Homecoming

Back in the lounge, Xia Zhi first took off his battle uniform, soaked in blood.

After a quick rinse, Xia Zhi changed back into clean, fresh training clothes. When he stepped out of the bathroom, he found someone already sitting in the room.

"Supervisor?"

Xia Zhi looked in surprise at Zhuge Tao, who was seated there.

Zhuge Tao smiled warmly at Xia Zhi. "You went through so much in one night. You must be tired, right?"

"I'm fine. I'm not tired. Why have you come, Supervisor?" Xia Zhi asked.

"If I hadn't come, that bastard Wang Zhihong from the Thunderbolt Martial Arts School would have sent someone to invite you over." Zhuge Tao smiled.

Xia Zhi froze for a moment before understanding. "Supervisor, I've already signed with the martial arts school. The school and you have both treated me so well. I won't join any other faction."

After hearing Xia Zhi's words, Zhuge Tao looked at the young man before him. His face still carried a trace of youthful innocence, yet it could not conceal the vicious aura left behind by a night of slaughter.

"Neither arrogant nor impetuous. Good!" Zhuge Tao grew increasingly satisfied with Xia Zhi and said with a smile, "The Security Bureau has already intervened in the matter of the Tiger Mastiff King. There will be results within the next few days."

"Xia Zhi, prepare yourself mentally. I'll make the people behind this pay a certain price, but that will be the end of it."

Xia Zhi looked at Zhuge Tao in surprise. "What do you mean, Supervisor?"

"Although we haven't investigated thoroughly, the person behind this didn't leave much evidence directly tying them to it."

"Besides, the other side has deep backing as well. If we push them too hard, a cornered dog may jump over the wall, and that won't be good for you."

"Of course, after this warning frightens them off and makes them afraid to act rashly again, you'll have time to grow."

"I've already reported your performance this time to Global Headquarters. Having mastered Microscopic level movement techniques basically guarantees you a spot in the Elite Training Camp."

"In a few months, it'll be time for the training camp's new recruitment. Once you enter the camp, by the time you return, you'll be a War God level powerhouse."

"Then, you'll truly have the strength to settle your own grudges." As he said this, a sharp glint flashed through Zhuge Tao's eyes.

After listening, Xia Zhi pondered for a moment. "I'll follow your decision, Supervisor."

"Come, let's return to the Base city together." Zhuge Tao rose to his feet and said with a smile, "The old man at home must be worried sick."

Thinking of his grandfather waiting for him at home, Xia Zhi followed Zhuge Tao out of the lounge.

Yangzhou City, Mingyue Residential Area.

Xia Zhi's grandfather, Xia Dahai, was sitting in a pavilion by the residential area's entrance, talking with a white-haired old man.

Ever since Xia Dahai and Xia Zhi had moved into Mingyue Residential Area, he no longer had to go out every day to collect scrap. With plenty of free time, he joined several equally elderly relatives of martial artists in the neighborhood to play chess and take walks every day. Life had become very comfortable.

The white-haired old man was someone Xia Dahai had met through their daily chess games.

The old man had originally come to play chess with Xia Dahai today. But after Xia Zhi had left yesterday to take the combat assessment, Xia Dahai had spent nearly all his time waiting in the pavilion by the neighborhood entrance, aside from eating and resting.

He wanted to see Xia Zhi return safely at the first possible moment.

"Old Xia, your Xia Zhi will definitely pass the assessment."

Seeing him repeatedly glance toward the neighborhood entrance, especially with hopeful eyes whenever a car arrived, the white-haired old man could not help but comfort him.

"Old Liu, is this combat assessment really dangerous?

"Xia Zhi said it wasn't dangerous, but I heard Old Li and the others say that it is."

Xia Dahai asked anxiously.

The white-haired old man nodded. "There is some danger."

"Every martial artist combat assessment has Quasi-Warriors who die. Injuries and disabilities happen too."

Seeing the nervous look on Xia Dahai's face, he continued, "But your Xia Zhi will definitely be fine. According to my son, the casualties are all from the weakest batch among the examinees. This is also the first screening on the path of a martial artist."

"Your Xia Zhi was already so strong during the Quasi-Warrior Assessment. With his strength, this assessment won't be dangerous."

"The reason we can live such peaceful lives, and why humanity can have safe living environments like Base cities, isn't it all because martial artists like Xia Zhi risk their lives for us?"

"Mm, yes." Xia Dahai nodded. The expression on his face eased, but he remained deeply uneasy inside.

Suddenly—

His phone rang. Xia Dahai took out his phone and saw who was calling, joy immediately appearing on his face. He said to the white-haired old man beside him, "It's Xia Zhi calling."

"Answer it, quick." The white-haired old man smiled.

"Is that Xia Zhi?" Xia Dahai asked into the phone, his voice trembling slightly.

"Grandpa, I passed the martial artist combat assessment. I'll be home tonight, so don't worry. We'll have dinner together tonight."

Xia Zhi's familiar voice came through the phone. Xia Dahai's hand, which had been tightly gripping the phone, instantly relaxed.

"Good, good. Grandpa will wait for you to come back so we can eat together." Xia Dahai was overjoyed.

After hanging up, he excitedly told the white-haired old man, "He passed! I need to go back and make preparations. Xia Zhi will be home tonight."

"Haha, I told you so! Go prepare lots of good food." The white-haired old man said.

Inside Villa 188 of Mingyue Residential Area.

That evening, after Xia Zhi returned home, he happily had dinner with his grandfather, Xia Dahai.

This home, occupied by only grandfather and grandson, was filled with joy that night.

From this moment onward, Xia Zhi was officially a martial artist!

Looking at Xia Zhi's clearly more mature bearing after going through the assessment, Xia Dahai was so moved that tears streamed down his aged face.

After calming his emotional grandfather, the two talked for a long time. The vicious aura brought on by his first time killing monsters was gradually soothed by the calm and harmonious atmosphere of home.

After his grandfather went to sleep, Xia Zhi came to the lounge on the third floor.

I can finally access the Limitless Martial Arts School's internal network! Xia Zhi thought expectantly.

In this world, some special internal networks could only be accessed after obtaining a specific identity.

Only official martial artists of the Limitless Martial Arts School were qualified to access its internal martial artist network—Limitless Home!

"Limitless Home." Xia Zhi typed the website address into the keyboard.

A massive two-hundred-inch screen appeared on one wall of the lounge.

The screen immediately loaded the website, "Limitless Home." The blazing-fast connection had not the slightest delay.

"Beep."

Xia Zhi verified his fingerprint.

Gentle, beautiful background music filled the lounge. Xia Zhi's personal page appeared on the enormous screen, displaying his photograph and personal martial artist information.

Name: Xia Zhi

Gender: Male

Age: 18

Address: Yangzhou City, Jiangnan Base City, Huaxia Country

Martial Artist Certificate Number: 420304205408010016

Martial Artist Rank: Warrior level (Beginner)

Contribution Points: 0

Currency Balance: 20.1 million Huaxia Coin

"20.1 million Huaxia Coin?"

"The startup funds promised by the Limitless Martial Arts School have arrived. There's also the 100,000 from the military district's purchase of the Tiger Mastiff King." Xia Zhi smiled when he saw his currency balance.

At the top of the page was a row of notification tabs.

One of them had a small envelope icon flashing continuously. When he moved his mouse over it, it displayed: "You have two new emails."

Xia Zhi opened the first email, and a video immediately appeared.

"Hello, Mr. Xia Zhi."

A young woman in a white business suit appeared on the huge screen and smiled. "I am Supervisor Zhuge's assistant. I believe you have already seen the twenty million in startup funds that the Supervisor promised you."

"As for purchasing manuals for movement techniques, blade techniques, and Guidance arts, you may do so through the internal network. Your free allowance is one hundred million."

"As long as it does not exceed one hundred million, the internal network will reimburse it directly. You will not have to spend a single cent."

"If the price of a manual exceeds one hundred million, Mr. Xia Zhi, you will need to pay the excess yourself."

"Lastly, congratulations, Mr. Xia Zhi, on passing the martial artist combat assessment."

After the video finished playing, it ended immediately.

"Ha, I'm a multimillionaire now too."

In both his past and present lives, this was Xia Zhi's first time possessing so much money.

Though he knew full well that in this world, money was merely a number to the strong, and true treasures could not be bought with money.

Still, looking at his account balance and the one hundred million he was about to spend,

Xia Zhi could not help feeling excited.

Two chapters today. His strength will begin rising rapidly, bit by bit.