Chapter 358: A Legend Among Legends

Chapter 358: A Legend Among Legends

In the Tian Qin National Stadium, the audience fell silent for a second before erupting into deafening cheers. Everyone stood up, unable to control their emotions, shouting and clapping to express their excitement. The noise grew louder and louder, as if they would turn the entire stadium upside down.

"He did it!"

The host, hired by Li Xuan, shouted incoherently, caught up in the thrilling fight, "Ji Xinghuo has made history! He's the first superhuman in human history to defeat a King by breaking through the ranks!"

"He's the youngest legend in the world, only 25 years old!"

"But his strength surpasses the Kings!"

"Ji Xinghuo's story is just beginning tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing the rise of an unprecedented powerhouse!"

"This is a legendary night!"

"For years to come, we will all remember this day, the birth of a legend among legends!"

These words, broadcast over the internet, shook and thrilled billions of viewers worldwide. The topic was ablaze on social media, and anyone online, regardless of country, time zone, or channel, couldn't help but take notice.

A legend had defeated a King!

On the giant screens and live broadcasts, the cameras focused on Ji Xinghuo's soundproof booth. As he emerged from the projection cabin, the crowd erupted into even more enthusiastic cheers.

"Ji Xinghuo!"

The crowd chanted his name in unison, their voices echoing through the stadium and reaching every corner of the globe through the live stream.

Ji Xinghuo hovered steadily in the middle of the arena, suspended in mid-air, soaking in the adulation of the crowd.

Spotlights shone down on him from above.

"Ji Xinghuo! Ji Xinghuo..."

The chants grew louder and more fervent, showing no signs of stopping.

Ji Xinghuo seemed to be standing on an invisible floor, his body surrounded by lights as he waved to the audience, a faint smile on his face.

After waving, he remained suspended, his arms outstretched, staring directly into the main camera, his expression calm yet tinged with an indefinable emotion.

Dozens of live cameras captured the scene from multiple angles.

It was as if Ji Xinghuo was making eye contact with billions of people worldwide, evoking a range of emotions.

Some sensed his dominance and arrogance, his confidence, and composure; others detected contempt and haughtiness, as if he looked down on everyone.

Most, however, felt envy or admiration.

Regardless of their feelings, no one dared to underestimate this young man anymore. With three fights, he had used a King as a stepping stone, proving his strength.

Even if this King was only ranked 45th, he was still a true King, one of the 49 strongest individuals in the world.

And Ji Xinghuo's true strength was clearly beyond that of the 45th rank!

What was truly daunting was that he was merely a legend.

Just as the host had said, Ji Xinghuo was a "legend among legends," and in the future, he would only grow stronger!

In the lofty skyscraper of the Sun King, John Anthony, in the capital of the American Federation, St. Louis, a spacious and bright conference room held only one person. He watched Ji Xinghuo on the big screen, his eyes flashing with a reddish light.

"Ji Xinghuo..." John Anthony muttered to himself, his expression cold. "Letting you go last time might have been the biggest mistake of my life, but there won't be a next time."

In the "Iron Palace" of the New Roman Empire, the Iron Emperor Ivan was holding a court meeting when he noticed two or three ministers zoning out. Just as he was about to question them, he received a report from his communication eunuch, who sent him a link.

Opening the live stream, he saw the replay of Ji Xinghuo defeating Li Xuan with three punches.

After watching, the Iron Emperor narrowed his eyes.

Suddenly, he addressed his ministers, "This man will undoubtedly be the empire's most troublesome opponent in the future. The Intelligence Bureau should establish a special team to gather information on him, and report to me every week."

Similar scenes unfolded across the globe.

From the Western Alliance to South America, from Kings to commoners, and from official institutions to private enterprises, people from all walks of life were paying attention to Ji Xinghuo for various reasons and from different standpoints.

In the highest office of the Yuan Prefecture in Chang'an, Ji Daosheng and a few others were also watching the live stream. He smiled and exclaimed, "Xinghuo's appearance will keep many people up at night!"

Marshal Wu Huai'an nodded. "It's a blessing for our nation."

"Yes..."

"He's the hope of the Asia-Pacific Community, and of the Earth and all humanity."

Ji Daosheng sighed, his eyes fixed on the screen where Ji Xinghuo was, a hint of unseen worry lurking in the depths of his gaze.

Ji Xinghuo descended back onto the platform, and the host, caught up in the excitement, rushed over from the commentary booth for an interview amidst the glaring spotlight.

"Mr. Ji..."

Before the host could finish, Ji Xinghuo interjected, "Where is Li Jianxia?"

According to the procedure, regardless of the outcome of the duel, both parties should accept the interview together. This was a rule set by Li Xuan himself, and he had even pretended to ask for opinions, a ploy that Ji Xinghuo had seen through and agreed to. But now, Li Xuan was nowhere to be seen.

Ji Xinghuo looked towards the opposite platform. Several minutes had passed, yet Li Xuan still hadn't emerged from the projection cabin.

The spiritual realm had long been deactivated.

Even though he had just 'died' three times in the virtual world, a King would not suffer any mental damage, and he should have recovered by now.

Li Xuan was simply hiding in the projection cabin, waiting for an opportunity to slip away while the audience was distracted by the interview.

Ji Xinghuo wasn't about to let that happen.

At that moment, the live cameras turned towards the opposite platform. The soundproof booth was transparent, and after a few seconds, Li Xuan finally stepped out of the projection cabin. His face was pale, as if he were injured, but with countless eyes upon him, he couldn't just slink away.

The host had no choice but to say, "Please, Li Jianxia."

Li Xuan transformed into a sword glow and flew over from the opposite platform. When he materialized, his face had regained its healthy complexion, and his expression was as calm as ever.

"I apologize," Li Xuan quickly explained. "I didn't feel well, so I took a moment to rest, giving Mr. Ji the opportunity to savor his victory alone."

"Then you're feeling better now?" Ji Xinghuo asked seriously.

"Hahahaha..."

The audience couldn't help but find the situation amusing, and the venue erupted in laughter.

Li Xuan's actions were obvious to those with discerning eyes, but he was still trying to make excuses for himself. While everyone was doing their best to hold back and not call him out, Ji Xinghuo's response was dripping with sarcasm.

The host beside him pursed his lips, barely managing to hold in his laughter.

Only Li Xuan wore a straight face.

However, the more he tried to save face, the more awkward he looked, and anyone could tell how uncomfortable he felt.

The host struggled to regain his composure and asked solemnly, "We would like to congratulate Mr. Ji on winning tonight's duel. Mr. Ji, how do you feel right now?"

"I feel great," Ji Xinghuo replied casually. "No one likes to lose, and it's even better to win and earn money. I want to thank Li Jianxia for his generosity."

Li Xuan forced a thin smile onto his face.

In his heart, he was bleeding. 150 billion Asian dollars, and only about 600 billion of that was cash he had accumulated over the years. The remaining 900 billion was partly from bank loans and partly borrowed from friends.

He had originally thought that he would win for sure, so the loans and borrowings were just a formality and could be repaid quickly. Given the urgency at the time, he had offered high-interest rates.

Now that he had lost, he had almost emptied out his accumulated assets.

And that wasn't even the end of it.

It would take him at least five to six years of hard work to repay the debts.

The loss of assets was one thing, but what Li Xuan found even more unacceptable was that he had lost to a non-King, an anomaly. This defeat had almost ruined his reputation.

The fame and influence he had built up over the years had crumbled in a single night.

But he couldn't show it.

Even if a person falls, their spirit should remain unbroken.

Li Xuan knew that he had to display an attitude of accepting defeat gracefully. He must not lose face in public; only then would he have a chance to make a comeback.

Not only must he not lose face, but he also had to praise his opponent to show his magnanimity.

At this moment, the host asked, "Mr. Ji, you are the first anomaly in Earth's history to defeat a King by breaking through the ranks. Congratulations on making history. I believe the viewers at home are all curious. How did you manage to evolve from an ordinary person to a legend with such incredible power in just three years?"

"Hard work and talent," Ji Xinghuo replied casually.

Of course, he couldn't mention the fact that he had an overpowered ability.

"Many people work hard and have talent," the host persisted, not picking up on the social cues. "Why is it that only you have achieved this? I believe there must be another reason."

Ji Xinghuo glanced at the host.

The host had been invited by Li Xuan, and although he dared not speak out of turn on stage, his years of experience in the media had made him instinctively try to dig for more sensational details.

The host's heart skipped a beat.

Ji Xinghuo countered calmly, "Why should I tell you?"

"Mr. Ji, please don't misunderstand. I was out of line," the host said, remembering Ji Xinghuo's terrifying power in the spiritual realm, and he couldn't help but shudder. He quickly apologized and changed the subject. "Mr. Ji, can you share your thoughts on tonight's battle?"

"It was alright," Ji Xinghuo said, turning to look at Li Xuan. "Li Jianxia's strength is indeed formidable, worthy of a King.

Three rounds, three different ways of defeating a King.

Ji Xinghuo had proven everything with his performance.

He casually commented, "Li Jianxia's speed and talent are indeed remarkable, but he has one weakness. He lacks experience in life-or-death battles and has not fought opponents of the same level. He also lacks the courage to go all out."

This statement was just shy of saying that Li Xuan's strength was inflated, and Li Xuan's expression turned stormy as his patience reached its limit.

However, Ji Xinghuo's next sentence immediately calmed him down.

"At the beginning, when Li Jianxia challenged me, I preferred a real fight instead of a spiritual realm battle. That would have better showcased an anomaly's strength."

Ji Xinghuo looked at Li Xuan, a smile playing on his lips.

"I look forward to the day when I can face Li Jianxia in a real battle."

Li Xuan's heart skipped a beat as he thought of the despair he felt when he 'died' three times. He had already developed cold feet, but he managed to put on a thoughtful expression and replied, "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Ji. I will definitely seek your advice again."

His words were polite, but he was secretly relieved.

Fortunately, he had chosen the spiritual realm as the battleground. Otherwise, he might have lost more than just the game!

"With Li Jianxia's strength, he will definitely continue to improve." The host timely chimed in with flattery, "We will definitely see the day when Li Jianxia and Mr. Ji face each other again, and it will be in the real world."

Do you want me dead?

Li Xuan was furious. The host's words were like putting him on the grill, but he couldn't refute them without appearing weak.

"Hehe..."

Ji Xinghuo naturally saw through Li Xuan's pretenses and couldn't help but laugh, his expression filled with mockery.

The audience also saw through it and started to laugh along.

Hearing the mocking laughter all around him, Li Xuan wished he could find a hole to crawl into. He bitterly regretted his decision to challenge Ji Xinghuo, a move that had not only cost him a fortune but also made him a laughingstock.

He seethed inwardly but dared not show any hint of resentment or thoughts of revenge toward Ji Xinghuo.

All he wanted now was to stay as far away from Ji Xinghuo as possible.

Preferably, he never wanted to see him again for the rest of his life.

The host asked a few more questions, which Ji Xinghuo answered briefly before ending the interview, leaving the audience wanting more.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" The host announced to the camera, "Tonight's performance and duel have come to a successful conclusion..."

The celebrity contestants who had participated earlier came on stage to take their final bows.

However, most of them gravitated toward Li Xuan.

They had been invited by Li Xuan and had a closer relationship with him. Even though Li Xuan had lost, in their eyes, he was still an unreachable King, and they also wanted to associate themselves with Ji Xinghuo. But with Li Xuan present, they couldn't be too obvious about it.

After the curtain call, the live stream was cut, and the audience began to leave.

Li Xuan was about to fly away.

"Li Xuan."

Ji Xinghuo called out loudly, stopping him in his tracks. In front of all the celebrities and socialites on stage, Ji Xinghuo directly asked, "When will you transfer the 150 billion?"

Li Xuan froze, his expression turning ugly.

The live stream was over, but with so many people watching, many of whom were social elites who depended on his favor, Li Xuan felt embarrassed to be chased for payment so publicly.

"I will fulfill the contract," Li Xuan said stiffly, "You don't need to rush me."

"Transfer the money now." Ji Xinghuo didn't want to let him go.

If he let Li Xuan leave now, there was a chance he might renege on the deal, hire a team of lawyers, and drag this out in court. Who knew how long that would take?

"I always keep my word." Li Xuan glared at Ji Xinghuo, "I won't shortchange you by a single cent."

Ji Xinghuo wasn't moved by his words. He held out his hand and said, "Stop talking nonsense. Transfer the money!"

"You..."

Li Xuan was so angry that he was about to explode.

However, he already had a psychological complex about Ji Xinghuo. He couldn't beat him in a fight, and he couldn't escape. With so many people watching, he didn't have the courage to go all out.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Xuan had no choice but to start the transfer, taking a few minutes to send 150 billion to Ji Xinghuo's account.

Ji Xinghuo received the bank notification.

After confirming the receipt of the funds, he nodded in satisfaction, "The earnings from tonight's performance should be settled within three days. Otherwise, don't blame me for coming to your door to collect the debt."

"Alright."

Li Xuan replied through gritted teeth and flew away without another word.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end