Chapter 445: Chapter 433: Reunion with an Old Friend [Subscribe Please]
"Sunset Valley."
Meng Xue said, "It’s in the northwest direction of Anshan City, about fifteen hundred kilometers away. The terrain isn’t as complicated as those burrowing Fierce Beasts’ nests, but they can fly. Once their numbers increase, it can become very troublesome."
"That’s no problem."
Chen Fan said casually.
If possible, he actually hoped these flying Fierce Beasts would swoop down one by one to be slaughtered by him.
"Hmm."
Meng Xue responded, after a moment of silence, she said, "Chen Fan, about Rat City, if possible, try not to go there. If you really have to go, I think you should deal with those Bloodthirsty Ants first, then inform me. I can foresee the future,
If the future really changes, and there are no Bloodthirsty Ants in the Beast Tide attacking Anshan City, you can go to Rat City then. It won’t be too late."
Her tone carried a hint of helplessness.
Because she knew what kind of person Chen Fan was.
Once he made a decision, others couldn’t change his mind.
Unless with facts.
"Alright."
Chen Fan nodded, "Then I’ll look for you later."
After getting the map, he would first make a trip to the rainforest. If the future really changes,
No matter how dangerous Rat City is, he would still go.
"Okay, I’ll wait for you."
Meng Xue said, hanging up the phone.
Chen Fan put away his phone, got up, and walked towards the outside.
In the hallway, Gao Shan and Tu Yue were coming towards him.
"Brother Chen, heading out again?"
Gao Shan said with a smile.
"Yes."
Chen Fan smiled, "It’s getting late, I should go out and hunt."
"Brother Chen, you really are dedicated. Going out to hunt Fierce Beasts during the day, and then burying yourself in the Alchemy Room at night to refine pills; it’s too exhausting."
Tu Yue sighed, "Why not give yourself a day off, and rest well?"
Chen Fan couldn’t help but laugh.
Sometimes, knowing the future in advance wasn’t always a good thing.
"Yes, Brother Chen," Gao Shan misunderstood Chen Fan’s meaning and added to the persuasion, "Even in martial arts, you need to balance work and rest. Today is the day our association recruits members. Do you want to come along and select students?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Fan’s face showed a hint of surprise.
"Our association is recruiting today?"
Gao Shan and Tu Yue exchanged glances, their smile deepening.
"Yes, Brother Chen, I thought the president had informed you. Apparently not, but it’s no big deal." Gao Shan explained, "Recently, a lot of people have come to Anshan City, and the president decided to recruit some potential youngsters for training. Maybe some of them have good talent."
"A few days ago, the president already asked people to notify, and today many people are expected to come. Brother Chen, do you want to come and take a look?" Tu Yue showed a hint of anticipation on his face.
"Forget it, I won’t join the crowd for this kind of thing."
Chen Fan smiled and shook his head. After a few more words with them, he walked towards the exit.
Watching Chen Fan’s gradually receding figure, Gao Shan sighed and said, "Brother Chen’s talent is already high enough, even the genius at headquarters can’t match him, yet he works so hard. It’s really discouraging."
"Indeed."
Tu Yue also smiled bitterly, "Comparing with him is pointless. Let’s not make ourselves miserable by competing."
"Yes, forget it, let’s go. The president is still waiting for us."
Chen Fan left the association gate and was almost startled by the scene before him.
Thousands of people stood on the open ground in front of the association, with those who couldn’t fit standing across the road, lining up along the street.
"Quite a lot of people have come."
Chen Fan glanced around, a thought flashing in his mind.
He wondered if any of his fellow villagers had come along.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he saw a familiar figure.
"It’s Uncle Zhang. I didn’t expect him to lead this time."
Chen Fan’s lips curled into a smile.
In the distance, Zhang Ren’s face was stern, and the youths behind him didn’t dare to make a sound.
"Brother Zhang, can the kids from our village really pass the assessment and enter the Martial Arts Association?"
A grown man asked quietly.
The others also looked over expectantly.
The youths’ eyes were glowing even more.
"Not sure."
Zhang Ren shook his head and said, "Whether they pass the assessment depends on their luck. Passing is naturally the best."
After all, the resources within the Martial Arts Association aren’t something a small village can possess.
No matter how talented a martial arts prodigy is, if his conditions are mediocre, his achievements in the future are also bound to be limited.
Whereas, those with average talent and superior conditions can be pushed to the Muscle Refining Realm even by relying on resources.
But the progression from Muscle Refining to Entry Force requires some luck and aptitude.
The people behind him had a look of semi-comprehension.
They trusted Zhang Ren wouldn’t harm them or their children.
Since he said attending the assessment was beneficial, they came to participate.
Suddenly, Zhang Ren sensed something and looked towards where Chen Fan was.
Yet, he saw no one.
"Strange, could it have been my illusion?"
Zhang Ren frowned.
He clearly felt someone watching him.
But turning his head, there was no one.
Either it was an illusion, or the opponent’s strength was far beyond his.
"Could it be a Meridian Refining Realm expert?"
Zhang Ren thought.
Recently, he had been diligently cultivating, coupled with a continuous supply of Top-grade Qi Blood Pills, he had broken through from Dark Power. Now, he was a Transforming Force Martial Artist.
"Perhaps I’m overthinking?"
He shook his head, looking towards the association with complex feelings.
This place was once frequented by him, but due to circumstances, he hadn’t visited for years. Now, coming here again,
At that moment, several figures emerged from the association hall, with the person in the center immediately recognizable to him.
Sun Wei!
A few years ago, he was the president of Anshan City’s Martial Arts Association; years later, he still held the position.
Sun Wei’s gaze swept across the scene, instantly creating a silent atmosphere.
Not just the youths, but even the adults accompanying them lowered their heads, afraid to make eye contact with those who had emerged.
Only one person stood out.
Thus, Sun Wei, Xu Jie, and others immediately noticed this person.
"Hiss..."
Sun Wei took a sharp breath, staring at Zhang Ren’s face.
This person looked so familiar!
"That person?"
Xu Jie froze.
"What’s the matter?"
Gao Shan asked curiously.
"Brother Gao, don’t you think that person looks familiar?" Xu Jie hinted with his gaze.
Gao Shan looked over, and in the next moment, a name came out of his mouth, "Zhang Ren?"
"Yes, yes!"
Xu Jie shivered with excitement, "It’s him! It’s him! More than three years ago, Brother Zhang left the city to hunt and never returned. At the time, we all thought he was dead."
"Dead? But now he..." Tu Yue looked puzzled.
"Indeed, that’s why I find it incredible, isn’t that right, President?"
Turning to Sun Wei, Xu Jie was about to speak when the president had already disappeared from his side.
"Zhang Ren, is it really you? You’re not dead?"
Sun Wei came up to Zhang Ren, asking in disbelief.
"It’s me, President. I’m not dead."
Zhang Ren smiled.
Today, he brought his village people to see how his old friends in the association were doing.
Judging by the scene, almost everyone he knew was gone.
Times had changed.
Everyone around was stunned by this scene.
Especially those from the Chen Family Fortress; their eyes nearly popped out.
Uncle Zhang was this impressive?
He even knew such big shots from the city?
"That’s great, I always thought you were..."
Sun Wei’s eyes reddened, looking Zhang Ren up and down. When his gaze fell on Zhang Ren’s limping leg, his eyes widened.
"Brother Zhang, your leg?"
"Coming back from the gate of hell, one always has to give up something, right?"
Zhang Ren smiled.
Sun Wei froze.
Looking at Zhang Ren.
Compared to years ago, Zhang Ren seemed much more optimistic.
If it were him, having a crippled leg might be worse than death since mobility impairment for a Martial Artist is deadly.
"He must have gone through a lot these years, right?" Sun Wei thought. The journey from the gate of hell sounded easier than it was.
Going through such an ordeal could only be truly understood by the person who experienced it.
Sun Wei was overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
This was not the time for a conversation due to the crowd.
So he patted Zhang Ren’s shoulder and said, "It’s good you’re back. Let’s talk more after the assessment ends and we enter the association."
Part of it was curiosity about Zhang Ren’s breathtaking experiences these years.
Another part was to update Zhang Ren on recent changes within the Awakened Association.
"Okay."
Zhang Ren smiled and nodded.
He looked at Gao Shan and Xu Jie, nodding in greeting.
They exchanged glances, feeling joyous.
...
"Uncle Zhang has reached Transforming Force quickly." Chen Fan’s lips curled slightly.
Seeing Zhang Ren’s progress, he genuinely felt happy for him.
Of course, if he wished, he could find Zhang Ren now and help him clear a couple of meridians, promoting him from Entry-level Martial Artist to Meridian Refining Martial Artist.
Yet, this forceful method of advancing through external aid wasn’t always the best.
Sun Wei had been stuck at Transforming Force for years, unable to find a breakthrough.
While Uncle Zhang had just entered Transforming Force, perhaps he could convert his internal Power into True Qi through his own efforts.
If he couldn’t, Chen Fan could then step in.
"First, find Meng Xue, get the map, then deal with those Bloodthirsty Ants."
He quickened his pace towards where Meng Xue and her sister lived.