C263 Victory!
Lee Zi deftly dodged, but occasionally the barrage of fist shadows raining down would land a blow.
Yet, aside from the most potent of these shadows, the rest possessed limited strength.
Though she had taken several hits, they only caused Lee Zi pain.
In the next instant, a glimmer of realization shone in Lee Zi's eyes.
She had seen it!
The fist technique was indeed sophisticated and daunting, nearly impossible to defend against, but Lee Zi had spotted the technique's shortcomings.
No, it wasn't exactly a shortcoming; rather, it was an inherent deficiency in the technique itself!
In a flash, Lee Zi acted. To the shock of onlookers, she abandoned all defense and launched a forceful punch directly into the onslaught of fist shadows.
Indeed, this was the vulnerability Lee Zi had identified!
To call it a vulnerability might be misleading, as no martial art is flawless. Even the most formidable techniques have their inherent weaknesses.
This was the most vulnerable point Lee Zi had pinpointed.
The explanation was simple: all the fist shadows were deadly, but their lethality varied depending on their position.
One thing was certain, though: to ensure every shadow was lethal and not just an illusion, a tremendous amount of power was necessary.
With sufficient power, even the feeblest gap in the fist shadows could wield devastating force!
Regrettably, the government's elite prodigy lacked such immense power.
The adversary was formidable, wielding dual genetic powers, a true pinnacle of genius.
But one must not overlook that the elite's own level was merely Gold!
It was quite an achievement for him to execute such a lethal technique, but perfection was out of reach.
Through the previous exchanges, Lee Zi had discerned patterns in her opponent's fist technique.
The more concentrated and intimidating the fist shadows appeared, the less power was actually distributed among them.
These were the points where the fist shadows were weakest.
Naturally, even the feeblest of these shadows were beyond the endurance of most, including geniuses at the Silver Perfection level or even higher.
But Lee Zi was exceptional.
Indeed, Lee Zi had attained Silver Perfection.
Lee Zi's Silver Perfection was unlike anyone else's!
The reason was simple: Lee Zi possessed a battle body, and she had been enhanced by Chu Yi using Origin Substance!
In terms of physical strength, Lee Zi was even more formidable than many at the peak of Gold!
This was a testament to the potential and quality of Lee Zi's physique.
Despite sustaining injuries from the onslaught of fist shadows that blanketed the sky, Lee Zi's powerful strike remained unaffected.
In a burst of energy, the outcome was sealed.
A figure was seen flying out of the arena by countless onlookers.
It was the government's elite genius!
The battle had concluded.
Leaving the arena signified the end of the fight.
Lee Zi, standing victoriously, wiped away the blood at the corner of her mouth, her eyes reflecting a serene composure.
The battle had been immensely challenging.
Had her opponent been slightly more powerful, Lee Zi might have had to reveal her full capabilities.
But, alas, she emerged as the more skilled combatant.
Lee Zi also noticed that her opponent was overly keen on dictating the pace, using formidable boxing techniques to try and dominate her. But Lee Zi's extensive combat experience and her own ability to control the rhythm made it easy for her to spot his shortcomings.
It was by leveraging these insights that Lee Zi, despite her injuries, managed to defeat her adversary.
Onlookers, including those streaming the battle online, were left in awe.
No one had anticipated that Lee Zi would take such a bold risk, overpowering the elite genius's most potent assault!
It was an outcome previously unthinkable.
"Terrifying, truly terrifying!"
"Lee Zi isn't just extraordinarily gifted and physically robust; she's incredibly astute!"
"She's not just smart; she's incredibly courageous!"
Indeed, where most would hesitate, even if they had deduced that the densest part of the fist shadows was the elite genius's Achilles' heel, they wouldn't dare gamble on it.
A failed gamble could lead to dire consequences.
On each stage, a High Order Diamond watched, ready to intervene at the crucial moment to safeguard the combatants from fatal harm.
However, these individuals hadn't forgotten one crucial fact: whether it was Lee Zi or the government elite prodigy, both were top-tier talents, on par with an Intermediate Diamond level.
A High Order Diamond might aim to control the entire situation, but there are always elements beyond their reach.
Take the recent incident, for example. Had Lee Zi miscalculated, it would have been too late for even a High Order Diamond to intervene.
So, it's clear that Lee Zi is quite audacious...
"You've made quite the gains, haven't you?"
Seated next to Chu Yi, Lee Zi sipped a medicinal potion and began to quietly recuperate.
Upon hearing Chu Yi's remark, Lee Zi nodded in agreement. "I didn't expect to face such a formidable opponent. It was truly frightening."
"If his control over his power hadn't been slightly off, if his foundation had been just a bit stronger, then I suspect I..."
Chu Yi understood what Lee Zi was implying.
He offered a gentle smile. "I also didn't anticipate encountering such a challenging opponent in the first round."
Both Chu Yi and Lee Zi were focused on the government elite's combat style and everything he demonstrated.
They were unconcerned with the dual genetic power that the government elite represented.
Genetic power is indeed formidable, but to Chu Yi and Lee Zi, it hardly warranted their attention.
"Alright, time for a break."
"I reckon you could be up for the second round tomorrow."
Given the pace of the competition, today being only the second day, the first round of the group stages should conclude by tomorrow.
And the second round...
With half the number of matches compared to the first, a single day will certainly suffice.
Tomorrow, it will undoubtedly conclude.
By then, Lee Zi will likely take the stage in the afternoon.
Recovering in one day isn't difficult.
Truly, it's not challenging at all. Even without Chu Yi's techniques, the medical facilities provided by the Fairmoor government would be more than adequate.
Lee Zi nodded, choosing not to elaborate further, and closed her eyes to focus on her recovery.
Facing such a powerful adversary on the first day of combat was daunting. Although few were as exceptional as the government elite, Lee Zi believed that if the opponent had revealed his dual genetic power earlier, he would certainly be considered a seed-level contestant.
In the unpredictable world of combat, one can never be certain of the outcome. Imagine facing an opponent who, in the heat of battle, experiences a sudden breakthrough, elevating their level of cultivation. That's why resting and maintaining peak condition is paramount for Lee Zi right now...
Lee Zi and the other seeded players kicked off their first-round battles in the afternoon, followed by the seventh and eighth groups. By the end of the day, the initial round for all eight groups had concluded without any major surprises. As expected, all sixteen seeded players advanced with ease, with most of the matches offering plenty of excitement—Chu Yi's being the notable exception.
The contestants this time around were all of Diamond Level caliber, ensuring a high standard of competition. That evening, highlights from the first round were swiftly compiled, with Lee Zi's clash against the government elite genius taking center stage. While other seeded players also gained exposure, Chu Yi remained conspicuously absent from the reels.
The creators of the highlight reel were at a loss with Chu Yi's match—it was simply him stepping up, delivering a punch, and the fight was over. His punch, while not particularly flashy, was an overwhelming display of sheer power. Consequently, the video creator chose not to feature Chu Yi, a decision met with understanding by most netizens, who even dubbed his match the dullest of the first round.
The most thrilling battle, however, was undeniably between Lee Zi and the government elite genius. Prominent figures later publicly praised both fighters, affirming that they possessed the caliber of seeded players. Their showdown was likened to a battle among the elite.
The commentator, a Peak Diamond with immense prestige throughout the Adirang Region, lent credibility to these views, and many were convinced by his endorsement.
As the third day dawned, countless viewers eagerly gathered in front of their screens, anticipating the second round of battles. The excitement was palpable, with high stakes and fierce competition on the horizon.
The contestants who made it to the second round were truly exceptional, each a standout in their own right. Their upcoming clashes promised to be nothing short of spectacular!
Chu Yi and Lee Zi got to the event site bright and early that day. They wouldn't usually arrive so early, but this time, they had no other option. Today marked the beginning of the second round of the national examination, and it was Chu Yi's turn to compete first.
As the top-ranked participant in the national exam, Chu Yi was assigned the number 1. This meant that whenever the competition commenced, he would invariably be the first to take the stage.
