C264 The Banquet(1)

The second round of the competition was fast approaching.

In each group, only eight contenders remained after the initial rounds had weeded out half of the examinees and participants over the past two days.

Despite the reduced numbers, the anticipation was palpable; everyone was expecting the battles to be even more thrilling.

Yesterday's matches were already a spectacle, with the exception of the seeded players' battles, which unfolded without much surprise. The other fights, however, were tit for tat, with Lee Zi's clash against the government's elite prodigy standing out and reshaping many people's perceptions of the younger generation.

The competitors who had made it this far were essentially the cream of the crop—true geniuses among geniuses, the very pinnacle of exceptional talent.

It was undeniable that the upcoming battles would be nothing short of spectacular, and the audience was brimming with excitement.

Chu Yi, assigned to the first sequence, was set to open the competition. However, his presence hadn't garnered much attention.

It was clear to many that Chu Yi's prowess far exceeded that of his peers, making him an overwhelming force to be reckoned with. Unless he was up against another seeded player, his adversaries stood no chance of victory.

And even among the seeded players...

Let's be frank, their performances paled in comparison to Chu Yi's.

The crowd recognized that while the other seeded players also demonstrated a dominating strength, their brand of dominance was not in the same league as Chu Yi's. His method of overpowering opponents was swift and decisive—a single punch to send them off the stage. In contrast, the other seeded players used their formidable abilities to strip their opponents of any glimmer of hope for victory.

Moreover, the audience was no longer comprised of the uninformed masses of bygone eras.

They were astute, understanding that sometimes the true measure of strength isn't immediately apparent. But by comparing the opponents, they could easily conclude who was the superior combatant.

Clearly, Chu Yi's opponent had unleashed his full strength right from the start, aiming for a fleeting moment of glory, a brief instant of radiance.

This alone indicated that Chu Yi's opponent believed he had only one shot.

On the other hand, the opponents of the other seeded players were much more cautious.

This suggested that, although they didn't see themselves defeating the seeded players, they also didn't expect to be overwhelmed in the blink of an eye.

Thus, by observing the opponents alone, it was evident that Chu Yi's strength was a notch above that of the other seeded players.

Regarding Chu Yi's match...

Interest was tepid unless Chu Yi faced off against a seeded player.

The broadcast crew seemed to be aware of this too, as they primarily directed their cameras towards others. As for Chu Yi and his matches...

They were only occasionally featured, and as for Chu Yi's opponent...

His face was barely shown, since, in the eyes of the broadcasters, Chu Yi's opponent was soon to be eliminated.

This assessment wasn't wrong; it was actually quite astute.

As the term "start" was uttered by the Diamond Level Great General, a voice rang out.

Then, viewers witnessed a figure being flung from the screen, crashing heavily outside the arena.

The atmosphere became eerily silent.

This turn of events left many at a loss for words, unsure of how to react.

They had anticipated the outcome and were convinced of its inevitability, but witnessing the actual scene, they were still somewhat in disbelief.

Who was the figure that was sent flying?

No one knew.

Yet, it was clear that this was a prodigy among prodigies, a formidable force that, even on this talent-rich stage, should have been destined to make history.

A youth under twenty, comparable to a Diamond Level Great General—if such a prodigy couldn't make a historical mark, that would be truly astonishing.

Moreover, this was a top-tier prodigy who had advanced to the second round.

The second round!

Surviving the first round's fierce competition had already said a lot.

Such a prodigy was undeniably powerful, a cut above the rest, but even so, he was still so fragile against Chu Yi.

He was overpowered right from the start.

Was this the extent of Chu Yi's strength?

Even though they had foreseen this outcome, the reality of the scene rendered countless spectators speechless.

Chu Yi descended from the stage with an air of nonchalance and took his seat, his demeanor unreadable, betraying no hint of emotion.

Even Lee Zi, at Chu Yi's side, appeared unfazed, as if Chu Yi had merely taken a stroll rather than decisively besting his opponent to advance to the third round.

Inside a lavishly special building at Seventeenth High School in Redmarsh City, a handful of stunningly beautiful 'people' were fixated on a massive screen. Chu Yi would have immediately recognized these 'people' had he been present. They were the elite students from the prestigious Bealry Middle School, situated on the planet Elam within the Elamian Star Domain Federation.

The group was small, but each individual was a prodigy, the crème de la crème of geniuses. In this moment, they sat in silence, their attention captured by the fleeting image of Chu Yi on the screen. A peculiar glint flickered in the eyes of the little loli, Gu Lala.

"Wow, this Chu Yi is quite remarkable," one remarked.

"Teacher Salin," another chimed in, "we should have been more assertive and directly recruited this young man into our Bealry Academy."

Salin, a strikingly beautiful middle-aged woman, paused thoughtfully before giving a profound nod of agreement. "Indeed, we should have persisted with our invitation."

Chu Yi's first encounter with these 'aliens' was on the day of his return. In the small auditorium of Seventeenth High School, he was unexpectedly challenged by Gu Lala to battle the Silver Perfection Warrior, Dickens. In a moment of ingenuity, Chu Yi drew upon his previous life's understanding of the humanities. Although his ruse was eventually uncovered, his opponent surprisingly presented him with a formation compass to repair.

Chu Yi's surprise turned to delight as he successfully restored the compass, showcasing his 'unparalleled talent.' So impressive was his skill that Bealry Academy, a Third Level civilization institution, offered him countless opportunities to join their ranks.

However, upon reviewing Chu Yi's regular academic performance, Salin and her colleagues realized that he was not the scientific prodigy they had envisioned. His talent lay in perception, not in scientific research.

Such a talent was intrinsically linked to one's foundational knowledge. While it was indeed exceptional, true strength always resided in the individual, not the civilization. Typically, those with a keen sense of perception could become esteemed guests of significant figures or powers if they developed their abilities well.

Even though Chu Yi's talent was not in scientific research but merely in perception, Salin found herself intrigued by his potential.

Salin intended to keep pursuing Chu Yi, though the offer she'd make would be considerably less generous. Yet, just as she resolved to recruit him, she unexpectedly discovered that Chu Yi had abandoned his innate talent to instead dedicate himself to the study of martial arts!

Martial arts?

What is that?

Salin was well aware that in the grand scheme of things, across countless worlds and myriad civilizations, martial arts represented the everlasting way.

Indeed, technology has the power to enhance a civilization, to render it more formidable, and even to elevate its status.

But martial arts? That only strengthens the individual.

Yet, it is this very path of personal empowerment that all beings ultimately seek. Throughout history, how many zealots have chased the zenith of this path, willing to sacrifice even their lives?

Martial arts is formidable, forming the very cornerstone of the universe.

Chu Yi's decision to follow the path of martial arts was not at all misguided; there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.

But, but...

From Salin's perspective, Chu Yi's focus on martial arts seemed to be putting the cart before the horse.

Did Chu Yi have talent?