Chapter 328: The Celebrity Effect

Chapter 328: The Celebrity Effect

In the present day on Earth, it was impossible to be unaware of the name Ji Xinghuo unless one lived completely off the grid with no access to the internet or social media.

And such individuals were practically non-existent in the Asia-Pacific Collective.

Especially in the past half month since Ji Xinghuo had ascended to the top of the Heaven Ladder, his name had constantly trended on the hot search lists, making it difficult for anyone to remain ignorant of it. Just moments ago, he had even directly insulted a Heavenly King on a social media platform, shocking countless onlookers.

However, in the eyes of the public, Ji Xinghuo remained a mysterious figure.

His name was merely a phenomenon, a symbol; no one knew what he looked like, and they were unable to associate it with a real person.

Now that he had suddenly appeared before them, it was only natural that everyone was incredibly curious.

The entire room fell silent for a few seconds.

Ji Xinghuo observed the expressions on the faces around him—curiosity, surprise, awe, inquisitiveness, skepticism, and more. He felt a sense of helplessness as he realized they were treating him like a colorful panda on display, but he didn't particularly mind.

After all, he had anticipated this reaction when he chose to protect his online privacy.

"Ahem..."

Ji Xinghuo chuckled, "Yunhai, aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Oh, right, of course," Lu Yunhai replied, a bit embarrassed. He hadn't expected his own family and elders to react this way.

Their voices broke the tense atmosphere, and the staff in the room resumed their work, though their eyes kept darting over, and some even sneakily took out their phones to snap photos.

Ji Xinghuo pretended not to notice.

Lu Yunhai walked over to a middle-aged couple and said, "Xinghuo, these are my father and mother, whom I've mentioned to you before."

His parents were nearing sixty years of age, and though they had taken good care of themselves, appearing only in their forties, it was evident that they weren't from the upper class. It was simply that their prolonged freedom from work had kept them looking youthful.

Lu Yunhai was an only child, and he had often complained about his parents in the past.

His parents had met through gaming, and even after marriage and having a child, they continued to treat Lu Yunhai as a playmate in their virtual adventures.

Though they couldn't provide much financial support to their son, the family atmosphere was relaxed and carefree, with parents and child being both family and friends.

"Uncle Lu, Aunt Li," Ji Xinghuo greeted them with a smile. He remembered their names and had even seen them a few times during video calls.

"Little Ji, you still remember me," Lu Tao exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement. "I knew you were no ordinary person."

His wife, Li Ziyun, elbowed him gently, chiding, "Don't be rude."

"It's alright, Aunt Li," Ji Xinghuo replied nonchalantly. "You're my elders, and it's perfectly fine to continue calling me Little Ji as before." He had never been one to stand on ceremony.

Lu Yunhai quickly proceeded to introduce the others.

Compared to Lu Yunhai's parents, Fang Yinping had a larger number of elders present. Her parents and grandparents were there, along with an elder sister and two younger brothers. Just by looking at them, one could tell they were from a wealthy background, a clear contrast in social class.

In this era, the better the economic conditions and social status, the more willing people were to have multiple children.

It was common for a couple from the upper class to have three or four, or even five or six children.

After a few generations, they could form a large clan of nearly a hundred people.

Fang Yinping's family had only started accumulating wealth from her grandfather's generation, so there were only three generations, but the entire clan still consisted of over thirty people. In Chang'an, they were considered a small family that had just emerged from the middle class, far from the true elite of the city.

Their family business mainly involved investing in and managing venues related to martial arts, sports and fitness, and archery. Their total assets were close to a billion.

According to what Lu Yunhai had told him, Ji Xinghuo knew that the Fang family had four exceptional individuals.

However, including Fang Yinping, their talents weren't particularly remarkable. With the family's financial support, they had only managed to cultivate a single advanced exceptional individual—Fang Yinping's uncle.

Currently, the head of the Fang family was still Fang Yinping's grandfather, Fang Yanbin.

"Mr. Ji, your reputation precedes you," Fang Yanbin said as he shook Ji Xinghuo's hand. "We've heard so much about you from Yunhai, and it's an honor to finally meet you in person."

He wore a simple yet elegant suit, and his gentle smile and demeanor exuded the grace of an elder.

Though Fang Yanbin hid it well, Ji Xinghuo could tell that he was actually quite nervous, even more so than Lu Yunhai's father. His words had clearly been carefully chosen.

"You flatter me, Mr. Fang," Ji Xinghuo replied.

"Haha, Mr. Ji truly lives up to his reputation," Fang Yanbin said, offering a compliment. "With so many people around the world curious about your appearance, I'm sure they wouldn't be disappointed if they saw you in person."

As Lu Yunhai introduced the other members of the Fang family, he maintained a more humble and respectful demeanor.

Everyone wore polite smiles, and some even tried to ingratiate themselves, including Fang Yinping's parents.

Ji Xinghuo, however, remained casual and unpretentious, devoid of any airs and graces, just like an ordinary young man.

But that was not how others perceived him.

This was Ji Xinghuo's first time interacting with ordinary people since becoming famous, and he keenly felt that the world had changed.

To be precise, the world hadn't changed—he had.

Truth be told, he didn't particularly enjoy this change.

However, since others chose to treat him this way, Ji Xinghuo could only accept it with equanimity, ensuring that it didn't affect him.

Ji Xinghuo glanced at Lu Yunhai, who was beaming with pride. His reputation, strength, and status had bolstered Lu Yunhai's confidence in front of Fang Yinping's family, and even Fang Yinping herself seemed to bask in his glory.

"Xinghuo, here's the plan for tomorrow's wedding..."

Lu Yunhai and his wife, along with the wedding venue coordinator, began assigning tasks for the following day. The coordinator was initially nervous, but as she saw Ji Xinghuo listening intently, she gradually relaxed and settled into a professional demeanor.

Fang Yanbin had dismissed his family members, choosing to stay behind as the overall coordinator—a mere excuse, as the wedding procedures had long been established and rehearsed countless times. Yet, everyone played along, not calling out his bluff.

"Ji Xinghuo!"

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention. They turned to see a tall and burly figure striding towards them.

"Wu Qifeng, it's you, kid," Ji Xinghuo laughed. Wu Qifeng rushed over in a few quick steps and stood before Ji Xinghuo, both men appraising each other for a few seconds before bumping fists.

Bang.

A soft sound escaped, and Wu Qifeng's expression twisted in pain as he exclaimed, "Ouch!"

"Weren't you quite the braggart back then?" Ji Xinghuo said with a smug look on his face. "Now you can't even handle this little bit of strength?"

Wu Qifeng had been a classmate at university as well.

However, unlike Ji Xinghuo's quiet university life, Wu Qifeng had been a prominent figure on campus. He had fused with his exotic species at the young age of 18 as a freshman, becoming a "Gravity Warrior" and capturing the attention of the entire school.

Out of their entire class of over forty students, only three had become Exotics by graduation.

Wu Qifeng had been the most talented among them, reaching the Intermediate Exotic rank by his senior year. Immediately after graduation, he had joined the Star Realm, and they had kept in sporadic contact.

Ji Xinghuo had gotten along well with him, one of the closer classmates, though not as close as Lu Yunhai.

Previously, Ji Xinghuo had heard from Lu Yunhai that after he himself had become an Exotic, he reconnected with Wu Qifeng through their alumni group chat. They had met up a few times and even visited the Star Realm together, with Wu Qifeng being invited as a groomsman for the wedding.

Wu Qifeng stood at a height of over 1.9 meters, his body muscular and robust, yet now he was bent like a shrimp.

"Damn, you didn't hold back at all!" Wu Qifeng exclaimed a few seconds later, still shaking his hand.

"It's your own fault for being weak," Ji Xinghuo replied with a smile. "That punch had less than 5% of my strength, and I only added a bit of electric current to it."

"Damn," Wu Qifeng's expression changed as he studied Ji Xinghuo once more. "If I had known you would become so powerful, I would have sparred with you more in university. Then I could have bragged about defeating the number one on the Heaven Ladder!"

Ji Xinghuo just smiled without saying a word.

Back in university, they had been somewhat competitive, but at the time, Ji Xinghuo had been an ordinary person with no chance of being Wu Qifeng's match.

Now, the tables had turned, and the gap between them was so vast that it was laughable to consider them competitors. Wu Qifeng didn't even qualify as an opponent.

"So, what rank are you now?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

"Advanced Exotic," Wu Qifeng replied.

"Not bad," Ji Xinghuo nodded. "In less than three years since graduation, you've evolved again. Looks like you're doing well in the Star Realm; not only have you managed to keep your life, but you've also reached the Advanced Exotic rank."

Wu Qifeng was the same age as Ji Xinghuo, and at 25, he was already a high-level Exotic, a rather rare Gravity Warrior.

If he could become a Super Exotic before turning 30, he would have a chance to challenge the Heaven Ladder.

Their alma mater, Fengming Language University, was only considered a second-rate institution in the country, rarely producing such talented Exotics in over a decade.

"I feel like you're mocking me," Wu Qifeng scratched his head. "Yunhai, do you think so too?"

Lu Yunhai nodded, "A little bit."

"You're overthinking it. I'm just stating facts," Ji Xinghuo said, spreading his hands.

Wu Qifeng stared into Ji Xinghuo's eyes, "Fine, you're the best now, and I'll believe whatever you say." He then changed the subject, "Hey, Xinghuo, do you remember that I'm a huge fan of Sword Immortal?"

"I remember. What about it?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

"When can you introduce me to Sword Immortal?" Wu Qifeng's face lit up with anticipation. "Don't get me wrong, I don't have any other intentions. I'm just a loyal fan who admires his idol and wants to meet him in person. You understand, right?"

Ji Xinghuo knew that he was sincere.

Back in university, Wu Qifeng had indeed been a huge fan of Zhao Manying. He had even founded a fan group on campus, organizing watch parties for Zhao Manying's matches and hosting discussions and forums afterward. He had been one of the most dedicated fans.

At the time, he had tried to recruit Ji Xinghuo into the group, but Ji Xinghuo had refused.

"I'll introduce you tomorrow," Ji Xinghuo didn't mind. "Yunhai also invited Manying to the wedding."

"That's fantastic!"

Wu Qifeng was thrilled. "I'm so envious that you're number one on the Heaven Ladder, but I'm even more envious that you're Sword Immortal's boyfriend!"

He draped his arm around Ji Xinghuo's shoulders. "Who would've thought that the guy who refused to join the Sword Immortal fan group would end up dating her without a peep? When I first heard about it, I thought the world had gone crazy..."

"You're just jealous."

Ji Xinghuo hooked his finger, "Actually, you can try. I'll just stand here and use only one hand."

Wu Qifeng's eyes lit up, and he was eager to give it a shot.

Lu Yunhai egged him on as well. "Qifeng, since Xinghuo has already conceded so much, don't you at least have the courage to give it a try?"

Everyone else in the room watched without interrupting.

"Forget it." In the end, Wu Qifeng backed down. "I know better than anyone else how powerful the top of the Heaven Ladder is, so I won't embarrass myself."

"You've got good insight, as expected of someone who's been in the Star Realm," Ji Xinghuo praised.

"Damn, the way you're talking now is so annoying," Wu Qifeng said, rolling his eyes, but he had no choice but to accept it.

"Hahaha..."

Ji Xinghuo burst out laughing.

It was indeed more relaxing to be with familiar people. Wu Qifeng was an Exotic, and they had been classmates before, so they could talk more freely.

Soon after, the groomsmen and bridesmaids all arrived.

The last of the three groomsmen was Lu Yunhai's high school classmate, someone he had grown up with. They hadn't attended the same university, but his friend had gotten into a top-notch school and later worked for a financial company in Chang'an after graduation, excelling in both his studies and career.

However, he wasn't an Exotic, and he felt rather intimidated by Ji Xinghuo, speaking with caution.

The three bridesmaids were all beautiful. One was Fang Yinping's older sister, and the other two were her friends and classmates.

Everyone changed into custom-made formal attire, assigned tasks, and then took photos together.

Ji Xinghuo noticed that the three bridesmaids kept stealing glances at him.

It wasn't just them; everyone around him was focused on him, and he became the center of attention wherever he went. His every move would attract people's notice.

If he didn't speak, people would think it was only natural.

When he chatted amiably, people would be delighted and quickly agree with him.

Sometimes, even a casual joke would make people laugh out loud, even if it wasn't that funny.

This feeling was nice but also boring.

Ji Xinghuo didn't care what others thought or how they looked at him. He did what he was supposed to do and fulfilled his duties as a groomsman. That evening, the Fang family invited them for a meal, of course, including the other groomsmen and bridesmaids, as a way to express their gratitude.

During dinner, the owner of the hotel came to visit, just to meet Ji Xinghuo, and waived Lu Yunhai's venue usage fee.

The Fang family was beaming with satisfaction.

Ji Xinghuo stayed at the hotel that night, giving them face, and the next day, the wedding ceremony began early in the morning.

In the 23rd century, the marriage rate was very low.

However, for those willing to marry, it was treated as the most important event in their lives. The wealthier and more influential the family, the grander the wedding ceremony, with the retro-style wedding process reaching its pinnacle, combining the essence of ceremonies from various dynasties, resulting in a level of complexity that made people dizzy.

After going through one ritual after another, from morning to noon, the five or six-hour process left people dizzy and confused.

Ji Xinghuo acted as a prop, following the procedures.

Despite his low-key behavior, he still attracted everyone's attention.

As soon as someone heard he was Ji Xinghuo, he immediately became more attractive than the bride and groom, with people either frequently glancing at him or taking the opportunity during breaks in the ceremony to come up and chat, asking for photos.

As long as it didn't affect the wedding, Ji Xinghuo agreed to the photos and didn't keep people at a distance.

This was also why Lu Yunhai had asked him to be a groomsman.

To boost his own face and gain more respect.

At noon, the wedding ceremony was more than halfway through, and the invited guests had also arrived one after another, entering the mansion.

The main hall was filled with festive decorations, with over a hundred tables of banquet meals.

Ji Xinghuo finally had some free time, so he sat down to rest with Wu Qifeng, who complained, "Yunhai's wedding is quite lively, but it's also too troublesome. If getting married involves all this hassle, who would dare to get married?"

"You don't have to do a retro-style wedding. You can also have a simpler, modern wedding," Ji Xinghuo said, shaking his head.

"Then it's better not to get married at all," Wu Qifeng replied.

He had a handsome face and a tall, sturdy build. In university, he hadn't lacked for girlfriends, changing them every semester, sometimes even more frequently.

"Do you have a girlfriend now?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

"Yes," Wu Qifeng said proudly, "and not just one, hehe..." He held up three fingers.

Ji Xinghuo remained silent for a few seconds before scolding, "You player!"

"It's just dating. It's a mutual thing," Wu Qifeng said without shame. "And I haven't hidden anything from them. They all know about each other's existence, and I haven't mistreated them. They can leave me at any time, and it's not like I'm breaking the law."

"But three is too many," Ji Xinghuo said, feeling a bit curious and not knowing how to ask.

Wu Qifeng lowered his voice. "I actually have few. I've heard of someone dating over a dozen girlfriends, buying a large villa to maintain his harem, tsk tsk..."

Ji Xinghuo became interested.

Just as he was about to inquire further, Wu Qifeng suddenly changed the subject, saying enviously, "I know you're probably not interested in this, but having multiple girlfriends still can't compare to having a Sword Immortal.

"Nothing," Ji Xinghuo replied, his expression unchanged, successfully hiding his slip-up. He asked, "Who else from our class did Yunhai invite?"

"He invited everyone who was close to us," Wu Qifeng answered. "Many classmates saw the message in the group chat and said they'd come. Some are even flying in from abroad. I think more than half of our class will be here, along with our faculty advisor and other teachers."

He smiled and added, "They're using the wedding as an excuse to see you."

"Then let them see," Ji Xinghuo said nonchalantly. "It's been a long time since graduation, so it'll be nice to catch up."

As they spoke, the first guests began to arrive.

"Ji Xinghuo!"

"Holy crap, he really came..."

Several classmates hadn't even taken their seats yet when they spotted Ji Xinghuo and Wu Qifeng sitting at a table. They immediately rushed over.

Ji Xinghuo stood up to greet his classmates, easily recalling their names since it had only been less than three years since graduation.

A few simple exchanges were enough to leave his classmates stunned and delighted.

Of course, as classmates, even if their relationships varied in closeness, they were still familiar with each other after four years together. Despite the differences in their current achievements, they were still closer to each other than to others.

More and more of their classmates arrived and filled three or four tables nearby, with most of them bringing their partners along to witness the festivities.

Everyone chatted and reminisced about their university days, recalling the vigor of their youth.

Ji Xinghuo remained mostly quiet.

However, his classmates' attention was firmly fixed on him. No matter the topic, the conversation always found its way back to him.

From time to time, his classmates would ask him a few questions, driven by their curiosity about his experiences.

As long as it didn't involve confidential matters, Ji Xinghuo would give brief answers.

Although much of his exploits could be found online, hearing them straight from Ji Xinghuo himself still left his classmates in awe, prompting exclamations of surprise.

The lobby gradually filled with guests, and most of the tables were occupied.

Since the news of Ji Xinghuo's attendance had been kept secret beforehand, the guests were only now learning about it upon their arrival. Some stood up to get a better view, while others took out their phones to snap photos.

"Sword Immortal!"

A delighted cry rang out from the entrance.

All heads turned to see Zhao Manying walking in. She wore a light-colored dress that was elegant yet understated, her long hair simply tied into a high ponytail. She looked fresh and beautiful, her natural charm needing no makeup to enhance it, and she instantly became the center of attention.

Regardless of gender, everyone who saw her was captivated, and the men, in particular, found it hard to look away.

Zhao Manying quickly spotted Ji Xinghuo and made her way towards him.

Under the watchful eyes of the guests, she walked up to Ji Xinghuo and looped her arm through his. Ji Xinghuo smiled and said, "Everyone knows Manying, so I won't introduce her further."

His classmates responded with good-natured laughter.

Ji Xinghuo pointed to Wu Qifeng and said, "He's Wu Qifeng, one of your biggest fans in our class. He even organized a fan group for you back then. He's now an Advanced Exotic and is Yunhai's groomsman today."

"Mr. Wu, it's nice to meet you," Zhao Manying said with a gentle laugh, offering her hand in greeting.

"You... you... you're welcome!" Wu Qifeng stammered, his face flushed with excitement. "Sword Immortal, I've been your fan for years. Whenever I have the time, I go to your matches in person."

"Thank you for your support," Zhao Manying said, shaking his hand before taking her seat.

The lobby buzzed with excitement as more and more guests arrived, filling the room. However, it seemed like everyone was a bit distracted, either glancing over at Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying or messaging on their phones, causing a flurry of online activity.

This was a normal occurrence when two world-renowned celebrities were present.

"Xinghuo, can I take a picture with you?" asked a man in his thirties.

Ji Xinghuo readily agreed. "Of course, Teacher Liu."

This was their university faculty advisor, known for his integrity and fair treatment of all students. He was well-liked by the class and still worked at the university.

The three of them posed for a photo together.

Ji Xinghuo stood in the middle. After the photo was taken, he said, "Teacher Liu, I'll authorize this photo for your personal use."

Photos taken without the subject's authorization would have the person's face blurred, even on personal devices.

With authorization, the photo could be kept unaltered for personal viewing.

Such photos could only be viewed by the owner of the device.

They could also show the photo to others on their device but couldn't upload it to the internet, thus ensuring privacy.

"Can I also take a picture with you?" asked one of the classmates. "Xinghuo, can you authorize it for me?"

"Sure," Ji Xinghuo readily agreed.

"Me too..."

The classmates clamored to take photos with him, especially wanting pictures with both Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying. He happily obliged and authorized the photos for them.

The surrounding guests watched with eager anticipation.

Just then, a gong sounded, followed by the recorded blast of firecrackers from the speakers. The lights in the lobby flickered, and the emcee took the stage, signaling the start of the wedding ceremony.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end