The first thing Kai learned after awakening was that reality remained unfair.
The second thing he learned was that his awakening platform explosion resulted in three days of paperwork.
Apparently, destroying government property during spiritual evolution was "administratively concerning."
Kai personally believed the academy lacked imagination.
"You overloaded an awakening formation designed for military-grade stress," Principal Orson said.
Kai sat across from the old cultivator while attempting to appear composed.
"Talent often exceeds infrastructure."
"Your measured talent is average."
Kai's soul took another critical hit.
The principal rubbed his forehead.
"Explain exactly what happened during your awakening."
Kai froze.
Ah.
Right.
The secret laboratory dimension inside his brain.
The immortal science grandfather.
The illegal biological research.
Absolutely not.
Kai lowered his voice mysteriously.
"Some truths cannot be spoken openly."
Principal Orson stared at him.
"You hit your head during awakening, didn't you?"
"Only spiritually."
The principal sighed heavily.
"Just leave before I regret my career choices."
Kai stood immediately.
"The burden of greatness isolates visionaries."
"Get out."
That evening, Kai locked himself inside his room.
Then I immediately entered meditation.
The laboratory appeared around him once more.
Bright white walls.
Blue holograms.
The endless hum of ancient machines.
Elias stood beside a floating display.
"Your synchronization efficiency improved," the scientist noted.
Kai nodded proudly.
"Naturally."
"The current rate remains medically unimpressive."
Kai pointed angrily.
"You truly cannot compliment people normally."
Elias ignored him.
Again.
Kai was beginning to understand why the man had accidentally become emotionally extinct.
"Alright," Kai said.
"Let's discuss the important thing."
"Define important."
Kai leaned forward.
"How do I become stronger quickly?"
Elias immediately frowned.
"Poorly phrased objective."
"How do I become stronger efficiently?"
"Improved phrasing."
The scientist activated several screens.
A rotating model of Kai's body appeared.
Mana pathways glowed faintly.
Elias pointed toward the projection.
"Your cultivation foundation is stable but inefficient."
Kai crossed his arms.
"I already know I'm average. The universe keeps sending reminders."
"Incorrect."
Kai blinked.
Elias zoomed into the model.
"Average implies normal optimization."
He highlighted several sections.
"Your physical development is significantly below ideal standards."
Kai stared.
"...Are you calling me weak?"
"Objectively, yes."
Kai placed a hand over his chest.
"Violence."
Elias continued without mercy.
"Your muscle density, oxygen efficiency, neural response speed, and mana conductivity all possess improvement potential."
Kai narrowed his eyes.
"You sound suspiciously like you're about to suggest human experimentation."
The scientist remained silent.
Kai slowly backed away.
"You ARE suggesting human experimentation."
"Controlled biological enhancement."
"THAT IS JUST SMARTER WORDING."
Two hours later, Kai regrettably admitted the idea was genius.
The laboratory possessed impossible technology.
Tools that ignored wear.
Machines that could manipulate matter at microscopic levels.
Medical systems are centuries beyond anything in his world.
The problem was resources.
The laboratory had energy.
Infinite energy, apparently.
What it lacked was raw material.
No matter how advanced the machines were, they could not create matter from nothing.
Which led to a terrifying realization.
Kai could bring physical objects into the laboratory.
He demonstrated this accidentally.
A notebook inside his pocket transferred with him during meditation.
Elias immediately became interested.
"Remarkable."
"That word worries me now."
The scientist grabbed the notebook.
"The laboratory exists partially outside conventional dimensional constraints."
"That explanation helped nobody."
"Your consciousness acts as a synchronization anchor."
Kai blinked.
"Translation?"
"You are effectively smuggling objects across dimensional boundaries."
Kai froze.
Then slowly:
"That sounds incredibly illegal."
"Almost certainly."
Kai looked around the laboratory.
Then back to the notebook.
Then at Elias.
An idea formed.
A terrible idea.
The best kind.
"Hypothetically," Kai began carefully, "if I brought medicinal ingredients here..."
Elias immediately understood.
"The laboratory could refine them far beyond conventional methods."
Kai grinned.
"Exactly."
The scientist crossed his arms.
"Your intelligence becomes concerning when motivated by ambition."
Kai pointed dramatically.
"History rewards innovators."
"History also imprisons many innovators."
"Minor detail."
The first experiment began with ordinary herbs.
Nothing expensive.
Kai could not afford expensive mistakes.
His family's finances already resembled emotional damage.
Inside the laboratory, Elias fed the herbs into a compact silver machine.
Blue light flashed.
Seconds later, the machine produced a glowing liquid.
Kai stared.
"That's it?"
"Purification complete," Elias replied.
"Ninety-eight percent impurity removal."
Kai blinked.
"Modern alchemists can do that?"
"Not remotely."
Kai looked at the vial.
Then slowly smiled.
"Oh."
Elias noticed the expression immediately.
"That face indicates dangerous ambition."
Kai raised the glowing vial dramatically.
"Doctor."
"I am not a medical practitioner."
"WE ARE GOING TO COMMIT SCIENCE."
Elias stared at him for several seconds.
Then unexpectedly:
"...Acceptable phrasing."
Kai nearly fainted.
The scientist was evolving.