Chapter 342: Xiao Hui (Requesting Monthly Votes)

"Good, very good!"

Fang Xing rose into the air, locking eyes with Gavi.

Li Ying's decision to transmit the Star Palace Scroll was a last resort… because he couldn't understand it.

After all, he was just an ordinary person with limited comprehension and talent!

Without consuming strange spiritual items like Flameheart Fruit, he might never have broken through to Satellite Level.

Even with clearer insight into the Laws, his rate of comprehension still lagged far behind true geniuses.

But to rapidly grasp the mysteries of Fire and break through to Star Lord Level, Li Ying's decision to pool collective wisdom was understandable.

Yet his schemes couldn't outwit any nation's government; after becoming Chairman of the Martial Arts Association, he leaked part of the inheritance to deal with ferocious beasts—and his own breakthrough.

Worse still, Li Ying was the planet's richest man!

Yes, because he used most of the resources from the Yuanzhong Divine Palace for himself, sold the scraps, triggered a global frenzy of acquisition, saw his assets skyrocket, and became the planet's top billionaire—with vast estates, corporations, factories, and mines across every major combat zone…

Even so, within thirty years, the planet's true geniuses, feeding on the crumbs Li Ying let slip, produced four Star Lords!

Yet Li Ying remained trapped at Satellite Level, struggling desperately.

"Fortunately, he wasn't completely foolish—the later sections of the Eighteen Flames Spear and the Star Palace Scroll, and the existence of the Yuanzhong Divine Palace, were never leaked…"

"Even now, the White Eagle Combat Zone has vaguely deduced the existence of his 'god-given advantage,' and tried to kill him in an 'accident' to seize his inheritance…"

Fang Xing pieced together the cause and effect, and suddenly felt Li Ying was pitiful.

But as an ordinary person, was this truly his limit?

The facts proved that personal quality had long been decisive: a beggar who suddenly inherited billions would squander it all quickly…

A flash of fire!

Gavi struck first—his fist erupted like a volcano, faintly carrying the Law of Fire, combined with his Star Lord-level Satellite Level power, making him formidable even among the Eighth Realm.

The forces of heaven and earth were summoned, forming a crimson trail of fist-wind hundreds of meters long.

"This Law insight is roughly entry-level—100/1600. Li Ying's earlier level was probably single digits… truly tragic."

"But I'm different—my Law insight has reached 435/1600."

Fang Xing casually glanced at his status bar:

【Law of Fire: 435/1600 (Entry）】

Though the main universe lacked the superior conditions of the Yuanzhong Divine Palace, slowly grinding skill points via his status panel yielded astonishing progress.

Even tiny daily gains, when accumulated, became formidable.

"Flame Spear—Kill!"

Facing Gavi's fist, Fang Xing casually clenched his right hand—a ball of flame materialized, forming a crimson spear.

His spear shot forth like a dragon, unleashing a terrifying explosion of Fire Law, as if the Fire God himself descended!

BOOM!

At the spear's tip, a flash of fire erupted, instantly shattering the fist-shadow. Fang Xing flicked his wrist—the shaft slammed hard into Gavi's chest.

The Satellite Level expert's chest caved in, and he plummeted into the desert.

"N-no… Chairman, spare me!"

Gavi bled from nose and mouth, his mind reeling: "How could he be this strong? Why did he hide it?"

"Die!"

Fang Xing's gaze was cold—he thrust another spear, piercing Gavi's chest directly.

A streak of crimson source-energy flashed from the spearhead, surging into Gavi's Star Palace and annihilating his 'Satellite'!

For a Star Lord, the Satellite within the body was the absolute vital point!

"I… I hate this!"

Gavi's eyes dimmed—he was dead.

"Hmph!"

Fang Xing opened his hand—the flame spear vanished.

Then he turned to the command room: "I give you 24 hours."

After Fang Xing turned into a streak of fire and vanished beyond the horizon, the command room erupted.

"How is this possible? Gavi was one of the planet's five Star Lords… our White Eagle Combat Zone's guardian—how could he just die?"

A female clerk stared blankly.

"He… he killed Gavi, and doesn't care if our White Eagle Combat Zone lives or dies—his threats were real! I don't want to die!"

A monitor operator screamed, rushing toward the exit to flee by car.

General Jones's face shifted rapidly, his body trembling slightly.

At that moment, the speaker suddenly switched voices: "This incident is a massive failure and disaster, Jones—you must prepare to take responsibility… The Lieutenant General just suffered a heart attack and has been rushed to the hospital."

…

The White Eagle Combat Zone was formerly the White Eagle Empire, a nation second only to Great Xia.

Now, on the Gold Rush Island of the White Eagle Combat Zone.

Fang Xing descended, flying into a large villa.

Outside the villa, several streets were packed—two protests had formed.

One group held signs reading "I Love You" and "Li Ying Is Invincible," their expressions fanatical.

The other group chanted slogans like "Enact Laws to Limit Martial Artists' Power," "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility," and "Reveal All Martial Arts Scriptures."

Tensions between the two groups were escalating. Inside the villa.

Seeing Fang Xing on the balcony, a yellow-skinned woman dressed as a secretary approached: "Chairman, you're back? Was the nuclear test successful?"

She was Li Ying's personal secretary—Li Ling, from Great Xia, selected as an elite talent from the Great Xia Combat Zone.

"Fine."

Fang Xing crossed his arms, watching the two crowds like a circus.

"Should we stop or disperse them?"

Li Ling asked.

"No need. Do you think if I show even a hint of dislike, those opposing me will be attacked—or even killed?"

Fang Xing's lips curled slightly: "Maybe a girl who perfectly matches my aesthetic will appear—raised in similar circumstances, sharing common ground, worshiping me fiercely, then avenging me against those crowds…"

"But if I show even a hint of weakness, their slogans will instantly become 'Install control crystals in martial artists' brains,' 'Chemically castrate martial artists,' 'Implant bombs inside martial artists' bodies'…"

As the most prominent individual in this civilization, Li Ying's habits, upbringing—all had been exhaustively studied.

His files could fill several rooms; teams of analysts constantly probed him from psychological and behavioral angles.

"Li Ying… Li Ying… with this much targeting, you've lasted this long already—remarkable. Though your vision was still narrow, at least you enjoyed being the planet's richest man!"

"I misjudged you."

Fang Xing murmured to himself.

"Chairman…"

Whether it was an illusion or not, Li Ling felt this Chairman was utterly different from before.

No longer foolishly endearing—he now gave her a chill.

"Today, the White Eagle Combat Zone took advantage of my human nuclear test to probe my power limits and capacity…"

Fang Xing said calmly: "So I killed Gavi—and sent a few others to join him."

"What? Gavi is dead?"

Li Ling gasped: "He's one of the five global Star Lords—who will restrain the Beast Kings and Beast Emperors of White Eagle Combat Zone?"

"Who knows? Throw bodies at them—or just declare the zone fallen and evacuate refugees to other combat zones."

Fang Xing shrugged: "Prepare—we return to Great Xia Combat Zone tomorrow. I've always cooperated well with them. Hope it continues."

Overall, Great Xia had exploited Li Ying the least—there was even a sense of "business failed, but honor remains."

Thus, for Li Ling—clearly marked by Great Xia's official stamp—Fang Xing found her pleasant to look at and easy to use, so he had no intention of replacing her.

…

Fang Xing returned to his room, swept his spiritual sense around, confirmed no surveillance, and vanished in a flash.

When he reappeared, he stood inside the Yuanzhong Divine Palace.

Weathered gray-white stone pillars soared skyward; the halls around were empty, like a giant's palace.

In the plaza lay a pitch-black source-energy battle suit and a dark-red spear.

"Source-Energy Battle Suit—Star Lord Weapon—'Firecloud Spear'! Li Ying really was honest—he actually left the suit here un-worn to test his own defense… what a fool!"

Fang Xing raised his hand—the black suit landed on him, fitting perfectly and breathing effortlessly.

"Star Lord-level Satellite Level experts focus on Law insight; their daily cultivation is 'source-energy'… source-energy is cosmic energy."

"After Li Ying claimed the Yuanzhong Divine Palace, besides receiving resources, the most important thing was unlocking a zone to observe the 'Fire God Pillar'!"

The Fire God Pillar was like a scripture for comprehending the Fire Mystery—its presence made comprehension speed vastly different.

Yet even with every advantage stacked, Li Ying's Law insight still lagged behind his disciples—even his disciples' disciples… Fang Xing felt embarrassed for him!

Just as Fang Xing prepared to study the Fire God Pillar—a flash of gray light appeared.

A short figure materialized.

Dressed in a gray robe, less than a meter tall, his skin wrinkled, but his eyes were large.

"Xiao Hui!"

Through Li Ying's memories, Fang Xing knew it was the artifact spirit of the Yuanzhong Divine Palace—the former "Gray Robe Marquis."

This form was likely its true appearance.

"It's you!"

Xiao Hui rushed to Fang Xing's side, tears welling in his eyes: "Good heavens, do you have any idea how hard I've waited for you? Your main personality is literally a pig… no, even a pig that ate Flame Heart Fruit and meditated on the mysteries of fire wouldn't need twenty-five years!"

"I gave him abundant resources—he could use Fire Source Crystals at will, and even meditated on the Fire God Pillar—yet he still took this long to break through to Star Lord Realm! The second trial set by the Master, I thought he'd pass in three years. But three years turned to three more, and I waited thirty years and he still hasn't passed! Do you have any idea how I've lived through these thirty years?"

Xiao Hui's voice was thick with grievance.

As a spirit of the artifact, it was utterly loyal to its previous master and diligently followed the master's orders to select a successor.

But after finally selecting one, passing the trials, and bonding with him, it turned out to be a bottomless pit!

Xiao Hui's psychological trauma at this point was beyond words.

Especially after confirming that the gifted second personality had vanished thirty years ago.

If it weren't for Li Ying having already begun bonding with the "Yuanzhong Divine Palace" and thus unable to be replaced, this waste would have been slain long ago—how could it have come to such a waste of potential!

(End of Chapter)