Wang Huai’an had barely left when the store manager could no longer hold back and approached Song Ningfeng.
“Alliance Master, those Essence Stabilizing Pills are excellent. You really gave them to him just like that?”
The manager glanced in the direction Wang Huai’an had left and continued, “Judging by his badge, he’s a 5th-Rank Martial Artist. I suppose he’s worth investing in.”
Song Ningfeng remained calm. “Investing in what? It was only a small gift to establish some goodwill.”
A trace of interest appeared in his eyes. “That man is quite interesting. He heard the words ‘Essence Stabilizing Pill,’ yet his expression didn’t change at all. You can tell at a glance that he’s someone who has seen the world.”
If Wang Huai’an had heard this, he would definitely have chuckled.
He had never even heard of the Essence Stabilizing Pill before. How was he supposed to look surprised?
The manager then asked in confusion, “But why would a 5th-Rank Martial Artist use the most ordinary Qi and Blood Powder to nurture his child? Could he have some other pills prepared?”
“Perhaps he has his own way of raising his child.”
Meanwhile, inside the car, Wang Huai’an was looking over the information about the pills.
“Essence Stabilizing Pill. One of the best pills for ordinary people cultivating toward becoming Quasi-Martial Artists.”
“It’s a special pill produced by the Jinghai City Martial Artist Alliance and is generally supplied only to its internal members.”
“Each pill is worth around 30,000 yuan. Its main effect is to stabilize the foundation and nourish the body of Martial Artists who have just embarked on the path of cultivation, providing certain benefits to their future cultivation.”
“Its effectiveness is 10 times that of ordinary Qi and Blood Powder.”
Wang Huai’an’s eyes brightened.
“This really is good stuff, and he casually gave me several of them.”
A satisfied smile appeared on his face. “Little Song certainly knows how to build connections. Once I become successful in the future, if Little Song ever runs into trouble, I can casually lend him a hand.”
Just moments ago, he had respectfully called the man Alliance Master Song.
Now, the moment he turned around, Song Ningfeng had already become “Little Song.”
Wang Huai’an was admittedly getting a little carried away.
But what could he do? His strength was improving too quickly.
If he did not possess the strength, he would never have dared to become so confident.
For a 6th-Rank Martial Artist, this amount of money might mean nothing. However, for a very poor 5th-Rank Martial Artist like him, these pills were a timely gift.
Wang Huai’an did not linger outside. He soon drove back toward the Old District.
Along the way, he reached up and touched the badge on his chest again.
This badge represented his identity as a Martial Artist. More importantly, he could finally show Wang Teng that his father was no longer some useless old man.
During that short trip alone, quite a few people had noticed the Martial Artist badge on his chest. The moment they saw it, their expressions became noticeably more respectful.
As Wang Huai’an drove through Jinghai City beneath the evening glow, even the sunset somehow seemed more beautiful than usual.
Why had he never noticed how beautiful it was before?
With a cigarette comfortably hanging from his lips, Wang Huai’an happily drove home.
Now that his strength had improved, it was about time he replaced this lousy car as well.
The thing could not even connect to his phone through Bluetooth, so he could not listen to music. When he had nothing else to do, he could only listen to the radio.
“Recently, a criminal Martial Artist at the Mid Stage of the 4th Rank fled into Jinghai City. Public security Martial Artists have already been dispatched. All citizens are advised to remain vigilant and take appropriate precautions…”
In the past, hearing an announcement like this would inevitably have frightened Wang Huai’an.
After all, a murderous criminal possessing the strength of a Mid-Stage 4th-Rank Martial Artist was genuinely terrifying.
In this world, Martial Artists possessed overwhelming strength. If someone powerful wanted to kill, they could simply kill. Those without strength could only pray that misfortune never fell upon them.
However, Wang Huai’an did not think much about it.
Before long, he returned to the Old District.
Looking at the rundown neighborhood and the endless rows of tall, aging buildings stretching into the distance, Wang Huai’an silently made a decision.
Once he had money, he would definitely move them into a small villa in the heart of the city.
For now, they could make do with this place.
He had never cared much about living conditions anyway. There was no rush to move. Improving his strength came first.
Meanwhile, Wang Teng was waiting at home.
He had not simply sat around doing nothing. In the living room, he sat cross-legged on the floor and practiced circulating his Qi and Blood.
Throughout the afternoon, everyone in his class had practiced the Basic Breathing Technique. Almost all of them had already begun attempting to sense and circulate their Qi and Blood.
However, they had only just stepped onto the path of cultivation. After practicing for an entire day, beginners like them could barely feel any increase in their Qi and Blood.
Wu Longfei and the class beauty Wei Lai were among them, along with several other students possessing High-Grade Martial Aptitude.
Some of them had already been exposed to martial arts by their families long ago. Naturally, they could enter the proper state much more easily and begin cultivating their Qi and Blood Power.
As for the others, their High-Grade Martial Aptitude simply allowed them to sense Qi and Blood earlier than students with Medium-Grade Martial Aptitude and guide it into their bodies.
In truth, Wang Teng could already sense an extremely faint trace of Qi and Blood himself.
Unfortunately, the amount was pitifully small.
Still, he had only just begun, so he did not care. His enthusiasm for cultivation remained as strong as ever.
Even if his family circumstances were poor, even if they could not afford cultivation resources or pills, he would rely on his own determination and cultivate relentlessly.
Even if he had to stay awake all night, he was determined to achieve something.
The path of martial arts valued perseverance above all else.
There was no point in complaining.
The strong did not need endless complaints.
Ever since his father had allowed him to choose the Martial Arts Track, Wang Teng suddenly felt as though he had grown up.
He really had matured, even if only a little.
Their life might be somewhat difficult now, and his father might only be an ordinary middle-aged man struggling at the bottom of society, but Wang Teng had already begun cultivating martial arts.
Once he passed the Martial Arts Entrance Examination and changed his destiny, he would definitely support this family!
“Knock, knock, knock!”
At that moment, someone suddenly knocked on the door.
Wang Teng knew his father had returned. He withdrew from his cultivation state and went to open the door.
He casually pulled it open and called out, “Dad.”
Then he simply turned around and walked back inside, completely failing to notice that something new was pinned to Wang Huai’an’s chest.
Wang Huai’an was wearing his Martial Artist badge.
He had originally planned to give his son a huge surprise. His mind was already filled with images of Wang Teng staring at him in shock before erupting with excitement.
Instead, the brat simply turned around and walked away as if nothing had happened.
The entire encounter was painfully ordinary.
Not even the slightest ripple of excitement!
Wang Huai’an froze on the spot.
He took a deep breath, walked through the door, and awkwardly scratched his backside.
Why did revealing the truth to his own son have to be so troublesome?
‘This system has really made my life difficult!’
Fortunately, the system did not respond.
Otherwise, it might have immediately taken everything back and forced him to continue living as an ordinary person.
Wang Teng, meanwhile, was far more concerned about what they were going to eat tonight.
After circulating his Qi and Blood all day, he had somehow become noticeably hungrier.
Sure enough, martial arts cultivation consumed a great deal of Qi and Blood. Because of that, he had little attention to spare for anything else.
Wang Teng glanced at the ingredients in the refrigerator and asked, “Dad, what are we eating tonight?”
A flicker of delight flashed through Wang Huai’an’s eyes. He laughed heartily and said, “We’re eating this!”
He immediately pulled a red booklet from inside his clothes and tossed it toward Wang Teng with a smooth, confident motion.
Wang Teng caught it, completely confused.
Wang Huai’an crossed his arms and waited eagerly for his son’s cry of astonishment.
Wang Teng glanced at the cover, his face filled with puzzlement. “Dad, why are you giving me your welding certificate? Did you get a new welding certificate today and specifically bring it back for me to admire?”
Wang Huai’an stared at him. “???”
Wang Teng really was holding his welding certificate.
It was one of the personal items Wang Huai’an had retrieved from the factory earlier that day.
His Martial Artist Certificate was in his other pocket.
In an instant, Wang Huai’an unleashed the speed of a 5th-Rank Martial Artist and swiftly swapped the certificates in Wang Teng’s hand.
Wang Teng’s vision blurred.
The booklet in his hand suddenly looked much newer.
‘Wait, since when did Dad know magic?!’
“Open your eyes and take a good look!”
Wang Teng’s hand suddenly paused.
A Martial Artist Certificate?
‘Jinghai City Martial Artist Alliance Certification!’
He quickly opened the booklet and examined it.
On the first page was a handsome photograph of his father. Beneath it was the official seal of the Jinghai City Martial Artist Alliance.
And directly below the seal was a bold line of black text that stabbed straight into Wang Teng’s eyes.
“Certified Martial Arts Rank: Early-Stage 5th-Rank Martial Artist!”
For a moment, Wang Teng’s mind went completely blank.
The hunger in his stomach vanished without a trace.
Throughout his entire life, the only 5th-Rank Martial Artists he had ever heard of were the parents of a few exceptionally talented classmates and the strongest person at his school, the 5th-Rank principal.
In the eyes of ordinary civilians, a 5th-Rank Martial Artist was already a powerful figure far beyond their reach.
But this 5th-Rank Martial Artist Certificate…
Why was the name engraved on it that of his father, a man who had spent half his life working at the bottom of society?!
Wang Teng found it almost impossible to believe.
“Dad, this has to be fake, right? Forging certificates is illegal.”
Wang Huai’an immediately rolled his eyes.
‘Damn it. How did I end up raising a brat like you?’
He could not be bothered wasting words on him.
Wang Huai’an directly opened the official website of the Jinghai City Martial Artist Alliance and entered the certificate number.
The result appeared in 1 second.
Official certification information found.
Genuine and valid!
Wang Teng stared at the clearly displayed Martial Artist information on the screen, especially the gleaming golden symbol representing the 5th Rank.
His entire body trembled.
Shock and overwhelming joy surged through him in an instant.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
He had originally believed that he would have no one to rely on as he walked the path of martial arts.
Yet the father who had always lived an ordinary and inconspicuous life had somehow become a lofty 5th-Rank Martial Artist without him even knowing!
An intense feeling of happiness and newfound confidence flooded Wang Teng’s heart, subtly changing his entire state of mind.
It was the kind of change unique to an ambitious young man who had suddenly discovered that he possessed a powerful foundation to stand upon.
Only after a long while did Wang Teng gradually accept this reality.
Soon afterward, Wang Huai’an saw his son sitting on the sofa, hugging his Martial Artist Certificate and badge while grinning like a fool.
Wang Teng could not help thinking, ‘Who would dare laugh at my father for being useless now?’
‘Who would dare mock me for overestimating myself by choosing the Martial Arts Track?!’
‘I, Wang Teng, have a 5th-Rank Martial Artist father backing me!’
Wang Huai’an smiled.
It had definitely been the right decision not to tell him that morning.
Otherwise, this brat would have been distracted for the entire day. Yang Liu might even have called him and asked whether choosing the Martial Arts Track had driven their son stupid.
As expected…
He, Wang Huai’an, was unbelievably wise.
After a while, Wang Teng finally managed to accept his new reality.
Unable to contain himself any longer, he immediately pulled out his phone and called Liu Feng.
The moment the call connected, Wang Teng asked, “Fatty, do you know what it feels like to have a 5th-Rank Martial Artist for a dad?”
Liu Feng replied, “???”