Monster Core Found at the Construction Site

"Young Master, we failed."

"That kid Lu Lin is truly strange. He's clearly not a martial artist, yet he could defend against the four of us... we..."

Outside Liu's Martial Arts School, after Lu Lin left, the four martial artists took a while to recover. They immediately reported the situation to Ma Tianhu.

"Lu Lin?"

"Could he be another genius missed by the Martial Arts Examination..."

"You guys can come back now."

After Ma Tianhu said this, the four martial artists hung up and left together.

However, looking at their retreating backs, each of them seemed to have their bones dislocated, as if they hadn't just attacked Lu Lin, but had been beaten up themselves.

Feng Ya Residential Area.

This was where Lu Lin had lived for eighteen years. His family lived in Building 5, Unit 21.

Feng Ya Residential Area was one of the many affordable housing complexes in the southern part of Dongshan City. The complex had over eighty buildings, and its residents were mostly people from the lower strata of Dongshan City.

Lu Lin's father, Lu Ping, was a construction worker. His mother, Chen Xiaoyan, worked as a sales assistant in a clothing store for middle-aged and elderly people. He also had a younger brother, Lu Qi, who was in high school.

Pushing open the door, Lu Lin saw his mother preparing lunch in the kitchen. Unexpectedly, his father, Lu Ping, was also home.

"Dad, Mom, I'm back."

"Mm."

His parents responded. Before they could speak, they saw a figure fly out of the bedroom and rush towards Lu Lin.

"Big Brother, I missed you so much! How was the Martial Arts Examination today?"

The person was a head taller than Lu Lin, with a sturdy build, looking like a big bear.

"Whoa, take it easy!"

Lu Lin pushed him away. Lu Qi scratched his head sheepishly and stood aside, grinning foolishly.

This was Lu Lin's younger brother, Lu Qi. Although their family's meals weren't exactly luxurious, this guy's physique was vastly different from Lu Lin's. In his three years of middle school, he had grown from a skinny bean sprout to his current size, as if he had been inflated like a balloon.

"I didn't pass the Martial Arts Examination. My strength is less than 1000 kilograms. How could I possibly pass?"

"You just had to bring that up."

Lu Lin grumbled. His gaze drifted to his parents, who were also looking at him. He smiled at them, "Dad, Mom, don't worry, I'm fine. I expected this, and besides..."

As Lu Lin spoke, he took out the sparring contract he had signed with Liu's Martial Arts School from his bag and waved it. "Dad, Mom, although I didn't pass the Martial Arts Examination, because my Golden Bell Shield cultivation is quite good, I've become a contracted sparring partner for the martial arts school. From now on, I'll have a monthly salary of eight thousand yuan, plus commissions. Earning a hundred thousand a month won't be a dream!"

"Pfft."

When they first heard that Lu Lin had become a contracted sparring partner for the martial arts gym, his parents were a little excited, but when Lu Lin said, "Earning 100,000 a month is not a dream," they couldn't hold back.

"Son, aren't you being a bit too optimistic?"

Lu Ping said with a wry smile. He subconsciously stroked his beard, giving off a mature uncle vibe.

His parents had amazing genes. Although his father had many injuries, his demeanor made him look like a successful person. His mother was elegant and spoke softly. Lu Lin's handsome appearance was definitely related to his parents' genes.

"Absolutely. You'll know next month when I get paid."

Lu Lin boasted to his family. His mother waved at him, "Alright, go check on your second brother's homework. He just told me he couldn't solve a problem. Dinner will be ready in 20 minutes."

Lu Qi, who was beside them, got his mother's permission and, without waiting for Lu Lin to speak, pulled him into the room.

Lu Lin's home was a two-bedroom, one-living room layout. His parents had one room, he and Lu Qi shared another, and there was a small living room. Although the house wasn't large, it was enough for the family's needs.

"Brother, let me see your contract."

As soon as they entered the room, Lu Qi snatched the contract from Lu Lin's hand and started reading.

"Brother, this is impossible! You actually signed a Martial Artist Level Contract?!"

Lu Qi looked up and asked in disbelief.

Lu Lin's cultivation progress was no secret in the family. Lu Ping and Chen Xiaoyan had specifically taken leave from work today because they were worried Lu Lin would be depressed if his Martial Arts Examination results were poor.

If only they had read the contract's contents carefully, they would have been just as surprised as Lu Qi.

"What's impossible about it? Xiao Qi, if you need anything in the future, just tell your brother."

Lu Lin said, patting Lu Qi's shoulder. To his surprise, Lu Qi's eyes lit up, "Brother, I actually have something I want to buy."

Lu Lin didn't expect Lu Qi to seize the opportunity so quickly. He had just offered to buy him something, and Lu Qi already had a target.

"Brother, my classmate Fatty Sun Zihao showed off a Virtual Terminal in front of us a few days ago..."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Lu Lin quickly cut him off. A Virtual Terminal was the top-tier smart device in the civilian sector of Blue Star. These things cost millions each. Even if Lu Lin had money, he couldn't afford to waste it like this.

"Alright, Mom's calling us for dinner. I'm going out."

Lu Lin didn't give Lu Qi a chance to speak and walked directly to the living room, leaving Lu Qi speechless.

During the meal.

Lu Lin ate three bowls of rice at the fastest speed possible and still didn't feel completely full, but he couldn't eat any more.

His parents looked at him as if he were a monster.

"Heh heh, I'm full. Dad, I have a question for you. Didn't you say you could find Level 1 Monster Cores at the construction sites before? Do you have any extra ones?"

After much deliberation, Lu Lin finally revealed his purpose.

Before Dongshan City was built, it had experienced countless large-scale battles, and even War God-level powerhouses had participated. Valuable materials were naturally collected and taken away immediately after the war, but countless low-level weapons, monster cores, and armor were left underground.

Lu Ping's construction company had over a dozen construction sites in Dongshan City. Previously, Lu Ping would occasionally find Level 1 and Level 2 Monster Cores and bring them home for Lu Lin and his brother Lu Qi to play with.

"There aren't many Level 1 Monster Cores, but I do have a dozen Level 2 Monster Cores."

Lu Ping said calmly. Lu Lin was about to be disappointed, but he didn't expect his dad to be waiting for him.

"Dad, hurry and give them to me, I need them."

"And in the future, can you help me find more monster cores? Any level is fine, I don't mind."

"Go, go, go. You don't mind, but I do. What high-level monster cores can you find at a construction site? I've been doing this for almost twenty years, and I've only encountered a Level 3 Monster Core once." Lu Ping chuckled, put down his chopsticks, and went to his room to get a small glass bottle for Lu Lin.

It was filled with monster cores, mostly Level 1, but Lu Lin saw that at the very top, there were indeed twelve slightly larger Level 2 Monster Cores.

"Thanks, Dad. I'm going back to my room."

Lu Lin rushed into his bedroom and locked the door. His younger brother, Lu Qi, was too annoying. Lu Lin didn't want Lu Qi to barge in and ask questions while he was absorbing the monster cores, like a curious baby.