Movements in City Number 15

At dusk, the train slowly pulled into the station.

"Sister Xin, Xiao Ai, over here!"

Liu Ting held up a sign and shouted toward the crowd disembarking from the train.

Beside her were several others holding signs; they had been sent by the Xu Family to pick up Xu Ai and the others.

As the train's broadcast announcement played, the martial artists and Quasi-Martial Artists on board stood up one after another to get off.

The crowd was still very dense at this moment, so Xu Xin and Xu Ai remained seated, waiting until the crowd had thinned out before standing up to disembark.

After saying a word to the Intermediate War General leading their team, Xu Gang left the group and walked with Xu Xin and the others toward Liu Ting and her companions.

Liu Ting's eyes lit up the moment she saw Xu Xin and Xu Ai, and she hurried forward to give them a big hug.

"Xiao Ai! Sister Xin! Congratulations on becoming martial artists!"

"Thanks, little Tingting, let's head back first and talk later."

Xu Ai and Xu Xin passing the actual combat assessment was a major event worth celebrating for the Xu Family.

They had declined the banquet for the previous Quasi-Martial Artist assessment, so this time, although Xu Ai and the others still strongly refused to hold any celebratory banquet, their family had prepared a delicious meal to enjoy together.

They had even invited Liu Ting's aunt, Liu Qingling.

After a while, the car arrived at the Xu Family headquarters.

"Dad, we're home!"

As soon as he entered the door, Xu Gang shouted, interrupting Xu Qing, who was chatting with Liu Qingling.

"Sit down, don't go around shouting."

Xu Qing glared at Xu Gang, then quickly gestured for Xu Xin and the others to sit.

Liu Ting naturally sat down next to Liu Qingling.

As Liu Ting's aunt, she bore a slight resemblance to her, and with her strength as a High-level War General, her aging had slowed significantly; sitting together, the two looked more like sisters than aunt and niece.

"Aunt, what were you two talking about just now?"

"Oh, we were talking about the situation in City 0551."

Liu Qingling said with a smile, and as soon as Xu Ai pulled Xu Xin down to sit, her attention was drawn to their topic.

City 0551 was its current name, but before the Grand Nirvana, it had been a provincial capital: Hefei City.

During the Grand Nirvana, provincial capitals were equivalent to headquarters, serving as the transportation hubs for entire provinces.

Because transportation routes radiated in all directions, humans had converged toward inland provincial capitals and large economic cities when shrinking their defensive lines to minimize losses.

Hefei was the same, but unfortunately, its defensive lines were eventually broken by a beast tide during the great monster offensive, forcing a retreat to Nanjing, which was now the main urban area of Jiangnan Base City.

After the war ended, humans once again dispatched large numbers of troops to establish military districts to garrison the area; with an old King-level Monster holding the territory, it was considered a city with a medium-to-high level of danger.

"Is the military going to make a move on Hefei City?"

Xu Ai asked curiously.

Xu Qing smiled and nodded, then shook his head.

"I can only say it's possible; after all, it's not the first or second time the Xu Family has increased funding and resource investment there."

Click—

The sound of the door opening came from the entrance, and everyone couldn't help but look over.

A mature woman with a ponytail, wearing black-rimmed glasses and an office outfit, opened the door and walked in; her appearance was three or four parts similar to Xu Xin and Xu Ai.

"Aunt."

Xu Xin, Xu Ai, and Xu Gang called out in unison.

Seeing this, Liu Ting also followed suit and called out, "Aunt Yan."

She was the youngest of the second generation of the Xu Family, Xu Yan.

"Xiao Yan, you're late again."

Xu Qing said with a smile.

The woman took off her high heels while replying:

"No choice, there have been quite a lot of company affairs lately."

"Because of the supply issues?"

Liu Qingling asked with a smile, and as soon as the question was out, Xu Yan was momentarily stunned.

"How did you know, Sister Qingling?"

"Because..."

"Aunt, sit here, sit here."

Watching Xu Yan walk over, Xu Ai patted the seat beside her repeatedly.

Xu Yan smiled and sat down next to Xu Ai, then looked around.

"Haven't Dad and the second brother returned yet?"

"Dad and Third Uncle went to attend a meeting held by the military. As for Second Uncle, you know how he is; he usually doesn't show up for small family gatherings. As for Xu Ming, he went to pick up Xu Lie and will be here later."

"A meeting with the military?"

Xu Yan frowned, thinking of the recent flow of family supplies and funds, and felt a sense of realization.

Seeing Xu Yan's expression, Xu Qing smiled.

"Don't overthink it. It's probably just another wave of support. If a real fight breaks out, who knows how long it will take."

"I just don't know the scale of the military's operation this time."

Xu Yan shook her head. Although a full-scale war wouldn't break out, there would inevitably be some probing actions to study the chances of victory and the time required to build a city.

Liu Qingling waved her hand.

"Anyway, I haven't heard anything from the Extreme Martial Arts Hall side. I guess it's just more probing."

"Hmm, this really can't be rushed. After all, City 0551 is a major city, and it's guarded by one or two King-level Monsters. They can whip up a beast tide at any time."

Xu Ai said, and Xu Yan nodded in deep agreement.

King-level Monsters are not terrifying; councilors can deal with them, and laser cannons can also threaten and severely injure them.

But what humanity has always feared is not the King-level Monsters themselves, but the disaster-level beast tides stirred up by them!

Back then, after Hong and Thor led numerous councilors to negotiate with the King-level Monsters led by the two Monster Emperors, it was agreed that humanity could not use laser cannons against King-level Monsters, and King-level Monsters could not participate in beast tides.

Disaster-level beast tides—beast tides involving King-level Monsters—have become legends in this era of base cities.

But there is no doubt that a disaster-level beast tide is absolutely more terrifying than a first-level beast tide! Because the intelligence of a King-level Monster is no lower than that of a normal adult! They can command monsters in battle!

This is also what the military is worried about. What's the point of the rule that King-level Monsters cannot participate in beast tides? When it comes to life and death, who would still follow such rules?

Even the Monster Emperors are the same. In a one-on-one fight, they simply cannot deal with Hong and Thor.

But the monsters they can command are spread across the entire ocean!

A beast tide stirred up by countless monsters, regardless of casualties, would be enough to wipe out the vast majority of the human population on Earth.

If it weren't for the fact that the Monster Emperors have gained intelligence, fear death, and worry about angering Hong and Thor into a desperate, lethal strike, the humans of Earth would likely have been wiped out long ago.

This is also the reason why even if Hong and Thor had the chance to kill them, they wouldn't kill the two Monster Emperors; they need the two Monster Emperors to restrain the countless other monsters!

"Xin'er, come help me for a second."

From the kitchen came the voice of Xu Xin's mother, Li Yuqing.

"Coming!"

After a while, once the food was prepared, a sound came from the doorway.

"Second Uncle, Second Aunt, you're finally here."

Xu Gang waved his hand, and Xu Ai also called out to her second uncle and second aunt.

"There was a traffic jam on the way, so we're a bit late."

Xu Ming said with a smile, and behind him were his wife, Yang Sufang, and their son, Xu Lie.

Xu Lie, still wearing his military uniform, walked into the living room with a smile, his eyes immediately landing on Xu Ai, the most dazzling person among them.

"Xiao Ai, why do I feel like you've grown taller?"

"That's right, Xiao Ai. How long has it been since we last saw you? How could you change so much? Even the saying 'a girl changes eighteen times before she grows up' doesn't usually happen this fast."

Yang Sufang also came into the living room and smiled as she looked at Xu Ai.

Hearing this, Xu Lie confirmed that it wasn't an illusion—Xu Ai had truly grown taller.

Moreover, her figure and temperament had improved as well. This... they hadn't seen each other for only a few months, so how could the change be so drastic???

"I succeeded in cultivating Genetic Energy, and then I turned out like this."

Xu Ai told the truth, though there was no need to mention her Intermediate War General level strength.

"This change is just too big..."

Xu Lie muttered. When he succeeded in his own Genetic Energy cultivation, he didn't see any changes at all. How could his cousin change so much?

"Alright, alright, everyone is here now. Let's eat."

Xu Qing stood up and beckoned, and the group headed to the dining table.

"Xiao Xin, you've grown taller too?"

Xu Lie said in surprise, and Xu Xin smiled.

"That's right, Second Brother."

"By the way, Xiao Xin, Xiao Ai, you passed the actual combat assessment. Are you going to the wilderness area to hunt next?"

Xu Lie followed behind Xu Ai and Xu Xin, walking slowly.

"That's right."

Xu Ai held Xu Xin with her left hand and Xu Yan with her right, arrived at the dining table, and was the first to sit down.

"Actually, you two could afford to settle down for a few more months; there's no need to be in such a rush to participate."

Martial artist privileges are great, but that is only relative. The Xu Family doesn't care about martial artist privileges at all, and they certainly aren't lacking in funds, so there is absolutely no need to rush into the wilderness to hunt.

Although the Xu Family provides powerful equipment and, generally speaking, they wouldn't encounter any danger, Xu Lie is still very worried.

"It's fine, I've been prepared for a long time."

Xu Ai nodded and turned to look at Xu Lie, who was standing behind her wearing his military uniform.

Just like Xu Gang, the second brother Xu Lie, having been raised with elite family education, is naturally no playboy.

However, Xu Lie is different from Xu Gang; Xu Gang has a strong talent for business but very poor martial arts talent, whereas Xu Lie has strong martial arts talent but is absolutely terrible at business.

At 23 years old, he is already a High-level Warrior martial artist, extremely close to the Low-level War General level, and is one of the future pillars of the Xu Family's military strength.

After discussing it with their two grandfathers, Xu Lie chose to join the military, and he is doing quite well for himself now.

Huh? You ask why someone from the HR Alliance can join the military?

The Xu Family, or rather the ten great families of Huaxia, are nominally part of the HR Alliance, but in reality, they only hold a nominal position there.

The ten great families of Huaxia primarily lean toward Huaxia, so naturally, their relationship with the military is excellent.

Whenever Huaxia launches operations targeting the wilderness, the ten great families are always the first to respond, followed by the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and the Thunder Dojo; from this alone, one can see the inseparable relationship between the families and the state.

"Haha, as expected of the first and second geniuses of our family."

Xu Lie laughed heartily, placing both hands on the backrests of Xu Ai and Xu Xin's chairs, one on each side.

Xu Ai watched as Xu Lie stood in the space between her and her sister, still trying to sneak forward, and her expression immediately darkened.

Click-clack—click-clack—

"..."

Watching Xu Ai and Xu Xin pull their seats together, Xu Lie was speechless.

He really wanted to sit between his two younger sisters!

On the other side of Xu Xin sat their eldest brother, Xu Gang, and his eldest brother is a sister-complex every bit as bad as himself!

With no other choice, he had to take his chair and head to the seat next to Xu Ai...

Clatter—

"Sorry, Brother Lie, you'll have to find somewhere else to sit."

Liu Ting sat down with a beaming smile.

Xu Lie looked at Xu Yan helplessly, but Xu Yan didn't give up her seat to him, so in the end, he could only go sit on the side with his mom and dad.

Xu Ai had long since seen through the true nature of the two brothers, Xu Gang and Xu Lie; they were both sister-complexes!