Because Lin Feng used the Sealing Evil Seal, his Qi and blood were depleted, and his appetite soared. Five bowls of rice plus that plate of Pig Demon meat all went into his belly in no time.
Blood Qi spread through his body, making Lin Feng feel warm inside and recover a little.
After dinner was the rare rest time after a long day of hard work.
In Shore District, there's a routine, or rather a rule, that no one can break: after nine o'clock, the lights must be out and there can't be any loud noises.
Shore District is less than a hundred meters away from the coverage area of the Blue Moon.
Outside the city, Demon Beasts roam in packs. Turning on the lights at night would attract Demon Beasts, so even if people aren't asleep, residents here don't turn on the lights.
If you listen carefully, you can hear the roars and howls of Demon Beasts coming from not far away. Right now, it's not bad yet; but in a silent night, it would definitely disrupt everyone's rest.
Dinner was already almost seven—there were still two hours to nine o'clock.
Everyone cherished these two hours.
Old Ma, as usual, made a pot of tea out of habit and turned on the TV.
Although he was just a minor clerk at Qingshui Government Office, he never missed a single episode of current affairs news. Ma Lele hurried to get her homework done, the eldest sister went out to make a call, looking at her expression, eight or nine out of ten she was calling Chen Hao.
"Want some tea?"
Seeing Lin Feng also sitting on the couch, Old Ma was a little surprised and raised his teacup to ask.
After asking, Old Ma looked at Lin Feng, a little puzzled.
He sensed that Lin Feng was acting a bit different today.
Lin Feng used to be rather withdrawn. He didn't reject Old Ma, treated him respectfully, but Old Ma could clearly feel Lin Feng's distance toward him.
It was as if that respect was just something you'd show an elder.
Though Lin Feng was always obedient and sensible, from childhood until now had never caused a single problem, but exactly because of that, in Old Ma's heart, he was somewhat afraid of this stepson.
This fear wasn't dread—it was because Old Ma knew how ordinary he was.
He had neither capability nor background, and beyond the basic expenses of life, he had nothing with which to help Lin Feng.
It was undeniable: he felt a bit inferior.
He was afraid Lin Feng despised having such a useless father.
But today, Old Ma discovered Lin Feng seemed a lot more close to him.
At dinner today, Lin Feng even picked food for him, a first in history, which made Old Ma a little touched.
"Has he grown up?" Old Ma wondered inside.
"No, I'm not thirsty."
Lin Feng shook his head and watched the images on TV.
He had just been reborn and needed to organize the memories in his mind.
Today's Jiang City news was no exception; they were broadcasting the dramatic scenes of Awakening Day.
No doubt about it—the ten prodigies on the Light Curtain were the stars of today's news.
The identities and strength of the ten stars had been investigated thoroughly.
Especially Ye Qiu.
"The Thunder Club offered Ye Qiu a ten-year contract for three billion, but he refused. Still, as the only S-class club in the country, they won't give up such a top-level genius easily!"
"According to accurate sources, Blade Group is preparing to invite Ye Qiu as their image ambassador, with an endorsement fee of one hundred million New Coin per year."
"After refining the Thorny Demon Dragon ranked 46th on the Earth Chart, Ye Qiu's future career is likely to be Combat Mage!"
"One of the city's famous chain brands, Feixiang Supermarket, is part of Ye Qiu's father's group's industries. Feixiang Supermarket was founded in 2133, with registered capital..." The host gave an excited introduction.
"This is crazy."
Old Ma exclaimed, and Lin Feng clicked his tongue too.
On the screen, Feixiang Supermarket was swarmed by eager crowds. The ten-meter-wide entrance was packed with people, with thirty or forty security guards holding hands to maintain order, and you'd need to wait in line just to get in.
Inside the supermarket, many shelves were almost empty, some completely bare. Within just a few hours, an entire supermarket was picked clean, as if everything was free.
This sort of frenzy only happened before major battles.
At that moment, the people of Jiang City seemed to be showing their love for Ye Qiu this way.
Fortunately, since the Dawn War, the country had abolished the stock market—otherwise there'd be daily limit-ups for sure.
"Feng, help me out."
Just then, his mother's voice floated in from the kitchen.
"Coming."
Responding, Lin Feng got up and went to the kitchen to chat with his mother. He enjoyed this warm atmosphere, but soon noticed something was up—his mother seemed to have something she wanted to say but couldn't.
"Mom, what do you want to tell me?" Lin Feng asked in confusion.
"Feng, I know your dream. Ever since you were a child, you wanted to become a Demon Spirit Master."
"Your talent is pretty good. Now you've reached Body Cultivator Seventh Rank. With some support resources, you should be able to break through to Body Eighth Rank, and then…"
Lin Feng was a bit confused at first, but soon he realized what his mother was getting at.
He looked at her amused, smiling as he interrupted, "Are you planning to ask that man for help?"
"Ah!"
Lin Fang was stunned. She hadn't expected Lin Feng to guess her thoughts so quickly.
Even more surprising, Lin Feng was so calm?
In the past, just the mention of his father would make the usually obedient Lin Feng anxious or even lose his temper. This kind of calmness was very unusual.
"No matter what, he's still your father. If you can get his help, you still have a shot at becoming a Demon Spirit Master."
Lin Fang carefully searched for words, not wanting her son to be hurt: "With your cultivation talent, if you become a Demon Spirit Master, there's still hope you'll get into the Nine Elite Joint Schools."
"I know you don't want to see him or talk to him. That's fine, Mom will do it."
"Just tell me—what grade of Demon Spirit can your Soul Power merge with? What attribute? Do you have a specific goal—what Demon Spirit do you want?"
Lin Feng listened quietly to his mother, a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.
This was his mother!
Though life was hard, it didn't affect her love for her children.
After that man left, she fought alone to feed the whole family.
What other kids had, they might have less, but never truly lacked. Even if he was mischievous, at most she'd scold him, never hit him.
Lin Feng understood that after that man left, he and his big sister became children of a single parent, which made his mother feel she owed them, so she tried to give everything she could.
Even after she married Old Ma, that love never lessened in the slightest.
Actually, his mother was stronger than he was.
No matter how tough things got, she never went to ask that man for anything. Now, for his future, she would set aside her pride, even pretending to be relaxed in front of him.
"Is it because of Ya Ge?" Lin Feng wondered secretly.
In his previous life, after realizing he couldn't become a Demon Spirit Master, his mother never mentioned his so-called father. The biggest difference now is that Ya Ge has made it big and moved out of Shore District.
She didn't say it, but Lin Feng knew she was worried inside.
"Mom, you don't need to search for words. I figured it out a long time ago."
Lin Feng said lightly, "That man is just a stranger to me now. I won't ask him for help, and you don't have to either."
About that man—he used to hate him.
After all, the man left home when Lin Feng was five.
He left without a word!
Back then, Lin Feng craved fatherly love, wanted someone to support the family, so his mother wouldn't have to work so hard.
But now, for him, it's just a blurred memory.
Just a stranger, nothing more.
Lin Feng knew that man was in Shangjing now.
If he remembered correctly, the man must be a Ninth Grade Martial Artist by now, and as a Demon Spirit Master had refined the Ninth Grade Demon Spirit Devil Mantis—immense power.
"Yang Race, ranked seventh among the thirteen Shangjing clans. As one of the races that made great contributions during the cataclysm, they were specially granted the Glory Race title by the government. Their Yang Group mainly deals in Demon Beast Weapon Manufacturing, with strength in assets throughout the country and abroad..."
That's the introduction of the Yang Race on the computer encyclopedia.
Lin Feng had once investigated that family—not to return there, but just to make them regret, regret giving him up.
But in his previous life, though he reached Eighth Grade Martial Artist, he still felt powerless against such a behemoth—like a mantis blocking a chariot.
Seeing Lin Feng so determined, Lin Fang was silent for a long time. In the end, her eyes reddened slightly: "But what about your dream?"
The thing she regretted most in this life was marrying Lin Feng's father, a man who seemed free and easy, but was actually fake and irresponsible.
Now, for the family and business, he'd abandoned them and left. She also gradually forgot him.
Life had to go on. She struggled to raise the children and let Lin Feng and Lin Kerou take her surname.
Now she was with Old Ma, her hopes all invested in the three children. Luckily, all three were well-behaved; the eldest and youngest were girls and would marry someday, so as long as they didn't go astray and found a good family, that was enough. Her biggest hope was with Lin Feng, the second child.
She hoped Lin Feng could get into the Nine Elite Joint Schools, get a good job after graduation, and move the family out of Shore District.
She was just a factory worker with no connections. Everything depended on Lin Feng himself.
His mother's reddened eyes pierced Lin Feng's heart.
He could tell his mother was so stubborn and already a little angry. Yet even then, she just tried to persuade him and never scolded him like a lecturing parent.
She respected him, always mindful of his feelings and thoughts.
Lin Feng couldn't help wanting to tell her that inside him was an Exotic Beast ranked seventh, the Nightmare. If he refined it, not only would the Nine Elite Joint Schools be within reach—even the Three Heroic Academies wouldn't be a problem.
But he couldn't tell his mother any of that.
Not only because having a treasure is a crime, but also Lin Feng wasn't absolutely sure he could refine the Nightmare. If it turned on him again, he'd have to give up and force it out.
The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment—Lin Feng didn't want his family to be let down.
"Sigh, I can't help you with anything. The path you choose is yours to walk."
Finally, facing Lin Feng's stubbornness, Lin Fang could only sigh helplessly.
Because of their father, her children were looked down on by relatives and friends, living in Shore District. If Lin Feng couldn't get into the Nine Elite Joint Schools, how could he break free from this fate?
She wanted her son to have a future, but would never force him to do anything he didn't want.