Starting Cultivation in Wasteland

To be honest, Qu Jianlei's first impression of the three was not very good.

As a fellow teacher of a prestigious academy, Zi Jiu Immortal not only appeared to be of excellent appearance and figure, but also exuded a strong sense of intellectual beauty.

Yet, the feeling these three gave off was somewhat condescending and arrogant.

This kind of arrogance, Qu Jianlei had seen in Xiang Xue before, when she assumed the identity of a teacher in front of students.

Qu Jianlei could understand this demeanor, but could you please clarify, am I a student?

To say he was a collaborator would be an understatement; at the very least, he was the inventor of this poison.

What exactly do you mean by treating me with such formality?

"You ask why give it to us?" The female teacher among the three looked perplexed; she was a C-level Water Attribute.

"Aren't you aware of the dangers of this new type of poison?"

It's really quite baffling! Qu Jianlei glanced at Zi Jiu Immortal, "Since I invented it, of course, I'm aware of its danger."

"As long as you know," the B-level male teacher nodded and spoke blandly, "it's quite unfriendly to Wood Attribute Awakened."

"And what we need to do now is justify it... It has other uses, and you need our help."

"Do I need it?" The expression on Qu Jianlei's face became increasingly strange.

Could you please figure out exactly who needs whose help between us?

Considering the other party was a colleague of Zi Jiu Immortal, he didn't say anything unpleasant.

So, he merely stated calmly, "It's irrelevant. There are many who are interested in this new pesticide. No need to trouble you all."

The three across from him were stunned at his words. The B-level male teacher looked to Zi Jiu Immortal, "Professor Zi, what does your friend mean by this?"

Zi Jiu Immortal replied calmly, "Nothing in particular. He said there are many interested people, and that's what it means."

She also had some opinions on her colleagues' attitude, but it was inappropriate to express them.

The B-level male teacher became anxious, "Professor Zi, our Agricultural College's strength is unrivaled throughout the Hope Star Realm!"

Zi Jiu Immortal bit her lip slightly. She couldn't speak ill of Green Water Academy, though Qu Jianlei had no such qualms.

"You're right about that, Teacher, but it's only within the Hope Star Realm... the Imperial is vast!"

This... The B-level male teacher was a bit speechless, "Other better academies, their teachers have higher expectations."

"We may not be the best in the Imperial, but we're definitely the most useful for you!"

Useful to me... Qu Jianlei was also speechless, "Then let's talk about it later, I don't really need any justification!"

"Friend, your attitude..." The B-level male teacher looked at Zi Jiu Immortal again, a bit displeased.

"Professor Zi, the Agricultural College's accomplishments are great publicity for Green Water Academy as well. Can you persuade him to cooperate a bit?"

"He's right in front of you," the female professor answered helplessly, "I've already brought him here, just discuss directly."

Discuss directly... The male teacher sighed helplessly as he looked at Qu Jianlei.

"So, what should we do for you to be willing to hand over the relevant information?"

"Hand over..." When Qu Jianlei heard this, he really couldn't hold back.

"I came to chat with Professor Zi, with no intention of handing over any materials. I think you've found the wrong person."

At this moment, the C-level female teacher spoke up, "Friend, no offense intended... Do you realize the dangers of this information?"

"I didn't think it was that dangerous," Qu Jianlei replied straightforwardly, "everyone who tried to bother me is dead."

"All... dead?" The three teachers were uniformly stunned at this.

"You might have misunderstood something," Zi Jiu Immortal couldn't hold back anymore.

"This poison even killed a Supreme... asking casually for the information is actually quite dangerous for you."

"But we're within the academy," the C-level female teacher replied, "with the old dean here and the support of the Planet Government."

Qu Jianlei shook his head and stood up to leave, "Alright then, let's pretend I never came. Professor Zi, let's have dinner together tonight."

Seeing him leave just like that, the three teachers were stunned but didn't say anything to hold him back.

Until his motorcycle disappeared from sight, did the B-level male teacher speak up, "Professor Zi, what's going on here?"

"Don't ask me," Zi Jiu Immortal covered her forehead, replying in frustration, "I'll find your dean later to see how he arranges it."

The B-level male teacher was increasingly baffled, "The dean arranged for me to liaise, saying he'd be willing to provide the information, how did it come to this?"

That was because he respected me! Professor Zi was truly at a loss for words.

She sighed, "It was he who was willing to give our academy a chance, not us giving him a chance, understood?"

"But..." The B-level male teacher's brow furrowed even tighter, "Doesn't he need the academic faction to justify him?"

This is a deeply ingrained mindset in the academic faction, always feeling that only with authoritative technical interpretation can something become general knowledge.

Zi Jiu Immortal used to have this thought as well; it wasn't entirely incomprehensible.

But this journey to Star No. 4 broadened her horizons, at the very least, she felt her colleagues were truly too arrogant.

"If you have the ability to kill two Supremes... would you care about such a small danger?"

"Kill two Supremes?" The B-level male teacher inhaled sharply, "Did he do it?"

He knew there was a Wood Attribute Supreme that was killed by this poison, but his knowledge was limited to just that.

He didn't have the details, nor was he interested in the violence involved—after all, the poison was very dangerous, that much was clear.

But now, it didn't seem like things were as he imagined?

"He also has companions," Zi Jiu Immortal wasn't the kind to gossip, much less reveal Panda's cards.

"Let's leave it at that, I'll go find your dean!"

"Is that necessary?" The B-level male teacher's face changed; the dean of the Agricultural College was also the vice dean of Green Water Academy.

The key was, he had fought hard for this project, and if someone went to complain, what would the dean think of him?

Zi Jiu Immortal covered her forehead, responding with frustration, "Don't consider your gains and losses anymore."

"If this matter isn't handled well and angers my friend... it's a loss for the entire academy!"

The B-level male teacher pleaded a few more times, seeing that the other party was indifferent, it was hard to conceal his inner anger.

"Professor Zi, these Superpower Warriors only know how to fight and by chance synthesized such a thing!"

"They're not researchers at all, and this Panda might not even know the significance of this thing."

Again with subconscious bias, just like when Qu Jianlei was on Garbage Star, many people were puzzled about Modified Warriors doing mechanical repairs.

Zi Jiu Immortal replied helplessly, "His expertise in agriculture might not be worse than yours!"

"The first time I heard his description of the poison, he referred to it as a pesticide... he is very clear-minded about it!"

"Really?" The B-level male teacher was genuinely unconvinced, "Then what did he say?"

Zi Jiu Immortal waved her hand, responding listlessly, "I'll explain it to your dean!"

The dean of the Agricultural College, upon hearing about the negotiations of the day, immediately replaced the teacher responsible for the project.

Moreover, he was a bit curious about Panda's expertise in agriculture.

It's important to know that the Imperial's technological development has long industrialized the planting industry, and most people don't know how to farm.

Even due to the subdivision of research fields, many experts in plant genetic engineering don't understand the planting of cross-type plants.

The next day, it was another expert from the Agricultural College who met with Qu Jianlei.

This professor was A-level, and the dean of the Agricultural College was listening in on the side, making up for the arrogance of his side from the previous day.

This A-level professor had numerous research topics in hand, but he was more skilled in biological gene research.

He had a significant interest in the new pesticide, just not sure if it aligned perfectly with his expertise.

Were it not so, the B-level professor from the previous day wouldn't have had the chance to snatch the project.

He didn't begin by demanding materials, just asking for the molecular formula of the poison.

This small request was something Qu Jianlei naturally wouldn't refuse—residues on Star No. 4 made obtaining the molecular formula easy.

Then the professor humbly inquired, in which aspect do you think this poison... oh, pesticide would be appropriate?

Qu Jianlei had this trait, when encountering people who looked down on others, he was unreserved, but when someone was willing to ask humbly, he would also be very modest.

"I don't know much about this thing either, couldn't think of too many research directions, can only provide a rough idea..."

"It has indiscriminate harm to plants, whether it's suitable for weeding depends on specific situations, its universality is quite limited."

"But low-dose pesticide can serve as a defoliant, for most plants, leaf fall isn't necessarily a bad thing."

"Often, leaf fall can increase fruit set rate, without leaves competing for nutrients, it also assists in fruit development!"

"Exactly!" The A-level professor nodded, then couldn't help sighing.

"Actually, this is very basic common sense, it's a pity that many agricultural college professors now don't necessarily understand it!"

After a pause, he added, "This is a relatively old-fashioned planting concept, less professional but widely applicable."

In the end, he specialized in genetic modification and didn't have much regard for older concepts.

This doesn't mean he was biased, he just thought technology was advancing, leaving outdated concepts with less and less room to survive.

However, old concepts finding new applications is also very common; he didn't agree with a retro approach but cared very much about the results.

For him, this pesticide was an unexpected joy, and rare was it that its inventor also provided him with a satisfactory answer.

More importantly, he knew the influence of the other party could kill a Supreme, making it impossible for him to be impolite.

So he directly adopted a stance of academic exchange.

"Your suggestions are very useful, if collaboration is possible, we will prioritize considering this development direction."

The dean of the branch couldn't help but interject, "Could it become a broad-spectrum defoliant?"