As evening fell, the train slowly pulled into the station.
"Sis Xin, Xiao Ai, over here!"
Liu Ting held up a sign and called out to the people getting off the train.
Several people beside her were holding signs too. They had been sent by the Xu Family to pick up Xu Ai and the others.
As the train attendant's announcement rang out, the Martial Artists and Quasi-Martial Artists aboard rose and got off.
The crowd was still packed at this point, so Xu Xin and Xu Ai stayed seated. They only got up once most of the crowd had dispersed.
After telling the Intermediate War General leading their group, Xu Gang left the team and walked over to Liu Ting and the others with Xu Xin.
Liu Ting's eyes lit up when she saw Xu Xin and Xu Ai. She hurried over and gave them both a big hug.
"Xiao Ai! Sis Xin! Congratulations on becoming Martial Artists!"
"Thanks, Xiao Tingting. Let's head back first and talk there."
Xu Ai and Xu Xin had passed the combat assessment, which was also a major occasion worth celebrating for the Xu Family.
Xu Ai and the others had declined the celebration banquet after the Quasi-Martial Artist Assessment, so this time, although they still firmly refused to have a banquet, their family had prepared a delicious meal at home so they could celebrate together.
They had also invited Liu Ting's aunt, Liu Qingling.
It was a while before the car finally arrived at the Xu Family's main residence.
"Dad, we're back!"
As soon as he walked in, Xu Gang shouted, interrupting Xu Qing, who had been chatting with Liu Qingling.
"Sit down. Don't shout."
Xu Qing glared at Xu Gang, then hurriedly invited Xu Xin and the others to sit.
Liu Ting naturally sat beside Liu Qingling.
As Liu Ting's aunt, she already bore a few similarities to her. With her Advanced General-Level strength slowing the aging process, the two of them sitting together looked more like sisters than aunt and niece.
"Auntie, what were you talking about just now?"
"Oh, we were talking about the situation in City 0551."
Liu Qingling replied with a smile. Xu Ai had just pulled Xu Xin down to sit beside her, but the topic immediately caught her attention.
City 0551 was its current name. Before the Great Nirvana Period, however, it had been the provincial capital of a province: Hefei City.
During the Great Nirvana Period, provincial capitals had served as strongholds and transportation hubs for their entire provinces.
Because transport routes ran in all directions, when humanity pulled back its lines, people had retreated toward inland provincial capitals and major economic cities to minimize losses.
Hefei had been no different. Unfortunately, when the monsters launched their great offensive, the city's defenses were breached by the Beast Tide. The people had then retreated to Nanjing, now the main urban area of Jiangnan Base City.
After the war ended, humanity had once again sent in large numbers of troops to establish a military district and garrison the city. With an old King-level Monster stationed there, it was considered a city with a moderately high level of danger.
"The military is planning to make a move against Hefei City?"
Xu Ai asked curiously.
Xu Qing smiled and nodded, then shook his head.
"You could say it's possible. After all, this isn't the first time the Xu Family has increased its investment and resources over there."
Click—
The sound of the door opening came from the entrance, and everyone turned to look.
A woman with a single ponytail, black-framed glasses, and an office outfit walked in. She looked three or four parts like Xu Xin and Xu Ai.
"Auntie."
Xu Xin, Xu Ai, and Xu Gang greeted her in unison.
Seeing that, Liu Ting followed suit and called out, "Aunt Yan."
She was the youngest of the Xu Family's second generation, Xu Yan.
"Xiao Yan, you're home late again."
Xu Qing said with a smile.
As the woman took off her high heels, she replied, "Can't be helped. There's been a lot going on at the company lately."
"Because of the supplies?"
Liu Qingling asked with a smile. Xu Yan was immediately taken aback.
"How did you know, Sis Qingling?"
"Because..."
"Auntie, sit here, sit here."
Seeing Xu Yan walk over, Xu Ai patted the seat beside her again and again.
Xu Yan smiled and sat down beside Xu Ai, then looked around.
"Dad and Second Uncle still aren't back?"
"Dad went with Third Uncle to a meeting called by the military. As for Second Uncle, you know how he is—he usually doesn't come to little family dinners like this. Xu Ming went to pick up Xiao Lie, so he'll be here later."
"A meeting with the military?"
Xu Yan frowned. Thinking about the recent flow of supplies and funds in the family, she began to understand.
Seeing Xu Yan's expression, Xu Qing smiled.
"Don't overthink it. It's probably just another round of support. If they really do launch an attack, who knows how long it'll take."
"I just wonder how much force the military will put behind this operation."
Xu Yan shook her head. There wouldn't be an all-out battle, but there would still be some probing operations to assess the chances of success and how long it would take to build a city.
Liu Qingling waved a hand.
"Anyway, I haven't heard anything from the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. I expect they'll just keep probing."
"Right. They really can't rush this. City 0551 is a big city, after all, and it has one or two King-level Monsters stationed there. They could raise a Beast Tide at any moment."
Xu Ai said. Xu Yan nodded in deep agreement.
King-level Monsters themselves weren't frightening. Councilors could deal with them, and Laser Cannons could threaten them with serious injuries.
But humanity had never been afraid of the King-level Monsters themselves. It was the Disaster-level Beast Tides they could unleash!
Back when Hong and Thor had led the councilors in negotiations with the two Beast Emperors and the King-level Monsters under their command, humanity had agreed not to use Laser Cannons against King-level Monsters, while the King-level Monsters had agreed not to take part in Beast Tides.
In the Base City era, Beast Tides involving King-level Monsters had become a thing of legend.
But there was no doubt that a Disaster-level Beast Tide would be even more terrifying than a Level 1 Beast Tide! King-level Monsters were already as intelligent as ordinary adults! They could command monsters in battle!
That was what worried the military. King-level Monsters weren't supposed to participate in Beast Tides, but when it came down to life and death, who would still follow that rule?
The Beast Emperors were no different. They couldn't stand up to Hong and Thor in a one-on-one fight.
But the monsters they could command were spread throughout the entire ocean!
If countless monsters raised a Beast Tide and didn't care about casualties, they could wipe out most of Earth's population.
If the Beast Emperors hadn't gained intelligence, become afraid of death, and feared that provoking Hong and Thor would lead them to launch a suicidal attack, Earth's humans would probably have been wiped out long ago.
That was why Hong and Thor wouldn't kill the two Beast Emperors, even if they had the chance. They needed them to keep the countless monsters in check!
"Xin'er, come help me for a moment."
Xu Xin's mother, Li Yuqing, called from the kitchen.
"Coming!"
A while later, once the food was ready, another voice came from the entrance.
"Second Uncle, Second Aunt, you're finally here."
Xu Gang waved, and Xu Ai followed suit, greeting her Second Uncle and Second Aunt.
"There was a traffic jam on the way, so we're a little late."
Xu Ming replied with a smile. His wife, Yang Sufang, and son, Xu Lie, were behind him.
Xu Lie, still in his military uniform, smiled as he entered the living room. The first person he spotted among them was Xu Ai, who stood out the most.
"Xiao Ai, am I imagining it, or have you gotten taller?"
"Yeah, Xiao Ai. It hasn't been that long since we last saw you. How have you changed so much? People say girls change a lot as they grow up, but not this fast."
Yang Sufang also entered the living room and smiled at Xu Ai.
Hearing her say that, Xu Lie was sure it wasn't his imagination. Xu Ai really had grown taller.
Her figure and bearing had improved too. How could she have changed so much in just a few months?
"I successfully cultivated Genetic Origin Energy, and then I ended up looking like this."
Xu Ai told them honestly. Of course, there was no need to mention that she was an Intermediate War General.
"That's quite a change..."
Xu Lie murmured. When he had succeeded in cultivating Genetic Origin Energy, he hadn't noticed any changes. Why had his cousin changed so much?
"All right, all right, everyone's here. Let's eat."
Xu Qing stood and waved them over. The group made their way to the dining table.
"Xiao Xin, you've gotten taller too?"
Xu Lie asked in surprise. Xu Xin smiled.
"Yeah, Second Brother."
"By the way, Xiao Xin, Xiao Ai, now that you've passed the combat assessment, are you going to hunt in the Wilderness Zone?"
Xu Lie walked slowly behind Xu Ai and Xu Xin.
"Yeah."
Xu Ai took Xu Xin's left hand and Xu Yan's right, then sat down at the table first.
"Honestly, you two could spend a few more months building yourselves up. There's no need to rush into it."
The privileges of being a Martial Artist were nice, but only relatively speaking. The Xu Family didn't care about Martial Artist privileges, and they certainly weren't short of money. There was no need to hurry into hunting in the Wilderness Zone.
The Xu Family would provide powerful equipment, so they weren't likely to run into danger, but Xu Lie was still worried.
"It's fine. I've been ready for a long time."
Xu Ai nodded and turned to look at Xu Lie, who stood behind her in his military uniform.
Like Xu Gang, her Second Brother Xu Lie had received the family's elite education. He was naturally no good-for-nothing.
But Xu Lie was different from Xu Gang. Xu Gang had a strong talent for business but was poor at martial arts, while Xu Lie had a strong talent for martial arts but was absolutely terrible at business.
At twenty-three, he was already a High-level Warrior, very close to becoming a Low-level War General. He was one of the Xu Family's future pillars of strength.
After discussing it with the two grandfathers, Xu Lie had chosen to join the military, where he was doing quite well.
Huh? You might be wondering how someone from the HR Alliance could join the military.
The Xu Family—or the ten great families of Huaxia, for that matter—were nominally part of the HR Alliance, but in reality, they were members in name only.
The ten great families of Huaxia primarily backed Huaxia, so naturally, they had an excellent relationship with the military.
The ten great families were the first to support Huaxia's operations in the Wilderness Zone, followed by the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and the Thunder Dojo. That alone showed how closely the families were tied to the nation.
"Haha, that's what I like to see from the first and second most talented people in our family."
Xu Lie laughed, placing one hand on the back of each of Xu Ai and Xu Xin's chairs.
Xu Ai saw Xu Lie standing between her and her older sister, inching closer. Her expression immediately darkened.
Tap-tap—tap-tap—
"..."
Looking at Xu Ai and Xu Xin, whose chairs were now pressed together, Xu Lie was speechless.
He really wanted to sit between his two younger sisters!
His eldest brother, Xu Gang, was sitting on Xu Xin's other side. His eldest brother was just as much of a sister-con.
With no other choice, he picked up his chair and went to sit beside Xu Ai—
Clack—
"Sorry, Lie-ge. You'll have to sit somewhere else."
Liu Ting settled into her seat with a bright smile.
Xu Lie helplessly glanced at Xu Yan, but she didn't give up her seat either. In the end, he could only sit by his mom and dad.
Xu Ai had long since seen through Xu Gang and Xu Lie. Both brothers were sister-cons!
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