C152 Lee Guoqiang's Worry!

Chu Yi and Lee Zi had already rejoined their peers at Seventeenth High School after the competition.

Initially, Chu Yi's performance, while impressive, didn't cause a huge stir. It seemed as though the once-considered waste of over a decade had awakened his potential overnight. But today was a different story...

While the rest of the world might not have paid much attention to the happenings within the twelve examination halls, the students of Seventeenth High School were watching intently. Chu Yi and Lee Zi's display of skill was nothing short of revolutionary; their strength seemed almost excessive.

Without a point of reference, it might have been hard for others to grasp just how formidable Chu Yi and Lee Zi were. They had achieved scores that, while seemingly impressive, didn't resonate much with the students due to the lack of a benchmark.

But the last thirteen geniuses to compete were no ordinary contenders. They were the cream of the crop from noble families, secretly nurtured as the future hope of their clans. Even those unfamiliar with the intricacies of these elite households could sense the weight of their titles.

Now, Chu Yi and Lee Zi had ascended to the top by outshining these top-tier prodigies, which spoke volumes about their caliber.

More importantly, Chu Yi and Lee Zi's scores didn't just surpass those of their competitors—they utterly dominated them. Anyone with a shred of sense could see that Chu Yi and Lee Zi were in a league of their own.

This overwhelming superiority, coupled with the comparison to the thirteen family-bred geniuses, catapulted their reputations sky-high.

Previously at Seventeenth High School, Chu Yi and Lee Zi were already well-known. Lee Zi's fame needed no explanation, while Chu Yi was known for his good looks. Lee Zi, often away for training, was a name people recognized, though they knew little about her. Chu Yi, on the other hand, was known simply for his attractiveness.

But now, the narrative had shifted.

"These are the strongest geniuses of our time!"

"In their generation, they stand unrivaled!"

"I am convinced that either Chu Yi or Lee Zi is destined to claim the top spot in the national examination!"

The students of Seventeenth High School were ecstatic at the prospect. Should Chu Yi and Lee Zi secure the top position in the national exam, their classmates too would bask in the spotlight of prestigious high schools. Often, it wasn't a lack of talent holding these students back, but rather a lack of recognition.

The martial arts examination and the academic examination are fundamentally different. With academic exams, one glance at the scores reveals whether a student has succeeded or not. However, the martial arts examination is far more complex. Merely considering the final rankings doesn't convey much significance. For instance, many students in the top fifty aren't Bronze Warriors, while some Bronze Level warriors are ranked lower. Should schools be recruiting, any discerning leader would prioritize students at the Bronze Level. If they only considered rankings, those Bronze Level candidates would miss out. Thus, basing martial examination outcomes solely on scores is impractical. This is where observers come into play.

Regrettably, even elite institutions like Adirang Academy in Redmarsh don't have enough observers. As a result, the martial examination often boils down to luck. If you're fortunate to catch someone's eye, you might secure a spot in a prestigious school, even if you're not the top contender. Conversely, without exceptional talent and a bit of luck, your prospects are slim.

This is precisely why, if Chu Yi and Lee Zi were to clinch the top spot in the national examination, they would undoubtedly attract the attention of numerous elite schools, to the benefit of many students. Consequently, students and parents alike, whether out of genuine admiration or self-interest, have started to subtly boost Chu Yi and Lee Zi's reputations.

Ultimately, it all comes down to Lee Zi and Chu Yi themselves. Without genuine talent, any behind-the-scenes promotion would be laughable. But as it stands, with the abilities they've shown, they're fully capable of competing in the national examination, potentially even breaking into the top twenty or ten.

Despite such talk, those at Seventeenth High School didn't truly believe Chu Yi and Lee Zi would emerge as champions of the national martial arts examination—it was all part of the hype. Yet, upon their return to school, Chu Yi and Lee Zi were met with a lavish welcome. To many, they are the commoners' pride, their journeys unfolding under the watchful gaze of the public.

Chu Yi has always been in the spotlight, growing up right before everyone's eyes. His progress has been transparent and clear for all to see.

The sense of pride in a genius emerging from among them is incredibly strong.

Despite having witnessed the wonders of the Godly Mountain and the Lone Sea, and even the supreme beings of immortals and demons, Chu Yi has always faced these challenges alone.

Now, suddenly showered with such warm welcomes and cheers, Chu Yi was somewhat bewildered.

Thankfully, Lee Guoqiang didn't let the two of them just stand there.

"Disperse, everyone, disperse!" he commanded.

As the principal, Lee Guoqiang's authority was respected.

So when Lee Guoqiang spoke, the students, though reluctant, obediently dispersed.

He then escorted Lee Zi and Chu Yi to his office, where he could no longer keep up his stern demeanor.

Lee Guoqiang had not held much hope for this year's martial exam.

His confidence had been buoyed by Lee Zi's presence.

While he had witnessed Chu Yi's remarkable abilities, Lee Guoqiang felt that Chu Yi simply hadn't been cultivating long enough.

Had Chu Yi started his training much earlier, Lee Guoqiang was convinced he could have matched Lee Zi's prodigious talent.

But just two months prior, Chu Yi was merely an ordinary person, noticed only for his innate talent for perception.

At that time, Lee Guoqiang had pinned all his hopes on Lee Zi.

Indeed, his expectations for Lee Zi were even higher than those of Adirang Academy.

Yet, against all expectations, a problem arose that no one had anticipated.

At that point, Lee Guoqiang had all but given up on the martial exam.

But who could have foreseen this turn of events?

"Chu Yi, Lee Zi, you've really kept me in the dark..." Lee Guoqiang said, eyes gleaming as he looked at them.

Chu Yi, feeling a bit helpless, simply shrugged, while Lee Zi just quietly watched Chu Yi, remaining silent.

They wouldn't have been concerned if it were anyone else.

But this was the principal, a man admired by all...

"Actually, Principal, we weren't trying to keep it from you..."

Chu Yi paused thoughtfully before speaking with caution.

Even though Chu Yi's abilities now surpassed those of Lee Guoqiang, he maintained a deep respect for him when addressing him.

"To be exact, you never asked us."

"So, it really shouldn't be seen as us keeping anything from you..."

After a moment's reflection, Lee Guoqiang found himself at a loss for words.

"Ahem, well then, you guys take a good day's rest tomorrow."

"What you'll be facing next is the third stage of the exams!"

Lee Guoqiang's demeanor grew more serious as he spoke.

"There are exactly 128 spots in the third stage. You're aware of how prestigious each spot is, right?"

Chu Yi nodded in agreement.

The competition in this Martial Arts Exam was fierce indeed!

Consider that the prodigies who shared the examination hall with us would have easily advanced to the third stage in any other year, and some could even have aimed for the fourth stage.

But in this year's Martial Arts Exam...

Only Lu Feng seemed to have a secure chance. As for the rest, whether they could make it to the third stage was a complete unknown.

And as for the fourth stage —

There wasn't the slightest possibility!

With such fierce competition, none of the 128 contenders in the third stage would be there by mere chance!

Not even the luckiest of candidates could have slipped through.

Hence, all 128 were geniuses, true powerhouses!

"But there's something you might not know yet..."

Lee Guoqiang looked at them both and let out a weary sigh.

Truth be told, if this weren't the year of the college entrance exam, both Chu Yi and Lee Zi would have had a clear shot at the national exam, even topping the charts!

Sadly, that's not the case...

"This time, the third stage of the exam isn't limited to just 128 people!"

Not just 128 people?

Chu Yi and Lee Zi were both taken aback.

The college entrance exam had always been this way; why the change this year?

Then, it dawned on them—the recent reforms in the martial arts examination.

"The actual number is 256!"

256!

The number of competitors had just doubled!

And then, Chu Yi realized...

"Could it be the elite talents from the top-tier aristocratic families?"

Lee Guoqiang nodded in agreement, "Indeed, the prodigies from the elite families are at a minimum Fourth Level Geniuses, and many are even at the Genius Level."

"They have no need to enroll in any academies, so they're exempt from the first two stages of the assessments."

The main goal of these initial stages is simply to provide students with an opportunity to showcase their talents and catch the eye of prestigious institutions.

Since it's unnecessary for them, they naturally opt out of participating.

Moreover, the geniuses and exceptional talents nurtured by these top-tier families are truly formidable.

They have access to abundant resources, guidance from renowned mentors, and extraordinary innate abilities.

But the most crucial aspect is that they possess secret techniques!

Yes, secret techniques!

Their arsenal of secret combat skills makes their power immeasurable by conventional standards.

These families possess unique techniques passed down through generations, incomparable to anything you could buy off the street.

Hence, the power these gifted individuals wield is profoundly terrifying.

"The government has released so many enticing rewards for this martial examination that even the most influential families are tempted."

"They are becoming restless."

"Moreover, to secure the items they desire, the geniuses and formidable talents they send forth are incredibly fearsome!"

"Some are even willing to sacrifice their own foundations for the sake of gaining immense power in a short span of time!"

"So, the adversaries you face this time are overwhelmingly strong..."