Chapter 337: First Meeting with the Sun King

Chapter 337: First Meeting with the Sun King

The next morning, Ji Xinghuo woke up feeling refreshed and energized. After morning exercises with Zhao Manying, he went out to explore the city.

At noon, Zhao Manying assembled her team.

Ji Xinghuo trained in the hotel's gym, although the efficiency was far inferior to that of the Aether Institute, he couldn't slack off.

He trained throughout the day and, in the evening, made his way to the "Imperial Arena" to witness the opening ceremony of the "International Invitational."

Each International Invitational invited the previous season's champions and the current season's top-performing teams from the major leagues. The remaining spots were filled through preliminary competitions among the countries, ultimately resulting in 32 teams advancing to the group stage.

The first group stage match of the evening was full of hype and excitement.

On one side was the defending champion, "Imperial Star Team," led by Zhao Manying, who had dominated the past five International Invitationals.

Their opponents were the "Gladiators" from the New Roman Empire, a gladiator club with a history spanning over a century. They were one of the earliest Extraordinary teams in the world, boasting countless fans, and were the favorites to win the New Roman Super League this season.

Amidst the buzz and anticipation, the two teams entered the Spirit Realm world.

A massive map projection appeared in the Imperial Arena and was simultaneously broadcast worldwide through the network.

Ji Xinghuo sat in the front row.

The atmosphere in the arena was electric, and they couldn't help but get caught up in the excitement, cheering loudly for the Extraordinary on the field.

"The Sword Immortal is invincible!"

"Take down those New Romans!"

He had barely shouted a few times when the surrounding spectators glared at him angrily.

Most of the audience present were from the Empire, rooting for the Gladiator team. They wore the Gladiator team's jerseys, while Ji Xinghuo donned Zhao Manying's jersey, looking out of place amidst the sea of Gladiator fans.

The first round ended in less than 20 minutes.

Zhao Manying manipulated sword lights, sweeping through the field. The Gladiator team's Extraordinary tried their best, but they crumbled upon contact.

It was a swift and decisive victory.

The entire arena fell silent, and even the small group of Imperial Star Club fans who had flown in from the domestic region of the Asia-Pacific Commune remained quiet, not daring to celebrate loudly.

"That's refreshing!"

"Hahaha..." Ji Xinghuo, however, was oblivious to the tension, clapping enthusiastically for Zhao Manying.

The second round followed a similar pattern, with Zhao Manying's unmatched attacks overwhelming the Gladiators. No one on the opposing team could withstand her head-on assault, and she mowed them down with ease.

The group stage followed a best-of-five format, and with two consecutive losses, the Gladiators were on the brink of elimination.

Although it was a double-elimination format, the blow to the New Roman Empire's audience was significant, dampening their enthusiastic cheers.

"Time is running out for the Gladiators," Ji Xinghuo commented loudly.

His words, at that moment, sounded particularly grating, and a nearby spectator couldn't take it anymore. A nearly two-meter-tall burly man, obviously an Extraordinary, glared at Ji Xinghuo and shouted, "You APCommie, scram back to your country!"

Ji Xinghuo turned to face the man.

The man doing the shouting was a burly giant, clearly an Extraordinary, likely a "Behemoth," which gave him the courage to step forward.

"You want a fight, big guy?" Ji Xinghuo sneered, beckoning with his finger.

"Big guy" was a derogatory term people used for Behemoths, who were also often called "Lumberjack" or "Bodyguard," mocking their brawn over brains.

Every profession had similar nicknames.

For example, Sprinters were called "Sprinter Legs," Iron Guards were "Security," Swordmasters were "Show-offs," Martial Artists were called "Riflemen, Spear Bros," Evil Spirits were "Dead Guys," and Mind Hackers were dubbed "Peeping Toms."

Magnetomancers were nicknamed "Electric Batons" because they were always surrounded by electricity, zapping people like porcupines.

They were also sometimes called "Loony," their brains zapped by electricity.

While these nicknames were often used in self-deprecating humor, coming from Ji Xinghuo at this moment, it was clearly a provocation.

His eyes flickered with faint currents of electricity, too weak for ordinary people to notice.

The Behemoth didn't seem to notice either.

He rolled up his sleeves, ready to push past the spectators between them, but his friend held him back.

"Calm down, Petrov! He's a legend!"

The one restraining the Behemoth was an advanced Chaser, with perception far beyond that of ordinary people. He had long sensed that the man in the front row was extremely formidable but couldn't pinpoint his strength, mistaking Ji Xinghuo for a legendary powerhouse.

The burly man immediately backed down, not daring to utter another word.

The surrounding audience members were startled by the exchange.

Ji Xinghuo paid no heed to the minor incident and continued to cheer for Zhao Manying, even standing up to applaud her impressive displays.

The Empire citizens beside him seethed with anger but dared not speak up.

Chapter 337: First Meeting with the Sun King (Part 2)



In the third round, the Gladiators were swiftly swept aside, and the audience near Ji Xinghuo couldn't bear to sit for even a second longer. Many left before the match concluded.

However, some stayed to watch the post-match interview.

Ji Xinghuo remained as well, watching Zhao Manying on stage, surrounded by countless cameras. After finishing her interviews with reporters from various countries, she waved at him. Zhao Manying flew over, and the two left the arena with their arms intimately linked.

Several spectators from the New Roman Empire, including the burly giant and his friend, were left stunned.

"That's Ji Xinghuo!"

"The first on the Heavenly Ladder, Sword Immortal's boyfriend!"

Cold sweat broke out on the giant's forehead, and his face paled as he realized the danger of his previous actions. He was merely a primary Extraordinary, and he had almost picked a fight with the top-ranked Heavenly Ladder warrior—an act of sheer folly.

In the following days,

Ji Xinghuo didn't miss a single match of the Imperial Star Team. He showed up at every game to cheer for Zhao Manying, no matter who was sitting next to him or what the audience around him thought.

News of this had already spread online.

Soon, whenever Ji Xinghuo appeared at the arena, he was quickly recognized by those around him, and naturally, no one dared to cause him any trouble.

The Imperial Star Team continued their undefeated streak, dominating the group stage and advancing to the knockout rounds as the top seed. In the elimination rounds, they maintained their flawless record, cutting down their opponents one after another until they emerged victorious from the winner's bracket to reach the final championship match.

July 22nd:

At 6 p.m., Ji Xinghuo once again arrived at the Imperial Arena.

Tonight, the champion of this International Invitational would be decided between the Imperial Star Team and the Space Cowboys.

The Space Cowboys were from the American League, headquartered in the "New Sleepless City" on the east coast of North America. They were backed by one of the world's largest conglomerates, the "Xinxiang Group," and were undoubtedly the most successful club in the American League.

Before this season, the Space Cowboys had invested over a thousand billion dollars, making several trades to acquire several star competition Extraordinary individuals to form a true powerhouse team.

All five starters for the Space Cowboys were ranked within the top 100 on the Heavenly Ladder.

After the start of the season, the Space Cowboys went undefeated in the American League's Super League, securing the season championship at the halfway point and setting their sights on the International Invitational.

However, two days ago, they had suffered a crushing blow.

In the elimination round, the Space Cowboys faced off against the Imperial Star Team. The first match was incredibly intense, and the Cowboys nearly emerged victorious. But in the final moments, Zhao Manying turned the tide, taking on three opponents alone and defeating them all in a thrilling win.

Up to this point, they were the only team that had come close to challenging the Imperial Star Team.

That match was hailed as the most exciting of the entire tournament.

Unfortunately, the Space Cowboys were deeply affected by their loss in the first game, and their performance only deteriorated in the following two matches, resulting in a swift sweep that sent them to the loser's bracket.

However, they managed to adjust quickly and fought their way back, emerging once again from the loser's bracket to reach the final championship match.

Tonight's game would likely be the most intense battle in recent memory, with countless highlights to anticipate.

The matchup featured a clash between the two top leagues, the APComm and the American League, mirroring the current global political landscape.

In recent years, the Space Cowboys were the only team with a chance to dethrone the Imperial Star Team.

With their luxurious lineup of all-Heavenly Ladder Extraordinary individuals, a loss would be a significant blow to their prestige.

On the other hand, if Zhao Manying won, she would become the second person in history to achieve nine championships.

When Ji Xinghuo entered the arena, there was still half an hour until the match began, but the venue was already almost full.

Unlike the first group stage match, the audience composition for this game was more diverse. Only about half were from the Empire, while the rest were die-hard fans who had traveled from the APComm, the American League, and other countries, creating a lively atmosphere.

The front-row seats in the arena were occupied by celebrities.

Famous stars, internet celebrities, socialites, legends, and tycoons—everyone sitting here was a notable figure.

The tickets for the front-most seats were priced at millions of Asian dollars each, but for these celebrities, the opportunity for exposure was well worth the expense.

Ji Xinghuo recognized many familiar faces.

There was Li Xuan, the Thousand Illusion Sword Immortal, the Ice and Fire siblings from the An family, numerous other Extraordinary individuals from the Heavenly Ladder and Legend rankings, as well as movie stars and singing sensations. Each of their names was widely known, and their presence illuminated the arena.

Many celebrities from other countries were also in attendance, though Ji Xinghuo didn't recognize most of them.

His seat wasn't very close to the front, located in the tenth row.

Since he had decided to come to Ivanograd quite late, he hadn't been able to purchase a front-row ticket, but it didn't matter much.

As Ji Xinghuo was about to take his seat, someone in the front row stood up.

"Xinghuo."

An Yitian greeted him enthusiastically.

When he called out Ji Xinghuo's name, the people sitting nearby turned their heads in unison to look at him.

However, aside from those who had met him in person, Ji Xinghuo still maintained an air of mystery online.

Everyone wanted to know what the number one on the Heavenly Ladder and Sword Immortal's boyfriend looked like.

Their gazes were filled with curiosity and scrutiny.

Ji Xinghuo paid them no mind and nodded at An Yitian, "Senior An." He then greeted Li Xuan, "Brother Li."

His duel bet with Li Xuan was already common knowledge.

Their face-to-face meeting immediately drew the attention of those around them.

Li Xuan slowly stood up, relishing the feeling of being the center of attention. With a brilliant smile, he said loudly, "You address Senior An Yitian but call me Brother Li, intentionally lowering my generation?"

An Yitian was over twenty years older than him, and while Li Xuan was a Heavenly King, Ji Xinghuo had not addressed him incorrectly.

Li Xuan was merely joking.

However, Ji Xinghuo didn't play along and acted as if he hadn't heard, taking his seat.

Li Xuan's smile froze.

Seeing that Ji Xinghuo didn't even glance his way, he could only smile awkwardly and turn back to his seat.

Those around them kept their expressions in check, pretending they hadn't noticed. There had been rumors of a conflict between Ji Xinghuo and Li Xuan, and it seemed they were true; otherwise, they wouldn't have made such a significant duel bet over a Starfall Exotic Species.

After Ji Xinghuo sat down, people occasionally approached him for a quiet chat, seeking to establish a connection.

He didn't refuse and simply exchanged a few words, adding them to his contacts.

The match was about to begin.

Suddenly, the solemn voice of the host rang out in the venue, and the projection screen in the center displayed a man in casual clothes.

"Tonight, our great emperor graces the Imperial Arena with his presence..."

Everyone's attention was drawn to the screen.

However, Ji Xinghuo didn't look at the screen; instead, he turned his head directly to a box above the venue, where a man standing and waving at the camera caught his attention. This man was none other than the emperor of the New Roman Empire, "Iron Emperor" Ivan Zhugashvili.

The first impression Iron Emperor gave was one of resoluteness.

His facial features were not particularly prominent, and he had a head of thick black hair. He stood at only about 1.7 meters tall, shorter than average, yet he exuded an innate aura of authority.

His unremarkable stature contained the strength of steel!

As the host praised him extravagantly, Iron Emperor surveyed the venue, and wherever his gaze fell, the Empire's citizens erupted in cheers.

There were others in the box with him.

Ji Xinghuo spotted Princess Sophia, but his attention wasn't on her. Instead, it was fully captured by the man standing next to her.

His pupils contracted slightly.

This blond-haired, blue-eyed, robust man was none other than the new Sun King, John Anthony.

Both the first and second-ranked Heavenly Kings were present!

After the host finished introducing Iron Emperor on the big screen, the camera shifted its focus to Sun King. A few days prior, Sun King had led the American League delegation to Ivanograd, making headlines.

At that moment, John Anthony stepped forward, standing side by side with Iron Emperor, and waved to the audience.

He wore a standard smile, appearing approachable.

However, Sun King's reception was slightly less enthusiastic than Iron Emperor's, as this was the New Roman Empire, and the people weren't as familiar with him.

Ji Xinghuo's electromagnetic sense spread out, and instantly, he perceived the strength of the two Heavenly Kings. They didn't bother to suppress their etheric energy fluctuations, standing out like two lighthouses in the dark night among the hundreds of thousands of people in the venue!

Only a handful of Heavenly Kings could rival them.

But there was still a significant gap.

Second only to them was Luo Yimeng, who was in another box. She had come to Ivanograd in the past few days, and while they maintained covert contact, they didn't publicly appear together.

Just as Ji Xinghuo was about to look away, the Sun King's gaze landed on him.

Their eyes met.

Sun King's expression froze for half a second, and Iron Emperor, sensing his change in demeanor, also looked toward Ji Xinghuo in the audience, his eyes carrying a probing glint. However, he didn't say anything.

But in the next second, Sun King suddenly stepped out of the box, his figure flashing like lightning as he descended from above.

In an instant, Sun King appeared before Ji Xinghuo.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end