C149 Gold Gold!!

Lee Guoqiang watched Chu Yi intently, and he wasn't the only one; nearly everyone's eyes, geniuses included, were fixed on him.

Chu Yi, the prodigy from humble beginnings who had set a record in the previous round, was about to take the stage.

Unfazed by the surrounding stares, Chu Yi strode to the center of the square.

In a flash, he was completely encased by the glass cover.

Chu Yi observed the other students, their expressions tinged with resignation, but he had no inclination to assist them.

If he so desired, he could easily help them amass more points than the thirteen geniuses.

But to him, it seemed pointless.

They stood no chance of advancing to the third stage of the exams, where schools were scouting for performance, not just scores.

While results mattered, they weren't the deciding factor in this assessment.

"Here's a piece of advice for you all..."

"Team up to take down the Illusory Creature."

"Don't worry about who gets the kill. Once you clear this hurdle, everyone who passes earns ten points..."

Chu Yi offered his suggestion with a light chuckle, looking at the other examinees.

He paid no mind to their bewildered expressions and settled in to wait quietly.

The countdown soon came to an end.

An Illusory Creature materialized...

Confronted with the formidable Illusory Creature, the examinees exchanged glances and made their decision in an instant.

Indeed, they stood no chance on their own.

The two Bronze Level examinees from before were strong, weren't they?

And yet, what was their fate?

They were worn down by the Illusory Creature.

If those at the Bronze Level couldn't cut it, the others stood even less of a chance!

Thus, Chu Yi's strategy seemed like a solid plan.

They were still apprehensive about someone swooping in to claim the final blow, but they were out of options.

Chu Yi was right—pass the test, and each person would secure ten points. Let suspicion prevail, and no one would score at all.

Their choice was clear.

So, everyone except Chu Yi sprang into action.

Lacking any real coordination, they embodied the adage that even a wild punch can take down an expert.

As the nineteen of them put forth a collective effort, some were inevitably disqualified, but ultimately, they triumphed!

Chu Yi watched from the sidelines, a hint of surprise on his face.

He didn't rush in for the kill.

While such behavior was normal, Chu Yi had no such inclination; his strength simply didn't require it.

The crowd erupted into murmurs of astonishment.

No one had anticipated that someone other than the prodigies could clear the first stage!

Clearly, it was a sound strategy.

Instead of fretting over every little thing, it made more sense to collaborate. That way, once the stage was cleared, everyone remaining would earn ten points.

Many eyes turned to Chu Yi.

They had all heard what he had said to the other candidates earlier. It was safe to say that this strategy was his brainchild.

The second stage commenced, and two Illusory Creatures materialized.

Thirteen candidates remained.

Yet, for them, this stage would mark the end of the line.

Considering that in the previous round, nineteen candidates had lost six of their number just to subdue one Illusory Creature, facing two of these beings meant the remaining candidates stood no chance.

As expected, the candidates were swiftly defeated by the two Illusory Creatures.

Now, Chu Yi was the only one left inside the glass enclosure.

Many gazes began to waver, recognizing that the last man standing was key.

Whether Chu Yi truly possessed the formidable power he had demonstrated in the first stage was about to be revealed.

The two Illusory Creatures charged at Chu Yi with a roar, their intimidating presence causing a shiver to run through the onlookers.

Though merely Illusory Creatures, they bore no significant differences from real Demonic Beasts, except for their lack of corporeal form.

But for Chu Yi, they posed no challenge.

Sensing the watchful eyes around him, Chu Yi suddenly smiled.

His smile was one of pure joy.

He knew everyone was curious about his strength, eager to witness his limits.

So, in response to their unspoken challenge...

"As you wish..."

Chu Yi made his move...

With a graceful step forward.

With a casual swing of his fist.

And in an instant...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Sounds that should not have been possible rang out.

In that moment, the audience watched in stunned silence as the two Illusory Creatures vanished, their expressions a mix of bewilderment and awe.

"This, this, this..."

"Can it be?"

"Is the equipment malfunctioning?"

"Right, there must be a malfunction with the equipment!"

It has to be an equipment issue!

Otherwise, how could a mere punch have obliterated the two Illusory Creatures?

Keep in mind, these are Illusory Creatures. As long as they have enough energy, they can maintain their peak strength even after sustaining fatal injuries.

Yet now, Chu Yi has dispatched two Illusory Creatures with just one punch?

Doesn't that suggest that Chu Yi's punch possessed enough force to kill those two Illusory Creatures several times over?

No, that's impossible!

Someone might achieve that, but it certainly shouldn't be Chu Yi, not a commoner!

Something's definitely off here...

The Gold General examiner halted the match immediately and hurried to inspect the equipment.

Others were skeptical of such an outcome, and the examiner also doubted an equipment malfunction.

Regrettably, the verdict was that the equipment was functioning perfectly!

This implied...

After the first round, he had thought Chu Yi was a prodigy, a diamond in the rough among commoners, with the potential to rise to the Gold level, or even touch Diamond status.

But now...

"Examiner, may we proceed?"

The Gold General examiner paused briefly before nodding.

The countdown resumed.

As it concluded, three Illusory Creatures materialized.

Like the previous two, they launched a fearless assault on Chu Yi.

However, the outcome was identical to that of the second round's Illusory Creatures.

The battle commenced...

The battle concluded...

It was astonishingly simple, so much so that it raised doubts about the legitimacy of Chu Yi's assessment.

Yet the results spoke for themselves...

The fourth round, the fifth round, the sixth round!

At last, the seventh round arrived.

Before this, all the other prodigies, except for Lu Feng, had met their downfall at this juncture.

Chu Yi's performance at this stage was highly anticipated; surpassing those geniuses would confirm his superior talent.

And even if Chu Yi were to fail, it wouldn't be a surprise.

After all, Chu Yi was a genius who emerged from the common folk, whose access to resources and upbringing were incomparable to theirs.

But now, what should have been the most crucial part had lost its significance.

It was quite simple, due to the strength Chu Yi had previously demonstrated!

Even Lu Feng, the strongest up to that point, paid a steep price in the sixth stage. Though the power he wielded then wasn't Lu Feng's ultimate move, the gap between him and Chu Yi was still vast.

Of course, Chu Yi wasn't as at ease during the sixth stage as before.

In the initial three stages, Chu Yi would end the battle with a single punch.

But by the fourth through sixth stages, it took him two punches...

The disparity was immense.

Indeed, by the seventh stage, any sense of suspense had vanished.

Despite the seven Illusory Creatures appearing formidable, to Chu Yi, they were merely that.

Now a Gold General, even without employing his Stellar Combat Body, Chu Yi could effortlessly overpower those at the Gold level.

And these were merely Bronze Level Illusory Creatures...

They were of no concern.

A change in quantity can lead to a qualitative change, and when the number reaches a certain threshold, the effect can be formidable.

But this assumes that the essence of the quantity isn't vastly inferior to the quality.

The essence of Chu Yi compared to the Illusory Creatures was worlds apart.

"Alright, time to get moving!"

As the seven Illusory Creatures charged with roars, a flicker of disturbance finally crossed Chu Yi's eyes.

His strength was bound to be revealed.

Even if not now, it would come to light in the third stage.

Thus, Chu Yi had no intention of concealing anything.

Geniuses might need to hide their capabilities because they are all at a similar level, using secrecy to gain an advantage over others.

But Chu Yi needed none of that!

So, in that moment, Chu Yi unleashed his full power.

A terrifying presence instantly swept across the entire glass dome!

For a moment, it seemed as if the seven Illusory Creatures simply vanished, utterly and completely.

The expression on the face of the Gold examiner was one of profound shock.

He had felt it!

In that brief moment, he had sensed Chu Yi's aura!

It was—

"Gold..."

He swallowed hard, his mind still buzzing.

He wasn't alone; many of the dignitaries present had felt it too.

Gold, Gold, Gold!

Chu Yi was actually Gold Level!

This was an outcome that nobody had anticipated before the battle commenced.

Was it shocking?

No, it transcended shock!

Consider that in previous years, even on the third stage in Redmarsh, only those of Silver rank had emerged!

And many of them had just barely made it into the Silver rank.

Even though this year's exam had its differences from the past.

But Gold rank...

Perhaps, there would be a Gold rank!

Indeed, everyone was aware that on the most elite stages, the appearance of a Gold Level General was a certainty.

Yet, no one expected that a Gold rank would emerge here so prematurely.

And this Gold rank was a civilian Gold rank at that!

"Impossible!" some government officials were already whispering among themselves.

This year's exam was not designed with the commoner students in mind.

But who could have imagined that a prodigy like Chu Yi would emerge?

Yes, a prodigy!

Not just a genius, but a prodigy that eclipsed the very concept of genius!

There was no room for doubt.

After all, if Chu Yi wasn't a prodigy, how else could he have achieved this? To become Gold Level before the exam...

Suddenly, the representatives of various powers had their eyes ablaze with intense interest.

If he could reach Gold Level without resources, then with ample resources...

The possibilities were beyond imagination!