C180 But That Was Not the Strongest Me

Lee Zi gazed at Chu Yi, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

It seemed like Chu Yi should have already found what they were looking for.

But something about Chu Yi's demeanor was off.

"Chu Yi, what's the matter?"

If they weren't in the middle of a live broadcast, Lee Zi would have asked him outright.

But at the moment...

It was really not the time.

Chu Yi took a deep breath, his face breaking into a smile tinged with resignation.

"Nothing."

"It's just that I think we should give it a shot..."

Chu Yi turned to face Lee Zi, his gaze carrying a flicker of resolve.

"Give what a shot?"

Chu Yi gestured behind him.

There stood a massive mountain.

Not part of a range, but a solitary, barren peak.

Aside from its height, the mountain seemed unremarkable, but Lee Zi sensed that there was more to it than met the eye.

As expected, Chu Yi let out a soft sigh, then his expression brightened into a smile.

"Should we try..."

A sharp gleam shone in Chu Yi's eyes.

"To take down a top-tier Diamond Level demonic beast..."

A hush fell...

And it wasn't just Lee Zi who fell silent, but also the countless viewers in the live stream.

Many believed that Chu Yi possessed Diamond Level strength.

But Chu Yi's Diamond status was only on par with the most elementary human Diamonds.

A Demonic Beast's Diamond...

Forget Diamonds, even a peak Gold Demonic Beast could rival some of the elementary human Diamonds.

And a Diamond Level demonic beast was an entity of unspeakable terror.

Any one of them had the power to lay waste to an entire city!

People believed that once Chu Yi ascended to Diamond status, he would undoubtedly have the power to contend with one!

But that was contingent on Chu Yi reaching Diamond status.

Currently, Chu Yi was merely at Gold...

There was no chance!

"Chu Yi, this Chu Yi..."

"Has he lost touch with reality?"

Indeed, many viewers thought Chu Yi was getting carried away.

Otherwise, why would he set his sights on a Diamond Level demonic beast?

Keep in mind, these were beings that even seasoned Guardians would hesitate to confront!

Even though the Diamond Level demonic beasts in the testing grounds could earn them up to 20,000 points.

The authorities had never anticipated that the students would dare to challenge these formidable creatures.

This task was simply not within the realm of possibility for the examinees.

Even if all 256 of them joined forces, pooling their deepest reserves of strength, they wouldn't stand a chance against even the most ordinary peak Demonic Beast.

The disparity was fundamental, too vast to be bridged by sheer numbers.

To ensure safety, the most elite among the guardians had been called to action. Despite this, they stationed at least three formidable Diamond Great Generals to protect each location harboring a peak Diamond Level demon.

They feared any potential problems.

The Diamond zone was off-limits, a boundary no one had ever dared to cross.

Yet now, Chu Yi was contemplating an attempt at a Diamond?

"He's lost his mind!"

"This Chu Yi, this Chu Yi!"

"Does he have a screw loose?!"

"Just by proceeding cautiously, he could easily claim first place!"

"Why be so reckless?"

Many were baffled, convinced that Chu Yi had become overconfident.

However, Lee Zi wouldn't entertain such thoughts. Her trust in Chu Yi was unshakable, bolstered by her knowledge of his capabilities.

Should Chu Yi choose to, unleashing his full combat power would render even the so-called peak Diamond Level demons insignificant.

Now, Lee Zi had a clearer understanding of Chu Yi's motives—Origin Substance!

Observing Chu Yi and listening to his words, she had pieced it together.

The Origin Substance must be hidden within this mountain!

Given the presence of Diamond Level demons, Chu Yi, though not initially seeking a confrontation, found himself with no other choice.

Lee Zi's intuition was spot on.

Chu Yi could sense that the Origin Substance was indeed within this mountain, though its exact location eluded him.

To search in tranquility, the Diamond Level demon had to be eliminated.

Gazing at the mountain, Chu Yi's eyes reflected a complex mix of emotions.

While many perceived his actions as a death wish, Chu Yi was contemplating the inevitable revelation of more of his power.

"Chu Yi, we should leave this place..."

In the moment of their resolve, a figure materialized before Chu Yi.

It was a Guardian, who typically remained unseen, ever-ready to come to the examinees' aid.

Guardians only appear in moments of dire peril, when your life hangs by a thread and failure looms. Yet here we are, with a Guardian manifesting in the flesh to halt Chu Yi in his tracks—an unprecedented sight for both Chu Yi and the spectators.

"This can't be within the rules, can it?"

No sooner had the question been raised than it was met with derision.

"To hell with the rules! Chu Yi's about to march to his death!"

"Who cares about rules at a time like this!"

They all saw it the same way: Chu Yi was on a path to certain doom. The Guardian's gaze upon Chu Yi was one of grave seriousness.

"We may have three protectors here, but even so, we can't ensure your safety."

The protector was forthright, choosing honesty over pride. The potential fall of Chu Yi here would be catastrophic.

They'd rather endure being called cowards than commit such an error. And if a crisis did arise and they failed to rescue Chu Yi, the criticism would only intensify. Better to offer a timely warning than wait until it was too late.

Chu Yi met the protector's gaze, which was tinged with a hint of helplessness. The protector hadn't planned to intervene, but felt compelled by the desperate situation. It was baffling why Chu Yi would suddenly decide to take on the most formidable Demonic Beasts and choose their battleground...

"Listen to me, just give up!"

"We're well aware of your strength and prowess."

The protectors kept each other informed. They were already acquainted with Chu Yi's capabilities.

While outsiders believed Chu Yi might stand a chance against an Elementary Diamond Level Great General, the protectors knew he possessed the power to slay them. Chu Yi's might nearly matched their own, which only heightened their concern.

These guardians, once prodigies themselves, understood the mindset of such exceptional talents. And with Chu Yi being a young man at the pinnacle of his potential, he was even harder to rein in. On the battlefield, pride can cloud judgment, and even in the face of defeat, one might refuse to retreat.

A confrontation between Chu Yi and a top-tier Diamond Level adversary could end in death from a single misstep. The guardians knew they couldn't manage such a delicate balance.

So, they preferred Chu Yi avoid combat altogether, even if it meant facing accusations of breaking the rules or being powerless.

Unfortunately, they were completely unaware of Chu Yi's resolve.

In truth, Chu Yi would never have acted so rashly if it weren't absolutely necessary, if there had been any other way. He really didn't want to reveal his strength so soon.

Chu Yi had learned from the elder what was to come.

At this moment, he stood out as the most exceptional and powerful prodigy, the only one of his kind.

But what would happen during the national examination?

As the elder had said, the monsters that would emerge then were almost invariably Gold Level geniuses!

And if he were to enter the national battle, facing the top geniuses from other regions, the situation would be even more daunting!

Thus, revealing his strength too early would only force him to disclose even more later on.

Chu Yi deeply understood that, despite having the support of the Chu family, the complexities of this world were profound.

When it came to his power, he would naturally conserve as much as possible.

But now...

What he faced was the Origin Substance!

Maybe the top-tier demon was unaware of the supreme treasure within his collection, but Chu Yi was all too aware!

That item was an absolute treasure!

Even in the Immortal Demon World, it was considered a peerless treasure!

If he were to miss out on such a treasure, Chu Yi felt he would never forgive himself.

So, he was determined to secure it, no matter what.

Turning to the guardian beside him, who wore a wry smile, Chu Yi paused before reassuring him, "Please rest assured, sir. I'm fully aware of the risks..."

He was fully aware...

The guardian was torn between laughter and tears.

You think you're aware!

If you were truly aware, you wouldn't be here challenging a Diamond Level demon.

The guardian could discern Chu Yi's true intent from his words:

'Don't worry about me. I know what I'm doing, and if I can't handle it, I'll make a run for it!'

Naturally, this was only his interpretation.

The guardian knew he couldn't dissuade Chu Yi, who was nearly as strong as he was and whose actions were justified.

They had no grounds to intervene.

After a moment's thought, the guardian spoke again.

"If you're set on this challenge, then please wait. I'll submit a request to the authorities for approval."

In the end, the guardian clenched his teeth and finally spoke.

"Put in a request..."

"For what?"

"Do I even need to spell it out?"

Clearly, it's to summon a more powerful being capable of stabilizing everything.

When Chu Yi heard this, he simply shook his head.

That's ridiculous!

He intended to search the area himself after slaying the top-tier Demonic Beast.

How could he continue his search if such a powerful being arrived?

By then, even a fool would realize Chu Yi had an ulterior motive for challenging the top-tier Demonic Beast.

Moreover, Chu Yi surmised that if the request went through, the one likely to arrive would be none other than the War God.

While Chu Yi was confident he could keep the diamonds hidden, facing a War God would be a different story...

Chu Yi wasn't afraid, but deceiving a War God would be out of the question.

Let's not forget, he was only at the Gold Level...

Thus, Chu Yi was resolute in preventing such an event from occurring.

"Let's not make it complicated. It's simply a waste of resources to summon those high-ranking individuals here just for my sake..."

In the entire Federation, the War God and the top Diamond Level Great Generals were never without duties; they all had their own assignments.

A hasty request for a War God's arrival would involve an extravagant amount of manpower and resources.

One move could disrupt the entire strategic situation.

The guardian watched Chu Yi with an expression that was a mix of amusement and exasperation, thinking Chu Yi was unaware.

"So you knew all along... Then why..."

He stopped mid-sentence as he sensed something in the very next moment!

It was an aura, a fearsome one that was deeply concealed.

This was unlike the earth-shattering presence Chu Yi had during his battle with another guardian. Now, this formidable aura was entirely contained within him!

In this state, Chu Yi was even more daunting!

Indeed, the guardian even used the word 'terrifying' to describe him, reflecting the turmoil in his heart.

"Chu Yi, you..."

With a light smile and an air of utter calm, Chu Yi said, "The me from before... was not the strongest version of myself."