71: Parents - urging marriage

A look of wild ecstasy erupted in Zhang Lei's eyes as he firmly grasped the divine spear, which contained the power to burn the heavens and boil the seas!

The spear felt slightly heavy, and a surge of irresistible fire elemental power, like a rushing torrent of magma, instantly coursed through his limbs and bones, perfectly merging with the Supernatural Ability within him!

He swung it casually a few times, leaving behind trails of scorching afterimages in the air that emitted sharp whistles as they tore through it.

"Let's call you the fire qilin spear!" Zhang Lei was ecstatic, his voice trembling slightly.

He had long yearned for a handy long-range weapon, never expecting that the natal summon he had conjured could transform into such a perfectly fitting divine weapon!

This surprise far exceeded his imagination!

The boost this divine artifact provided to his combat power was truly transformative!

As the night deepened, Zhang Lei returned to the Barracks dormitory area (Jiang Xin's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jiang Jun, and Zhang Lei's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Zhang Yun, both lived in the Barracks, right across from each other).

Pushing open the door, the aroma of food wafted towards him.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhang Yun were sitting at the small dining table eating; under the dim yellow light, the atmosphere was warm and cozy.

Hearing the door open, Zhang Yun looked up. Seeing his son in armor that hadn't yet fully retracted, still carrying the scent of battlefield smoke and the powerful aura of his Supernatural Ability, a flash of relief and pride crossed his eyes, but it was overshadowed by the deep concern of a father.

"Xiao Lei is back!" Mother Zhang hurriedly put down her chopsticks, her face filled with a loving smile as she stood up to go to the kitchen. "Quick, wash your hands, Mom will stir-fry another dish for you."

"No need to go to the trouble, Mom, I've already eaten." Zhang Lei shed his Supernatural Ability armor, which was patterned with lava and ice, revealing the simple training clothes underneath, and walked over to sit at the dining table.

The high temperature on his body seemed not to have fully dissipated, making the surrounding air feel a few degrees warmer.

Zhang Yun put down his bowl and chopsticks, looking at his son with a deep gaze. His rough, calloused hands landed heavily and expectantly on Zhang Lei's shoulder, the weight of the gesture profound.

"Xiao Lei!" His voice was low and powerful. "You are becoming stronger and stronger, we see it all, and we are happy! But with greater ability comes greater responsibility. You must remember this power and strive to serve the country!" His eyes were filled with solemn instructions for his son's future.

Feeling the weight of his father's hand and the heavy expectations, Zhang Lei straightened his back, his gaze as firm as iron. He clenched his fist, his knuckles emitting a faint crack. "Yes, Father, I understand! Don't worry, once I am truly strong, I will do everything in my power to help the country and end this damned apocalypse! To let everyone live in the sunlight again!" His voice was resolute, filled with unquestionable determination.

"Oh my!" Mother Zhang, carrying a cup of hot water, walked over and happened to hear this. She immediately glared at Zhang Yun reproachfully. "Old man, why are you saying all that? Isn't the state handling the big business of saving the world? For us common folk, it's enough to just live our own lives well! Xiao Lei, don't listen to your dad, let's take care of ourselves first."

She shoved the water cup into Zhang Lei's hand and sat down beside him, her face instantly shifting to an eager, gossipy expression. She lowered her voice: "Right, son, Mom heard something! That Jiang Xin, didn't he find a particularly beautiful girlfriend? And she's a female military officer! Jiang Feifei, right? I've heard your Aunt Jiang mention it several times. Tsk tsk, she says that girl looks like a movie star, and the key is that she's particularly sensible! She often takes the initiative to go to Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang's place to cook and clean. She's so thoughtful, she keeps Aunt Jiang smiling from ear to ear!"

Mother Zhang became more and more animated as she spoke, leaning forward, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Zhang Lei, starting her familiar "marriage urging offensive": "Xiao Lei! Mom isn't rushing you, but look at the world today, good girls are really hard to find! Jiang Xin is so fast and has such a good eye! Mom thinks, with your conditions being so good, the number one person in the military! Why not hurry up and look around in our troops? Find someone who is warm and caring, who can take care of you..." Her words were like a barrage, filled with an insistent fervor.

Zhang Lei immediately felt a headache coming on, feeling even more drained than he had summoning the Fire Qilin just moments ago.

He waved his hands hurriedly, a smile of helplessness mixed with a bit of youthful arrogance on his face, trying to interrupt his mother: "Okay, okay! Mom, Dad, don't rush! This can't be rushed! Look at who Brother Jiang found, how excellent she is, and a beautiful female officer at that! Your son, I am at least the number one combatant in the military now, with a reputation outside. Can an ordinary female soldier even match up to me? Right?" He deliberately lifted his chin, trying to use his strength to "silence" his mother.

Watching his son's "I'm strong so I have high standards" act, Zhang Yun couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle. But as a father, he was more pragmatic. He put down his chopsticks and said earnestly: "Xiao Lei, that may be true, but don't be too picky. In this day and age, being able to live a stable life is a blessing. As for looks, as long as they are pleasing to the eye, have good character, and a kind heart, that's enough. Don't make your mother too anxious and upset; she just wants to hold a big fat grandson early and enjoy family happiness." He patted his wife's hand, signaling her to calm down.

Looking at the earnest expectations in his parents' eyes, Zhang Lei felt a slight warmth in his heart, but also a sense of invisible pressure.

He smiled, said nothing more, and picked up his chopsticks, deftly placing a large piece of meat into each of his parents' bowls: "Dad, Mom, you two eat more. I have this matter in mind. Let's eat first, the food is getting cold." After saying that, he lowered his head and focused on the food in his bowl, using his actions to temporarily end this "family meeting" regarding his life's big event.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhang Yun exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness and understanding in each other's eyes.

They could feel that ever since obtaining his powerful Supernatural Ability, their son, Zhang Lei, was maturing and becoming steady at an astonishing speed. He had his own world within, and his thoughts and pursuits had long surpassed the scope of ordinary people.

Moreover, they had witnessed with their own eyes the miraculous ice and fire spells their son could cast; an ordinary woman, I'm afraid, would truly find it difficult to enter the world he lived in, surrounded by the power of his Supernatural Ability.

Yet, the true thoughts in Zhang Lei's heart at this moment were completely different from his parents' speculations.

That awakened, powerful Supernatural Ability roared within him like an engine that never stopped.

He was constantly yearning to climb to the pinnacle of power; the heavy pressure of the apocalypse, the future of humanity, the limits of his own potential... these weighty thoughts occupied almost all of his mind.

As for romance between a man and a woman? That fiercely burning fire of becoming stronger had long since temporarily, and far away, isolated it outside the door of his heart.