Chapter 18: Strength Test

After the loot distribution from this hunt is finished, everyone says their goodbyes.

Zhou Yang and his dad Zhou Yong casually called a car and returned home.

Their mother Wang Shumei, who had received the news early, cooked herself, prepared a table full of dishes, and the family enjoyed a warm reunion meal together.

That night, Zhou Yang did not cultivate; instead he quietly kept Wang Shumei company, chatting with her.

Since humanity entered the Great Nirvana and the era of Warriors, life has become harder for the vast majority of ordinary people.

Vast tracts of land have become monster playgrounds, and huge populations are packed into crowded base cities, the pressure of survival crushing people.

For Warrior families like Wang Shumei, living conditions are naturally many times better than those ordinary people cramped in tube apartments.

"Zhou Yang, why did you just come back and not rest at home, but run to the Martial Arts Academy?"

Yet they also often endure worries and anxieties unimaginable to ordinary people.

"Alright, let's go, Zhang Ke, and take a look together!"

Thus each expedition of the Martial Artist Squad into the wilderness is an adventure with one's head strapped to the belt.

Luo Feng's first time joining the Fire Hammer Squad into the wilderness, they were ambushed by the rival Tiger Fang Squad led by Zhang Zehu, causing teammate Zhang Ke to lose an arm and the Fire Hammer Squad to fall into danger.

The punching bag shook, crisp electronic beeps kept sounding, and a line of numbers appeared on the testing machine's display.

In his previous life his parents died early, and Zhou Yang became an orphan at a very young age.

"Hey, isn't that the famous Gemini of our Mingyue Community? Is that someone who just came back from the wilderness?"

He took a deep breath, then slowly gathered strength, his body like a drawn bow; the next moment his right fist struck the punching target of the punch strength testing machine as fiercely as a dragon bursting from a cave.

Having read the original work, he knows that humanity's predicament is not only the mutated monsters on Earth now, but also the myriad challenges from the endless Xingkong.

"That means there's not much time left before Luo Feng enters the Elite Training Camp; looks like I need to step up and try to hitch a ride!"

The wilderness is fraught with danger; human Warriors hunt monsters, and powerful monsters likewise attack humans with hatred.

"9218kg!"

Wu Tong looked at Zhou Yang, his eyes showing unmistakable surprise and joy, "9218kg, that's solidly beginner-level General-tier punch strength!"

Neural response test: beginner-level General-tier excellent!

Zhou Yang nodded, slowly walked to the punch strength testing machine and stood there.

Wu Tong saw he didn't want to say more, so he smiled and changed the subject.

After all, the contribution points he earned these past years still have to be allocated to Zhou Yang!

Zhou Yang didn't mind; he was actually looking to showcase his strength a bit, hoping the Jixian Wuguan would notice him.

Under the pressure of the two senior War Gods, Luo Feng's power later skyrocketed like a rocket, and in just about a year he leapt straight to the level of an invincible War God.

"Well done!"

Wu Tong personally helped Zhou Yang open the punch strength testing machine, speed testing device and other equipment; after some adjustments, he urged Zhou Yang:

"Come on, start quickly, let's test punch strength first!"

Wu Tong and Zhang Ke were both startled by the numbers they saw.

After chatting with his mother for a long time, Zhou Yang finally fell into a deep sleep late at night.

As Warrior family members, they are constantly worrying about their husband, son, or father, fearing that any ringing phone might bring sudden bad news.

However, Warriors have strong physical constitutions, so their need for sleep is reduced.

Getting stronger, only by constantly getting stronger, strong enough to sweep everything away, perhaps one can truly obtain that fleeting peace.

On a sofa at one side, two people sat opposite each other, quietly chatting.

Zhang Ke gave a wry smile, but gave no detailed explanation.

"Oh?"

"Good kid, it's been less than four months and your punch strength has increased so much!"

With that thought, he stepped into the lobby of the Extreme Hall.

One of them was the Hall Master and Chief Instructor Wu Tong of the Yangzhou Cheng Extreme Hall, and the other was a pale‑faced one‑armed man.

Zhou Yang smiled and walked forward, feigning nonchalance as he looked at Zhang Ke's empty sleeve, exclaiming:

"Brother Zhang, your arm—"

Zhou Yang tactfully changed the subject, saying:

"Let's test your physical condition."

Wu Tong laughed cheerfully, pushed Zhang Ke and went up the elevator with Zhou Yang.

"Beep beep beep!"

Right now, I'm far from any time of comfortable leisure!

The next day after breakfast, Zhou Yang told his parents and headed straight for the Yangzhou Cheng Extreme Hall.

Zhou Yang recognized him; he was Zhang Ke, a teammate of Luo Feng in the Fire Hammer Squad and also a Warrior living in the Mingyue Community.

Zhou Yang didn't delay, followed his guidance and quickly completed the other two tests, and the results came out soon—

However, even thinking of this, he felt helpless.

Speed: 121m/s!

"Quick, quick, quick, test speed and neural response again!"

Seeing Zhang Ke's empty sleeve, Zhou Yang's heart stirred, recalling the scene from the original work.

Zhou Yang was the prodigy he recommended to the Martial Arts Academy, so he paid special attention to his power increase.

As soon as he entered the first‑floor lobby, two figures caught his eye.

This time back, he clearly sensed that Wang Shumei's mood wasn't as cheerful as usual.

It was still early morning, and the training hall on the sixth floor of the Extreme Hall was empty.

He grew up thanks to relatives and neighbors' aid; to avoid others' scorn, he learned early to read people's expressions, feeling others' emotions with great delicacy.

He hurriedly urged, saying:

Otherwise, if Luo Feng entered the Elite Training Camp while I foolishly kept battling monsters in the Wilderness Zone, I'd be at a huge loss!

"No problem, Wu Shu, take a look as you wish."

As for him now, just three to four hours of sleep can guarantee a whole day of vigor.

The star‑sea is boundless, myriad races stand tall, and the law of the strong preying on the weak is unalterable.

"The Wilderness Zone really screwed someone over."

As soon as he entered, he immediately drew the attention of Wu Tong and the other; Wu Tong smiled brightly and greeted him, while the pallid Zhang Ke also smiled at him and nodded.

"Wu Shu, Brother Zhang!"

In the end it was only by Luo Feng exposing his Spiritual Thought Power that everyone escaped safely.

While Luo Feng was seeking revenge for the Tiger Fang Squad, he reluctantly killed the War God Bald Eagle and the Poison Scorpion's Son—Li Wei—who were protecting its members, prompting the two war gods to issue an astonishing hundred‑billion bounty.

"Testing strength? You don't mind if I tag along and watch, do you?"

From then on, the Fire Hammer Squad has held a grudge against the Tiger Fang Squad.

Hearing his words, Wu Tong showed an interested expression and hurriedly said:

This time, after staying in the Wilderness Zone for over a month, his physical condition has improved considerably, and today he happened to come over to test his current strength.

Meanwhile, Wu Tong beside him was already beaming with joy.

Regarding this result, Zhou Yang nodded, fairly satisfied.

The next time the Fire Hammer Squad enters City No. 003 in the Wilderness Zone to hunt monsters, they will encounter the Tiger Fang Squad again.

"Haha, an 18‑year‑old junior war‑general‑rank Warrior is truly a monster‑level genius!"

"Zhou Yang, I have to thank you; you, Wu Shu, I'm going to earn a ton of contribution points this year!"

(End of Chapter)