After a bit of idle chatter in the group, Jiang Li logged off.
He then went back to cultivating, holding the spirit stones in his hand.
The next day, Jiang Li and the others headed straight for Jiangnan Base City.
"We're back!"
"It feels like a lifetime ago!"
"Brothers, give thanks to the weapons in our hands! We made it back to the base city alive again!"
Gao Feng and the others were filled with emotion.
Only after arriving in the base city could the nerves, stretched taut on the edge of life and death, truly relax.
"The base city, the last safe haven for human society!"
Luo Feng was also deeply moved: "Even if not for money, for the peace of human society behind us, we, as martial artists, should indeed step forward. Killing one more monster means one more bit of peace for human base cities!"
"Luo Feng, you have such high awareness!"
Chen Gu patted his shoulder with a laugh: "They give us martial artists so many privileges precisely so we can hunt more monsters!"
"Behind us is our home. Even if not for the privileges, for my wife and daughter, I would do this without hesitation!"
Zhang Ke said with a determined expression, then opened his communicator, revealing a sincere and happy smile: "Yes, wife, I'm back. Yes, I'll be home by noon. I'll go pick up our daughter with you in the afternoon!"
"Yeah, honey, that's right, I'm back."
Jiang Li also called Ling Ling, smiling as he said, "Don't worry, there wasn't any danger at all. My teammates are all very strong…"
"Me?"
"I didn't need to do anything. I was just responsible for picking up materials…"
Listening to Jiang Li's conversation with Ling Ling, the other six members of the Firehammer Squad were immediately dumbfounded, looking at each other.
Did they hear that right? We're very strong? He was just responsible for picking up materials? Big brother, you can sweet-talk your wife, but… Saying that makes us feel so ashamed! …
"Let's go, get in the car!"
They walked along the warrior passage, and a line of special vehicles was parked at the entrance.
Seeing Jiang Li and the others emerge, all the drivers of the special vehicles immediately perked up.
"Let's go, first to the HR Alliance Mall…"
"Jiang Li, I can't repay your kindness for now, but I must treat you to a meal!"
Gao Feng gestured for everyone to get into the special vehicle heading toward the HR Alliance Mall.
"Jiang-ge, don't refuse. It'll make the captain feel better if he treats you to a meal."
Mentioning the HR Alliance Mall, Luo Feng rarely spoke up in support.
"Alright then!"
Jiang Li shook his head with a smile: "Anyway, the three of us are on our way back to Bright Moon Estate."
"Jiang Li, Luo Feng isn't trying to make the captain happy, he wants to see… what was her name? Xu Xin? Yeah, Xu Xin's younger sister!"
Chen Gu chuckled, looking at Luo Feng. "I think she's quite taken with you too. You should work on building a relationship, get to know each other better!"
"What do you mean, 'taken with me'?!"
Luo Feng glared.
"Haha, I didn't say that. Jiang Ge did."
Jiang Li: "…"
"You guys are never serious!"
Gao Feng laughed and scolded, then reminded, "Luo Feng, I'm just saying, that little girl Xu Xin is young and already a manager at the HR Alliance mall. Her background must be something special. You should be careful."
"Captain, isn't that a bit out of line?"
Wei Tie couldn't stand it any longer and said, "What do you mean 'watch it'? Is Luo Feng the type to just mess around and then dump someone?"
"Exactly!"
Wei Qing chimed in to support him.
The group went back and forth, and they managed to embarrass the dignified, war-god-level spiritualist until his face was beet red.
"Are you all talking about Miss Xu Xin?"
At this moment, the special car driver chimed in with surprise.
"You know Xu Xin?"
Luo Feng immediately became curious.
"Of course I know her!" The driver chuckled. "We special drivers run to the mall every day, and we often chat about things at the Alliance Mall. This Miss Xu Xin is quite something!"
"Don't let her looks fool you, she's not the supermodel type, but I hear whoever marries her can avoid a lifetime of struggle!"
"So..."
Gao Feng's expression changed slightly. "Could she be from one of the twelve great families of the HR Alliance in Xia Country? The Xu Family?"
"That's right, the Xu Family."
The driver nodded. "I heard from a buddy that her status in the Xu Family is quite high. Even the previous head of the Xu Family had to respectfully call her Miss!"
Luo Feng looked surprised as he listened.
The HR Alliance, like the two major martial arts dojos, had a global reach.
Besides the nine major families and financial groups at the top, there were dozens of other, slightly less powerful, families and financial groups.
Even these secondary families and financial groups possessed incredible power and wealth.
"Holy shit!"
Zhang Ke blurted out, using a vulgar expression. "That's a big background!"
"Looks like it'll be tough to chase after this Xu Xin!" Chen Gu raised an eyebrow and looked at Jiang Li. "Jiang Li, why don't you share some experience with Luo Feng?"
"Me?"
Jiang Li was taken aback and gave an awkward smile. "You might not believe it..."
"My acquaintance with Ling Ling was purely accidental."
"How unexpected?"
Suddenly, the members of the Firehammer Squad all craned their necks, gathering around Jiang Li.
"It really was unexpected!"
Seeing their gossiping expressions, Jiang Li said, annoyed, "We both ordered a coffee. I went to the restroom, and when I came back, she drank mine!"
!!!
"This… Are you sure?"
"Oh my god, who made this up? It's ridiculous!"
"I thought this only happened in idol dramas!"
"..."
The members of the Firehammer Squad all wore expressions of utter disbelief.
Then.
Jiang Li's communicator rang. It was Wu Tong calling.
"Jiang Li, have you returned to the base city?"
"Yes, I just arrived at the HR Alliance mall!"
"Good, wait there for a moment. Envoy Yang Hui wants to see you!"
"Envoy?"
The members of the Firehammer Squad were visibly shocked upon hearing this title.
Anyone who could be called an 'Envoy' was at least at the level of a War God.
Furthermore.
They had heard it clearly; the 'Envoy' wanted to see you!
Not the other way around!
"I was still thinking I could make three to five hundred million this year in the car!"
"Looks like my dream of latching onto Big Brother Jiang is over!"
Wei Tie and Wei Qing immediately wore glum expressions.
Before they could even start their discussions, a piercing roar sliced through the air and into the HR Alliance mall, immediately grabbing everyone's attention.
"Woah, that's a flying warplane!"
Zhang Ke exclaimed, "Could it be that 'Envoy' fellow?"
"He's here so fast? Is he afraid Jiang Li will run away?!"
The other martial artists murmured amongst themselves.
"Is that a military warplane?"
"That's right, and it's a special warplane used by the War Gods. You rarely see it even once a year!"
"Why would it come to the HR Alliance mall? Is there some big shot here?"
"Didn't a military train just return? Maybe someone broke through to War God!"
"Could be!"
"..."
And at this moment.
'Beep!'
The cabin door opened.
Jiang Li gazed intently, observing three people disembark one after another. Among them was Zhuge Tao, one of the supervisors of the Limit Martial Arts Dojo's Jiangnan headquarters.
"Head of the Association, Supervisor Zhuge!"
"Greetings, Chairman. Greetings, Director Zhuge!"
"..."
Many martial artists recognized them and greeted them respectfully.
At the same time, they were extremely puzzled. The chairman and director of the Limit Martial Arts Dojo in Jiangnan Base City were actually following behind a middle-aged man like they were attendants.
Who was this person?!