On the path to immortality, I can see destiny.

Zhao Fan did not let the silence last long. He met Su San's probing gaze with a calm expression, and his voice, though not loud, rang out clearly enough for the three children who were listening nearby to hear him.

"After a month of instruction, the three students' performances clearly varied in quality."

He spoke fairly and impartially, without any bias, and stated the result.

"Zi Yun is the best."

Su Ziyun's face flushed instantly, her heart filled with joy. She quickly looked up at the clan leader and Zhao Fan, but when her gaze swept over Su Zichen and Su Ziheng, she lowered her head with some guilt.

"She is calm and focused, good at observation and imitation, and can make timely adjustments when there are problems. Such temperament and comprehension have the greatest potential for the path of alchemy."

As Su San listened, his smile deepened, and he looked at Su Ziyun with approval, nodding slowly.

Zhao Fan changed the subject slightly and looked at the other two.

"Zichen and Ziheng also performed admirably."

Upon hearing this, Su Zichen looked up abruptly, and Su Zihuan was also stunned, not expecting to receive such a evaluation from Zhao Fan.

"Zichen is steady and methodical in his work. He is quite meticulous in memorizing steps and controlling details. If he can overcome his mental barriers and practice more to become proficient, he may well become a qualified alchemist in time."

Su Zichen's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in his eyes.

"Ziheng..."

Zhao Fan looked at Su Zihuan, who was the most anxious, and thought for a while before continuing to speak.

"At first, I was impatient and impetuous, and I did not change my ways despite repeated instructions, which wasted a lot of time. However, in the past half month, I have learned to restrain myself and can barely follow the steps. Although I have had few successes, I am no longer as greedy and reckless as before."

"It's just that one's character needs to be tempered and one's foundation needs to be laid from scratch. If one can truly calm down, there may still be opportunities."

Although Su Ziheng was the worst performer among the three, it was fate that he came to study under him, so he still planned to help him out.

Su Zihuan never expected to receive such a evaluation. His feelings were complicated, a mixture of shame, resentment, and a hint of excitement.

After hearing Zhao Fan's evaluation of the three, Su San's smile remained unchanged, but a hint of knowing she had expected it, and a trace of barely perceptible helplessness flashed in her eyes.

He pondered for a moment, then sighed softly, his voice low but carrying an undeniable sense of reality.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao's evaluation is fair. I would like to thank you for your careful guidance. Ziyun's performance is beyond my expectations and is very gratifying."

Then, he changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat heavy.

"However... as fellow Daoist also knows, my Su family is merely a first-level family. We are rooted in Fuling Mountain and rely on the spiritual fields and veins here to support an alchemist. We have already exhausted all our efforts."

"Fellow Daoist, the amount of medicinal herbs you need for alchemy each month, plus the huge amount these three little ones have consumed in their practice over the past month, is really hard to sustain. To be honest, the value of the spiritual herbs consumed in just this month is almost equivalent to half a year's net income of our family."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Su Zichen and Su Ziheng.

Upon hearing this, the two men's faces turned three shades pale.

"Resources are simply too limited to sustain such demanding practice for three people at the same time for an extended period."

Su San looked at Zhao Fan, her tone sincere and suggestive.

"In my opinion, it would be better to concentrate the resources for the time being and support Ziyun to study in depth with you."

"She has the best talent and temperament, and achieves the fastest results. Only in this way can she live up to the hard work of fellow Daoists and the investment of her family."

"As for Zichen and Ziheng..."

He paused here, as if considering his words.

"Since they both have the desire to pursue the Dao and are not without talent, it would be a pity to give up now. How about this, they can prepare their own spiritual medicines, and when it is convenient for you, fellow Daoist, allow them to come and listen and observe. You can give them some guidance in your spare time."

"In this way, we can avoid completely extinguishing their thoughts, reduce the burden on the family, and avoid disturbing your cultivation too much. What do you think, fellow Daoist?"

After Su San finished speaking, she looked intently at Zhao Fan. His proposed solution seemed like a compromise, but in reality, he had already made a decision.

Su Zichen and Su Ziheng were now completely pale.

They had to provide their own elixirs? Their cultivation talent wasn't high, and without family support, where would they find the extra money to buy expensive elixirs for practice? This was practically a death sentence for their alchemy path.

Seeing her two brothers like this, Su Ziyun felt even more distressed. Her two brothers cared for her deeply, but she had taken away their opportunity.

Zhao Fan took in everyone's reactions. He understood Su San's predicament and comprehended her choice.

Cultivation families have limited resources, so selecting the best for breeding is the norm and perfectly acceptable. Su San's plan has already taken into account the feelings of all parties and given him enough respect.

It would be a lie to say there were no feelings after only a month together. Moreover, he hadn't expected that the Su family, as a first-class family, would be unable to support three alchemy apprentices.

They can barely supply enough for a month.

"What Fellow Daoist Su said makes sense."

Zhao Fan finally spoke, admitting that he couldn't influence Su San's decision and could only accept it.

"Family resources should indeed be used wisely. Focusing on nurturing Ziyun will yield the fastest and most appropriate results."

The last glimmer of light in Su Zichen and Su Ziheng's eyes faded completely with those words.

"As for Zichen and Ziheng."

Zhao Fan turned his gaze to the two of them, his tone still calm, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Since they have a desire to learn and are not entirely without talent, it would be a real pity to let them waste their talents. Fellow Daoist suggested that they bring their own spiritual medicines and listen in on my lectures. I have no objection."

"As long as they have all the materials, they can watch me refine pills or instruct Ziyun. If they have any questions, I can answer them without interfering with the main business. How much they can learn depends on their own destiny."

Upon hearing this, Su San visibly relaxed, and her smile became much more genuine.

"Excellent! Thank you for your understanding, Fellow Daoist! It's settled then. Ziyun, starting tomorrow, you will officially begin your alchemy training under Fellow Daoist Zhao. Everything you need will be provided by the family. You must work even harder and not let them down!"

"Yes! Ziyun will certainly do her best!"

Su Ziyun quickly bowed in agreement, her voice slightly strained, whether from excitement and nervousness or from guilt, it was hard to tell.

Su San then looked at the distraught Su Zichen and Su Ziheng, her tone softening somewhat.

"Zichen, Ziheng, you should understand the difficulties the family is facing. Fellow Daoist Zhao is kind and kind, and it is already a rare opportunity that he still allows you to listen in. You can find a way to obtain the spiritual herbs yourselves, either by diligently completing family tasks to accumulate contribution points and exchange them, or by searching for and collecting them in the mountains."

The path of cultivation is inherently difficult, and the path of alchemy is even more so. If you are truly determined to pursue this path, then you must demonstrate resolve.

Su Zichen and Su Ziheng nodded emphatically. In this short time, they had come to understand that the family's resources were indeed limited. The fact that they still had the opportunity to learn alchemy was already much better than that of other members of the clan.