Chapter 52: Foundation Establishment Failure

"Here!"

Early in the morning, Qing Nü called Chen Mobai over and handed him sixteen vials of Qi Replenishing Spirit Water.

"It was my first time, so I didn't have much experience. I only managed to concoct this many." Qing Nü's pretty face flushed slightly as she spoke, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.

"You've done very well. Get some good rest. I'll send you the next batch of medicinal ingredients in a couple of days." Although the outcome meant a loss of over two thousand good deeds, Chen Mobai still smiled and comforted her. After all, his good deeds came easily, so he didn't feel too bad about the loss.

"Thank you." Hearing the young man's gentle words, Qing Nü couldn't help but lift her bowed head, then rubbed her slightly reddened eyes.

Chen Mobai offered a few more words of comfort, then asked his homeroom teacher for leave.

He was going to Scarlet Cloud Academy to deliver the Qi Replenishing Spirit Water to his father, who was in seclusion, and a copy of a Foundation Establishment cultivation insight he had transcribed, which ranked highly on the auxiliary software.

It took Chen Mobai nearly an hour and a half by bus to reach Scarlet Cloud Academy. Fortunately, the academy was also considered one of Danxia City's tourist attractions, so no special procedures were needed to enter; otherwise, Chen Xinglan would have had to come out and meet him.

At the foot of Jade Spirit Peak, Chen Mobai encountered Yan Xiang again, the person who had given him the phoenix tree sapling.

"Waiting for Old Chen, are you? He usually comes out around noon." Yan Xiang's face was kindly, and he held a roster in his hand, seemingly checking something.

"Hello, Uncle Yan. Are you busy? Is there anything I can help with?" Chen Mobai politely offered. Yan Xiang immediately waved his hand, indicating that he could manage.

"Some representatives from the Daoist Academies and Imperial Palaces are staying on the spirit peak, aren't they? I need to prepare their daily meals and pay attention to some dietary restrictions. I just need to verify the ingredients." Only after Yan Xiang spoke did Chen Mobai realize that, without him noticing, half of the semester had already passed.

The college entrance examination was only about forty-five days away.

"So, do you feel confident about getting into a Daoist Academy or Imperial Palace?"

"I'll do my best." Chen Mobai, not a conceited person, replied humbly. The main reason was that he had been busy exploring the Heavenly River Realm recently and hadn't done his schoolwork for a long time, so he honestly wasn't very confident in his knowledge base.

However, he had now cultivated divine sense, which significantly boosted his learning efficiency. He should be able to catch up if he worked hard during this period. While the college entrance examination score threshold was manageable, the entrance exams for the major Daoist Academies were the most challenging hurdle.

In particular, the entrance exams for the Four Great Daoist Academies were notoriously difficult every year, often reaching "hellish" levels. In many years, no qualified candidates were accepted from Danxia City due to the lack of successful applicants.

However, it was precisely this "rather go without than have something substandard" attitude that made gaining admission to one of the Four Great Daoist Academies the lifelong dream of every student in the Immortal Sect.

*Creak!*

Just then, the wooden door of Chen Xinglan's cave abode opened, and he walked out.

"Didn't I tell you to focus on your college entrance exams? Why are you wasting time coming here?" Chen Xinglan first greeted Yan Xiang, and after the latter left, he frowned and reprimanded his son.

"I managed to snap up some Qi Replenishing Spirit Water, so I brought it to you. And this is a collection of Foundation Establishment insights I found online. You can take a look when you have time." Chen Mobai handed Chen Xinglan ten packaged vials of Qi Replenishing Spirit Water, along with a booklet he had printed at a print shop.

"Son, I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I also want you to understand that your achieving something great would make me happier and prouder than my own successful Foundation Establishment." Chen Xinglan spoke to Chen Mobai with a serious expression. Chen Mobai looked directly into his father's eyes, then lowered his head after a long moment.

"I understand, Dad."

"This Qi Replenishing Spirit Water is a mid-tier first-grade item. For me, its effect is negligible, but since it's your heartfelt gesture, I'll accept half of it. As for the Foundation Establishment insights, Scarlet Cloud Academy's library contains at least a thousand such books, all of which are related to my 'Molten Fire Art.' Don't spend your time on these things in the future. Work hard on your own. If you can get into one of the Ten Great Imperial Palaces, your mother and I will be proud of you for a lifetime."

After the father and son had a good talk, Chen Mobai understood Chen Xinglan's feelings. For a father, his son achieving something great was a source of greater joy than his own achievements. Chen Mobai couldn't quite grasp this, perhaps because he didn't have a son himself. However, he didn't argue with his father, simply nodding silently.

After having lunch together, the father and son parted ways. Chen Xinglan returned to his cave abode to continue his seclusion.

Chen Mobai stood at the bus stop, waiting for public transportation.

"Young brother, I didn't expect to see you here again." At that moment, a familiar voice rang out. Chen Mobai turned around and saw the young man in the blue and white robe who had previously asked for directions near his home. He smiled and greeted him.

"Hello. Are you a student here?" Chen Mobai nodded in response, then asked.

"I'm just visiting a senior who teaches here. I haven't yet had the pleasure of learning your name, young brother. I've only been in this blessed land of Danxia for a few days, and to meet you twice shows we are very fated."

"My name is Chen Mobai, and I'm a student at Immortal Sect Fifth High School!" If he were in the Heavenly River Realm, Chen Mobai certainly wouldn't dare reveal his identity, but on Local Star, as a disciple of the Immortal Sect, he spoke with complete openness.

"I am Lan Haitian." As soon as Lan Haitian stated his name, Chen Mobai remembered the business card Qing Nü had held, which seemed to mention a classmate of Evergreen Pharmacy's manager. It appeared he might indeed be a true cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage. Chen Mobai pondered this silently, without showing any emotion.

Just then, the bus to Danxia City arrived. Chen Mobai said goodbye to Lan Haitian. "My bus is here; I'm leaving now." If he hadn't had other business today, Chen Mobai would have liked to chat with Lan Haitian longer.

"Perhaps we'll meet again if fate allows." After saying goodbye, Lan Haitian walked towards the highest spirit peak of Scarlet Cloud Academy.

"You're too late; we were just waiting for you." Under the canopy of the Jade Phoenix Tree, several people were already seated. Seeing Lan Haitian approach, a young man in a white suit couldn't help but say with a frown.

"My apologies. Last night, I had an impromptu late-night chat with a senior martial brother I hadn't seen in a long time and lost track of time." Lan Haitian's face showed his apology.

"All right, now that everyone's here, let's take a look at this year's papers." The Crimson-Robed True Cultivator, seated in the main position, nodded and motioned for the man in the green robe beside him to hand the copied examination papers to the representatives of the Four Great Daoist Academies and several Imperial Palaces.

"Isn't True Cultivator Shiqing supposed to be presiding?"

"She had a breakthrough a few days ago and entered a death seclusion. She sent word to hand the matter over to me." As he spoke, the Crimson-Robed True Cultivator had a dejected expression.

***

In Danxia City, Chen Mobai, carrying a large bag of redeemed gold, arrived at Wu's Gold Shop, where he had done business before.

"Cough, cough... it's you..." However, Wu Wan's condition greatly surprised Chen Mobai. Once a young man with a full, refined appearance, he now looked gaunt, with pale hair, as if he had suddenly aged from youth into middle age.

"My Foundation Establishment failed, my vital essence was depleted, and my Qi Condensation realm also regressed from perfection. You must be laughing at my misfortune."