"I heard Mr. Zhou brought back two high-level mutated beasts and didn't even leave one for us at Capture Beast Store. Such a pity!" Store Manager Cao no longer underestimated Zhou You, especially seeing the research institute's box in his hands, which is something most could only dream of touching.

Order was restored in the inner city, and the citizens emerged from their shelters, having safely weathered the crisis. Everyone was elated.

In this post-apocalyptic world, news of bases being completely wiped out was frequent. Celebrations after such narrow escapes became vital rituals.

Li Yanqing had a hearty meal at home before heading out. He planned to go shopping with Mi Ai, hoping to find an affordable piece of armor.

Turning a corner onto the pedestrian street, they saw the grand Capture Beast Store. This shop was arguably one of the most popular in Jiangnan base. Many traveled here just to take pictures with the store. If they were fortunate enough to see a high-level mutated beast specimen in the VIP room, the thrill was unmatched.

"Look! Isn't that Guardian Zhou and the Sect Leader?" Within the Divine Sect, every follower recognized their status. Many outsiders even wanted to join without probing their authenticity.

Mi Ai tiptoed to get a better look, and sure enough, it was them. She quickly pulled Li Yanqing along.

"Are you crazy? They don't know us!" exclaimed Li Yanqing in a panic.

"They will once we meet them."

As Zhou You and Shao Qi were about to go for a meal, they were stopped by two young men. At first, Zhou You mistook them for local ruffians but soon realized they were just two bashful boys.

Li Yanqing was too nervous to speak. Mi Ai quickly introduced themselves and stressed, "We diligently attend the square lessons daily. Thank you both for this precious opportunity."

Knowing Shao Qi wasn't fond of talking to ordinary folks, Zhou You replied, "It's a rare opportunity. Make sure to study hard. There are no shortcuts in martial arts. Persistence is key."

Li Yanqing and Mi Ai stood tall, making a promise. Then, Li hesitated, "Sir, may I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

Li Yanqing moved his hand gently in the air, producing a faint airflow. It was so faint that he wasn't sure if it was the result of his internal energy or just the air moving.

"Lately, during my practice, I've felt anomalies around me. Sometimes something seems to emanate from my fingers, but it's invisible and intangible. No one else can sense it. I'm wondering if it's just my imagination."

Zhou You held his hand, "Close your eyes and enter the state you achieve when practicing. Clear your mind and let the energy flow within."

Li Yanqing complied. Cultivating internal energy was indeed a wondrous experience. While Mi Ai hadn't felt any changes after days of practice, he noticed certain transformations in himself.

Minutes later, Zhou You released his grip and looked approvingly at Li Yanqing. "You've indeed touched the threshold. Continue practicing in this direction, and once you gather spiritual energy in your Dantian and unblock your meridians, you will feel the inner strength you just experienced in your palm."

"Really?" Li Yanqing exclaimed, jumping up with excitement. "Do I... do I possess inner strength? Can I truly learn martial arts now?"

Mi Ai smiled, genuinely happy for him. "You've surpassed me. I need to catch up."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhou!" Li Yanqing, slightly embarrassed about his earlier outburst, gave a quick bow to both and then hurriedly pulled Mi Ai away.

Zhou You shook his head with a chuckle, saying to Shao Qi, "He's a promising one."

"You should take him as a disciple. With your skills, founding your own sect is only a matter of time," Shao Qi remarked. He could tell at a glance that the two boys were pure-hearted. Such innocence is hard to maintain in these end times. They would need to endure hardships to truly excel.

Chapter 068: My Personal Chef Doesn’t Serve Others

The thought of founding a sect had crossed Zhou You’s mind. The Taiyi Heart Scripture was given to him by an old beggar. He wasn't sure which sect's inner cultivation method it was, but it certainly belonged to the Daoist tradition. Today, there are more than thirty Daoist sects across the country.

"We'll discuss this later. Are we leaving in a few days?" The Jiangnan Base was merely a stopover for them. Having retrieved Shao Qi's belongings, there wasn't much reason to linger.

"Mhm, tomorrow I'll negotiate a deal with the military. After that, we can hit the road."

Zhou You sighed, "It's a pity that our morning lessons will be on hold. The two young men today showed great potential. If they keep training, they could quickly advance to warrior-level."

"It won't be on hold. I'll discuss terms with Ren Zhiyuan tomorrow. We'll have the military train the civilians. Since Ren Zhiyuan values the fertility rate of martial artists, the best way is to increase the proportion of martial artists at the Jiangnan Base. He'd be thrilled to see ordinary citizens get promoted."

Zhou You agreed with this approach. After all, they were just passing by and couldn't stay here permanently. Besides, the military and the base's citizens were intrinsically connected, bound by mutual success.

In the evening, when they returned to the military district, the enticing aroma of grilled meat wafted through the air. The numerous mutated birds they'd brought back had been processed, with valuable parts like claws and wings set aside. The remaining meat was distributed to the military canteen for everyone to enjoy.

The two elite mutated birds were divided among Miao Miu and his group, earning them a substantial reward. That night, they even delivered some of the grilled meat to Shao Qi's residence.

"Boss, try my cooking and see if I've improved." Miao Miu grilled a leg for Shao Qi. It was fragrant, but the outer skin was charred, making it look less appetizing.

Noticing Shao Qi's disdain, Miao Miu sliced off a chunk of meat and presented it to Zhou You, jesting, "I'd like Mr. Zhou's expert opinion. We often can't get good food when we're out, and we're tired of just consuming nutrient solutions and compressed biscuits."