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

When Meng Chuan slew the Taiyi Azure Dragon in the primordial world, attained the Great Luo Dao, and marched towards the Purple Cloud Palace—

It's only been a little over half a month since Blue Star.

Yuncheng, the old city area, a residential compound for employees of a work unit dating back to the 1990s.

Xiao Yan, a classmate of Meng Chuan, lives on the third floor.

Two bedrooms and one living room, simple and clean.

The setting sun slanted in through the balcony, casting long shadows on the concrete floor.

The meal consisted of three dishes and a soup, a very homely affair.

Father Xiao Jianguo ate his meal silently, but Mother Li Xiuying had little appetite, poking at her food with her chopsticks.

"It's been more than half a month..."

Li Xiuying finally put down her chopsticks and sighed, "I wonder how Xiaoyan is doing over there... They say the low-level martial arts world is the safest, but there's still a mortality rate of nearly three percent!"

"Let's eat," Xiao Jianguo said in a muffled voice. "There's no use thinking about it. He'll be back in a year. In the low-level martial arts world, as long as he doesn't cause trouble, he can stay hidden for a year and be safe."

Even so, he slowed down the speed at which he ate his rice.

The son is the family's only hope. This trip to the martial arts world took the family more than half a year of scrimping and saving to scrape together the money for that specially made long sword.

If I don't come back...

"I was just panicking." Li Xiuying's eyes reddened. "That golden light that day... you didn't see it. One of Meng Chuan's parents fainted right then and there. I heard his mother still can't get out of bed, and she's become so thin and unrecognizable."

"What a good kid he used to be. He was in the same class as Xiaoyan in the first year of high school. He seemed quite mature. How did he end up like this..."

Why did you choose that path that led to certain death?

She didn't finish her sentence, but Xiao Jianguo understood.

The two remained silent for a while.

Meng Chuan's family also lived in the old town and ran a small convenience store; their circumstances weren't much better than theirs. The boy was quiet, an average student, and at parent-teacher conferences, the teachers always said he was honest and didn't cause trouble.

Who would have thought that the most honest child would do the most "suicidal" thing?

"Everyone has their own destiny." That was the last thing Xiao Jianguo said before finishing his meal. "Let's take care of ourselves. Xiao Yan's safe return is more important than anything else."

……

In the south of the city, there is a newly built upscale residential area.

Luo Feng's home is a top-floor duplex with a wide view, and the decor reflects the ruggedness of a martial arts family. Unsharpened swords hang on the wall, and a huge cursive "武" (martial arts) character hangs in the center.

But at this moment, the atmosphere in the living room was oppressive.

Mother Zhang Hui sat on the leather sofa, clutching a half-damp handkerchief in her hand, her eyes red and swollen.

Across from him, his father, Luo Zhenshan, dressed in martial arts training clothes, held a teacup, his brows furrowed.

"I told you long ago, high-level martial arts is too dangerous! The mortality rate is over 10%! You insist that it's normal to practice martial arts and fight others, and if you're afraid of death, you might as well go back to your hometown and farm!"

Zhang Hui's voice trembled, tinged with sobs and resentment, "Now look what's happened! My son has really been randomly sent to a high-martial arts world! Is that a place you can just go anywhere? I heard there are masters there who can fly over rooftops and split mountains! Xiao Feng's skills are nothing..."

"What do you mean by 'that little bit of skill'?"

Luo Zhenshan slammed his teacup down on the coffee table, making a crisp sound. "My Luo family has a history of producing martial arts champions; we've seen the real world! Xiao Feng has been training his body since childhood; his foundation is much more solid than those kids in Taoist robes!"

"What's wrong with the world of high-level martial arts? The risks are great, but so are the opportunities! If I can really bring back a couple of unique skills, I can get into the Imperial Martial Arts University in the capital and bring glory to my ancestors!"

"Bring glory to the family? I just want my son to come back safe and sound!"

Zhang Hui's tears fell again. "It's been more than half a month... The thought of having to wait so long makes my heart ache every day..."

Luo Zhenshan looked at his wife, his expression softening, and his tone became gentler: "Alright, stop crying. Xiao Feng is quick-witted and skilled enough; he'll be fine."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Besides, compared to that kid Meng Chuan... our Xiao Feng is lucky."

Zhang Hui stopped crying and looked up with tearful eyes.

Luo Zhenshan shook his head, his tone complex: "That child... he really didn't think straight. Of all things to do, why choose the prehistoric wilderness? Is that a place a human can go?"

"In the past eight hundred years, has anyone who went in ever come out? It's a 100% mortality rate, certain death! Xiao Feng has at least a 90% chance of survival if he goes to the High Martial Arts Academy. He... sigh..."

Zhang Hui was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously wiped away her tears.

Yes, compared to Meng Chuan directly walking into the primordial gate that symbolizes "death," it seems that his son going to the High Martial Arts Academy is indeed not so hopeless.

This was rather cruel, even somewhat despicable, but it eased the tension that had been building up inside her.

Fortunately, my son didn't go that far.

……

In the west of the city, there is a secluded detached courtyard.

White walls and black tiles, with a few clumps of green bamboo in the courtyard.

This is Chen Beixuan's home.

It's more like a small family retreat than a home.

The air in the tea room was filled with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood.

The father, Chen Jinyan, dressed in a plain long gown, slowly poured tea from a purple clay teapot.

Sitting opposite me was Mr. Chen, an old man with gray hair and a ruddy complexion.

"Bei Xuan has been in the world of high immortals for more than half a month."

Chen Jinyan pushed the teacup forward, "Although the world of high immortals is dangerous, its spiritual energy is abundant, far surpassing that of low immortals. With his aptitude and his family's 'Eternal Spring Technique,' if he can find an opportunity, he has a good chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage within a few years. If he can form his Golden Core before returning..."

A burning glint flashed in his eyes.

The Chen family had a lineage of Golden Elixir Immortals who enjoyed a period of great glory.

After the ancestor passed away, the family fortunes declined.

They can barely be considered a family of cultivators now, but in the real cultivation circle, they are no longer ranked.

The son, Chen Beixuan, is the most talented of his generation and is expected to revitalize the family business.

Old Master Chen picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, and said calmly, "Opportunities are determined by fate; they cannot be forced."

"The mortality rate in the world of immortals exceeds 30%, which is the highest outside of the prehistoric world."

"Bei Xuan is going there to fight to the death. If he succeeds, the Chen family will regain its glory; if he fails..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Chen Jinyan understood.

If they lose, their bodies will be reduced to ashes, and the Chen family will lose their last bit of capital to turn things around.

"Father, I believe in Bei Xuan," Chen Jinyan said in a deep voice. "He has spiritual roots and a resilient character."

Grandpa Chen nodded slightly.

He took a sip of tea and suddenly asked, "What was the name of the child chosen from the primordial world that day?"

"Meng Chuan." Chen Jinyan remembered it very clearly. Because the golden light that day was too shocking, and also because that child was in the same class as her son.

"Meng Chuan..." the old man repeated, put down his teacup, and shook his head.

His tone carried a condescending regret, and a deeper, ineffable sense of alienation:

"Ants are ignorant of the vastness of heaven and earth. They think venturing into perilous places equates to courage? It's nothing but foolishness!"

"The primordial wilderness...that's a true wasteland!"

"Eight hundred years, not a single person has returned. Does he think he can? Does he really believe he is the chosen one?"

"Utterly ridiculous!"