Li Tao's face was exceptionally grim, and deep in his eyes was a profound sense of helplessness and defeat.

Li Tao undeniably worked hard and fought relentlessly. With average qualifications, he forcibly entered the Grey Wolf Team, which in some way already demonstrated Li Tao's excellence.

However, in this Grey Wolf Team, within this base, there were still distinctions of superiority and inferiority. Some trainees, who were clearly not as diligent as Li Tao, and even not as capable, nonetheless had many people flattering them.

The harder he worked, the more Li Tao realized the inherent gap between himself and those people, akin to the difference between heaven and earth, insurmountable no matter how hard he tried.

At this moment, facing the aggressive Lin Hong, Li Tao fell silent, with a hint of numb humiliation in his eyes, mechanically reaching out his palm to slap his own face.

This scene made Xu Fan's expression turn completely icy cold.

No matter how much Lin Hong was bullying with her authority, in Xu Fan's eyes, she was just a spoiled little girl from a big family. Xu Fan wouldn't truly get angry, but seeing Li Tao's actions, Xu Fan was genuinely furious.

The numb despair in Li Tao's eyes ignited an inexplicable anger in Xu Fan's heart.

Why is the gap between people so vast?

Why are some people born to stand above, while others, no matter how hard they try, can never change their fate?

Slap!

Just as Li Tao's slap was about to hit his own face, Xu Fan reached out, firmly grasping Li Tao's arm.

Li Tao could accept his fate, could surrender, but Xu Fan would not, and would not allow those around him to accept and surrender to fate.

"Instructor Xu... you're the instructor, it's okay, I can handle it myself."

Li Tao lowered his head, with a hint of numbness on his face.

Xu Fan nodded, released his grip on Li Tao's arm, and then spoke with ultimate calmness, "You want to slap yourself, fine, I won't block you, but don't do it in front of me."

"I, Xu Fan, despise self-deprecating people!"

How many hardships had Xu Fan been through? How many dangers faced? Burdened by even four Hidden World Families! And when had Xu Fan ever fallen into despair and numbness?

Of course, Xu Fan could understand Li Tao's actions. For a young man who hadn't experienced much, facing the powerful Hidden World Families, even the insignificant waste within them, Li Tao didn't dare to resist.

Understanding, but not agreeing.

If Li Tao hadn't come with Xu Fan, Xu Fan naturally wouldn't meddle, but because it was due to Xu Fan, and right in front of him, how could Xu Fan allow Li Tao to slap himself?

The previously numb-faced Li Tao, upon hearing Xu Fan's words, shook all over, his eyes turning blood red.

How could Li Tao want to devalue himself? But facing the Hidden World Families, facing those naturally advantaged young masters and missus, Li Tao felt ashamed and powerless to resist it all.

And now, this veil was torn apart by Xu Fan, and Li Tao felt as if he was entirely exposed, immense humiliation rushing upon him, causing Li Tao to hold his head and weep bitterly.

Is it easy to find a place in this base? But surrendering means facing humiliation, and being a passionate youth, how could Li Tao calmly face this endless humiliation?

Xu Fan looked at the sobbing Li Tao, his expression calm.

Crying is far better than numbness. Xu Fan can accept those of mediocre talent but cannot accept people who give up on themselves. If Li Tao wants to achieve something in the future, he must overcome this hurdle.

However, just at this moment, Lin Hong's disdainful expression grew stronger, looking at Li Tao with undisguised aversion.

"What's the point of such a lowly person living? Better off dead!"

Xu Fan glanced indifferently at Lin Hong but didn't take action, instead turning to gaze at Li Tao.

Upon hearing Lin Hong's words, Li Tao shivered, his face full of pain, clutching his head in agony, tears streaming down his face.

"Instructor Xu, I work so hard, spending ten hours a day cultivating, eight hours doing tasks to earn points, two hours attending classes, why am I still so despicable?"

Xu Fan was slightly silent, eventually speaking, "Because you've been working hard, you have the right to feel your inadequacy, the right to feel the inherent gap between yourself and others. And because you're unwilling to accept that gap, you feel humiliated."

Li Tao trembled all over. If he hadn't worked hard, hadn't gone through layers of selection to enter the Grey Wolf Team, he probably wouldn't even have the chance to come into contact with these Hidden World Families, these lucky children of nature.

But following that realization, Li Tao felt even more pain.

Why did his relentless efforts lead to this result? If he hadn't been chosen by the Grey Wolf Team, if he hadn't come into contact with this world, wouldn't he be living happily in the mundane world?

With Xu Fan's guidance, Li Tao discovered the root of his pain—his ambition, his refusal to settle for mediocrity.

But in the face of the colossal Hidden World Families, what does the ambition of a mere individual count for?

Li Tao's face was filled with confusion and pain, while Xu Fan just silently watched him, uttering not a single word, fully aware that no one could help this young man cross this threshold.

Everyone must face this hurdle. Only by crossing it will Li Tao qualify to stand in this vast Cultivation World and become a true strongman!

Surprisingly, the elder who had been snoring earlier quietly sat up at some point, watching the scene with great interest.

Finally, Li Tao stood again before Xu Fan, clenching his fist tightly, his nails digging into his flesh, oozing little spots of blood.

"Instructor Xu, I want to become stronger."

There was a hint of hoarseness in his voice, yet it was filled with determination.

Xu Fan gently patted Li Tao's shoulder, his voice impossibly calm, yet equally unwavering, "You will, I guarantee it."

The elder at the counter watched Li Tao, a smile forming at the corner of his mouth, his expression seemingly reminiscing.

However, at that moment, Lin Hong finally lost her patience and spoke again, "Are you two done yet? Take the offer or leave it!"

"I've changed my mind now, a hundred slaps each before you can leave."

Yet what Lin Hong didn't expect was the previously timid Li Tao now looked at her with an expression that made her feel endangered.

Even more unexpectedly, Xu Fan directly slapped Lin Hong across the face.

Slap!

The crisp sound reverberating in the Elixir Pharmacy, along with Xu Fan's icy voice.

"Noisy!"

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