Forty years old, awakening attribute panel

Chapter 296 Extra 020
Shaking his head, he set his sights on the next task. "10km cross-country with weights, this sounds quite practical." Jiang Sheng thought to himself and then clicked on this task in his mind. A confirmation box immediately popped up on the panel: [Do you want to start the cross-country with weights? Yes/No]. Jiang Sheng pondered for a moment and did not rush to accept the challenge. Instead, he chose "No" and returned to the main panel first.

Staring at the 110KG strength value on the panel and the remaining yuan, Jiang Sheng was very conflicted. After weighing the pros and cons, he finally decided to strengthen his own strength first. After all, the burden of the family needs a real strong man to carry it. In comparison, Xiaoxiao's studies can be postponed a little. As long as he can grow into a powerful awakener, then, whether it is a high-quality school in an ordinary area or a rich area, it will no longer be an unattainable dream for Xiaoxiao.

[Would you like to spend 1000 points of wealth to increase your strength by 10 points? Yes/No], facing this familiar choice, Jiang Sheng chose "Yes" without hesitation. Then, his body was once again surrounded by a burning sensation, and sweat poured down like a waterfall. His T-shirt was instantly soaked, and the whole person seemed to have just climbed out of the water. But what followed was a leap in strength, reaching 120KG.

Without stopping, Jiang Sheng decided to continue strengthening.

[130KG], he clicked confirm again, and his strength increased again.

[140KG], every increase is accompanied by physical suffering and spiritual baptism, but Jiang Sheng's will is getting stronger. He knows that every bit of strength he gains is the cornerstone for him to protect his family and change his fate. On this road full of unknowns and challenges, he must make himself stronger until one day, he can stand in front of any challenge fearlessly and hold up a worry-free sky for Xiaoxiao.

Jiang Sheng stopped when his strength reached 190 kg. His body seemed to have undergone a transformation, and every inch of his skin contained amazing strength. He checked his financial situation and found that his account balance was only 1219.28 yuan. At the same time, nine deduction notices were displayed on his phone. Obviously, every increase in strength was accompanied by the consumption of real money. Reason told him that he should keep some funds for emergencies, and excessive consumption was not wise.

Standing in front of the mirror, Jiang Sheng examined his changes. The muscle lines of his upper body were sharp and angular, and the outline of his eight abdominal muscles began to emerge. His skin seemed to be covered with a layer of metallic luster. With his resolute face, he exuded a tough and powerful aura. His inner excitement made him realize that tonight was not suitable for the heavy-loaded cross-country running that consumed a lot of physical energy, so he decided to postpone the plan until the next day.

He put his clothes in order and walked out of the room. In the living room, Liu Yier and Huangpu Junxiao were looking at him curiously. They obviously remembered the sudden laughter that Jiang Sheng had just burst into in the room.

"Brother, you laughed so loudly just now. Are you going to eat meat again tomorrow?" Huang Pujun asked with a smile, blinking her big curious eyes.

Jiang Sheng was stunned at first, then he laughed heartily: "That's right! From now on, our family will eat meat every day..."

That night, Jiang Sheng was so excited that he could not fall asleep. His mind was filled with longings for a better life in the future. It was not until the next morning that the sunlight shone through the gap in the curtains and woke him up warmly. He looked at the time and saw that it was already 8 o'clock in the morning. The bedding on the bed opposite had been neatly folded. It was obvious that Liu Yier and Xiaoxiao had already gotten up and started a new day.

"Xiaoxiao, how's the weather today?" Jiang Sheng asked the black oval-shaped smart assistant on the bedside table while rubbing his eyes. A beam of light shot out from the device and condensed into a virtual image of Huangpu Junxiao in the air. She reported with a smile: "Today's maximum daytime temperature is 25 degrees, the weather is cloudy and then sunny, with a breeze, and the air quality is good."

"Thank you, Xiaoxiao." Jiang Sheng said gratefully. This smart assistant was a birthday gift for Xiaoxiao last year. Although it cost 50 yuan, it was a precious gift for them, connecting the love and care of their family.

"You're welcome, brother." The virtual Huang Pujun replied with a smile, his voice full of joy.

Jiang Sheng smiled and got up to wash up in the bathroom. Walking through the corridor, he noticed that Huangpu Junxiao was squatting on the windowsill of the bathroom, carefully washing several pieces of underwear, including his and Liu Yier's clothes. The morning light shone on her, and her face was like a newly blooming rose, pure and fresh, revealing the warmth and hope of life.

This scene brought a warm feeling to Jiang Sheng's heart. The warmth of home and the hope for the future intertwined and became his greatest motivation to move forward. He knew that no matter what the future held, as long as he had his family by his side, every day would be filled with sunshine and hope.

Seeing Jiang Sheng come in, Huang Pujun's face blossomed with a smile as bright as the morning sun, and her clear and pleasant voice rang out: "Brother, you're up." Her eyes were full of surprise, as if she had seen the long-lost sunshine, which made people feel warm.

Jiang Sheng walked up to her, gently rubbed her soft little head, and asked with concern: "Where is your second brother? Why can't I see him?" There was a hint of confusion in his words, but more of it was care and concern for this small family.

Huang Pujun smiled and blinked her bright eyes, explaining proudly: "Second brother went to work! He saw that you were too tired in the morning, so he didn't wake you up, saying that he wanted you to have a good rest." There was a bit of pride in her tone, as if she was happy to have such considerate brothers.

Jiang Sheng nodded gently, with a warm current flowing in his heart. He quickly finished his morning personal hygiene, and throughout the process, he always had an irrepressible smile on his face. This was not only because he got a precious rest, but also because he had a secret hidden deep in his heart - his "awakening". This sudden change made him excited and uneasy. He was not ready to tell Liu Yier and Xiaoxiao the news. After all, everything happened too suddenly. He was afraid that this was just an illusory bubble. If the hope was shattered in the end, it would only bring them deeper disappointment.

At breakfast time, after the family had a simple meal, Jiang Sheng rode the old motorcycle and took Huangpu Junxiao to the public school in the district. Along the way, they traveled through the chaotic streets, and the hustle and bustle of the city whizzed past their ears. Suddenly, not far ahead, two groups of people were fighting fiercely. The scene was chaotic and blood was splattered. Even though they were seriously injured, they still chased each other without giving up. This cruel scene makes people sigh at the cruelty of human nature and the dark side of society.

Huang Pujun, who was sitting on the back of the motorcycle, did not show any fear. Her clear eyes flashed with a strange light, her fists were clenched, and her tender voice was full of determination and unyielding: "Ten years of drinking ice cannot cool the hot blood! Kill..." These words seemed to be a cry for justice from the bottom of her heart. Although they were inappropriate, they also showed the courage and stubbornness in her small body.

In this corner forgotten by time, Jiang Sheng and Xiao Xiao parted ways and embarked on his special journey. He shuttled through the streets and alleys, and finally stopped at an inconspicuous sewing shop. Inside the shop, an elderly master was concentrating on his work, and the needle and thread jumped in his skilled hands, weaving the tenacity of life. Jiang Sheng handed over two heavy discus and asked the master to cleverly integrate them into a piece of tough canvas to make a unique backpack.

The master's eyes moved between the discus and the canvas, and a trace of appreciation flashed in his eyes, and then he began his creation. The weight of the discus was accurately calculated, and the total was exactly 15KG, which was both a challenge and a test of strength. The master's fingers flew like a magician, and soon a sturdy discus backpack appeared in front of him. It is not only equipped with a zipper to facilitate the adjustment of weight according to needs, but also designed with several delicate straps to ensure that the discus can be as stable as a rock in any situation, and will not bump up and down even when running at full speed.

Jiang Sheng put on the backpack he customized with satisfaction, felt the weight of the discus against his body, and jumped a few times to test its stability. Everything was just right, the discus seemed to be a part of his body, neither too heavy to crush his steps nor causing extra burden when running. He generously paid one yuan as a labor fee, and then drove his motorcycle to the unknown area on the edge of the city.

The destination is the westernmost end of District 11, which is the intersection of history. The remains of the former civilization coexist with the fortifications of the later civilization, and the weeds are overgrown, as if silently telling the glory and vicissitudes of the past. This area is not only a buffer zone between humans and unknown creatures, but also a dangerous zone. During the day, it is relatively peaceful here, but at night, the creatures in the wilderness will be ready to move, and occasionally unfortunate humans will become their prey.

Jiang Sheng chose to complete the mission here because the mission requirements clearly mentioned the word "off-road". In order to ensure that everything is safe, he had to take some risks and go deep into this unknown land. In the ruins, he parked his motorcycle steadily and then called up his mission panel. The remaining time for the mission was shown as 8 hours, and every minute seemed particularly precious.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Sheng checked the backpack again, then pressed the pedometer and started his cross-country journey. The path was full of obstacles, potholes, and ups and downs. For ordinary people, it was undoubtedly a great challenge. But for Jiang Sheng, all this was just part of his daily training. He started exercising at the age of thirteen, not only to survive in a world full of dangers, but also because his job - digging for spiritual stones, was a task that required a lot of physical strength.

He moved forward at an even pace, each step full of strength and determination. He only took three minutes and fifteen seconds to cover the distance of 1 kilometer, as if it was just a warm-up. He knew he had the ability to run faster, but in the case of cross-country running with a load, maintaining physical strength was king.

At 2 km, his breathing started to become a little rapid, but this did not affect his rhythm. It took him 6 and a half minutes, and his body was still in good condition, without obvious fatigue. As the distance increased, the challenge gradually increased.

When he reached 3 kilometers, Jiang Sheng could feel the burning in his lungs. Every breath was like fighting a fire in his body, but his pace never slowed down. At 4 kilometers, his physical limits began to show, but he continued to move forward with a firm will. By 5 kilometers, sweat had soaked his clothes, but he still maintained a steady pace, with only one thought in his mind - to complete the task. This cross-country journey is not only a test of physical strength, but also a test of will. Jiang Sheng wrote his own legend with sweat on this barren land, proving that even in the most difficult environment, as long as there is courage and perseverance, nothing is impossible to overcome.

"Hoo...Hoo..." Jiang Sheng's breathing echoed in the empty ruins. Every breath he took seemed to exhaust all his strength. The blood in his body seemed to be boiling. Waves of heat rushed from his heart to his brain, making him feel dizzy. Sweat flowed down his forehead like a stream, along his cheeks and chin, and finally dripped onto the dusty road, leaving a series of tiny marks. His legs seemed to be filled with heavy lead blocks at this moment, and every step he took seemed extremely difficult.

His peripheral vision inadvertently swept across the timer on his wrist, and the flashing numbers were like a flash of lightning, piercing his tired heart. Only twenty-one minutes had passed. For Jiang Sheng, this time point was both a symbol of challenge and the dawn of victory. Although his body was close to its limit, the pride in his heart was like a blazing flame, dispelling all the fatigue and pain.

He remembered that in that remote and mysterious special forces brigade, the physical fitness standard for selection was to carry a 15 kg load, and in a 5 km cross-country run, it had to be completed within 22 minutes, and the best record was set at an amazing 17 minutes. As an ordinary person who had never received professional training, it was undoubtedly a great honor for him to be able to achieve such a close result.

Jiang Sheng knew that this extraordinary performance was a miracle brought about by the 90 kg limit strength he had broken last night. If not, if he continued to run with the weight at his current speed, he would have collapsed from exhaustion. However, even with this extraordinary strength, his task was still long and arduous.

6 km, 7 km, every step was like climbing a mountain. The pressure of the two discus behind him seemed to turn into an invisible mountain, pressing down on his spine and almost suffocating him. Every gravel on the road, every rusty abandoned car, and even the small trees and weeds growing tenaciously from the cracks in the bricks, became obstacles on the road ahead. Every tiny movement meant a ruthless squeeze on the limit of physical strength. He felt not only the burning of his lungs, but also his skin, which seemed to be scorched, with heat waves rolling, as if it could catch fire at any time.

8 km, 9 km... Jiang Sheng's speed has obviously decreased. It's more like stumbling forward than running. His legs are shaking violently, sweat blurs his vision, and the world becomes blurry in his eyes. At this moment, with a "bang", he accidentally hits a scrap car, loses his balance, and falls heavily on the hard road. The gravel pierces his palm, and the blood instantly stains the ground red. The pain and fatigue intertwined, making him almost unable to move.

He struggled to stand up, but found that the discus on his back was like a yoke, pressing him so hard that he couldn't breathe. After several efforts, he still couldn't get rid of this heavy weight. At this moment, his only desire was to lie on the ground and rest quietly, letting the world make noises in his ears. He just wanted to fall into a deep sleep, and no matter how the outside world called him, he didn't want to wake up.

Just when he was about to give up and close his tired eyes, a familiar voice sounded in his mind. It was Huang Pujunxiao's call. Her crisp voice was like a ray of warm sunshine, penetrating the haze in his heart: "Brother, come on! You are the best!" Then, Liu Yier said: "Brother, when I graduate, I will go to dig spiritual stones with you, so you don't have to work so hard!" These two sentences, like two doses of cardiotonic shots, instantly activated the fighting spirit in his heart.

He remembered why he was fighting, the relatives who were waiting for him to protect, and the home he vowed to protect. This responsibility and love became his most powerful motivation. Jiang Sheng slowly and firmly propped up his body, and every bit of strength was condensed into a weapon to fight against fate. He gritted his teeth and embarked on the journey again. Every step was full of hope, and every step was closer to the finish line.

At this moment, Jiang Sheng is no longer a lonely traveler, but a warrior who carries the expectations and dreams of his family. Every step he takes is on the road to victory. Even the most difficult moments cannot stop him from moving forward. Because he knows that as long as there is love and faith in his heart, there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome. In this barren land, he used his actions to interpret what true courage and persistence are, and became the most dazzling hero in his life.

Jiang Sheng tried hard to open his heavy eyelids and stared at the blue sky, as if he was having a silent conversation with the fear and fatigue deep in his heart. "The road to climb up is destined to be full of thorns!" He whispered, his voice was weak, but it contained unshakable determination, "No one will bear the pain for you. If you want to be the best, then stand up and keep running!" This sentence, like a sharp sword, cut off the vine of despair entangled in his heart and awakened the unyielding fighting spirit deep in his heart.

After saying this, Jiang Sheng seemed to be injected with new vitality. With the perseverance from the depths of his soul, he struggled to get up from the cold ground. Every muscle was protesting, every inch of skin was crying out, but he did not stop. Dragging his thighs that seemed to be filled with lead, he moved forward step by step. Every step was like crossing an invisible mountain, and every step carried his unyielding will.

900 meters, 600 meters, 300 meters, 100 meters... The numbers were decreasing, but hope was growing. Jiang Sheng's heart seemed to be beating like a drum in his chest, and every beat was accompanied by a sign of victory. When he finally took the last few steps, a cold and mechanical voice sounded in his ears, announcing his victory: "Congratulations to the Fusion Master for completing Side Mission 2 in 65 minutes and 27 seconds..."

At that moment, Jiang Sheng's consciousness seemed to be pulled away, his ears were buzzing, and fatigue swept over him like a tide, completely drowning him. He collapsed to the ground powerlessly, allowing his body to come into close contact with the earth, feeling the warmth of the earth and blending with himself. After a long time, perhaps twenty minutes, or perhaps even longer, Jiang Sheng barely opened his eyes, but was almost unable to open his eyes because of the scorching sun above his head. He used all his strength, like a wounded beast, to slowly and arduously get up from the ground and look around.

The sky was so blue, the wind was so gentle, and the sun was still scorching, as if everything in the world was laughing at his insignificance. But Jiang Sheng did not fall down. He stood up, with a bitter smile on his face: "People are fucking forced to do this!" This ten-kilometer load-bearing cross-country run took less than 66 minutes. Even among those strictly trained special forces, such a result can be considered above the middle level. This is not only a test of physical fitness, but also a test of will.

After calming down for a while, Jiang Sheng called out the super fusion program to check the progress of the task. On the screen, [Side Quest 2 has been completed, and the reward has been issued.] Several large words were clearly visible. He was delighted and hurriedly checked the various attributes, but found that the wealth remained at more than 1000 yuan, and the strength was still 190KG. Other things such as spirit stones, talents, equipment, etc. did not change. The rewards he originally expected, such as the "Awakener Gift Pack", seemed to be just his wishful thinking.

Unwilling to give up, Jiang Sheng continued to scroll down the screen and finally discovered the truth about the reward. [Side Quest 1: Life will make you suffer for a while, and after you adapt, it will make you suffer for the rest of your life. Kill 100 bloodthirsty silver wolves. Time: 1 month. Reward: ? ? ? ] Seeing this, Jiang Sheng almost vomited blood, anger and helplessness intertwined, forming a complex emotion. "Fuck you..." He cursed, feeling mixed emotions.

It turns out that this is why the reward is a question mark. If he knew about such a task and reward in advance, he might not choose to accept it at all. But now, everything is a foregone conclusion. Jiang Sheng can only face reality and turn this helplessness into motivation to move forward. He knows that the road ahead is still full of unknowns and challenges, but as long as there is light in his heart, there is a way under his feet. No matter what the future holds, he will bravely go on, because he is Jiang Sheng, a warrior who never gives up.

In this desolate but hopeful land, Jiang Sheng learned to grow and become strong. He proved with his actions that even in the most difficult times, as long as there is love and faith in one's heart, nothing is impossible to overcome. In the days ahead, whether facing the challenge of the bloodthirsty silver wolf or the unknown predicament, he will move forward courageously, because he knows that a true hero is someone who can still shine in adversity.

Jiang Sheng almost used up his last bit of strength to drag his exhausted body back home, his heart full of helplessness and indignation about the 90 bloodthirsty silver wolves mission. For a mere side mission, he had to pay such a huge price, which was simply too damn bad. But complaining is complaining, the reality is always cruel, at this moment he no longer cares about it, he just wants to return to that familiar bed as soon as possible, have a good rest, and let his body and mind get a moment of peace.

Xiaoxiao was still enjoying her lunch at school, while Jiang Sheng simply prepared a meal for himself. Considering the huge physical consumption today, he deliberately added a few nutritious bird eggs to the meal, hoping to restore some physical strength. After the meal, he skillfully put away the pots and pans and restored the kitchen to a tidy state. However, when it was all over, he found himself in an unprecedented emptiness and confusion.

After graduating from high school, Jiang Sheng, like most children from slums, chose to enter society and engage in heavy work. Only a few students from better-off families had the opportunity to continue their studies and enter university. For those awakened ones who were chosen from thousands of people, their life trajectories were completely different. Not only would they be recruited by various forces, but even their original families would benefit greatly from this. It can be said that when one person succeeds, everyone else will benefit.

Due to long hours of work, Jiang Sheng's social circle is extremely limited. Apart from a few old neighbors, there is almost no one else he can call his friends. After studying the fusion program at home for an hour, he felt increasingly bored and empty, so he decided to go to the gym on the commercial street in the slums to try to relieve his inner restlessness through exercise.

Although the commercial streets in the slums are dark, they also breed a different kind of prosperity. Here, criminal activities are everywhere like weeds. From gambling to drug trafficking, all kinds of illegal activities are carried out almost semi-openly, making it a paradise for criminals. In the gym, those muscular and tattooed men look like fitness enthusiasts on the surface, but when night falls, they will transform into participants in the dark industries such as prostitution, gambling, and drugs. They are the shadows of the slums, and people are afraid of them.

However, the owner of the gym that Jiang Sheng went to was someone he knew well. The owner, Wang Dagang, was the son of the elderly neighbor downstairs, and was known as "Brother Gang". He was considered a very influential figure in this area, and the neighbors maintained a subtle tacit understanding and respect for each other. When Wang Dagang saw Jiang Sheng's sudden visit, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why did you suddenly think of coming to the gym instead of going to work?"

Jiang Sheng smiled when he heard this, and a hint of fatigue and determination flashed in his eyes. "Brother Gang, I want to change my taste today and come here to relax." He answered lightly, trying to hide his complicated emotions. Wang Dagang looked at Jiang Sheng with a trace of concern in his eyes. He knew that Jiang Sheng's life was not easy. This sudden change might be a signal that he was seeking change in his heart.

In the gym, various machines made crisp collision sounds, and the air was filled with the smell of sweat and hard work. Jiang Sheng changed into sportswear and began to move among the machines, from dumbbells to barbells, from treadmills to exercise bikes. He tried different sports, trying to achieve a new balance between his body and mind. Every time his muscles contracted and relaxed, it seemed to be telling of his desire and pursuit for the future.

(End of this chapter)