Chapter 497 - 327: Dredging the World’s Myriad Rivers
Chapter 497: Chapter 327: Dredging the World’s Myriad Rivers
Li Xiang went to Jiang Cai’Er’s three-bedroom apartment, restocked her refrigerator with all sorts of supplies, and replaced all the snacks in her room. Many of the old ones were still uneaten, but now he had added a host of new, high-end imported goods.
He also added several bags of coffee beans from different brands. Some of the beans had just been roasted and needed to rest for a while to achieve a stable flavor profile.
When Jiang Cai’Er returned and saw Li Xiang doing housework, she couldn’t help but throw herself into his arms like a little bird.
That evening, they went to tour the Forbidden City—it was too crowded during the day. Afterward, they descended deep underground to visit the Imperial Capital Dragon Spirit. However, the Imperial Capital Dragon Spirit was still in a deep slumber, so Li Xiang and Cai’Er left without disturbing it.
With Li Xiang around, Jiang Cai’Er took a rare few days off to travel, eat, and drink with him. Jiang Cai’Er was a true academic weapon, and her performance was outstanding. In less than half a year since starting university, she had already worked her way into a key national laboratory and begun participating in research projects and conducting experiments.
This was something virtually impossible for a typical freshman. No one else received such treatment.
Not only had Jiang Cai’Er begun to participate in major scientific research projects, but she had also published several review articles in journals with extremely high impact factors, such as *Nuclear Science and Techniques*, *EPJ Nuclear Sciences & Technologies*, *Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations*, and *Nuclear Science and Engineering*.
The petite girl was nestled in Li Xiang’s arms, her face beaming with pride as she shared her accomplishments with him.
"My darling is the best, a true research genius!" Li Xiang was naturally lavish with his praise. Jiang Cai’Er had matured; she was no longer the high school sophomore she once was. Her every word and action now carried the air of a research elite.
Especially when Jiang Cai’Er talked to Li Xiang about her research... well, Li Xiang didn’t really understand most of it.
After all, this wasn’t his old major. A different field is like a different world, and what Jiang Cai’Er was talking about wasn’t basic knowledge but her own new insights in the field.
Still, Li Xiang listened with rapt attention, nodding and offering praise from time to time. In short, whether he understood or not, he made sure to max out the emotional support.
This made Jiang Cai’Er incredibly happy, and their Dual Cultivation sessions were also extremely joyful.
But after five days, Jiang Cai’Er started trying to kick him out again. The main reason was that having Li Xiang around was just too draining on her stamina and energy. She was having some trouble keeping up, even though Li Xiang was holding back, being reserved, and only ever lightly tapping the gas pedal.
"From now on, you can stay here for three days a month at most. Any longer and it’ll really affect my research career," Jiang Cai’Er pouted.
"Alright, alright. But don’t push yourself too hard, either. Just do your best."
It had to be said that Jiang Cai’Er was incredibly diligent. Even after starting university, her competitive drive hadn’t slackened. She was either in class or holed up in the library or lab. She had almost no weekends and wouldn’t return to her apartment until after 11 PM every night.
She also possessed the world’s most brilliant mind, as well as a double dose of "Memory Palace" and "Matrix Diagram Quantum Computer." How could anyone possibly out-compete her? One could say she was the most valuable top scorer in the history of the college entrance exams.
As a result, less than half a year into her university career, she had already earned the titles of "Research Fanatic" and "Research Goddess," becoming a legendary figure on campus.
Some boys had tried to pursue her, but naturally, Jiang Cai’Er wasn’t interested. Besides Li Xiang, what other man could possibly catch her eye?
Besides, she and ordinary boys were people from two different worlds. It was simply impossible.
Li Xiang had recently crafted many pieces of Extraordinary Jewelry and gave over a dozen to Jiang Cai’Er. She didn’t wear a single one. It wasn’t that she disliked them, but she felt that being decked out in gold and silver was too flashy. She preferred a more natural look, without any accessories at all.
Moreover, it wasn’t convenient to wear jewelry while conducting experiments.
But she kept everything Li Xiang gave her. Since these pieces were Extraordinary Items, they could be nurtured within her Spiritual Power Vortex and "equipped" instantly when needed.
...
After returning home, Li Xiang entered closed-door Cultivation. He also meticulously crafted several pieces of Gold Jewelry for his grandmother, all of which were Extraordinary Items.
He had made over thirty pieces but selected only three that were suitable for the elderly, capable of protecting their health and ensuring their safety. They didn’t need to be activated by Spiritual Power, functioning like Protective Talismans with "passive" Attributes.
The first was the "Longevity Gold Bracelet," which possessed two Extraordinary Attributes: "Immune to All Illnesses" and "Cause and Effect Protection." The "Cause and Effect Protection" was particularly miraculous. If an elderly person encountered a scam, the bracelet would vibrate and project a holographic anti-fraud guide. It could also absorb the emotional energy of verbal abuse and convert it into the calming scent of sandalwood.
Li Xiang’s "Crystal Gold Armor" had absorbed the essence of Erin’s Alchemy and Jiang Cai’Er’s "artificial intelligence," which was why the Extraordinary Items he crafted were so peculiar, possessing features characteristic of modern tech products.
The second was the "Qiankun Peaceful Pendant," which had two Extraordinary Attributes: "Five Qi Chaoyuan" and "Eight Directions Unmoving."
"Five Qi Chaoyuan" could help prevent heart attacks and strokes, while "Eight Directions Unmoving" was for emergencies. In the event of an accident like a car crash or being hit by a falling object, it would generate a one-meter-radius Amber Gold Barrier. It also had a "Shrinking Inches" skill that could instantly teleport the wearer to a safe spot within 500 meters. However, this could only be used three times, after which the pendant would shatter.
But that was no problem; Li Xiang could always make more in the future. He just hoped it would never be needed.
The third was the "Blessing and Longevity Lock," which had two Extraordinary Attributes: "Rejuvenating Spirit Breath" and "Earth Vein Affinity."
"Rejuvenating Spirit Breath" meant that if the wearer’s heart rate dropped below 50 or rose above 120, it would automatically release a "Life Pulse" to stimulate the vagus nerve and restore a normal rhythm.
"Earth Vein Affinity" would activate an anti-gravity field for half a second at the moment of a fall, reducing the impact force by 90%. This was because falls are what elderly people fear most.
With these three Protective Talismans, Li Xiang felt much more at ease.
He also prepared many gifts for Yao Yao, Zhao Xueqing, and Lei Xiaohui, including various Extraordinary Necklaces, rings, earrings, Spiritual Soldiers, and Battle Armor, arming them to the teeth. Yao Yao’s Clones all got their share as well.
The Tier Ten Extraordinary Item he had obtained in Africa, the "Purple Gold Fiery Poison Tail Spike," was shaped like a Western Thrusting Sword. It was incredibly sharp and had two Extraordinary Attributes: "Red Flame Bone Erosion" and "Poisonous Accumulation Burst." It was especially suitable for Lei Xiaohui, but it was only a "blade" without a hilt.
So, Li Xiang used his "Crystal Gold Armor" to add a Golden Sword Hilt to the tail spike, making it easier to grip. The finished product looked like an exquisite work of art. Lei Xiaohui couldn’t put it down after she received it.
Because Li Xiang had two "Endurance" Inscriptions, which he had specifically enhanced, his Fighting Power had more than tripled. When the next "Fierce Battle" occurred, Yao Yao complained endlessly. Previously, she could match Li Xiang for two hours, but now she was utterly defeated in just thirty or forty minutes.
As for Zhao Xueqing and Lei Xiaohui, there was even less to say. In a little over ten minutes, they would melt into puddles, unable to muster a shred of strength.
Jiang Cai’Er, on the other hand, could last a little longer. Firstly, she was more powerful, and secondly, Li Xiang was more tender and gentle with her. He wasn’t like when he drove other "cars," slamming his foot on the gas.
However, Jiang Cai’Er wasn’t very interested in this aspect of their relationship; she was more engrossed in her academics and research.
Li Xiang cultivated at home for over a month. Feeling the urge for action after the long period of quiet, he went to the banks of the Yellow River and began to dredge it.
A super-flood was predicted to occur in two years, and the northern regions had always lacked experience in flood control, especially concerning the Yellow River. It had changed its course numerous times throughout history, and even now, it wasn’t fully navigable.
The reasons it couldn’t be navigated were twofold: the upstream terrain was steep with turbulent currents, while the downstream was a "Suspended River," an "Earth River." The riverbed of the Yellow River was higher than the surrounding plains, and the water was too shallow for navigation. When the water level rose, it could breach its banks at any moment, changing course and flooding the Central Plains.
Building water conservancy projects and dredging rivers played a crucial role in flood prevention and control.
Li Xiang was about to undertake a massive project: to dredge all the rivers, large and small, across the country. It wasn’t for nothing, either. For him, this work was a form of Cultivation, highly beneficial to his own strength.
Working in his own vegetable garden no longer provided him with significant benefits. But if he dredged all the rivers under heaven, he had a feeling that he might be able to use this opportunity to step into the Saint Tier in one fell swoop!
Compared to the Yangtze River, the Yellow River was in much greater need of dredging. And so, he arrived at his first stop: the banks of the Yellow River!