"150?" Xu Feng asked in surprise. "Wasn't it supposed to be 100?"
"Heh, outstanding employees get an extra fifty yuan," Zhou Xu said with a grin.
Xu Feng understood. The manager was trying to curry favor with him.
He smiled too. "Thanks, Manager Zhou. I'll come over for dinner when I get some free time."
"Of course, of course," Zhou Xu said cheerfully.
The certification process went even more smoothly than Xu Feng had expected.
By the afternoon, he had been summoned to an underground office building in the northern part of the base.
It was Xu Feng's first time venturing this deep into the base, and he was like a curious child.
He looked around at everything, finding it all new and fascinating.
"Mr. Xu, this way, please." The staff member leading him was very courteous, guiding Xu Feng to a private testing room with a smile.
The room contained the latest testing machine, as well as a racetrack a hundred meters long.
"The Quasi-Warrior test only measures strength and speed. Once you advance to Warrior, you can take the test for neural reaction speed."
The staff member explained this to Xu Feng.
Xu Feng nodded as if he understood. "Thanks."
"It's our job. This way, please."
The staff member gave Xu Feng a brief explanation of how to use the testing machine, then opened the door and left.
Only after Xu Feng was alone in the room did he stretch and approach the machine, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Beep! Identity recognized. Transportation Logistics Department, employee number 02155489, name: Xu Feng.
"Age: 40. ID number: [number]. Please verify the information and click Confirm."
Xu Feng's identity details soon appeared on the testing machine.
After checking them, he clicked Confirm.
"Beep!"
At the testing station beside him,
a metal pillar as tall as a person rose from the floor, then quickly unfolded in midair into a circular target.
"Please stand inside the testing area and strike the target with all your strength.
"The test will be conducted three times. The highest result will be recorded.
"When you're ready, please say, 'I'm ready.'"
A clear, electronic female voice rang out.
Following the lights, Xu Feng stepped up to the circular target and stopped in the testing area, one meter away.
"Hit the target." Xu Feng glanced at the target and slowly clenched his fist.
"I wonder how fit I am. I might as well give it a try. It'll give me a clearer idea of where I stand."
He drew a deep breath and recalled the explosive move from the White Wolf Blade Technique: Angry Wolf Bows Head.
His muscles suddenly tensed. "I'm ready!"
"Beep! Please begin."
Whoosh!
Xu Feng suddenly stepped forward. His muscles jolted as he twisted his waist and hips, drawing his body back like a bow before driving his fist forward!
"Ha!"
Bang!
A deep thud rang out, and the target trembled slightly.
"Beep! 956 kilograms!"
Xu Feng's eyes lit up. More than 900 kilograms?
He looked down at his fist, hardly able to believe it.
His mind raced through three stages.
First stage: What the hell, am I even human?
Second stage: Wait, I'm actually this strong?
Third stage: Holy crap, and I'm still only a Quasi-Warrior?
His understanding of this world had become a little clearer.
"Again!"
Bang!
The second punch.
"Beep! 924 kilograms!"
Bang!
The third punch.
"Beep! 944 kilograms!"
Upbeat music immediately began playing in the testing room.
"Final strength test result: 956 kilograms!"
Xu Feng nodded slightly. It seemed his first punch had been his strongest.
He loosened up with a few light stretches, then followed the instructions to the hundred-meter track.
"To be honest, I don't think I have any idea how fast I can run right now."
"Ready, set, go!"
Whoosh!
As Xu Feng surged forward, it felt as if time itself had slowed.
Swish!
After just two blinks, he found himself past the finish line.
"Beep! Speed test: 19 meters per second. Below the Quasi-Warrior threshold. Please adjust your condition!"
The voice prompt made Xu Feng's heart tighten. He quickly gathered his focus.
Normally, a burst of speed like this should be best on the first attempt, when he had the most stamina.
But he hadn't been mentally prepared, so Xu Feng felt a little frustrated.
That wouldn't happen again.
Xu Feng took a deep breath, returned to the starting line, and prepared himself once more.
On his second attempt, Xu Feng ran at an impressive 22 meters per second, meeting the Quasi-Warrior standard.
His third attempt was 21 meters per second.
The staff member's voice rang out in the testing room. "Mr. Xu, congratulations on completing your Quasi-Warrior assessment and certification.
"Please wait outside the testing room. A staff member will guide you out.
"Your electronic Quasi-Warrior certificate will be sent to your personal account within eight hours.
"The paper certificate will be ready within 48 hours. Please collect it from the reception desk at the Base Martial Investigation Bureau after 48 hours."
Xu Feng smiled with satisfaction and left the room.
Guided by a staff member, he soon left the office building.
"Mr. Xu, in eight hours, you'll officially become a Quasi-Warrior certified by the Earth Martial Artist Alliance.
"In theory, after six months, you'll be eligible to take the official Warrior Assessment, depending on your circumstances."
Xu Feng quickly reached out his hand. "All right. Thanks for your help."
The staff member smiled, shook his hand politely, and left.
After returning to the Airport, Xu Feng was soon showered with praise.
Not only had the department manager's attitude toward him changed completely, but even his colleagues were calling him "Brother Xu."
Only Xu Feng knew how much it had taken to go from "Old Xu" to "Brother Xu."
By the time he got home, he still felt as if he were floating.
An officially certified Quasi-Warrior!
"Hahahahaha!"
Standing inside, Xu Feng threw his head back and laughed, his spirits soaring.
Two hours later,
Xu Feng stood up from his workbench at home, feeling dizzy and seeing stars.
"What good is being a Quasi-Warrior? I still have to eat, drink, and earn money! We're all just wage slaves!"
Xu Feng complained bitterly.
During the month after he became a certified Quasi-Warrior,
Xu Feng quickly got over his excitement, elation, pride, and all the rest, returning to his ordinary life.
Life was still tough, but it was much better than it had been two months ago.
At least now he could have meat with every meal, sleep peacefully every night, earn a little more at work, and make daily progress in his cultivation.
Xu Feng felt that his life was full.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
During that time, Xu Feng had finally saved up 30,000 yuan through hard work.
He had also become a fairly well-known independent communicator repairman in the Trading Zone.
Meanwhile, his proficiency in skills of all kinds had improved greatly.
But Xu Feng wasn't particularly happy.
The situation had started to grow tense again.
Twice in one month, the Alien Race had launched small-scale attacks on the base.
Neither attack had done much damage.
But for the people living in the Shanty Town on the outskirts, it was a major problem.
There were also rumors that the Alien Race was preparing a major counterattack.
This time, even Lu Fei had no reliable information.
She only said that the likelihood kept increasing.
So, in addition to earning money and cultivating, Xu Feng had expanded, reinforced, and renovated the entire basement.
Compared with the cramped, narrow underground passage it had once been,
the basement was now like a three-bedroom, one-living-room home.
Of course, it still had that unfinished-construction-site look.
But there was a lot more room.
At the same time,
Xu Feng had installed a simple ventilation system underground and reinforced the entrance to the basement.
It was all to prepare for the unexpected.
"Let's raise a glass to making a living!"
The five of them raised their glasses and cheered merrily.
Xu Feng, Fatty Wang Long, Liu Yu, the new neighbor Huang Sen, and the little girl.
Those were all the guests at the gathering.
"We should get together regularly from now on. We're all neighbors, so we can help each other whenever anything comes up," Liu Yu said with a laugh, covering her mouth.
"Absolutely. Oh, and I still need to congratulate Old Xu on getting certified as a Quasi-Warrior!" Huang Sen stood and raised his glass.
"Old Xu's forty, but he's still a top UP creator. Awesome!
"Come on, everyone, let's raise a glass and wish Old Xu a speedy promotion to full Warrior!"
Xiao Dan held up a big glass of orange juice and cheered. "Woohoo! Congratulations, Dad!"
Xu Feng quickly waved his hands modestly, though a trace of happiness warmed his heart.
(The End)
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