a way to force the absorption.

Chen Feng stood up immediately and walked out of the Black Wind Fortress hall. The warriors guarding the door immediately bowed upon seeing him.

"Sect Leader, do you have any arrangements?" one warrior asked.

Chen Feng shook his head. "Tell Liu Qian that I am returning to the Xingfeng Sect."

With that, Chen Feng left directly.

***

Modern World, Xingfeng Mining.

By the time Chen Feng returned, it was already nine o'clock at night. The factory had already begun operations today; the Solar Stones had been successfully transported, and the first batch of Solar Iron was being produced through overtime shifts, ready to be shipped to the military factory tomorrow.

Chen Feng went to the factory's research lab. Although it was 9:00 PM, the lights in the lab were still on, though only one person was busy inside. From the silhouette, Chen Feng knew it was Lin Wei.

As Chen Feng entered the lab, Lin Wei, who was observing Solar Iron through a microscope, looked up.

"Professor Chen, why are you here so late?" Lin Wei appeared quite surprised.

"I saw you were still working and came to check. What are you researching?" Chen Feng glanced at the items placed beside Lin Wei—various types of metallic raw materials.

"I am synthesizing Solar Iron; I want to perfect its strength," Lin Wei's eyes were filled with fighting spirit.

"I came today to seek your advice on some matters, Professor Lin," Chen Feng said as he sat down.

Currently, the only person he could ask was Lin Wei. As a researcher at the Dragon Science Academy, her knowledge base in certain fields surpassed even Baidu.

"Advice? Rather, what kind of academic problems does Professor Chen wish to discuss?" Lin Wei showed great interest; she had always wanted to exchange ideas with Chen Feng.

Chen Feng asked, "Is there any way to increase the speed at which the body absorbs energy, or to allow it to absorb more?"

Lin Wei froze slightly. She hadn't expected Chen Feng to ask such a question. Although it deviated slightly from her specialty, the Dragon Science Academy had experts in every field, and through osmosis, her knowledge in other areas was not lacking.

Lin Wei asked, "What kind of energy specifically?"

"Uh, something like radiation, or perhaps gamma rays?" Chen Feng didn't know how to define something like spiritual energy.

Lin Wei looked at Chen Feng in astonishment. "Professor Chen, your ideas are truly wild. Others avoid radiation at all costs, yet you are researching how to absorb it quickly."

Chen Feng explained, "Research in other fields is one of my interests as well."

Lin Wei nodded. She was actually similar to Chen Feng; she also enjoyed researching specialized topics.

"Professor Chen, you should know about the Carboniferous Period, right?"

"Of course." Chen Feng wondered why she was suddenly asking about the Carboniferous Period. It was a prehistoric era from 250 million years ago; the only things left behind were biological fossils.

Lin Wei continued, "The Carboniferous Period was a time of great prosperity for the plant world. During that period, because plants absorbed massive amounts of carbon dioxide and released oxygen, the oxygen content was far higher than it is now. A sufficient oxygen supply can promote more efficient energy and substance absorption within biological cells' mitochondria. This is why the flora and fauna of that era were generally massive in size."

Lin Wei turned and added, "While I don't know how to rapidly absorb radiation, if there were a way, it would certainly be to create a high-oxygen environment to accelerate human metabolism, thereby achieving the ability to absorb large amounts of a certain substance or energy."

Lin Wei's words suddenly gave Chen Feng an epiphany.

That was it! If his body were in a special high-oxygen environment, he might be able to absorb more spiritual energy.

Thinking of this, Chen Feng immediately asked, "How do we create a high-oxygen environment? What equipment is needed?"

Seeing Chen Feng's anxious state, Lin Wei was puzzled but still answered, "A hyperbaric oxygen chamber can do it. This equipment is generally used for medical treatment, such as treating hypoxia-related diseases. It is also used for athletes' physical recovery; a hyperbaric chamber can help them quickly restore normal oxidative metabolism and promote the recovery of serum and liver enzymes."

"Great, thank you, Professor Lin!" Chen Feng expressed his sincere gratitude to Lin Wei.

Her suggestion had brought him hope. Although he couldn't be certain if it would work, Chen Feng intended to try it regardless.

"Um... Professor Chen, do you really intend to absorb radiation?" Lin Wei looked at Chen Feng with a strange expression. Because the way Chen Feng acted didn't seem like an academic discussion, but rather like he truly intended to absorb radiation.

"How could that be? I'm just curious. Thank you, Professor Lin. Get some rest early."

Chen Feng then bid farewell to Lin Wei. At this moment, his only urgent thought was to obtain a hyperbaric oxygen chamber and transport it to the world of the scroll to test his theory.

(End of Chapter)