C189 The Stunning Lee Zi

Gazing at the formidable Gold Demonic Beast before him, Chu Yi stole a glance at Lee Zi and noticed her eyes sparkled with excitement. This beast stood at the pinnacle of the middle tier, just a step away from ascending to the Gold High Order. Moreover, it was not dependent on its surroundings, allowing it to unleash its full combat strength.

Lee Zi was facing the most powerful Demonic Beast she had ever encountered. Chu Yi was on high alert. To everyone's eyes, he was far more dependable than those so-called guardians. There was no need to elaborate on Lee Zi's capabilities, and the fact that Chu Yi and Lee Zi were lovers only solidified his commitment to her protection, surpassing any guardian's duty.

The battle commenced swiftly. Once Lee Zi resolved to act, she did so without a moment's hesitation. The colossal Demonic Beast, sensing the formidable aura emanating from her, recognized the threat she posed. This creature was far shrewder than the one they had first encountered by the lake. That beast had only gauged Chu Yi and Lee Zi's power levels, failing to consider other factors. In contrast, this one was much more perceptive, recognizing Lee Zi as a formidable adversary from the outset.

Despite its caution, the disparity in strength was insurmountable. This Quasi-Gold High Order Demonic Beast was significantly stronger than any Lee Zi had previously slain, and she had to exert considerable effort to narrowly secure victory without activating her battle body—pushing her to her limits.

Though Lee Zi was not entirely pleased with the outcome, the world outside was in an uproar. Word of her feats had spread far and wide over the past few days. Initially seen as merely Chu Yi's affiliate, many were aware that she was his girlfriend. But after witnessing her live broadcast, the audience was astounded by her incredible prowess.

Indeed, Lee Zi's performance was nothing short of sensational. Had Chu Yi's own brilliance not cast such a vast shadow, the talk of Redmarsh City would have been all about Lee Zi, hailing her as the foremost prodigy.

Despite being overshadowed by Chu Yi's radiance, Lee Zi's popularity has been on the rise.

You see, even those at the Gold Level, the geniuses among them, have so far not dared to confront even an Elementary Gold Demonic Beast. Yet, Lee Zi has slain many.

Although she fights with confidence because Chu Yi is by her side, does that really have anything to do with her own strength? Chu Yi merely oversees her safety, preventing any danger; he doesn't enhance her combat abilities.

So, it stands to reason that even without Chu Yi, Lee Zi would still achieve such feats.

"Silver Elementary?"

"Yeah, right!"

"Since when is a Silver Elementary that powerful?"

Those Gold Level geniuses hesitate to engage, but here is Lee Zi, a mere Silver Elementary, dispatching foes with ease. The gap seems somewhat overstated.

Of course, people are aware that those so-called Gold Elementary Demonic Beasts are hardly the cream of the crop at the Gold Level. To secure good results before the exams, their families employed various methods to boost their realms. But while their realms may have been elevated, their combat prowess and other aspects don't transform overnight.

Thus, these Gold Elementary geniuses are, at best, only marginally stronger than the average Yellow Elementary.

But Gold is still Gold.

And what they couldn't achieve, Lee Zi, a simple Silver Elementary, has accomplished! That's the difference.

Everyone understands that the so-called top talents or geniuses would be swiftly defeated if they faced Lee Zi. There are no excuses, no ripples of doubt.

Lee Zi's strength is universally acknowledged.

And now, Lee Zi's past achievements have been brought to light.

"An Awakener with dual genetic powers, and a natural one at that."

"Damn, that means Lee Zi is destined to be a War God..."

"What a shame, such a shame!"

"If she still had her dual genetic powers, then with her current fearsome combat strength, I bet she could even give Chu Yi a run for his money!"

Many believe that if Lee Zi could harness her dual genetic powers, she could stand toe-to-toe with Chu Yi.

Well, it's more of a clash than a comparison. But that's impressive enough.

Now, Chu Yi is regarded by all not just as a young man but as a true powerhouse!

He was a true powerhouse within the Terran Federation!

Thus, comparing Chu Yi to some students was seen as unfair by everyone.

Moreover, Chu Yi was a genetic warrior!

Previously, Chu Yi had demonstrated his dual genetic powers of Wind and Metal. While most ordinary people failed to notice anything, those deeply immersed in martial arts training clearly perceived the strength of these elements.

So, even if Lee Zi were still her former self, she wouldn't stand a chance against Chu Yi.

"Ah, what a shame..."

Many who learned about Lee Zi's history could only express their regret.

Had Lee Zi's dual genetic powers remained intact, her strength could have been even more formidable!

This was the prevailing sentiment among most people.

However, the top figures wielding power in Redmarsh viewed things differently.

They were plagued by confusion.

Confusion over Lee Zi's sudden surge in strength.

The others might be in the dark, but how could they be unaware?

After Lee Zi's dual genetic powers were lost, it seemed she would never recover, destined to fall into obscurity.

Under normal circumstances, Lee Zi wouldn't even qualify as an ordinary Gold Level warrior in the future.

However...

In just one month, Lee Zi astonishingly reached the Silver Level.

Naturally, with the Chu family's resources at her disposal, Lee Zi's ascent to Silver wasn't entirely unexpected.

But the real issue was Lee Zi's combat prowess!

It was alarmingly extreme.

In fact, Lee Zi had become even more formidable than when she possessed her dual genetic powers!

This was something everyone could attest to.

"How did Lee Zi manage this?"

In the First Martial Arts Stadium, many family heads wore looks of bewilderment.

But soon, sly grins crept onto their faces.

They were genuinely eager to see the reactions of certain government officials, anticipating that their expressions would be quite spectacular...

Indeed, as these family heads had imagined, the atmosphere in the Redmarsh City command center was tense.

This tension was unlike the kind felt during Chu Yi's battle with the top-tier Diamond Level Demonic Beast; it was a suffocating heaviness brought on by recent events.

"Can you explain this situation?" several influential figures turned to one among them.

The individual they looked at had a particularly grim expression. He was the Minister of Education for the Redmarsh Region within the Adirang Region, responsible for overseeing all educational matters within Redmarsh. This included everything from elementary schools to middle schools, high schools, and universities—all under the purview of the Ministry of Education. Consequently, Adirang Academy, one of the top three academies in the Adirang Region, also fell under his jurisdiction. But...

"I'm just as in the dark," he admitted.

"The reports at the time confirmed that Lee Zi was incapacitated..."

Hearing this, the other department heads fell into a pensive silence, their expressions odd. They had accepted the truth of Lee Zi's condition. But now, faced with her unexpected resurgence, they were baffled. They weren't alone in their confusion; it seemed no one could make sense of it.

"So, what's our course of action with Lee Zi?" someone asked.

The Minister of Education remained silent. If he could, he would exact revenge on the Adirang Academy teachers who had threatened Lee Zi. If not for their actions, Lee Zi would still be with Adirang Academy, still under the Ministry's control. Regardless of her relationship with Chu Yi or whether she would eventually marry into the Chu family, she would remain an asset of the government. With the potential Lee Zi had shown, she would have been eligible for a coveted opportunity.

That opportunity was the Ministry's to bestow, a chance for the government to reap considerable benefits. After all, that particular place valued the talents of the geniuses it received, not the futures they were destined for. The sender of the talent was the one who reaped the rewards.

But now...

"Damn it!" The Minister's face had turned pitch black with frustration.

The government and the noble families, though united against external pressures and even when facing the pressures from other major regions, were fierce competitors internally. The government had its domain, while the noble families, in alliance with numerous associations and churches, sought to counterbalance the government's influence.

The competition between the two parties remained fierce, yet it was always kept within manageable limits, and could arguably be seen as healthy competition.

The situation also entangled another issue, one of great significance to both the government and the noble families.

The elite prodigies and exceptional talents were at the crux of this matter.

Had it not been for the conduct of the teachers at Adirang Academy, the Minister of Education would have retained the confidence to bring Lee Zi back into the fold of the Ministry of Education.

But now...

He simply didn't have the audacity to do so...

...