King of Assassins

On the top floor of Xinghai Mansion, the viewing conference hall is a massive hemispherical air glass structure.

Standing inside the hall feels like standing in the sky, surrounded by wisps of clouds. The entire Purple Wall City appears faintly visible in the mist.

Purple Wall City adopts an ancient style, with high-rise buildings also built in ancient forms. Using jade-like and wooden materials combined with classical architectural styles, the cloud-wreathed Purple Wall City is like the legendary Immortal Realm.

At 10 a.m., the viewing conference hall officially began the finals draw ceremony.

Various news media were present. Of course, most of the news media, due to the long distances, entered the hall via Celestial Net virtual projection.

Modern virtual technology is very mature, visually indistinguishable from reality. As long as there is no physical contact, it is difficult to detect that these media people are virtual projections.

Alliance News Network, Celestial Net News Station, Feixun Report, Glory Official News...

These are the largest news media in the Alliance, with dedicated personnel responsible for covering the finals. They have ample funding, with specialized news collection stations in various star realms.

These major media also occupy the best views. Local Taiwei Broadcast also secured the best position due to their home advantage.

Song Fei, the deputy editor of Taiwei Broadcast, considered this news important enough to personally lead her team here.

She is well acquainted with reporters from other major media, and everyone exchanged greetings in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

This kind of finals draw doesn't have much explosive news, so how to attract readers depends entirely on one's skills. There is no competitive relationship among them.

Moreover, each platform faces a different audience. Nowadays, few media can cover the entire Alliance. Each has its own fixed base audience.

The time hadn't come yet, so Song Fei's team went ahead to set up recording and filming equipment, while Song Fei crossed her arms and watched from the back.

Song Fei is relatively beautiful, wearing a white shirt and a pencil skirt, exuding a kind of efficient workplace lady vibe. Among the group of reporters, she is quite eye-catching.

Reporters from all over couldn't help but steal glances at Song Fei. However, in a work setting like this, no one dared to strike up a conversation easily.

Qin Rong of Feixun Report, who knew Song Fei quite well, also disliked the prying gazes from the men around. She greeted Song Fei warmly, saying, "Sister Song, you're becoming more and more beautiful."

Qin Rong is also pretty, but dresses more androgynously. A shirt with a vest, jeans with boots, and short hair. She also has a professional analyzer pinned on her chest.

This kind of external equipment is specifically for analyzing and storing image information, enhancing Celestial Net signals, and exchanging information with Celestial Net at millisecond levels, almost without delay.

This professional equipment is almost standard for reporters.

Qin Rong looks very professional, but there is a dashing charm in her efficiency, and her bright curved eyes make her appear particularly sweet. Compared with the mature and glamorous Song Fei, she is more distinctive and slightly more attractive.

Song Fei glanced at Qin Rong, noting that she hadn't arrived when they greeted each other earlier. She smiled slightly, "Oh, Feixun's star reporter is here in person too."

This wasn't sarcasm. Qin Rong is a very famous reporter on the Feixun platform with tens of billions of fans and vast influence.

Her reports are known for being objective, fair, and insightful, making her the star of Feixun. It's a bit odd for her to be covering a Sword Dao finals instead of current events.

"I came to Taiwei Star for a vacation and took care of business at the same time. Killing two birds with one stone."

Qin Rong replied with a smile, but Song Fei wasn't convinced. Her eyes sparkled as she said, "You came following Qin Jian, didn't you?"

Qin Rong rolled her eyes at Song Fei, "Why would I be following Qin Jian!"

Song Fei smiled smugly, "It's been twenty years, and the Qin Family's direct lineage only produced such a genius, of course, they want to promote him. It's only normal for you to come and build momentum for Qin Jian."

"Too smart people have no friends." Qin Rong rolled her eyes at Song Fei again.

"Unfortunately, Qin Jian doesn't stand a chance this time. Jin Yutang and Hodder are united with no rival."

Song Fei sighed as well, this year Song Yunxi is also very strong, but facing Jin Yutang and Hodder, there's almost no chance of winning the title.

Qin Rong seemed indifferent, "My family's Qin Jian is indeed strong. Jin Yutang is shallow, and Hodder is extreme. Both have huge character flaws. At this level of competition, either of them could easily make a mistake."

In terms of strength, all the geniuses from various families are Silver Level 15. In theory, their strength is equally matched. But in actual combat, it's completely different.

As long as either Jin Yutang or Hodder gets injured, others will have the opportunity.

Qin Rong remains confident in her Qin Jian. She said, "Yuan Wuxian, Zhou He, Song Yunxi, Liu Po, are all rare genius experts in recent decades..."

"This time, there are truly many talents."

Song Fei nodded in agreement and added, "And Gao Xuan from Golden Bull University is said to be a top-notch Sword Hero, very remarkable."

"Gao Xuan?"

Qin Rong looked curious, "Who is this, I really don't know."

The Alliance is vast, and Qin Rong has always focused on current affairs. Moreover, this field mainly covers the Central Star Realm. For matters in other star realms, she really hasn't had the time to pay attention.

Gao Xuan is quite famous, but his fame is confined within the star realm, within the Sword Dao League's level.

"Gao Xuan is indeed quite famous. This person is also very mysterious. Check him out."

Song Fei, being in this profession, has studied many geniuses for the finals and has a deep impression of Gao Xuan.

Of course, her deepest impression is Gao Xuan's looks. That's why she searched Gao Xuan's profile in detail.

Based on public data, Gao Xuan seems extraordinary. Stories like breaking the cult with a lone sword, killing the Golden Sword Saint Shao Daoyuan, and pacifying the alien race unrest in Sea Dragon Star...

These deeds sound extremely exaggerated. Even if the information is very detailed, and the military endorses it, Song Fei still finds it hard to believe.

Song Fei is a reporter; she knows how easy it is to fabricate information. The more developed the information, the lower the cost of fabricating it.

Moreover, this involves the redistribution of interests within the star realm, which is too complex.

Undoubtedly, Gao Xuan is placed in the spotlight to attract attention from all sides.

A nineteen-year-old can be a genius Sword Hero. But to achieve so many big things is not just about high cultivation.

This requires super judgment, decisive decision-making, and immense execution capabilities.

No matter how much of a genius a nineteen-year-old is, it's impossible to accomplish so many major tasks!

"He's so handsome!"

Sure enough, Qin Rong was struck by Gao Xuan's looks after searching his profile. She couldn't help but express her admiration.

"In my humble opinion, Gao Xuan surely deserves the title of the Alliance's most handsome young man," Song Fei commented with a smiling face.

"I strongly agree."

Qin Rong said excitedly, "I could do a special program on the most handsome young man in Sword Dao. The ratings would definitely be high."

She thought for a moment then hesitated a little, "But his profile is too exaggerated..."

Both Qin Rong and Song Fei concluded that there must be issues with Gao Xuan's profile. It's normal to exaggerate a little on personal achievements and to add more honors.

But Gao Xuan's was just too exaggerated. To have obtained the rank of lieutenant general in the military at such a young age...

In a small place like the Taurus Star Realm, do people act so recklessly!

"As long as one-tenth of it is true, it's enough."

Song Fei said, "I'm quite curious about him too. I even went to visit him. Surprisingly, I didn't see him!"

"No way, is Gao Xuan so arrogant?"

Qin Rong was a little surprised. Song Fei, backed by the Song Family and holding publicity media power, is extremely influential. How dare a young man from the Taurus Star Realm put on airs with Song Fei?

"Maybe he really wasn't there."

Though Song Fei was a bit displeased, she didn't mind too much. Whatever the reason, Gao Xuan didn't owe her anything. Whether to meet or not was Gao Xuan's own freedom.

Qin Rong, being in the same field as Song Fei, could somewhat empathize; she snorted, "Maybe this guy beautified himself too much, and dare not show his real self."

She thought for a moment then said, "On such an occasion today, Gao Xuan will surely attend, right."

"He will definitely come," Song Fei said confidently.

The drawing for the finals is a big deal, all the teams have to come, including the main players and coaches, it's a basic sign of respect for the event.

As they were speaking, the university Sword Dao teams started entering the venue one after another.

A total of sixty-four teams lined up in sequence according to the points ranking.

Qianji University naturally lined up first, followed by Jiuding University, Chang'an University...

When it was close to ten o'clock, Taiwei University also arrived. When Song Yunxi entered through the passage, she immediately saw Song Fei. She happily ran over to greet Song Fei.

The two were over twenty years apart in age, but they were close friends. They often played together when they were free. However, it was their first time meeting in such a work occasion.

"Yunxi, this is Qin Rong, the editor-in-chief of the Jiuding Star Realm Feixun platform..."

Song Fei made a simple introduction, Song Yunxi greeted Qin Rong warmly.

Song Yunxi was generous and enthusiastic, Qin Rong was also good at speaking and dealing with people, both of them felt the other's temperament was excellent, quite congenial.

The three women chatting together made it even more lively.

Seeing the time approaching, but Gao Xuan still hadn't shown up, Song Fei said in surprise, "Gao Xuan's airs are quite big, he's not here yet."

Actually, Golden Bull University had already arrived, Ji Xiuying had brought Lan Tianshou and Lan Tiange, they had been waiting early in their positions.

Song Yunxi said mysteriously, "I heard Gao Xuan went to the Yanshi Ruins and hasn't come yet, maybe something happened."

A few days ago, there was an earthquake at Yanshi Mountain, and the entire Purple Wall City experienced the tremor. Everyone speculated that something had happened at the Yanshi Ruins.

Hearing Song Yunxi say this, Qin Rong became interested, "Gao Xuan went to the Yanshi Ruins? Did something happen to him?"

Song Yunxi had only heard some rumors, she shook her head uncertainly, "I don't know the specific situation either."

At this time, the drawing ceremony on the front podium had already begun.

As per usual, the chairman of the event's organizing committee, Qin Ken, gave a speech before the drawing.

Qin Ken's speech was short, summarizing the event situation and encouraging all participating teams to perform well.

Then, Qin Ken announced the eight seeded teams selected by the organizing committee.

Representatives of teams such as Jin Yutang, Hodder, Qin Jian, Liu Po, Yuan Wuxian, Song Yunxi, and others took the stage.

The various media at the back got excited. The people standing on the stage were the geniuses of this competition. Each of them was poised and dignified, with outstanding appearances.

Jin Yutang was handsome, Hodder was gentle, Qin Jian was indifferent and serious, Liu Po was bold, Yuan Wuxian was majestic, Song Yunxi was bright and beautiful, all were outstanding talents of the time.

With many talents standing on the stage, it could be said to be shining with starlight.

Even Song Fei and Qin Rong, who were used to seeing big scenes, felt a little dazzled. Such a gathering of geniuses was really rare to see.

"The starlight is so dazzling, I can't even open my eyes," Qin Rong marveled.

Song Fei nodded, "This is the most talented group of young men and women in the entire Alliance, of course they are impressive. In front of them, other peers would seem dull..."

Before she finished her words, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a figure walking in from the passage.

Even just a glimpse from the corner of her eye, Song Fei was drawn to the figure. She instinctively turned her head to look, and saw a young man walking into the hall with composure.

The young man was wearing an off-white linen casual suit, clean white shoes. He wore a pair of large sunglasses. Even with just half of his side face, it already made her unable to look away.

Qin Rong noticed Song Fei's unusual expression and also looked over. Then, she had the same expression as Song Fei.

The people standing on the stage, including Song Yunxi, Jin Yutang, and others saw Gao Xuan on the passage. A group of the Alliance's most elite young men and women couldn't help but fix their eyes on Gao Xuan.

Even the people on the stage, including the chairman of the organizing committee, Qin Ken, were staring directly at Gao Xuan.

The people below the stage also sensed something different and everyone turned their heads to look.

Just like that, Gao Xuan, who walked into the hall at a leisurely pace, became the focus of everyone's attention.

Gao Xuan gracefully nodded slightly to Qin Ken on the stage, "Sorry for being late. Everyone, please continue..."

(Well, I'm working hard to update for the second time~)