C190 The Third Day Chaos

As the colossal figure crashed to the ground, dusk slowly began to settle in.

The second day of the examination had finally come to a close.

Tomorrow would be the last day.

On the first day, Chu Yi's formidable display had taken everyone by surprise.

Just when it seemed unlikely that Chu Yi would repeat such a performance on the second day, he managed to pull off something even more astonishing.

Essentially, throughout the third stage of the examination, all eyes were on Chu Yi and Lee Zi.

As for the others...

During this round of examinations, there were more than ten individuals at the Gold Level!

In the past, the presence of even a single Silver Level genius during the third stage would have made headlines, let alone a Gold Level one. Such an individual would undoubtedly be considered the national top scholar in the national examination!

Indeed, Silver Level geniuses used to be the backbone of the national examination, with those at the Silver Peak representing the ultimate champions.

But in today's times...

Silver?

That's merely a benchmark for the second stage of the examination.

Even those at the Silver Peak are just a common sight in the third stage of the examination.

And as for the Gold Level...

Yes, even Gold Level geniuses have become a common occurrence in the third stage, with over a dozen making an appearance.

Moreover, this time around, even Gold Level might not guarantee a spot in the national examination.

This just goes to show the fierce level of competition!

Yet, amidst this cutthroat rivalry, the names Chu Yi and Lee Zi are the ones that everyone remembers.

It's a groundbreaking era, but for the other geniuses and prodigies, it's an era of sorrow...

However, with the arrival of the first rays of sunlight in the early morning, the third day finally dawned.

This morning, the remaining geniuses and prodigies rose early.

Despite the number dwindling to just 127, none of the remaining contenders felt any sense of panic.

They had anticipated such an outcome the moment they learned the rules and entered the competition.

The number had been halved from the original 256.

But this was not the end!

"Today is the final day, and today's performance will determine the ultimate rankings."

"Therefore, today is set to be the most intense day of all!"

If it weren't for War God Xu's second point, suggesting that reliance on defeating Demonic Beasts for points was the norm, the last day might still be intense, but the level of intensity would certainly have its limits.

However, things had changed.

The students could now hunt each other down!

On the first day, taking out a fellow examinee was worth a mere hundred points, hardly worth the effort.

But on this final day...

After two relentless days of hunting, the surviving geniuses and monsters had each accumulated at least several hundred points.

The stronger among them boasted over a thousand points.

Thus, eliminating a genius monster meant claiming not just their hundred points, but potentially the thousands they had amassed!

These geniuses, despite their numerous strategies, were much easier to handle than the formidable Gold Level Demonic Beasts.

So, the third day's assessment wasn't really about how many Demonic Beasts they could slay.

It was about who could make it through the day alive!

Indeed, the hunt for Demonic Beasts had turned into a test of survival.

Of course, for the true top-tier geniuses, hunting down their peers carried an even deeper significance!

It was about weeding out the competition!

In a Challenge, the stronger could advance one-on-one, a fact set in stone.

But this competition format sparked the imaginations of many geniuses.

They might not stand a chance in a one-on-one Challenge, easily overpowered by a seeded player.

But in this environment...

Being slightly weaker didn't guarantee defeat!

And...

If one person wasn't enough, weren't there others?

Could two slightly lesser individuals not join forces to take down a stronger seeded player?

Afterward, these two would only have to face each other, their competition now a genius of their own caliber.

Isn't that an advantage?

This kind of assessment truly tested many things.

At least by the third day, the geniuses, though they rose early, didn't rush to hunt Demonic Beasts as they had on previous days.

"These geniuses are certainly full of ideas..."

On the screens, many early risers began to muse.

They may have been unaware of the unfolding events, but upon witnessing two geniuses walking side by side, they understood the implications.

Over the past two days, instances of collaboration among the competitors were sporadic and few. Yet, as the third day dawned, the live streams of these remaining prodigious talents were abuzz with alliances forming left and right.

Thanks to some insightful analysis from the pundits, many viewers had come to grasp the strategies of these exceptional individuals. "If they were merely geniuses emerging from ordinary families, they probably wouldn't resort to such tactics," one might say. "Those with lesser strength must redouble their efforts to hunt Demonic Beasts."

However, the scions of the noble houses play a different game altogether. Their philosophy might as well be, "My points are mine, and yours are also mine..." When it comes to those more formidable than themselves, their solution is brutally simple: don't bother trying to surpass them—just eliminate them!

This is the ruthless doctrine of the aristocracy, starkly contrasting with the ethos of the common folk who advocate for striving to overcome the strong. While the commoners aim to rise to the challenge, the nobility's approach is to eliminate any who are stronger, thus ensuring their own supremacy. Such tactics are contemptible, but they are the very core of why these families have thrived for so long.

Yet, not everyone subscribes to this philosophy. "Take a look at Chu Yi, and consider Lee Zi!" Indeed, at this very moment, Lee Zi is locked in combat with a Gold Level Demonic Beast, with Chu Yi providing support at her flank. For them, the third day is no different from the first two.

One can't help but laugh at the naivety of some, failing to recognize the caliber of individuals like Chu Yi and Lee Zi. Together, their points tally far exceeds the combined total of all the other gifted competitors. Why would they stoop to plundering and driving away their peers?

It's a truth universally acknowledged: Chu Yi and Lee Zi stand head and shoulders above the rest. Chu Yi's prowess goes without saying, and even Lee Zi's combat skills suggest that she could easily best two or three Gold Level geniuses single-handedly.

With their scores already sufficient to secure the top two spots, engaging in the petty squabble for points by slaughtering fellow talents is beneath them. However, while Chu Yi and Lee Zi have no interest in troubling others, it seems others are intent on troubling them...

Seven figures approached slowly, their gaze fixed on the stunning figure locked in battle with a Gold Elementary Demonic Beast. A flash of greed sparked in their eyes, but they quickly reined in their emotions.

Indeed, Lee Zi was breathtakingly beautiful, so much so that they found it difficult to bring themselves to harm her. Yet, when they considered their mission, any reluctance evaporated. Lee Zi's beauty was irrelevant to them. Securing points would elevate their status within their families significantly. And with higher status, women would hardly be in short supply.

These were the scions of noble houses, fresh out of high school but already well-acquainted with the ways of the world. "Lee Zi's strength is truly formidable!" they remarked.

The seven families were evenly matched, each member at the pinnacle of the Silver Level. With the aid of their families, they had enhanced their strength but had not yet broken through to the Gold Level. Still, they were adept at wielding their combat prowess.

Unleashed in battle, they could defeat Gold Level Generals with ease, without resorting to any tricks—ordinary Generals, that is. Against a Demonic Beast, however...

"She's considerably stronger than any one of us, even if two or three of us joined forces," they admitted.

"Facing her alone, even with my family's secret weapon, I doubt I could escape," one confessed. These young nobles did not delude themselves into thinking they were superior to Lee Zi; their assessments were remarkably fair and just.

"However, now we are seven!" A sly gleam shone in their eyes.

"That must be Chu Yi standing by Lee Zi's side," one observed.

"He's the Chu Family's young master. Lee Zi must be under his protection," another added.

"The speculation is that he's the top scorer in the national exam, according to A Lang's network. Even if that's not the case, his strength is undoubtedly greater than Lee Zi's," they concluded.

The seven were no fools; they understood the implications well. If Chu Yi were weaker than Lee Zi, he wouldn't be there supporting her.

"So, we'll consider Chu Yi as equivalent to two Lee Zis," they strategized.

"Engaging them means we'll be facing the might of three Lee Zis!"

"One Lee Zi equals two to three of us," they acknowledged, bracing for the challenge ahead.

"Three Lee Zi might be more powerful than the seven of us combined."

"If we were to simply clash head-on, the seven of us likely wouldn't stand a chance!"

It was somewhat shameful to admit, but this sentiment was echoed by the rest.

"However..."

"We all have our trump cards!"

"If we were to reveal all our trump cards..."

The prodigy glanced at his companions.

"Then, each one of us might come close to matching Lee Zi!"

"With two of us together, we could definitely defeat Lee Zi!"

"Therefore, to take on three Lee Zi, we would need at most six people!"

Their trump cards were the foundation of their confidence to challenge anything.

"What we need to decide now is whether it's worth it to play our trump cards against them."

Ultimately, the key consideration is the benefit.

If they were to expend their trump cards and manage to eliminate Chu Yi and Lee Zi, but the rewards were significantly less than their investment, it would be a bitter pill to swallow.

Before engaging in battle, it's crucial to analyze the situation, assess the potential gains and losses, and determine if the potential rewards are compelling enough. These are essential skills for any scion of a powerful family or clan.

"So, what's your analysis?"