Ling Feng returned to the West Warehouse District.
As soon as he entered, he saw Zhang Qingqing comforting Liu Feng, who seemed out of sorts, as if she had just been crying.
"Second Aunt, what happened?"
Ling Feng asked.
Liu Feng ignored Ling Feng and laid a debt collection note on the table.
Ling Feng took a look. It was indeed the high-interest loan Zhang Lei had borrowed to buy Nutrient Liquid.
Each Nutrient Liquid was worth 200,000.
Zhang Lei borrowed 160,000 for a term of seven days with a 3% interest rate. When he withdrew the cash, he received only 155,200, but when the time was up, he had to repay the full 160,000.
The collection agents had come to remind them.
Liu Feng looked at the bill, feeling breathless.
"Second Aunt, I'll help gather part of the money."
Ling Feng comforted.
"Where will you gather it from?"
Liu Feng said disdainfully.
"I just completed the entry-level martial artist assessment today and received a 50,000 bonus. I'll transfer it to Uncle's account later. In the next couple of days, I'll participate in the ranking competition; maybe I can earn a few more thousand."
Ling Feng explained.
"You've advanced?"
Zhang Qingqing exclaimed.
"Yes, I got the Martial Artist Badge this morning."
Ling Feng took out his badge; he knew that only this badge could convince Liu Feng and Zhang Qingqing that he had become an entry-level martial artist.
"This... Xiaofeng, you... Aunt is truly happy for you, tonight let's stir-fry all the earthworm in the fridge."
Liu Feng said in a jumble of words.
Ling Feng had surprisingly become an entry-level martial artist. It seemed the Nutrient Liquid really worked.
"I've already eaten at school. After becoming an entry-level martial artist, the school provided a much larger survival subsidy than before. Unfortunately, there's a rule that entry-level martial artists can't take survival subsidies home privately, or else..."
Ling Feng explained.
"My mom and I understand this. Additionally, I still have several months until I turn eighteen. I'll soon become an entry-level martial artist too."
Zhang Qingqing hurriedly said.
"Hmm, I'm about to attend the ranking competition, I need to prepare."
Ling Feng nodded and headed towards the small balcony room.
"Congratulations, brother."
Zhang Qingqing called out.
Ling Feng paused; it was the first time Zhang Qingqing had called him that.
"Mm."
Ling Feng nodded slightly. The original owner of his body had always longed to be integrated into his uncle's family, so when Liu Feng proposed splitting the resource subsidies with Zhang Qingqing, the original owner eagerly brought half of it home, seeking acknowledgment and leaving it for Zhang Qingqing to enjoy.
As a result, due to over-cultivation, lacking nutrition, he died suddenly, giving Ling Feng the chance to traverse over.
In the small balcony room.
Ling Feng transferred 50,000 cash to his uncle Zhang Lei.
While delivering goods in the Great Radiation Zone, Zhang Lei, preparing to make another run, suddenly felt his bracelet vibrate. When he opened it, a transfer notification appeared before his eyes.
The amount was 50,000.
Transferred by Ling Feng.
"Ling Feng!"
Zhang Lei rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"Lei, who did you borrow money from again?"
Lin Zhongsheng, from the passenger seat, asked.
As Zhang Lei's partner, Lin Zhongsheng knew that Zhang Lei had recently borrowed a high-interest loan to purchase Nutrient Liquid for his daughter.
A few coworkers had also chipped in a small sum for him.
In this resource-scarce and extremely harsh living Outer Ring City, money was life force, and everyone wasn't living lavishly.
"Where did Ling Feng get the money, could it be… he became an entry-level martial artist?"
Zhang Lei thought intensely, then exclaimed joyously.
50,000 isn't a small amount.
Considering Ling Feng's age, besides becoming an entry-level martial artist, Zhang Lei couldn't think of where Ling Feng could conjure such a large sum.
He was about to dial Ling Feng's bracelet number.
Suddenly, the ground trembled, and the truck moving through the fog detected a terrifying creature approaching.
"Lei, it's the Catfish Demon chasing the signal source."
Lin Zhongsheng cried.
The Great Radiation Zone is dangerous not just for its high radiation and pollutants but because Fish Demons frequently appear here.
The Catfish Demon, with a humanoid-fish body and a massive catfish head, can detect human signal sources and loves devouring human flesh. It possesses a powerful healing ability.
"Buzz!"
The truck was equipped with a nuclear-powered electromagnetic cannon.
And it had locking and detection functions.
Zhang Lei immediately released the electromagnetic cannon. With a loud boom, a blood mist appeared in the fog, followed by intense ground tremors, as if there was a collapse ahead, with a swarm of Catfish Demons crawling out.
"Get out of here quickly!"
Lin Zhongsheng immediately activated all signal sources to alert the station of their encounter with Fish Demons on the way back, reporting a significant presence of Fish Demons.
Although the electromagnetic cannon was powerful, it could handle one, two, or even ten Catfish Demons but appeared precarious against a whole group.
Luckily, the truck they drove could not only block radiation and pollutants but also had outstanding defense and impact resistance. It could travel rapidly on both land and water.
Zhang Lei didn't turn around.
Instead, he took advantage of the situation before all the Catfish Demons could climb out from underground, directly charged through, heading back towards South City.
At the same time.
On the Soldier Landing Platform, the stationed officer saw the red signal lights of various departments lighting up in succession.
Within the Star Realm.
Ling Feng began participating in the ranking competition.
This was a strict requirement from the Seven Great Star Systems Alliance. Every entry-level martial artist had to participate, three times a week, with no exceptions. Failure to do so would result in cancellation of related subsidies and benefits, and perhaps even losing recognition as an entry-level martial artist, forcing participation on the front lines in battles.
Additionally, they couldn't concede defeat or intentionally hold back during matches. If caught by the system, they would face severe punishment.
Such regulations were set to cultivate more strong Martial Dao practitioners and prevent collusion and fraudulent rewards.
Soon, Ling Feng's figure appeared in a live streaming room with over a hundred viewers. Then, a figure gradually solidified in front of him.
"Wu Weiwei!"
"Ling Feng!"
As the figure solidified, they exclaimed simultaneously.
Wu Weiwei also became an entry-level martial artist today and chose to participate in the ranking competition tonight, unexpectedly matched with Ling Feng for the first round.
Both became entry-level martial artists on the same day.
Their numbers were just about twenty apart, and their Combat Power was almost equivalent.
Being matched together truly seemed fateful.
"I'm curious as to why your Combat Power exceeds mine. Don't hold back against me, and I won't go easy on you either."
Wu Weiwei said.
"Okay."
Ling Feng nodded.
Picking up a silver Long Spear from the Soldier Landing Platform.
Whereas Wu Weiwei chose a favored Treasure Sword.
The ranking competition's scoring was related to the duration of the match and the power of their moves. The higher the score, the more survival Points one would earn. Once enough Points were accumulated, one could move from the Outer Ring City to Inner Ring City.
Thus, after choosing the Treasure Sword, Wu Weiwei didn't hesitate, swiftly stabbing towards Ling Feng.
Ling Feng quickly adopted a defensive stance.
Participating in this ranking competition was to help his uncle alleviate difficulties and meet the Seven Great Star Systems Alliance's review.
Although his Life Chart was 'Coast Along,' he couldn't possibly fold his hands and let Wu Weiwei stab him to death, especially since doing so would incur punishment.
As he couldn't concede or hold back, to align with the 'Coast Along' requirements, Ling Feng sought a swift resolution.
The sooner he finished, the sooner he could return to gaming!
Never lingering too long in exhausting, restraining places.