Chapter 333: Child of the Stars

Chapter 333: Child of the Stars

The first speech of Sun King, John Anthony, had come to an end.

There were three main points to his address: first, to commemorate the previous Sun King; second, to express his love for his country through his family background and military service, inheriting the legacy and aspiring to be a "Guardian of the Nation"; and finally, he announced his participation in the World Marathon in the New Roman Empire.

The first two points were within expectations.

However, it was the third point that took everyone by surprise.

Zhao Manying was perplexed, "Why would the Sun King want to participate in a world marathon?"

Ji Xinghuo shook his head.

As a symbol of the American Federation, the Sun King's every move was significant, and this was especially true for John Anthony's first public appearance as the third-generation Sun King—choosing to participate in a sporting event.

The "World Marathon" was the most commercially valuable sporting event on Earth, second only to the Super League.

The competition was divided into four different levels of marathons.

The Classic Marathon, a course of 42.195 kilometers, was open only to ordinary people; the Thousand-Mile Marathon, a grueling 1,000-kilometer race, was limited to advanced aliens; and the Wanli Marathon, an incredible 10,000-kilometer race, was open to legendary aliens and below.

These three levels of marathons were held annually, organized by the Marathon Committee in cooperation with countries worldwide, taking turns hosting the event.

However, the highest level, the "World Marathon," was held only once every four years.

As the name suggested, the World Marathon involved running around the globe, but due to considerations of crossing seas, international borders, and time zones, the race route did not strictly follow the Earth's circumference. Instead, it was mainly set on the Afro-Eurasian continent, spanning 40,075 kilometers, equal to the length of the Earth's equator.

The World Marathon was open to participants of all ranks, but finishing the race was incredibly challenging.

Even Kings, if they lacked proficiency in high-speed movement or relevant abilities, would struggle to achieve a decent result.

Sometimes, a King's performance might even pale in comparison to a speed-specialized Legend or a Super Alien.

The champion's prize money for the World Marathon increased with each edition, surpassing 8 billion Asian dollars in the previous tournament four years ago.

The runner-up, third place, and those who made it to the top ten also received substantial bonuses.

In addition to the cash prizes, the host nations often offered additional rewards, typically in the form of exotic species, expansion curios, or weapons and equipment, which were just as valuable as the monetary awards.

With a viewer count exceeding a hundred billion, the World Marathon provided an excellent opportunity for exposure to all participants.

As a result, it frequently attracted the participation of Kings.

However, for the Sun King to join, it seemed a bit beneath his stature and mismatched with his strength and status.

Moreover, victory was not guaranteed.

While the Sun King was the strongest on Earth, he did not possess an absolute advantage in terms of speed, especially over long distances and extended periods.

There were several Kings who specialized in this field, and among the Legend-level beings, there were even more aliens renowned for their speed.

Some aliens even specifically fused with relevant exotic species solely to participate in marathon competitions, lured by the lucrative prizes and rewards.

They were known as "Marathon Aliens," and their profession template was invariably "Fleetfoot."

Neither of the previous two Sun Kings had participated in marathons, but this time, an exception was made.

If the Sun King won, everyone would consider it a given, but if he lost, it would undoubtedly tarnish the majestic image of the Sun King, especially since he had just ascended to the position. It might even raise doubts about his strength.

The potential drawbacks seemed to outweigh the benefits of participating.

"Do you think he's participating in the World Marathon to showcase his strength?" Zhao Manying speculated.

Perhaps it was akin to a new official flexing their muscles upon taking office.

By participating in the World Marathon, the newly crowned third-generation Sun King might be aiming to establish his powerful image in the eyes of the global audience.

"That's a possibility," Ji Xinghuo mused, deep in thought. "But perhaps the World Marathon is just an excuse, and his true purpose is to visit the New Roman Empire."

This speculation delved into the realm of global political dynamics.

In the 23rd century, the world's geopolitical landscape had evolved into a trend of two superpowers and two major powers, and this trend was becoming increasingly apparent. The Asia-Pacific Community and the American Federation were the two superpowers, while the New Roman Empire and the Western Alliance were the two major powers, with the four nations forming two opposing alliances.

The New Roman Empire and the Asia-Pacific Community were allies, but this alliance was not as stable as it might seem.

At the very least, it lacked the solidity of the bond between the American Federation and the Western Alliance.

Due to religious, political, and historical factors, the New Roman Empire and the Western Alliance shared a border and a bitter history soaked in blood.

The enmity between the two nations ran deep, from the upper echelons to the common people, making reconciliation a distant dream.

During the "Fourth World War," the New Roman Empire had nearly been wiped off the map by the combined assault of the American Federation and the Western Alliance.

In any case, the international relations between the four nations were complex and fragile.

They were both allies and enemies.

However, overall, whether it was due to intentional guidance by the authorities or the fading of war wounds over time, the animosity of the New Roman Empire's citizens towards the American Federation had lessened over the years.

On the other hand, negative sentiments towards the Asia-Pacific Community were on the rise.

Now, the fact that the Sun King had chosen to announce his intention to lead a delegation to visit the New Roman Empire on his very first public appearance was intriguing.

A balance of two against two.

If it became three against one, the international situation would be entirely different.

Ji Xinghuo was still discussing this with Zhao Manying when his phone vibrated. He picked it up and was surprised by what he saw.

The message was from the Head of State himself.

Without hesitation, he stood up and said, "Manying, I have to go see the Head of State."

"Go ahead," Zhao Manying said, knowing that Ji Xinghuo had entered the core power circle of the nation and often had access to the Head of State, so she wasn't surprised.

A moment later.

Ji Xinghuo arrived at the Prime Residence and made his way to the office where he had first met the Head of State.

Upon entering, he found only two people in the room.

"Your Excellency, Master Zhaofeng."

"Xinghuo is here," Ji Daosheng said with a smile, motioning for Ji Xinghuo to take a seat on the sofa. Beside him, Luo Yimeng looked at him with admiration in her eyes and said, "Just call me Aunt Luo from now on. If you're willing to call me Sister Luo, I'd like that even more."

"Sister Luo," Ji Xinghuo immediately addressed her.

He was already familiar with this tenth-ranked tamer on the Heavenly King List. Luo Yimeng was born in the year 2100 and was now 126 years old, though she didn't look her age. If one didn't know her, they would assume she was in her thirties at most.

Her appearance wasn't exceptionally stunning, and her figure wasn't eye-catching, but her demeanor was serene and calm, with a hint of heroism that left a lasting impression.

At this age, she could easily pass for one's great-grandmother.

Most people would find it hard to call her "sister," but Ji Xinghuo had no such psychological barrier; he was thick-skinned, after all.

"Okay," Luo Yimeng said happily.

"Hahaha..." Ji Daosheng let out a hearty laugh. "Little Luo, you're already at an age to be a grandmother, yet you let someone 101 years your junior call you sister. People will laugh at you if they knew."

Luo Yimeng's face turned slightly red, but she insisted, "I don't care what others say as long as I like it."

A grandmother?

Ji Xinghuo couldn't help but glance at Luo Yimeng. There were rumors online that she had been in several relationships but never married, and it seemed she already had descendants.

However, this was normal.

Many legends and heavenly kings went through life unmarried yet had no shortage of descendants.

For example, Head of State Ji Daosheng's first wife was an ordinary woman who had passed away in the last century. He never remarried. That wife had borne him three sons and a daughter, and through the generations, there were now a total of two to three thousand registered direct descendants of the Head of State.

However, aside from the "Ji" surname, these descendants did not receive any special benefits from the Head of State.

Most of them were ordinary people, and their relationship with the Head of State was distant.

"Let's get down to business."

Ji Daosheng's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Xinghuo, I called you here today to assign you a task."

"Please give me your instructions, Your Excellency," Ji Xinghuo replied promptly.

"You should have just watched the Sun King's speech as well," Ji Daosheng said, not giving the task immediately. "What are your thoughts on it?"

"The fact that the Sun King is visiting the New Roman Empire so soon after inheriting his power must have a deeper meaning," Ji Xinghuo said directly. "Do you think he intends to form an alliance with the New Roman Empire to create a tripartite alliance against our country?"

"Such a simplistic diplomatic strategy is obvious to many," Ji Daosheng nodded. "However, it's not something the Sun King can accomplish alone. Shifting international relations isn't that easy."

He smiled confidently.

"The Sun King's haste in making this visit also proves one thing."

"The pressure we've put on the American Federation has started to weigh on them, and they're seeking cooperation with the New Roman Empire to relieve that pressure."

Ji Xinghuo said uncertainly, "One superpower and three major powers?"

"Indeed," Ji Daosheng said approvingly. "From the previous balance of two superpowers and two major powers, we're now seeing a shift towards a unipolar world with one superpower and three major powers. Eventually, this will lead to the most intense global conflict, and ultimately, only one country and one government will remain on Earth."

Ji Xinghuo looked at the middle-aged man before him, knowing that he had spent countless sleepless nights and devoted immense effort towards this goal.

"I'm getting ahead of myself," Ji Daosheng withdrew his thoughts and continued, "The true purpose of the Sun King's visit is actually the opposite of what most people suspect."

"Huh?" Ji Xinghuo was puzzled.

"His visit to the New Roman Empire is just a cover. There may be a desire to ease tensions between the two countries, but the most important purpose is to participate in the World Marathon and obtain one of the exotic species among the prizes." Ji Daosheng explained.

Ji Xinghuo was taken aback. He hadn't paid attention to what the grand prize was for this World Marathon.

So he immediately pulled up the official competition website.

The champion's prize money was linked to commercial revenue, and with the Sun King's announcement of his participation, it had already soared to over 9 billion and was sure to break 10 billion.

In addition, the New Roman Empire offered dozens of prizes, which were quite diverse.

The champion could choose three out of these.

Ji Xinghuo quickly browsed through them; while all the prizes were valuable, they included several exotic species, but the most outstanding among them was only a Super Limit species, which paled in comparison to some of the expansion curios and weapons on offer.

"Which exotic species does the Sun King desire?" Ji Xinghuo couldn't pinpoint it right away.

"This one."

Ji Daosheng pointed at the projection.

"Stellar Flame Pulse," Ji Xinghuo read through the information on this exotic species. It was a Super Limit species that allowed one to convert stellar energy within the body into a high-temperature flame, creating a sudden pulse that unleashed tremendous power.

This was a burst-type exotic species, and there were quite a few similar ones.

Apparently, many "Pyromancers" desired it, but it didn't seem worth the Sun King's personal participation in the competition.

Ji Daosheng explained, "Don't underestimate the Stellar Flame Pulse. It's not an ordinary burst-type ability, and besides being extremely rare, it's also a crucial component of a series of combination abilities."

"A combination ability!" Ji Xinghuo's heart skipped a beat.

The so-called "combination ability" referred to the fusion of two or more specific abilities, merging to form an even more powerful ability.

Some profession templates were derived from imitating combination abilities or serving as precursors to them.

True combination abilities were always powerful and rare.

One could build even stronger professions around combination abilities, surpassing advanced professions.

Sometimes, the merger of combination abilities would result in a higher-quality ability.

For example, the combination of several Super Limit abilities could produce an effect identical to that of a Starfall ability.

It could also be understood that the function of a Starfall ability could be decomposed into multiple lower-quality abilities.

The higher the quality of the ability, the more combination abilities were required.

The total function of an ability remained constant; the finer it was divided, the more combination abilities were needed. It would take a dozen or so exceptional and high-quality abilities to form a Starfall ability, but if one used Super Limit abilities for the combination, only a few would be necessary.

Profession advancement and template addition were also forms of combination.

Since the Stellar Gate opened less than two centuries ago, the vast majority of aliens had no access to such profound ability knowledge, nor did they need it. People only knew that combination abilities were usually associated with "ultimate professions."

Ji Xinghuo asked, "Your Excellency, what combination ability does the Stellar Flame Pulse belong to?"

"Fusion."

Ji Daosheng spoke two words.

Ji Xinghuo was stunned. "Fusion" was an Eclipse species, and one of the most powerful among them.

"What I'm about to say is a stellar secret." Ji Daosheng continued slowly, "The Sun King's professions are 'Iron Guard', 'Fleetfoot', and 'Pyromancer'. The second-generation Sun King also mastered Spirit Energy and cultivated the 'Thermal Stringer' profession. These profession templates and abilities are actually precursors to an ultimate profession, with 'Fusion' as its core."

"Fusion is an Eclipse species, something the Sun King can't obtain."

"So he can only acquire the ability of 'Fusion' in disguise through combination abilities."

"The most important component of the Fusion combination is the Starfall species 'Stellar Furnace', which the second-generation Sun King acquired over thirty years ago. The Fusion combination also requires several Super Limit abilities, including the Stellar Flame Pulse."

"I don't know how many abilities the Sun King is missing, but we must not let him obtain the Stellar Flame Pulse."

"If the Fusion combination is completed, the Sun King will advance to become the 'Child of the Stars'."

"This is one of the most powerful ultimate professions." Ji Daosheng's expression turned solemn. "And it's the key to his breakthrough as a Stellar Saint!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end