Chapter 526: Reigning Supreme Across the Globe

Chapter 526: Reigning Supreme Across the Globe

In the midst of his family's astonished gazes, Ji Xinghuo strolled over and sat down beside Zhao Manying, leaning back nonchalantly with a relaxed posture.

Everyone remained silent, and Ji Xinghuo chuckled, "What's wrong?"

"Third brother," Ye Dongyun murmured, her expression complex as she felt pride in Ji Xinghuo's achievements, yet also a sense of unreality. "You told me yesterday that you were going out for a bit. I thought you were just going for a casual walk to clear your mind, but I never expected you to be doing something so momentous."

"I didn't want to worry you all," Ji Xinghuo explained, mindful of the need to maintain secrecy regarding certain matters.

Zhao Manying, ever perceptive, had her suspicions, but she refrained from prying.

Ji Xinghuo squeezed her delicate hand, their eyes meeting in a tender exchange of affection.

"Third brother!" Liang Qiu Feiyan finally snapped out of her daze, her voice filled with excitement. "So, you've become this formidable!"

A smug smile played on Wang Zizheng's face as he boasted, "And you're only figuring this out now? Ever since Third Brother returned, I knew his strength was terrifying. Aside from the Sun King, there's no one on Earth who can match him."

"Hmph, if you knew, why didn't you tell me?" Liang Qiu Feiyan questioned.

"Because you wouldn't have understood anyway," Wang Zizheng retorted, sticking out his tongue.

As the two continued their playful bickering, the large screen in the living room suddenly switched to the latest news, accompanied by a live broadcast.

"An attack has taken place in Karachi, the Kingdom of Hindi. Dozens of mutants, followers of the Brahma King, Ferroz, have incited civilians to besiege the municipal building, resulting in at least 38 deaths and 107 injuries. The Minister of Home Affairs, Kana Mazunda, has urgently deployed..."

A reporter stood before the camera, delivering a rapid report.

In the footage, the streets outside the Karachi Municipal Building were packed with people. Waves of shouts and angry roars rose and fell as the crowd vandalized shops and public facilities along the street, looting and setting fires everywhere.

Suddenly, the screen lit up with a dazzling flash.

A thunderous rumble filled the air...

A bolt of lightning struck the crowd, leaping an untold number of times in an instant. The most frenzied of the mob, those besieging the building, collapsed and turned into a pile of charred bodies.

When the lightning faded, the live camera captured a figure.

This figure moved so swiftly it was a blur, zipping from one end of the street to the other in the blink of an eye, leaving a trail of casualties in its wake. The believers and mutants mixed in with the crowd were ruthlessly eliminated.

The lightning-fast figure circled the Municipal Building, and the besieging crowd fell into complete disarray.

With the crisis averted, the figure soared into the sky and vanished from the scene.

All of this transpired in less than ten seconds.

The reporter standing in front of the camera was left dumbfounded, only regaining her professional composure after a few seconds to continue her broadcast: "This is a live report from the Karachi Municipal Building. I'm sure viewers just witnessed the remarkable events unfold. Mr. Ji Xinghuo has successfully quelled the attack, but we cannot confirm whether that was his true body or an avatar..."

In the distant villa on Mount Qinling, the living room fell silent.

They had witnessed similar live broadcasts throughout the day, but at this moment, with Ji Xinghuo himself sitting among them, the impact was even more profound.

Everyone stared intently at Ji Xinghuo.

It was unimaginable that he could be sitting on the sofa in person while simultaneously suppressing a riot thousands of kilometers away through an avatar.

"Third brother, is the one before us your true body or an avatar?" Liang Qiu Feiyan asked curiously.

"What do you think?" Ji Xinghuo replied with a smile.

Liang Qiu Feiyan widened her eyes, scrutinizing him from head to toe several times. She even leaned in to smell his scent and touched the back of his hand, but ultimately, she shook her head in defeat, "I can't tell."

In fact, most people in the room couldn't discern the difference, including the An siblings from the Legend Ranking.

Only Zhao Manying, with her True Eye, already knew the truth. Smiling, she said, "Fei Fei, your brother here is his true self."

With her True Eye, coupled with Quantum Intelligence and Quantum Speed Reading, she could discern the authenticity of things. No disguise or illusion could escape her perception, not even a deception mask could hide the truth from her senses.

"I guessed as much," Wang Zizheng remarked, his eyes flicking between the replay on the screen and Ji Xinghuo, his face filled with admiration. "Your true self is here, chatting and laughing, while your avatar is taking lives thousands of miles away! Third brother, if this were ancient times, you'd be a god!"

He had spent over a decade immersed in virtual games, experiencing the thrill of wielding immense power within those digital worlds.

But now, he realized that reality offered an even better game.

Ye Dongyun couldn't help but ask, "Third brother, what does it feel like?"

Her question was vague, but everyone present understood that she was inquiring about the sensation of possessing such immense power.

They were all curious.

Ji Xinghuo himself struggled to find the right words to describe it, but after a moment's thought, he replied, "It's like having the freedom to do as I wish, with my thoughts unfettered."

His answer left everyone thoughtful.

Liang Qiu Feiyan only partially understood, but she quickly lost interest in the topic. "Third brother, everyone on the internet is saying that you've surpassed the Sun King and are now the true global pinnacle. Is that true?"

"I suppose so," Ji Xinghuo replied modestly, leaving room for interpretation.

"Really?"

Liang Qiu Feiyan's eyes sparkled with admiration as she hugged Ji Xinghuo's arm, her excitement palpable. "The global pinnacle, and it's my brother! Oh my, I never dared to dream that this could come true!"

Noticing her swelling pride, Ji Xinghuo gently reminded her, "It's only the pinnacle on Earth. In the Star Realm, I'm still a mere unknown rookie."

Liang Qiu Feiyan clenched her fists tightly, her determination clear. "You definitely will!"

Ji Xinghuo nodded slightly, then turned to the others and said, "Aunt Zhuo, Cang Ming, welcome to our home."

This was the first time Zhao Manying had brought the two of them to the villa.

Unlike her usual relaxed and graceful self, Zhuo Yanran seemed somewhat restrained today.

When she had first learned of Ji Xinghuo's existence, she had regarded him with the scrutinizing gaze of an elder assessing a younger generation. However, after learning more about him, she had come to acknowledge that he was a worthy match for her daughter. Nonetheless, Zhao Manying's exceptional prowess had always made her feel a sense of superiority, and it was only recently that she had begun to view them as equals.

But today's events had completely changed her perspective, as she now realized that Ji Xinghuo was far more powerful than her daughter.

Whether it was strength, status, or fame, Ji Xinghuo stood at the pinnacle of the world.

He was a formidable figure with absolute power!

Facing Ji Xinghuo now, Zhuo Yanran's attitude naturally became more humble and respectful.

"Xinghuo, Manying mentioned that she wanted to bring me to meet your family. I thought that you must be very busy, so I suggested we visit another time when you're free. But Manying insisted that it was fine, so here we are," Zhuo Yanran explained with a smile.

"Aunt Zhuo, you're too kind," Ji Xinghuo said, glancing at Zhao Manying. "You and Cang Ming are always welcome here. Please make yourselves at home."

"Thank you!"

Zhuo Yanran's face lit up with joy.

Not only her, but the An siblings and the group of bodyguards also regarded Ji Xinghuo with even greater reverence. During Ji Xinghuo's conversation with his family, they didn't dare to utter a single word.

It was only when Ji Xinghuo proactively engaged them in conversation that An Yitian and An Zhisu relaxed and joined in.

Everyone was eager to know about the situation in the South Asian Alliance.

Although the news channels provided 24-hour coverage and countless channels, self-media outlets, and experts offered various analyses, predictions, and interpretations of official releases, some of which were spot-on, none of them had access to the inner circles of the Asia-Pacific Community or any inside information.

As a key participant and leader in the South Asian affair, Ji Xinghuo knew more than almost anyone else.

Perhaps only the heads of state had a similar level of insight.

As long as it didn't involve top-secret information, Ji Xinghuo shared everything he could with his family and friends.

The atmosphere was lively and enthusiastic as everyone discussed the events passionately.

Even after dinner, the group remained glued to the real-time updates, clustering around Ji Xinghuo.

Suddenly, a news alert flashed across everyone's screens.

"The Star Realm Defense Council has released its latest rankings, with Ji Xinghuo dethroning Sun King John Anthony to claim the top spot on the Global Combat Power Ranking!"

Simultaneously, multiple authoritative media outlets published the news, accompanied by eye-catching headlines.

"A New King is Crowned!"

"The Era of the Sun King has Ended; the Age of Ji Xinghuo has Begun."

"The Strongest Mutant in History!"

Within just a few minutes, this news became the top headline on every media platform around the globe, sparking endless discussions among netizens. The fervor surrounding the South Asian subcontinent affair was overshadowed, and the attention of all humanity was captured by this development.

Even Ji Xinghuo himself was somewhat surprised. He opened the ADC website on his phone.

The first thing that greeted him was the Global Combat Power Ranking.

At the very top of the list was the name "Ji Xinghuo," and his personal information had been updated as well—age, nationality, occupation, and identity, along with a concise and clear summary of his publicly known experiences, accompanied by relevant photos and videos.

Along with this ranking update, ADC provided a special annotation.

The King Ranking, later reformed as the Global Combat Power Ranking, had existed for 103 years. From day one, the Sun King had always held the top position.

Until today, when Ji Xinghuo usurped the Sun King's spot and claimed the number one position for himself.

The Sun King had fallen to second place.

Additionally, three names had been removed from the Global Combat Power Ranking—Vam King, Elephant Master, and Hurricane Earl.

"Congratulations!"

Zhao Manying quickly finished reading the update and offered her congratulations to Ji Xinghuo.

The others followed suit, expressing their felicitations.

In various class groups, from elementary school to university, almost every classmate was tagging Ji Xinghuo and sending their congratulations. The messages were flooded with all sorts of quirky emojis, and the chat was buzzing with excitement, with new messages popping up constantly.

Ji Xinghuo couldn't help but feel touched by the outpouring of support.

While he didn't need this ranking to prove his strength, as the Earth's mutant power rankings held little reference value in the Star Realm and might even seem laughable, he had grown up under the shadow of the Sun King's legendary reputation.

The impression of the Sun King's invincibility was deeply ingrained in his mind.

Now, surpassing the Sun King and gaining global recognition held a special significance.

It was also a symbolic event for all humans on Earth, carrying immense representational value.

As those few media outlets had commented: an era had come to an end.

Naturally, those in the Asia-Pacific Community camp were overjoyed and celebrated the news, while netizens from across the ocean were in mourning, with some refusing to believe it, others spewing curses, and a few angrily accusing ADC of ranking corruption and accepting bribes from Ji Xinghuo.

"I didn't pay them any money," Ji Xinghuo said, feeling a mix of amusement and bewilderment at these accusations. Nonetheless, a seed of suspicion had been planted in his mind.

ADC had always been extremely cautious with their rankings, but this time, they had shown extraordinary boldness in placing him above the Sun King.

But ADC didn't do that.

Ji Xinghuo suspected that the President might have influenced them behind the scenes.

Although the Star Realm Defense Council claimed to be a neutral organization, in recent years, the proportion of people from the Asia-Pacific Community in its personnel and high-level leadership had been increasing. Many believed that ADC had shown bias towards the APC on multiple occasions.

The rankings weren't just about who was first and who was second; they carried immense influence over the global community.

The Sun King dropping to second place meant the shattering of his undefeated myth!

This would deal a severe blow to the public image of the Sun King and the confidence of the people in the American Federation.

"Should I ask the President about this?" Ji Xinghuo considered for a moment before deciding against it.

Whether or not the President had exerted his influence, ADC's ranking was correct. His strength surpassed that of the Sun King, and that was a fact.

If there were still disputes, it was only because others were unaware.

Facts spoke louder than words, and when the day came that he defeated the Sun King, everyone would have to admit defeat.

"Third brother, look at your social media account," Liang Qiu Feiyan said with a smile.

"What's up?" Ji Xinghuo asked. He hadn't posted anything on the platform in several years, and when he logged in, he saw that his most recent post was calling Li Xuan an idiot, and before that, when Zhao Manying had announced their relationship, he had posted a clown picture to mock those who had criticized him.

Notifications were pouring in, with several tens of thousands of new comments every second, most of them on a single post.

It was something he had posted back in 2218:

"The Sun King is nothing. I'll step on him sooner or later, just you wait and see!"

Ji Xinghuo remembered.

Eleven years ago, he had only been 17 years old.

That day, the second-generation Sun King had easily defeated several Heavenly Kings in a global livestream, solidifying his position as the undisputed number one. After watching the livestream, Ji Xinghuo, filled with awe and admiration, had written those "grandiose words," which he had later forgotten about.

Back then, he was still in high school and wasn't even a mutant. A few classmates had seen his post and ridiculed him for it.

Countless teenagers going through their rebellious phase had made similar bold claims.

It was both a boast and a way to vent.

Ji Xinghuo's statement wasn't any different from the nonsense others had spouted, but today, it had become a reality!

"Time really flies. It's been 11 years," Ji Xinghuo said, reminiscing about his youth. If he could go back in time and tell his younger self that his bold claim would come true, he wouldn't have believed it.

He opened the comments section.

Netizens flooded in, expressing their thoughts. This post had already been shared over 100 million times and topped the platform's trending searches.

"Witnessing history!"

"Everyone talks big, but only you made it happen."

"I was Ji Xinghuo's high school classmate, and I saw this as soon as he posted it. The next day in class, several of us mocked him for it. Who would have thought that it would be us eating our words? Waaah..."

"Is there a time traveler who went back to tell Ji Xinghuo that 11 years later, he would do it?"

"You're 28 and the top mutant in the world, and I'm 28 and the best bowler in my company. We all have a bright future ahead of us."

"Finally, the world's strongest mutant is someone from the Asia-Pacific Community."

"Looking forward to the Sun King's response."

"I wonder if anyone else feels the same as me, really wanting to watch a showdown between Ji Xinghuo and the Sun King. Hopefully, it will be broadcast globally."

"Me too!" Hundreds of thousands of people echoed this sentiment.

"With the current global situation, a battle between Ji Xinghuo and the Sun King is inevitable. This fight will not only be a clash between the two most powerful mutants but also the final battle between our two nations! Let's wait and see."

This comment received over ten million likes and was still rapidly increasing.

Ji Xinghuo skimmed through the most popular comments and then opened the profile of the person who claimed to be his high school classmate, only to find that it was fake.

"Damn!"

He cursed, "I don't know this person, and they weren't my classmate."

His family and friends laughed, and Liang Qiu Feiyan said, "This person is pretending to be your classmate to ride on your coattails."

Ji Xinghuo was speechless.

Ye Dongyun asked, "Third brother, now that you're number one in the world, won't you post something?"

"Yes, this is a great opportunity for publicity," Liang Qiu Feiyan said, her eyes sparkling.

"I don't need publicity, and I don't have anything to say," Ji Xinghuo shook his head. "Now isn't the right time. It's enough that everyone is happy." Even though he had become the global number one, he still hadn't revealed his appearance publicly. The third trending search on the social platform was about his looks, and countless people were curious, with some even starting a petition.

However, things didn't go as hoped, as a phone call interrupted them.

"Mr. President," Ji Xinghuo said as he took the call in the room.

President Ji Daosheng appeared on the projection screen, his expression solemn. "Xinghuo, there's something I'd like to discuss with you. I hope you can cooperate with the publicity department and film a short video addressing the global public."

There's only one chapter today, and tomorrow, we'll make a comeback.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end