Certifying as a Quasi-Martial Artist (Seeking Follow-ups)

"150?" Xu Feng asked in surprise. Wasn't it supposed to be one hundred?

"Heh, there's a fifty-yuan flexibility for outstanding employees," Zhou Xu replied with a smile.

Xu Feng understood that the manager was trying to curry favor.

He also smiled and said, "Many thanks, Manager Zhou. When you're free, you must come over to my place for a meal."

"Easily done, easily done," Zhou Xu said with a chuckle.

The certification process went even more smoothly than Xu Feng had anticipated.

By the afternoon, he was summoned to an underground office building in the northern part of the base.

Having never ventured this deep into the base before, Xu Feng was like a curious child.

He looked around everywhere, filled with a sense of novelty toward everything he saw.

"This way, Mr. Xu." The staff member leading the way was very polite, guiding Xu Feng into a quiet room with a smile on his face.

Inside the quiet room stood the latest testing machine, and there was even a hundred-meter-long track.

"The quasi-martial artist test only requires measuring strength and speed. Once you promote to a martial artist, you can then test your neural reaction speed," the staff member explained to Xu Feng.

Xu Feng nodded, pretending to understand. "Thanks."

"It's our job. Please, right this way."

Soon, the staff member briefly introduced how to use the testing machine and then took the initiative to open the door and leave.

Once Xu Feng was the only one left in the quiet room, he stretched his body and curiously approached the testing machine.

"Beep! Identity verification: Logistics Department, Employee ID 02155489, Name: Xu Feng. Age: 40. ID Number: [Redacted]. Please verify if this is accurate and click confirm."

Soon, Xu Feng's identity information appeared on the testing machine.

After a brief verification, Xu Feng clicked confirm.

"Beep!"

In the testing area to the side, a metal pillar as tall as a person rose from the ground and quickly unfolded into a circular target in mid-air.

"Please stand within the testing frame and strike the target with your full strength. The test will be conducted three times in total, and the highest value will be recorded. If you are ready, please say 'ready'."

As the crisp electronic female voice sounded, Xu Feng followed the light indicators and stopped in the testing area one meter in front of the circular target.

"Strike the target." Xu Feng glanced at the punching target and slowly clenched his fist.

I wonder what level my physical fitness is at. Let's give it a try; it'll be good to have a clear understanding of myself.

He took a deep breath, recalling the explosive "Angry Wolf Bows Head" from the White Wolf Blade Technique.

Immediately, his muscles tensed abruptly: "Ready!"

"Beep! Please begin your attack!"

Whoosh!

Xu Feng suddenly stepped forward, his entire body's muscles jolting violently. With a twist of his waist and hips, his body arched like a longbow as he threw a punch!

"Hah!"

Bang!

Accompanied by a dull, vibrating thud, the punching target trembled slightly.

"Beep! 956kg!"

Xu Feng's eyes lit up slightly. Over nine hundred kilograms?

He looked down at his fist, finding it hard to imagine.

His mind rapidly cycled through three stages.

The first stage: Is this even human?

The second stage: Wait, was I this strong all along?

The third stage: Damn, and this is only a quasi-martial artist?

His understanding of this world became a little clearer.

"Continue!"

Bang!

Second punch.

"Beep! 924kg!"

Bang!

Third punch.

"Beep! 944kg!"

A light, cheerful melody immediately played in the testing room.

"Final strength test result: 956kg!"

Xu Feng nodded slightly; it seemed his first punch had been his best.

He loosened up his body and followed the instructions to the hundred-meter track.

To be honest, I don't think I actually know how fast I can run now.

"Ready, begin!"

Whoosh!

As Xu Feng took his first stride, he felt as if time itself had slowed down.

Swish!

In the blink of an eye, Xu Feng realized he had already crossed the finish line.

"Beep! Test speed: 19m/s! Standard for quasi-martial artist not met. Please adjust your state!"

Hearing the voice prompt, Xu Feng felt a jolt and quickly composed himself.

Logically, for an explosive sprint like this, one's physical strength should be at its peak on the first attempt.

However, because he hadn't been mentally prepared, Xu Feng felt a bit annoyed.

But he wouldn't make that mistake a second time.

Xu Feng took a deep breath, returned to the starting line, and prepared himself once more.

On his second attempt, Xu Feng clocked in a solid 22m/s, reaching the quasi-martial artist standard.

His third attempt was 21m/s.

Immediately after, the staff member's voice echoed through the testing room: "Mr. Xu, congratulations on completing your quasi-martial artist certification.

Please wait by the door of the testing room, and a staff member will guide you out.

Your electronic quasi-martial artist certificate will be sent to your personal account within eight hours.

The physical certificate will be ready in 48 hours; please collect it at the front desk of the Base Martial Investigation Bureau after 48 hours."

Xu Feng smiled with satisfaction and stepped out the door.

Soon, guided by the staff, Xu Feng left the office building.

"Mr. Xu, in eight hours, you will officially be a quasi-martial artist certified by the Earth Martial Artist Alliance.

Theoretically, in half a year, you can apply for the formal martial artist examination based on your actual progress."

Xu Feng quickly reached out his hand: "Understood, thank you for your hard work today."

The staff member smiled slightly, shook his hand politely, and departed.

Returning to the airport, Xu Feng was soon showered with praise from everyone.

Not only had the manager's attitude toward him changed drastically, but even his colleagues were now calling him "Brother Xu."

The struggle required to evolve from "Old Xu" to "Brother Xu" was something only Xu Feng himself knew.

By the time he returned home, Xu Feng still felt like he was walking on air.

An officially certified quasi-martial artist!

"Hahahahaha!"

Standing in his room, Xu Feng laughed toward the ceiling, his spirits soaring.

Two hours later.

When Xu Feng stood up from his workbench at home, he felt dizzy and lightheaded.

"A quasi-martial artist is worth jack squat; I still have to eat, drink, and earn money! We're all just cattle and horses!"

Xu Feng complained bitterly.

One month after his certification as a quasi-martial artist.

Xu Feng had quickly shaken off the excitement, thrill, and pride, returning to the reality of his life.

Life was still difficult, but it was much better than it had been two months ago.

At the very least, he could now afford meat with every meal, sleep without nightmares, enjoy a rising salary, and make daily progress in his cultivation.

Xu Feng felt that his life was quite fulfilling.

A month flew by in the blink of an eye.

During this time, through painstaking accumulation, Xu Feng finally managed to grow his funds to thirty thousand.

At the same time, he became a fairly well-known personal Communicator Repair technician in the trading zone.

Meanwhile, his proficiency in various skills had improved significantly.

Yet, Xu Feng did not feel overly happy.

The situation was beginning to grow tense once again.

Within a single month, the alien race had harassed the base twice in small-scale skirmishes.

Although these were merely superficial attacks, they posed a major problem for those living in the shantytowns on the outskirts.

Furthermore, rumors circulated that the alien race was brewing a massive counterattack.

This time, even Lu Fei lacked accurate information.

She only stated that the probability was constantly increasing.

Therefore, in addition to earning money and cultivating, Xu Feng had also expanded, reinforced, and renovated his entire basement.

Compared to the original narrow and cramped underground passage, the current basement was like a three-bedroom apartment.

Of course, it still had an industrial aesthetic, but the space was much more spacious.

At the same time, Xu Feng installed a simple ventilation system underground and even strengthened the defensive level of the basement entrance.

He did all of this just to be prepared for any contingency.

"Let's toast to life!"

Inside the room, five people raised their glasses together and cheered heartily.

Xu Feng, Fatty, Wang Long, Liu Yu, their new neighbor Huang Sen, and the little girl.

These were all the members present for this gathering.

"We should get together like this often. Since we're all neighbors, we can help each other out if anything comes up," Liu Yu said with a giggle, covering her mouth.

"That's a must! By the way, I still need to offer my congratulations on Old Xu's successful certification as a prospective martial artist!" Huang Sen stood up and raised his glass.

"Even though Old Xu is forty, he's still turning the world upside down—awesome! Come on, everyone, let's raise our glasses and wish for Old Xu to become a true martial artist soon!"

Xiao Dan held up a large glass of orange juice and cheered, "Woohoo! Congratulations, Dad!"

Xu Feng hurriedly waved his hands in modesty, though a trace of joy stirred within his heart.