C17 I Refuse!!

Although Chu Yi lacked combat experience and his strength paled in comparison to Zhen Ye's, one should not overlook his most extraordinary ability—

the Primordial Spirit!

With the power of the Primordial Spirit, Chu Yi could instantly decipher any movement unless faced with an adversary far stronger than himself.

Zhen Ye, while formidable among his peers, was still within Chu Yi's perceptual range.

Thus...

Even when his physical body couldn't keep pace with his mind, Chu Yi always opted for the most logical approach.

Struggling to contort his body, he miraculously sidestepped the devastating punch at the last moment.

It was a close call, but he managed to avoid bearing the brunt of that powerful strike.

Clearly, this move took everyone by surprise, except for Lee Zi.

Unless one had awakened their genetic power, not even the most seasoned non-Bronze level warriors could have evaded such an attack.

But Chu Yi did.

"Lucky break!"

Zhen Ye remained silent, but his eyes unmistakably conveyed his thoughts.

So, Zhen Ye launched another attack.

The punch was identical to the previous one, but this time Zhen Ye was visibly more determined, nearly sealing off every possible escape for Chu Yi.

It must be acknowledged that Zhen Ye's combat experience was beyond Chu Yi's league. Without his Primordial Spirit, Chu Yi wouldn't stand a chance against Zhen Ye under identical conditions.

But Chu Yi had that edge!

Therefore...

Despite the struggle, Chu Yi once again narrowly escaped Zhen Ye's second lethal blow.

This evasion drew serious attention from the observing teachers.

The smile had vanished from Zhen Ye's face. To him, Chu Yi was nothing but trash, a nobody who relied solely on his looks.

Yet now, facing such a nobody, Zhen Ye had failed to land a hit twice, even with underhanded tactics, which was a blow to his pride.

The third strike came swiftly.

Unsurprisingly, Chu Yi dodged it with ease.

This time, however, Zhen Ye didn't hold back. The fourth, the fifth—his assaults were relentless.

In a flurry, Zhen Ye unleashed a barrage of attacks. Had he not been concerned about Lee Zi's presence, he might have tapped into his full potential right then and there.

Chu Yi's display was nothing short of breathtaking; not a single punch landed on him after dozens of consecutive strikes!

At last, following the forty-first futile attempt, Zhen Ye halted his assault.

"Chu Yi, this approach of yours simply won't do," he remarked.

"The purpose of the assessment is to engage, not just to evade."

Clearly, Zhen Ye had come to the realization that, under the current constraints, he was incapable of inflicting any damage on Chu Yi.

"Senior Brother, doesn't the rule state that the longer one withstands, the better?" interjected Lee Zi before Chu Yi could respond.

Zhen Ye's expression momentarily clouded over, but he quickly regained his composure. "Junior Sister, would your senior brother deceive you?"

"If you're doubtful, feel free to confirm with the assessment teachers."

As Lee Zi turned to them, the teachers overseeing the assessment remained silent for a brief moment before giving a subtle nod.

With a smug grin, Zhen Ye turned his attention back to Chu Yi. "You get it now, don't you, Chu Yi?"

"From here on out, you'll need to confront the challenge directly."

Zhen Ye was already gathering his energy again as he spoke, his formidable aura beginning to surge.

However, just as Zhen Ye was poised to strike, Chu Yi abruptly declared, "If that's the case, then I forfeit this assessment."

He was well aware that to forfeit meant to fail.

Yet, if he were to take a direct hit from Zhen Ye, Chu Yi was certain he would sustain serious injuries.

Of this, Chu Yi had no doubt!

And at this juncture, a severe injury...

What he stood to lose wasn't just this assessment, but the college entrance exam as well.

"Chu Yi, hear me out, you absolutely must not give up!"

"If you do, you'll forfeit your chance to gain entry into the three prestigious academies!"

Chu Yi was taken aback.

Lee Zi had not mentioned this to him before.

She quickly filled Chu Yi in on the details.

As it turned out, the three elite academies collaborated with one another.

Unless one was among the most exceptional of talents, who had been offered a special assessment by one academy, the other two would typically steer clear.

Moreover, the results of the assessment were recognized by all three academies!

In essence, if Chu Yi failed the Adirang Academy's assessment, he would also lose the opportunity to interview at the other two academies.

In Lee Zi's view, Chu Yi would never have made it into the top three academies if he had gone through the normal college entrance process.

At that moment, Chu Yi understood everything.

He looked at Zhen Ye and, surprisingly, smiled.

Chu Yi was smiling, and so was Zhen Ye.

But while Chu Yi's smile was cold, Zhen Ye's was smug.

Initially, Chu Yi's smile was frosty, but as he continued to smile, it grew increasingly radiant.

This left Zhen Ye, clueless about the situation, quite perplexed.

"Lee Zi, I get it now."

"Perhaps I, Chu Yi, really don't have what it takes to get into the three academies."

"I'm grateful for your help. This time, I choose—"

"To give up!"

With those words, Chu Yi turned and strode out.

The assessment had been unfair from the start.

If Zhen Ye had truly fought with the strength of a Bronze Warrior, Chu Yi was confident that, with the aid of his primordial spirit, he could have held his ground for a while.

But Zhen Ye had used genetic power, and that was beyond Chu Yi's ability to contend with.

Still, Chu Yi wouldn't voice these thoughts.

"Chu Yi, Chu Yi!"

Lee Zi didn't spare Zhen Ye a glance as she ran after Chu Yi.

Watching this, Zhen Ye's smile faltered.

But then he thought of something, and a scornful smirk crept back onto his face...

...

"Chu Yi, listen to me, stop, just listen!"

Chu Yi halted and faced Lee Zi in silence.

Her face was tinged with red: "Chu Yi, can't you be brave just this once?"

"This examination could shape your entire future!"

It was the first time Chu Yi had seen Lee Zi so angry.

Indeed, there was something quite striking about this side of her.

But Chu Yi wasn't in the right frame of mind to appreciate it. The angrier Lee Zi got, the more Chu Yi felt the depth of her concern.

Regrettably, Chu Yi couldn't reveal the truth.

He was no longer a child; he knew that some things are better left unsaid, as speaking up could make the situation worse.

Seeing Chu Yi's demeanor, the fury in Lee Zi's eyes intensified.

"Do you really think I'd let you take this test on a whim?"

The Bronze-level warrior we encountered that day was certainly impressive among his peers. You were bested in a single move, but that was solely due to the overwhelming force of your opponent's strength!

Furthermore, you've consumed a bottle of Third Level Energy Serum. With several days of absorption, you're fully capable of enduring a prolonged battle against a Bronze-ranked warrior!

So why give up?

Are you truly that faint-hearted?

Chu Yi offered a wry smile, wanting to articulate his thoughts, yet ultimately, he remained silent.

Witnessing this, the fury in Lee Zi's eyes transformed into a look of sorrow. "Life is yours to live. I just hope that in the future—"

"You won't have regrets..."

Watching Lee Zi walk away, Chu Yi's fists tightened momentarily before he let them go.

In that instant, he burst into a radiant smile.

From the shadows' edge, a figure emerged slowly.

"Are you feeling a great deal of anger?"

Chu Yi stood still, unfazed by the unexpected presence.

"Hmm?"

"Aren't you the least bit curious about my arrival?"

His suit was threadbare, the tie around his neck significantly faded.

To any onlooker, he might appear destitute.

But Chu Yi harbored no such impression.

Before him stood a formidable presence, a strength that even Chu Yi could not fathom.