"Uncle, when did you return? I saw in the Star Realm that the Great Radiation Zone was troubled by the Catfish Demon, and I was really worried about you."
Ling Feng also embraced Zhang Lei.
"My dad and brother just got back. You were participating in the ranking competition in the Star Realm. I found out through the school's classmates group. Originally, I wanted to go in and watch. Suddenly outside, I heard about the incident in the Great Radiation Zone. My mom and I were startled. Fortunately, it was a false alarm; my dad is safe, and my brother is back too."
Zhang Qingqing explained.
"We just returned home, and Qingqing mentioned that you had become an entry-level martial artist. We were just about to enter the Star Realm to see you when you came out."
Zhang Tiesheng added.
As Zhang Lei's eldest son, Zhang Tiesheng has always had a good relationship with the original owner. Since he was specially recruited into the nuclear power plant to work on developing new types of weapons, he had lesser contact with the original owner.
But he basically returns once every two months.
This time, both father and son came back mainly because of the incident in the Great Radiation Zone.
Humans have been strengthening the cultivation system and developing various defensive and offensive weapons to counter the Alien Race and extraterrestrial creatures.
Many devices, during the development process, impact humans and the living environment, so many research factories are set up in the Great Radiation Zone.
Although Zhang Tiesheng was a cultural special recruit.
The higher-ups provided him, for safety, Nutrient Liquid and Genetic Potions over the past two years and one-on-one Martial Dao training, increasing his combat power to 21.2, thoroughly enhancing his physical fitness. He is now the family's only Elemental Martial Artist.
Upon returning, seeing Ling Feng become an entry-level martial artist with a combat power reaching 13.0, he was quite surprised, even a bit shocked.
Although his combat power far exceeds Ling Feng's, he understands how challenging it is for Ling Feng to attain such combat power at his current age under these conditions.
It was only this time he realized Ling Feng had been giving half of his resource supplements to Zhang Qingqing over the past month, and now having such combat power is simply miraculous.
"I won five consecutive matches in the Star Realm, earning a prize of 20,000 yuan. Uncle, please use this money to pay off the loan."
Ling Feng said with a smile.
"No, you've already given me 50,000 yuan, keep this 20,000 yourself, see if there are good things at school to buy to eat, or enroll in a tutoring class, learn more while you're young. If you can get into Divine Martial University, you can leave Outer Ring City and eventually become an Elemental Martial Artist, fighting for humanity."
Zhang Lei refused.
"Uncle doesn't have to worry about me. I have three ranking matches a week, and I can continue to earn prizes."
Ling Feng decisively transferred the prize money he just received to Zhang Lei's account.
"You..."
Zhang Lei wanted to return the money.
"Dad, Ling Feng is right. He now is an entry-level martial artist, enjoying survival resource supplements vastly different. With his talent, as long as he cultivates seriously, getting into Divine Martial University shouldn't be difficult."
"The money I can give you isn't much. The company paid a considerable price for me to become an Elemental Martial Artist, and a large portion of my current salary has to be repaid to the company, and it'll take several years more to repay fully."
Zhang Tiesheng said helplessly.
He already knew Zhang Lei took out a loan to buy Nutrient Liquid to help Qingqing and Ling Feng become entry-level martial artists, emptying the family's savings.
But he didn't blame Ling Feng and Zhang Qingqing; instead, he felt a bit guilty, knowing the family previously paid dearly for him to enter the nuclear power plant and exempted him from military service.
The money earned over the past two years went to repaying the company's debt; he hasn't been able to help with family matters.
"Xiaofeng, the family owes you."
Zhang Lei felt sorry.
"We're all family; let's not talk like outsiders."
Ling Feng said with a smile.
"Since your brother is back, let's take out everything edible from the fridge to eat tonight."
Aunt Liu Feng said excitedly.
"I brought back several jin of catfish meat, this meat has been processed by the company, you can safely eat it, perfect to replenish Ling Feng and Qingqing to strengthen their vitality."
Zhang Tiesheng took out a nearly ten-jin package of meat from a black bag.
This meat was taken from the Catfish Demon.
The mucus on the Catfish Demon is highly toxic; once the mucus enters a wound, it cannot be eaten. There's not much edible Catfish Demon meat.
If not for Zhang Tiesheng's special status and the recent large outbreak of Catfish Demons in the Great Radiation Zone, Ling Feng and others wouldn't have such a treat.
"Alright."
Aunt hesitated, but eventually took out two jin for deep-frying, two jin for stir-frying, one jin for stewing, and stored the remaining nearly five jin in the fridge.
Eating five jin of meat for a meal, a family sharing five jin of meat, is not uncommon in the past life; some meat-loving places even see it as a regular practice.
But in Outer Ring City, it's quite luxurious, even in Inner Ring City, few families indulge in so much meat at once.
During the meal, Ling Feng asked about the situation in the Great Radiation Zone.
From Zhang Lei's explanation, Ling Feng learned that Zhang Lei indeed encountered a Catfish Demon attack. Thankfully, the electromagnetic cannon was used for opening a path, and a nearby heavy weapon factory was present.
Many Elemental Martial Artists were guarding.
Finally, they overcame the obstacles and returned to Outer Ring City one after another with Zhang Tiesheng.
However, the Great Radiation Area is vast.
This Catfish Demon invasion caused several factories to not hold up; now the City Lord has led a large number of Elemental Martial Artists out to battle.
Whether they can wipe out the Catfish Demons is still uncertain.
Zhang Tiesheng worriedly added, "Recently, the company's higher-ups plan to relocate the factory, preparing to withdraw from the Great Radiation Zone. I've heard some whispers, this Catfish Demon invasion might be just the prelude; if the Great Radiation Zone falls, Outer Ring City would be leveled. So... Ling Feng, Qingqing, you must do everything possible to enhance your strength. Our family's existing points aren't enough to live in Inner Ring City unless one of you becomes like me, an Elemental Martial Artist, and passes the assessment, then parents can join Inner Ring City."
"Brother, I will strive hard."
Zhang Qingqing nodded firmly.
"Me too."
Ling Feng echoed.
"Mom and I don't want you to worry. If your company moves out of the Great Radiation Zone, it would be better; that way I won't have to worry about your safety. As for Qingqing and Ling Feng, don't stress too much, but I hope both of you get into Divine Martial University."
Zhang Lei advised.
"Dad, living in Inner Ring City is a goal our family set together."
Zhang Tiesheng said.
"I now only hope Qingqing can soon become an entry-level martial artist. Whether we can move to Inner Ring City, I'll discuss it later; I reckon it's quite safe here; it's not easy for the Fish Demon to enter."
Liu Feng brought a freshly cooked dish of meat.
Ling Feng remained silent, as getting into Divine Martial University requires reaching a combat power of 15.0 and awakening six Qi Sensitivities, which isn't difficult for him.
But to become an Elemental Martial Artist takes reaching a combat power of 20.0 and passing various assessments, which isn't easy to achieve short term.
Now he can only hope that the situation in the Great Radiation Zone stabilizes, and everyone merely experiences a scare, with Outer Ring City not falling so easily.