Chapter 329: Long Lingyuan

The air inside the Ecological Garden seemed to solidify. Mo Yu's exaggerated laughter and Xiao Bao's childish giggling were the only background sounds, yet they only amplified the silence between Xia Wan and Qin Feng.

Xia Wan felt as if she were being roasted over a fire, her cheeks burning, her scalp prickling, her breath growing difficult. She dared not look at Qin Feng's expression, standing frozen in place, her mind blank except for the three words "it's over" flashing wildly.

After laughing enough, Mo Yu climbed up from the Grassland, wiped away his tears of mirth, elbowed the stiff Xia Wan, winked and mouthed silently: "Good luck to you, Little Guardian~"

Then he scooped up still-giggling Xiao Bao, waved toward Qin Feng's direction: "Uh, Lao Qin, you two chat. I'll take my son somewhere else to stroll—won't disturb your… 'age' discussion."

With that, he slipped away faster than a rabbit, vanishing instantly into the lush vegetation.

The scene was left with Xia Wan, wishing she could vanish on the spot, and Qin Feng, still holding his teacup, his expression inscrutable.

Seconds ticked by, each one stretching like a century.

Xia Wan felt she was suffocating. Summoning the greatest courage of her life, she spoke in a voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz, stammering: "M-Master… I… I didn't mean it that way… I…"

She babbled, utterly unable to explain herself.

Qin Feng did not respond to her defense, nor did he rage or "dispose" of her as she feared. He simply walked two steps forward and stood before her.

His gaze remained fixed on her, deep and piercing, as if seeing through all her embarrassment and panic.

Just as Xia Wan thought today was her doom, Qin Feng spoke slowly, his voice as flat and unruffled as if the shocking "Old Man" had never been uttered:

"How is your control over your power progressing?"

"Huh?" Xia Wan snapped her head up, meeting Qin Feng's calm, unruffled eyes, momentarily stunned.

Master… was asking about her training progress?

He wasn't holding her to account for that remark?

The sudden shift left her mind sluggish; she answered instinctively: "I… I'm okay. I've preliminarily mastered the Space Folding Technique, and my Energy Compression Rate has improved by about fifteen percent…"

"Hmm." Qin Feng gave a slight nod, seemingly satisfied with her progress. "The essence of Guardian Power lies in balance and order, not mere destruction. Your attempt to fuse with that Chip was on the right path, but your technique was too mechanical."

He was actually critiquing her previous experiment!

Xia Wan listened, dazed, as if the social death she'd just endured had been an illusion.

"Energy is like flowing water—guide it, don't force it." Qin Feng continued, raising a hand to trace faint, arcane patterns in the air—patterns that seemed to embody the truth of energy flow. "The Chip's structure is like a riverbed; follow its natural course, and success will come effortlessly."

His few words struck straight at the core of the bottleneck she'd faced in her experiments. She had indeed over-pursued precise control, losing the natural fluidity of energy.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master!" Xia Wan bowed hastily, filled with both gratitude and shame.

Qin Feng retracted his finger, his gaze sweeping again over her still-flushed cheeks, his tone still calm:

"You're young, but your thoughts are plentiful."

Xia Wan: "..." The breath she'd just released rushed back up!

Master… he definitely remembered!

She opened her mouth, wanting to struggle for one more explanation.

But Qin Feng had already turned away, seemingly unwilling to continue the topic. He gazed toward the simulated horizon of the Ecological Garden, where a small Transport Ship was slowly descending—likely delivering new experimental samples.

"Get ready."

Qin Feng suddenly spoke without context.

"Ready for what, Master?" Xia Wan asked, puzzled.

Qin Feng did not turn back. He simply uttered three words in a quiet tone:

"Long Lingyuan."

Long Lingyuan?

Xia Wan froze slightly. It was a completely unfamiliar name. She rapidly scanned her memory for the Base's high-ranking officials, key collaborators, even known potential enemies—none matched it.

Who was he? Why did Master mention him specifically?

From Master's tone, it seemed "Long Lingyuan" was about to arrive—and she was expected to… prepare?

Friend or foe?

She looked at Qin Feng, seeking more information.

But Qin Feng stood silently, watching the descending Transport Ship, saying nothing. Sunlight filtered through the Simulated Sky Canopy, outlining his figure in a faint halo—his tall, solitary back seemed severed from the noise of the entire world.

Xia Wan knew further questions would yield nothing.

She suppressed her confusion, etching the name "Long Lingyuan" firmly into her mind.

It seemed peaceful days were about to be shattered again.

She didn't know whether this arrival would bring a new storm… or a turning point.

She stared at Qin Feng's back, recalling the excruciatingly awkward moment just now, her heart a tangle of emotions.

Master's thoughts were indeed harder to fathom than the stars.