Chapter 528: The Money-Changing Swordsman

Chapter 528: The Money-Changing Swordsman

Ji Xinghuo released his first globally-oriented video, introducing himself to everyone on Earth. By the next morning, the views had surpassed a hundred billion!

Many had rewatched it numerous times.

The number of shares and comments also exceeded three billion, implying that nearly everyone on the planet had watched the video.

The penetration rate was close to 100%!

Regardless of whether they agreed with Ji Xinghuo's stance, hated him, or even despised him, as long as they watched the video, the propaganda effect was achieved.

The goal wasn't to avoid criticism but to ensure everyone watched.

Getting viewers to press play was always the hardest first step.

This was precisely the effect the Fuhrer wanted. Lu Qingzhou had worked through the night, leading his team to promptly complete the data statistics and analysis of the video, reporting the results to the Fuhrer first thing in the morning, earning his praise.

"Xinghuo, this publicity campaign has been very successful."

"We will continue to strive harder!"

Ji Daosheng sent a message to Ji Xinghuo, along with the statistical data, before continuing with his other tasks.

At a little past eight, Ji Xinghuo disentangled himself and sat up, noticing the message.

"What are you looking at so intently?" Zhao Manying asked, poking her head out from the blankets, her delicate face still drowsy from the previous night's activities. Despite being a legendary anomaly, she was feeling a bit exhausted from staying up all night, but she gritted her teeth and persevered, refusing to admit defeat.

She had already lost to Ji Xinghuo in terms of strength and cultivation, and she was determined not to lose in bed as well.

As a result, she ended up sleeping until now.

On any other day, she would have been up early for cultivation, but she hadn't felt this weary in a long time, and it took her a few hours to recover.

"Take a look at this."

Ji Xinghuo turned the phone screen toward her and quickly swiped through the content.

Zhao Manying instantly absorbed the information, her eyes widening in surprise. "A hundred billion views and nearly 100% penetration rate! Now, you truly are a household name on Earth. Throughout history, very few people have achieved such fame."

"It's just a little fleeting fame," Ji Xinghuo said nonchalantly.

"Don't be so modest!" Zhao Manying chuckled.

Others might have believed that Ji Xinghuo truly didn't care about fame and fortune, but she knew that he was just putting on a front.

"Hehe... You're the only one who understands me, Manying."

Only then did Ji Xinghuo reveal a hint of pride. It was impossible for him to be completely indifferent to fame and fortune. Although he didn't need them, the feeling of having achieved them was still pleasant.

He kissed Zhao Manying deeply on the lips and then proceeded to initiate another round of intimacy.

"I overslept today. I need to start cultivating now; I can't afford any more delays," Zhao Manying said, quickly restraining his hands.

Ji Xinghuo teased, "Are you just making excuses?"

"Tsk!"

Zhao Manying's face reddened slightly. "There's a saying that goes, 'There are no fields that can't be plowed, only oxen that can't be exhausted.' I'm also considering your well-being."

"My body is in top shape; a million oxen couldn't match my strength," Ji Xinghuo boasted, flexing his muscular arms. He challenged Zhao Manying, "I'm worried your field might not be able to take it."

"I'm not going to banter with you anymore."

Zhao Manying nimbly dodged into the bathroom, opting to avoid the confrontation.

"Hahaha..." Ji Xinghuo could tell that she lacked confidence, so he didn't press further, laughing triumphantly as the victor.

Then, he swaggered into the bathroom himself.

After a playful interlude, when the two emerged from the bathroom, it was already almost ten o'clock. They had breakfast together before heading to the Etherium Research Institute.

"You're going too?" Zhao Manying asked in surprise.

Ji Xinghuo nodded. "I need to cultivate as well. What's so strange about that?"

"Your pace of life has noticeably slowed down since you returned. You're spending less time cultivating every day, and with the critical situation in South Asia requiring your presence to maintain control, I assumed you'd be resting at home and focusing on that," Zhao Manying explained.

"My shadow clone can handle the situation in South Asia," Ji Xinghuo said as they both settled into the maglev car. "I plan to intensify my efforts and condense the first star seed."

"That soon?"

Zhao Manying was astonished.

She was aware that Ji Xinghuo had reached the second level of the sixth stage and had obtained the titanium-cobalt family's yuan magnetic array, which was extremely time-consuming and challenging to cultivate.

Ji Xinghuo smiled, "Even if I slack off now, lying around all day and doing nothing, my cultivation speed won't slow down much." The effects of those top-tier etheric abilities, when combined, were simply too good.

"Freak!"

After a long while, Zhao Manying exclaimed enviously.

She also felt immense pressure. She had recently fused with several star-falling exotic species, significantly boosting her strength, and the quantum intellect's assistive effects were becoming increasingly prominent, gradually improving her cultivation efficiency. Yet, she still lagged behind Ji Xinghuo.

"Manying, you don't need to rush," Ji Xinghuo said, guessing her thoughts and offering comfort. "No matter how fast your cultivation speed is, all anomalies will eventually be stopped in their tracks by the mountain that is the ascension to the Star Shepherd. You'll catch up soon enough."

Zhao Manying sighed. "The seventh-stage bottleneck may be a towering mountain to others, but to you, it might just be a hurdle that you can step over with ease."

"I'll take that as a good omen," Ji Xinghuo said, caressing her fragrant shoulder. "We're boyfriend and girlfriend, not rivals or enemies. The stronger I become, the stronger you will be; we are one entity!"

"I understand," Zhao Manying nodded.

But...

The rest of her thoughts remained hidden in her heart.

With this, she would have to rely on Ji Xinghuo from now on. How was this any different from using her body to get ahead? Could she still consider herself an independent woman?

Upon arriving at the Etherium Research Institute, Ji Xinghuo's presence startled the entire facility. Director Ke Mingshan personally greeted him, soon accompanied by Minister Yan Wen zhuo from the Starry Sector. They treated Ji Xinghuo with even greater reverence than before, as if they were in the presence of the Fuhrer himself.

After exchanging pleasantries, Ji Xinghuo entered the etherium concentration chamber to cultivate.

While the chamber's effects fell far short of those in Titanium Ring City, it still offered a significant boost to cultivation efficiency.

Zhao Manying's rapid promotion to legendary status and her attainment of the second level were largely thanks to the top-tier etherium concentration chamber, which provided immense support. Before Ji Xinghuo's duel with Li Xuan, he had won 2,000 billion yuan, which Princess Sophia's domestic e-commerce platform had used to purchase etherium crystals. The acquisition was almost complete.

There were still over 6,000 of these etherium crystals remaining, which Zhao Manying intended to give to Ji Xinghuo upon his return.

However, Ji Xinghuo refused to take them and instead gave them all to her.

Furthermore, Ji Xinghuo even provided additional etherium crystals, increasing the total to 50,000, as a backup resource for Zhao Manying.

The couple spent the entire day at the Etherium Research Institute, leaving only in the evening.

From then on, Ji Xinghuo settled into a rhythm of living, cultivating, and fighting.

His main body lived with Zhao Manying in Chang'an, spending his free time with family and friends, while his shadow clones, like relentless killing machines, ruthlessly suppressed all enemies in South Asia.

Any surviving remnants dared to show their faces would meet only one outcome: death!

As March turned to April, Ji Xinghuo's shadow clones slaughtered thousands of anomalies throughout the entire month. By May, no one dared to harbor any rebellious thoughts.

Meanwhile, Kanai Mazonda also initiated a massive purge of the upper echelons of the Hindi Kingdom.

From the royalty to the cabinet, parliamentarians, and local high-ranking officials, hundreds of thousands of the privileged class were arrested, tried, and convicted. They were then replaced by capable, crime-free, and loyal lower and middle-ranking officials who supported the Asia-Pacific Community, filling the power vacuum.

The reorganization of the Hindi Kingdom's military was even more thorough.

The entire nation underwent a refreshing transformation, entering a fast lane of reform and development, gradually erasing the influence of the Buddhist King.

The other two major countries in South Asia were also undergoing sweeping changes.

The Fuhrer's plan was proceeding smoothly.

And all of this was made possible by Ji Xinghuo's absolute power, which had crushed all enemies and stabilized the entire South Asian subcontinent.

In mid-April, Ji Xinghuo took time to return to the Starry Sector, where he bestowed an abundance of life force upon Ye Zeng and her unborn child.

May 5th.

Ji Xinghuo sat cross-legged in mid-air within the etherium concentration chamber, his face calm as he cultivated his star gland while attentively listening to a lecture.

In front of him, a projection screen displayed a middle-aged professor lecturing on electromagnetism.

Ji Xinghuo had requested the Starry Sector to arrange for a teacher to help him better understand his electromagnetic-type anomaly abilities.

He had only asked for an ordinary professor, but the Starry Sector had invited one of the world's top physicists, Lu Fengyi, who served as the Chief Advisor to the Ministry of Science and Technology and was an academician of the Academy of Sciences!

In addition to electromagnetism, there was also electrodynamics.

Even with Ji Xinghuo's current thinking speed and mental capacity, he found the lessons challenging.

Fortunately, he could experience electromagnetic phenomena in the most intuitive way, gaining a deep understanding of its essence, and he was able to apply his knowledge to new situations, making swift progress in his learning. Sometimes, the questions and descriptions he provided surprised even Lu Fengyi.

"Xinghuo, you have the potential to become a top physicist," Lu Fengyi remarked after the lesson.

He had said this many times before.

"Professor Lu, you give me too much credit," Ji Xinghuo replied respectfully. "I know myself well, and I'm just not cut out to be a scientist.

"Umm..." Li Xuan felt extremely awkward.

The gazes of the other anomalies in the hall were drawn to them, and many were aware of the enmity between Li Xuan and Ji Xinghuo. It had started with a verbal conflict at the Etherium Research Institute, which had ultimately led to Li Xuan's humiliating defeat.

Back then, Ji Xinghuo was only a Super-Anomaly, and Li Xuan had felt confident enough to challenge him, even thinking that he had the upper hand.

But now, Ji Xinghuo was ranked first globally.

Li Xuan's strength, on the other hand, had declined, and he had been defeated by several Legendary anomalies. His ranking had dropped, and he relied on his Celestial status to make money through live-streaming. His nickname, "The Thousand Illusion Swordmaster," had been changed to "The Money-Changing Swordsman," and some even called him the shame of the Celestials.

However, negative publicity was still publicity.

Li Xuan had successfully built his online presence, amassing over five hundred million fans across platforms, with each of his videos going viral and earning him a substantial income.

As a result, he had been feeling rather pleased with himself lately, and after earning a substantial amount, he had exchanged it for etherium crystals to resume his cultivation at the Etherium Research Institute.

He never expected to run into Ji Xinghuo on his first day back.

If he had known, he would never have dared to show his face in front of Ji Xinghuo.

Li Xuan's first instinct was to leave immediately, as he knew he couldn't afford to offend Ji Xinghuo in his current state. But then he thought of Ji Xinghuo's immense popularity, and how even a hundred of him couldn't compare. If he could just get a little bit of that attention...

"Of course, you're welcome here!" Li Xuan smiled widely and said sincerely, "Mr. Ji, I admit that I failed to recognize your greatness in the past, but I assure you that I never intended to offend you. Looking back, that battle with you was the pinnacle of my life..."

He racked his brains to flatter Ji Xinghuo and tried to figure out how to build a good relationship with him.

However, Ji Xinghuo remained unmoved.

Just then, Zhao Manying walked out, and Ji Xinghuo stood up, taking her hand and disappearing with a crackle of electricity.

Li Xuan's expression froze.

From start to finish, Ji Xinghuo hadn't uttered a single word, treating him like air. This blatant disregard was the ultimate form of contempt. A few mocking laughs could be heard from the surrounding anomalies, and Li Xuan's face turned from red to purple as he fled the Etherium Research Institute.

He never wanted to set foot in this place again!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end