Zhang Li's Visit

When Lu Ren said he was leaving, Yan Zhenghua waved enthusiastically. "Young man, I think highly of you. Come visit when you have time!"

Without looking back, Lu Ren raised a middle finger and left.

As for Li Shu, the increase in his Spirit attribute had made him increasingly sensitive to other people's intentions. Her motives for approaching him were impure, and her mind was full of distracting thoughts. Though she was indeed kind-hearted, Lu Ren truly had no interest in dealing with that kind of relationship.

It was a waste of life.

Rather than humoring her with empty pleasantries, he might as well cast her aside cleanly. Besides, every sign showed that Yan Zhenghua was indeed an extraordinarily powerful Martial Daoist whose swordsmanship had reached the realm of great mastery and perfection.

Although Yan Zhenghua had not displayed even a trace of his so-called Phoenix Zenith Fist, Lu Ren had no doubt that his fist technique was astonishing.

Especially back in the training room, Yan Zhenghua's body, which had looked like it was covered in fat, suddenly contracted. In the blink of an eye, a hulking, muscular man stood before him.

He had relaxed his muscles to the absolute limit to create that appearance.

He was a terrifying expert!

Just far too lecherous.

Sending Li Shu over had not been screwing her over. The million was purely a referral fee, and Lu Ren accepted it with a clear conscience. He even regretted not asking for more.

After returning home, Lu Ren had only practiced a few sets of Falcon Fist when Zhang Li appeared at his door and handed him a document.

Zhang Li watched Lu Ren's fist forms with shock in her eyes. It had only been three or four months since he began practicing Falcon Fist, yet he had already entered the hall.

"Want to do something exciting?"

Lu Ren took the document and gave Zhang Li a once-over. Her tight jeans and fitted turtleneck sweater showed off her perfect figure.

He had no doubt that the muscle definition visible beneath those clothes possessed terrifying explosive power. Once she exerted herself, she could definitely turn into a musclebound brute.

Women were naturally physically weaker than men and tended more toward agility and explosiveness, but Lu Ren could clearly see that the path of fist techniques Zhang Li practiced was incomparably fierce and forceful.

"Wouldn't something too exciting be a bad idea?"

Lu Ren casually replied as he opened the document and began reading it carefully.

Zhang Li seemed to be rather experienced herself. She immediately understood what Lu Ren meant, and her pretty face turned frosty.

"So you want to fight me?"

"No, that's not what I meant. Look at you—you're already this powerful. How could a little shrimp like me possibly withstand it?"

At that point, Lu Ren raised his brows. "Alternate-Space Exploration Plan?"

Hearing Lu Ren get down to business, Zhang Li forcibly suppressed her anger and explained, "We discovered a stable alternate-space source inside Luozi Mountain. We need people to enter and explore it."

Lu Ren was somewhat displeased. Wasn't this obviously treating him as cannon fodder and tossing him inside?

"Captain Zhang, Hua Country is vast and rich, with a huge population base. Although martial arts are declining now, there must be at least one or two hundred thousand people practicing all kinds of Fist Law Schools. Besides, those who can join your organization must be full of capable people. Why come looking for me? I've contributed to the country too! You can't chill my heart like this!"

As Lu Ren spoke, he sounded increasingly miserable, making Zhang Li's anger flare. "Do you think I wanted to come looking for you? If the higher-ups hadn't said they wanted to nurture you and believed you were truly promising in the southwest region, and if Li Ziqing hadn't strongly recommended you, I wouldn't have come at all. I could have just gone myself!

"We've already explored and confirmed this alternate-space passage. There isn't much danger!"

"Huh?! Nurture me?!" Lu Ren was genuinely shocked.

What was there to nurture in a straggler who had slipped through nine years of compulsory quality education?

"You've encountered alternate worlds twice and survived both times. Your martial arts talent is excellent as well—you reached the level of entering the hall in Falcon Fist within three or four months."

Zhang Li's face was also filled with unconcealable jealousy. "And according to the records, you've only practiced martial arts for half a year, yet you've already reached this level. You're a good prospect worth nurturing."

"You don't look shocked at all. You just look full of jealousy!"

"Tch. Just as you said, Hua Country is vast and rich, with an enormous population base. There are plenty of people like you. If you weren't so old, you might receive even more attention."

Tch!

How boring. Lu Ren had the feeling that he had thought himself a genius, only to find that anyone he hit with a brick on the street was more talented than he was...

Unfortunately, all those geniuses would be left far behind by handsome me!

Lu Ren glanced at the proficiency increase notification that had floated by while he practiced earlier.

Wonderful!

Lu Ren asked, "Are there any benefits?"

Zhang Li said solemnly, "Comrade Lu Ren, as a talent of the new century and a Martial Daoist, we cannot chase fame and profit. If we wish to pursue the pinnacle of martial arts, we must..."

Listening to Zhang Li's endless grand speech, Lu Ren sighed. "Fine, then let me ask another question. What benefits and compensation are there?"

Zhang Li stopped speaking. "Don't worry. Joining our Security Administration Bureau comes with excellent compensation, and it's an official post. Recently, haven't you found that practicing martial arts has rapidly increased your appetite? You eat more and more, spend a considerable amount of time on food, and also need time to take care of personal hygiene. We have a specialized research team that focuses on in-depth research into high-energy nutrition."

As she spoke, Zhang Li took a blackish-brown pill the size of a little fingernail out of her waist pouch.

"This nutrient pill can provide the daily nutritional needs of the powerful physique of a first-rate fist technique expert.

"And that's not all. Aren't you taking a wild path without systematic martial arts instruction? We have a complete and comprehensive martial arts system, even scientifically tested and researched methods that can help you obtain fist techniques better suited to you."

Lu Ren's gaze flickered. His recent training had made him clearly realize that, in the end, every powerful Martial Daoist needed a strong team behind them in order to be cultivated into a martial arts expert.

If he relied on himself alone, acquiring and searching for the food and medicinal herbs needed for martial arts training would consume a tremendous amount of time. Sometimes he could not even find them, delaying his training progress.

Aside from eating, sleeping, and taking care of his bodily needs, squeezing out twelve hours a day for fist practice was already the limit. Some fist techniques even required special medicinal herbs to temper the body, leaving even less time to practice.

With a team behind him, he would not need to go through all that trouble. He only needed to focus on practicing martial arts.

With a big tree at his back, one could enjoy the shade; it was easier to cultivate within an official institution.

Besides, it came with an official post!

Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Ren nodded. "I'm in!"

A smile appeared on Zhang Li's face. "You'll be happy with your correct choice."

"I'm very happy." Lu Ren sounded somewhat perfunctory. Then he rubbed his hands together and pointed at the High-Concentrate Nutrient Pill in Zhang Li's hand. "Um... Captain Zhang, now that I'm one of our own, could you give me some?"