8: Chapter 8: Great Increase in Mental Strength

Mingyue Residential Community.

The Fang Family.

Early in the morning, father Fang Wu was sunbathing on the balcony with his shirt off, his exposed chest and back crisscrossed with scars.

Li Ru sat nearby, with bottles and jars scattered at her feet, emitting a pungent medicinal odor.

"Old man, Fang Zhuo is grown up now. Fang Jing and Fang Hu don't seem to have much talent for the Dao of Martial Arts either. Even if they did, the initial investment would be enough if you just asked the old man to take some from his retirement fund."

"Stop working as a sparring partner! Get an easier job; don't ruin your body!"

Li Ru nagged as she applied medicine to Fang Wu.

Fang Wu didn't say a word. Only after his wife finished applying the medicine did he grimace and say, "It's fine. I know my own body; I'm well aware of my limits."

"My Martial Aspect might not be great for Cultivating, but it's top-tier when it comes to taking a beating."

Li Ru had heard this so many times her ears were calloused, and she couldn't be bothered to argue with her husband.

"Just take it easy."

She reminded him, then sighed and said,

"Sigh, Fang Zhuo finally came to his senses and gave up on the Dao of Martial Arts, only to fall for a 'gold-devouring beast' of a girl. If he's really taken with her, what will they do in the future?"

"They'll figure it out!"

Fang Wu huffed.

Last night, that rebellious son went out on a blind date and didn't come home all night. Even with his feet, he could tell they had likely hit it off.

It would be hard to talk him out of it now!

"Fang Zhuo said he's bringing that girl home today. What was her name again? Bai Shiwei, right! She's pretty and an undergraduate Martial Arts student, but it's a pity she's another poor soul who failed the Awakening of her Martial Aspect. If only she weren't so obsessed with practicing martial arts, she and Fang Zhuo would be a perfect match."

"Heh, if this girl weren't obsessed with the Dao of Martial Arts, do you think it would be your son's turn?"

Fang Wu sneered.

Li Ru said angrily, "What do you mean 'my son'? Isn't he your son too?"

Fang Dawei was busy dominating in a tailing game. Hearing the argument from the balcony, he walked out, feeling frustrated that they weren't living up to his expectations.

"Fang Zhuo didn't come back last night?"

"Yeah."

"We're screwed."

Fang Dawei pointed at Fang Wu's nose and said, "I told you, Fang Zhuo is just like his father—as soon as he sees a woman he likes, his soul gets hooked. We need to talk him out of it early."

Fang Wu remained silent.

Li Ru looked anxious and asked, "Grandfather, do you have any ideas?"

"Hmph, do this..."

Fang Dawei chuckled slyly.

Li Ru hesitated, "Will that work?"

"Just follow my lead in a moment, you two."

Fang Dawei was confident.

...

Before long.

A young man and woman walked downstairs in the residential area. The man was above average in looks, and the girl was outstanding in both appearance and figure.

It was Fang Zhuo and Bai Shiwei.

However, they didn't really attract any side-glances from passersby.

This community was considered an upscale residential area in Jinhe City, with housing prices over 30,000, and units generally over 180 square meters, costing several million for a single unit.

Most of the residents were Advanced Martial Artists, and their families were all well-experienced.

"The houses here aren't cheap, right?"

Bai Shiwei was a bit surprised. Fang Zhuo's family background shouldn't be that good; how could they afford to buy a house here?

Fang Zhuo laughed and said, "The owner isn't my parents; the house belongs to my grandfather. He has a bit of a retirement fund. Don't worry about Cultivating, I'll just squeeze some more out of him when the time comes."

"..."

Bai Shiwei cleared her throat, her smile stiffening slightly.

...

"Achoo!"

"Which wretch is eyeing my retirement fund?"

Fang Dawei glanced at Fang Wu on the balcony. Just as he was wondering, the door lock turned, and the door was pushed open.

Fang Zhuo pulled Bai Shiwei inside.

"Grandfather."

"This is Bai Shiwei."

Fang Zhuo introduced her to Fang Dawei with a sheepish smile, then looked at Bai Shiwei: "This is my grandfather."

"Hello, Grandfather."

Bai Shiwei smiled softly. After entering and changing her shoes, she stood next to Fang Zhuo, twisting the hem of her clothes with both hands, looking a bit nervous.

Fang Dawei just nodded slightly, showing no emotion on his face.

Fang Zhuo pulled Bai Shiwei to the center of the living room, looked at his parents on the balcony, introduced them one by one to Bai Shiwei, and finally pointed to his younger siblings who were busy scrubbing the windows.

"This is my younger sister, Fang Jing."

"That one is my younger brother, Fang Hu."

Fang Hu inherited his father's looks. At fifteen, he didn't look any younger than Fang Zhuo. He called out a lukewarm "Sister" before going back to playing on his phone.

Fang Jing and Fang Zhuo inherited their looks from Li Ru. She exchanged a glance with Fang Zhuo, her eyes crinkling into a sweet smile as she called out:

"Hello, Sister-in-law."

Bai Shiwei's face turned bright red: "Hello."

Li Ru and Fang Wu's expressions changed simultaneously, and they secretly glared at their daughter.

Fang Jing acted as if she didn't see it.

In this house, Fang Jing was a staunch supporter of Fang Zhuo. Since she was little, no matter the matter, she always firmly stood on her brother Fang Zhuo's side.

Fang Dawei gave a light harrumph and looked at his granddaughter: "Your brother and Bai Shiwei just met on a blind date. It's too early to call her sister-in-law; don't go around calling her that."

After the old man finished speaking, he immediately walked up to Fang Zhuo and Bai Shiwei and unleashed his "trump card."

"Fang Zhuo, you're grown up now. I can't control who you live your future with, but I'll say the ugly things first: you and Bai Shiwei can date, you can get married, and you can even practice martial arts!"

"But there must be a limit!"

"If your Life Level exceeds 15 and you still haven't achieved the Awakening of your Martial Aspect, it's not advisable to keep banging your head against the wall of the Dao of Martial Arts. This is a universally recognized truth in the Federation."

"You're at Level 18, and she's at Level 15; it's time for both of you to settle down."

Fang Dawei glanced at Bai Shiwei, thinking to himself that it was no wonder Fang Zhuo didn't come home last night; this girl was even more beautiful than she looked in the photos.

And she had an undergraduate Martial Arts degree.

For Fang Zhuo, who only had a Martial Arts Junior College degree, her lethality was too high!

It was like a frail woman whose husband had died was to him... Ahem, Fang Dawei suppressed his inner emotions and continued:

"Don't say I'm being harsh. I'll give you one more chance: one spirit-nourishing pill each. If you still can't achieve the Awakening of your Martial Aspect, then honestly give up the idea, and live a peaceful life from then on. How about that?"

Fang Zhuo puffed out his chest and said, "And if I don't agree?"

"Then don't even think about getting married!"

Fang Dawei huffed, his beard bristling.

Bai Shiwei's expression was very subtle upon hearing this. The corners of her mouth wanted to curl up, but she forcibly suppressed it.

Fang Zhuo said weakly, "Grandfather, we already got our marriage certificate last night."

"What do you say?!"

Fang Wu and Li Ru exclaimed in unison.

Fang Dawei, on the contrary, stopped speaking, only squinting his eyes as he looked at the small red booklet dangling in Fang Zhuo's hand.

At the lunch table, the family didn't have a very pleasant meal.

However, Fang Wu and Li Ru were not extreme people after all. They didn't give Bai Shiwei any cold looks, but as Fang Zhuo's parents, they were worried about their son's future and weren't in high spirits.

Fang Dawei wasn't much different; he just sat at the table, ate a few bites, and went back to his study to play games.

Younger brother Fang Hu was the least concerned, neither worried nor happy.

Younger sister Fang Jing was the happiest, calling her "Sister-in-law" every other word, making Bai Shiwei blush furiously, and she kept putting food into Bai Shiwei's bowl at the table.

After the meal, Fang Zhuo said goodbye to his family. On the way back to their small home with Bai Shiwei, he squeezed Bai Shiwei's hand and said, "I've embarrassed you."

"It's okay~"

"Mom, Dad, and Grandfather are much better than I thought."

Bai Shiwei smiled. She knew very well what kind of cold looks someone in her situation in the Federation would face—someone with a Life Level of 18 who hadn't achieved the Awakening of their Martial Aspect but still wanted to continue Cultivating the Dao of Martial Arts.

Fang Zhuo didn't think about comforting her either.

He just said, "In this situation, the resettlement housing provided by the Federation cannot be sold in the near future. I believe you've seen that, otherwise, we'd be left homeless..."

"Don't worry, once we achieve the Awakening of our Martial Aspect, all difficulties will be resolved!"

Bai Shiwei nodded, thinking to herself that she would practice more when she got back and strive for an early Awakening of her Martial Aspect. Fang Zhuo said "we," which was likely because he didn't want to put pressure on her.

Fang Zhuo only had a Martial Arts Junior College degree; to achieve the Awakening of his Martial Aspect...

Bai Shiwei sighed softly in her heart.

...

Back at the Federation resettlement house.

"Shi Wei, take this qi-blood potion and use it."

The qi-blood potion Fang Zhuo gave her was the one he had newly purchased after selling the one returned by the System.

Bai Shiwei accepted it happily: "Thank you, Husband~"

After drinking it, she went to the room to Cultivate.

Fang Zhuo waited in the living room for a while. Seeing that the System didn't return anything, he was a little disappointed, but he quickly got over it; this was already within his expectations from yesterday.

After quickly steadying his mind, Fang Zhuo took out a spirit-nourishing pill, swallowed it, and immediately spread his feet apart, standing in the 'Great Dragon Stance' to allow every inch of his flesh and blood to better absorb the medicinal power.

During the process of digesting the medicinal power, his whole body felt swollen as if being inflated, and the sensation of abnormality was strongest in his head.

It was as if countless thorns were piercing into his brain.

Stinging pain, itching, numbness...

This was truly growing a brain...

After a full half hour, the abnormality disappeared. Fang Zhuo let out a long breath, feeling that his Mental Energy was nearly twice as strong as before!

He closed his eyes and visualized.

In the boundless starry sky, the massive object spanning his conscious space had a clearer area that had grown larger!

The fiery red area expanded, still a sea of fiery red!

The terrifying high temperature brought information with it:

[Subject in the Aspect: Fang Zhuo]

[Life Level: 16]

[Mental Energy: 19]

[Body Control: Micro-Perception Minor Achievement (Combat Power increased by 4 times)]

[Talent 1: Purification]

[Talent 2: Unknown]