https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-181-Instant-Fame-Spreads-Like-Wildfire/12550897/
Chapter 180: The Eclipse Variant
Chapter 180: The Eclipse Variant
The Eclipse Variant!
Ji Xinghuo's heart trembled at the revelation. He never expected Zhao Manying to divulge such a significant secret.
The variant ranking system was universal across the Star Realm and the entire Milky Way Galaxy. The ADC had merely copied it from the Star Realm, changing only its name.
Basic, Quality, Excellent, and Superlimit.
These four levels were the variants that the majority of variants could attain. The next level was the Stellar Fall.
The emergence of a Stellar Fall variant would cause a celestial phenomenon, something Ji Xinghuo had already witnessed when he shared "Dimensional Stomach" with Qinghong.
Above Stellar Fall were two even higher variant levels: Eclipse and Cosmos Brilliance!
Similar to a Stellar Fall variant, the appearance of an Eclipse variant would also cause a celestial phenomenon in the Star Realm, but on a larger scale. The sky over an area of at least hundreds of thousands of square kilometers would suddenly darken as if a solar eclipse were taking place, hence the name "Eclipse."
Stellar Fall variants were already incredibly powerful and had never appeared on the trading market. Possessing just one Stellar Fall variant could grant a variant immense potential.
Ji Xinghuo couldn't even begin to imagine how terrifying an Eclipse variant would be.
In his understanding, there had only been rumors of Eclipse variants in Earth's history, but no one had ever publicly declared possession of Eclipse abilities.
Out of the 49 Heavenly Kings globally, only two or three were suspected of having Eclipse abilities, but these suspicions were never confirmed.
A single Eclipse variant was enough to drive people mad.
It was no surprise that the Quartz Group had targeted Zhao Manying's father.
"Take care."
Ji Xinghuo gently patted Zhao Manying's back. "You joined the Emperor Star Club to get close to the Shi family and take revenge for your uncle?"
"Mhm," Zhao Manying nodded.
Ji Xinghuo admired her courage and patience. "Did Shi Hongyi know about your vendetta against him?"
"He thought he'd covered his tracks perfectly and kept me in the dark the entire time," Zhao Manying replied.
"Are you sure?" Ji Xinghuo asked again.
Putting himself in Shi Hongyi's shoes, if he had killed someone and that person's daughter then joined a league club under his company, he would definitely be on guard.
No matter how confident he was, he would still investigate her to ensure she had no means of taking revenge.
Given Zhao Manying's displayed talent and strength, if she were allowed to grow and eventually learned the truth, the consequences would be endless.
He would have to eradicate the threat at its root!
A hint of doubt crossed Zhao Manying's face. "Shiren Zhong definitely doesn't know, and as for Shi Hongyi... I've had very little contact with him, so I can't be completely sure."
"What you're doing is too dangerous," Ji Xinghuo shook his head.
"I know," Zhao Manying said firmly, her eyes resolute. "I've always lived alone, and I've prepared a backup plan long ago. Moreover, my current fame and honors are my protective talismans. Even if Shi Hongyi wants to harm me, he has to consider the consequences."
However, Ji Xinghuo wasn't entirely convinced.
As one of the Heavenly Kings, Shi Hongyi was incredibly powerful and the richest man in the country. The resources and influence at his disposal were beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Zhao Manying, on the other hand, had chosen to get close to him for revenge. If Shi Hongyi had the slightest inkling of her intentions, it would spell her doom.
If he were in her shoes, he would have chosen a safer path to vengeance. He would have ventured into the Star Realm, gaining sufficient strength before returning to exact his revenge.
Zhao Manying seemed to read his thoughts.
"I can't abandon my mom and brother," she said softly. "I'm the only one who knows the truth. If I had left Earth back then, Shi Hongyi would have immediately guessed my father's backup plan. I was only sixteen at the time, just an ordinary person, and my chances of survival in the Star Realm would have been slim."
"You've thought this through," Ji Xinghuo said, understanding dawning on him, along with a twinge of heartache.
This young woman had shouldered such heavy responsibilities and harbored such deep hatred at such a young age—she was only sixteen then. Not only had she grown strong, climbing to the top of the Celestial Ladder and becoming powerful in her own right, but she had also gotten close to her enemy, taking solid steps toward her revenge.
However, it was like dancing on a tightrope—one wrong step, and she would perish.
Zhao Manying suddenly asked, "Aren't you going to ask me where the Eclipse variant is?"
"Why would I ask?" Ji Xinghuo smiled calmly.
The Eclipse variant held immense allure for others, driving them to madness and even causing them to forsake their families, wealth, love, and everything else in pursuit of obtaining it.
But for him, it wasn't that important.
He already possessed the Myriad Images Star Pupil, which was far more precious and powerful than ten Eclipse variants. Even if he didn't have the Myriad Images Star Pupil, he would still stand firm on his principles and morals.
"I could tell early on that you're different from others," Zhao Manying said, hugging Ji Xinghuo's neck and snuggling close to him. "You're a truly good person. You're emotionally stable, honest, and although you usually act like a block of wood, lacking in romantic gestures and unable to cheer people up, other women might find you boring, but I like you. You're strong and handsome, which is why I wanted to be your girlfriend, and now I'm telling you this secret."
"Am I that great?" Ji Xinghuo blushed, then laughed. "Maybe I'm just pretending."
But Zhao Manying shook her head confidently. "You're not pretending.
"It's here." Zhao Manying raised her right hand and pointed to her forehead.
"You've fused with the variant?" Ji Xinghuo was stunned for a moment before realizing what she meant, feeling surprised. He had assumed the variant had fallen into Shi Hongyi's hands.
"This variant is something my father obtained in the Star Realm after more than a decade of effort. He invested a lot of energy and resources, and even risked his life several times. It was his personal war trophy and had nothing to do with the Quartz Group," Zhao Manying explained slowly. "But just before he obtained it, he was tracked by company personnel who reported back to Shi Hongyi. My father managed to get hold of the variant first and asked someone to deliver it along with his will into my hands."
Ji Xinghuo listened with relief.
"I was afraid Shi Hongyi would find out, so I fused with the variant as soon as possible," Zhao Manying said, looking into Ji Xinghuo's eyes. "This ability is called 'Quantum Intellect'."
"It gives my brain capabilities similar to a quantum computer. All my senses are enhanced and extended, and I can perform precise calculations, allowing me to control every aspect of my body. No matter what I do, I have more than a hundred times the efficiency, and it assists me in cultivation, martial arts, and variant training," she continued.
"In battle, Quantum Intellect can also control and calculate information, allowing me to make the most correct choice in the shortest time possible."
Zhao Manying withheld nothing as she explained the ability's effects.
Ji Xinghuo listened with his mouth agape.
No wonder it was an Eclipse variant; it sounded even more powerful and comprehensive than his "Microscopic Perception."
Indeed, when they had sparred earlier, he had felt that she never made mistakes in battle, like an emotionless humanoid machine, precise beyond compare, and her emotions never seemed to fluctuate.
So her brain really was like a computer!
The applications of Quantum Intellect in martial arts, cultivation, and combat, as well as its ability to enhance thinking speed, gather information, and control emotions, were simply too formidable.
"No wonder your talent is so strong!" Ji Xinghuo couldn't help but exclaim.
"I was already very strong to begin with," Zhao Manying said proudly, lifting her head. "Even without Quantum Intellect, I wouldn't be far behind. Of course, I definitely can't compare to you, a monster. Before I met you, I never thought about challenging someone of the same rank or even a lower rank in a one-on-one fight; I would lose."
At this point, she fixed her gaze on Ji Xinghuo. "Are you really from Earth?"
"Of course," Ji Xinghuo replied.
He knew what Zhao Manying truly wanted to ask—if he had some secret—but he didn't want to tell anyone about it for the time being.
Zhao Manying didn't press further and continued, "The place where my father obtained Quantum Intellect hides even more secrets. According to his speculation, there must be other variants there. Shi Hongyi has been secretly searching for that place over the years, and this may also be one of the reasons he hasn't made a move against me."
"That place?" Ji Xinghuo was intrigued.
"I can't explain it clearly either," Zhao Manying said with a troubled expression. "My father's will included a set of coordinates, but I've never been to the Star Realm, so I guess it's within the territory of the True Dragon Dynasty, and it's quite far away."
Ji Xinghuo nodded.
"I'll definitely go explore it in the future. Do you want to come with me?" Zhao Manying asked. "You have more adventure experience in the Star Realm than I do, and you're the only one I can trust."
"Okay," Ji Xinghuo agreed.
A place where one could obtain an Eclipse variant was very likely to be extremely dangerous. Whether it was out of concern for Zhao Manying or the potential for huge gains, he felt he should accompany her on this journey.
Since it was a matter for the future, the two made a pact and didn't bring it up again.
"Why did you expose our relationship earlier?" Ji Xinghuo finally asked.
"To create an opportunity for you to get closer to Shi Renzhong," Zhao Manying replied.
"You thought the same as me," Ji Xinghuo laughed. "But the cost is a bit high; my identity will be hard to conceal now."
"After such a big incident today, they will definitely investigate and find out about you," Zhao Manying said with a hint of apology in her eyes. "I should have been more careful. I should have just bought regular tickets instead of using the club's internal tickets. That way, you wouldn't have been targeted for assassination or had your identity exposed."
"It's fine," Ji Xinghuo assured her, knowing she hadn't done it on purpose.
Although this wasn't according to his plan, the early exposure might bring some trouble, but it wasn't a big deal.
"You're so nice!" Zhao Manying couldn't help but lean in closer.
"Umm..."
After that, the two didn't talk much more. Zhao Manying parted ways with Ji Xinghuo and returned to the club's training ground to join the team's post-match review.
Ji Xinghuo stayed in the stadium to collect clues, but he didn't find anything useful.
More than an hour later, the Swordmasters of the Sword Bureau withdrew from the Tianqin Stadium, handing the scene over to the Ministry of Security.
The subsequent investigation was led by the Intelligence Division, involving interrogations, identity screenings, reviewing surveillance footage, data retrieval, and tracing the origins of those androids—there was a lot of work to be done, and it would take time, so Ji Xinghuo couldn't be of much help.
He waited for Zhao Manying in the stadium's parking lot, browsing his phone, and that was when he discovered that information about them had already exploded online.
To be precise, his identity had been exposed!
(End of Chapter)
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