Chapter 155: The Immortal City

Chapter 155: The Immortal City

Upon returning home, Ji Xinghuo washed up and lay down on his bed. After some thought, he sent Zhao Manying a message, "I'm home."

The reply came instantly: "Okay."

Along with an adorable emoji.

A smile appeared on Ji Xinghuo's face as he continued typing on his phone. He had intended to say goodnight, but their conversation veered in another direction. The constant ding-dong of their messages showed no sign of stopping as they chatted late into the night, unknowingly spending several hours exchanging messages as if they had an endless stream of topics to discuss.

Only when the sky began to lighten did they reluctantly bid each other goodnight.

After sleeping for three to four hours, Ji Xinghuo woke up feeling refreshed. Instinctively, he reached for his phone and, as expected, found a new message from Zhao Manying: "I have some private matters to attend to with my team in the morning. I'll be at the club for training in the afternoon and won't be free until 5 in the evening. Let's have dinner together then."

"Five o'clock..."

Ji Xinghuo glanced at the time; it was only 9 a.m. Eight more hours to go.

"That's plenty of time for cultivation."

He replied to her message and then headed to the training room.

After completing each training cycle, Ji Xinghuo would take a break and chat with Zhao Manying on his phone. She would also send him photos, keeping him updated on her activities. Even if he couldn't reply immediately, he would share his own updates whenever he had the chance.

As evening approached, Ji Xinghuo couldn't hide his eagerness to finish his cultivation. He quickly freshened up, changed his clothes, and called for a car to take him to the Tianqin Stadium.

This was the very place where he had taken his physical fitness test, received his exotic beast, and become an exotic.

And now, he was back where it all began, feeling a surge of emotions.

Soon enough, Zhao Manying arrived. Today, she had red, slightly curly long hair that fell in waves over her shoulders. She wore a gray coat, tall leather boots, and carried a delicate little bag. Her entire ensemble exuded elegance and dignity, a stark contrast to her look from the day before.

Ji Xinghuo couldn't help but admire her, saying, "I almost didn't recognize you."

"It took me half an hour to do my hair and makeup," Zhao Manying said, turning around in front of him to showcase her outfit. "Do I look pretty?"

"You look stunning!" Ji Xinghuo praised sincerely.

With the advanced makeup and hairstyling technology these days, the most intricate hairstyles could be achieved within just 20 minutes, at most, including dyeing, extensions, and blow-drying. Not to mention, with the endless options for fashion styles, one could go a whole year without repeating an outfit.

The area around the stadium was bustling with people. One could easily look up and spot the giant screens and towering billboards advertising the Emperor Star Team.

However, no one seemed to notice that the beauty standing beside them was none other than Zhao Manying herself.

Hearing Ji Xinghuo's compliment, Zhao Manying's eyes sparkled with joy, and she happily linked her arm through his as they walked to the car.

"Where do you want to go tonight?"

"It's your call."

Their voices echoed inside the magnetic levitation car as it swiftly carried them away.

In the days that followed, the couple met up every day, just like a real couple would.

Ji Xinghuo adjusted his schedule to match Zhao Manying's free time. Whenever she was available, they would meet up, sometimes during the day and sometimes at night. They would go out for meals, stroll through shopping districts, enjoy dates, and occasionally book a private martial arts arena to spar and improve their combat skills together.

As they immersed themselves in their little bubble, the hype surrounding Zhao Manying's love life gradually faded.

Although countless people were curious about the identity of her boyfriend, Zhao Manying released a sincere open letter requesting that her privacy be respected. She also clarified that her boyfriend was not a competing exotic, a public figure, a celebrity, or a rich second-generation heir. He was just an ordinary citizen, and she hoped that her personal life would not be disturbed.

This caused quite a stir.

People found it hard to believe that Zhao Manying would choose a boyfriend outside of their industry, and they couldn't help but envy the lucky man who had won her heart.

Nonetheless, Zhao Manying received blessings from many of her fans.

In reality, Ji Xinghuo had noticed that they were being tailed on multiple occasions. However, with his magnetic field perception, shaking off these followers was a simple task.

Clang!

In the midst of an intense metallic clash, Ji Xinghuo was forced back a dozen steps, his back colliding with the wall.

A longsword appeared, swift as lightning, its trajectory unpredictable and too fast for the eye to capture. Ji Xinghuo swung his own longsword to block, deflecting the incoming attack.

He immediately shifted his stance, moving along the wall, but the longsword flew back.

This time, he wasn't quick enough to block it, and the longsword grazed his cheek before embedding itself in the wall, leaving a thin scratch on his face.

"I lose," Ji Xinghuo admitted.

He wiped the blood from his face, and the wound immediately healed without a trace.

In the center of the martial arts arena, Zhao Manying waved her hand, and the metallic longsword returned to her grasp. She was dressed in a white training outfit, her black hair tied into a ponytail. Her tall and slender figure exuded beauty and vigor, but despite winning the sparring match, she didn't look particularly happy. Shaking her head, she said, "You let me win again.

Ji Xinghuo took a couple of sips of water and handed the bottle back to her. "I really didn't go easy on you. The reason I won against you on Mount Hua that day was because I was in peak condition and performed exceptionally well. Plus, you didn't know much about me back then."

"Is that so?" Zhao Manying took the bottle and took a sip as well.

Over the past few days, the two had sparred dozens of times in reality, with half of the matches ending in a draw. Ji Xinghuo hadn't displayed the same level of dominance as he had that night.

Although Ji Xinghuo repeatedly emphasized that this was indeed his true strength, Zhao Manying found it hard to believe and felt that he was still holding back.

Zhao Manying hmphed. "You were pretty arrogant that night, saying that I would never be able to overcome my mental demons. Why the change of heart now?"

"Er..."

Just as Ji Xinghuo was about to explain, his phone, which was on the edge of the training arena, started ringing.

His expression changed slightly.

This ringtone was unique and different from that of a regular call. Only internal calls from the Sword Bureau or messages from the "Tianlai" software would trigger it.

"I need to take this call," Ji Xinghuo said.

He walked over to his phone and saw an encrypted number. When he answered, he heard Zhou Yishang's voice on the other end.

"Xinghuo, come to the base immediately."

"Okay."

After a brief conversation, Ji Xinghuo hung up and turned to Zhao Manying. "I have to head back to the bureau now. It seems like there's a mission."

"Go ahead, and be careful."

Zhao Manying only knew that he was a swordsman of the Sword Bureau but wasn't aware of the specifics. She wisely refrained from asking further questions.

Ji Xinghuo nodded and was about to leave when Zhao Manying suddenly called out, "Wait."

He turned back, puzzled, only to find Zhao Manying stepping closer and gently wrapping her arms around his neck. Her sweet fragrance filled his senses, and he felt her softness against him.

After half a minute, she let go and whispered, "Remember to miss me."

Ji Xinghuo licked his lips and nodded vigorously before bidding her farewell once more and exiting the training arena. He then boarded a magnetic levitation car outside, heading toward "Lijiawan Town" in the Qinling Mountains.

Half an hour later, Ji Xinghuo entered the Sword Bureau's base and met with Zhou Yishang.

"Director Zhou."

The office only had Zhou Yishang in it, and he looked solemn. Seeing Ji Xinghuo enter, he stood up and said, "Xinghuo, have a seat." His expression softened a little as he continued, "I haven't seen you at the base recently. Everything alright?"

"I've been cultivating and haven't had any issues," Ji Xinghuo replied. Of course, he didn't mention that he had been cultivating and enjoying a blissful time with his girlfriend.

"That's good."

Zhou Yishang nodded and then resumed his serious expression. "I called you back today because there's a mission that suits you perfectly, and I want to know if you're willing to take it on."

"I'm a Red Cloud Swordsman, and I will follow your orders without any hesitation, Director Zhou," Ji Xinghuo asserted.

A hint of delight flashed in Zhou Yishang's eyes.

He tapped on his desk, and a large screen projected an image of a man along with his file.

"This man is Shen Yucheng," Zhou Yishang introduced. "He used to be the deputy director of the Exploration Department under the Starry Realm Department, holding a high position. He oversaw more than ten exploration teams within the department. However, last week, he defected with a large amount of confidential Starry Realm Department information."

Ji Xinghuo studied the file.

Shen Yucheng was 48 years old. He had joined the Exploration Department soon after graduating from university and worked his way up the ranks, serving as an explorer, team leader, and deputy commander. His resume was impressive, and his work performance was outstanding. At the young age of 40, he was promoted to deputy director of the Exploration Department, a position that promised a bright future and was the envy of many.

The Starry Realm Department was one of the most important departments within the Asia-Pacific Community, wielding power comparable to, if not greater than, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Finance.

The Starry Realm Department oversaw multiple agencies: the Exploration Department, the Stargate Department, the Alien Research Department, the Equipment Department, the Comprehensive Department, and the Alien Service Center. These agencies managed everything related to the Starry Realm and aliens.

Among them, the Exploration Department was of utmost importance.

This agency's primary responsibility was to organize official alien exploration teams to gather information about the Starry Realm, including geography, minerals, monster distribution, alien nations, alien races, and extraterrestrial civilizations.

Each exploration team was comprised of elite aliens with excellent equipment and exceptional combat capabilities, ensuring they could handle any situation.

The nation's Starry Realm policies heavily relied on the findings of the Exploration Department.

As the deputy director, Shen Yucheng had access to highly sensitive information. If the data he carried fell into enemy hands, the consequences would be dire.

"Huh?"

Ji Xinghuo was baffled, wondering how this could have anything to do with him.

"Do you remember Ji Zongbang?" Zhou Yishang asked slowly. "He was reported by someone, and while the bureau never found the identity of the whistleblower, we didn't give up on the investigation. I specifically formed a team to comb through Ji Zongbang's past experiences and information, and we finally found a clue."

"We analyzed Ji Zongbang's cell phone signal movement trajectory and discovered that before he came to Chang'an, his signal had intersected with that of another phone multiple times."

"Following that phone signal, we traced it back to Chang'an."

"That person was a middleman, very cautious. As soon as we sent a swordsman to apprehend him, he committed suicide."

"Based on the information collected from the middleman's residence and subsequent big data analysis, we finally identified Shen Yucheng, but we were still a step too late. The middleman's death must have alerted Shen Yucheng, and by the time we locked onto him, he had already fled the country."

Zhou Yishang's expression turned solemn as he spoke.

The repeated failures of the Sword Bureau in the Ji Zongbang case had validated the whistleblower's statement—Ji Zongbang was connected to high-level officials within the country.

Ji Xinghuo also realized the severity of the situation and asked, "Where did Shen Yucheng escape to?"

"He entered the Starry Realm and then returned to Earth through a stargate in South America," Zhou Yishang replied. "Today, our informant in the South America Bureau reported that Shen Yucheng has been spotted in the Immortal City."

"The Immortal City..." Ji Xinghuo paused for a moment.

This was a massive city located in South America, once the capital of a country called Colombia, known as Bogota, two centuries ago.

In the 2090s, after the formation of the American Federation, which unified the entire North American continent, they expanded southward, facing fierce resistance. Despite the enormous cost, the American Federation managed to establish control over South America, though it did not directly incorporate it into its territory, the region effectively became an economic colony.

To this day, the people of South America continue to resist the rule of the American Federation, and various rebel and resistance forces have never been completely suppressed.

However, the American Federation's economic, military, and technological power is simply too overwhelming.

The entire South American continent remains under the control of the American Federation.

The most important reason for the American Federation's refusal to relinquish this continent is the presence of two stargates in South America.

One is located in the distant southern city of Asuncion.

The other is slightly closer to the American Federation's homeland—the Immortal City!

The Immortal City is the most prosperous and expansive city in South America, almost a microcosm of the entire continent. Its visible population exceeds 100 million, but the actual number, including those in hiding, could be several times higher.

While the American Federation rules over the Immortal City, they pay little attention to the common folk. The city is rife with lawlessness, with hundreds of conglomerates, large corporations, and gangs, along with numerous private forces, all vying for control and engaging in illicit underground transactions, making it a den of iniquity.

The Immortal City boasts both the most advanced technology and the most primal instincts.

The ruling class indulges in decadent and extravagant lifestyles, while those at the bottom often go hungry, selling everything they have for a single meal.

The class divide and wealth gap have reached extreme levels.

And the Immortal City is just a microcosm of the many cities on the American continent.

Zhou Yishang's voice turned grave as he said, "The Director has already given the order. Ten Red Cloud Swordsmen will be dispatched to the Immortal City to find Shen Yucheng, retrieve the information he possesses, and bring him back if possible. If not, they are authorized to eliminate him!"

He looked at Ji Xinghuo and continued, "I've submitted your name, and the Director has approved your inclusion in this mission."

"Director Zhou, about that information..." Ji Xinghuo frowned.

"I know," Zhou Yishang said, shaking his head helplessly. "The likelihood of the information not being leaked at this point is extremely low; we're already too late."

"But as long as there's still a chance, we must do our utmost," he added, his face hardening. "According to our informant, Shen Yucheng is seeking a way to contact the upper echelons of the American Federation in the Immortal City, most likely intending to sell the information for a high price. We still have an opportunity to retrieve it."

"If you can get the information back before it's leaked, your reward will be at least one ultra-limit exotic species, maybe even two."

"You'll definitely get the titanium-cobalt dragon's blood!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xinghuo's heart raced, and he asked, "Director Zhou, when do I depart?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end