C213 Who Cares about the Sol War God!!
Chu Yi's gaze sharpened.
"It's simple. Administer some drugs and question him; the truth will come out," he declared.
The crowd's faces turned pale.
They had nearly forgotten about this.
Certain drugs could induce a foggy state, coaxing out confessions without the person even realizing it.
Unless someone had an ironclad will, not even a Diamond could withstand it.
And Zhen Ye...
Some glanced at Zhen Ye and shook their heads in doubt.
The elder's face grew even more distressed.
"But, this is not according to protocol!"
He wasn't referring to legal issues this time.
The use of such drugs was publicly acknowledged and harmless to the subject. Hence, for challenging cases, applications for these drugs were often made to the authorities.
Naturally, the drugs were costly. They wouldn't be used frivolously, even if a case remained unsolved.
But the cost...
Who in the room would care about that?
Chu Yi's laughter grew louder and more unrestrained upon hearing the elder's response.
"Excellent, excellent, excellent!"
"You all are just too kind!"
"When I talk about rules, you bring up the law. Now when I mention the law, you want to discuss rules?!"
"What rules? Those are just your own rules!"
Chu Yi's retort left them dumbfounded.
They were at a loss for words, unsure how to counter his argument. Many turned their eyes to the elder who had spoken out, thinking he had overstepped.
In such situations, they would usually cling to the lack of evidence and let the matter slide.
But the elder had to speak up, giving Chu Yi the leverage he needed.
Now, even they found themselves at a loss for words...
"Chu Yi, enough is enough!"
"So you've decided to throw reason to the wind this time, have you?"
Zhang Zhongqi had reached his limit.
He stepped forward, his powerful presence rushing towards Chu Yi.
Surprisingly, Chu Tianfeng, standing nearby, did not intervene; he simply observed.
But what followed took everyone by surprise.
Despite Zhang Zhongqi's formidable aura, Chu Yi seemed utterly unaffected.
This turn of events shattered all their previous assumptions.
Although these individuals had watched Chu Yi slay a formidable Demonic Beast, there were apparent issues with the beast itself—it seemed artificially bred, its true might not as formidable as one might expect.
Moreover, Chu Yi wielded dual types of genetic power, making his victory over the top-tier Demonic Beast a distinct possibility.
Certainly, Chu Yi's abilities are commendable, representing the pinnacle of the younger generation's strength on Earth.
He may not be the absolute best, but he's undoubtedly among the top three.
Yet, the younger generation is just that—young.
Many here, despite being only at the mid-Diamond Level, have battled through harrowing conditions to emerge victorious.
Over the years, they've amassed a wealth of resources. Even if they've hit a ceiling in their progression, these resources have turned them into formidable forces within the Diamond Level.
Thus, they hadn't really considered Chu Yi a serious threat—at least, not the Chu Yi of the present.
But now...
Zhang Zhongqi was not seen as particularly powerful, merely a mid-Diamond Level contender. Yet, like them, he stood at the pinnacle of Diamond Level strength, his power rivaling that of the most monstrous adversaries.
However, at this moment...
Zhang Zhongqi's Diamond status proved incapable of overpowering Chu Yi, who was merely at the Gold Level!
This utterly challenged their perceptions.
Chu Yi's smile slowly disappeared.
His gaze towards Zhang Zhongqi turned icy.
"Shameless?"
"Who was the first to discard their dignity?"
"Anyone with a shred of sense can deduce the truth!"
"And yet, you refuse to acknowledge it, proving to be even more shameless than I am!"
Zhang Zhongqi's breath caught in his throat. Realizing his strength was insufficient to dominate Chu Yi, he knew he was facing a significant embarrassment.
"You're blatantly disregarding the rules!"
In that moment, even Zhang Zhongqi felt compelled to invoke the concept of 'rules' to constrain Chu Yi.
Regrettably, such tactics might deter the average person, but not Chu Yi...
"To hell with the rules!"
Chu Yi's presence exploded with unrestrained force.
A terrifying force instantly shattered the oppressive hold Zhang Zhongqi had previously maintained.
"Zhang Zhongqi, do you even have the gall to speak to me here?"
"While others may see you as the War God, to me, Chu Yi, you're nothing but garbage!"
"You've used the lives of countless individuals as mere stepping stones. What sort of War God does that make you?"
Zhang Zhongqi's rise to fame was marked by a battle where, with equal strength on both sides, he single-handedly dominated the Life Restricted Area!
This feat was unprecedented in history and solidified his reputation.
But to Chu Yi, it was nothing short of disgraceful!
Despite his victory in the Life Restricted Area, the cost was steep: barely one in ten of Zhang Zhongqi's troops survived.
It's fair to say that Zhang Zhongqi's brilliance was forged on the selfless sacrifices of those soldiers.
"Without them, what are you, Zhang Zhongqi? Nothing!"
"And what of it?"
"Do you even remember the lives lost under your command?"
"Have you made any effort to compensate them?"
"Have you ever even spoken of them afterward?"
No, nothing at all!
The world only knows of Zhang Zhongqi's triumph in the Life Restricted Area, oblivious to the price paid.
Had Chu Tianfeng not discreetly informed me, Chu Yi would still be under the illusion of Zhang Zhongqi as the unrivaled War God!
"If you had made an effort to honor those people, to make everyone aware of their noble sacrifice, then I, Chu Yi, would still hold you in high regard, Zhang Zhongqi!"
"But what did you do?"
"You obliterated their contributions to aggrandize your own!"
"People only hear of Zhang Zhongqi's monumental achievements, yet the warriors who gave their lives remain unacknowledged!"
"Do you truly deserve to be called a War God?"
"Zhang Zhongqi, you're unworthy of the title War God!"
Chu Yi's accusations echoed, as Zhang Zhongqi's face contorted with each word.
The rest remained silent.
Indeed!
They were all aware of these facts, and this was one of the many reasons why numerous government elites harbored resentment towards Zhang Zhongqi!
It's undeniable that Zhang Zhongqi played an indispensable role in that battle, but without those warriors who faced death without fear, Zhang Zhongqi's talents alone would never have sufficed.
To put it accurately, it was both Zhang Zhongqi and the army that achieved greatness together.
Yet, in the end, to cement his own power and status, to mythologize himself and craft an indestructible legacy, Zhang Zhongqi even abused his authority to suppress the recognition of those heroes!
He was aware that the more renowned the fallen became, the less significant his own achievements would seem.
As a result, Zhang Zhongqi not only failed to honor the nameless heroes who had perished in battle for him but also became an obstacle, preventing their names from being known to the world!
That was the true Zhang Zhongqi!
Regrettably, since Zhang Zhongqi had recently accomplished a remarkable feat, even the marshals were reluctant to provoke him at the time. Thus, despite widespread discontent, the matter was ultimately left unresolved.
"You're looking for trouble!"
Chu Yi's words struck a sensitive chord.
The next moment, Zhang Zhongqi's presence exploded to its peak.
Gone from his bloodshot eyes was any sign of his once-dominant and spirited demeanor.
His punch was a wrathful blow, infused with an overwhelming amount of power, seemingly poised to annihilate all life in the room!
However, the room was filled with influential figures. Apart from Zhen Ye, there was scarcely anyone below Diamond Level.
Since Zhang Zhongqi's attack was aimed at Chu Yi, the rest remained unscathed.
Chu Tianfeng was ready to intervene, but someone was quicker than him.
That person was Chu Yi!
Sensing Zhang Zhongqi's formidable attack, Chu Yi didn't hesitate. He unleashed an equally terrifying counterstrike.
In an instant—
Boom…
"Holy shit!"
"Is it an earthquake?"
"Who is that!?"
At that moment, nearly a thousand guests in the banquet hall witnessed the astonishing spectacle—
A figure was hurled from a shattered wall.
Despite his efforts to regain control, it seemed to be in vain.
The figure continued to crash through obstacles until finally coming to a halt against the banquet hall's wall.
A moment later, a conspicuous human-shaped imprint adorned the wall.
Silence enveloped the entire banquet hall.
Many had recognized the true identity of the figure.
"How can it be? It's him!"
"No way! This can't be happening!"
"This individual may not be well-liked, but within the Federation, their status is quite unique."
"Is someone actually bold enough to strike against him?"
The attendees, each hailing from affluent backgrounds, were of a higher standing than the average noble.
They immediately recognized the figure, which is why they were so astonished.
They knew that despite this figure's unethical actions and being the least favored among the high-ranking elites, his past achievements were so impressive that he maintained considerable prestige among the common folk.
This very reputation was what rendered many of his detractors powerless.
Moreover, over the years, Adirang Academy has produced a multitude of exceptional talents and prodigies who have infiltrated various industries. Even after learning about his past, they might disdain his actions, but as alumni of Adirang Academy, they too bore his mark.
Thus, under normal circumstances, no one would dare to lay a finger on him.
It wasn't just a matter of ability; it was also a matter of fear.
But now...
The figure slowly stepped down from the wall, eyes ablaze with shock and fury.
"You scoundrel, how dare you!!"
As a Diamond Level Great General, he may not have been the top of the ranks, but his strength was undeniable.
Zhang Zhongqi was acutely aware of the surrounding whispers.
He knew that this incident had stripped him of his dignity completely.
He suspected that the news wouldn't even wait until the next day to spread—
It might circulate before the banquet was even over.
People had revered him for his unique position, and until now, no one had dared to confront him directly!
But now...
Seeing the looks in their eyes, Zhang Zhongqi understood that his once mythic status in everyone's minds had been utterly shattered!
Once the myth is debunked, others will cease to regard him as a deity, and the prestige he had painstakingly built over the years will utterly collapse!
How could one be content with this? How could one not be enraged?
In that moment, Zhang Zhongqi's presence erupted, making it difficult for the nearly one thousand guests in the hall to breathe.
After all, the majority of them were merely individuals of esteemed status, and even those among them with strength were at best at the Gold level.
Buckling under the oppressive force of Zhang Zhongqi's enraged mid-tier Diamond Level presence, these individuals found themselves utterly incapable of mounting any resistance.
They simply lacked the prowess of Chu Yi, after all.
