My classmates chose martial arts and fantasy, but I chose the prehistoric world.

Yan Qing did not return.

This news, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, caused a huge uproar across the entire planet.

It wasn't just Yan Qing—of the seventeen people who chose the prehistoric world last year, not one survived!

completely annihilated!

Those parents who had just sent their children into the prehistoric world yesterday were still clinging to a sliver of hope—that perhaps their children would be lucky and continue the legacy of Mr. Meng Chuan…

But when the news spread that Yan Qing had not returned, all illusions shattered in an instant!

In a farmhouse courtyard in a small city in the Great Xia Dynasty, a simply dressed middle-aged woman swayed violently upon hearing the news, and then collapsed straight down.

"His aunt! His aunt! What's wrong?!"

Her relatives quickly helped her up, pinching her philtrum and patting her back. After a while, she slowly woke up.

The first thing I said after waking up was a heart-wrenching wail:

"My son—!!"

……

Inside an office in an office building, a middle-aged man in a suit and tie was squatting on the floor, his hands covering his head, his shoulders shaking violently.

He is the CEO of a listed company with a net worth of over 100 million yuan. He is a powerful figure in the business world and has never shown weakness in front of others.

But at this moment, he was like a helpless child, squatting in his office, crying his heart out.

His son chose the primordial world yesterday.

He initially disagreed, but his son said, "Dad, if Mr. Meng Chuan could emerge from the wilderness, so can I. I don't want to live under your wing my whole life; I want to venture out on my own."

Looking into his son's determined eyes, he finally nodded.

But now...

He regretted it!

He wanted to slap himself a few times!

Why should we agree?

Why make your son take this risk?

Money can be earned back, a company can be started over if it goes bankrupt, but a son is gone...

What can he offer in exchange?

……

Similar scenes were playing out simultaneously across the country.

More than half of the parents of the students who chose the prehistoric world yesterday fainted on the spot after learning that Yan Qing had not returned.

The remaining half, though barely holding on, were on the verge of a mental breakdown!

The internet was in an uproar.

#Seventeen people, none survived#

#100% Mortality Rate During the Flood#

#Even Meng Chuan's personally taught disciple failed to return#

#Yesterday's 24 people are destined to become cannon fodder#

#Those children who chose the path of the prehistoric world will never return#

……

Each topic, like oil being poured onto a hot flame, quickly went viral across the entire internet!

"Seventeen people, not a single one returned! Including Master Meng Chuan's personal disciple! What does this mean? It means that the Primordial World is not a place of opportunity at all, but a meat grinder!"

"The fact that Meng Chuan and his sister came back alive is truly an exceptional case... In my opinion, those who come after them should stick to the fantasy world... If they want something more exciting, the immortal/demon world is also an option. As for the primordial world, that's not exciting, it's a dead end!"

"I was originally planning to choose the 'Primordial Era' competition next year... but now, I'm absolutely not going!"

"Yesterday, twenty-four students from the primordial wilderness were selected... How desperate their parents must be right now..."

"I just saw a news report that half of the parents of the 24 students who participated in the 'Primordial Era' competition yesterday fainted on the spot after learning that none of Mr. Meng Chuan's direct disciples had returned from the Primordial Era. A few are still in the hospital receiving emergency treatment!"

"Alas... the primordial world, it really is still the same primordial world!"

……

Above the playground of Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School.

call!call!call!

Duan Lingtian, Luo Feng, and Xiao Yan arrived uninvited.

Duan Lingtian spoke first, his voice low and somber: "Mr. Meng, please accept my condolences."

Luo Feng nodded, his tone heavy: "Meng Chuan, we've all heard about Yan Qing's situation. You... take care of yourself."

Xiao Yan opened his mouth, wanting to say something to comfort him, but in the end he didn't say anything, only sighed heavily.

Meng Chuan glanced at them and said calmly, "I'm fine."

Then, he swayed and landed beside Yan Qing's parents.

Looking at the heartbroken couple before him, he said, "Yan Qing's absence doesn't necessarily mean she truly died in the primordial world."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present clearly.

In an instant, everyone looked at him.

What does that mean?

Is Yan Qing not necessarily already dead?

At this moment, Meng Chuan said to Yan Qing's parents, "Yan Qing's failure to return may be due to some other reason, causing her to be temporarily trapped in the prehistoric world."

He paused, then continued, "A year later, I will take in four more personal disciples and send them into the prehistoric world. Two years later, if any of them return alive, they will be able to bring back news of Yan Qing."

Just in time, Houtu had her sister bring back five bone fragments last time. She gave one to Yan Qing, leaving four remaining.

Use it all at once a year later!

He didn't believe that all four of them would suffer the same fate, dying before even meeting Houtu after just entering the prehistoric world!

"Only then can we finally confirm whether Yan Qing is still alive."

"Yan Qing is my only direct disciple. Before she entered the prehistoric world, I made preparations for her that were no less than those for my sister."

"I don't believe she's dead either."

Upon hearing this, Yan Qing's mother abruptly raised her head, a faint glimmer of light flashing in her eyes: "Mr. Meng... is it true? Qingqing... could she still be alive?"

Meng Chuan looked at her bloodshot eyes and nodded: "Possibly."

He didn't rule out any possibility of definitive conclusions.

Although he knew that the possibility of Yan Qing still being alive was extremely slim.

But he couldn't tell Yan Qing's parents directly—that their daughter was most likely dead!

That's too cruel!

He could only offer this "hope" so that they could gradually let their sadness fade away in the "anticipation" of the next two years.

Time is the best healer.

If six months isn't enough, then a year will do.

If one year isn't enough, then two years will do!

One day, they will accept this fact.

Yan Qing's father gave Meng Chuan a deep look, then nodded heavily: "Mr. Meng, we believe you."

He wasn't stupid; he knew that Meng Chuan's words were likely just to comfort them.

But he prefers to believe it's true!

Because without this hope, he didn't know if he could hold on, but he knew his wife definitely wouldn't!

Meng Chuan nodded, then turned around and prepared to leave.

But just then, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted:

"Mr. Meng Chuan! You just said... you're going to take on personal disciples?"

That shout was like lighting a powder keg, instantly igniting the entire arena.

"Mr. Meng Chuan! I have a nephew who will be a high school sophomore next year. He's exceptionally talented! Could you take him on as your personal disciple?"

"Mr. Meng Chuan! My daughter is fifteen years old and has admired you since she was little! Please take her as your disciple! She will definitely not let you down!"

"Mr. Meng Chuan! What conditions need to be met to become your personal disciple? Just tell us! We will definitely do anything we can!"

"Mr. Meng Chuan..."

……

A series of sounds surged in from all directions, surrounding Meng Chuan.