C266 The Grand Feast(3)
In a fleeting moment, a myriad of Zodiac signs emerged from the spaceship.
"Rest assured, Master Yalu, not only can we handle a mere First Level Civilization, but even the prodigies of the Third Level Civilizations are no match for our exceptional talents!"
"Exactly, Master Yalu, you're worrying too much."
"Our concern isn't that the opposition is too strong; rather, we fear they're too weak. It would be quite disappointing if they were to fall too quickly, even if we do reap the benefits."
Master Yalu, hearing the brash voices of the young ones from his civilization, simply smiled and waved his hand, choosing not to say more.
In the blink of an eye, he and another Sky Warrior vanished from existence.
The spaceship then resumed its journey toward the solar system. Although it appeared to be close, there was still a considerable distance to cover, and they were reluctant to use Spacetime Teleportation in such a location.
While swift, the technique lacked stability, and overshooting the destination would be problematic.
Furthermore, the energy required for each Spacetime Teleportation was immense, so much so that even their Exquisite Level spaceship couldn't withstand the strain of multiple jumps.
Before long, the spaceship became a mere speck of light and vanished from sight...
...
At the Fairmoor Martial Arts Center, Chu Yi remained seated calmly, while Lee Zi had risen to her feet.
The afternoon was advancing, and it was almost time for the second group's matches to commence.
Lee Zi was preparing for her second appearance on stage.
In contrast to Chu Yi, Lee Zi's entrance caused a sensation.
Initially, Lee Zi hadn't garnered much interest. If people were intrigued by her at all, it was for her beauty.
In the world of martial arts, good looks alone were inconsequential.
However, beauty paired with formidable strength was another matter entirely.
Previously, Lee Zi was known only for her attractiveness.
But her last battle, a clash with a government elite, revealed Lee Zi's true capabilities!
People realized that Lee Zi was far from being just a pretty face. She was not merely beautiful.
That battle was seen as lavish and splendid by the masses, arguably the most thrilling fight of the first round.
It stood unrivaled as the singular, most outstanding battle!
Subsequently, as the heavyweights began to offer their commentary, many came to understand the full extent of Lee Zi's fearsome strength.
Lee Zi's adversary, a formidable government elite with mastery over dual genetic powers, may not have stood at the very pinnacle of power, but many regarded him as a fearsome presence nearly on par with those seed geniuses.
Rumor had it that this formidable figure could be considered the 17th seeded player.
That is to say, should any mishap befall one of the top 16 seeded players, this elite could assuredly take their place.
Yet, in a head-to-head battle, Lee Zi managed to overpower this daunting foe.
Of course, Lee Zi had to pay a significant price for this victory.
Nonetheless, despite the cost, she emerged as the victor.
If Lee Zi could defeat the 17th seeded player, doesn't that attest to her exceptional talent and strength?
Furthermore, many have not overlooked a crucial detail about Lee Zi – her realm!
She has achieved Perfection in the Silver state!
Lee Zi is merely at the Silver level!
Her opponent, wielding dual genetic powers, was a bona fide mid-level Gold. Although he had just entered this mid-level tier, he was still a whole major realm and two minor realms above Lee Zi.
The disparity between them was immense, yet Lee Zi still triumphed decisively.
Doesn't this victory speak volumes?
Thus, when Lee Zi made her entrance, the crowd erupted in cheers.
They saw in her the true qualifications to challenge the seeded players.
The seed for their district was none other than Young Master Lee, one of the Four Young Masters of Fairmoor!
Young Master Lee's strength was undeniably formidable, but it seemed to rank slightly lower compared to the others.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been designated as the seed for the lower bracket of Group Six!
The seeds of the upper bracket were generally on par with each other.
In contrast, the seeds of the lower bracket were typically just a notch below those of the upper bracket.
At least, that's the speculation that's been circulating online.
Of course, the truth of the matter isn't widely known.
One thing, however, is certain: Young Master Lee's prowess is terrifying, but if he were to face Lee Zi, it would likely be a breathtaking match.
As Lee Zi stepped onto the stage, Young Master Lee's eyes betrayed a flicker of unusual intrigue.
Truth be told, Lee Zi had truly captivated him.
Her allure was not solely in her appearance but also in her aura and her undeniable strength. Young Master Lee considered a woman like Lee Zi to be his ideal match. However, this was merely his personal view. He was well aware that such a possibility was virtually non-existent.
The elite circles were quite familiar with the connection between Lee Zi and Chu Yi. While Young Master Lee didn't regard the Chu family, Chu Yi's backers, as the preeminent household of the Terran Federation, he acknowledged that they were on par with his own Li family. He certainly wouldn't risk antagonizing the Chu family over a woman.
Even if he were inclined to do so, his own family wouldn't permit it, and even if they did, the Aristocratic Alliance would surely object.
Thus, Young Master Lee's feelings for Lee Zi had settled into mere admiration, devoid of any further intentions. And yet...
He couldn't deny the pressure he felt within the group, a pressure that came from Young Master Lee himself. Yes, pressure! Young Master Lee had witnessed Lee Zi's battle against the government's elite prodigy, endowed with dual genetic powers. He could sense her formidable might and the terror she could unleash.
Such a monstrous talent, if unleashed without restraint, would undoubtedly be a fierce rival. Of course, Young Master Lee had his own aces up his sleeve. Should he play his cards, he believed Lee Zi, no matter how powerful, would not be his equal.
But were those trump cards to be used so casually? They were reserved for the seeded players. If he deployed them prematurely, by the time he reached the top 16...
Well, he might as well resign himself to being solidly in 16th place.
Yet, if he refrained from using them, how could he subdue Lee Zi with minimal losses? It was quite the conundrum, leaving Young Master Lee shaking his head in frustration. Who could have predicted Lee Zi would end up in his group? Wouldn't it have been better for him to be matched with Chu Yi, to engage in a battle of wits and strength?
These were Young Master Lee's private musings. He wasn't overly concerned. As a distinguished scion of a noble family, he possessed the breadth of spirit to rise above such matters. Moreover, he didn't truly believe Lee Zi posed any significant threat to him.
As the sixth round commenced, the outcome of the battle was as anticipated by all.
Young Master Lee effortlessly progressed, decisively defeating his opponent.
Following this victory, he moved on to the third round.
His next challenger wouldn't be Lee Zi unless she remained uneliminated by the fourth round—the final stage of the group matches. Then, he would have to contend with her.
Naturally, Young Master Lee was keen on the prospect of facing Lee Zi.
His eagerness wasn't due to Lee Zi being of a lower level or because she was a woman easily overpowered; rather, it was because Lee Zi possessed enough strength to pose a real threat to him. Should anyone manage to knock out Lee Zi, it would undoubtedly be a seeded player.
After all, nobody wishes to encounter a seeded player so early in the group stages...
...
The day's contests drew to a close.
The second round unfolded without much fanfare, lacking the kind of thrilling combat displayed by Lee Zi in the initial round.
