Chapter 34: The Reward Promised by the Director. Is Comprehension and Aptitude Universal?

Facing the Director’s inquiry, Feng Yan cast a subtle glance at Xu Ran, seemingly seeking his approval.

Truth be told, Feng Yan was a stand-up guy; he was not only reliable under pressure but also tight-lipped, never uttering a word about things he hadn't been given permission to disclose.

Receiving the silent query, Xu Ran nodded his consent. It was just a minor auxiliary skill; there was no need to hide it, and this was certainly not the time for secrecy.

Feng Yan cleared his throat. "Director, it was actually all thanks to Xu Ran. He comforted me for a moment, and the fear in my mind vanished instantly. I stopped trembling and breaking out into cold sweats."

The Director thought he had misheard. "What?"

Auntie Lu Ya raised her finely arched brows. "What? How is that possible? That requires a high-level spiritual cultivator! Xu Ran is only five years old, isn't he? Even if his natural talent is extraordinary, he shouldn't be able to master the abilities of a spiritual cultivator yet, right?"

The Director couldn't agree more with Lu Ya. "He just comforted you and it was gone? This couldn't have been Xu Ran's doing! I've always seen you as the toughest one here; it must have been your own willpower overcoming the fear!"

Feng Yan’s tone was firm. "No, it was entirely Xu Ran’s doing! I don't know why, but his comfort has a special effect!"

Seeing Feng Yan’s insistence, the Director remained skeptical. To be honest, even though he had seen countless geniuses in his life, he couldn't accept that Xu Ran’s comforting had special effects. It defied all common sense!

Xu Ran shook his head. "Director, Auntie Lu, I don't have time to explain. Let me get back to calming the little ones down!"

At this moment, every second counted in saving the children. Not one for small talk, Xu Ran immediately knelt before a toddler who was on the verge of fainting from fright, the "incantation" for fear-cleansing echoing softly in the child’s ears.

After twenty repetitions, the toddler’s emotions stabilized. The heart-wrenching wails ceased, and the child drifted into a peaceful sleep in their mother’s arms.

The mother hugged Xu Ran and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, little Ran!"

Xu Ran: "..."

*Auntie, you’re taking liberties!*

He shook his head helplessly and turned to continue clearing the fear from the other children.

Director: "It actually works?"

Lu Ya: "I’ve learned something new today! Is this child’s comprehension and natural aptitude truly this monstrous?"

Both of them stared at Xu Ran’s actions in astonishment, their understanding of the world seemingly refreshed.

The Director was suspicious. "It’s clearly just a standard incantation; I can recite it too."

With that, the Director walked up to a toddler and repeated Xu Ran’s incantation word for word twenty times. The toddler only wailed even more violently. The Director retreated, looking sheepish. "Strange, it’s the same incantation, but it only works when Xu Ran says it!"

The Director furrowed his brow, gazing at Xu Ran’s handsome profile, lost in deep thought.

Xu Ran increased his speed, yet every syllable remained clear and distinct. The twenty repetitions took exactly eighty seconds. In just over half an hour, all thirty toddlers had returned to a state of tranquility.

"Thank you, little Ran! You’re amazing!"

"Quick, thank Brother Xu Ran. You should learn from him; look how outstanding he is!"

A few toddlers who still had some energy left chirped in their high-pitched voices, "Brother Xu Ran is a superhero! I love Brother Xu Ran the most!"

Amidst the tears and gratitude of the mothers, Xu Ran had become a hero.

"I’m gaining reputation while grinding progress—I’m quite impressive myself," Xu Ran thought with a faint smile.

He turned his attention to the seventeen super-geniuses of his cohort. Being over six years old and having already mastered their natural talents, they had stronger resistance to the nightmare and fear. They hadn't fainted, but they lay in their mothers' arms, trembling, drenched in cold sweat, and sobbing. Still, their condition was heart-wrenching.

Xu Ran didn't waste time, releasing the "incantation" on each of them one by one. After every twenty repetitions, another child would calm down, the terror of the nightmare forgotten.

"Little Ran, thank you."

"Thank you so much, little Ran. Without you, I truly wouldn't know what to do. It’s all thanks to you..."

The mothers, eyes red, hugged and kissed him.

"Gratitude?" Xu Ran felt a touch of warmth. The sincere looks from the mothers felt warmer than the spring sun. His motivation grew significantly.

Twenty minutes later, all the children at the Half-God Kindergarten had escaped the nightmare. The noisy activity center fell silent as the children gradually drifted into steady, calm sleep.

[Current Fear Cleansing Progress: 47/10,000...]

All the children at the kindergarten were out of danger. Xu Ran breathed a sigh of relief, standing among the crowd with a gentle smile.

Hu Niu brought over a towel to wipe the sweat from his face. "Brother Xu Ran, you’re truly amazing."

Xu Ran smiled. "That goes without saying."

Zhu Yuheng, with her white hair and brows, brought over a cup of tea. "Here... drink this."

"Thank you." Xu Ran raised an eyebrow, took a sip, and wiped his face.

"Well done, my good son."

His mother looked at her little cub—not tall, but standing firm—her smile full of relief, a faint shimmer of tears in her eyes. "You are worthy of being Xu Heqing’s child; the gentleness in your bones is exactly the same."

She hugged him. "You’ve been busy for an hour. Are you tired?"

Xu Ran shook his head. "Not tired. I actually feel quite happy."

His mother chuckled. "Happiness is the right feeling. Most people couldn't achieve what you have; you should be proud. You’re truly fantastic!"

She was used to praising him.

The Director patted Xu Ran’s head. "Indeed, as the Director, I should thank you too!"

Lu Ya chimed in, "Director Cheng, verbal thanks are too hollow. You need to provide real rewards, don't just keep giving empty promises. Think about it: how much did Xu Ran help you? Even if the city's spiritual cultivators rested and rushed over, it would take at least half an hour! Half an hour... how much damage could be done in that time?"

The other two instructors were also still shaken. "That’s right. Our children are only a year old; if they had to endure for another half hour, they would likely suffer brain damage from hypoxia. We must give Xu Ran a proper reward!"

They looked at Xu Ran with gratitude, insisting on a formal commendation.

Xu Ran smiled faintly. "Director, there's no need! Really!"

The Director: "..."

Since they had already reached this point, it would be rude not to offer something. "Let me think... what reward would suit you? You’re only five and a half; you can't use ninety-nine percent of treasures. I’ll have to go back and think about it!"

Xu Ran nodded. "Okay."

He readily agreed. After all, his initial goal wasn't a reward; he was saving the children who had piled up on top of him, and honoring the bond with his classmates. Even the progress bar was just a side project. Rewards were just a pleasant surprise. Now that the Director had promised, he didn't need to worry about it being forgotten.

The only thing that bothered him was that the progress bar had moved too little. A mere 47 points didn't befit his status as a "grind-master"!

Xu Ran thought for a moment, then looked at his mother. "Mom, ask Zhuangzhuang’s mother and Tongtong’s mother to bring the other children over. I can help them eliminate the fear brought on by the nightmare."

"And for the other mothers in the kindergarten, you all have friends—whoever has a child struggling with fear, tell them to bring them over as quickly as possible. I can treat them."

His mother’s eyes lit up. "Are you sure? Won't it be too much of a burden, son?"

Xu Ran waved his hand. "It won't. Let them hurry over!"

Since he was grinding progress, he would go all the way!

Ten minutes later, at the foot of the hill leading to the Half-God Kindergarten, over a hundred mothers arrived, holding crying, twitching children and pleading for treatment.

Xu Ran didn't hesitate; he got straight to work!

[Fear Cleansing Progress +1...]
[Fear Cleansing Progress +1...]

Behind him, Li Qinghong watched with increasing shock. She had seen countless top-tier geniuses, but this was her first time seeing someone with Xu Ran’s peculiar constitution—not only did his blood energy grow rapidly and his combat skills far outpace his peers, but he could also dispel the fear caused by eerie nightmares?

Wasn't that something only high-level spiritual cultivators with the appropriate constitution could do? How could this defy common sense?

Was "Comprehension Constitution" equal to "Omnipotent"?

The key was that Xu Ran’s "incantation" was just gibberish that anyone could mimic, yet it only worked when he said it. Even when the Director tried dozens of times, it had no effect—it was absurd!

Was the elusive Comprehension Constitution really this powerful? Li Qinghong was filled with doubt.

Xu Ran, meanwhile, was buried in his grind.

Tongtong’s mother and Zhuangzhuang’s mother squeezed to the front, excited. "Little Ran, little Ran! We haven't seen you in so long!"

Xu Ran looked up. "Indeed, Aunties."

"You’re so amazing now! Not only are you a super-genius of the Half-God Kindergarten, but you can also help children eliminate their nightmare fears. You’re so outstanding, there are no words to describe you!"

Tongtong’s mother lavished him with praise, as if to blow him up to the heavens.

Zhuangzhuang’s mother, on the other hand, was a bit more reserved. "Little Ran, I brought a few friends along. Their children are also suffering quite a bit. Does that matter?"

Xu Ran replied gently, "It doesn't matter."

Zhuangzhuang’s mother straightened her back and beamed, turning to her friends with pride. "See? I told you little Ran is a kind person. I used to hold him when he was little."

She seemed to be showing off her powerful connections, and her friends did not disappoint, looking at her with envy and amazement.

"Zhuangzhuang’s mother is truly impressive. To know such a super-genius from the Half-God Kindergarten!"

"If only we could know such a genius, too."

Hearing their flattery, Zhuangzhuang’s mother raised her chin, pleased to the extreme. Xu Ran didn't expose her; people loved to gain emotional value through showing off. Instead of calling her out, he looked at those mothers and, seeing their children were only a year old, waved his hand.

"Come, come, let's treat your children first."

Her friends were stunned, their faces filled with disbelief—had they just received special treatment?

"Is it okay? Really?"

Zhuangzhuang’s mother was startled, then flattered, and quickly urged them, "Go, go, go!"

"Thank you, Zhuangzhuang’s mom."
"Thank you, little handsome!"

Xu Ran smiled lightly, and under their awestruck gazes, he healed the children.

"What a brilliant little genius!"
"No wonder he got into the Half-God Kindergarten!"
"Zhuangzhuang’s mom, you are so blessed to be neighbors with such a super-genius!"

Zhuangzhuang’s mother couldn't stop smiling. "Oh, it’s nothing. Little Ran and his mother are just kind to me; the whole family is wonderful."

"That boy, little Ran—I remember when he was only a few months old, he was already so smart... the moment he started walking, he was steady as a rock; by one year old, he already knew how to play hide-and-seek. He was born with intelligence far beyond normal people..."

She began to brag about Xu Ran’s infancy, drawing envious looks from everyone. To have such a close relationship with a super-genius of the Half-God Kindergarten—who wouldn't be envious?

Xu Ran just shook his head and began the next round of treatment.

"Thank you, little handsome. You’re truly amazing!"
"You're welcome. Just a small effort."

Over an hour later, Xu Ran finished his work.

[Fear Cleansing Progress: 100/10,000...]

Today’s quota was full! Comfortable! Xu Ran stretched.

Behind him, the Director had witnessed the little boy saving people over and over again, and he was deeply moved—he knew he hadn't been wrong! Whether in character or ability, Xu Ran was perfectly suited to be his successor. With his Comprehension Constitution, Xu Ran would surely be able to teach according to his students' needs and cultivate batches of invincible super-geniuses!

He was a natural-born Sage Teacher! A fire of admiration burned in the Director’s eyes.

"So, what reward should I choose? It must be the best thing I can offer, and the most suitable for the little guy..." The Director furrowed his brow, struggling to decide.

...

Elsewhere, the city’s spiritual cultivators were dozens of times busier than Xu Ran. They were dealing with thirty thousand children. Even if one spell covered a hundred people, they had to cast it three thousand times—averaging three hundred spells per person. Moreover, they had to race against time, prioritizing children aged one and under, making the burden extremely heavy. Fortunately, the city provided massive resources to help them manage their fatigue.

Two hours later, the ten high-level spiritual cultivators lay on the ground, exhausted, falling into an instant sleep.

"Thank you for your hard work."
"Move them to the beds, cover them up."

He Sifang, the third-in-command of Jing City, arrived to personally assist the cultivators. The graying spiritual cultivator opened his eyes. "Has the investigation team found the source of the nightmares?"

He Sifang’s expression was grave. "No. But they are searching the city’s sewers inch by inch. There are only so many places to hide; beneath the city is the best blind spot."

"We must find it as soon as possible. We cannot let this nightmare happen a second time!"

He Sifang couldn't give a definitive answer, as they hadn't even figured out what the nightmare was; they could only clear the ghost-like aura everywhere.

However, Lu Ya suddenly landed before them. "Good news! I found some leads at the Half-God Kindergarten!"

He Sifang asked curiously, "Oh? I heard there’s a super-genius at the kindergarten, only five years old, who can eliminate nightmare fear. Is there really such a monstrous genius?"

Lu Ya nodded. "There is. I witnessed the whole process. He used a mundane 'incantation' to calm every child in the kindergarten!"

He Sifang: "Unbelievable!"

Lu Ya: "Not only that, but there was another child at the kindergarten who, despite the fear, drew the nightmare itself. Look!"

She pulled out a photo and handed Feng Yan’s drawing to He Sifang.

He Sifang was shocked. "It’s... such an eerie monster?! Tens of thousands of infants twisted together? What a disgusting thing!"

A surge of rage rose in his heart; he wanted to drag the creature out and shatter it into pieces. "I will send this information to Brother Yuan Yan immediately. His investigation team will definitely need this."

Lu Ya added, "Remember, there is one crucial phrase: the Nightmare Mother kept screaming in the dream—'My child, where are you? My child, where are you?' I think this is a clue."

He Sifang nodded and transmitted the information to Yuan Yan, the leader of the investigation team.

It was nearing five in the morning. At the foot of the hill by the Half-God Kindergarten, the Director, Li Qinghong, Xu Ran, and his mother were walking back to their lodgings.

The Director walked with his hands behind his back, deep in thought. Suddenly, he looked up at Xu Ran. "Little Ran, your comprehension is extremely high. Can you use Feng Yan’s clues to find the Nightmare Mother’s lair?"

Xu Ran: "..."