Failed?

It was not a simple contest of strength, but a erosion of will and concepts. Even Qilin Prodigy like Chen Fan, who appears only once in countless ages, was not immune to the possibility of losing his way in the face of eternal silence.

Thinking back to the one-year agreement he made in front of the mentors of the Nine Great Schools, even someone as fearless as Lin Xuanqing couldn't help but feel a slight, imperceptible pressure rising in his heart.

Just then...

"Buzz"

Wen Yuan's Student Badge trembled slightly.

A message projection appeared out of thin air in front of the two of them.

The message was extremely brief, consisting of only a few words.

[Task completed, requesting return.]

[From: Chen Fan]

Upon seeing this message, the weight that had been hanging over Wen Yuan's heart didn't lift; instead, it sank even deeper.

That's too brief.

Sending such an emotionless message two months after the deadline feels more like a helpless compromise after all the energy has been exhausted.

He could almost instantly conclude that his Junior Fellow Apprentice had only completed the basic task of collecting ten thousand Deathly Silent Crystals, but had encountered an unprecedented failure in the most important step of alchemy.

Lin Xuanqing naturally saw this message as well.

He was silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

He could almost picture the scene: the usually confident little guy, repeatedly hitting roadblocks in the face of deathly silence, stubbornly persevering for another two months with an indomitable spirit.

Ultimately, faced with the cold reality, all pride was exhausted, and they had to admit their defeat.

He was too impatient, placing the centuries-old obsession of the Life School, that almost impossible goal, on an eight-year-old child.

"Alright."

Lin Xuanqing quickly adjusted his mindset. He put his hands behind his back and said to Wen Yuan in a seemingly relaxed manner, "The path of Prodigies is never smooth sailing. Experiencing some setbacks is actually a good thing for him. It can wear down some of the arrogance in his bones and make him understand that the path of cultivation is not only about rapid progress."

Wen Yuan nodded upon hearing this.

He knew that his teacher was comforting himself and preparing himself mentally for how to face his junior Junior Fellow Apprentice.

"I'll go prepare some calming herbal tea."

Wen Yuan said softly.

"Um."

Lin Xuanqing had already begun to organize his thoughts in his mind.

What should I say when that little guy comes back later?

Don't be too harsh, or it will damage his confidence.

But you can't be too mild-mannered, lest you appear indifferent.

Perhaps you could first praise his perseverance for five months, then tell him that failure is the mother of success, and there's still time before the year-long agreement is reached, so there's no need to rush...

Yes, that's what I said.

Having made up his mind, Lin Xuanqing reached out and gently tapped the Light Screen displaying the return application.

[Approve]

Buzz!

Deep within the school, the long-sealed Teleportation Array, dedicated solely to serving core members, suddenly burst into brilliant light.

A vast amount of spatial energy began to converge, stirring the rich Life Origin around it and forming a visible energy vortex.

Lin Xuanqing and Wen Yuan stood side by side in front of the array platform.

Both of them wore the same complex expression.

The light, after reaching its peak, suddenly receded.

At the center of the energy vortex, the ordinary figure of a seven or eight-year-old child slowly emerged and finally stood clearly in the center of the platform.

He was dressed in simple Training Uniform, with black hair and black eyes, looking like an ordinary kid next door, as ordinary as could be.

Chen Fan looked around and immediately saw his master and Senior Fellow Apprentice, whose expressions were extremely solemn, standing below the array platform.

He was momentarily stunned.

What's going on?

I was only two months late coming home, why is it like a funeral at home?

Then, a pure, intense curiosity flashed in his clear amber eyes. He tilted his head and asked:

"Master, Senior Fellow Apprentice, what's with those expressions?"

"Has something happened at home?"

Chen Fan looked extremely curious.

The entire set of words that Lin Xuanqing and Wen Yuan had prepared, full of concern and even a bit of sympathy, were stuck in their throats.

The two looked at each other, unsure how to change the sorrowful expressions on their faces.

Wen Yuan's Dao Heart Cultivation was still a notch higher, and he was the first to react.

He forced down the complex emotions surging within him, managed a slightly stiff smile, and slowly walked forward.

"Junior Fellow Apprentice, you... you've worked hard."

He deliberately softened his voice, afraid of upsetting the boy who, in his view, had already suffered a great blow.

"The path of spiritual practice is inherently fraught with thorns; setbacks are inevitable, so there's no need to dwell on them."

He thought Chen Fan's calmness at this moment was just a young man's pretense of strength.

After all, spending five months in that desolate and hopeless place, only to gain nothing in the end, would be a huge blow to any Prodigies, enough to tarnish their Dao Heart.

Wen Yuan sighed and continued to gently comfort him, "The fact that you could persevere for two more months in that desperate situation with your indomitable will is already one in a million. One failure is nothing to be ashamed of."

Lin Xuanqing also came to his senses at this moment.

He cleared his throat, put his hands back behind his back, adopted the air of a profound and unfathomable mentor, and said in a deliberately deep tone:

"Wen Yuan is right. Heaven will entrust great responsibilities to those who are destined for them, and will first test their resolve and strengthen their bodies. This failure is a good thing for you!"

He emphasized his words, as if he were stating some profound truth.

"This will perfectly temper that invincible arrogance in your bones, making you understand that on the path of cultivation, Beyond the Heavens and more capable people!"

Chen Fan listened to the Senior Fellow Apprentice' back-and-forth banter, his curiosity gradually turned into bewilderment.

He blinked his clear amber eyes, which were filled with innocent confusion.

Fail?

What failure?

What did I fail at?

His appearance, in the eyes of Lin Xuanqing and Wen Yuan, became irrefutable proof that he had been overwhelmed by the shock and was in a daze, which intensified their pity and guilt.

Before Chen Fan could speak, Lin Xuanqing had already begun planning the next steps, trying to divert his attention with a new goal.

"I've already had Wen Yuan prepare the Ninth-Turn Heart-Cleansing Tea for you to calm your mind and focus your spirit. Now, don't think about anything else; just rest and recuperate. As for the one-year agreement, there's still some time. We can discuss it further later, and I'll find you another auspicious place to comprehend the true meaning of death..."

"Etc."

Chen Fan finally couldn't hold back any longer. He raised his delicate white hand and interrupted his master's endless chatter.

"Master, Senior Fellow Apprentice..."

He tilted his head and asked with an extremely serious expression.

"What are you talking about? Who told you I failed?"

Upon hearing this, an eerie silence fell over the air once again.

Lin Xuanqing and Wen Yuan exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of understanding and helplessness in each other's eyes.

Just as I expected.

This child still can't let go of his pride.