Peak Second Rank (Part 1)

Fu Yuan He left the Fu Kong Island of the Heavenly Palace with a distressed expression.
Becoming the Ward Master of the Secret Treasure Department's workshop was something he had always dreamed of, but now, he couldn't feel happy at all.
No money, no people, no location.
This Factory 65 had only him, a bare-bones commander.
Yet, he was still responsible for manufacturing the first generation Hong Yan Secret Treasures.
How was he to do it?
Could he, Fu Yuan He, conjure things out of thin air?
"If it affects the construction of the Hong Yan system, this Palace Master will not spare you."
Thinking of the Heavenly Palace Master's final words, Fu Yuan He just wanted to cry.
"Xu Lu, oh Xu Lu, what poem did you write exactly? How could it make the Palace Master so angry? This time, you've really harmed me!"
Fu Yuan He muttered to himself.
"It's all your fault; you must help me, or don't blame me for selling you out!"
Fu Yuan He thought fiercely.
-----------------
"Oh? The Heavenly Palace's Secret Treasure Department established Factory 65? And located it in Jiangdu?"
In the Imperial Palace of the Tai Xuan Dynasty, Emperor Renzong said with a meaningful expression, "Women are truly narrow-minded."
"Your Majesty, we just received news that a few days ago, Heavenly Official He Qing of Jiangdu's Heavenly Palace was attacked on the road. The attackers are suspected to be from the Liao Yuan organization."
A person standing before Emperor Renzong spoke, "That night, he also did not transmit any news to the capital via the first generation Hong Yan Secret Treasure."
"What a coincidence."
Emperor Renzong said with a smile, "Old Seventh is in Jiangdu, isn't he? Tell him not to return for now; have him get in touch with Fu Yuan He. The Hong Yan system is very important to us; we must understand it thoroughly."
"Yes," the person respectfully replied.
-----------------
In a secret chamber, Chen Si Ming and Tao Liu Liu sat upright before a somewhat crude chest.
A slightly distorted voice emanated from within the chest.
The voice even contained static and crackling, but despite that, Chen Si Ming and Tao Liu Liu listened with extreme seriousness.
"Do you all understand these things?"
"Bai Zhan Tang's" voice came from within the secret treasure.
Tao Liu Liu's face still held its initial expression of surprise.
It was said that the Heavenly Palace's first generation Hong Yan Secret Treasure could only transmit secret messages, but the secret treasure before them could actually achieve Qian Li Chuan Yin, countless times more powerful than the Heavenly Palace's secret treasure!
Truly worthy of being a special envoy from Yujing Mountain!
A true expert reveals their skill with a single move.
If Yujing Mountain's special envoy possessed such abilities, what kind of place would Yujing Mountain be?
To what extent had secret arts developed there?
"Understood."
Chen Si Ming and Tao Liu Liu exchanged glances and said solemnly, "We didn't expect Brother Bai to have such profound knowledge of Dong Tian Fu Di."
"Brother Bai, no, we should call you Master Bai!"
Tao Liu Liu spoke, "Master Bai has bestowed upon us the grace of imparting knowledge and teaching skills. Such great kindness, we truly do not know how to repay it. From now on, you are our revered master; we will pray for Master Bai day and night!"
Chen Si Ming was stunned, then gave Tao Liu Liu a thumbs-up.
Well done!
They would absolutely not lose out by taking a special envoy from Yujing Mountain as their teacher.
If Bai Zhan Tang truly agreed, he would surely teach them even more in the future.
Previously, just a little basic mathematics knowledge had made Chen Si Ming feel his mental strength leap forward, even vaguely on the verge of breaking through to Third Rank.
What if he could learn more?
"Tu Gou is right, Master Bai, even if you don't want to acknowledge us two useless disciples, we will still sincerely regard you as our master."
Chen Si Ming spoke.
On the other end of the "walkie-talkie," Xu Lu couldn't help but laugh.
These two...
He truly wondered what their reaction would be if they one day knew that he was Bai Zhan Tang.
On second thought, he called Chen Si Ming "Sir," and Chen Si Ming called him "Master." How should this relationship be calculated?
Each to his own?
"As you wish."
Xu Lu said ambiguously.
Hearing "Bai Zhan Tang" not refuse, Chen Si Ming and Tao Liu Liu were both ecstatic.
As long as he didn't refuse, it was good!
The two of them instantly felt like they had found a place to belong.
Rebel Secret Cultivators were originally like stray dogs, but now they had a backer and an inheritance!
"Master Bai, regarding the replica secret treasure, I already have a clue and will obtain it very soon. I wonder how I should deliver it to Master Bai then?"
Tao Liu Liu said respectfully, completely devoid of his usual playboy demeanor.
"Wait until you get the replica secret treasure before we talk about it."
Xu Lu said casually, "Regarding Dong Tian Fu Di, I have already taught you some basics. Since you are interested in Dong Tian Fu Di, there's no harm in exploring it. But remember, safety first in all things; a mere Dong Tian Fu Di is not worth risking your life for."
"We understand."
Chen Si Ming and Tao Liu Liu said with some emotion.
"I am traveling and am somewhat interested in strange occurrences. Whatever you see in Dong Tian Fu Di, you can tell me when you return."
Xu Lu said in a calm tone.
"Oh right, Tu Gou."
He continued, "Scholar is interested in mathematics. If you obtain the replica secret treasure, I can also impart a secret study to you. Which direction do you wish to learn?"
"Any direction is fine?"
Tao Liu Liu was first stunned, then overjoyed, his heart even more shocked.
Didn't this sentence mean that Bai Zhan Tang had research in all directions of secret studies?
To what realm had his secret study attainments reached?
"All are fine."
Xu Lu said calmly.
He was a man with a system; his knowledge inheritance from his previous life was all here. Was he afraid he couldn't teach Tao Liu Liu?
Of course, he had to prepare his lessons beforehand.
"I remember Brother Bai previously spoke to us about the principles of light."
Tao Liu Liu pondered, "If possible, I hope to learn in this direction."
"Optics, huh."
Xu Lu said, "Alright, optics is originally a branch of physics. To learn it well, you need a deep foundation in mathematics. But it's alright, your current level doesn't require too much mathematics."
Tao Liu Liu: "..."
Was he being looked down upon?
But it seemed to make a lot of sense.
He was indeed quite ignorant. What could he do? His secret studies were all self-taught and completely unsystematic.
How easy was it for rebel Secret Cultivators to learn anything?
"Prepare the replica secret treasure. Next time, I will impart the corresponding secret knowledge to you."
Xu Lu spoke, "If there is no replica secret treasure, I can only apologize. Alright, that's all for this time; class dismissed."
Xu Lu spoke his mind, and even the words "class dismissed" slipped out.
But Chen Si Ming and Tao Liu Liu didn't feel anything was amiss.
"Old Chen, we've truly struck it rich!"
After the secret treasure fell completely silent, Tao Liu Liu said with an excited face.
"Indeed, who would have thought we would have such a fortuitous encounter!"
Chen Si Ming also said with emotion, "Master Bai's level of secret studies is truly unfathomably deep. We are fortunate to learn from him; our future is boundless."
"It's truly too miraculous."
Tao Liu Liu stroked the "walkie-talkie," "Communicating from a thousand li away as if talking face to face. If we had this kind of secret treasure earlier, our Dao discussion gathering wouldn't have suffered such a tragic end, would it?"
If everyone communicated through this kind of secret treasure, there would be no need to worry about their identities being exposed, and safety could be greatly increased.
"It's not too late to have it now."
Chen Si Ming said, "This secret treasure seems to have been casually assembled by Master Bai; his strength truly makes one admire him. Don't covet it; Master Bai said last time he would give you a secret treasure. By then, you won't need to come here to listen to Master Bai's teachings."
"Master Bai treats us so well; we must not let him down."
Tao Liu Liu said with a serious expression, "Old Chen, leave the matter of the replica secret treasure to me. But this Dong Tian Fu Di, we must also make a trip. Since Master Bai wants to hear new and strange stories, we will carefully record what we see in Dong Tian Fu Di and present it to Master Bai!"
Determined expressions gradually appeared on their faces, and their eyes were filled with passion.
-----------------
"I'm not deceiving them, am I?"
Xu Lu muttered to himself.
The secret knowledge he imparted was all genuine.
Such important secret knowledge; it was very normal for them to do a little work.
He couldn't teach them for free.
"That Dong Tian Fu Di is not taken seriously by the Heavenly Palace, so there shouldn't be much danger. I've also taught them all the inherited knowledge of the tomb-robbing expert Bu Chong. With Scholar and Tu Gou's caution, there shouldn't be any major problems."