Chapter 175: Startling Changes

Chapter 175: Startling Changes

Countless lights and shadows were projected onto the oval ground in the middle of the stadium, creating an illusion like a mirage.

At first, the images were blurry, but within seconds, they became crystal clear.

What unfolded before the audience was a vast ruined city. Most of the buildings had collapsed, leaving only a few towering ruins standing tall. The streets were overgrown with weeds, and the forest had merged with the remnants of civilization, long devoid of any signs of human activity.

"Doomsday Forest City!"

The spectators buzzed with excitement as they recognized one of the most classic battle arenas in the spirit realm worlds.

Each spirit realm world had different winning conditions.

Some involved wiping out the opposing team, a brutal and straightforward approach. Others featured siege-style battles with time limits, while some even had a battle royale format where the last person standing emerged victorious.

Doomsday Forest City, however, was a deathmatch arena; the objective was to kill every member of the opposing team.

A row of large screens above the arena displayed the action from different angles.

All ten competing espers from the two teams had already entered the ruined city, and each had their own camera footage, with real-time data displayed on the side of the screen.

The more popular an esper was, the more screen time they received.

As the current number one active esper and the most popular, Zhao Manying had five screens dedicated to her, showcasing her from various angles.

Some cameras were positioned at a distance, while one even focused solely on her face, offering an up-close and personal view.

It was like placing someone under a microscope, magnifying both their strengths and flaws. It was rare for anyone to maintain a flawless appearance throughout, and often, embarrassing moments were captured.

However, Zhao Manying, scrutinized by these lenses, was impeccable from every angle.

A true beauty, flawless from every perspective!

Many spectators found themselves transfixed by the peerless beauty on the screens—her graceful and valiant demeanor, her exquisite and otherworldly charm. Unblinking, they stared, captivated by her allure.

As it was still the early stages of the match, with little action to excite the crowd, the commentators were relaxed.

When the main screen cut to Zhao Manying, they couldn't help but praise her beauty and inevitably brought up her personal life, mentioning that she already had a boyfriend.

Instantly, both in the arena and online, countless people seethed with rage.

The live stream's chat was immediately flooded with comments.

"That man is a thief who stole our goddess! I'll never forgive him!"

"Damn that spineless coward!"

"Give me my knife…"

Ji Xinghuo shook his head helplessly, listening to the angry shouts and curses around him.

While most were just playing along with the joke, there were undoubtedly some extreme fans among the masses who genuinely resented Zhao Manying's boyfriend. He knew that this level of attention would inevitably attract trouble in the future.

In the arena, both teams had begun to move.

The scenes within the spirit realm world were designed, with random locations for weapon and equipment spawns, resource points like weapon warehouses, and important facilities that could provide tactical advantages.

The competing espers were allowed to bring limited supplies, and their weapons' power was also restricted, so they had to gather resources within the spirit realm world to arm themselves and gain a significant advantage.

Of course, they could also choose to seek out their opponents and engage in battle from the outset.

These were tactical choices.

Doomsday Forest City was expansive, and both teams' areas of operation were limited to fifty square kilometers. To efficiently gather resources, it was best to split up.

However, this increased the risk of being singled out and overwhelmed if discovered by the enemy.

The Imperial Star Team's coach had already devised a strategy.

With five members, they would split into three groups.

The three strongest cores would each take a teammate and operate in pairs: one pair would gather resources, another would occupy crucial points in the city, and the third would act independently.

Zhao Manying would be that third, independent operator.

She would race through the ruins, heading directly toward the opponent's possible location.

If she encountered the enemy and the opportunity presented itself, she would launch an attack. If the timing wasn't right, she would disrupt and hinder their movements, preventing them from gathering resources, and wait for her teammates to arrive with their weapons, then join forces to ambush the enemy.

On the screens, Zhao Manying was shown running through the ruins.

Her speed was remarkable as she nimbly navigated the obstacles in her path, her lithe form resembling a graceful cheetah in full sprint.

The audience watched, captivated.

The commentators, too, were drawn back to the action as the crowd's enthusiasm grew.

The map displayed that Zhao Manying had chosen the right direction, and she would soon encounter a small squad from the Walker Team.

The Walker Team's strategy was to split into two groups: one pair and one trio.

And it was this pair that Zhao Manying was about to face.

Ji Xinghuo turned his attention to the two espers.

One male and one female, both were top-tier espers in the Super League, but it was the female esper who truly stood out.

Her name was Yu Meiling, nicknamed the "Ice and Fire Queen," and she was the Walker Team's undisputed core member.

Ji Xinghuo had known of her since middle school. Now thirty-three years old, she had consistently been the most popular female esper in the domestic Super League, renowned for her beauty and strength, both of which ranked among the best globally. She had countless loyal fans and enjoyed unparalleled fame.

That is, until four years ago when Zhao Manying entered the Super League.

Initially, the battles between Yu Meiling and Zhao Manying were closely contested, with victories on both sides.

Yu Meiling had the edge in strength, while Zhao Manying's beauty gave her a slight advantage in popularity, resulting in a near-equal fan base, and they were hailed as the "Incomparable Pair."

In the second year, Zhao Manying started to pull ahead, winning more often and surpassing Yu Meiling in popularity.

In the third year, Zhao Manying ascended to Super Esper status, her strength surpassing Yu Meiling's, and she led her team to greater heights, eventually claiming the championship.

Last year, Zhao Manying topped the global ladder, and her team dominated the entire league, winning back-to-back championships and taking the International Invitational for the third consecutive time.

Thus, Yu Meiling was left far behind.

While she remained a top-tier league competitor, ranked fifteenth on the global ladder and immensely popular, few people compared her to Zhao Manying anymore.

In terms of strength, Zhao Manying was the top-ranked esper.

In terms of beauty, Zhao Manying was the world's goddess.

In terms of honors, Zhao Manying had achieved two consecutive five-year championships.

Once hailed as the "Incomparable Pair," there were once many fans who felt that Zhao Manying's fame was exaggerated. Now, looking back, it seemed like a joke.

Whenever people mentioned the two of them, they would sigh and quote the old adage: "When Yu is born, how can Liang exist?" Yu Meiling's popularity and income had been greatly affected.

"The Sword Immortal is about to clash with the Ice and Fire Queen!"

"In the previous two seasons, the Sword Immortal maintained a perfect record against the Ice and Fire Queen! What will be the outcome of their battle this time?"

The commentator's voice rose in excitement.

In the projection, Zhao Manying spotted two enemy figures on a street several hundred meters away—one was Yu Meiling, and the other was her teammate.

Without hesitation, Zhao Manying accelerated and charged towards them.

Sensing the danger, Yu Meiling whispered to her teammate and leaped onto the top of a collapsed building, taking the high ground.

Her profession was the "Ice and Fire Singer," an advanced form of the Ice Blade and Thermal Stringer.

This profession was adept at both close combat and dealing damage!

Her teammate was a Halo Fighter, an extremely powerful opponent and a master in the ladder rankings, placed in the top two thousand.

The Halo Fighter's body shone brightly, his bald head glowing like a lightbulb.

"Hahaha..."

The audience burst into laughter.

The Halo Fighter ran towards Zhao Manying with his fists, intending to get close and entangle her, using his strong defense to withstand her attacks and create an opportunity for Yu Meiling to strike.

The distance of several hundred meters was covered in an instant.

Zhao Manying held her longsword, and although it wasn't her Red Phoenix, just a Super Ability one-star weapon, in her hands, it could still unleash tremendous power.

Clang!

The longsword pierced the Halo Fighter's fist, only to be repelled immediately.

Cannon energy erupted from the sword.

The Halo Fighter also unleashed his Burst Fist, his body shining with light as he activated "Pulse Burst," consuming light energy to unleash a powerful force in a short period. However, he was struck as if by a heavy hammer and his body uncontrollably retreated.

Zhao Manying only took two steps back to dissipate the force, then turned and advanced forward.

Her sword tip pursued like a venomous snake, precisely piercing through the Halo Fighter's arms that guarded his body, and finding the gap to stab his heart.

Pu!

The Halo Fighter's light energy defense was instantly pierced, and tidal energy erupted from the sword, causing his heart to explode.

Zhao Manying had defeated her opponent in an instant, then flashed and stepped forward. Almost as her figure disappeared, a thick, straight pillar of flame descended from the sky, slamming into the spot where she had been standing. A loud boom echoed, and a pit several meters wide was blasted into the street.

This "Mirage Beam" came from Yu Meiling.

If Zhao Manying had been just a little slower, she would have been hit by the beam and surely suffered severe injuries.

"Wow..."

The billions of viewers couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. Zhao Manying's reaction was too fast. She took on the Burst Fist head-on, trading a light injury for an instant kill on her frontal opponent, and then dodged Yu Meiling's Mirage Beam. Her grasp of timing was impeccable.

The commentator also entered a rapid-fire mode, speaking so fast it seemed his tongue was burning, filled with enthusiasm.

Zhao Manying continued forward, approaching Yu Meiling on top of the building.

Boom...

Yu Meiling didn't seem fazed by missing her chance. Her eyes focused, and high-temperature flames erupted around her, turning the area within a hundred meters into a sea of fire.

She condensed a set of ice armor, and at the same time, countless icicles appeared in the sky.

The flames and icy cold alternated, forming vast clouds of steam that obscured everything like mist.

Yu Meiling hid herself within the steam.

Zhao Manying charged into the sea of fire, an invisible force field repelling the flames, and the falling icicles were deflected and then controlled by her dynamic energy, turning them into an icy storm that swept through the fire, exposing Yu Meiling's position.

Boom!

A huge fireball rushed towards Zhao Manying but froze in mid-air.

The two spiritual energies clashed.

Zhao Manying divided her attention, and her longsword flew out of her hand, transforming into a sword light that skimmed the ground towards her enemy.

Yu Meiling sensed the sword light and waved her hand, condensing countless hailstones that bombarded the incoming sword. But her ice attacks were always a step too slow, and the longsword dodged left and right like a nimble fish, reaching just a few meters away from her in the blink of an eye.

A thick wall of ice appeared, blocking the sword light.

To gather her focus and create the ice wall, Yu Meiling had to divert some attention from the fireball in mid-air, and Zhao Manying immediately seized the opportunity. A gleam flashed in her eyes, and she instantly took control of the fireball.

The high-temperature fireball was compressed to the size of a fist and rapidly flew back, slamming into the ice wall.

A loud blast echoed.

The collision of ice and fire created a violent shockwave.

Yu Meiling, closer to the ice wall, was forced to retreat, but as her mental focus scattered, a sword light sped through the flames and icy blast, piercing her body.

The ice armor shattered, and the longsword penetrated.

Yu Meiling trembled, a hint of helplessness in her eyes, and her body slowly fell, dissipating into light and shadow.

"Wow!"

"She won!"

"The Sword Immortal is invincible!"

The commentator and the audience were thrilled, and the tens of thousands of people in the venue were excited. The opening match of the first game was so intense.

"The Sword Immortal's strength seems to have grown even stronger."

"I think so, too." Many people noticed the change, "In the past, when the Sword Immortal faced the Ice and Fire Queen, although she won, it wasn't this easy."

A retired competition expert on the commentary seat analyzed, "The Sword Immortal's martial arts and spiritual energy have clearly improved during the off-season, and her grasp of timing is even better. This clash was crisp and clean, leaving no opportunity for the Ice and Fire Queen."

"It seems the Imperial Star fans can rest assured," the other commentator smiled, "Falling in love doesn't seem to have affected the Sword Immortal's performance."

At this mention, the joy on many viewers' faces diminished slightly.

In the competition, each person only had one life.

The Walker Team had already lost two members at the start, one of them being an absolute core member, and the chances of a comeback for the remaining three were slim.

But they didn't give up.

The Imperial Star Team won the first game.

Every regular season game in the Super League was a best-of-five series.

There was a 15-minute break between each game, allowing coaches to adjust tactics and giving the espers a chance to rest and reset their mindset. During this time, the broadcasters would air advertisements, and there would be performances in the middle of the stadium, featuring celebrity singers who would entertain the audience.

In the upcoming second game, the setting changed to another spirit realm world, and once again, the Imperial Star Team emerged victorious, earning their first match point.

The third game was a base defense scenario.

Under immense pressure, the Walkers Team performed exceptionally well, capitalizing on a tactical mistake by the Imperial Star Team to claim a game back.

The match was thrilling.

Ji Xinghuo and his siblings were swept up in the lively atmosphere, engrossed in the game, and constantly cheered and shouted for Zhao Manying.

During the halftime break before the fourth game, the espers and coaches retired to their locker rooms to strategize and devise tactics. However, one member from each team remained on the stage.

The host announced loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen in the audience, our virtual exhibition match is about to begin! We will now draw eight lucky audience members to join us on stage and form two teams with the espers for a timed battle in the virtual platform. The four winners from the victorious team will each receive a prize of one million Asian dollars."

The audience immediately erupted in excitement.

Those who could afford to attend the match in person were die-hard fans of the league and had undoubtedly participated in virtual battles on the platform.

Most people longed to get on stage—not only for the chance to interact with the espers up close but also for the attractive prize money.

"The first winner is from Dingchen District, Seat 8, Row 15."

The camera on the giant screen immediately panned to the lucky seat, and a thrilled audience member stood up and rushed to the center of the stadium.

"The second winner is from Genghai District, Seat 11, Row 29."

"The third winner is..."

One by one, eight random audience members were selected and quickly made their way to the stage, alternating between the home and away team's login areas.

"And the eighth winner is from Jiachou District, Seat 5, Row 2."

Ji Xinghuo's face froze in shock. This was his seat number.

He looked up at the giant screen, which was now displaying his section of the audience, and sure enough, he spotted himself. However, due to privacy settings, his face had been blurred and replaced with a default image, even though the match was being broadcast live.

The people around him turned to look at him.

"Please hurry and come up on stage, sir," the host urged.

Ji Xinghuo hesitated, thinking that this was too much of a coincidence.

Out of the hundreds of thousands of audience members, the random draw had picked him. Apart from the Myriad Phenomenon Eyes, he had never had much luck in his life. He had never even won a small prize worth a few dollars.

"Come on, brother, what are you waiting for? Get up here!" a jealous spectator shouted.

"If you don't go, you're giving up your chance," Liang Qiu Feiyan encouraged. "Big Brother, your chance to shine is here! Show them what a true genius looks like!"

Ye Dongyun, sensing Ji Xinghuo's hesitation, asked quietly, "Is there a problem, Third Brother?"

"Maybe he should give up this opportunity," Zhong Ming guessed.

"It's nothing," Ji Xinghuo replied.

Suddenly, Ji Xinghuo took out his phone, stood up from his seat, and began walking towards the stage, with the eyes of billions of viewers fixed on him.

His seat was right next to the entrance, only a few meters away from the transparent glass-enclosed login area. He quickly stepped inside and joined the other three randomly selected audience members, standing alongside the Imperial Star Team member they would be teaming up with.

Usually, the most popular esper on the team would participate in these virtual exhibition matches.

However, the Imperial Star Team was an exception.

Zhao Manying rarely took part in these performances, so the task fell to the second most popular member of the team—Shi Renzhong.

He was more than happy to oblige, as it gave him more exposure.

At that moment, the three audience members were ecstatic.

They were die-hard fans of the Imperial Star Team, and although they couldn't interact with Zhao Manying up close, they were thrilled to be teaming up with the team's owner, the "Martial King" Shi Renzhong.

"Welcome!" Shi Renzhong shook hands with each of them, his smile warm and without a hint of arrogance.

His gaze swept over the four of them, and when it landed on Ji Xinghuo, who had been the last to enter, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. Ji Xinghuo's demeanor was noticeably different from the other three; his face was calm and serene, and he carried a weapon, indicating that he was an esper.

The staff on stage also noticed Ji Xinghuo's unusual demeanor.

"Are you also an esper?" Shi Renzhong asked, as one of the other three audience members was also an esper, albeit a novice one.

Ji Xinghuo nodded.

"Even better," Shi Renzhong said. "Our team has three espers now, so our overall strength is stronger. Everyone, just follow my lead in the virtual arena, and I'll make sure we win this and get you that bonus."

"Yes, we'll follow the Martial King's lead," the other three eagerly agreed.

A staff member in charge of the on-stage performances spoke up, "Please step into the virtual login pods, everyone. The match is about to begin."

As the spirit realm worlds were costly to activate, the exhibition matches used the virtual platform instead.

The three audience members quickly lay down in the virtual pods.

Ji Xinghuo walked over to his pod, and as he was about to lie down, he suddenly pulled out a hammer hidden under his jacket and shot at a staff member standing a few meters away.

Bang! The staff member's head exploded instantly.

This unexpected turn of events caused the audience in the stadium to scream, and the billions watching the live broadcast were left stunned, unable to process what had just happened.

But the next moment, something even more shocking occurred.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end