What Big News?

Soon, he arrived at a place.

This was a densely packed neighborhood. Every apartment was laid out at thirty square meters, and the entire building followed the same design. After all, this area was never meant for wealthy people.

He went up to the eighth floor of one building. These thirty square meters were where his whole family lived. At home were his father, mother, younger sister, and himself. That was all.

His father was Chen Guoxiang, his mother was Zhang Chun, and his younger sister was Chen Shuqin, who was now thirteen.

Besides that, Chen Feng had an older brother named Chen Wu. He had graduated last year and joined a Mercenary Group.

His brother was twenty-one this year, five years older than Chen Feng, and a Blood Qi Stage Eight martial artist.

As for why he had joined a Mercenary Group, it was because the family was poor. His younger brother and sister needed to attend school, their mother was ill, and their father was only an ordinary worker. They needed money.

Besides, their home was too small. Five people crammed together was truly uncomfortable.

Chen Wu had originally planned to join the military, but fighting enemies on the Outer Domain Battlefield with his cultivation would have made him cannon fodder. So he could only join a Mercenary Group to hunt demonic beasts. If he was lucky, he might live a little longer and earn some money.

His older brother Chen Wu was a responsible man. Every month, he sent three thousand back home.

One had to know that his mother only did some odd jobs at home, while his father worked at a factory. Together, they earned just over three thousand a month, while the household expenses were high.

Yet his brother Chen Wu, all by himself outside, could send three thousand home every month. That was already a great deal of money.

"Brother, come help me!"

The moment he entered, he saw his mother in an apron, busy at work with a little girl. His younger sister Chen Shuqin was chopping vegetables.

Chen Feng smiled. "I still need to cultivate."

Chen Shuqin turned her fair, rosy little face and shot Chen Feng a glare with her jet-black eyes. "You're just lazy and don't want to cook. You say you have something to do—what big business could you possibly have?"

"Big news."

Chen Feng said with a smile.

Chen Shuqin curled her lips, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. Big Brother sent word today. He said he's already Blood Qi Stage Nine. He sent eight thousand yuan back this month too, and said he's gained some standing in the group. He's got ten people under his command now!"

"He's already Blood Qi Stage Nine? And he got promoted too?" Chen Feng could hardly believe it.

His father was reading on the sofa. Seeing his son return, he greeted him before continuing to read.

But when he heard his daughter mention this, joy appeared at the corners of his mouth. "That's right. Chen Wu has made something of himself now. He's already Blood Qi Stage Nine, more promising than your old man. He's in a Mercenary Group now, and his guaranteed mercenary pay is eight thousand."

"That amazing?"

Chen Feng was astonished. At his brother's age, reaching Blood Qi Stage Nine was far from mediocre. He had acquired a measure of strength.

After Blood Qi Stage Nine, one's physique became formidable, and one could begin absorbing the primordial energy of heaven and earth. With every movement, one possessed the strength of a demonic tiger. Such a person was no longer ordinary; one person holding off a hundred was entirely possible.

"Big Brother is so impressive. I can't fall behind either!"

Chen Feng said happily.

Chen Shuqin said, "He said that of the eight thousand, six thousand is for your cultivation. He said this world is too dangerous, and our family needs an expert. You're studying at school now, so you need this money."

As she spoke, Chen Shuqin walked over and handed Chen Feng six thousand yuan.

Chen Feng smiled. Having such a good older brother really was wonderful!

An image surfaced in Chen Feng's mind: a handsome young man who had often scraped his nose when he was little. Though his brother often bullied him, he always saved the best toys and the tastiest pastries for him.

Although his brother's talent was average, he was extremely hardworking. That was why he had reached Blood Qi Stage Eight by the time he graduated.

Ordinary people only reached Stage Seven or even Stage Six upon graduation, yet his brother had reached Stage Eight. He had even joined a Mercenary Group to improve the family's circumstances.

Because both his younger brother and sister needed schooling, it was hard to keep the household afloat on the three thousand his parents earned each month. So Chen Wu had gone without hesitation.

Back then, their parents had refused no matter what, but Chen Wu had said that their family was poor and could not live at the bottom forever. Even if he died, he would support his younger brother and sister through school.

Even if they could not achieve anything extraordinary, at least after graduation they could find decent jobs. They would not be left without strength or qualifications, struggling at every step in society.

Naturally, their parents had been unwilling. But Chen Wu had left without saying goodbye last year. They could not stop him.

Still, the outside world was far too dangerous. Every bit of money was exchanged for with one's life.

Chen Feng gave all this money to the family. Even if he did not buy nutritional supplements now, he could still improve, so it would be better to use it to improve their living conditions.

At that moment, his father gave Chen Feng a look, repeatedly waggling his eyebrows. Chen Feng understood instantly and gave a dry cough.

"Mom, Big Brother sent such good news today. Let's celebrate."

"Yes, your brother's matter is worth celebrating. Shu Qin, bring out the alcohol from the cabinet."

Chen Guoxiang quickly said, secretly delighted. It was rare for him to have an excuse to drink.

His mother muttered something, but since today was a special day, she said nothing more.

Then Chen Feng said, "Big Brother has it hard out there, but in a year, I'll be able to earn money too. When that time comes, I'll take his place. Our Chen Family won't stay like this forever."

His sister laughed. "Come on, you're only Blood Qi Stage Three. Brother, are you trying to make me laugh to death?

"With your strength, no Mercenary Group would want you. What makes you think you can hunt demonic beasts in a year?

"Many people don't even reach Stage Nine after graduating high school. If you had that kind of potential, you'd probably already be Stage Five by now. But you're only Stage Three?"

Chen Feng smiled. "Well, no need to rush. Your brother is building up strength for one explosive burst."

Chen Feng felt rather embarrassed about that. But it was not entirely his fault. The main thing was that other families' children all had various supplements. During the Blood Qi stages, supplements were extremely important. Otherwise, cultivation simply could not proceed.

If the body only expended energy without replenishment, it was difficult to forge a powerful physique and thus sense the primordial energy of heaven and earth.

"Building up strength for one explosive burst—you've said that so many times!"

Shu Qin eyed Chen Feng askance.

Chen Feng was furious.

"Oh, right." Shu Qin suddenly said. "You said you had big news just now. What big news?"

Chen Feng remembered. "Ahem... Your brother took the test today. I awakened!"

"Hm?"

Chen Guoxiang abruptly put down the newspaper in his hands. "The school awakened Martial Souls today? You were one of them?"

"Yes."

Chen Feng said with a beaming smile.

"Then what Martial Soul did you awaken?" Chen Guoxiang became excited at once. Chen Shuqin and their mother gathered around as well.

Chen Feng said, "Well, don't ask me what Martial Soul I awakened. Ask me how many Martial Souls I have!"

"Huh? How many Martial Souls do you have?"

Chen Guoxiang asked curiously. Weren't Martial Souls all singular?

Oh, right. Rumor had it that geniuses could have two, three, or even four.

Could it be...

Chen Guoxiang stared fixedly at Chen Feng. "Don't tell me you have more than one?"

His breathing quickened. If his son had more than one Martial Soul, then he was a genius. And what did being a genius mean?

It was the sign that they were about to rise! The school would focus on nurturing him, and in the future, he would at the very least become a Magnetic Field Realm expert.

Whether within the country or on the battlefield, that would be no lowly position.

Chen Feng smiled. "Sigh, I didn't expect it either. I actually have so many Martial Souls. Guess how many I have? Uh, forget it, I'll just tell you. I have nine Martial Souls!"

"..."

The moment those words came out, Chen Guoxiang, Chen Shuqin, and their mother were all stunned.