C183 Chaos Origin Crystal(1)
After the war, the young man finally came into everyone's view.
He emerged from the carnage with a smile, as if he were a boy stepping out of a mountain village for the first time.
No one could have imagined that he would reach the pinnacle of success so early in his career.
By the time people were just getting to know him, he had already set a series of impressive records.
During the second round of assessments, he went unnoticed. Had it not been for an article on A Lang's Net, Chu Yi might have remained unknown.
Yet, who could have foreseen that on the first day of the live broadcast, right from the start, the young man would deliver a profound shock to all?
He faced a formidable Gold Demon, a creature of great terror in its own realm.
Otherwise, a guardian wouldn't have hesitated, even risking a delayed rescue.
But against such a formidable foe, the young man single-handedly prevailed, silencing all onlookers.
People believed he had slain the Gold Demon in a frenzied response to online skepticism.
As events unfolded, they realized it wasn't a response at all.
It was simply effortless for him!
Perhaps the young man never took the online doubts to heart.
His spirit and level were already beyond the mere Martial Examination.
While many were still processing their astonishment, he shocked them yet again.
In a burst of fury for a beloved, he decisively cut down the prodigies of three major families.
No one was fooled; they all suspected the truth.
The geniuses of those families hadn't perished at Chu Yi's hands.
The so-called 'collateral deaths' were merely an official narrative.
As for such official statements...
They were to be heard, not heeded.
Of course, no one was concerned about the fate of those three family geniuses; their prior comments had alienated far too many.
Moreover, the real highlight wasn't the fury for a beloved, but Chu Yi's epic confrontation with the guardian Great General!
From that battle onward, everyone recognized Chu Yi's strength, understanding that this young man possessed the power to rival a Diamond Level Great General!
Though many saw Chu Yi as merely comparable and far from truly possessing such might, no one overlooked his youth...
Almost everyone believed that Chu Yi would need a considerable amount of time before he could slay those top-tier Demonic Beasts. At the very least, they thought he'd have to reach the Diamond level before he stood a chance.
Yet, the unexpected happened.
Just when everyone assumed Chu Yi's previous battle would be his crowning achievement, he did something utterly astounding!
He chose to confront a Diamond, a true top-tier Demonic Beast!
At that moment, the excitement was palpable...
Chu Yi's strength was well-known to all.
During the third phase of the examination, they hardly remembered anyone else's name.
Only Chu Yi and Lee Zi stood out!
This martial examination brought together the elite prodigies of Redmarsh. While some formidable beings were kept hidden as secret weapons, the public was none the wiser.
They were only aware of the prodigies present, who represented the ultimate strength of Redmarsh City. Any one of them could have dominated past national exams with their prowess.
But in the shadow of Chu Yi's radiance, they couldn't shine at all!
Such was the magnitude of Chu Yi's power and the terror he inspired.
Yet, everyone acknowledged that Chu Yi had earned his place.
Still, Chu Yi was just a young man at the Gold Elementary Stage, and his ambition to challenge a Diamond Level Demonic Beast seemed like a death wish to many.
It appeared Chu Yi was overly confident.
But the reality...
It shattered their preconceptions...
This included everyone!
From the heads of the noble families to the government's high-ranking officials, they were all left speechless.
Chu Yi's adversary, that fearsome top-tier Demonic Beast, was a genuine force to be reckoned with.
It might not have spoken human language, but at over 700 meters in length and with a powerful innate ability awakened, it was an absolute powerhouse even among the top Demonic Beasts.
Yet, this formidable creature was vanquished by Chu Yi!
Unlike his previous battle with the guardians, this time numerous devices captured the event. Although they didn't record every detail perfectly, the audience saw most of what transpired.
And it was this sight that left them in awe, their minds reeling from the sheer display of strength!
Too strong?
Indeed, he was simply too strong...
Chu Yi had transcended the label of a youthful prodigy; he was now a bona fide powerhouse!
"He's not just a genius, not merely a prodigy..."
"This is a titan of an era..."
"The pride of the heavens..."
...
Chu Yi had ascended to the summit.
22,250 points.
He had effortlessly eclipsed Lee Zi's score.
This total was nearing the absolute peak.
With only one day remaining, it was futile for even the most gifted to attempt to overtake Chu Yi.
The mere sight of Chu Yi's retreating figure was enough to plunge them into despair.
And this was assuming Chu Yi didn't further his lead. Should he continue his onslaught...
Bringing down another Diamond Level Demonic Beast would remove any shred of doubt.
But in truth, there was already no question.
The previous battle had been witnessed by many with crystal clarity. Even laypeople could discern the outcome.
Chu Yi's confrontations with others were outright dominations!
The Demonic Beast, under Chu Yi's relentless pressure, couldn't muster the slightest resistance.
Remember, this was a truly elite Demonic Beast!
Chu Yi's display left no doubt that he was holding back. His might completely outclassed the Diamond Level Demonic Beast!
"Chu Yi is surely on par with those top-tier Demonic Beasts, akin to those colossal beings of nine hundred or even a thousand meters in stature!" someone hypothesized.
This conjecture was widely accepted.
At that moment, Chu Yi, the focus of everyone's discussions, had made his way to Lee Zi's side.
Lee Zi, gazing upon the immaculate Chu Yi, felt a sense of bewilderment.
She was well aware of Chu Yi's capabilities and had immense faith in him, but witnessing his combat prowess firsthand was indescribably impactful.
This was the true measure of Chu Yi's strength, his unadulterated power!
"Lee Zi, shall we go have a look?" Chu Yi suggested.
Look?
At what?
Lee Zi was still reeling from the aftershock of Chu Yi's formidable display.
"Let's go see the empire I've conquered for you..."
Chu Yi's eyes twinkled mischievously.
A blush crept onto Lee Zi's cheeks as realization dawned on her.
"Mm..."
Her voice was soft and subtle.
Yet, those words carried a profound impact for Lee Zi.
Lee Zi had come to her senses.
She was aware that Chu Yi was gearing up for something important, as she was already privy to the purpose of their journey.
Following in Chu Yi's footsteps, Lee Zi made her way toward the distant mountain peak.
The three Guardians exchanged glances, the astonishment in their eyes lingering.
They had previously dismissed him as arrogant and naive.
Indeed, such hubris was typical of prodigious talents.
Believing themselves to be heaven's chosen after a single success, they saw themselves as symbols of an era.
Hence, they often undertook endeavors that stretched beyond their capabilities after tasting victory.
In other words, they lost touch with reality.
To the Guardians, Chu Yi had been just such an anomaly.
However...
Chu Yi was not like the other gifted individuals who needed to be brought back to reality. After all, he was in a league of his own, far beyond what those so-called geniuses could ever hope to achieve.
They didn't have to agree with everything he did, but they certainly couldn't justify harsh criticism.
This time, the three Guardians were genuinely alarmed. They feared that Chu Yi's potential downfall could drag them down with him.
Indeed, they saw Chu Yi's situation as perilously close to a life-or-death gamble.
Even with their protection, the odds seemed staggeringly high.
Yet, the battle that ensued clarified everything.
Chu Yi was not overconfident.
He truly possessed formidable strength.
Such strength...
