Chapter 326: The Streaming King

Chapter 326: The Streaming King

"The population structure of the True Dragon Dynasty is extremely complex. The True Dragons, as the highest ruling class, make up less than one in a hundred thousand. With such a small number, they rule over an extensive territory and a vast number of subjects. The key to their power lies in the dragons themselves, the strength they possess, and the lineage they bestow. Based on the breed and power of their dragon bloodline, a clear class system is established among the True Dragons..."

Ji Xinghuo wore a five-ton weighted exoskeleton and ran at a steady pace on the treadmill.

In an environment with five times the gravity, the weight on his body felt like twenty-five tons.

His speed wasn't exceptionally fast, hovering around ten meters per second. His strides were consistent, each step covering the same distance as if measured with a ruler.

Thud, thud, thud...

Amid the heavy and rhythmic footsteps, Ji Xinghuo didn't seem to be breathing at all.

He had entered an internal cycle, where his star gland released star power that circulated within his body, replacing oxygen as fuel for his physical exertions.

The treadmill's screen displayed that Ji Xinghuo had been running for ten minutes, and he was only slightly sweaty with a relaxed expression on his face.

His star power was rapidly depleting, and his stamina was being consumed.

Ji Xinghuo was adept at multitasking—focusing on maintaining his steady pace while bearing the weight and paying full attention to the lecture being delivered by the young teacher on the large screen in front of him. Despite being only in his thirties, the teacher was an expert in the knowledge of the Star Realm.

Today's lesson was on the "Feudal System of the True Dragon Dynasty."

From time to time, the teacher would pose questions, to which Ji Xinghuo would respond fluently, demonstrating his understanding and offering his own insights. Their discussion flowed naturally, and one would hardly guess that Ji Xinghuo was also undergoing rigorous training.

The teacher was already accustomed to Ji Xinghuo's exceptional performance.

Before long, Ji Xinghuo's star power reached its limit.

He removed the weighted exoskeleton and put on his five-piece cultivation set before entering the adjacent ether-gathering chamber. He lay down on the central recliner to begin his recovery process.

As he moved, the projection screen followed him, ensuring that the lesson continued uninterrupted.

Even during his star power recovery process, the lesson went on.

In less than half an hour, Ji Xinghuo's star power had recovered to its peak, and he immediately returned to the artificial gravity room. He increased the gravity multiplier and began performing bench presses with a twenty-ton barbell, executing each repetition with impeccable form, unaffected by the ongoing lecture.

He repeated this cycle, completing a cultivation period roughly every hour.

For over half a month, Ji Xinghuo had been coming to the Ether Research Institute daily, not only achieving a 100% attendance rate but also cultivating for at least fifteen hours a day.

Sometimes, when Zhao Manying left Chang'an to participate in away games, he wouldn't even go home, choosing to stay in the cultivation room for two straight days.

This intensely high-intensity cultivation regimen startled Ke Mingshan and the research personnel.

Ji Xinghuo's body seemed to know no fatigue.

Regardless of how long he cultivated the day before, he was always energetic and spirited the next day. What surprised them the most was Ji Xinghuo's perseverance. Cultivation could be monotonous and arduous, and even a Heavenly King needed to balance work and rest. Yet, Ji Xinghuo showed no signs of aversion to the grind.

Moreover, Ji Xinghuo cultivated while attending classes, his body enduring high-intensity physical activity while his brain operated at a high frequency.

Even the teachers giving Ji Xinghuo lessons struggled to keep up with his pace.

Fortunately, the Star Realm Department had arranged for five or six different teachers to take turns teaching various courses, preventing any issues from arising.

In just half a month, Ji Xinghuo earned a nickname at the Ether Research Institute—"Cultivation Machine."

He was like an unfeeling cultivation machine, needing neither food nor drink, only star power to function.

Ji Xinghuo didn't mind this nickname; instead, he embraced it.

[Star Power: 9635]



In a little over half a month, his star power had increased by more than a thousand points, faster than he had anticipated.

"I'm getting close," Ji Xinghuo silently calculated. "At this cultivation efficiency, I should be able to reach the upper limit of a super human's star power by October."

"It's June 16th now; I have three and a half months left."

He had only one goal in mind—to advance to the Legendary realm as soon as possible and then fuse with "Overload."

"Let's end here for today, Teacher Sun," Ji Xinghuo said to the teacher when the lesson concluded. "I have something else to attend to later, so I'll be leaving the Ether Research Institute earlier than usual."

Teacher Sun nodded, "Alright, then I'll see you in the next class."

After ending the online class, Ji Xinghuo lay in the ether-gathering chamber for about ten minutes. Once his star power was fully restored, he ended his cultivation for the day.

After freshening up, he stepped into the lounge outside the cultivation room.

The lounge was furnished with sofas and coffee tables, providing a resting area for the powerful beings who came to the Ether Research Institute to cultivate. Not everyone could cultivate nonstop like Ji Xinghuo; some needed to take short breaks in between, and this lounge had become an extremely secretive yet high-end gathering place.

After all, most of the powerful beings who could enter the Ether Research Institute were Legendaries, and there were even Heavenly Kings among them.

Any one of them was a prominent figure in the outside world.

However, there was an exception.

As soon as Ji Xinghuo entered the lounge, he spotted his second brother, Zhong Ming, sitting alone in a corner on one of the sofas. He listened quietly to the conversation between several Legendaries, looking like a newcomer who had accidentally stumbled into a gathering of big shots. He tried his best to minimize his presence, listening more and speaking less.

Even after spending half a month at the Ether Research Institute, Zhong Ming still felt a bit constrained whenever he sat in the lounge.

When he saw Ji Xinghuo, he felt relieved, as if he had just spotted a lifesaver, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhong Ming waved.

"Not yet," Zhong Ming replied. "I just finished my cultivation session not long ago."

Ji Xinghuo nodded slightly. Manying and his second brother were both competition anomalies, participating in at least one match every week and regularly attending club training sessions. As a result, they couldn't spend as much time at the Ether Research Institute as he did.

However, whenever they had free time, the three of them would come together.

The same was true for today, as it was the weekend, and Ji Xinghuo had made plans with his family to dine together after their cultivation session, inviting Zhao Manying to bring her younger brother along for a rare moment of relaxation.

"How's your cultivation progress, second brother?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

Mentioning cultivation lit up Zhong Ming's eyes, and he excitedly replied, "By the end of this month, at the latest, I'll trigger my evolution and advance to a high-level anomaly."

Ji Xinghuo was not surprised.

His second brother had always been exceptionally gifted. He became an anomaly at 19, advanced to a mid-level anomaly at 22, and now, at 26, he was about to become a high-level anomaly. At this age, he was considered a top genius.

Moreover, with Ji Xinghuo's help, Zhong Ming's evolution would only get faster, ensuring that he would advance to a super anomaly before turning 30.

Becoming a super anomaly before the age of 30 was an extremely prominent standard.

Those who achieved this feat were considered the world's top genius anomalies.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they would all ascend the Heavenly Ladder.

As for their ranking on the ladder, it would depend on their efforts and fortune. Based on Ji Xinghuo's understanding of his brother, a spot in the top 100 should be well within his reach; otherwise, he wouldn't have been scouted and signed by a club while still a primary anomaly.

For anomalies, resources were sometimes even more important than talent when it came to evolution.

Many young anomalies possessed extremely high talent, but due to a lack of resources and opportunities, they started from a position far behind their peers and ended up being buried and forgotten.

"Is advancing to a high-level anomaly really something to be that happy about..."

"Is the Ether Research Institute so short on funds these days that they let just about anyone in?"

Just as Ji Xinghuo was feeling happy for his brother, a few mocking voices rang out from the sofa in front of them, causing Zhong Ming's expression to turn awkward.

Ji Xinghuo's face darkened.

He turned to look at the three people, two of whom were Legendary powerhouses.

The third person had his back to him, but even from the silhouette, Ji Xinghuo recognized him as Li Xuan, the "Thousand Illusion Sword Hero" and currently the youngest Heavenly King on Earth.

This famous Heavenly King was easily recognizable, as he always carried two long swords with him wherever he went.

His attire was also distinctly ancient, featuring a straight-cut robe in shades of blue and green, combined with modern flowing lines. The exquisite craftsmanship and billowing sleeves complemented his high-bun hairstyle, giving him the appearance of a swordsman straight out of a mythical movie. His aura was extraordinary and left a lasting impression on anyone who laid eyes on him.

As a Heavenly King, Li Xuan possessed immense strength, and his ancient persona only added to his allure, winning the hearts of countless young men and women.

His fans were spread worldwide, and his popularity was through the roof.

Although Li Xuan ranked last among the Heavenly Kings, his influence and appeal far surpassed those of any internet celebrity or star. He had taken the social media industry to new heights.

Naturally, Li Xuan's income was also unimaginable to the average person.

The annual fee of 70 billion yuan for a Level 3 Ether Gathering Chamber was pocket change to him.

Not only did he come to cultivate himself, but he also made friends at the Ether Research Institute and paid their fees, forming deep bonds.

Ji Xinghuo had encountered these three individuals a few times before but had never interacted with them beyond a nod of acknowledgment.

Zhong Ming also recognized Li Xuan and subtly shook his head at Ji Xinghuo, whispering, "Xinghuo, let it go."

Of course, Ji Xinghuo wouldn't just let it slide.

He immediately stood up, and in that moment, the gazes of over a dozen people in the resting lounge turned towards him as he strode towards Li Xuan and his companions.

Li Xuan remained seated with his back to Ji Xinghuo, seemingly oblivious to his approach.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Ji Xinghuo stopped in front of Li Xuan and, ignoring the two Legendaries, said in a calm voice, "Keep your lackeys in line."

"What did you say?"

One of the Legendaries flew into a rage, leaping to his feet and glaring at Ji Xinghuo, his companion also wearing a displeased expression.

Ji Xinghuo ignored their threats; it was impossible for a fight to break out in the Ether Research Institute.

"They are my friends," Li Xuan said, still seated with his arms crossed. In a detached tone, he added, "Please learn some respect before speaking to me. Being first on the Heavenly Ladder doesn't make you the top Heavenly King. Your arrogance and disregard for others are unacceptable."

Ji Xinghuo looked directly into Li Xuan's eyes and suddenly smiled.

"We're not fools here," he said directly. "You're trying to leech off my online popularity and then step on me again, aren't you?"

Although Li Xuan was a Heavenly King, he was also an internet celebrity, and that was how he had built his fortune.

And what did internet celebrities crave the most?

Online traffic!

Traffic brought exposure, and exposure meant money—it was everything to an internet celebrity. Everyone knew who had the most online traffic globally.

Even after being at the top of the Heavenly Ladder for half a month, Ji Xinghuo's online popularity remained unabated.

Zhao Manying would occasionally showcase their loving relationship, sparking discussions.

Ji Xinghuo's social media account had already surpassed 2 billion followers, but he never posted any formal content or expressed any opinions. Anyone who visited his profile would only see that clown picture.

The author who owned the image's copyright was raking in enormous profits, earning millions of Asian dollars daily due to the massive traffic it generated.

Such immense traffic made countless people envious.

Numerous media companies and internet celebrities sought to get a piece of the pie, but they had no way of contacting Ji Xinghuo, and he had refused all attempts made through mutual friends.

Since others couldn't even get an audience with Ji Xinghuo, they were left clueless about how to proceed.

However, Li Xuan had a way to reach him.

Ji Xinghuo immediately guessed Li Xuan's intentions. Whether they clashed or became friends, as long as it created a buzz, Li Xuan would ride the wave of traffic that followed, benefiting from the attention.

The ideal scenario would be a duel between the two.

Li Xuan was a Heavenly King, and although Ji Xinghuo was first on the Heavenly Ladder, there was undoubtedly a gap in their strengths. Li Xuan wasn't afraid of losing face; he could also ruthlessly trample on Ji Xinghuo, using him as a stepping stone.

This topic would undoubtedly explode in popularity, sparking global interest.

Upon having his thoughts laid bare, Li Xuan's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. Finally, he stood up and extended his hand.

"I am Li Xuan. Pleased to meet you."

Ji Xinghuo did not reciprocate the handshake. Instead, he eyed Li Xuan for a few seconds before briefly shaking his hand and then letting go. "Ji Xinghuo."

The anger on the faces of the two Legendaries beside Li Xuan immediately vanished, as if nothing had happened, and their hostile stances seemed to have been an act.

The tense atmosphere dissipated abruptly.

Li Xuan glanced around and smiled. "I have a matter to discuss with Mr. Ji. May I invite you for a private conversation?"

"If you have something to say, just say it here." Ji Xinghuo wasn't going to play along.

Li Xuan's smile froze for a moment.

Just as he was about to speak again, a tall and graceful figure walked in, her exquisite and ethereal beauty illuminating the entire hall. Instantly, she captured the attention of everyone present, especially the men, who couldn't help but steal a few extra glances.

"Xinghuo, Mingge."

Zhao Manying approached Ji Xinghuo and was surprised to see him standing face-to-face with Li Xuan. "What are you two talking about?"

"Sword Saint!"

Li Xuan's eyes lit up, a hint of eagerness shining in their depths.

Ji Xinghuo noticed his expression and frowned inwardly, remembering something.

When Zhao Manying had first become famous, there were rumors online about a relationship between her and Li Xuan. One was the Thousand Illusion Sword Hero, and the other was the Sword Saint—a handsome and talented man paired with a beautiful and gifted woman. They seemed like a match made in heaven.

Friends and team members from Li Xuan's side also spread rumors that he was interested in the Sword Saint.

Of course, these were all one-sided speculations.

Zhao Manying had denied them early on, but Li Xuan had repeatedly mentioned this matter in his livestreams and videos, neither denying nor confirming, giving ambiguous hints and expressing his desire to collaborate with the Sword Saint and his willingness to guide her in swordsmanship.

There were even some fans online who shipped the two, though it was unclear if they were genuine fans or marketing trolls.

Zhao Manying never responded to any of it.

With nearly a thirty-year age gap between them, she had absolutely no interest in him.

This went on for over a year, and as the hype died down, people gradually stopped talking about it.

Ji Xinghuo hadn't known Zhao Manying back then, but he was aware of the rumors, and now, looking back, he realized that Li Xuan had been trying to ride on Zhao Manying's popularity.

This guy was a repeat offender.

Unaware of Ji Xinghuo's thoughts, Li Xuan flashed a charming smile and extended his hand. "I am Li Xuan. It's an honor to meet you, Ms. Zhao. I've admired you from afar for a long time."

On the previous occasions when Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying had come by, they hadn't run into Li Xuan.

Today was the first time, and it seemed he had come prepared.

Zhao Manying finally recalled who the man in front of her was, and her expression immediately turned cold. She did not shake his hand but merely nodded slightly. "Hello." Then, she turned and sat down on the sofa next to Zhong Ming, clearly indicating that she had no intention of conversing further.

Li Xuan awkwardly retracted his hand and turned back to Ji Xinghuo, issuing another invitation. "Mr. Ji, I would like to host a dinner for the four of us tonight. May I invite you all?"

"If there's something you want to say, just say it here."

Ji Xinghuo refused once more.

He genuinely disliked this person, and Zhao Manying seemed to share the same sentiment, preferring not to interact with Li Xuan any more than necessary.

Being rejected repeatedly left Li Xuan irritated, especially with other Legendaries watching. If word of this got out, he would lose face completely.

"Since you're so straightforward, I won't beat around the bush." Li Xuan finally revealed his intention. "I want to have a public duel with you, broadcast globally. Regardless of the outcome, we'll split the profits from the duel, 70% for me and 30% for you."

Ji Xinghuo realized that he had underestimated Li Xuan's shamelessness.

"You're a Heavenly King, and I'm a Super Anomaly." Ji Xinghuo shook his head. "There's a difference of two tiers between us. Are you sure you want to duel me?"

In reality, the gap between a Super Anomaly and a Heavenly King was far greater than just two tiers.

There were two segments within the Legendary tier.

The strength gap between each segment was significant, comparable to an evolution; however, the disparity between a Legendary and a Heavenly King was like an immense chasm, a nearly insurmountable obstacle that blocked the evolutionary path of nearly 4,000 Legendaries worldwide.

The first reaction of anyone who heard about a Heavenly King dueling a Super Anomaly was that the former was shameless.

"I've seen your video from the Hindi Kingdom. Your strength, while not at the Heavenly King level, is undoubtedly enough to rank within the top ten of the Legendaries. The title of 'First below the Heavenly King, ADC' may be a bit exaggerated, but it's not an overstatement."

As Li Xuan assessed Ji Xinghuo's strength, he goaded him, "You, the first on the Heavenly Ladder, wouldn't be afraid of a little lizard, would you?"

"Can you defeat me within five minutes?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

"I'm eighty percent sure," Li Xuan replied confidently, his face proud. "I was already the first on the Heavenly Ladder before you were even born."

Ji Xinghuo shook his head. "I'm quite busy lately with my cultivation."

"That's fine, I can wait," Li Xuan quickly replied. "As long as it's within this year." The hype would fade over time, so the sooner the better, and it shouldn't be delayed beyond next year, or they would lose a lot of online traffic.

Ji Xinghuo then asked, "How much revenue are we talking about?"

"It depends on the situation. If it's well-managed and we get enough sponsorship and likes, it should bring in at least 30 billion, maybe even up to 50 billion Asian dollars." Li Xuan guessed what Ji Xinghuo was thinking and added, "The split will be at most fifty-fifty; otherwise, it's a no-go."

That would amount to a profit of 15 to 25 billion Asian dollars.

Although Ji Xinghuo wasn't particularly interested in Earth's currency, such a substantial sum, achievable with just a few minutes of fighting, was indeed tempting.

He could use the money to provide for his family, even if he didn't need it himself.

However, money alone wasn't enough to convince Ji Xinghuo. He smiled and said, "I don't lack money, but if we're talking about a share of the profits, it's still not enough to motivate me."

Li Xuan sensed that Ji Xinghuo was softening and became eager. "Make your demands. What do you want?"

"How about we add a bonus to spice things up?" Ji Xinghuo suggested. "It will make the duel more exciting and attract more viewers, increasing our earnings."

Li Xuan became cautious, sensing a potential trap.

After a few seconds of contemplation, he asked, "What do you plan to use as a bonus?"

"An exotic."

Ji Xinghuo reached into his coat pocket as if to retrieve something, but he was actually pulling it out from his dimensional stomach pocket. He revealed it to Li Xuan.

Everyone examined it closely, and they saw that the exotic in Ji Xinghuo's hand had a strange shape resembling a broken arrowhead. It was made of a grayish-white metal, with smooth surfaces and sharp edges. At first glance, one might mistake it for a man-made object rather than a natural exotic.

However, it emanated an astonishingly powerful vitality.

"Starfall Exotic!"

Li Xuan, standing closest to Ji Xinghuo, was the first to sense the exotic's power, and he was taken aback.

Everyone in the room widened their eyes in surprise.

Ji Xinghuo held the exotic in the palm of his hand, generously displaying it to the group. He said, "This is the Starfall Exotic, 'Absolute Hit.' How about we use it as the bonus?"

"So it's Absolute Hit!"

Li Xuan stared intently at the arrowhead-shaped exotic, his eyes gleaming with uncontrollable desire.

His profession was the "Invisible Swordsman," an advanced form of the Sound Illusionist and Swordsman, and he had also fused with parts of the "Ranger" exotic. In combat, his primary method of attack was long-range.

The "Absolute Hit" exotic would provide a qualitative leap in strength for any exotic with a long-range attack as their main form of offense.

If he could obtain this exotic...

Li Xuan's imagination ran wild, but he quickly calmed himself and said, "You dare to use the Starfall Exotic as a bonus because you think you can win against me?"

Ji Xinghuo shrugged, implying that it was self-evident.

"Bold words!"

Li Xuan let out a cold laugh, his expression complex.

His statement was obviously meant to mock Ji Xinghuo for being overconfident, but he didn't immediately agree, showing a lack of confidence.

Ji Xinghuo calmly asked, "Will you accept?"

Everyone turned their eyes to Li Xuan, awaiting his response.

Li Xuan felt the pressure of their gazes. He had intended to provoke Ji Xinghuo and use him as a stepping stone, but now he found himself in a difficult position. He wanted to accept, but he was also afraid of losing. Ji Xinghuo's willingness to put the Starfall Exotic on the line meant that he was confident he could withstand Li Xuan's sword for five minutes.

However, if he refused, he would miss out on the exotic, as well as hundreds of billions in revenue and fame.

Li Xuan was caught in a dilemma and hesitated.

Suddenly, Ji Xinghuo spoke up again. "We can change the terms of our duel. Instead of the five-minute limit, let's just determine the winner based on who defeats whom."

Everyone was shocked by his suggestion.

While it was one thing for Ji Xinghuo to be able to withstand Li Xuan's sword for five minutes, it was quite another to determine the true winner between the two. In the latter case, Ji Xinghuo would be putting himself at a clear disadvantage.

"Xinghuo, calm down!" Zhong Ming quickly tried to dissuade him.

Zhao Manying, on the other hand, remained silent, but her eyes conveyed her unwavering faith in Ji Xinghuo.

"I accept!"

Li Xuan's eyes lit up with joy, and he immediately agreed. However, he hesitated and added, "But I don't have a Starfall Exotic to offer as a bonus."

"Then bring out something of equal value to show your sincerity." Ji Xinghuo put away the exotic and continued, "I'll give you three months to prepare. Cash, exotics, expansion artifacts, fixed assets—I'll accept any of these. If it meets my expectations, let's set the date of our globally broadcast duel for October 1st."

Without waiting for Li Xuan to haggle further, Ji Xinghuo left the Ether Research Institute with Zhao Manying and Zhong Ming.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end