Chapter 3: How Can a Scholar

"In the previous life, the reason for our failure was simple: first, we didn't know that an alien invasion would occur ten years later."

"Second, although Spiritual Qi revived, causing some ordinary animals and plants to gradually change, humans began to use this spiritual medicine to aid cultivation, but its utilization was too low, and on Blue Star the number of alchemists is countable, and because of environmental issues, cultivation resources are truly scarce."

"Third, after Spiritual Qi revived, some hermit cultivators emerged, bringing forth various techniques, but many of those techniques were lost in the long river of history, and the remaining ones are either fragmentary or of low quality."

"Fourth, the lack of Magic Treasure: on Blue Star no one knows how to forge artifacts anymore, not a single person! The only usable ones are the Magic Treasures passed down by each sect and family; others have never even seen any."

"Fifth, there are too few people on Blue Star who possess a spiritual root; many cannot cultivate, and some, because of their age, find cultivation merely a waste of time."

"And the final reason is that the already limited cultivation resources have been monopolized by the wealthy, causing many highly gifted individuals' cultivation to come to an abrupt halt."

Su Chen's eyes showed contemplation as he began to summarize all the reasons for humanity's failure in the previous life and the corresponding solutions.

The first problem isn't hard to solve; the fifth he can't address—he can't change something like a spiritual root. The final problem was very difficult to solve before, but now he already has a plan to improve it.

"As for the second, third, and fourth problems, they're actually just one issue: the problem of cultivation resources."

Su Chen pondered silently, then his eyes flashed brightly: "I can use the Ten Thousand Realms System! Whenever I reach a world, I can steal… and then instantly return. Isn't that making a fortune?"

He quickly stopped the thought, comforting himself: "How can a scholar's belongings be considered stealing…"

At that moment, the System's voice shattered his fantasy: "Host, the time ratio for each traversal is 100:1. Each time you traverse to a world, you must stay there for a full hundred days, which corresponds to one day on Blue Star, before you can traverse again."

Su Chen's mouth twitched a few times as he heard it, thinking to himself: "So it's not that simple; looks like I have to change the plan."

Time passed quickly; Su Chen asked the System many questions and learned a lot. But the System doesn't answer everything, only some common‑sense queries and those related to the System itself.

For example, the cultivation realms on Blue Star now are no different from ten years ago: Opening Spirit, Condense Qi, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul. Any realms beyond that, no matter how he asks, the System gives no response.

Time flew by, and while Su Chen was bantering with the System, it was already noon.

【7】 "Come on, A Chen, let's eat. Don't forget to treat me to savory crepe with fried dough stick!" Qin Ziyang, just after school, slung an arm around Su Chen's shoulder, beaming happily.

"Come on, A-Chen, let's eat, don't forget to treat me to a savory crepe!" Qin Ziyang, as soon as school let out, put his arm around Su Chen's shoulder and said happily.

Su Chen saw this and couldn't help but find it amusing, nodding.

The cafeteria of Qing Shui No. 1 High is huge, divided into three floors; the first floor offers basic dishes like rice with toppings, noodles, and steamed buns—affordable fare.

The second floor is better decorated, a dazzling array of various snacks—savory crepe with fried dough stick, rice noodle soup, grilled sausages, and so on.

Su Chen has never been to the third floor; people say it's all private rooms, usually frequented only by relatively wealthy students.

On the stairs to the second floor, Su Chen walked while listening to the chatter beside his ear.

"Old Li's savory crepe with fried dough stick is the best in the whole school—no, the whole Clearwater is unbeatable. He puts a bit of…" Qin Ziyang rambled as he walked.

Su Chen gave Qin Ziyang a somewhat sly look, then put on a serious demeanor and said: "Indeed, Old Li's jianbing is decent,

but if I may say, the best is still Old Li's …"

Before he could finish, Qin Ziyang darted forward, covering his mouth.

At that moment, seeing his little thought almost exposed in public, the tall, imposing, handsome guy flushed a rare deep red, quickly looked around, shushed with a finger to his lips, and when no one noticed, he finally relaxed.

Su Chen had only been teasing him and hadn't intended to say it all; he was about to continue joking.

Suddenly, a girl's silhouette at the corner caught Su Chen's eye as she passed from below upward. She wore a blue‑and‑white school uniform, had fair skin, large lively eyes, red lips and white teeth, hair simply tied at the back, no makeup, making her look like a fresh lotus—a rare beauty.

Su Chen merely glanced calmly, ignored her, and continued toward the second floor.

The girl had been about to extend a hand to greet Su Chen, but she trembled and lowered it, a flash of bewilderment and loss in her eyes.

After the two walked a bit farther, Qin Ziyang, with a look as if he had just met Su Chen today, lowered his voice: "What's going on, you're really strange today! You always liked Yu Gu Mo, you've been pursuing her for two years, why ignore her today?"

Su Chen replied indifferently: "We must prioritize study now."

Su Chen recounted what she had said in the previous life; back then, Su Chen confessed to Yu Gu Mo near graduation, and this was the answer he received.

Although the reply also had a second part: "I also like you," Su Chen at the time took it as true.

Later in university, Su Chen didn't give up, still seeking any information about her, learning that Yu Gu Mo quickly got a boyfriend, soon became pregnant, and even took a leave of absence because of it.

At that time, Su Chen was, for a long period, like a walking corpse, his eyes no longer shining as before.

Qin Ziyang opened his mouth but said nothing; he knew this long‑standing temperament—if he doesn't want to speak, no one will get an answer.

……

Saturday noon, at Su Chen's home.

Su Mother is a gentle woman, faint wrinkles appearing on her cheeks, yet one can still see she was a beauty in her youth.

At this moment she is busy in the kitchen. Beside her stands a somewhat stiff‑looking, yet imposing middle‑aged man—Su Father.

He is attentively helping Su Mother chop vegetables; the previously stiff face now shows a hint of unstoppable smile at the corners of his mouth.

Su Mother, finding it amusing, said: "Son's back, and you're this happy?"

Su Father, hearing this, paused his chopping, his complexion stiffened, then his face immediately turned serious again. He coughed twice and said: "What good is there in that brat coming back? As long as he doesn't cause trouble, that's fine. I just happened to recall something happy…"

Su Mother, after a smile, said nothing more, while from the living room came a somewhat lazy female voice: "Mom, Dad is just being stubborn, and he's even playing favorites. Last night when I came back, Dad wasn't that happy. I even wonder if I'm really your biological child!"

In the living room, a woman in pajamas, though unkempt, lies on the sofa; her pretty face, resembling Su Mother in some ways, contrasts with a completely different aura. Though young, her lazy demeanor exudes a mature, seductive charm.

She played with her phone while ranting, deliberately stretching her voice at the end, the teasing tone unmistakable.

Su Mother, hearing this, slightly furrowed her brows, then relaxed and gently said: "Qing Er, you mustn't talk nonsense, or you'll make your dad angry again."

Su Father, whose previously stern face was covered with a cold frost, as if suppressing anger, then seeming to recall something, spoke in a low voice: "Qing Er, whatever Chen has, you also have; whatever Chen lacks, you have. From now on, dad won't allow you to spout nonsense like this."

Su Qing, idly scrolling her phone, paid no heed to their words, lazily replying: "Got it!"