Chapter 1629: Is Tofieldia Research Merely a General Project?

Jiang Cheng carefully reviewed the data and analyzed, "Magnesium and metasilicic acid content are notable, pH is on the alkaline side... these are typical characteristics of a carbonate spring; yi element content 1?, qiang element content 17‰, no radioactive substances or toxins. If subsequent isotope testing can confirm its ancient groundwater source, then its value would be extraordinary."

Zhang Xun nodded, "The quality of this hot spring is very high. After simple filtration, it can be used to cultivate crops with high water quality requirements."

In other words, the cost of cultivating premium crops using this hot spring water is very low. Several experts engaged in premium biological research grew even more eager in their gazes.

After handing the test results to Bai Jiangxia, Jiang Cheng also looked at Zhang Xun with eager eyes, "Tofieldia has very high water quality requirements, so raising it here is indeed a very reasonable choice. The results of this basic report are very optimistic, but to determine its complete properties and origins, we still need more comprehensive hydrochemical and isotope tracing data. Teacher Xun, has your institute conducted any deeper tracing investigations on this spring? May I apply to access the relevant data?"

Fully geared up, Xia Qing felt that some of the terms Jiang Cheng used sounded familiar, as if she had heard them in the video tutorials she gave to the Broken-Waist Wolf father and son and Daigua. If Broken-Waist Wolf and Yang Jin had not already conducted tracing investigations on this hot spring, Xia Qing would have found it very difficult to remain calm at this moment.

After all, this concerned the safety of that unpolluted spring within her territory.

Zhang Xun in front of the laboratory responded to Jiang Cheng politely and rigorously, "I'm not sure whether any such investigations have been conducted. Regarding information on this matter, you may communicate with our Deputy Director Song."

Not only did Jiang Cheng not feel disappointed, his attitude became even more sincere, "Alright. May I take samples of the spring water and the mountain body here?"

As far as Jiang Cheng knew, there were no geological research experts within the Number Seven Territory Research Institute. If they had not conducted tracing investigations, Jiang Cheng would submit an application to Zhang San to carry out tracing research on this hot spring. If Zhang San agreed, he was willing to pay his own expenses to stay here, or continue staying in the dormitory at the Ninth Center.

Zhang Xun shook her head, "I don't have the authority to grant approval. You need to submit an application to Deputy Director Song."

The experts passing around the water quality test report were also very excited, and more or less understood why Professor Fu Tianfeng had put down roots here.

Water free of radiation and toxins becomes premium water source after filtration. Although this premium water source is lower in quality than unpolluted spring water, and not as scarce as unpolluted water sources, possessing such a water source is also a core competitive advantage for a research institution.

If they were Fu Tianfeng, they would also fence off this mountain area!

A researcher from Red Two asked for guidance, "Professor Jiang, is it possible that this hot spring is a damaged unpolluted water source?"

Everyone was very concerned about this question, holding their breath as they waited for Jiang Cheng, the hydrogeology expert from Red One University, to speak. The attention of Xia Qing and the other security personnel also focused on Jiang Cheng.

Unpolluted spring water was an important survival resource during the Calamity years. Xia Qing's body didn't move, but she adjusted her emotions in a timely manner, making herself appear somewhat expectant and excited.

She did this to guard against possible Class C magnetic-sense evolvers within the valley who might detect that her magnetic field changes differed too greatly from others.

Jiang Cheng answered rigorously, "Based solely on the data in this report, this cannot be determined. This spring eye may itself be a precious primary carbonate spring, or it may have once been an unpolluted water source that, after being polluted or damaged, was filtered and purified by geological strata into its current state. To distinguish between these two situations, systematic water source tracing research must be conducted."

Everyone nodded and launched into a heated discussion.

After passing around the water quality test report, Hu Guangdong and Yao Yuanxing exchanged glances, feeling the situation had become complicated. Yao Yuanxing asked, "Teacher Jiang, if this is an unpolluted water source, is it possible it was damaged during the process of excavating the mountain?"

Jiang Cheng still answered rigorously, "Before a comprehensive water source tracing study is conducted, no possibility can be ruled out."

"You're right." Yao Yuanxing looked at the widened mountain body and shook his head with a sigh.

Xia Qing heard strong accusatory undertones in Yao Yuanxing's sigh. This sigh made Xia Qing understand even more why, despite being from the same school, her idol only acknowledged Bai Jiangxia and not him.

Bai Jiangxia, who most disliked Yao Yuanxing's passive-aggressive manner, turned to inspect the spring eye's outlet; Guo Qingbin, who had not spoken in the crowd, also turned and left. As he passed Xia Qing, he gave her a slight nod.

Standing at the highest point in the valley, Xia Qing merely glanced calmly at Guo Qingbin and continued executing her mission. Although this place was relatively safe, no one could guarantee that accidents wouldn't happen, so Xia Qing had to maintain full attention to ensure these experts wouldn't run into trouble on her turf.

The gathered experts slowly split into two groups: one discussing the mountain body and hot spring, the other discussing the cultivation and applications of the yi-12-rich evolved Tofieldia.

Facing Zhang Xun, who answered every question with "I don't know," Huang Wanmao from the Bai One University Medical School grew angry, "Professor Xun, if my questions involve confidentiality clauses and you're not at liberty to answer, you can just say so."

Another researcher from the Bai One Research Institute backed up Huang Wanmao. His voice was mild, but his words were sharp, "As the person in charge of the Tofieldia cultivation project, Professor Xun's perfunctory answers to Professor Huang's questions are indeed not professional enough."

Zhou Fen stood beside Zhang Xun with a taut face, silently supporting her friend. The two guards stationed in the valley immediately stepped forward and stood behind Zhang Xun. Xia Qing confirmed the situation there was under control and stopped paying attention.

"I have only just entered the field of crop cultivation and am in the learning stage, so I am indeed not professional enough, and therefore cannot answer the professional questions of all the experts here. Additionally..."

Zhang Xun glanced at the other party's identity badge, suppressed her smile, and asked sternly, "I am merely a member of the Tofieldia cultivation project team, not the person in charge. Professor Li, please explain how you obtained this incorrect information. If it was an error by our institute's staff, we apologize to you and will deal seriously with the personnel involved."

Hearing Zhang Xun say this, the members of the inspection team all stopped their discussions and looked at Zhang Xun.

While some of these people might still not recognize the very famous Xia Qing in this territory, they all recognized this researcher with the code name "Zhang Xun" from the Number Seven Territory.

In the eleventh year of the Calamity, the matter of Xun Wenying—a Class-2 Category-2 brain-domain evolver and renowned evolutionary psychology research expert who was then at the Red One Research Institute's Psychology Research Institute—leaving Red One to join Professor Fu Tianfeng's research team due to serious disagreements with the person in charge of a psychological resilience research project over ethical issues caused a heated discussion in research circles across Huaguo and indeed the entire Blue Planet.

Seeing Zhang Xun being so sharp, Huang Wanmao said nothing. Li Chaoju from the Bai One Research Institute braced himself and stepped up, "Does Professor Xun, as a beginner in cultivation techniques, also qualify to participate in such an important research project?"

"Since Professor Li is unwilling to reveal the source of the incorrect information, it can be determined that your information source is not an official channel." Zhang Xun raised a hand to adjust her glasses, looked up to meet Li Chaoju's eyes directly, her sharpness fully revealed, "In the future, please verify your information sources before speaking, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."

Having just said Xun Wenying was unprofessional, only to be irrefutably corrected for his own lack of rigor in the blink of an eye, Li Chaoju's face burned.

Zhang Xun did not press this issue further and continued performing her duties, "Now I will answer your second question: the hydroponic cultivation technique for evolved Tofieldia is not difficult; a beginner can master it. My purpose in coming to this valley is to recuperate from illness; taking on this cultivation task is merely incidental. If you have questions about our institute's project arrangements, I suggest you consult our institute's project management office through official channels."

After hearing Zhang Xun's answer, the experts all fell silent. They had indeed heard that Zhang Xun had developed serious psychological issues, which was why the Red One Research Institute had approved her resignation.

No matter how simple the technique, the cultivation of such a precious yi-evolved plant should not be entrusted to a psychology expert with psychological issues. Was Fu Tianfeng's arrangement because the research was short-staffed, or did it have other implications?

Emotion-capture-ability evolver Zhang Xun saw at a glance what these people were thinking. She lowered her eyes and brushed off the nonexistent dust from the seven characters "Number Seven Territory Research Institute" on her left chest, then answered very calmly, "Evolved Tofieldia research is merely a general project at our institute."

The researchers were stunned, then experienced enormous emotional turbulence: if the applied research on yi-12-rich evolved Tofieldia was merely a general project, then what kind of project would be classified as a key project of Fu Tianfeng's team?!