C260 The Billions of People Watching
In the other arenas, the true order of battle was being observed.
The combatants had sized each other up and had a clear understanding of their opponents' capabilities, so there was no further time wasted.
A plethora of top-tier combat techniques was now on display.
The audience turnout this time had nearly reached an all-time high.
Many martial artists from humble backgrounds, as well as some accomplished cultivators, had chosen to watch the entire event.
They recognized that this year's college entrance exam was unlike any before.
The prodigies emerging this time around were not only formidable in strength but also held extraordinary identities as representatives of the leading aristocratic families.
As such, the techniques they wielded likely included fearsome secret arts unique to these elite households.
There was much to learn from these exceptional talents, and observing them could provide invaluable insights into the martial path.
Despite their youth, their abilities had already eclipsed those of nearly ninety-nine percent of warriors.
Aside from Chu Yi's matches, the other fourteen contestants in seven bouts were evenly matched and fiercely contested.
In the first group, Chu Yi was the sole seed-level competitor; there were no others at his level, meaning that the rest were quite evenly matched in terms of strength.
This made their clashes all the more thrilling.
"These aristocratic prodigies aren't as weak as they seemed..." someone remarked after observing the bouts.
They had realized that the scions of the aristocratic families were far from the fragile figures they had been portrayed as in the rumors.
"Nonsense, anyone still standing here has bested the government's elite prodigies. They are the cream of the crop, the elite among the aristocratic family geniuses!" another spectator chimed in.
"If they weren't up to par, then the Aristocratic Alliance would truly have no reason to exist..."
This clarification led many to an epiphany.
Indeed, the prodigies now in the spotlight were the elite survivors from the aristocratic families, having been through a rigorous selection process. Their strength might not be terrifyingly overwhelming, but it was certainly far superior to that of their predecessors.
Moreover, having already faced off against the government's elite, they had grown accustomed to each other's tactics, which explained the current state of affairs.
The battles raged on for a full half-hour before the first group's initial eight matches finally concluded.
Clearly, there was no longer any desire to discuss Chu Yi's battle.
As a seeded player, victory for Chu Yi was expected, and his dominance was, well, also expected!
The other seven battles stood in stark contrast, each one fiercely contested, leaving a lasting impression of excitement long after they had ended.
But the buzz of conversation quickly faded away.
Because it was time for the first round of the lower half of the first group to begin.
Before long, sixteen contenders had taken their places in the arena.
Among them, another seeded player garnered the most attention.
After all, Chu Yi, as the seeded player from the upper half, had crushed his opponent with ease. So what about the other seeded player in the same group?
And then, the crowd witnessed...
His strength was truly fearsome, his power immense, and the display of his abilities nearly overwhelming, leaving his opponent with virtually no chance to fight back.
From start to finish, the battle was under the iron grip of this formidable seeded player, who allowed his opponent no opportunity to inflict any significant damage.
If Chu Yi's previous fight epitomized sheer brutality...
Then this match was a masterclass in perfect control.
However...
"His strength is still somewhat lacking..."
"Even though he's on par with a mid-level Diamond, and he still had plenty of strength in reserve, he falls just short of Chu Yi's level..."
Ordinary spectators might not have noticed, but the elite fighters, and even some Gold-level practitioners among the crowd, could see the difference.
Indeed, this seeded player from the government was also terrifyingly strong, a notch above the other government elites in terms of power.
Moreover, he hadn't fully unleashed his power in this match. From beginning to end, what he showed was merely a fraction of his full capabilities.
Had he revealed his full strength, it would have been even more unimaginable.
Yet many understood that despite his formidable abilities, this seeded player still had a gap to bridge when compared to Chu Yi.
It was quite simple: had the government's seeded player unleashed his full might from the outset, he might have struggled considerably.
Those with keen insight knew that this government's seeded player couldn't achieve what Chu Yi did, overpowering his opponent's greatest strength with his own overwhelming force.
Therefore, his level likely doesn't match up to Chu Yi's.
"However, it's not necessarily so. This seeded player from the government is a monster who specializes in control. His strength doesn't lie in bursts of power."
"Chu Yi, on the other hand, clearly favors a strategy of explosive power!"
"If Chu Yi's strike fails to immediately suppress the government's seeded player, he might soon find himself at the mercy of his opponent's control."
These were the musings of some individuals.
Indeed, many people concurred with this perspective, believing it to have captured the crux of the matter.
Yet, to those in the know, such opinions were met with silence.
Yes, if we were discussing two different individuals, or even if Chu Yi were replaced by someone else, these speculations might hold water.
But with Chu Yi...
Everyone witnessed the attack he launched earlier.
It was a hasty strike, deployed only after his opponent had arrived, hardly Chu Yi's full strength.
And yet, it was sufficient to overpower his adversary.
Could the government's seeded prodigy truly withstand a full-force blow from a serious Chu Yi?
...
The two rounds of competition had consumed over an hour, and with preparation time included, it hadn't surpassed an hour and a half.
The opening ceremony today began at nine o'clock, with the actual combat commencing just after ten.
Thus, by the time the first set of matches concluded, it was already midday.
The afternoon promised the first round of battles for the second and third groups.
Having witnessed the morning's events, the crowd was buzzing with anticipation for the afternoon's contests.
Chu Yi was absent in the afternoon.
His first-round bout was complete, and the second round...
Given the pace so far, it wouldn't likely begin until the third day.
Regarding Lee Zi...
She belonged to the sixth group, so her appearance was not on today's schedule.
Others might not pass up the chance to spectate, but Lee Zi and Chu Yi were indifferent.
Thus, Chu Yi and Lee Zi were nowhere to be seen in the Martial Arts Stadium that afternoon.
Their absence did nothing to hinder the ongoing clashes.
The afternoon's battles raged on with undiminished ferocity.
It was somewhat disappointing that among the second and third groups in the afternoon, there were four exceptional seeded players. Each showcased their distinct flair and dominated their opponents, demonstrating the formidable nature of a seeded player. However, none could match Chu Yi's feat of instantly suppressing their opponent as soon as the battle commenced.
At that moment, the true extent of Chu Yi's prowess became apparent to countless onlookers.
Previously, many assumed these seeded players possessed strength akin to Chu Yi's, but it was now clear...
Chu Yi's selection as the national top scholar for the Martial Arts Examination by the Aristocratic Alliance was not due to any insider dealings; he had earned it through sheer ability!
On the second day of the national exam, Chu Yi made his appearance.
Now, Chu Yi was not the same as before. Despite being the most well-known, many had not regarded him as the strongest.
But after yesterday's battle and the comparison with other seeded players, Chu Yi's strength was undeniable!
He was the national champion of the Martial Arts Examination!
This was the headline that spread like wildfire overnight.
After much analysis, a consensus was reached:
If the seeded players were a level above the elite government contenders, then Chu Yi's strength surpassed even those of the seeded players by another level.
Thus, if Chu Yi wasn't the national champion, it was even less likely for anyone else to claim that title.
Amid the gaze of half a million spectators in the Martial Arts Stadium, Chu Yi remained composed.
He might not have enjoyed being the center of attention, but he was by no means intimidated.
Sitting calmly next to Lee Zi, Chu Yi observed the venue.
With no opening ceremony scheduled for today, the competition was set to begin promptly at eight o'clock.
While not particularly early, this was the time when many were just sitting down for breakfast.
Yet, the live viewership had already exceeded ten billion!
Considering the Adirang Region's population hovers around twenty billion and the Terran Federation's exceeds fifty billion, ten billion concurrent viewers was an astonishing figure on a global scale.
Indeed, for a typical college entrance exam, surpassing three billion viewers would be remarkable, except for during the opening ceremony.
This year's college entrance exam ratings have skyrocketed, thanks to a slew of promotions and clever gimmicks.
"You're in the lower bracket of Group Six, so you're likely up first in the afternoon session," Chu Yi surmised. He had noticed that the Fairmoor City government had initiated the competition early, presumably to wrap up the first round within a single day.
With two rounds scheduled for the morning, taking up roughly three hours, there would be just enough time to cover another group's half in the afternoon. Lee Zi was slated for the lower bracket of Group Six, which meant she would compete in the first round following the afternoon's kickoff.
However, these were merely Chu Yi's speculations. Should the Fairmoor City government decide not to rush things, they could potentially postpone the schedule. Ultimately, everything hinged on the government's plans and the duration of the clashes between these extraordinary competitors.
