Chapter 3770 — Astonished Beyond Measure
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
He had already touched the barrier that stood between peak Heaven-Tier and early Foundation Establishment, but Foundation Establishment was the kind of thing where, even with a pill's aid, failure was always possible—and not a small possibility at that.
Given Xiao Che's prudent, all-or-nothing temperament, unless he was truly prepared to the utmost extreme, he would not lightly take that step.
"You—this cautious nature of yours is a good thing, but sometimes you have to take the initiative and accept some risk. After all, how could cultivation ever be all calm winds and safe waters? Even if this attempt fails, there's always the next one, right?" Wei Zhao said with a smile, coaxing him along.
In his view, Xiao Che was utterly dependable in character and gifted besides—the kind of material that would surely achieve great things one day. It was only that this caution of his was a bit too absolute, and at certain moments it could become a burden instead.
Qiao Hongcai, by contrast, actually had far less assurance of succeeding at Foundation Establishment than Xiao Che did, yet was all the more willing to take that step. Many might see it as recklessness, but at certain times it was also the very embodiment of drive!
After all, cultivation was always like a boat sailing against the current: if you kept putting off that step, you might fall behind for good, never again getting the chance to overtake.
At those words, Xiao Che could not help but feel a flush of embarrassment.
This principle needed no explaining from Wei Zhao—he had known it himself long ago. In fact, he understood himself far better than an observer like Wei Zhao did: steadiness and low profile were virtues, but at certain moments they made him look timid and hesitant, turning into a weakness of character instead.
With his present foundations, plus the Foundation Establishment Pill won from the mountain-back trial, his odds of succeeding at Foundation Establishment were in fact not small—fully seventy percent or so.
Had it been Qiao Hongcai, he would not have needed Wei Zhao's or the long-suffering senior brother's reminder at all; he would long since have been itching to make the attempt. But Xiao Che was still preparing, still feeling that seventy percent was not enough—he would wait until he had eighty, even ninety percent or more, before he was willing to stake a gamble.
You could not call him cowardly; it was purely a matter of temperament—if he did not act, he did not act, but once he did, he had to have absolute certainty.
At other times this was no bad thing, but amid the fierce competition among the newcomers here at the Welcome Pavilion, it was not quite suitable. If he kept hesitating like this, then even if he started with an advantage in strength, he would gradually be caught up to, or even overtaken.
"All right, I understand," Xiao Che said at last, under the encouraging gazes of Wei Zhao and the others, drawing a deep breath and nodding gravely.
He could not let a piece of trash like Meng Zhou ride over his head forever. If nothing unexpected happened, he would soon face Meng Zhou in the challenge tournament, and when that time came he absolutely could not bring shame on Wei Zhao. Seventy percent was no small margin—it was time to take the gamble!
After all, Wei Zhao's enemies were people like Xu Lingchong and Meng Jueming. If even dealing with a minor underling like Meng Zhou required Wei Zhao to take action himself, then that would be a dereliction of duty on the part of underlings like Xiao Che and Qiao Hongcai!
Wei Zhao and the long-suffering senior brother exchanged a glance and nodded with satisfaction.
As a small group, it was clearly not enough for Wei Zhao alone to be strong—every one of them had to be strong, each able to hold his own, so that in the days to come they could gain a greater voice and crush every roadblock in their path.