Chapter 317 - Soaring to Success

Chapter 317 - Soaring to Success

Ji Xinghuo casually browsed through various platforms and found that his name was trending across social media, video sites, and forums alike. News channels and live streams were flooded with mentions of his name, and the entire global network was in an uproar.

His social media account witnessed an influx of followers, with the numbers surging exponentially. Each refresh brought millions of new followers, and his phone buzzed incessantly with notifications and incoming calls.

"This is crazy..." Ji Xinghuo muttered, ultimately switching off his phone in resignation.

Liang Qiufeiyan, engrossed in her phone screen, exclaimed, "Third brother, you've surpassed three hundred million followers! If only I had this many followers, I could definitely become a top global influencer."

"Silly girl," her eldest sister, Ye Dongyun, chuckled. "If you had Third Brother's abilities, you wouldn't even need to be an influencer."

"Yeah..." Liang Qiufeiyan's face was filled with envy.

Mingming piped up, "Xinghuo, a lot of people are trying to contact you. Won't you reply to them?"

"No need," Ji Xinghuo replied nonchalantly. "Let's pull up the video from the ADC's website again. I want to watch it one more time."

"Okay," Ming agreed.

He projected the video, displaying it on a large screen.

Ji Xinghuo watched intently. The video was exactly one minute long and seemed to be carefully edited.

The first ten seconds showed him at the Bhopal Star Gate Fortress, dodging 'Elephant Master' Nalaj Singh's spear and braving machine gun fire. He accelerated to supersonic speed in an instant.

The camera angles switched rapidly, capturing Ji Xinghuo's flight through multiple defense barriers and his exit from the fortress just as the gates were closing.

The subsequent scenes changed even more frequently.

First, above Bhopal City, a figure flashed by at an astonishing speed, creating a loud sonic boom.

From various angles and distances, the camera conveyed the incredible speed of this person in flight.

Then, the scene shifted to the wilderness.

Some of the footage was evidently captured by satellites, resulting in a decrease in clarity. From high above, a shadow darted across the ground at incredible speed.

One particular shot included a speedometer.

With a thunderous roar, the figure in the video sped by.

Ji Xinghuo only appeared in a single frame, and when paused, the speedometer showed a velocity of 703 meters per second, exceeding 2 Mach, which translated to a staggering 2,530 kilometers per hour!

The latter half of the video was even more astonishing. It depicted the figure shooting down hypersonic missiles, evading orbital laser cannons, using a bow and arrow to bring down a formation of fighter jets, and finally, successfully soaring over the Himalayas to land on Mount Everest's peak.

In just one minute, the video encapsulated a breathtaking series of events.

It felt like a movie crafted with special effects, yet this wasn't fiction—it had all truly happened.

The living room fell silent as the siblings watched, even though they had already seen this video during their journey home. However, their previous viewing had been less focused, and the impact of watching it on a large projected screen was undeniably more intense.

"Third brother, is that really you?" Ye Dongyun's voice quivered slightly.

The person in the video had their face blurred, concealing their identity.

"It's me," Ji Xinghuo confirmed with a nod.

However, his attention was focused on another aspect.

The video was clearly a compilation of footage from multiple sources, some taken from close proximity and others from a distance, resulting in varying levels of clarity. There was even satellite tracking footage, and the final few seconds were from the perspective of an aircraft from the Hindi Kingdom.

Only the Hindi Kingdom's official channels would have access to such a diverse collection of video recordings.

Most likely, it was their intelligence department that had gathered this footage to analyze Ji Xinghuo's capabilities.

The release of this video dealt a severe blow to the reputation of the Hindi Kingdom, and they certainly wouldn't have wanted it publicized. Moreover, the leak of information by their intelligence department constituted a serious dereliction of duty.

That meant some other force was responsible for the leak.

There were limited entities capable of obtaining this video material from the Hindi Kingdom's intelligence department within a single day.

Ji Xinghuo's first suspicion fell on the Asia-Pacific Community, but if the Sharp Sword Bureau had been involved, the director would have informed him.

The next likely candidate was the Qingyuan Association.

And lastly, it could have come from an internal source within the ADC itself.

Regardless of the source, the intentions behind the leak were undoubtedly malicious, as it exposed his true strength.

Now, the entire world knew that he could fly at speeds exceeding 2 Mach and execute those bizarre turning maneuvers. In future battles, his opponents would be prepared, and he had lost an ace up his sleeve.

While the overall impact wasn't significant, it still left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Ji Xinghuo turned on his phone and made a quick call to Li Hui, speaking quietly before ending the call. It wasn't the Sharp Sword Bureau.

"What's wrong, Third Brother?" Wang Zizheng asked.

"Nothing," Ji Xinghuo shook his head and laughed, offering a half-truth as an explanation. "This video leak is also a security breach, so I need to report it to the Sharp Sword Bureau's leadership."

Knowing that Ji Xinghuo was a swordsman involved in confidential matters, his siblings didn't press the issue further.

Meanwhile, Ming continued to replay the video, watching it over and over.

As he witnessed Ji Xinghuo's flight on the screen, he couldn't help but exclaim, "It's so cool to be able to fly, and at such incredible speeds! Xinghuo, what rank are you now?"

"Yeah, Third Brother!" Liang Qiufeiyan chimed in, her curiosity piqued. "The internet is going crazy with speculation."

If one ascends to Legend, they are automatically removed from the ladder and will only appear on the Legend rankings if they reach the top 1,000.

Ji Xinghuo replied, "I'm a Superhuman; they got it right."

A chorus of exclamations filled the living room.

"Damn!" Ming exclaimed, his eyes wide, "Superhumans can go head-to-head with Kings! That's just too insane! There's never been a Superhuman like you before; no wonder ADC called you the best below the Kings."

Ming had diligently trained over the past year, never daring to slack off, but he was still a little shy of advancing to Advanced Human.

Meanwhile, Ji Xinghuo had already become one of the top powerhouses in the world.

The two of them had grown up together, and their talents had been comparable back then. Now, the gap between them was so vast that it left Ming in despair.

Suddenly, Wang Zizheng asked, "Third Brother, do you have a grudge against ADC?"

Ji Xinghuo glanced at him.

"Huh?" Liang Qiufeiyan was puzzled. "Third Brother rightfully earned the top spot on the ladder, and together with Man Ying, you're the first couple to achieve this feat, becoming famous worldwide. Isn't this a good thing?"

"Don't you see they're trying to kill him with praise?" Wang Zizheng gave her a you're-so-naive look.

Liang Qiufeiyan furrowed her brows. "If you know something, spit it out!"

"The problem lies in that phrase, 'the best below the Kings,'" Wang Zizheng analyzed. "That phrase is used to describe the first place on the Legend rankings, and now they've applied it to Third Brother. How do you think the Legend-ranked Humans feel about that?"

"There are 500 people on the Legend rankings, and each one of them is a genius among geniuses."

"Especially the top 100 on the Legend rankings; they all have a chance to advance to King. The age range is quite wide, encompassing nearly two centuries since the Star Gates opened, gathering the very best genius Humans from around the globe."

"With that one comment from ADC, they've essentially dismissed all of them."

"A Superhuman is trampling on the heads of all the Legends; do you think those Legend-ranked powerhouses will be happy about that?"

"I'm sure that many Legend-ranked powerhouses will challenge Third Brother in the future."

Wang Zizheng's analysis made sense.

Ji Xinghuo was a little surprised, as he had just been reminded of the same thing by Li Hui during their phone call earlier.

Concern filled the eyes of Zhong Ming and Ye Dongyun.

However, Liang Qiufeiyan remained fearless. "If Third Brother defeats all those Legends, he'll solidify his place as the best below the Kings, right?"

"Uh..." Wang Zizheng's face was filled with astonishment, but he had to admit, "That does make sense."

"What do you mean 'that does make sense'?!" Liang Qiufeiyan huffed. "Of course, it makes sense. Don't you have confidence in Third Brother's strength?"

"Of course, I do..." Wang Zizheng explained.

The two of them started bickering as usual.

"Enough about me," Ji Xinghuo interrupted their quarrel with a smile. "It's been exactly a year since I left last time. Eldest Sister, Zizheng, and Feiyan, how has your training been going?"

In fact, even before his family entered the room, he had already grasped their situation.

All three of them were still ordinary humans.

However, there were obvious signs of training on their bodies, and their physiques, complexions, and spirits were much better than a year ago.

Liang Qiufeiyan eagerly answered, "Eldest Sister passed the physical assessment two months ago but didn't purchase any exotic fusions."

"Why?"

Ji Xinghuo looked at his eldest sister, happy for her.

Ye Dongyun had failed a fusion once before, but the foundation was still there. With the help of the professional coaches he had hired for her, along with medicinal assistance, she had successfully rehabilitated in less than a year, so it was normal for her to pass the assessment.

"I wanted to wait for you to come back so you could give me some advice on choosing a professional template," Ye Dongyun said, as it was clear she had thought about it for a long time. "I've endured for so many years, so a few more months won't make a difference."

"Alright," Ji Xinghuo readily agreed. "Eldest Sister, do you have any preferences?"

Her previous failed fusion had been at the age of 21, and six years had passed since then. At that time, she had chosen "White Knight," with the core exotic ability being "Life Infusion," which could consume starlight to heal injuries and ailments. The subsequent exotic fusions augmented her own life force and recovery, giving her tremendous endurance.

For the second fusion, the Starry Sky Department wouldn't provide exotics, so she would have to purchase them herself, although the country would provide low-interest loans.

Ye Dongyun said, "This time, I want to try Plant Shaman."

"It looks like Eldest Sister doesn't like direct combat and prefers supporting her teammates," Ji Xinghuo smiled.

"My martial arts talent is too poor; I have no choice," Ye Dongyun sighed.

Ji Xinghuo nodded.

"Plant Shaman has great potential and is very versatile. As long as you can collect and cultivate enough plants, you can achieve tremendous results." He had personally experienced the power of a Plant Shaman, so he was well aware of their capabilities.

Moreover, he could ask Ren Jie for advice on Plant Shaman experiences and obtain various powerful plant samples from her.

In addition, there was also the Abyssal Planet.

Countless plants grew on this planet, not far from Olympia. Plant Shamans in the surrounding areas could benefit greatly if they could enter the Abyssal Planet.

He also had a batch of exotics obtained from the Abyssal Planet.

Among them was the "Heart of Flora," as well as multiple avatar-type exotics, which could be transformed into monsters for combat by a Plant Shaman.

"Buy all the Plant Shaman exotics at once. Don't worry about the cost," Ji Xinghuo said.

The Plant Shaman profession template abilities weren't considered rare, and they could all be purchased directly.

He opened his phone and transferred 2 billion Asia Dollars to his eldest sister.

Ye Dongyun received the bank notification and stared at the long string of digits in her account, stunned as if she had been struck by lightning. She sat there, frozen.

Liang Qiufeiyan leaned over to take a look and exclaimed, "Two billion!"

The whole family was dumbfounded.

"It's just a small amount," Ji Xinghuo said with a smile. "I just received a sum of money that I have no use for, so let's consider it our family's cultivation fund. These two billion Asia Dollars are for Big Sis to manage. Any expenses related to cultivation can be reimbursed from this fund."

The siblings looked at each other in surprise.

Ye Dongyun hesitated and asked, "Isn't this too much?"

"Not at all," Ji Xinghuo shook his head. "Big Sis, you'll soon realize that this amount is barely enough for the four of you to cultivate to Superhumans. If you want to break into the Legend realm or reach the peak of the Superhuman level, this fund won't be sufficient."

If the 2 billion was divided among the four of them, even with efficient use, it would be challenging to attain top-tier strength among Superhumans. At best, they would achieve above-average power.

Moreover, many resources couldn't be bought with money.

"Does it cost that much to become an exotic?" Wang Zizheng exclaimed. "A few hundred million is already an astronomical sum to me."

Ji Xinghuo nodded. "It's a worthwhile investment to exchange money for strength. Spending is fast, but earning is faster."

"Then I'll gladly accept it," Ye Dongyun said solemnly.

"Let me know when you've used up this money," Ji Xinghuo smiled and then opened the box in front of him. He took out a palm-sized tree heart and handed it to Ye Dongyun. "This exotic is for you, Big Sis. I think you'll like it."

Ye Dongyun looked at the wooden tree heart in her hand and asked curiously, "What exotic is this?"

"Heart of Flora," Ji Xinghuo replied.

The siblings immediately searched for information about the Heart of Flora and were surprised to find that it was a Superlimit exotic!

Ye Dongyun finished reading the information and was delighted.

The Heart of Flora allowed an exotic to communicate with the surrounding plants, granting them a wide range of perception abilities. It could also enhance the efficiency of cultivating plants, strengthen their physique, and absorb the vitality of plants to heal injuries.

This exotic was very rare and perfectly suited for a Plant Shaman. Money couldn't buy it!

"Thank you, Third Brother," Ye Dongyun said, deeply touched.

"We're family, no need for formalities," Ji Xinghuo shook his head.

His eldest sister had taken good care of him and his younger siblings since they were young. Although she was only one year older, she was almost like a second parent to them. Now that he had the ability, he was determined to help her embark on the path of evolution.

"Here are two more things for you, Big Sis," Ji Xinghuo took out a Qingkong Guo and a Chidi Blood Crystal from the box.

"This is the Qingkong Guo. You can use it as soon as you become an exotic. It will give you an extra chance to fuse with an exotic. The Chidi Blood Crystal is also an expansion artifact, but it's risky to use, so it's best to wait until you're an Advanced exotic."

"Also, Big Sis, order a Life Spirit Seed, an Amber Cat's Eye, and a Red Cinnabar now.

"Use the family fund to pay for these three expansion artifacts."

Ji Xinghuo had thought of everything and made the arrangements.

Ye Dongyun held the three items, overwhelmed with happiness. She was so touched that she didn't know what to say, and her eyes glistened with tears.

"Third Brother," she said softly.

Ji Xinghuo smiled at her, conveying everything without words.

"This is too awesome!" Zhong Ming exclaimed as he looked at the Qingkong Guo and Chidi Blood Crystal. "Big Sis will have five abilities as a novice exotic with her profession template complete. She'll be better than 99% of exotics!"

Only then did Wang Zizheng and Liang Qiufeiyan realize that their eldest sister was about to soar!

"And here's something for you, Second Brother," Ji Xinghuo said as he took out a Chidi Blood Crystal, a Qingkong Guo, a Chanling Egg, and five exotics, placing them in front of Zhong Ming.

Zhong Ming looked at the items on the table, his expression filled with excitement and joy.

"The Chanling Egg is a very rare expansion artifact. I only have one left, so I'll give it to you, Second Brother," Ji Xinghuo explained. "When Big Sis buys the Red Cinnabar, she can get one for you, too."

Ye Dongyun immediately nodded. "Okay."

The other two expansion artifacts that could be purchased, Zhong Ming had already used. All that was left was the most expensive one, the Red Cinnabar, which cost 5.5 million Asia Dollars.

It took a few seconds for Zhong Ming to snap out of his daze, and he let out a long breath.

"Thank you!"

He hugged Ji Xinghuo, then picked up the exotics and smiled. "Xinghuo, you've even prepared the exotics for me."

"Flight, Blood Burning, Life Revival, Micro-Perception, and Limb Regeneration," Ji Xinghuo listed the abilities of the exotics.

Zhong Ming listened, dumbfounded.

All five were Superlimit exotics, and they suited him perfectly, especially Flight, which was an ability he had always dreamed of.

"This..."

Zhong Ming was stupefied for a long moment before shaking his head and sighing, "I was just thinking about whether you had come across some fortuitous encounter, and why I hadn't. Now I realize that you, Xinghuo, are my fortuitous encounter."

"Hahaha..." Ji Xinghuo laughed, "Second Brother, you have high aptitude, but you lack opportunities and resources. I'll probably be leaving Earth quite often in the future, so it's up to you to hold down the fort here."

"I understand, I will!" Zhong Ming said solemnly.

"Keep it up!"

Ji Xinghuo patted him on the shoulder.

"Third Brother, what about me? Did you prepare anything for me?" Liang Qiufeiyan asked excitedly. "Do you have anything for me?"

Wang Zizheng was also full of anticipation.

In their eyes, the shoebox on the table was like a treasure chest, containing rare and precious items.

Ji Xinghuo spread his hands, "As long as you pass the experience test, I'll give you all these expansion artifacts and exotics." Then he looked at Wang Zizheng, "The same goes for you, Zizheng."

It would be a waste to give them resources if they weren't Exotics.

The welfare benefits of the Asia-Pacific Community were excellent, and they didn't have to worry about food or clothing. They had also received 100 million before, so they weren't lacking in money.

"I'll definitely work hard! Give me another year, and I'll definitely pass the physical test," Wang Zizheng said firmly.

Ji Xinghuo nodded, "What about you, Fei Fei?"

The one who had made the least progress among the siblings was Liang Qiufeiyan. She had poor willpower, couldn't stay focused, and disliked hard work. Even with her eldest sister supervising her training, she often slacked off.

Ji Xinghuo deliberately goaded her, "In the future, when Eldest Sister and Zizheng become Exotics, you'll be the only one in the family who isn't. Don't come crying to me then."

Liang Qiufeiyan clenched her fists, "Don't underestimate me, Third Brother. Just you wait and see."

"Then I'll wait and see."

After distributing the resources, Ji Xinghuo sat on the sofa with his family and chatted.

He shared his experiences and encounters in the Starry Sky, and his siblings talked about some interesting events in their lives. They drank beverages, ate snacks, and filled the living room with laughter and cheerful voices.

From time to time, they refreshed their phones to check the online comments, sharing the funny ones with each other.

Soon after, Zhao Manying walked out of the cultivation room.

Ji Xinghuo turned to look at her, knowing that she had used the expansion artifact and successfully fused the True Sight.

The two exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them.

Liang Qiufeiyan happily said, "Sister Manying, you're out! Come and look at the comments. Everyone online is praising you for having the foresight to choose Third Brother as your boyfriend when he wasn't famous yet."

"Of course," Zhao Manying smiled lightly and greeted everyone familiarly before sitting down next to Ji Xinghuo.

However, when she saw the content on the screen, her expression turned surprised, "Xinghuo, you're ranked first on the ladder?"

"It's just a random ranking by ADC," Ji Xinghuo smiled.

"They didn't rank it randomly. I think it's quite accurate," Zhao Manying said without any hint of disappointment at losing her title as the first on the ladder. "A year and a half ago, I lost to you. Back then, you were already the first on the ladder, and now you're just reclaiming your rightful place."

"Is that so?" Wang Zizheng exclaimed in surprise.

Everyone else wore the expressions of curious onlookers as Zhao Manying casually recounted her battle with Ji Xinghuo on Mount Hua a year and a half ago.

"So that's how you two met, Third Brother. You've kept it a secret all this time!" Liang Qiufeiyan said.

Ji Xinghuo shrugged, "Don't tell anyone about it."

"We won't!"

Liang Qiufeiyan laughed, "Oh, by the way, a lot of people are curious about what you look like now, Third Brother."

At the moment, all the trending searches online were dominated by Ji Xinghuo.

The top ten trending topics were all related to him, with the hottest one being "First on the Ladder," followed by "Ji Xinghuo's Appearance," and then "They say Ji Xinghuo is a handsome guy," among others.

Several topics discussed Ji Xinghuo's looks.

Although his classmates and friends, as well as some people who had seen him in person, claimed that Ji Xinghuo was handsome, many others were skeptical and questioned why he was protecting his privacy and still refused to make his photos public.

Not daring to reveal his appearance meant he must be ugly.

Ye Dongyun asked, "Xinghuo, do you want to make your photo public?"

"No," Ji Xinghuo immediately shook his head. "I don't want to be recognized wherever I go. It's fine like this."

Wang Zizheng said, "As your fame and status grow, you'll eventually have to make it public."

"Let's cross that bridge when we come to it. I'll hold on to my privacy for as long as I can," Ji Xinghuo replied, not wanting the troubles that came with being a celebrity.

He wasn't a star, nor was he a competitive Exotic, and he didn't even consider himself a public figure.

He didn't have to care about online public opinion at all.

Let them say what they wanted.

Ji Xinghuo pushed these thoughts aside and continued to enjoy the happy chatter with his family late into the night. Eventually, his siblings returned to their respective homes, leaving only Zhao Manying to stay with him for the night.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end