Mythical Era: My Evolution into a Celestial Beast-Chapter 703: The Return of A King, A Shock for Them Tomorrow (III)

Chapter 703: The Return of A King, A Shock for Them Tomorrow (III)

"Hello, everyone. I’m Xiaoxiao, your host from Wujiang TV. We’re interrupting our regular programming to bring you an important update regarding the ongoing world anomaly.

"According to the latest press conference from the Federation, this anomaly is indeed similar to the one fifty years ago. Large numbers of rifts connecting to the mythical world have erupted across the globe.

"At today’s peak event, over ten thousand rifts appeared worldwide, and numerous powerful colossal beasts and mutated creatures emerged, causing significant disturbances. However, we are no longer the Federation of fifty years ago. We were prepared for such an event, and all colossal beasts were immediately neutralized.

"In this incident, only about three hundred people were injured globally, with no fatalities. Most of the injuries occurred among media reporters who got too close and were caught in the battle’s aftermath.

"The spokesperson at the press conference assured the public that the Federation has the confidence and strength to suppress this anomaly. Citizens are advised to remain calm and ignore any apocalyptic rumors.

"Experts predict that the anomaly will persist for another five to ten days. During this time, if you hear an air raid siren, please evacuate according to law enforcement instructions. Do not gather out of curiosity and risk unnecessary casualties. Cherish your life—stay away from battle zones.

"In addition, if you encounter individuals spreading doomsday propaganda or promoting cultist ideologies online or in person, please report them immediately. The emergency hotline is 028-88888888.

"That concludes the Federation’s press briefing. Now, let’s move on to the latest local news from Wujiang City."

At this point, the screen shifted to footage of a devastated street. Flashing emergency lights illuminated the scene as rescue workers busied themselves amid the rubble, while law enforcement officers maintained security in the distance.

"This evening at 7 PM, a colossal beast standing over a hundred meters tall and classified as middle-stage level 8 appeared in the Nanhua Bridge District and was successfully eliminated. Although the battle was brief, it caused severe damage to the surrounding streets. Currently, firefighters and construction crews are working hard on the cleanup.

"Additionally, the teachers and students of Nantian Martial Arts High School played a critical role in the battle. Notably, Teaching Director Hong Zetian and Mr. Li Hao were key combatants."

The female news anchor’s voice grew excited. "You won’t believe this—Mr. Li Hao, who directly confronted the level 8 colossal beast, is only seventeen years old. Yes, you heard that right. Mr. Li Hao is just seventeen and still a high school sophomore. Within a year, he has broken through to the Eighth Heavenly Realm."

As soon as she finished speaking, audiences watching the broadcast erupted in shock.

"At this moment, Mr. Li Hao is also assisting with the post-battle cleanup. In addition to him, a large number of martial arts high school students and military personnel are present. Next, we will connect live to the scene."

At that moment, the camera cut to a field reporter holding a microphone.

"Hello, Xiaojie. Can you tell us about the current situation at the site?"

The young female reporter smiled at the camera. "Thanks to the combined efforts of various personnel, the initial cleanup of Nanhua Bridge Street is nearly complete. Additionally, the residents whose homes were destroyed are emotionally stable and have been relocated to temporary shelters."

"That’s good to hear, Xiaojie. I’ve heard that Li Hao is also at the scene. Can we interview him?"

"Of course." The reporter then jogged toward a nearby location.

Under the temporary lights illuminating the scene, Li Hao, standing at a towering height of 2.5 meters, wore a set of black, menacing battle armor. He bent slightly forward, gripping the edge of a collapsed concrete slab from a building.

Boom!

With a single heave, the thousand-ton slab—buried under heaps of rubble—was sent flying, crashing down a short distance away with a thunderous impact. Smoke and dust billowed into the air as the ground trembled.

This scene made ordinary people watching the broadcast gasp in shock. Lifting an entire building floor with brute force? His strength is simply monstrous.

The slightly nervous female reporter carefully approached and hesitantly asked, "Mr. Li, hello. May I interview you for a moment?"

"An interview? Sure." Li Hao nodded slightly, looking at the camera pointed at him.

The reporter raised the microphone and held it toward Li Hao. "Mr. Li, it's been reported that even though you're only a second-year student, you've already broken through to the Eighth Heavenly Realm. Is that true?"

Standing up straighter to appear even more imposing, Li Hao responded in a deep voice. "Yes, I have broken through to the Eighth Heavenly Realm. However, my rapid cultivation progress is thanks to the nurturing of my school and the Federation."

A short distance away, Xia Youhui, who was carrying a two-meter-thick, ten-meter-long concrete pillar, felt an immediate headache. Damn, there he goes again.

Taking a deep breath, Xia Youhui exhaled sharply and slammed the concrete pillar to the ground.

Boom!

A surge of true power shattered it into manageable pieces, making transportation easier.

Meanwhile, the interview continued. "Mr. Li, earlier today, when you faced the level 8 beast that descended from the mythical world, what drove you to charge forward without hesitation? Were you afraid at that moment?"

Li Hao’s expression turned serious. "Of course, it was my responsibility. As a cultivator and a senior colonel of the Federation, it is our duty to protect the weak.

"As for fear, I didn't even have time to think about it. The only thought in my mind was to eliminate the colossal beast as quickly as possible. If it had broken its way through into the crowd, the casualties would have been unimaginable."

"No wonder you’re regarded as a genius of Nantian," the female reporter praised before proceeding with other questions.

In the living room, as they watched the interview on TV, Chen Hu was visibly surprised. "Bro, Li Hao actually broke through to the Eighth Heavenly Realm too? That’s amazing."

He had briefly met Li Hao during the New Year's Lantern Festival and had thought of him as an even burlier senior. However, he hadn’t expected that Li Hao would get this far in his cultivation already.

It seemed that cultivation really was straightforward. His brother had become a king in a year, and other seniors were reaching the Eighth Heavenly Realm in the same timeframe.

Chen Chu nodded. "Li Hao’s talent is impressive. He ranks among the top three in Nantian. Breaking through to the Eighth Heavenly Realm within a year is completely reasonable for him."

Saying that, Chen Chu stood up. "Mom, you guys keep watching the news. I need to make a call."

During the news segment, Chen Chu had caught sight of Xia Youhui. Only now did he remember that he hadn’t informed his friends of his return.

Stepping onto the balcony, he retrieved his phone from his Sumeru Bracelet. Fortunately, the special-grade phone still had 90% battery left despite being unused for two months. Once he found Xia Youhui’s number, he dialed directly.

At the ruins, Xia Youhui lifted a concrete slab weighing dozens of tons and, with a slight exertion, hurled it several meters into a debris truck. The sheer force of the impact made the entire truck tremble violently.

The driver, startled, quickly forced a smile. "Hey, take it easy! If you throw it too hard, you might wreck the truck."

Cough!

Realizing he’d been lost in thought, Xia Youhui awkwardly coughed. "Sorry, I was distracted for a moment. I’ll be more careful next time."

"No, no, it’s fine. You’ve been working hard too," the driver said with a polite chuckle. He didn’t dare offend these powerful cultivators. Casually tossing around such massive debris—this was beyond outrageous.

Just then, Xia Youhui’s phone vibrated in his pocket, and he dusted off his hands before taking it out. The moment he saw the caller ID, his face lit up with excitement.

Almost immediately, however, he suppressed his emotions, glanced toward Li Hao, and with a flicker of his figure, he vanished from sight, reappearing hundreds of meters away in the shadows within the span of a single breath.

Lowering his voice, Xia Youhui asked, "Hey, Ah Chu, are you back?"

From the other end, Chen Chu’s voice came through. "I just returned from the mythical world. I saw you on the news, so I thought I’d call."

Xia Youhui became even more excited and spoke in a hushed tone. "So that means you’ve broken through to the king level?"

—"Yeah, I’ve broken through."

Standing on the balcony, Chen Chu nodded. Then, noticing something odd, he asked, "By the way, are you injured? Why are you speaking so quietly?"

"Hehe, no, I’m fine, really." Xia Youhui suppressed his excitement, his grin growing wider as he looked toward Li Hao, who was still being interviewed in the distance.

—"Good to hear. Oh, by the way, did Lin Xue and the others go to the mythical world?"

"Not yet,” Xia Youhui explained. "Originally, we planned to enter the mythical world right after the school opening ceremony. But because of the recent anomaly, we were temporarily drafted into Wujiang’s special combat squad. We’ll have to wait until this situation is resolved before heading to the mythical world."

—"So everyone’s still around."

A smile appeared on Chen Chu’s face. "I’ll check in the group chat later and see if everyone’s free tomorrow or the day after. We can meet up for a meal."

Chen Chu had always considered the classmates he had trained with during the Kyrola trial to be genuine friends. Breaking through to the king level didn’t mean he’d distance himself from them.

However, just as he finished speaking, Xia Youhui quickly stopped him. "Wait! Ah Chu, don’t send any messages in the group yet. Don’t tell them you’re back."

"Why not?" Chen Chu was puzzled.

Xia Youhui chuckled mischievously and lowered his voice. "You’ve just returned as a king. If you just casually tell them, it won’t be shocking enough. Tomorrow is the opening ceremony for Nantian—show up there unannounced.

"When everyone sees you, their jaws will drop in disbelief! Better yet, you should make an entrance from the sky on a seven-colored cloud."

"...That sounds way too over-the-top," Chen Chu said, exasperated.

Descending from the heavens, stepping on a seven-colored cloud—why does that image feel strangely familiar?

Then, something struck him as odd. "Wait a minute, Old Xia, it’s already mid-September. Didn’t the opening ceremony happen a while ago?"

"This year is special," Xia Youhui explained. "Apparently, Heavenly King Zhenwu optimized the Body Refining Art again, and the Ministry of Education restructured the curriculum and adjusted the selection process for freshmen resources and techniques. Because of that, the school opening was delayed by ten days."

"I see." Chen Chu pondered for a moment.

"Yeah, from what my brother said, the education reform is actually related to you. Some of the Federation’s top powerhouses felt that the old system nearly buried a late-blooming genius like you, so they pushed for policy changes."

Well, that is some quick response from the authorities. Chen Chu shook his head.

After chatting with Xia Youhui for a while longer, Chen Chu ended the call. He scrolled through his contacts and found Yan Ruoyi’s number.

Just as he dialed her, intending to check on her situation, Xia Youhui, still grinning ear to ear, put his phone away.

The moment he stepped out of the shadows, he ran into Lin Xue, who was covered in dust and clad in battle armor. She gave him a strange look. "Xia Youhui, did you just pick up a god-level resource or something?"

"Nope."

"Then why are you smiling like that?"

"Because I just thought of something that makes me really happy." With that, Xia Youhui chuckled and turned his gaze toward Li Hao once more.