Chapter 335: The Imperial Princess

Chapter 335: The Imperial Princess

July 15th.

Aboard a flight from Chang'an to Ivanople, Ji Xinghuo sat in first class, gazing out at the clouds. Zhao Manying had arrived in Ivanople two days earlier.

This year's International Invitational was also being held in Ivanople, with a total of seven days of competition culminating in the championship match on the 22nd. Then, on the 25th, the annual marathon events would commence, including the quadrennial World Marathon.

With two major competitions taking place consecutively in Ivanople, the city had become the hottest global tourist destination of the moment.

Although he could have arrived directly, Ji Xinghuo chose to take a flight for a formal entry this time.

He had intended to continue his cultivation for a few more days and depart the day before the marathon began.

However, Zhao Manying's competition was starting tomorrow.

As her boyfriend, he had to be there to cheer her on, and they had also planned to tour Ivanople together.

He also intended to place a bet on himself.

"Mr. Ji," a lovely young flight attendant entered the first-class cabin and crouched down next to Ji Xinghuo, a gentle smile on her face. "May I offer you some water?"

Ji Xinghuo shook his head. "No, thank you."

"Of course." Disappointment flashed in the flight attendant's eyes, but she maintained her smile. "If there is anything you need, Mr. Ji, please don't hesitate to let me know."

She stood up and walked away reluctantly.

There were only four passengers in first class, and the other three could tell that this flight attendant was particularly attentive to Ji Xinghuo. She was noticeably more enthusiastic toward him than the other passengers.

And she wasn't the only one; every flight attendant on board had approached him with similar intentions.

Ji Xinghuo felt helpless.

While others might not know who he was, his name was on the passenger manifest, so he couldn't keep his identity a secret from the crew.

This particular attendant was still better than the previous one, who had all but offered to jump him right then and there.

"Brother," said a well-dressed man sitting across the aisle, his tone envious. He clearly embodied the image of a successful individual. "If I were you, I wouldn't be able to hold back. I'd have to take one of them to the bathroom for a quickie. But it's strange—why are they all so taken with you?"

Ji Xinghuo glanced at him. "Because I'm handsome."

"Maybe..." The man eyed Ji Xinghuo doubtfully, a confused expression on his face. "I'm not that bad-looking myself."

Ji Xinghuo smiled but didn't respond.

A passenger in the front row turned around, a smile on his face. "It's not enough to just be handsome. If you were Ji Xinghuo, they'd be all over you even if you were ugly."

"Huh?"

The man next to him froze.

Then his face lit up with disbelief and delight. "You're Ji Xinghuo! No wonder they've all been calling you Mr. Ji. I should've guessed!"

Ji Xinghuo nodded and turned to face the front-row passenger.

He appeared to be in his early thirties, with distinctive features. Although he had Asian facial characteristics, his eyes were ice blue, and his hair was dyed a steely blue, resembling deeply frozen ice silk.

Ji Xinghuo had noticed him when they boarded, and he had correctly surmised that the man's eyes and hair were not dyed but were instead manifestations of his evolutionary abilities.

This man was a legendary powerhouse, a second-stage Legend, with formidable strength.

The man showed no hostility and wore a gentle smile.

"And what is your name?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

"I'm An Yitian," the man replied, standing up and walking over to offer his hand. He then gestured to the passenger sitting across the aisle from him. "And this is my sister, An Zhisu."

The woman turned to glance at Ji Xinghuo and nodded slightly before turning away, her demeanor quiet and reserved.

She, too, had manifestations of evolutionary abilities, with crimson eyes and deep red hair.

"So, you're the Ice and Fire siblings," Ji Xinghuo said, realization dawning on him, although he wasn't entirely surprised.

He had already suspected their identities earlier but hadn't wanted to disturb them. As it turned out, his guess had been correct.

An Yitian and An Zhisu were a well-known pair of siblings from the Asia-Pacific Community, and they were fraternal twins.

Both of them were legendary powerhouses, and they had both made it onto the Legends Ranking—An Yitian at 24th place and An Zhisu at 25th.

Evolution in humans was heavily influenced by genetics.

But sometimes, genetics didn't seem to matter. Even among siblings with the same parents, or even twins, the outcomes of their evolutionary paths could differ drastically. One might become a Heavenly King, while the other might struggle even to attain the Legend stage.

It was extremely rare to find an entire family on the Heavenly Ladder, let alone the Legends Ranking.

In fact, An Yitian and An Zhisu were the only siblings—whether brother and sister or brother and brother—on the Legends Ranking.

And their rankings were quite high.

Being ranked 24th and 25th on the Legends Ranking meant that the Ice and Fire siblings were among the top 100 most powerful individuals in the world—a remarkable feat.

Ji Xinghuo stood up and shook An Yitian's hand. "I'm Ji Xinghuo. It's a pleasure to meet the two of you, my seniors."

At 77 years of age, the siblings were indeed his seniors, so it was only polite to address them as such.

"Haha, your reputation as the top of the Heavenly Ladder far exceeds ours!

An Yitian shook his head and said, "We're just participating for fun. The real contenders for the championship are you and Master Zhao Feng. If you can outshine the Sun King, that would be incredible."

"I'll do my best," Ji Xinghuo said humbly.

An Yitian's profession was "Ice Master," and his sister, An Zhisu, was known as the "Fiery Maniac." While both of them had impressive burst speeds, they weren't suited for long-distance running.

In previous World Marathons, they might have had a chance at placing high, but with this year's stellar lineup, they could only join as spectators.

The three of them engaged in lively conversation.

Ji Xinghuo found An Yitian to be quite interesting. Despite being a senior and a legendary figure, he carried none of the arrogance that usually came with such status. He was lively, sincere, and witty—a friend worth having.

On the other hand, his sister, An Zhisu, was his complete opposite. She had an icy demeanor, rarely spoke, and seemed to have a social phobia.

This stark contrast between their personalities and their professions was intriguing.

The Ice Master was passionate and energetic, while the Fiery Maniac was as cold as ice. They certainly made a lasting first impression.

As they chatted, the plane descended towards Ivanople's airport.

After disembarking, Ji Xinghuo exchanged contact information with the siblings and made plans to hang out together. Once they completed the immigration procedures, they parted ways, and Ji Xinghuo took off from the airport.

He didn't fly too fast, as he wanted to avoid triggering Ivanople's air defense system. This was the New Roman Empire, and their defenses were far superior to those of the Hindi Kingdom, with several Heavenly Kings among their ranks. It would be unwise to cause any trouble.

Despite being in the midst of summer, Ivanople's weather wasn't overly hot. The city was filled with towering skyscrapers, but their architectural style was unique.

Many of the buildings featured circular spires, giving them a distinct religious ambiance.

There were also retro-style stone palaces, majestic and grand.

This historic city had once again become the capital of the Roman Empire in the 23rd century, even if this "Rome" wasn't entirely authentic.

Regardless, it still carried the name.

In the distance stood a massive silver-white palace in the heart of Ivanople. It occupied a vast area, its architecture sharp and angular like a fortress, as if forged from steel.

This was the Imperial Palace.

Due to its distinctive and rugged style, it was known as the "Iron Palace."

Ji Xinghuo weaved his way between the buildings. People bustled on the streets below, and some looked up to spot him, but they didn't seem overly surprised. In recent days, many participants of the World Marathon had arrived, and it wasn't uncommon to see people flying overhead.

Soon, Ji Xinghuo reached a luxurious hotel located on the Black Coast. This was where the members of the Emperor Star Club were staying.

Zhao Manying had already taken care of the necessary arrangements, and all he needed to do was check in.

Using his electromagnetic senses, Ji Xinghuo located Zhao Manying lounging alone on the balcony of their suite, wearing a bikini and soaking in the sun.

Ji Xinghuo flew over and landed on the balcony.

"You're here!"

Zhao Manying's face lit up with joy, and she sat up.

Ji Xinghuo leaned in for a quick kiss, admiring her tall, flawless figure. He smiled and asked, "No training today?"

"Training is done, and I've mastered the tactics we need for the competition. Now, we just wait for tomorrow's match to claim victory." Zhao Manying exuded relaxation and confidence. Ever since she fused with the Eye of Truth, her strength had increased significantly, and she hadn't lost a single match since.

She waved her hand, and a set of casual clothes flew out from the room. "Here, I bought these clothes for you. Change into them, and let's go out."

"Alright," Ji Xinghuo replied.

He quickly changed into the short-sleeved shirt and shorts, along with a pair of cool-looking sunglasses, looking both handsome and casual.

However, the silver and black running shoes on his feet seemed a bit out of place with the rest of his outfit.

Zhao Manying understood that those were his aerial shoes and couldn't be changed.

She also put on a matching set, revealing her fair shoulders and donning a pair of sunglasses. Her long legs accentuated her youthful and vibrant look.

"Where's Qinghong?" she asked.

"I left him at home," Ji Xinghuo said with a hint of helplessness as he mentioned Qinghong. "Ever since he learned how to go online, he's been lying at home watching dramas all day. He orders takeout dozens of times a day, and in half a month, he can spend over a million Asia Dollars."

Zhao Manying chuckled softly, "Let him enjoy himself. It's not like you can't afford it."

"It's not about the money," Ji Xinghuo said, exasperated. "I'm worried he's turning into a shut-in. He's gained quite a bit of weight lately."

After returning to Earth, Ji Xinghuo had been suddenly struck with the idea of teaching Qinghong how to read.

Qinghong's intelligence was comparable to that of a seven or eight-year-old child, and he quickly learned a few hundred characters before becoming addicted to the internet.

On several occasions, Ji Xinghuo had tried to get him to go out, but Qinghong refused.

If it weren't for the housekeeping robots cleaning up, their home would have become a garbage dump.

"Let's go," Zhao Manying said, happily linking her arm with Ji Xinghuo's as they left the hotel. Ivanople was a world-renowned tourist destination, boasting both modern architectural marvels and glorious historical sites.

As the evening cooled the city, the pair enjoyed a romantic dinner at a restaurant by the Black Sea, taking in the breathtaking night view of Ivanople.

"How's the betting going?" Ji Xinghuo suddenly remembered.

Zhao Manying, who had arrived a few days earlier with her team, replied, "I've selected several companies with the best reputations and the most substantial financial backing. We'll spread our bets across them to ensure they can cover the payouts."

She fiddled with her phone. "Take a look."

Ji Xinghuo checked and found that his odds were still quite low, currently sitting at around 18-to-1.

"Are there any markets for the Global Marathon?" he asked, noticing other options.

"There are always companies offering bets for the Global Marathon. But ever since the Sun King announced his participation, it's become even more popular than usual," Zhao Manying explained.

Ji Xinghuo spotted his name among the contenders.

Unsurprisingly, the Sun King had the lowest odds, indicating that the major bookmakers strongly favored him to win.

In contrast, Ji Xinghuo's odds were exceptionally high.

The other contestants also had high odds, and the predictions gave the Sun King a staggering 95% chance of victory, leaving less than 5% for the rest of the field combined.

"Do you want to place a bet?" Zhao Manying asked.

Ji Xinghuo thought about it but eventually shook his head. "Let's skip it."

Even with his Quirk-enhanced Fei Shoes, he wasn't confident about winning the Global Marathon. This race was full of variables, and the outcome wouldn't be decided solely on the field. He had a feeling that there would be external interference.

Compared to that, he felt much more certain about defeating Li Xuan.

It was a plan with a high chance of success.

"It's better to be cautious," Zhao Manying nodded slightly, then continued, "I've prepared 5 billion to bet. How much do you want to put in?"

"I'll also bet 5 billion," Ji Xinghuo replied.

He wasn't too concerned, as with the current odds, that 5 billion would turn into 90 billion.

What he really wanted was the ether crystal, "Are there any companies accepting ether crystal bets? And will they pay out in ether crystals too?"

"I've had people look into it, but none of them are," Zhao Manying said with a hint of regret.

"What a pity..."

Just as Ji Xinghuo was speaking, several streaks of light flashed across the distant night sky, moving swiftly in their direction.

Zhao Manying also noticed the newcomers, a surprised look crossing her face.

There were three figures, a woman followed by two men.

The young woman in the lead had black hair, blue eyes, and her hair pulled back, with a delicate crown adorning her head. She wore a form-fitting combat suit, and a pair of frost wings made of cold energy extended from her back. A gun hung at her waist, along with a longsword, and on each hand, she wore a superpower ring.

Her luxurious equipment showcased her strength and status.

The two men behind her were clearly her bodyguards, both legendary powerhouses.

A chilling aura enveloped them as they descended.

The trio landed on the beach in front of the seaside restaurant, causing a stir among the diners. They approached Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying.

"Your Highness Princess!"

"Princess Sophia!"

Many diners recognized the newcomers and stood to pay their respects. The restaurant manager hurried forward to greet them enthusiastically.

Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying exchanged a glance.

They had both heard of this Imperial Princess.

The Iron Emperor had countless concubines and mistresses, and over the past two centuries, he had fathered an enormous royal family. Excluding his illegitimate children, he had over fifty named offspring, and his direct descendants numbered in the tens of thousands.

However, of all these descendants, fewer than ten were truly favored, and they were all extraordinary geniuses.

Among them was Princess Sophia.

She was the Iron Emperor's granddaughter, born over fifty years ago. Even before reaching adulthood, she had displayed exceptional talent, and the Iron Emperor had taken her under his wing.

Sophia did not disappoint. She became a Superhuman at 27 and a Legend at 42.

She eventually climbed the Legends Ranking.

Now, at 54 years old, she occupied the 235th spot on that prestigious list.

Among the New Roman Empire's royalty, Sophia's talent was second only to the Iron Emperor himself, solidifying her position. She often made public appearances, and both the empire's citizens and people worldwide knew her well and held her in high regard.

Princess Sophia accepted the kiss on the hand offered by the restaurant manager and whispered a few instructions.

She then waved to the surrounding diners, exuding charm and friendliness.

Afterward, she approached Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying, a smile playing on her lips, and greeted them, "Sword Immortal, Mr. Ji, welcome to Ivanople."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end