Chapter 157: Welcome to the Central Metropolis

"Zhuang Xiaoyuan, it is so good to see you again. I am sure Captain Huazhe and Lieutenant General Feng will both be very happy." Amidst the bickering of Wen Hui and Chu Miaomiao, Chu Yan walked over, leaning against the car with an expression of relief.

"Major Chu, you have arrived safely as well? Are Uncle Feng and the Captain safe?" Seeing Chu Yan, Zhuang Xiaoyuan felt a slight surge of anxiety. Chu Yan's appearance indicated they had successfully reached the Central Metropolis, but with only Chu Yan here, Zhuang Xiaoyuan began to worry about Feng Guoqing and Huazhe.

"Don't worry, they are both safe and sound. It's just that the situation on the front lines has been tense lately, so they accepted a specific mission and are temporarily away from the Central Metropolis. However, they should be able to return before the Creation God Festival." A reassuring smile appeared on Chu Yan's face as he shared the news about Feng Guoqing and Huazhe with Zhuang Xiaoyuan.

"Phew, that's good." She patted her chest in relief and let out a breath. Regardless of whether Uncle Feng and the others were currently in the Central Metropolis, knowing they were safe and sound was enough. Although they couldn't meet right away, there wasn't much time left until the Creation God Festival. They should be able to see each other soon.

"Alright, there will be plenty of time for catching up later. Let's head back first; this isn't the place to talk." As the group was conversing noisily, the middle-aged man who had previously unleashed the aurora to destroy the black-boned dragon approached and interrupted them.

"Excuse me, who are you?" Looking at the vaguely familiar face of the middle-aged man before her, Zhuang Xiaoyuan wore a tentative and suspicious expression.

"Hehe, I finally get to meet you in person. I used to hear Guoqing talk about you often. Hello, I am Feng Guohua. Let's go, get in the car first, and we can chat on the way." Wearing a kind smile, Feng Guohua patted Zhuang Xiaoyuan on the shoulder amid her astonished look, and beckoned the others to get into the car so they could leave.

Although he felt a certain degree of curiosity as to why the forest, which had been completely invisible before, suddenly appeared right in front of him after Zhuang Xiaoyuan and Wen Hui walked out of it, Feng Guohua had no intention of probing deeply. He simply assumed the previous illusion was some kind of ability used by Zhuang Xiaoyuan or Wen Hui themselves.

Because Feng Guohua chose not to press the matter, and the others were unsettled by their reunion, none of them noticed the crystals glowing faintly on the chests of the three girls after the forest appeared. The previous illusion was entirely due to the self-protection capabilities of those crystals.

At Feng Guohua's call, the group boarded the car one by one. Afterward, operated by Chu Yan, the vehicle turned around and headed toward the Central Metropolis. The passengers in the car also set aside Chu Yan in the driver's seat and resumed their previous conversation.

"Um, excuse me. The Guoqing you mentioned is Uncle Feng?" Although it was basically certain, and the two men shared some facial similarities, Zhuang Xiaoyuan hesitated and asked just to be sure.

"Uncle Feng? Still Uncle Feng? Oh, I see." Hearing Zhuang Xiaoyuan's form of address, Feng Guohua was slightly stunned. He had heard Feng Guoqing mention earlier that he had adopted a daughter, so why was she still calling him Uncle Feng instead of Dad? Recalling the hesitant tone Feng Guoqing had used when talking about Zhuang Xiaoyuan, a flash of realization crossed Feng Guohua's eyes, followed by a gaze full of amusement. It looked like the third brother hadn't succeeded in the adoption yet, and yet he actually dared to show her off at home.

"Haha, Xiaoyuan, you don't need to be so polite. Guoqing treats you like his own daughter, and you are my family too. I am your Uncle Feng's older brother; if you don't mind, you can call me Big Uncle." Thinking of Feng Guoqing's thwarted look, Feng Guohua couldn't help smiling. He reached out, patted Zhuang Xiaoyuan's head, and wore a gentle expression.

"Mm, Big Uncle." Although she had not formally accepted Feng Guoqing's adoption or called him Dad, this in no way hindered the father-daughter bond between them. Moreover, her refusal wasn't due to Feng Guoqing, but entirely because of Zhuang Xiaoyuan's own lingering sense of inferiority. She felt she still fell far short compared to Feng Guoqing's daughter who had died young. If one day Zhuang Xiaoyuan could reach Feng Xiaoxuan's level, perhaps by then she could proudly call herself Feng Guoqing's daughter.

"Mmm, good child. This 'Big Uncle' shouldn't go unrewarded. Here, a welcome gift." Responding with a smile, Feng Guohua took out three exquisite bottles and handed them to the three people in the back seat.

"Eh, I get one too?" As the item was handed to her, Wen Hui reflexively took it. Only then did she realize that all three of them had a welcome gift. Even though he was Zhuang Xiaoyuan's family, he was giving her a welcome gift as well, causing Wen Hui to show a slightly shy and embarrassed expression.

"I don't need it." Although Chu Miaomiao's expression remained calm, her eyes also carried a trace of bashfulness as she declined.

"Haha, no need to be polite. You are all Xiaoyuan's friends, and she will rely on your care in the future. And you, Chu girl, don't refuse either; I doubt you look down upon a trifle like this." Smiling and waving his hand, Feng Guohua did not take back the bottles returned by Wen Hui and Chu Miaomiao, speaking in a generous tone.

"This is... Force Spring Water. Such a precious thing, Big Uncle." Realizing what she was holding in her hand, Zhuang Xiaoyuan felt a bit hesitant to accept it. These small bottles were filled with the tenth-ranked divine treasure on the Divine Treasure List—Force Spring Water, which could directly enhance divine power. For anyone below the Fusion tier, it could be used infinitely to enhance divine power without the slightest side effect. Although compared to the top few divine treasures, Force Spring Water wasn't particularly rare, in terms of price, even a tiny bottle like this started in the tens of millions.

"There's no need for polite words. If you acknowledge me as your Big Uncle, then accept it. It's nothing exceptionally good; refusing would just be disrespecting your Big Uncle's face." Noticing Zhuang Xiaoyuan's expression, Feng Guohua knew very well what she intended to say and directly waved his hand to cut her off.

"W-Well, alright then." After a brief hesitation, Zhuang Xiaoyuan finally accepted it readily. She clearly remembered Feng Guoqing's kindness to her—a debt of emotion she could never fully repay. Now, this newly met Big Uncle was equally warm. Since she already owed debts of gratitude she could never finish repaying, she didn't mind adding a little more. Since they all treated her as a cherished junior, correspondingly, they were her most important elders.

"We've arrived at the Central Metropolis. We're about to enter." Time passed quickly amidst their conversation, and the journey gradually shortened. Over an hour later, following Chu Yan's words, the car carrying Zhuang Xiaoyuan and the others quickly approached a towering city wall. They had finally arrived at the Central Metropolis. In the future, Zhuang Xiaoyuan would be staying here for a long time, studying and living right here.

"Xiaoyuan, Xiao Hui. Welcome to the most important and prosperous core city of humanity: the Central Metropolis." As the car drove through the city gates, a brilliant smile bloomed on Chu Miaomiao's face as she welcomed the two girls beside her with a smile.