C141 Lee Guoqiang's Desire

Chu Yi is the epitome of a genius emerging from the ranks of the common folk.

Typically, those who attend this assessment are not scions of influential families or elites groomed by powerful organizations.

That's because such geniuses have their future competitions prearranged; they have no need for these preliminary assessments.

This isn't a matter of privilege; the assessments are exceedingly simple, almost to the point of banality.

And for those geniuses, passing such assessments is entirely expected.

Hence, they are absent from this venue.

Present here are the commoners, those without the backing of formidable forces.

Lacking recommendation letters, they must rely solely on their own abilities to earn certification.

To these individuals, Chu Yi is one of their own.

Regarding Chu Yi's strength...

He has achieved Bronze Perfection!

Indeed, with a strength score surpassing 990, Chu Yi has reached the pinnacle of Bronze Perfection. With the right opportunity, ascending to the Silver Level as a Great Warrior is almost a certainty.

Consider that even the naturally awakened Lee Zi, at her current stage, would likely only attain Bronze Perfection.

Of course, if Lee Zi remains at Bronze Perfection, it's because she's solidifying her realm, not due to any lack of capability.

That's the disparity.

Yet, no one here compares Chu Yi to Lee Zi, whose talent is so rare that the Terran Federation might not see another like her for decades.

Chu Yi's status as a prodigy among commoners is beyond question.

Back with his team, the test results were quickly announced.

It took an entire day to complete the assessment for over ten thousand participants.

This time was expedited; under the old methods and standards, the process could have taken up to three days, not just one.

"It's finally done."

"I made it through. The rest is up to you!"

"Ah, now the real challenge begins."

"This was merely the preliminary assessment. There's no reason to boast about passing it."

"Exactly, the upcoming live broadcast is where the true assessment lies!"

"I'm confident that I'll excel in the next round of testing and prove my worth to the top-tier academies!"

Standing next to Lee Zi, Chu Yi listened to the surrounding students and allowed himself a slight smile.

These people were thinking too simply.

Indeed, the test seemed easy, and many students breezed through it, their confidence swelling to the point where they felt assured about the upcoming public examination.

But...

"They're in for a rude awakening..."

Some students had performed well, ranking high among the tens of thousands of participants. That was the source of their confidence.

Yet...

"Before long, the real elite and even the geniuses will make their entrance."

"When that happens, they'll realize just how vast the gap is..."

Lee Zi let out a sigh.

In the past year, she had visited other high schools with Adirang Academy's teachers to evaluate students.

During these visits, Lee Zi encountered countless geniuses.

Of course, they were merely geniuses; there were no freaks of nature among them.

Compared to the true geniuses, even those who ranked in the top 100 of this basic assessment didn't seem all that impressive.

"Yes, the examination officially starts tomorrow."

"Then, it'll be time to let everyone know who we are..."

Chu Yi used to eagerly anticipate the college entrance exams.

After all, making a name for himself there would mean other powers would take notice and offer him terms to secure his allegiance, ensuring he wouldn't have to worry about resources for his cultivation in the future.

But now, with the support of the Chu family, he no longer cared about such recognition.

What Chu Yi truly valued now were the rewards of the college entrance exam.

Old Master Chu had mentioned that these rewards were extremely valuable, enough to drive any power to desperation.

Although Chu Yi didn't know the specifics of the rewards, the heads of these family-led powers surely did, or they wouldn't bring out their top talent.

So, what they deemed valuable must indeed be worthwhile!

The Chu family was certainly formidable, but there were things even they couldn't provide.

Chu Yi had to consider his future carefully.

And according to Old Master Chu, many of these rewards would be crucial for Chu Yi's advancement down the road.

Chu Yi placed great importance on the college entrance examination for this very reason.

"Chu Yi, Lee Zi..."

Upon seeing the newcomers, Chu Yi and Lee Zi offered their respectful greetings.

"Greetings, Principal Lee..."

Lee Guoqiang had arrived.

"Come here for a moment; I need to discuss something with you."

Lee Guoqiang was well aware of Chu Yi and Lee Zi's academic performance.

While they were indeed excellent, with Chu Yi even earning the reputation of a prodigy, Lee Guoqiang felt that was all there was to it.

He still harbored some doubts.

Once in a secluded corner, Lee Guoqiang finally spoke up, "Was that your true level of ability during the assessments?"

Chu Yi had reached the pinnacle of Bronze Perfection and was on the verge of advancing to Silver Level. Such rapid progress was impressive and met Lee Guoqiang's expectations.

And Lee Zi...

Even though Lee Zi was no longer considered a prodigy, Lee Guoqiang was convinced that even without her genetic power, she remained an exceptionally strong and formidable genius.

Yet, their recent performances seemed somewhat lackluster.

Lee Zi remained silent.

Whenever Chu Yi was around, she deliberately concealed her abilities, allowing Chu Yi to speak on her behalf.

Chu Yi didn't give it much thought and responded with a gentle smile, "Certainly not, Principal Lee."

Concealment?

It was unnecessary.

In the upcoming battles, if he only showed the strength he had previously displayed, he doubted he would rank within the top five hundred, let alone the top thousand in Redmarsh.

Hence, he would undoubtedly need to reveal more of his capabilities.

Since it was inevitable, Chu Yi saw no reason to withhold any information from Lee Guoqiang, especially since he held the principal in high regard.

Upon hearing Chu Yi's response, Lee Guoqiang's face lit up with delight as he nodded vigorously, "Excellent, very good!"

"I expect you both to showcase your full potential in the battles ahead."

"And I'll be frank with you—if you perform exceptionally well, Seventeenth High School will receive increased resources from the government next year."

"If you exceed expectations in your performance, I'll personally reward you from my own pocket!"

Using public funds was out of the question, and Lee Guoqiang couldn't just tap into them whenever he wished. But when it came to his own money, there were no issues.

Chu Yi and Lee Zi didn't refuse his offer—not because they were covetous of Lee Guoqiang's reward. They were well aware that although Lee Guoqiang was the principal of Seventeenth High School, his personal wealth was quite modest.

Chu Cencen had once mentioned to Chu Yi that Lee Guoqiang did have a considerable income. After all, he was a Gold General—among the elite, no less. Despite his injuries, which had diminished his peak strength, his high rank remained. Moreover, Lee Guoqiang's injuries were sustained in the line of duty, entitling him to a special subsidy in addition to his military compensation—a recompense for his past sacrifices.

And when you factor in the salary of a high school principal at Seventeenth High School... It's no exaggeration to say that Lee Guoqiang's earnings, if disclosed, would astonish the average person.

However, Lee Guoqiang was not one to hold onto money. It wasn't that he was frivolous with his spending; rather, upon becoming a principal, he dedicated all his resources to education. While Lee Guoqiang might have been an average educator, his commitment to his students was profound.

He naturally provided all sorts of conveniences for his students, and for those in financial need, he would even dip into his savings to offer assistance. Lee Zi had benefitted from Lee Guoqiang's discreet support for two years before awakening his genetic power.

This support wasn't about Lee Guoqiang trying to win hearts or build a reputation. He distributed it in a manner that preserved the dignity of the students. Whether it was through scholarships, awards, or prizes from various competitions, everyone knew that Lee Guoqiang's generosity was meant to spare his students any embarrassment.

Lee Guoqiang's prestige at Seventeenth High School was unparalleled, and it wasn't solely because he was the principal.

He had a reputation for spending money like it was going out of style, so it's likely that Lee Guoqiang didn't have much in the way of savings. However, since he mentioned having a private subsidy, it probably wasn't just talk.

But when the time came, Chu Yi and Lee Zi wouldn't accept it. They no longer needed it.

"I've heard that there are some impressive talents emerging from No. 33 and No. 37 High Schools."

"Just make sure you don't get outshone by them!"

Both No. 33 and No. 37 High Schools were prominent institutions in their district, nearly indistinguishable in terms of quality. The lion's share of the resources from the Ministry of Education was funneled to these three schools.

The rivalry in this region was essentially a battle for supremacy among these three high schools.

If Lee Zi hadn't been injured and still had her genetic power, Lee Guoqiang wouldn't have had a single worry. Lee Zi alone could sway the Ministry of Education to allocate the bulk of the next round of resources to Seventeenth High School.

Regardless of Lee Zi's ultimate performance, the outcome was bound to be the same. But now...

Lee Zi and Chu Yi nodded in agreement. They held deep respect for Lee Guoqiang. Beyond his contributions to Seventeenth High School and his past assistance to Lee Zi, his unwavering defense of her in front of Adirang Academy alone earned their admiration.

This time, Lee Guoqiang's efforts weren't for himself, but for the good of Seventeenth High School. As students of the school, Chu Yi and Lee Zi were even more inclined to support him.

"Principal, rest assured."

"The greatest glory will ultimately be Seventeenth High School's!"

Chu Yi's expression was one of utmost sincerity, matched by Lee Guoqiang's increasingly radiant smile. Of course, Lee Guoqiang had no idea what Chu Yi meant by "the greatest glory," or what it truly entailed...

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