Chapter 52: Foundation Building Failure

"Here!"

Early in the morning, Qingnü called Chen Mobai over and handed him the sixteen vials of Qi-supplementing spirit water.

"Being the first time, I only managed to harmonize this much."

Qingnü's face was slightly flushed, and she looked a bit embarrassed.

"You've done very well. Rest well, and I'll bring you the next batch of ingredients in a few days."

From the results, it seemed they had lost about two thousand merit points, but Chen Mobai still smiled and comforted her. After all, his merit points were easy to come by, and he didn't feel too bad about it.

"Thank you."

Hearing the gentle words of the young man in front of her, Qingnü, who had been looking down, couldn't help but lift her head and rub her slightly red eyes.

Chen Mobai comforted her a bit more and then took leave from the homeroom teacher.

He was heading to Chixia Academy to deliver the Qi-supplementing spirit water to his father, who was in seclusion, along with a copy of a foundation-building guide he had written, which ranked relatively high among auxiliary software.

It took nearly an hour and a half by bus for Chen Mobai to reach Chixia Academy.

Fortunately, this place was also one of the tourist attractions in Danxia City, so no procedures were needed to enter. Otherwise, Chen Xinglan would have had to come out to meet him.

At the foot of the Jade Spirit Peak, Chen Mobai met Yan Xiang again, who had given him the Chinese parasol sapling.

"Waiting for Old Chen, he usually comes out around noon."

Yan Xiang had a kind face and was holding a roster, seemingly checking something.

"Uncle Yan, are you busy? Is there anything I can help with?"

Chen Mobai spoke politely, and the other immediately waved his hand, indicating that he could handle it.

"Representatives from the Dao Academy and the Imperial College are staying on the Spirit Peak. I need to prepare their meals daily, and there are some dietary restrictions to consider. I just need to check the ingredients."

After Yan Xiang spoke, Chen Mobai realized that the semester was already halfway through.

There were about forty-five days left until the college entrance exam.

"How about it, do you have confidence in getting into the Dao Academy or the Imperial College?"

"I'll do my best."

Chen Mobai was not arrogant and looked humble. Mainly, he had been busy exploring the Tianhe Realm and hadn't done his homework for a long time, so he had little confidence in his knowledge.

However, now that he had cultivated divine consciousness, his learning efficiency had greatly increased. As long as he worked hard during this period, he should be able to catch up.

But while the college entrance exam scores were easy, the entrance exams for the major Dao Academies were the hardest part.

Especially the entrance exams for the four major Dao Academies, which were notoriously difficult each year. In many years, there were no qualified candidates, and not a single person was admitted in Danxia City.

However, it was precisely this attitude of preferring quality over quantity that made getting into the four major Dao Academies the lifelong dream of every student in the Immortal Sect.

Creak!

At this moment, the wooden door of Chen Xinglan's cave opened, and he walked out.

"Didn't I tell you to focus on the college entrance exam? Why are you wasting time here?"

Chen Xinglan first greeted Yan Xiang, and after the latter left, he frowned and scolded his son.

"I managed to get some Qi-supplementing spirit water, so I brought it to you. And here is a foundation-building guide I collected online. You can read it when you have time."

Chen Mobai handed ten vials of packaged Qi-supplementing spirit water to Chen Xinglan, along with a booklet he had printed at a print shop.

"Son, I understand your intentions, but I also hope you understand that your success is more important to me than my foundation building. I would be happier and prouder of you if you could achieve something."

Chen Xinglan said this with a serious face, and Chen Mobai looked into his father's eyes for a long time before lowering his head.

"I understand, Dad."

"This Qi-supplementing spirit water is of medium quality at the first rank. For me, its effect is minimal, but since it's your intention, I'll take half of it. As for the foundation-building guide, the Chixia Academy library has at least a thousand copies, and they are all insights related to the 'Melt Fire Technique,' which is the same as mine. Don't waste your time on these. Focus on your studies. If you can get into one of the top ten colleges, your mother and I will be proud of you for life."

After a good talk, Chen Mobai understood Chen Xinglan's feelings.

For a father, seeing his son succeed is more joyful than his own success.

Chen Mobai couldn't understand this, probably because he didn't have a son.

However, he didn't argue with his father and just nodded silently.

After having lunch together, they parted ways. Chen Xinglan returned to his cave to continue his seclusion.

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

"Little brother, I didn't expect to see you here again."

At this moment, a familiar voice sounded.

Chen Mobai turned his head and saw the young man in blue and white robes who had asked for directions at his doorstep. He smiled and greeted him.

"Hello, are you a student here?"

Chen Mobai nodded in response and asked.

"I'm just visiting a senior who teaches here. I haven't had the chance to ask your name. I've only been in Danxia for a few days, and to meet you twice must mean we have a great connection."

"My name is Chen Mobai, and I'm a student at the fifth high school of the Immortal Sect!"

If it were in the Tianhe Realm, Chen Mobai would definitely not reveal his name, but on Deyuan Star, as a descendant of the Immortal Sect, he was very open.

"My name is Lan Haitian."

When Lan Haitian introduced himself, Chen Mobai remembered the business card Qingnü had, which mentioned that he was a classmate of the Longqing Pharmacy manager. It seemed he was indeed a foundation-building cultivator.

Chen Mobai thought this silently but showed no expression.

At this moment, the bus back to Danxia City arrived, and Chen Mobai said goodbye to Lan Haitian.

"My bus is here, I have to go."

If it weren't for his plans today, Chen Mobai would have liked to chat more with Lan Haitian.

"See you again."

After saying goodbye, Lan Haitian walked towards the highest peak of Chixia Academy.

"You're late, we've been waiting for you."

Under the canopy of the Jade Parasol Tree, several people were already seated. Seeing Lan Haitian arrive, one of the young men in a white suit frowned.

"Sorry, I was talking late into the night with a senior I hadn't seen in a long time and lost track of time."

Lan Haitian looked apologetic.

"Alright, since everyone is here, let's look at this year's test papers."

The red-robed Daoist at the head of the table nodded and signaled the man in green robes to hand out the photocopied test papers to the representatives of the four major Dao Academies and a few Imperial Colleges.

"Wasn't it Daoist Shiqing who was in charge?"

"She had a breakthrough a few days ago and went into seclusion, so she entrusted the matter to me."

The red-robed Daoist looked rather gloomy as he said this.

...

In Danxia City, Chen Mobai brought a large bag of gold, which he had exchanged, to the Wu Family Gold Shop where he had done business before.

"Cough... It's you..."

However, Wu Wan's condition shocked Chen Mobai.

Originally a well-built and handsome young man, he now looked thin and had gray hair, as if he had suddenly aged from a young man to a middle-aged or even an old man.

"Foundation building failed, my essence and blood were depleted, and my Qi cultivation dropped from the peak. I'm sorry to have let you see me like this."