Starting as an infant, with parents who are blond-haired delinquents?

Zhang Chaoqiang has come to understand that the key to determining whether someone is suitable to be a battle armor pilot lies in their mental level.

This statistic is not based on one's mental strength index, but rather on self-control.

Old Chen continued, "Xiaoyue, your dream is to be a battle armor pilot. I believe I don't need to explain the detailed differences between the two."

But what I'm about to tell you two is very serious.

Once you become a warrior or armor pilot, you bear the responsibility not only for your family and friends, but also for the safety of your country and the world.

The magnificent and peaceful living environment we enjoy today is actually maintained by countless martial artists.

With great power comes great responsibility. Every martial artist must shoulder the responsibility of fighting against demonic beasts and maintaining national peace.

Just like in previous years, when martial artists and manipulators did their utmost to banish many of the world's monsters to various secret realms.

The heroic deeds our predecessors accomplished with their blood and sweat deserve our utmost respect; you should cherish and protect this precious peace!

The once refined and elegant Old Chen began to tremble violently. Although it did not break his unique elegant and gentlemanly demeanor, others could sense the agitation in his tone.

"Grandpa Chen, you must have participated in the exile plan back then, right?"

After a long while, he nodded emphatically, omitting the bloody details, but repeatedly emphasizing how hard-won the world's current peace was, and how his master, who had introduced him to martial arts, had died during that time.

"From the moment you step into the path of martial arts, that is, when you officially join the junior high school of martial arts school, you may have to start to go into dungeons. Going into dungeons means going to various secret realms where monsters have been banished."

Their duties include maintaining the balance and normal operation of the secret realm, eliminating overly violent and prolific monsters. They are also occasionally dispatched to the border between humans and monsters to maintain order and eliminate potential monster threats in the surrounding area.

"What I'm telling you today is just to prepare you mentally."

Choosing martial arts means gaining power through training, but also taking on more and more responsibilities. This is the mission and will of every martial artist. Xiaoyue, Chaoqiang, tell me, after I've explained all this, are your wills still firm?

Tan Yue slapped her thigh. The first person whose passion was ignited in her heart was this young girl. She said firmly, "Grandpa Chen, I'm determined to become a battle armor pilot!"

Zhang Chaoqiang, on the other hand, remained expressionless. It wasn't that he was without emotions, but rather that he had learned to better control them and incorporate them into his paintings.

The originally cautious style of painting gradually became more frantic with the movements of wielding the brush, transforming into the "Frenzied" style.

He nodded firmly.

Chapter 51 Martial Saint Temple

ingrained.

My heart is already deeply rooted in goodness. Born into such a peaceful era, if I had the ability, how could I bear to let all of this disappear like a bubble or an illusion?

Contributing his own strength is something Zhang Chaoqiang has always been doing.

Old Chen looked into the distance, lost in thought. Perhaps he was thinking that children are always full of enthusiasm and didn't seem to take the two people's determination to heart.

The only hope is that this attitude will be maintained from beginning to end.

Before they knew it, Zhang Huolong and Shen Qiangwei were setting off the fireworks and firecrackers. While playing, they covered each other's ears.

Sometimes Zhang Huolong would play a little trick and deliberately scare Shen Qiangwei when she set off firecrackers, but the next second, he would find himself with a 97-pound humanoid accessory attached to him.

Tan Yue was also only enthusiastic for a short time. No matter how dazzling the fireworks were, there would always be a time when she got tired of them. She leaned against Grandpa Chen's arms, her eyes following Zhang Chaoqiang's paintbrush.

"I bought too much..."

Shen Qiangwei felt embarrassed because she and Zhang Huolong couldn't finish setting off all the fireworks, so they decided to give them to the children playing nearby.

Zhang Chaoqiang, who had been taking things seriously, finally spoke up. He stopped his parents, saying that if something happened to the children while they were setting off these firecrackers, they would not only harm the other party, but also be held responsible.

It's best to avoid these accidents. Always be mindful of things. Giving the fireworks to the other party's parents, or setting them off for the children to watch yourself, are all good ways to handle the situation.

During the Lunar New Year, he once again successfully corrected his parents' behavior.

Modifier +1

Perhaps Zhang Chaoqiang is much more sensible and stronger than he imagined.

Old Chen nodded to himself, thinking to himself.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, adhering to the fine quality of thrift and avoiding waste, we ate the leftovers from yesterday for lunch, and then Old Chen simply stir-fried two new dishes for dinner, reheating the leftovers that couldn't be finished yesterday and at noon.

Tan Yue was happy to eat it, and even felt that it had a unique flavor.

At this moment, a second painting has been hung on the white wall of the living room.

It was on New Year's Eve that Zhang Chaoqiang painted a fireworks display in the open space of the community square.

The theme of this painting is fireworks; Zhang Chaoqiang originally intended to depict the moment when fireworks are set off.

In the center is the bursting and splashing of fireworks, surrounded by Zhang Huolong, Shen Qiangwei, and others in the distance. From the first-person perspective, on the far left of the painting is Old Chen, who is half-in the frame, and Tan Yue, who is lying on his lap.

It was hung on the wall last night and remained there until a day later.

Each time he looked around, Zhang Chaoqiang's gaze gradually shifted from the central fireworks display to the indistinct figures around him, including those families and his own.

And the brightly lit high-rise buildings in the background—although his painting skills are still not top-notch, he believes that this painting has reached a new level.

What's surprising is that, as he gained insight and understanding of the everyday life through this painting, his growth was evident...

[Growth Value] +30

I was pleasantly surprised; this might be a sign of his growing self-awareness and different perspectives on things.

After dinner on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the five of them gathered to watch TV. Around 9 o'clock, the cake that Zhang Huolong had ordered in advance arrived.

A ten-inch fruit and animal cream cake, with "Happy New Year" written in large chocolate on top. Shen Qiangwei frowned: "This isn't as nice as the one my son Chaoqiang wrote!"

Without even blowing on them, Zhang Chaoqiang and Tan Yue, the two children, used their energy to extinguish the candles in front of everyone and then began to make wishes.

"Honey, what's your New Year's wish?"

"You can't say it, otherwise it won't work."

"Zhang Chaoqiang, what is your wish?" Tan Yue asked Zhang Chaoqiang.

"I have no wishes."

But upon closer reflection, there are some, like surviving successfully?

He shook his head, smiled, and pondered.

No matter how much Shen Qiangwei pressed her for details, Tan Yue refused to reveal her wish.

After eating the cake, they began exchanging gifts. Tan Yue prepared a set of monster hair brushes for Zhang Chaoqiang, saying that the hair was fine and could also be used as a calligraphy brush.

Zhang Chaoqiang then prepared a white handbag for Tan Yue. When she was puzzled, he explained that he would paint on it over the next few days as a gift for her.

Old Chen gifted Zhang Huolong and his wife wine and cosmetics, and in return, they gave him a rather expensive gentleman's hat.

They gave Tan Yue a model of armor worth 2000 yuan, which they bought by gritting their teeth.

Shen Qiangwei and Zhang Chaoqiang stuffed a sweater into Zhang Chaoqiang's arms. It was a crudely made, extremely rough sweater, which the two of them had knitted together over three nights by studying online tutorials.

Zhang Chaoqiang thanked his parents, then put the item away; he didn't intend to wear it...

In the end, they discovered that Shen Qiangwei and Zhang Huolong had not given each other any gifts.

The next day, which is the second day of the Lunar New Year, according to custom, people in Tianan City will go to the Wusheng Temple located in Wuguan Street to burn incense and pray for the safety of their families.

The legend of the Martial Saint dates back three thousand years.

Originally a hermit from the mountains, he stumbled upon the path of martial arts by chance and was able to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth like a demon beast, transforming it into his own power.

This earliest warrior led humanity step by step to carve out a territory for humankind on this planet overrun by savage beasts.

His deeds have been passed down to this day, and he is known as the Martial Saint by later generations.

Zhang Chaoqiang's family and Old Chen had agreed to go to the Wusheng Temple to offer incense and worship today. Old Chen, in particular, was extremely sincere amidst the bustling crowd at the Wusheng Temple.

Every martial artist holds the highest respect for the Martial Saint.

The Wusheng Temple has an ancient style with mottled golden tiles. Inside, a master consecrates items for worshippers free of charge, such as amulets, so that the Wusheng may bless them with peace.

Unparalleled, a hero.

These four words do not refer to the Martial Saint at this moment.

It was the loafers Zhang Huolong was carrying, with the words printed on the shoes.

After the master of consecration received it, his eyes, which had seen all things in the world, suddenly froze for a moment... but he still completed the consecration for it.

Wishing for good luck.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, a group of five people visited the flower market in Pingshui Street.

As they strolled around, Zhang Chaoqiang pinned a pink lily in Tan Yue's hair.

Zhang Huolong spent about ten yuan to buy a rose and put it in Shen Qiangwei's hair, which made her feel a pang of heartache.

"Wild roses are everywhere by the roadside, why waste money..."

The Spring Festival flew by, and Zhang Huolong felt fortunate.

He realized from his fellow migrant workers' social media posts that spending time with family is a luxury for some people, so what more could he ask for?

……

School started on the tenth day of the lunar month.

As part of a special training group, Zhang Chaoqiang and Tan Yue need to start school 5-10 days earlier than regular primary schools.

In the training room, Zhang Chaoqiang saw Cheng Wen, Teacher Guan, and Huang Zhonghan, the martial arts teacher from the junior high school.

He sternly glanced at Zhang Chaoqiang and said, "Martial artists need to cultivate spiritual power in order to practice martial arts. You are not yet 12 years old, but your spiritual level is top-notch. Then try to unleash the highest energy of your spiritual energy ring."

Before he could fully envelop the spiritual energy ring on Zhang Chaoqiang's arm with his spiritual power, he was so startled that he took a step back...

Chapter 52 Similar in Approach

"Why isn't your psionic ring modulated and locked at an energy intensity of 5P?"

Huang Zhonghan immediately released his spiritual power, causing the thin layer of dust on the training room floor to fly and swirl wildly, tightly wrapping around Zhang Chaoqiang's wrist.

A fire was inexplicably ignited in my heart. After observing just now, I realized that Zhang Chaoqiang's psionic ring was clearly at a strength of 50P and was not restricted to within 5P.

A 50P level of psychic energy, if misused and causing energy flow disturbances, will create an energy ring wave at the level of collapse, even if it's only 50P...

It would be enough to shatter the arm of an ordinary person, let alone a mere child.

Moreover, arbitrarily activating high-energy spiritual artifacts that are outside one's mental level can, at best, cause brain damage and affect the nervous system, and at worst, result in a mental backlash that leaves one mentally impaired for life.