From Igniting Talent to Becoming a Demon God Section 39

"Still, after this, improving really did get harder again."

"After an entire afternoon of training, the sense of progress was almost negligible. And the Black Horned Ox meat and Blood-Qi Supplements too—before, swallowing them had at least had some effect, but now they could only barely count as filling my stomach."

His gaze swept over the neon signs along the block as a car with its beams on drove past on the road in front of him.

Thinking back on his training that afternoon, Lu Chao's originally rather relaxed mood quietly dimmed, fading by several degrees.

After reaching Combat Grade, never mind training for the moment.

The transformation in physical quality alone had made his appetite soar, and naturally required him to take in more energy to maintain his bodily functions.

From start to finish, whether it was Senior Brother Zheng's reminder or the news he had heard from other Combat Grade senior brothers, all of it proved one thing.

If resources were insufficient, forget increasing Vitality—even just maintaining his current state would take some effort.

"Senior Brother Xu said that aside from working at the security company, he also accepted sponsorships from some clubs. Every month, he could get dozens of extra kilograms of Exotic Beast Meat, as well as one Vitality Potion."

"Senior Brother Sun's situation was similar. Sometimes he would go to certain underground boxing rings to hold the place down, using that to exchange for a larger share of resources."

As those senior brothers' conversations echoed in his mind, Lu Chao suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed.

He had thought that after breaking through to Combat Grade, he would be able to relax a little.

But from the looks of it now, he would probably have to keep grinding himself to the bone.

The thought flashed through his mind, and his steps stopped.

The neon sign of Dreamfire Bar was like a burning illusion, shining in a riot of colors at the center of North Street, exceptionally eye-catching.

Outside the glass doors on the first floor, trimmed with gold, cars were parked neatly one after another. Quite a few young men and women came and went amid noisy laughter.

Several waiters in matching shirts and vests were waiting on both sides, constantly calling out words of welcome.

"Welcome!"

"This way, please!"

Amid the familiar voices, Lu Chao saw Xiao Yang. The other man was standing at the entrance with a smile on his face, bowing and bending at the waist again and again.

From several dozen meters away, looking at this scene, an inexplicable ripple rose in Lu Chao's heart, and his gaze turned slightly complicated.

Only after several breaths, and after taking a deep breath, did he calm all his emotions.

Tap, tap!

Then his feet moved.

He walked toward the bar, intending to thank Brother Hao in person and officially put an end to this security job.

"Welcome, this way, please."

At the entrance of the bar, the colorful neon lights drove away the night, revealing a straight passage that led toward the noisy hall.

The fake smile he wore had been on his face for quite some time, like a mask, and Xiao Yang felt as if his cheeks had gone a little stiff.

Yet no one paid him the slightest bit of attention.

Guest after guest chatted and laughed as they brushed past, not sparing him another glance because of his polite respect.

"Whew!"

"This job is really damn hard to serve... Just when is Brother Hao going to nod and let me join Hongyi Society so I don't have to do this kind of odd job anymore?"

Feeling somewhat depressed, Xiao Yang hesitated over whether he should go look for Brother Hao again.

"Hey, you there. Come over and park my car."

A streamlined blue Feast stopped not far from the entrance with its engine roaring. A young man wearing an expensive watch got out with his arm around his female companion and beckoned to him.

"Sorry, I—I don't know how to valet park..."

"Then what the hell are you standing here for?"

The young man cursed in dissatisfaction, drawing another waiter hurriedly forward to smooth things over. He took the keys and went to park the car, only then defusing the trouble.

After going through all that, then seeing the young man walk into the bar with his arm around his companion, the gloom in Xiao Yang's heart grew heavier and heavier. He gritted his teeth inwardly, gradually becoming somewhat irritable.

Should he also learn from Li Heng and get a driver's license?

But training for that was too expensive. It would cost at least seven or eight thousand yuan. How could he possibly save up that kind of money?

As he was caught in his dilemma, the light before his eyes dimmed slightly.

A somewhat sturdy figure walked over. Xiao Yang instinctively put on his professional fake smile, suppressed his emotions, and said, "Welcome... huh?"

He froze slightly. After seeing the other man's face clearly, he quickly came back to himself.

"Chao, so it's you."

As if breathing a sigh of relief, Xiao Yang's expression relaxed considerably. Wearing a familiar smile, he subconsciously reached out to pat Lu Chao on the shoulder.

In the end, he found that Lu Chao seemed to have grown even taller again, so he could only settle for second best and pat him on the elbow.

"Why'd you get here so late today? Brother Qiang was looking for you earlier."

"Hurry up and go get changed..."

As if he had found his way back to a familiar field, he deliberately urged him on, confident, like an old hand leading a newcomer.

"All right, I know. Thanks, Xiao Yang."

Lu Chao nodded with a smile and responded calmly.

Without saying much more or explaining anything, he parted from him and walked straight into the interior of the bar.

Watching his back, Xiao Yang's smile faded, and he secretly found it strange.

He clearly still looked the same.

But why did Ah Chao seem a little different today?

A few minutes later.

After stating his purpose, finding Zhou Qiang, and explaining his plan, Lu Chao walked into the office on the second floor of the bar and, as he had hoped, met Brother Hao.

"Combat Grade?"

It was not only Zhou Qiang who was surprised. Chen Junhao, seated behind the solid mahogany desk, was also slightly taken aback, the fingers holding his cigarette pausing faintly.

Then he tossed the cigarette into the ashtray on the desk.

He stood and strode around the solid mahogany desk, arriving in front of Lu Chao.

His sharp eyes were bright and piercing as he swept his gaze over Lu Chao from head to toe.

"Vigorous blood and qi, strength flowing through your whole body... You really made it, kid."

His astonished expression was quickly replaced by sincere relief. Chen Junhao clapped Lu Chao heavily on the shoulder and smiled.

He could no longer remember when the last time someone from the Welfare Institute had broken through to Combat Grade was.

"Not bad. Very good."

"Though it took you three months, don't go listening to other people's bullshit about you lacking potential."

His face turning serious, Chen Junhao thought of how long Lu Chao had been training in martial arts and deliberately advised him, "For people from backgrounds like ours, everything has to be fought for with our fists."

"Being able to break through is a good thing. There's no high or low to it!"

The powerful voice rang like thunder. Lu Chao froze when he heard it, then smiled as well.

When he was at the Martial Arts Hall today, he had indeed heard people make some veiled comments about this.

They meant that taking three months to break through could only prove his talent was low, his potential limited, and his hopes of breaking through the barrier to Professional Grade slim.

But.

Potential Progress: 99%

Thinking of his Potential Progress, which had risen again and was only one step away from completion, Lu Chao did not feel the slightest worry.

His talent was not in his innate physique. [Glutton] would let him be reborn and transform step by step.

"I understand, Brother Hao."

Lu Chao nodded heavily and took his words to heart.

As the two chatted, Chen Junhao lit another cigarette and invited him to sit on the sofa to one side.

"Now that you've stepped into Combat Grade, this security job really is beneath you."

"But have you thought through what you want to do in the future?"