C254 Chu Yi Was too Arrogant!
Almost everyone turned their gaze toward Lee Zi, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and awe.
They understood that an instant kill typically indicated a vast disparity in strength.
Yet such occurrences were rare here, for those with monstrous abilities far surpassing the rest had already been directly admitted into the national wars.
A handful of these exceptional individuals were found within the government, and the Aristocratic Alliance boasted a few as well.
Among them was a monstrous genius with truly terrifying power: Chu Yi.
But Chu Yi was male, and since everyone had seen him before, they knew this wasn't him.
The fact that someone other than Chu Yi could achieve an instant kill was indeed shocking.
Mostly, those surprised by this had not witnessed Lee Zi's match. Those who had been following the event were well aware that Lee Zi had seized an opportunity.
"Even so, we must not underestimate this girl's strength. She's certainly one of the top contenders among the 512 geniuses this time around!"
"To possess the strength of a Silver Peak and yet stand shoulder to shoulder with those mid-tier Gold monsters is nothing short of terrifying!"
Lee Zi may have been fortunate and taken a shortcut, but this in no way diminishes the fundamental terror of her strength!
After all, without sufficient power, one can't capitalize on opportunities, even when they're right in front of you.
Chu Yi watched Lee Zi joyfully skipping back, his eyes brimming with a warm smile.
This match hadn't been much of a challenge for Lee Zi. Even if her opponent had performed at his best, he wouldn't have stood a chance against her and would have been swiftly defeated.
But Chu Yi hadn't anticipated his opponent's foolishness.
Yes, in Chu Yi's view, that government-backed monster was foolish.
Some might argue that the government's monster had employed the most sensible strategy against a lower-tier opponent: avoiding injury to stay fresh for the next day's main event while also securing a quick victory.
It seemed like a smart move, a way to kill two birds with one stone.
Yet, Chu Yi still thought it was foolish.
"To have made it this far in the assessments is proof enough of one's strength. Whether it's Silver or even Bronze, what does it matter?!"
Indeed, the government's demon had likely forgotten that after witnessing Lee Zi's realm, he became complacent, losing sight of the bigger picture.
Yet, he failed to remember that Lee Zi's near victory in the assessment wasn't a matter of luck!
She had relied on her own strength, having defeated many other top-notch prodigies.
Such beings, even if their realm is merely Bronze, possess strength that is unquestionably on par with anyone present.
Hence, resorting to such tactics only serves to highlight the foolishness of the supposed elite.
Many onlookers turned their gaze towards Lee Zi, and upon noticing Chu Yi at her side, their expressions grew peculiar.
Chu Yi's strength was well-known to many.
It's no exaggeration to say that in this year's national examination, Chu Yi's prowess firmly placed him within the top three.
It was the kind of top three where Chu Yi's position remained unshakable!
Being powerful in one's own right is impressive, but—
Yes, it's indeed a formidable trait.
Moreover, the ability to elevate those around him to greater strength is somewhat astounding.
Observers noted that Lee Zi had only reached the Perfection of Silver. But what if Lee Zi ascended to Gold?
If Lee Zi reached the intermediate Gold level like most of the prodigies, what then of her strength?
With this thought, the peculiar glint in the eyes of many grew even more pronounced...
...
With over a hundred participants, Chu Yi was set for the afternoon matches.
Thus, after Lee Zi's competition concluded, Chu Yi could afford to unwind.
The morning's battles wrapped up swiftly, as the drawing of lots and preparatory steps had consumed considerable time.
Out of thirteen rounds, only five were completed by noon, which would determine tomorrow's final contenders.
With one hundred battles across five rounds, there were one hundred spots up for grabs, involving two hundred combatants.
The initial expectations of the aristocratic families were that at least thirty of their scions would secure spots.
The reality, however...
Eighteen individuals!
Indeed, out of the hundred-plus openings, a mere eighteen were claimed by the Aristocratic Alliance.
Such an outcome left the government's high-ranking officials beaming with joy, while the aristocratic families' representatives wore expressions of utmost dismay.
Although they had anticipated the formidable strength of the government's nurtured elites, the magnitude of the disparity took them by surprise.
"Truthfully, if we're talking about sheer strength, our family disciples might be slightly outmatched, but the difference isn't substantial. And when you factor in those secret techniques..."
"We're not at a fifty-fifty split, but we're holding at least a forty percent chance."
"The root cause of this disparity is..."
"Real-world combat experience!"
The speaker was the patriarch of the Qi Family from Fairmoor.
The Qi Family is among the elite households in Fairmoor, and their patriarch holds significant influence within the city.
His words prompted the other family heads and influential figures to ponder deeply.
Once the Qi Family patriarch revealed the reason, it clicked for everyone.
Real-world combat.
The government's trained elites were all seasoned fighters.
To say they emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood might be hyperbolic, but they certainly matured amidst endless carnage.
By contrast, our Aristocratic Alliance's prodigies, while not significantly less talented and potentially equal in a head-to-head battle with the help of secret techniques, severely lack in actual combat experience and that essential ruthlessness!
As a result, the outcomes have been lopsided.
These family leaders are now contemplating the future training paths for their young charges.
The government's approach to developing talent is undeniably effective, producing truly formidable individuals. However, there's one aspect the Aristocratic Alliance finds unacceptable.
The mortality rate is simply too high!
The government, with its vast resources and the entire human population of Earth as a talent pool, isn't overly concerned with the survival of these exceptional individuals.
This isn't to imply that the government is intentionally sacrificing these talents; rather, they just don't prioritize the mortality rate.
But for our aristocratic families, the stakes are different.
Each scion carries the weight of complex familial ties, and the loss of even one can send shockwaves through the clan.
Moreover, given the limited number of heirs, each loss is one we can ill afford.
Yet, it seems our previous methods may no longer be fitting for the times.
Reflecting on this, the expressions of the family heads grew complex. Despite their authority, they were uncertain about whether to proceed with their decision.
The afternoon sped by, and the battles commenced without delay. Five rounds had taken place in the morning, and eight more were scheduled for the afternoon. To ensure all the matches could be completed within the day, the afternoon session started earlier.
Chu Yi, bearing the number 144, was set to compete in the third round. As the fights unfolded, the scene mirrored that of the morning. The aristocratic prodigies still had roughly a 20% chance of advancing, despite the elders having devised numerous strategies during the midday break. But the opposition was simply too formidable, and last-minute preparations proved ineffective. Consequently, the outcomes remained largely unchanged.
Then it was Chu Yi's turn to enter the arena. His arrival drew an unprecedented level of attention, surpassing even that garnered by Young Master Liang and Young Master Qi, the renowned Four Young Masters of Fairmoor, earlier that day. The power of online promotion was evident.
The Four Young Masters of Fairmoor were formidable indeed, their demonstrated abilities on par with those at the intermediate Diamond level. They dominated their matches with overwhelming force.
However, their renown was mostly confined to Fairmoor, with some recognition in Grassvale, Redmarsh, and the neighboring districts. Chu Yi's fame, on the other hand, was on another level. Online publicity had made his name known even in the most remote districts.
Chu Yi was widely considered the favorite to win this year's large competition, a sentiment reflected in the betting odds from various places. Thus, the spotlight on Chu Yi dwarfed that on the combined Four Young Masters of Fairmoor.
"Yesterday, I missed his performance, but today, I'll finally get to see him in action..."
While many acknowledged Chu Yi's peerless prowess, there were just as many skeptics. These formidable challengers would only be convinced by witnessing his skill firsthand or by stepping into the ring with him. Merely watching a video would never suffice.
Chu Yi approached the center of the ring with a calm demeanor, betraying no hint of emotion.
At that moment, Chu Yi's adversary made his appearance. He was neither particularly strong nor weak, ranking around the hundredth in strength among the 256 elite prodigies cultivated by the government.
The match commenced without much small talk as the Great General of Diamond declared the start. The government's prodigy charged at Chu Yi with a frenzy. Clearly, Chu Yi's renown had spread not only among the common folk but also among these elite figures.
Without hesitation, his opponent unleashed his most formidable technique. Upon realizing he was facing Chu Yi, the government's talent had no illusions about advancing to the next day's main event. His only intent was to exert his full power and shine as brightly as he could.
With his strongest conviction, he delivered what could be described as his most powerful strike. The might contained within it was somewhat horrifying. One could guess as much from the Diamond Level judge's expression, and the faces of many patriarchs from the Aristocratic Alliance also showed signs of concern.
They could all tell that the government's prodigy was, at best, on par with a decent Elementary Diamond. Yet, the force of his current assault was so great that it was likely beyond what even a mid-level Diamond could withstand. Such was the caliber of a monster nurtured by the government.
The formidable strike finally reached Chu Yi, who remained motionless. "Chu Yi is overconfident!" some thought. While it was clear to everyone that Chu Yi was more powerful than his opponent, his lack of response seemed overly presumptuous.
As expected, when the powerful strike was upon him, Chu Yi still did not react, maintaining his composure just as before. The next moment, the fearsome attack exploded...
