Wu Yu adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and said, "I can teach you sequence research."
"What's sequence research?"
"It's to help you understand various sequence abilities. You can judge and deduce the enemy's sequence abilities and skills by observing their reactions and performance, thereby achieving the effect of defeating the enemy."
"How long would it take to learn?"
"So far, there are over a thousand publicly known sequence abilities, and hundreds more hidden ones. Memorizing them all would take… about a year or so."
"Just a year to master them?"
"No. A year or so is only enough to memorize them. You'd still need to study and analyze them afterward."
"That's too long. Not learning. Besides, that's only useful for fighting people, right? It's useless against gods. If it can't improve my ability to hunt gods, how can I keep supplying all you professors with materials nonstop?"
Hao Liang said, "I can teach you potion research. It can enhance your strength. Whether facing gods or other sequence users, it'll boost your power."
"That sounds good. So how long would it take to reach your level, Professor Hao?"
"Uh… I've been studying potions for more than ten years. If you want to learn, you'll need to start from pharmacology."
Qin Siyang interrupted, "How long, approximately?"
"Roughly… ten years."
"Not learning. Not learning. Every day I've got people trying to kill me. Even two or three years feels too long, and you're telling me ten years? By the time I finish, grass will be two meters high over my grave. Professor Hao, I'll just get potions directly from you later."
Zhang Kuang sighed, "I can teach you apocalypse-related research."
"That one, can it improve my combat strength?"
"No, but it can deepen your understanding of this world."
"Not learning. Not learning. What's the use of understanding the world if I can't get anything out of it?"
Qin Siyang glanced around, "By the way, where's Professor Lu? I'm actually interested in his research on god-hunting tools. That seems like a promising field."
Chang Tianxiang said, "Professor Lu is working overtime manufacturing Tier 3 god-hunting tools. He wants to pay off his debts as soon as possible, so he didn't come. He said if you want to learn how to make god-hunting tools, he can teach you."
"Nice! That one sounds simpler."
Chang Tianxiang shook his head, "How could it be simple? First, you need to study traditional organic and inorganic chemistry. You also need to learn metallurgy and the structural properties of new apocalypse materials. Without three to five years, you can't even get started."
"Ah? Three to five years again?"
Qin Siyang was rather surprised. When he'd talked with Hu Chan, he'd found her knowledge of god-hunting tools to be quite deep.
"Then how come I've seen people my age who can already make god-hunting tools themselves?"
"That just means they started earlier, or have higher aptitude."
Qin Siyang asked again, "Then are there any other fields that can help me improve my strength faster?"
"For now… probably not."
Qin Siyang pouted, "How come every field takes several years just to get started? That's way too slow."
After hearing this, Li Tianming slammed his hand on the table, "You brat! When we asked what you wanted to learn, you said anything. Now that we've told you, you refuse every single one. What the hell do you actually want?"
"I want to learn something that works fast…"
"Fast results, fast results, if there really were something that could make you a master in one day, we professors would've been sweeping streets long ago!"
Qin Siyang muttered, "You're the one who told me to choose."
"I told you to choose, so choose!"
"Old Li, don't get mad," Chang Tianxiang tried to smooth things over, "Back in the day, even Xiang Yu didn't want to study many things. Didn't he still become the Hegemon King in the end?"
Li Tianming cursed, "How's that the same? Xiang Yu refused to learn because he wanted to become invincible against ten thousand men! This kid's just lazy and gluttonous!"
"He won't study anything! I swear, he's just like that stone monkey! No fate of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, but he's caught the Great Sage's sickness!"
Qin Siyang snorted, "Well, the Great Sage had the Patriarch Bodhi to teach him. If you're that capable, why don't you teach me the Seventy-Two Transformations in three days?"
Qin Siyang thought Li Tianming would curse him out again after his retort.
But to his surprise, Li Tianming actually went silent.
When Qin Siyang looked up, Li Tianming's expression seemed… intriguing.
Qin Siyang froze for a moment.
'What's that look supposed to mean?'
'Could it be… there is a Seventy-Two Transformations?'
After a moment, Li Tianming waved his hand, "Since you don't want to learn anything, get out! Stop hanging around here annoying me!"
"What kind of person are you? You were the one who told me to come!"
Qin Siyang grumbled as he walked out.
The professors' teaching session ended just like that.
———
He stayed in his room for a few days, until he received a call from Chris.
["Hello, Mr. Qin. I'm at the South Glory guesthouse. Could you please come out and get me?"]
Chris's voice was so quiet it was almost like a mosquito's buzz, which made Qin Siyang curious.
"Protector Chris, where are you? Why's your voice so small?"
["If I speak too loudly, someone might notice."]
"Can't you just turn on voice masking?"
["Masking the voice is fine, but if it's too loud, the vibrations might alert others. Principal Zhao's surveillance ability is too strong, I'm afraid I'll get exposed. Please come outside the guesthouse to meet me."]
"Alright."
When Qin Siyang went out the front door, he didn't see Chris anywhere.
So he called again, "Where are you hiding?"
["Right there, in the trash can on your right."]
"The trash can?"
Qin Siyang turned his head and saw a filthy garbage bin.
He walked over, lifted the lid, and through a pile of trash, he saw Chris's slightly embarrassed smile.
"Protector Chris, don't tell me you plan to talk to me inside the trash can?"
"Uh, could you please take me into the guesthouse and find a room where we can talk?"
"You want me to drag a trash can into the guesthouse?"
"Mr. Qin, you're clever, you'll figure out a way."
Qin Siyang looked helpless.
After thinking for a few minutes, he grabbed the trash can and walked into the guesthouse.
The front desk clerk asked, "Mr. Qin, why are you bringing in a trash can?"
"Oh, I usually hide my sequence potions inside garbage bags to confuse thieves. Yesterday while cleaning, I accidentally threw away the bag with my potions in it, so I have to dig through the trash to get it back today."
The clerk chuckled, "I see. Well, I hope you find your potions."
Qin Siyang pulled the trash can into his room and closed the door.
"Protector Chris, we're here. You can come out now."
Chris lifted the lid, removed the trash bag over his head, and said awkwardly, "Mr. Qin, sorry for the trouble."
Qin Siyang sighed.
"You've had it rough."
He exchanged five Blood Moon Tarantula eyes from Chris and gave him the Corrosive Black Centipede remains in return.
"By the way, Mr. Qin," Chris asked, "I heard you got your hands on some Titan Grass inner-leaf fragments?"
Qin Siyang yawned, "That was ages ago. You just heard about it?"
"Uh, actually, I'm not interested in the fragments themselves. I just wanted to ask, did Hu Chan ever ask you for them?"
[🎉 Shoutout to Avish, Gaster, Manuel, Rohan & Baron for joining p@treon. Thank you very much.🤗]