News that Huang Tian had cut down Gongsun Xiu, head of Hongzhen Pharmaceuticals, and overpowered Chairman Xia Zhongliu spread quickly. But it circulated mostly among the upper ranks of major powers, or at least their middle and upper ranks.
Generally, only those at level four or above could learn through certain channels what Huang Tian had done in the Imperial Capital. Those below that level either knew nothing or had heard only whispers.
The main reason was that no one dared speak freely of a powerful man's defeat. The chairman was, after all, one of the Federation's two mightiest figures. No one dared spread news of his loss as entertainment, and the Federation Security Bureau imposed online controls to prevent public discussion.
Still, too many citizens had witnessed the battle in the Imperial Capital. Most had captured nothing useful on their phones, and none had seen Huang Tian's face clearly. Many did not even know his name. But they knew the chairman had lost, so word of Xia Zhongliu's defeat in a sparring match spread through all sorts of "unreliable" back channels.
Some ordinary Federation citizens believed it; others did not. Most treated it as a curious tale to discuss over tea. But among the senior officials of various nations and the multinational giants, it caused a tremendous shock.
"I never thought Xia Zhongliu would lose. You could hardly find a handful of people in the world who'd dare say they could beat him for certain, could you?"
"I wouldn't claim Xia Zhongliu was among humanity's top five, but he was firmly in the top ten. Anyone who could beat him with ease had to be in the top three, perhaps even number one!"
"What a pity Zhu Wujiu was on the moon that day, not in the Imperial Capital.