The sky gradually darkened. Looking out at the distant villages twinkling with starlike lights beyond the car window, James Bolton knew he was almost home. Perhaps his parents waited every day for their son, who was working hard in the big city, to return!

This time, James Bolton was returning home in glory!

Chapter 10: Iron Fist, Minor Achievement

The car slowly stopped at the entrance of the village. James Bolton and Emily Bolton got out and walked toward a brick house with its lights on inside the village.

The village where James Bolton's family lived was called Longshan Village. Longshan was actually just a small hill behind the village, barely over thirty meters high. James Bolton's home was at the very end of the village, the household closest to Longshan.

Before he even reached home, James Bolton saw his parents pacing back and forth at the door, probably worried that Emily Bolton still hadn't come home. It was already autumn, and the nights were quite chilly.

James Bolton's father was named Charles Bolton, one of four siblings, an honest and simple man. People from their generation in the countryside usually didn't go to school, so Charles Bolton couldn't read a single character. Having farmed at home all his life, Charles Bolton looked somewhat aged.

"Yangzi, you're back! I was just wondering why Xinxin still hadn't come home! Why didn't you call to let us know you were coming back?" Mother said, first happy and then a bit reproachful when she saw James Bolton.

Father also showed a happy expression, but said lightly, "You're back, that's enough. Why did you buy so many things? Waste of money!" As he spoke, he took one of the bags from James Bolton's hand.

Emily Bolton stood to the side, muttering, "Why does no one care about me? Hmph, Mom and Dad are so biased!"

Mother tapped Emily Bolton's head with her finger and laughed, "You silly girl! Your brother hasn't been back for half a year, of course I want to see how he's doing. You're always hanging around me all day, isn't that enough?"

Emily Bolton grabbed her mother's hand and acted spoiled, "Mom, I knew you love me the most!"

Father and James Bolton watched the mother and daughter making a scene and couldn't help but smile knowingly.

"Alright, Mom, Dad, let's go inside! There's dew outside," James Bolton interrupted Emily Bolton's playful whining, picked up the things, and went inside with Father.

Since it was the countryside, and the house had been built back when Grandpa was still alive, there were a lot of people in the family at the time, so the house was especially big.

There were six rooms in total, front and back, covering more than 200 square meters.

James Bolton entered the main hall and placed the gifts he was carrying on the Eight Immortals table in the center. Emily Bolton, who came in behind, also put down everything she was holding, piling the table high.

Father and Mother grinned from ear to ear, but still complained, "It's enough that you're back, why buy so many things? You should save your money to get married! We don't lack anything at home, don't waste money."

As she spoke, she saw James Bolton take out the jewelry he bought for his mother from his pocket. Mother was startled, "Is this real gold? Where did you get the money, you rascal?"

Charles Bolton stood to the side, frowning and saying nothing. Sensing the tense atmosphere, James Bolton was about to explain when Emily Bolton excitedly shouted.

"Mom, Dad, my brother made a fortune this time! These are nothing to him now!"

"What happened? Aren't you still working in sales? How did you make so much money?" Father asked.

Before James Bolton could speak, Emily Bolton enthusiastically started telling how her brother made a fortune, vividly describing the stone gambling process she had heard about somewhere, as if she had been right there with James Bolton watching him gamble on stones.

Listening to her, James Bolton couldn't help but laugh, but didn't say much more. As long as his parents believed his money was earned properly, that was enough.

When Father and Mother heard Emily Bolton say that James Bolton had made over three million, they were shocked! To them, three million was an astronomical figure. Even if they scrimped and saved all year, they would only have four or five thousand left over. Their own son had actually made so much money!

Knowing that James Bolton had made money, Mother was all smiles, but still said, "Even if you have money, you can't spend it recklessly! You still have to buy a house in the provincial capital and get married!" All the while happily stroking the gold earrings and ring in her hands...

Seeing his mother so happy, James Bolton felt a wave of relief inside. Ever since he got the energy exchange device, the shadow that had weighed on his heart seemed to dissipate all at once.

Even the Iron Fist, which had been stagnant for so long, now seemed to be on the verge of a breakthrough!

After chatting with his parents for a while and seeing how tired they were from a day's work, James Bolton told them to go rest. After sending Emily Bolton, who had been following him around, off to bed, James Bolton quickly returned to his old room, ready to break through to the minor achievement stage of Iron Fist.

There wasn't a speck of dust in the room; his sister and parents would clean it every few days. Smelling the familiar scent, James Bolton sat down cross-legged and focused on recalling that feeling of breakthrough he had just experienced.

A few hours later, James Bolton let out a low shout, "Break!" His arm instantly swelled to twice its size, veins bulging, and with one punch, he smashed a deep pit into the thick earthen floor!

At this moment, James Bolton felt his mind was crystal clear, and every movement within ten meters seemed to appear vividly in his mind.

Shaking his head to clear these thoughts, he summoned his attribute panel and found that his stats had improved quite a bit.