C176 Chu Yi Was Puzzled
At this moment, the screen was alive with commotion.
Countless people were bubbling over with excitement.
Lee Zi had slain a Gold Demonic Beast!
Though the beast had strayed from its familiar waters, weakening it significantly,
Gold was still Gold!
Moreover, this Demonic Beast was at least of the middle tier in the Gold category!
Had Chu Yi been the one to defeat it, everyone would have found it expected.
Even though the third phase of the assessment hadn't even reached the halfway mark, Chu Yi's performance had already completely captivated them.
Chu Yi's feat of vanquishing a Gold Demonic Beast was impressive enough, but what truly left a lasting mark was his confrontation with the Guardian.
Even though it was unseen, the minds of many had conjured up countless scenarios.
The government's vague explanations only fueled the imagination.
A grand battle!
This was no mere challenge—it was an epic confrontation!
If it were just a 'challenge,' it would suggest a quick resolution between Chu Yi and the Guardian, but 'grand battle' suggested something far more intense.
Some film companies even announced plans to produce a movie about Chu Yi's epic fight with the Guardian, quickly setting up crowdfunding campaigns...
Chu Yi's strength was no longer in question, but Lee Zi was a different story.
Lee Zi had previously shown herself to be formidable, yet she still lagged far behind Chu Yi!
Yes, the difference was like night and day.
Everyone remembered that Lee Zi was merely a Silver Level prodigy, and at the Elementary tier at that.
But now, Lee Zi had managed to take down a Gold Demonic Beast!
Had Lee Zi slain a Gold Level cultivator at the Elementary tier, it would have been surprising, but not astonishing.
After all, a cultivator at the Elementary Gold Stage was considered weaker than a Demonic Beast of the same level.
But Lee Zi had slain a Demonic Beast!
"An Elementary Silver Level taking down a middle-tier Gold Demonic Beast? Isn't that leap in strength even more staggering than Chu Yi's?"
"What kind of power couple are they?"
"Both stunning and formidable in strength!"
"Envy is an understatement..."
Chu Yi and Lee Zi were, of course, oblivious to the online buzz surrounding them.
Even if they were aware, they wouldn't care in the slightest.
Life is one's own, not dictated by the opinions of others.
Witnessing Lee Zi slay the Gold Demonic Beast, Chu Yi's eyes betrayed a flicker of astonishment.
He realized he had previously underestimated her.
More precisely, the Chu Yi of the past had underestimated everyone.
In his mind, the creatures of this universe were merely a notch above him in strength. He believed that once he grew stronger, he could vanquish them all.
Yet, Lee Zi's recent display had shattered his preconceptions.
Where Chu Yi relied on sheer force to dominate, Lee Zi leveraged her finesse.
Throughout the battle, Lee Zi hadn't squandered a single chance.
Her attention to detail left Chu Yi feeling inferior.
Chu Yi had been puzzled when Lee Zi leapt into the air, thinking it a mistake. But Lee Zi had been error-free, ingeniously creating an additional point of leverage—something beyond the reach of most.
Even if someone had conceived such a strategy, executing it was another matter. A casual toss wouldn't guarantee the leverage point would land precisely where intended.
Lee Zi had clearly calculated every detail, a feat Chu Yi couldn't match. Such academic prowess seemed reserved for prodigies like her.
Her performance earned Chu Yi's newfound respect, easing most of his concerns.
"Let's go..."
Observing Lee Zi's untroubled demeanor, Chu Yi had an epiphany.
Indeed, Lee Zi was correct. He couldn't always be by her side in the future. Even if he desired it, some things were beyond his control.
If he had already achieved great strength, it would be a different story.
But Chu Yi was well aware that reaching such a pinnacle of power was a distant goal.
By the time he attained it, Lee Zi's abilities would likely be formidable.
Hence, she would be capable of tackling any issues that arose.
As he grew, so did Lee Zi.
Thus, he needed to learn to let go...
"Here we go..."
Chu Yi offered a slight smile and trailed behind Lee Zi as they sprinted off into the distance...
Gold Level Demonic Beasts were no longer a challenge for Lee Zi, though these were merely Elementary Gold Demonic Beasts.
Subsequently, Chu Yi led Lee Zi to numerous locations.
However, they avoided the areas Chu Yi had been monitoring for the presence of top-tier Great Demons.
Chu Yi selected areas inhabited by Gold Level Demonic Beasts, specifically targeting the weaker ones.
Chu Yi refrained from intervening; the battles were entirely Lee Zi's to fight.
In just one short afternoon, Lee Zi had vanquished four Gold Demonic Beasts!
Such a feat was astounding.
The popularity of Lee Zi's live broadcast skyrocketed, even surpassing that of Chu Yi's.
As dusk settled, the leaderboard underwent significant changes.
Chu Yi, who had previously held the top spot, had now dropped to fourth place.
Lee Zi had taken the lead.
With the four Gold Demonic Beasts slain that afternoon, on top of the Bronze Demonic Beasts Lee Zi had previously defeated, her score had soared to 4,950 points!
Just fifty points shy of the five-thousand milestone, Lee Zi's score was enough to cast a shadow of despair over her pursuers.
Especially since the person in second place had only 1,280 points.
The third place stood at 1,100 points.
Chu Yi was in fourth with 1,010 points.
These were the points Chu Yi had accrued since his arrival.
From the start until now, Chu Yi's score had remained unchanged.
Nonetheless, everyone recognized Chu Yi's strength.
They were well aware that if Chu Yi chose to, he could surpass Lee Zi in mere moments.
Setting other considerations aside, taking down Gold Great Demons was a breeze for Chu Yi.
If Lee Zi could eliminate four in an afternoon, Chu Yi could easily dispatch fourteen!
This wasn't hyperbole, but a simple truth.
That very afternoon, during Lee Zi's live broadcast, they had witnessed Chu Yi in action once again.
He faced a High Order Gold Great Demon, a truly formidable adversary.
While they deemed Lee Zi no match for it, Chu Yi stepped in to 'train' her and to maintain 'fairness'. In just a handful of moments, he had inflicted severe wounds on the Gold Great Demon.
After sustaining heavy injuries, the Gold Great Demon's strength naturally diminished, prompting Chu Yi to send Lee Zi to finish it off.
Chu Yi's decisiveness sent all the girls into a frenzy.
In their eyes, Chu Yi was the epitome of the perfect boyfriend!
Indeed, Chu Yi's strength was evident to everyone.
Even though the Golden Demon was severely weakened, Lee Zi still struggled and took a considerable amount of time to barely defeat it.
In contrast, Chu Yi inflicted serious damage on the foe in just a few moments. Had he chosen to, he likely could have slain the Golden Demon without much effort.
Chu Yi's formidable power was apparent to all.
Within this testing ground, it seemed that only the mythical Diamond Level Demonic Beasts could pose a challenge to Chu Yi. The ordinary Gold Demons were no match for him.
Hence, even though Chu Yi was currently ranked fourth in points, in the hearts of all, he was undeniably number one.
Dusk fell gently.
The assessment was set to last three days.
Everyone was to endure these three days in the wilderness.
The night outdoors was known to be fraught with peril.
Moreover, the test area was peculiarly ominous, teeming with fearsome Demonic Beasts, which increased the danger tenfold.
Typically, groups would stick together at night, with half keeping watch while the others rested.
However, these examinees were an exception.
Seeking companions to stand guard?
That would be tantamount to a death wish.
To the other examinees, these tests were nothing more than opportunities to score points.
The candidates wouldn't entertain the unreliable idea of having someone else keep watch.
This posed quite the dilemma.
For martial artists, going without sleep for three days was not an issue.
But one must not forget the treacherous environment they were in!
Danger lurked at every turn.
Even during the relatively safer daylight hours, they dared not let their guard down, much less at night...
Thus, for these prodigious talents, the greatest challenge was surviving the night.
They were well aware of the impending difficulties, but the abrupt nature of this assessment took them by surprise, far beyond what they had anticipated.
Once the rules were announced, they were immediately dispatched to the testing grounds, without a moment to prepare.
This assessment was also a measure of their ability to adapt on the fly.
Otherwise, with the resources and influence behind these exceptional individuals, they could have been equipped with an arsenal of gear, ensuring their nights were worry-free.
Soon after the last glimmer of light vanished, the talented individuals managed to find suitable resting spots. They weren't perfect, but they were safe. Despite this, they remained vigilant. At the slightest hint of noise, they would rise and scout the area to ensure there was no danger before daring to settle back down. It was not uncommon for them to get up more than a dozen times throughout the night.
Their rest was fitful at best, and the quality of their sleep was far from guaranteed. Yet, this was still a considerable improvement, allowing them some respite.
For most, this was the norm and hardly worth mentioning. However, if they were to see how Chu Yi was faring, their composure would surely be shattered.
Chu Yi hadn't bothered to seek out a secure location. Instead, he chose a comfortable spot and kindled a fire. It was warm and cozy, a rare luxury in the wilderness that couldn't quite match the comfort of a hotel but was nonetheless appreciated.
Lee Zi slept soundly at his side, while Chu Yi kept a silent vigil. They had initially planned to take turns keeping watch, but Chu Yi ultimately declined, as he didn't require rest.
Lee Zi, who practiced the power of Immortal Tao, didn't need much rest either, but Chu Yi insisted that she take the time to recover. After all, she had spent the day in battle, and her energy was significantly depleted. Without proper rest, her combat abilities would be compromised the following day.
Chu Yi, on the other hand, was indifferent to sleep. Having spent five thousand years in the Immortal Demon Temple without rest, he had grown accustomed to it.
Sitting quietly beside Lee Zi, Chu Yi played with the fire, his gaze reflective. He had sensed something amiss upon their arrival. It wasn't the likelihood of another secret realm opening—such occurrences weren't an everyday experience for him. What troubled him was the presence of the Demonic Beasts.
"A million square kilometers might have been vast in the world we knew, but in this realm, it's merely a small expanse..."
The volume of Earth in this world is several hundred, perhaps even several thousand times greater than that of the previous world. Yet, a million square kilometers is actually quite a minuscule area. Despite this, such a confined space is teeming with an astonishing number of Demonic Beasts! It's truly incredible.
By all logic, having a single Gold Level Demonic Beast in such an expansive region would be considered quite remarkable. But here, there are definitely more than a hundred Gold Level Demonic Beasts! Even more astounding is the presence of some top-tier Diamond Level Demonic Beasts! It's all very perplexing indeed.
