Chapter 321: I Want It All
Chapter 321: I Want It All
Ji Xinghuo and Zhuoligetu were both stunned.
"How shameless! Chi Zhonglin, you are also among the top thousand cultivators on the Celestial Ladder, yet you have no spine." Zhuoligetu said with contempt, turning to Ji Xinghuo. "Brother Xinghuo, how about considering me instead?"
He stood up, displaying his sturdy build, reminiscent of a bear.
"I'm strong, resilient, and can even heal others. I'm an all-rounder," Zhuoligetu boasted enthusiastically. "Plus, I've been in the Starry Realm for over a decade, so I have ample combat experience and follow orders obediently. If you tell me to go east, I will never go west..."
Chi Zhonglin interjected loudly, "You, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, are also so shameless, trying to take my spot!"
"I'm looking for a job; what do you know about it," Zhuoligetu retorted immediately.
The two men bickered, seemingly on the verge of a physical altercation.
Ji Xinghuo watched them exchange insults, at a loss for words. As their argument escalated, he spoke up, "I'm not looking to form a team for now."
The private room fell silent instantly.
"Huh?"
Chi Zhonglin was taken aback, according to his understanding, since Ren Jie had disbanded their team, Ji Xinghuo's approach was a perfect opportunity to form a new one.
After all, most foreigners in the Starry Realm needed companions for their adventures.
"Are you going solo?" Chi Zhonglin asked.
"Something like that, but not permanently," Ji Xinghuo's response gave Chi Zhonglin a glimmer of hope, which soon turned to disappointment. "I'm not interested in forming a fixed team. When I need help, I'll call you, but the likelihood of that happening is low, as you know my current strength..."
Chi Zhonglin finally understood and cursed, "Damn, after all that, you think we're not good enough."
Over the past year, he had been challenging others relentlessly, building a reputation, and finally climbing the Celestial Ladder to rank within the top thousand. His confidence had soared.
However, the gap between him and Ji Xinghuo was only widening.
"Self-awareness is a virtue," Zhuoligetu muttered. "You're only 865th on the Celestial Ladder, while Xinghuo is the first. He's the foremost cultivator beneath the Celestial King."
Chi Zhonglin retorted, "That's still higher than you. Anyone ranked outside the top thousand on the Celestial Ladder is a nobody!"
Zhuoligetu ranked 1,808th on the Celestial Ladder, a slight improvement from the previous year.
He brushed off the ridicule without a care.
Ji Xinghuo, however, frowned and said seriously, "Zhonglin, refrain from such remarks in the future. It's fine to joke among friends, but if word gets out, you'll face significant trouble."
"Alright," Chi Zhonglin shrugged and muttered, "Why are you so similar to Ren Jie..."
Ji Xinghuo didn't pursue the topic further.
As a friend, he had offered his advice, and if Chi Zhonglin chose not to listen, he had no obligation to interfere.
"Let's drink!" Zhuoligetu poured Ji Xinghuo a large glass of wine and smiled. "Brother Xinghuo, let's celebrate your achievement of becoming the top cultivator on the Celestial Ladder!"
"Thanks," Ji Xinghuo said.
He raised his glass and clinked it with theirs before downing the drink in one go.
After a few rounds, Chi Zhonglin began to feel restless.
"I'll call the ladies in. Xinghuo, this is your first time at this club. The women here are of exceptional quality, and their services are quite unique. You must give it a try. I'll treat you today..."
"I have something else to attend to, so I'll take my leave," Ji Xinghuo declined his invitation.
Drinking with friends was fine, but he had no intention of indulging in other pleasures.
Moreover, after spending the previous night with Zhao Manying, it wouldn't be appropriate to seek other company so soon.
"Don't be a killjoy..." Chi Zhonglin tried to persuade him further.
"I have plans with Manying tonight," Ji Xinghuo said, bringing up Zhao Manying. "If she finds out that you dragged me off to meet other women..."
Chi Zhonglin shrunk his neck.
He had met Zhao Manying and was well aware of her formidable strength. "Then go ahead. I don't want to be chased down by a Sword Immortal."
Ji Xinghuo smiled and left the club.
It was still early, and he had intended to find Jing Ji and Yuan Chongzhen to give them the promised ultra-limit exotic species. However, when he called, he discovered that they were not on Earth but still in the Starry Realm.
"Off to the Starry Realm Department," Ji Xinghuo set a new destination for his maglev car, and it sped off towards the capital administrative region.
The Starry Realm Department was the most powerful department within the Asia-Pacific Community, and this was evident from their office building. The department occupied an entire skyscraper of over a hundred stories, dwarfing other government buildings, even if it couldn't compare to the kilometer-high skyscrapers.
This building and the dozens of others surrounding it belonged to the Starry Realm Department, taking up a large part of the block.
Ji Xinghuo's maglev car glided smoothly into the parking lot without any obstacles.
As soon as he stepped out of the car, a sharp-looking female foreigner approached him with a friendly smile. "Mr. Ji, I'm Yan WenZhuo's secretary, Yu Lu. The minister is already waiting for you."
"Please lead the way, Secretary Yu," Ji Xinghuo nodded.
He had contacted Yan Wenzhuo on his way, and he now had the contact information of everyone who had been in the President's office last night.
"This way, please."
Yu Lu walked ahead, half a step in the lead.
Ji Xinghuo observed her from behind; she was a super foreigner, around forty-five years old, with unremarkable strength. Her figure was excellent, and her looks were only slightly above average, barely qualifying her as a beauty.
"This is the minister's private elevator," she said as she entered the elevator code. "It leads directly to the minister's office, and only the most esteemed guests and the minister himself are allowed to use it."
Ji Xinghuo understood the implication behind her words.
However, it was clear that she didn't know he and Yan Wenzhuo were already acquainted, making her words unnecessary.
The elevator swiftly reached the top floor, and under Yu Lu's guidance, Ji Xinghuo entered an office that wasn't overly spacious.
As soon as he pushed open the door, Yu Lu saw the minister standing before them.
"Minister Yan!"
She was surprised because, as the most powerful minister in the Asia-Pacific Community, Minister Yan would usually just stand up from behind his desk to greet visitors, even if they were other ministers.
There were no more than five people who could command such a solemn reception from Minister Yan.
"Secretary Yu, please leave us," Minister Yan nodded expressionlessly. "Block off everyone else and make sure we aren't disturbed."
"Yes, Minister," Yu Lu respectfully withdrew and closed the door.
Minister Yan immediately broke into a smile, offering his hand to Ji Xinghuo, "Welcome to the Starry Realm Department, Xinghuo."
"Minister Yan is too kind," Ji Xinghuo replied.
As he entered the office, Ji Xinghuo had been observing the minister. Minister Yan appeared to be a middle-aged man in his fifties, of medium build, with a dignified and refined appearance. He wore a pair of black-framed glasses, giving him an air of erudition that fit the stereotypical image of a high-ranking government official.
However, it went without saying that a person chosen and cultivated by the Head of State would be far from ordinary.
Minister Yan was a Legend Tier 2 cultivator. Like the Head of State, his initial profession was a Mind Hacker, but he later also cultivated as an Illusionary Sound Master, advancing to become a "Dreamweaver."
At 75 years old, Minister Yan ranked 18th on the Legend Ranking and had a good chance of breaking through to the Heavenly King realm in the future.
But beyond his strength, what truly drew the outside world's attention was his authority.
As the Minister of the Starry Realm Department, Minister Yan rarely displayed his abilities in public, and his unremarkable appearance often led people to overlook the fact that he was a Legend Tier 2 cultivator.
Ji Xinghuo, of course, would not underestimate him.
After they were seated, Minister Yan spoke directly, "The Head of State informed me yesterday that the Starry Realm Department will do its utmost to assist you. Any resources you desire that the Starry Realm Department possesses will be provided."
"Thank you, Minister Yan," Ji Xinghuo expressed his gratitude.
"There's no need to thank me," Minister Yan said seriously. "The resources the Starry Realm Department offers you come from the taxpayers. We take from the people, and we use it for the people. We utilize the fruits of their labor, and in return, we shoulder the responsibility to serve them to the best of our abilities."
Ji Xinghuo understood the underlying message.
When Minister Yan said "we," he was actually referring to "you."
"I will keep Minister Yan's teachings in mind," Ji Xinghuo replied earnestly.
"Good," Minister Yan's face lit up with satisfaction, and he resumed his smile, asking, "Xinghuo, what resources do you desire?"
Before Ji Xinghuo could answer, a file flew over from the minister's desk, and he said, "Here's a list of options I've prepared for you. Take a look."
Ji Xinghuo perused the contents of the file.
The options in the file were abundant, divided into over a dozen major categories.
Exotics, expansion curios, weapons and equipment, profession template analysis and planning, combat guidance, ability training and upgrades, coaching team, cultivation assistance, Starry Realm knowledge course, monster identification, Starry Realm exploration guide, and hunting course.
Each major category was further subdivided into smaller classifications.
For instance, under combat guidance, there were close combat and marksmanship, with close combat being divided into different weapon types such as knives, swords, spears, axes, hammers, and daggers, while marksmanship included bows and arrows, firearms, and throwing weapons.
For weapons and equipment, one could choose from the existing options in the 'Equipment Division' of the Starry Realm Department or have custom-made items, again with numerous subcategories.
There was also the Starry Realm knowledge course.
This was a comprehensive course that didn't involve combat but solely focused on imparting knowledge about the Starry Realm, including geography, languages, races, nations, cultures, star gods, planes, and secret realms.
Much of this knowledge was not publicly available, and one could only learn it within the Starry Realm Department.
Ji Xinghuo carefully went through the entire file.
It was undeniable that the resources and authority of the Starry Realm Department were truly immense, far beyond what any private organization or force on Earth could match. It was a manifestation of the state's centralized power, enough to drive countless Exotics wild with desire.
Minister Yan smiled and asked, "Well, what do you think? Which ones caught your eye?"
"All of them," Ji Xinghuo replied.
Aside from ability upgrades, coaching teams, and profession template analysis and planning—categories that might expose his secrets—he was interested in everything else on the list.
After all, Minister Yan had said that the Starry Realm Department would fulfill all his needs, and only a fool would make choices when given the option—he wanted it all!
12 points before there is another chapter, it's really hard to keep up with the timed updates...
(End of Chapter)
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