Chapter 512: A God Among Men

Chapter 512: A God Among Men

"Mr. President!"

Zhao Cangming exclaimed, and after a few seconds of stupefaction, Lu Yunhai finally reacted as well, both of them filled with immense excitement.

Any citizen of the Asia-Pacific Community would have the same reaction upon seeing the President.

In the hearts of the people, the President's status was supreme.

He was the nation's founder, a national hero, a spiritual mentor, a role model, and an embodiment of a great leader. Without the President, there would be no country, no home, and perhaps their entire race would have perished.

When he stepped out from the screen and stood before them in person, not a single citizen of the Asia-Pacific Community could remain calm.

The people trusted him unconditionally.

In fact, most citizens of the Asia-Pacific Community would willingly sacrifice their lives for the President's safety.

Of course, Ji Daosheng would never allow anyone to do such a thing.

Ji Xinghuo understood the feelings of the two youths very well. When he had first met the President in person, he had also been extremely excited, not much different from how they felt now.

"Let's go," said Ji Xinghuo.

He took a few steps forward but realized that the other two were still standing in place, motionless. Lu Yunhai's face looked a bit dazed. "Xinghuo, did the President come here to see you?"

"I think so," Ji Xinghuo nodded.

"My goodness!"

Even though Lu Yunhai had just witnessed Ji Xinghuo's formidable power, which was beyond his comprehension, it was nothing compared to the shock he felt at this moment.

The President himself had come to the Star Gate Fortress to welcome Ji Xinghuo? Even the Prime Minister had come to greet him personally as a sign of respect. So, what status did Ji Xinghuo hold now?

He must be at least on par with the President, or perhaps even higher? Lu Yunhai's mind was in a mess, and he dared not think further, feeling like he was about to faint. Zhao Cangming, too, was stunned, unable to utter a word.

"What are you two still standing there for?" Ji Xinghuo said helplessly. "Do you want the President to come over and greet you?"

"Uh... uh..."

The two youths immediately snapped out of their daze and quickly followed.

Ji Xinghuo led the two, who were so excited that their steps seemed to float, and approached Ji Daosheng. He greeted the President with a respectful, "Mr. President."

"P-President!"

The two youths were extremely agitated as they saw Ji Daosheng up close, just like the images they had seen in their textbooks and on screens. They stuttered in their excitement, their legs trembling even more than when they had fought the celestial calamity monster.

"Xinghuo, you're back," Ji Daosheng nodded slightly, a kind smile on his face, as he turned to the two youths beside Ji Xinghuo.

"Let me introduce them to you, Mr. President," said Ji Xinghuo.

"I know who they are," Ji Daosheng laughed. "You are Lu Yunhai, Xinghuo's classmate, and you are Zhao Cangming, Man Ying's younger brother, right?"

"Yes, Mr. President!" The two youths were flabbergasted and felt deeply honored that the President knew their names. Even if it was just because of their connection to Ji Xinghuo and his sister, the fact that the President remembered them was a blessing in their lives.

"You two are excellent," praised Ji Daosheng.

He examined them seriously and encouraged, "Both of you young people have a bright future ahead. Continue to work hard and strive for even greater heights."

"Yes!"

Lu Yunhai and Zhao Cangming straightened their chests and responded excitedly.

Ji Daosheng shook hands with each of them and then turned to Ji Xinghuo. "Let's go. I'll take you back to Chang'an."

"Thank you, Mr. President," said Ji Xinghuo humbly. "As soon as I returned to Earth, I intended to request an audience with you. You didn't have to come here in person."

"I was resting when I heard you were back, so I decided to come over," Ji Daosheng smiled, not taking it as a bother.

"Thank you, Mr. President," expressed Ji Xinghuo, understanding that the President had a country to lead and that the responsibility for the entire nation rested on his shoulders. Every day, countless matters awaited his decision-making, and it was common for him to work intensely for several days and nights in a row, with no holidays or rest.

The President's time was extremely valuable, and the so-called "rest" was just an excuse.

But this only showed the President's respect for him.

The four of them boarded the shuttle.

This shuttle was exclusively for the President's use. From the outside, it looked ordinary, but its interior was a different story. It had been modified with the most advanced technology of the Asia-Pacific Community, featuring upgraded armor and force fields, increased speed and balance, and a comfortable interior.

As the shuttle took off, the top deck of the Star Gate Fortress closed layer by layer. Several other shuttles and fighters drew close and accompanied them, flying alongside for protection. Lu Yunhai's smoky bird also took to the sky and followed behind.

"Yunhai, Cangming," Ji Daosheng said to the two youths, "please go to the front cabin. I have something to discuss with Xinghuo. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all! Not at all!" The two quickly understood and walked forward.

The cabin door closed, blocking out all sounds from outside. Only Ji Daosheng and Ji Xinghuo remained in the room.

"Xinghuo, have a seat," Ji Daosheng said, pointing to the seats.

The two men sat face-to-face on the comfortable sofa. Ji Daosheng's expression relaxed further as he observed Ji Xinghuo carefully, and he couldn't help but smile. "This time, you stayed in the Star Realm longer than I expected, but your gains were also greater.

"Little Lan..." Ji Daosheng's eyes flickered with emotion, and his expression became complex as he sighed, "...it's been many years since I last saw her."

"Here's a letter from Titanium Cobalt Blue, which she asked me to give to you," Ji Xinghuo said as he handed over the letter.

"Let me see," Ji Daosheng said eagerly, his face lighting up. He opened the envelope without delay and began reading the letter in front of Ji Xinghuo.

With his current abilities, Ji Xinghuo could sense the contents of the letter without even looking at it. However, he deliberately averted his attention, respecting the privacy of others. Instead, he gazed out the porthole at the clouds drifting by.

Soon, Ji Daosheng finished reading the lengthy letter.

His face was filled with astonishment.

"Although Little Lan had conveyed some information previously, and Cheng Sheng had also briefly reported on your situation in the True Dragon Dynasty, this letter provides a much clearer and more detailed account of your experiences," Ji Daosheng said, his eyes fixed on the young man before him, filled with wonder.

"Defeating countless geniuses and legends of the Dynasty, becoming the Extinction Dragon Master, an unparalleled champion of the Dragon Spear Martial Arts Tournament, joining the Titanium Cobalt family, and ascending to the rank of Heavenly King... In just over two years, your journey has been more thrilling than the lifetime stories of most people. And this is just what Titanium Cobalt Blue is aware of; there must be much more that she doesn't know, secrets known only to you."

Ji Daosheng was intrigued by Ji Xinghuo's experiences and believed that if he asked, Ji Xinghuo would share them with him.

However, instead of probing further, he asked, "Xinghuo, what is your current strength?"

"Tier six, level two," Ji Xinghuo answered.

"That's incredibly fast!" Ji Daosheng exclaimed. "You've set yet another global record. When I was your age, I was still preparing to break through from Superpower to Legend, and I only reached the Heavenly King level when I was 42, a full 15 years later than you."

It was February 2229.

Ji Xinghuo had become a Heavenly King around April of last year, and his birthday was in July. He had not yet turned 27 at the time.

"The Heavenly King level is divided into three segments. Typically, the higher the segment, the stronger the individual. However, exceptional geniuses like yourself cannot be measured by conventional standards."

"The young surpass the old."

"The supers of Earth are also getting stronger with each generation."

"Cheng Sheng has just reached tier six, level one, and with the power of his dragon and the spear of Tianqi First Star, his strength surpasses that of most Heavenly Kings on Earth, ranking him eighth on the Global Power Rankings. Of course, you're even stronger than Cheng Sheng, and he holds you in high regard."

Ji Daosheng spoke slowly, his eyes never leaving Ji Xinghuo since they had met.

With his high-level mental perception abilities, he had long possessed the ability to discern the strength of supers, yet Ji Xinghuo remained veiled, shrouded in mist, eluding his scrutiny.

"I believe your strength surpasses that of countless Heavenly Kings, and in the True Dragon Dynasty's star-ascending sequence, you would be ranked among the hidden dragons."

"However, there's one question whose answer I desire more," Ji Daosheng said, his expression turning solemn.

"Please go ahead, Mr. President," Ji Xinghuo said, though he already had a guess as to what the question might be.

"Can you defeat the Sun King?" Ji Daosheng asked.

"Yes," Ji Xinghuo replied without hesitation.

"How confident are you?"

"As long as the Sun King hasn't ascended to become a Star Shepherd, even if he has advanced to an ultimate profession, I am 99% certain that I can kill him, and it would be a crushing victory," Ji Xinghuo stated with unwavering confidence.

Ji Daosheng's eyes widened in surprise as he had been closely observing Ji Xinghuo during his response, accurately sensing the young man's emotions.

There was not a hint of disturbance, as calm as an icy lake.

This revealed Ji Xinghuo's absolute confidence in his strength—unflustered, serene, and unpretentious, needing no exaggeration.

Ji Daosheng's solemn gaze gradually softened, and he finally broke into a smile.

"Good, good, good!"

He exclaimed 'good' three times, each with a slightly different emotion, his joy intensifying with each word. Finally, he clapped his hands and burst into laughter, "Wonderful!"

It was the first time Ji Xinghuo had seen the President so elated, even to the point of losing his composure. However, he could understand the weight of emotions behind this reaction.

From the late 21st century, when the nation had nearly perished, to the mid-22nd century, where they had rebuilt their country and rekindled hope, and now, in the 23rd century, standing at the global pinnacle as one of the two superpowers, with a chance to unite the entire world—countless pioneers had sacrificed and shed blood along the way.

However, no one could truly understand the weight on his shoulders.

For any other person, the pressure would likely crush their spirit within a few years, yet the President had persevered for over a century, his mind unshaken and his resolve unwavering.

And now, after years of tireless efforts and strategic planning, the light of victory was finally in sight.

How could the President not be delighted?

However, Ji Daosheng's display of genuine emotion lasted for less than half a minute before he regained his composure.

He looked at Ji Xinghuo and said calmly, "The Sun King is the biggest obstacle in our path, a towering mountain that blocks the progress of our train. Colliding with it would result in certain destruction, and even just catching a glimpse of it from afar would instill tremendous psychological pressure, causing people to falter and hesitate."

"It's up to you to topple, remove, or even destroy this mountain."

"Rest assured, Mr. President," Ji Xinghuo replied firmly.

"Good," nodded Ji Daosheng. He continued, "The Sun King is the greatest challenge among many, but once he is eliminated, the rest will be relatively easier. We must take it one step at a time, and there is still much to be done, which will require your efforts as well."

"As long as you give the order, Mr. President, I guarantee the completion of the task," Ji Xinghuo suddenly said. "I have one request."

Ji Daosheng smiled and said, "Go ahead."

"I just want to be an executor, Mr. President. I'm not adept at strategy and planning, so I'd prefer to simply follow your orders without question," Ji Xinghuo said. He had thought about this many times, and despite his current strength, he knew that if he wished, he could easily attain an exalted political status.

If he were more ambitious, he might even threaten the President's power and usurp the ultimate fruits of victory.

However, he had no interest in such things and wanted to stay clear of politics.

Ji Daosheng was not surprised by this.

He shook his head, "People are the sum of their social relationships. Many times, we are not masters of our own fate. The more you try to distance yourself, the more you may end up entangled, forcing you to make choices. It's better to embrace it all proactively. With your strength and intelligence, I believe you can handle it exceptionally well."

However, Ji Xinghuo remained unconvinced.

"In the Star Realm, I may have no choice," he said, flashing a confident smile at Ji Daosheng. "But here on Earth, I do."

"Oh?" Ji Daosheng's eyes narrowed.

"You've probably heard this saying, Mr. President: 'He who lives apart from society is either a beast or a god,'" Ji Xinghuo said, his expression turning enigmatic. "I can exist completely apart from human society, but I am no beast."

He left the rest unsaid.

Ji Daosheng understood the implication of Ji Xinghuo's words. By comparing himself to a god, he wasn't referring to a religious concept.

Instead, relative to all of humanity on Earth, he was a god-like force, possessing absolute power in certain aspects.

A force that could take life and give it, doing as he pleased!

Ji Daosheng recalled his direct question to Ji Xinghuo in the past.

"If one day, the nation, the people, your family, friends, and loved ones were all in danger, and saving them required your sacrifice, would you be willing?" And Ji Xinghuo's answer had been: "No."

In fact, Ji Daosheng had never forgotten that answer. Every time he thought about Ji Xinghuo, that response came to mind.

He knew exactly what kind of person Ji Xinghuo was.

Ji Xinghuo was an exemplary citizen of the Asia-Pacific Community, with a strong sense of personal morality. He was capable of self-restraint and contributed to the nation and race to the best of his abilities, and his contributions were far greater than those of most people, without expecting anything in return.

However, expecting a powerful being like Ji Xinghuo to maintain a moral standard far beyond the norm was unrealistic.

If Ji Xinghuo were pushed to the limit...

Perhaps he would become the next Sun King, or even inflict greater destruction on Earth and humanity.

And Ji Xinghuo made no attempt to hide this.

"Alright," Ji Daosheng said after a long silence, letting out a sigh. "I accept your request."

"Thank you, Mr. President, for accommodating my willfulness."

"Hehe..."

Ji Daosheng shook his head with a sense of helplessness and smiled. "You're right; you do have a choice here on Earth. I hope that one day, you'll also have that choice in the Star Realm and the galaxy, protecting our mother planet and our race."

"That day shouldn't be too far off, Mr. President. You will surely witness it," Ji Xinghuo replied, his words carrying a deeper meaning.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end