C144 A Leisurely Stroll

Chu Yi's entrance had undoubtedly piqued the curiosity of many.

In the foundational tests, Chu Yi's performance wasn't earth-shattering or singularly top-tier, but it certainly qualified him as a prodigy.

Of course, the scions of wealthy families outshone Chu Yi by a considerable margin.

But there was a fundamental difference between them.

One was a genius nurtured in affluence, the other a self-made genius from humble beginnings.

The disparity in resources was stark.

The offspring of the elite didn't garner much interest; growing up in such privileged environments, they were expected to be geniuses, unless they were exceptionally inept.

The real fascination lay with the geniuses who emerged from the ranks of the common folk.

And Chu Yi was, without question, one of those geniuses!

Certainly, Chu Yi's popularity stemmed not only from his talent but also his looks.

This time, the geniuses emerging from the twelfth testing hall weren't limited to Chu Yi alone. In the initial assessment, Chu Yi had only secured the fifth rank!

Indeed, four individuals had outperformed him.

Countless eyes were on Chu Yi, eagerly anticipating his next move.

He was, after all, the first genius to take the stage since the rule change.

Chu Yi's performance would also help gauge the approach needed for the upcoming challenges.

"Chu Yi, if it gets too tough later on, just aim for the second challenge's red balls. They're worth thirty points, after all."

"If you're unsure, focus all your energy on the second wave of balls."

Such advice certainly didn't come from Lee Zi.

She was well aware of Chu Yi's capabilities and understood that while the test might be a catastrophe for some, it posed little difficulty for him.

Chu Yi gave Lee Guoqiang a knowing smile and a nod.

An explanation?

Unnecessary.

Soon enough, Chu Yi and his companions were stationed inside the glass enclosure.

As the countdown on the display dwindled to zero, all eyes were riveted on them, full of anticipation.

In a flash, hundreds of dyed cannonballs materialized.

Nearly every student within the glass enclosure was attended to.

Observing from the outside was one thing, but stepping inside and experiencing it firsthand was quite another.

The bird's-eye view and the personal experience were starkly different.

Chu Yi understood all too well that while this stage of the test might not seem overly challenging from the outside, actually being in the thick of it was a different story altogether.

Simply put, the surrounding students' nervousness and a host of other factors could be crucial in affecting the outcome.

But none of this concerned Chu Yi.

With his Perception activated, he instantly enveloped every nook and cranny of the space.

Truth be told, even without his Perception, the dyed cannonballs wouldn't pose any threat to Chu Yi.

He had already done his homework from the outside.

The projectiles traveled at about 13m/s, not unlike the velocity in the basic assessment. However, given their density, in theory, a speed of 15m/s should suffice to evade the initial volley.

Chu Yi's speed easily exceeded this threshold, so it was naturally not an issue for him.

Moreover, Chu Yi's greatest advantage was his primordial spirit power.

With the primordial spirit power in play, that so-called theoretical score would have to be significantly adjusted downward.

Hence, these challenges posed no threat to Chu Yi whatsoever.

Chu Yi might have been unfazed, but the other prodigies were not so fortunate.

One by one, the dyed cannonballs continued to emerge, relentlessly striking the students.

Some students put forth a valiant effort, but their lack of speed was their downfall, and they were inevitably hit.

They fell.

From just the first onslaught of dyed cannonballs, six students were already out of the running.

Out of the original twenty, only fourteen remained.

Most of these fourteen were average at best, having barely scraped through the basic assessment.

To evade the second round...

Yes, it was feasible.

But the third round left them without a glimmer of hope.

Thus, if these students aspired to earn points, the second round was their sole opportunity.

So, in the brief respite following the first barrage of dyed cannonballs, the students readied themselves, prepared to risk it all.

The attention of most students remained fixed on Chu Yi. His appeal stemmed not only from his good looks and brilliance but also from his stellar performance in the first round.

It was, quite frankly, a revelation!

While his peers floundered, Chu Yi's display was strikingly impressive.

While others frantically dodged, employing a variety of evasive maneuvers, Chu Yi moved with ease, seemingly taking a leisurely walk. He let the myriad of dyed cannonballs burst around him without a single one managing to hit him.

It was effortless!

In fact, it seemed too effortless, especially compared to the student who had struggled to reach the eighth level.

At that moment...

Many onlookers were impressed. They were certain that Chu Yi's final score would be far from low.

As they pondered, the second round of dyed cannonballs commenced.

Consistent with the previous round, a small red ball appeared amidst the chaos. Instantly, all the remaining students sprang into action without exception.

They abandoned any notion of teamwork, instead accelerating to their utmost speed.

Facing the second round alone, only a handful could evade the onslaught. Most students opted for a do-or-die approach.

Several were struck by a barrage of dyed cannonballs upon reaching the small red ball, thereby forfeiting their chance.

Yet, there were a few who nearly succeeded.

Despite the randomness of the small ball's placement, the students were almost evenly spaced within the glass enclosure. Consequently, a few lucky ones found themselves in close proximity to the ball.

One student was just under three meters away when the ball materialized.

With the dyed cannonballs still some distance away, it seemed almost certain he would secure the red ball before they could reach him.

Thirty points.

While not a high score, in the context of this examination, where few managed to score at all, thirty points were sufficient to propel him into the higher ranks.

However, just as his arm was about to make contact with the small ball, the student's expression turned to one of shock.

The ball hadn't vanished; rather, a hand had already snatched it up, firmly grasping it in its palm.

"Chu Yi!"

With a sense of frustration, the dyed cannonball finally struck the student.

Just as he was on the verge of success, with luck seemingly on his side, who could have anticipated Chu Yi's sudden emergence?

The student hadn't expected it, nor had the others, and the audience was equally taken by surprise.

"This, this, this..."

"Wasn't Chu Yi just in that far-off corner a moment ago?"

"He wasn't the furthest from the sphere, but he was certainly a considerable distance away."

"Can anyone explain how he managed that?!"

Many were baffled.

The last time they spotted Chu Yi, he was a great distance away, yet in a mere blink of an eye, he had materialized near the scoring sphere.

"What incredible speed!"

Some witnessed it and couldn't help but marvel.

Chu Yi had covered a distance of over fifty meters in virtually no time at all, in less than half a second!

This meant that Chu Yi's speed had to be over 100m/s!

Even if it was just a burst of speed reaching 100m/s, it was still astoundingly impressive.

"He definitely held back a lot of his power during the preliminary assessment!"

Some had thought they saw Chu Yi's full potential, while others believed he had more up his sleeve.

Even if he had been concealing his true abilities, they assumed it wasn't by much.

Yet, the burst of speed he just demonstrated utterly overturned their assumptions.

Fast?

The term "fast" hardly does justice to describe it!

In virtually an instant, Chu Yi had traversed fifty meters.

That level of speed, even for the top talents groomed by noble families for this year's college entrance exam, was remarkable!

Indeed, the astonished expressions of those prodigies said it all.

While everyone was still processing their amazement, the third round of dyed cannonballs made its appearance.

Chu Yi stood his ground, not budging an inch.

The crowd didn't dwell on it much; after all, with the speed Chu Yi had just shown, not even a tenth round could likely stop him, much less the third!

Though they had yet to witness the tenth round.

But in that moment, an irate voice cut through the air.

"Damn it!"

In an instant, onlookers witnessed a figure dart into the glass enclosure and swiftly emerge, clutching a young student.

The student was familiar to many.

He was the same unfortunate soul from earlier.

Indeed, had it not been for his encounter with Chu Yi, he would have certainly secured thirty points.

Initially, his luck seemed extraordinary, with the red sphere appearing right next to him, as though fate itself was on his side.

Yet, as it turned out, his luck was just shy of sufficient.

Chu Yi, with a burst of skill, wrested the nearly assured points from his grasp.

The student's dream was thus shattered.

This begs the question: why did the Gold General Assessment Official let out such an enraged roar?

While most were still reeling from the shock of Chu Yi's incredible speed, some had already discerned the reason.

The student was apprehended simply because he had violated the rules.

Perhaps the sudden appearance of Chu Yi, who had 'stolen' his points, caused the student's composure to crumble.

Indeed, after being struck by the dyed cannonballs, he didn't immediately exit. Instead, he crouched next to Chu Yi, intending to take Chu Yi down with him during the third volley of dyed cannonball fire.

Nobody thought Chu Yi's actions were unjustified. If Chu Yi had lacked the strength and had resorted to deceit to obtain the sphere, then perhaps the students might have harbored some contempt.

But it was clear that he had prevailed through sheer strength!

Although Chu Yi had the capability to compete for subsequent spheres and could have generously left the red one for others, that choice was his to make based on his mood.

Furthermore, everyone understood that if they were in Chu Yi's shoes, they likely would have made the same decision.

No one could be certain of the points that lay ahead, and even if there were many, what if an even more formidable talent emerged?

This was a matter concerning one's own performance and future prospects.

Such a contest was utterly transparent and based solely on strength.

Hence, Chu Yi was in the right!

Naturally, if ordinary citizens were to witness such events, there would likely be an outcry from those who sanctimoniously criticize.

Such individuals are never in short supply, regardless of the world or era...

Watching Chu Yi effortlessly advance past the second round, the Gold General's eyes betrayed a hint of intrigue.

Everyone assumed that he had timely intervened to help Chu Yi avert the crisis, but in truth, the Gold General was well aware that Chu Yi would have been fine even without his assistance.

Indeed, by the time he made his move, Chu Yi had already skillfully evaded the student's ambush and was out of harm's way.