C150 He Just Got into the Car of the Chu Family!
The young man had achieved the Gold rank.
The entire crowd was astounded.
Having witnessed Chu Yi's display of prowess during the first round of the exams, they were aware that he was no ordinary prodigy. His strength was astonishing.
Yet, their previous amazement paled in comparison to what they felt now.
Gold, Gold, he had reached Gold!
In the eyes of the average person, that signified an elite, the level of the most formidable warriors.
Even the examiner, trusted and dispatched by the government for this very test, was merely at the Gold rank.
Gold, within the world of humanity, signified a status among the upper echelons of the pyramid.
And now, a mere youth had ascended to the Gold rank!
'Shock' was an understatement for the sensation that rippled through the audience.
Was it shocking?
Indeed, it was a shock of unprecedented magnitude!
They had anticipated the emergence of a Gold rank during the exams, but never did they imagine a Gold Phenomenon would manifest in merely the second phase.
Gold, a caliber of genius expected only in the fourth stage of the national exam or perhaps the fifth stage of the World Large Competition.
In times past, not even a Silver rank, let alone Gold, would have been sufficient to claim the title of top scholar in the national exam.
The emergence of a Gold rank was beyond belief.
At last, they grasped why Chu Yi seemed so indifferent to these assessments. Even when the rules shifted to his disadvantage, he remained nonchalant.
It truly didn't matter to him, for these talents, however strong, were at best at the pinnacle of the Bronze Realm. What difference would a Silver make?
They were not even in the same league as Chu Yi.
While most were oblivious, a select few were privy to Chu Yi's actual realm, leaving them speechless, at a loss for words.
Meanwhile, the average candidates and instructors were still reeling from the shock.
As the aura of shockwave hit, the Illusory Demonic Beasts were utterly pulverized, vanishing into the ether.
Chu Yi's earlier punch, which had effortlessly slain these Illusory Demonic Beasts, was shocking enough, but now, he had simply obliterated everything with his mere presence.
They were convinced that nothing could hinder Chu Yi's progress.
He breezed through the eighth round.
The ninth round, just as effortlessly, passed.
The tenth round was a breeze for Chu Yi, whose strength was nothing short of dominant.
While others faltered at the seventh or eighth round, he had effortlessly advanced to the tenth. Yet, even at this level, the challenges posed were no match for him. In a surprising move, Chu Yi decided to bow out. It was clear to all that his withdrawal was not due to a lack of power but rather a choice not to squander more time.
Indeed, the ten Illusory Demonic Beasts of the tenth round vanished in the wake of Chu Yi's formidable presence.
By choosing to step away, Chu Yi left a legacy that transcended belief, a legend that would linger in the minds of those who witnessed it.
"This place might be off the radar, but if this were broadcast live to the nation right now, I'm convinced this moment would be etched in the memory of all who saw it," someone remarked.
"And as for Chu Yi, his next battle would be to—"
"Ascend to the divine!"
Throughout the ten rounds of combat, Chu Yi emerged victorious in each encounter. Aside from the first round, where he conceded an Illusory Demonic Beast, he amassed an impressive 1,090 points.
Combined with his previous tally of 360 points, Chu Yi's score soared to 1,450 points.
His closest competitor, Chu Fenglai, lagged behind with just over 700 points—more than half Chu Yi's total.
Such a gap instilled a sense of hopelessness in the other contenders, making it crystal clear that even if Chu Yi were to forfeit the third round, his lead was insurmountable.
Chu Yi had thus secured his place in the third stage without dispute.
Not a single prodigy harbored any illusions of discontent; the gulf between their abilities and Chu Yi's was palpable.
The initial round of the competition had tested mere perception and speed—factors of strength, yes, but vastly inferior to the prowess required in true combat.
Now, the second round had laid bare the raw power of the competitors, and it was here that they truly grasped the extent of Chu Yi's capabilities.
While he may not be the foremost among the younger generation, he was unquestionably the preeminent force among his peers.
Chu Yi's spot remained unchallenged.
The competition pressed on, with teams steadily entering the arena. Chu Yi's earlier advice had not gone unnoticed; subsequent teams began to adopt the strategies he had proposed.
Yes, instead of everyone being suspicious of each other and ending up with no points, it's better to collaborate. By working together, there's a chance to pass the first stage and collectively earn ten points.
This strategy and mindset led to a significant number of examinees passing the first stage, with some even conquering the second stage.
Although they were halted at the third stage, they had already amassed thirty points from the second stage.
However, everyone was aware that such a scenario was not replicable.
In that previous assessment, four examinees had achieved the Bronze Level.
When the next set of assessments began, the focus shifted as Lee Zi stepped forward.
In the first stage, Chu Yi and Lee Zi exhibited contrasting demeanors.
One was bursting with vibrancy, while the other seemed to be taking a leisurely stroll.
Regardless of their approach, it was clear to all that they had both concealed their true capabilities in the first stage.
Chu Yi had since confirmed his formidable strength, with an unassailable score.
But what about Lee Zi?
Had Lee Zi also concealed her abilities, just like Chu Yi?
The answer was unequivocally affirmative.
When the first Illusory Demonic Beast appeared, Lee Zi remained still, opting to observe in silence, mirroring Chu Yi's tactics.
After the sacrifice of four examinees, they smoothly cleared the first round of the examination.
In the second round, despite everyone exerting their full strength, they were outmatched by far more powerful adversaries.
The two Illusory Demonic Beasts rampaged, and the already drained examinees couldn't hold them back. They were quickly eliminated without inflicting any serious damage on the beasts.
In the end, Lee Zi was the only one left inside the glass enclosure.
From that moment, everyone witnessed Lee Zi's true power. They finally understood.
Lee Zi was still the formidable competitor she had always been...
With a single punch, there was no need for a second.
Her actions echoed those of Chu Yi earlier.
Yet, with such a straightforward punch, she obliterated all resistance.
Even if the two Illusory Demonic Beasts had been previously weakened, they should not have been so easily defeated!
Keep in mind, the prodigies from the noble families had also taken them on, expending considerable effort and techniques to slay the two Illusory Demonic Beasts.
Lee Zi could take down Chu Yi with a single punch – it was almost too easy to believe. In that moment, many finally came to understand. "Lee Zi is still that same Lee Zi!" they exclaimed. "What does it matter if she's lost her genetic power?" "Lee Zi remains a prodigy, the unmatched genius that everyone admires!"
The excitement among the examinees was palpable. Lee Zi had once been the goddess in their hearts, and not necessarily because of affection. It was largely due to Lee Zi's unique status. Lee Zi was a commoner, a true commoner's child. Her sudden awakening and meteoric rise filled the hearts of commoner students with hope. Even though they realized that Lee Zi's path was not one they could easily follow, they still saw her as their idol, their goddess.
However, recent rumors had begun to shake the faith of many ordinary students. Was this the destiny of a genius emerging from the commoners? No matter how splendid the past, must it always end in reluctant defeat? But against all odds, Lee Zi had returned. She had once again stepped into the limelight, still the Lee Zi who made everyone tremble with awe.
Round after round – the second, the third, the fourth – Lee Zi's performance was nothing short of spectacular. Although she was slightly behind Chu Yi, compared to the other geniuses, she was far superior. Like Chu Yi, she stopped after the tenth round, not because she couldn't continue, but because she felt it was sufficient.
One thousand four hundred and fifty points! Lee Zi's score matched Chu Yi's, placing her once again at the top of the leaderboard. Such a display from Lee Zi was truly astonishing.
"Wasn't Lee Zi's genetic power completely destroyed?" people murmured in disbelief. "How can she still be this powerful?" "Could the news have been false?"
The skepticism was understandable; the notion was almost too incredible to accept. The rumors had claimed that Lee Zi had obliterated her genetic power, and without it, even with limitless resources, she couldn't possibly have become a Silver Warrior so quickly. But there it was, clear for all to see – Lee Zi had indeed become a Silver Level Great Warrior.
After Lee Zi had shattered his genetic power, he should have reverted to being an ordinary person. This implied that Chu Yi had ascended to the status of a Silver Warrior in a remarkably short span of time.
Could this really be possible?
Suddenly, all eyes turned to one individual.
This person was a scout from Adirang Academy, tasked with identifying prospective students for recruitment into their prestigious institution.
Despite being an elite academy, not everyone at Adirang Academy was considered a top-tier genius or prodigy.
Thus, they were also on the lookout for diverse talents.
Feeling the weight of the surrounding stares, the Adirang Academy scout was uncomfortably on edge, yet he was powerless to change the situation.
Even as a scout for Adirang Academy, there were many others like him.
In terms of status, he couldn't hold a candle to those around him.
Being scorned in such a manner left him feeling unsettled and unable to think clearly.
In that moment, the scout recalled a rumor from within Adirang Academy, unverified as it was, but in his current state, he was beyond caring.
"Hmph, he's merely hitched a ride with the Chu family!"
"After all, even a dog would not fare too poorly if nurtured by the Chu family!"