章 16: How to Treat a Poor Illness
編集者: Henyee Translations
…
After leaving the school, Xu Zhong became a magnet for people from rich families.
Moreover, their intentions were all too predictable: either to marry off their daughters or sell them as valuable assets.
In their eyes, unless their daughters possessed martial arts talent, these daughters were little more than goods on a shelf, with the hope of fetching a higher price one day.
"Xu Zhong, my granddaughter, Shi Shi is just nine years old and simply beautiful. She'd be a perfect match for you!"
Nine years old? Do I appear to be a pedophile?
It was absurd to the point of being ludicrous. Am I entertaining such a notion?
Get lost! I'm a martial artist with a copper-refining warlock above 4000!
Before Xu Zhong could voice his frustration, someone beside him couldn't tolerate it any longer.
Another bald, middle-aged man, who appeared as if he had been perpetually drunk for half his life, let out a disdainful snort. "Old Xu, you've gone too far. Your granddaughter is only nine years old. Must you be so shameless? Hey, my daughter, is an exceedingly rare beauty. Anyone wishing to marry her in Luo City must queue up at the city gate."
"Pfft! Do you have the gall to criticize me? While it's true that your daughter is stunning, she's already in her thirties, and despite all these years, she remains unmarried. She's what they call an old leftover daughter. Is he in the business of picking up other people's mess?"
In this world, anyone with even a modicum of martial arts talent, even if they were only an F-rank martial artist, received countless offers from various factions and companies. Their monthly salaries started at a minimum of 50,000 yuan, exceeding even the wages of high-end technicians.
It was precisely because Xu Zhong's confirmed identity as a martial artist prompted numerous families and factions to vie for his allegiance.
The voices piled up, each one contributing to the cacophony in Xu Zhong's head. With a shout, he mustered the strength to break free from the encircling crowd.
…
Luo City, the ancient capital of the previous dynasty, retained an aura of antiquity.
The topography here was intricate, with cities scattered all around.
The river had previously flooded these cities, and as a result, the riverbed had risen. In many areas, the riverbed sat higher than the city itself.
Subsequent generations had rebuilt cities upon these ruins, leading to cities built atop one another.
After he found an open space, Xu Zhong continued his training, punching relentlessly. As the sun's afterglow lingered, he delved into the cultivation of the Pure Divine Art.
At this hour, the Pure Divine Art added 0.01 vitality points every three minutes, a far cry from the 0.02 points per half a minute during noon.
He persisted in his punches until the sun completely set, drenched in sweat.
The physical exertion of punching took its toll on his stamina.
He leaned against a towering tree, cracked a few quail eggs, and savored the salty flavor. He sighed. "Cultivation is truly no simple endeavor."
As soon as he spoke those words, they were all humblebrag.
Had this comment been heard by other martial artists who had dedicated themselves to rigorous cultivation for years with minimal progress in their Vitality, they might have keeled over from sheer exasperation.
Xu Zhong's curiosity drove him to put the power of the Thunder Fist to the test. Upon scanning the surroundings, he spotted a low hill not too far ahead.
With clenched fists and determination in his eyes, he launched a mighty punch!
The sky seemed to respond with muffled thunder, and even the air momentarily distorted. The relatively modest hill was instantaneously reduced to rubble.
"Wow, that's incredibly fierce," Xu Zhong marveled, his surprise akin to that of a child playing with a powerful toy.
Even though it was a simplified battle technique, the simplification only pertained to the cultivation process, not its sheer power. If anything, it might have even surpassed expectations!
Xu Zhong smiled.
Most ordinary F-rank martial artists wouldn't dare to withstand a blow like that head-on. By his estimate, this full-strength punch packed a force equivalent to a thousand kilograms.
The invincible Simplification System truly lived up to its name!
Yet, he couldn't ignore the fact that he remained relatively weak.
In comparison to those legendary figures who could move mountains and control the seas, he was no more than a speck of dust.
Nevertheless, he now possessed a clear path to become stronger; he simply needed to persevere.
However, just as he contemplated his growth path, Xu Zhong's stomach rumbled.
It was as if he hadn't eaten for days on end.
A sigh escaped him. It seemed the biggest obstacle to becoming an expert was the inability to enjoy a decent meal.
Upon gazing at his dwindling balance, which had dropped from 2,000 yuan to a mere 1,500 yuan, Xu Zhong fell into deep thought.
How could he secure the funds he needed?
The worry nagged at him.
…
Meanwhile.
Under the serene night sky illuminated by the moon's soft glow.
The Lin residence stood resplendent against the backdrop of the night.
This was the Lin residence abode.
While the Xiahou family may have been a dominant force in Luo City, their influence paled in comparison to the might of the Lin Family.
Lin Miaozhen, the Lin family's heir apparent, maintained a solitary existence, fully immersed in her cultivation.
Her life's goal revolved around gaining strength and shouldering the hefty responsibilities that awaited her. Her lifelong pursuit was to expel malevolent creatures and maleficent entities.
Yet, having personally witnessed Xu Zhong's transformation into a martial artist overnight, she found herself profoundly shaken.
Although Old Mo had speculated that Xu Zhong might have been reborn through the possession of a senior, the stranger's strength nonetheless aroused a deep sense of concern within her.
As the preeminent aristocratic family in the Hua Country, the Lin family's patriarch, Lin Fengqi, held a position as one of the five elders within the Red British Alliance. He oversaw the Nighthawks.
The Nighthawks were entrusted with the task of safeguarding the Hua Country's security and stability.
Even within the city, there were occasional threats posed by demon beasts and mutated humans who committed heinous acts. This necessitated the presence of vigilant Nighthawks to maintain order.
For Lin Miaozhen, this connection could provide her with an early opportunity to join the local Nighthawk team in Luo City, enabling her to acquire invaluable experience.
This could accumulate experience and train her combat skills as well.
There was a special combat test in the martial arts examination. If she had the experience of being one of the Nighthawks, she could easily obtain good results in the combat test.
The Red British Alliance's War Department specialized in confronting ferocious beasts beyond the city walls, while the Nighthawks patrolled the city at night to ensure peace.
"Lin Miaozhen, how about you join the Fire Pillar Team and follow Captain Wu Ju here? He's an E-rank warrior."
"Hello, Captain Wu."
"Miss Lin, your courage is truly commendable. I'm impressed, truly impressed. We are currently on the hunt for a group of wanted criminals affiliated with the Mercy Society. Would you like to join us?"
"Of course."
…
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