Chapter 2984: A Small Achievement Not Worth Mentioning

Truly worthy of the wisdom of an Apocalypse pioneer.

The rumors about abandoning scientific research for faith were just that—rumors. The truth was that she had turned to cultivation.

The Blue-Robed Old Woman's speech was a genuine revelation, making Fu Qian nod repeatedly. He dropped his prejudices and re-examined the Black Banner and the human head.

A cultivation path?

It actually made sense.

A path of faith usually required an object of worship, and in this entire Tower, the thing with the most presence was the head right in front of him.

But other than Professor Fu, were there really that many contestants crazy enough to worship themselves?

By comparison, treating it as a special method of Dao comprehension was a bit more reasonable. It could even be considered inter-departmental collaboration with the Sword Comprehension Institute.

It was just a little too special.

Plucking off one's head, stuffing it at the top of the Tower, then cleaning, making offerings, and meditating before it day after day—maybe he should try it himself later? He had the venue ready to go, after all.

"I know it's hard to believe, but when faced with this cultivation path, Apocalypse shouldn't be so narrow-minded."

However, the old woman couldn't peer into his thoughts. Still feeling that her statement was a bit sensational, she quickly explained.

"If we cling to the traditional Transcendent path and dismiss the achievements right in front of us as Heterodox Paths, what difference is there between us and those fellows at Linghui?"

Hmm... that was the right flavor.

Although the pioneers of Apocalypse were relatively serious, this mutual disdain with Linghui actually had a long lineage.

While Professor Fu already understood the reasoning, the old lady's teachings still provided him with new insights, even serving as further verification of her identity.

"I feel exactly the same way. I've also been actively pushing for inter-departmental collaboration recently, and Linghui is definitely the most exhausting to deal with."

Fu Qian sighed in solidarity.

"As of now, our only result is collaboratively training a twenty-something-year-old at the Demigod Realm."

...

Hmph, did she understand the prestige of a key Laboratory? Did she think this professor was joking?

Demigod Realm, twenty-something years old, collaboratively trained... linking these words together clearly delivered a massive shock to the senior pioneer.

It couldn't be helped. This was just how true academic workers competed.

Flexing seniority might dominate for a moment, but ultimately, achievements did the talking. Of course, there was also an objective factor at play: the senior veterans had once been purged in a centralized wave.

All in all, after Professor Fu busted out an academic worker's highest-tier flex, even the evil cultivator before him was temporarily suppressed.

"The results are already quite significant..."

As the saying went, when people were truly speechless, they actually laughed.

It was obvious that the old lady had been trying fiercely to digest this information, but after struggling for a few breaths, she seemingly failed and chose to voice her agreement in a rather weak tone.

And anyone with a bit of experience in the jianghu would know that, rather than agreement, this response carried far more charitable concern for Professor Fu's brain—since he was willing to make up something like this, she might as well just humor him.

"It's nothing worth mentioning. I mainly brought it up to say that dealing with those guys from Linghui is truly exhausting; the beneficent curse faction is much better by comparison," he said. "After just a few meetings, I successfully helped them gain another High-Tier Transcendent as well."

Unfortunately, the young Professor Fu seemingly didn't understand the concept of quitting while he was ahead. After emphasizing again that he wasn't showing off, he continued to draw comparisons with another component of the Academy.

"I understand... It sounds like Professor Fu's level is truly very high."

It was hard to tell if it was an illusion, but there was already a hint of gnashing teeth in the old lady's tone.

"Since that's the case, it seems you shouldn't just help other departments develop. I was wondering if you could provide some guidance on my end as well?"

...

That made sense.

Perhaps the old lady's words were born of absolute intolerance, preparing to enter the game as a piece to puncture the facade of this Academic Leader.

But the reason she gave still earned Professor Fu's hearty approval.

He had lamented this a long time ago: as a professor whose organizational affiliation landed in the Apocalypse Branch, it seemed he truly visited Apocalypse the least out of all the Academy's departments.

Attending to myriad affairs daily wasn't an excuse; he really ought to give back to the organization.

"Of course, no problem. Why don't you briefly explain the concept and framework of this project first?"

Without any hesitation, Fu Qian agreed immediately and entered the zone at the speed of light.

He was actually going to guide her...?

The party in question, however, didn't seem to get into the zone quite as easily.

Seeing Professor Fu genuinely accommodate the request, the old lady blanked out a little, seemingly unsure of how things had developed to this point.

A dignified pioneer of Apocalypse, a senior professor, actually had to do a project defense?

"This is indeed my head. I plucked it off and placed it here."

However, she was still a ruthless figure who dared to commit blatant racial discrimination to one's face. After a slight mental adjustment, she went straight to never resting until one's words astonish.

"So the one you have now grew in later?"

By comparison, Professor Fu very much had the aura of a clueless guest speaker.

Nodding with absolute seriousness, he asked a question with zero technical depth.

"For Apocalypse, that shouldn't be anything too strange, right?"

So much so that the old lady glanced at him and unceremoniously fired back a question of her own.

"You're right. Apocalypse has always specialized in flesh and blood, even conducting research into things like dragonification."

Unfortunately, Professor Fu's main trait was emotional stability; his thick skin didn't look like it had felt even the slightest breeze.

He even turned his head to talk to Su Gao beside him about the glorious history of the branch, his face full of shared pride.

...

"But after growing a new head, keeping the severed one active is a bit more troublesome."

Su Gao only nodded, though, and didn't play along to offer any flattery.

But the conduct of Professor Fu, this "rising star," still seemed to stir up a bit of murderous intent in the old lady.

Eyes on nose, nose on heart. After suppressing her boiling true qi, she already looked like she just wanted to flip through the rest of her presentation slides and get it over with.

"That makes sense. This touches on a certain concept of the fundamental self; it's far from being as simple as freezing something for freshness. But it looks like you achieved it."

Professor Fu didn't completely drop the ball this time. He elaborated a bit more, even if the example he used was still somewhat unsightly.

"Not only did I achieve it, I did even more than that... They are both me, yet they are a different me."

Alas, the bad impression was already set in stone. The old lady just continued speaking expressionlessly, displaying neither modesty nor any desire to interact.

"The one speaking belongs to the mortal realm, while the one resting here is the me who has reached Transcendence."

Pointing at the head that kept its eyes closed and remained silent, she finally revealed the core philosophy of this cultivation session.

"One thought to serve, one thought to nurture. The filth settles in the body, exchanged for the clarity of the spiritual platform. In the end, even time cannot leave a mark."

Turning around and specifically shifting her angle, the old lady placed both faces side by side, making it all the more apparent just how young the severed head was.

"Please advise, Professor Fu?"

And at that moment, both sets of eyes fell simultaneously upon Fu Qian's face.