C270 The Only Hope of the Commoners
The battle had reached a fever pitch.
Lee Zi's fight with her opponent was nothing short of spectacular.
Moreover, it seemed that everyone, from the onlookers to the mighty figures, found that they could learn something each time they witnessed Lee Zi's combat.
Even though Lee Zi's level was considered insignificant by their standards, making her the weakest among them, the power she demonstrated far exceeded that of most top-tier fighters.
Another critical aspect was Lee Zi's combat experience and skills, which were unparalleled by ordinary fighters.
Indeed, many martial arts masters had come to recognize the true caliber of the fight.
Lee Zi might not be the most formidable out there, but she proved to be stronger than many of the seeded players.
That was the prevailing sentiment—Lee Zi seemed limitless.
Regardless of the opponent, she could match their strength and then outmaneuver them with her clever fighting techniques to secure victory.
In contrast, Chu Yi was like a force of nature, utterly overwhelming his opponents with sheer dominance—a stark contrast to Lee Zi's approach.
If it weren't for Lee Zi's significantly lower level, many would find her presence more daunting than Chu Yi's!
Chu Yi's power was visible, but Lee Zi's strength was intangible.
It appeared as though Lee Zi wasn't strong, as every opponent seemed to have a chance against her. Yet, she managed to defeat them every single time, employing diverse and unique methods—truly remarkable.
Lee Zi gave the impression that she was honing her skills through these challenges.
She was relentlessly refining her combat techniques!
Her battle experience and skills were already formidable, leaving many in awe.
But Lee Zi was not content; even at this stage, she showed no signs of ceasing her relentless pursuit of improvement.
This was almost too extraordinary to believe.
Matching her opponents in strength every time, Lee Zi was a fearsome force, her true potential beyond imagination.
Such an enigmatic presence, elusive to all, was perhaps the most terrifying of all in the eyes of the beholder.
If Lee Zi's realm was merely at Silver Perfection, then these individuals might have cause for concern.
As time swiftly flowed by, they soon encountered another extreme.
It was a clash of pure skill.
Lee Zi's adversary was strong, but not a practitioner of this particular style. So, when Lee Zi took control and steered the match into such a predicament, the outcome was essentially decided.
Indeed, it had come to a definitive end...
As expected, after several exchanges, the contest concluded.
And without a doubt, the opponent was defeated.
The humiliation in defeat was different from the one experienced against Chu Yi. Facing Lee Zi, the defeated were left speechless and in utter disgrace when compared to their bouts with Chu Yi.
Even Lee Gang, the top scholar from the Southcloud District, had only managed to withstand two moves.
Facing Lee Zi, however...
They were aware of their inevitable defeat, yet it was within their threshold of acceptance.
In their battle with Lee Zi, they were able to fully demonstrate their capabilities.
For these prodigies who knew they stood no chance of making the national war roster, their ultimate aspiration was to fully showcase their talents.
Thus, many actually wished for a confrontation with Lee Zi. Naturally, the one they least desired to face was Chu Yi.
Observing Lee Zi catching her breath, Chu Yi shook his head in resignation.
He understood that this was the path Lee Zi had chosen.
Chu Yi believed his own approach to combat to be more straightforward than Lee Zi's.
He had encountered numerous similar styles to Lee Zi's, especially in the Immortal Demon World. There was even an era within the Immortal Demon Epochs when such a style was predominant.
Yet, despite its fearsome nature—completely constraining the opponent and inflicting a deep sense of despair—this method had its flaws.
Its greatest weakness was the loss of an unyielding spirit and perseverance. Though formidable among peers and quick to progress initially, it struggled to break through at certain critical junctures.
Thus, for these practitioners, whether they be Immortals or Demons, their ultimate potential was inherently capped.
For these cultivators, their innate talent defined their final frontier.
In essence, they stood no chance of breaking free from their own constraints and barriers to ascend to a more formidable level.
As such, their potential had been capped.
Naturally, shattering the fetters of one's innate abilities is a task of unimaginable difficulty, even for those with monstrously strong wills.
Yet, they harbored hope, a sentiment absent for the monstrous geniuses on this path.
Chu Yi remained silent.
Lee Zi, having been transformed by him, had become a practitioner of both demonic and divine arts, transcending the limitations of the Immortal Demon Era. She was a fearsome being, akin to Chu Yi himself.
Her power's ceiling was exceedingly high. Although Lee Zi's battle body was the Five Elements Original Combat Body, among the most supreme in the Immortal Demon World, it still fell short of the fabled ultimate eternal battle bodies.
Nevertheless, Lee Zi's potential for future accomplishments was no less significant than those of legendary figures.
Besides her combat prowess and physical strength, the force of the Immortal Path would enable her to keep advancing, laying the groundwork for her to eclipse those once-mythical beings.
Therefore, Lee Zi's prospective achievements and her potential were immense, arguably making her the most formidable presence next to Chu Yi.
With this in mind, Chu Yi had no intention of dissuading Lee Zi from her chosen path...
...
A single day had sufficed for the entirety of the previous competition. Now, with the number of contests halved, a day was more than adequate.
As the final battle concluded, the event drew to a close.
Those who remained were the top 32 prodigies of the national exam, each one a force to be reckoned with.
Although 16 were not seeded, their might was nearly on par with that of the seeded players.
Consider the four young masters of Grassvale—one was not a seeded player. Could his strength be considered insignificant?
Moreover, there was another whose power was universally acknowledged to rival any seeded player.
That individual was...
Lee Zi!
Over the past few days, Lee Zi's four battles had utterly captivated all onlookers, demonstrating that her only weakness was her realm. Should Lee Zi attain the Gold Level, even the intermediate Gold Level seeded players might not stand a chance against her.
Certainly, even without attaining Gold Level status, Lee Zi's abilities have garnered widespread recognition.
Numerous independent cultivators have begun to vocally support Lee Zi, convinced that her power is far greater than it appears.
It takes a formidable opponent to truly showcase Lee Zi's capabilities!
Currently, Lee Zi's fame and popularity among the public have surpassed even that of Chu Yi.
Chu Yi's name has been extensively promoted by the top three websites across the entire Adirang Region for almost a month, and his renown is the result of various promotional efforts.
But Lee Zi?
She hasn't done anything, nor has she spoken much. Yet, with just a handful of victories, she has captured the hearts of many.
Of course, Lee Zi's attractiveness plays a role, but there's another crucial factor: the social class she represents.
Indeed, social class!
Despite Lee Zi and Chu Yi being seen as a perfect pair in the eyes of many, people haven't forgotten Lee Zi's humble origins—a commoner.
Lee Zi is a true commoner!
Sure, some claim Chu Yi is also a commoner, with no ties to the Chu family.
But this notion is widely dismissed. Chu Yi's extraordinary abilities suggest the backing of a powerful family. Without such support, it's unlikely he could have achieved such heights.
In the eyes of the people, the genuine commoner is Lee Zi.
Previously, high school exams were a celebration for commoners.
They could witness commoners being eagerly recruited by top-tier organizations for their outstanding performances.
Regrettably, this is no longer the case.
This time around, in the exams, there are no visible commoners outside of those from noble families and the government.
While everyone understands that these measures are necessary for the Adirang Region's sake, it doesn't make it any less disheartening.
Despite understanding, it's still tough to accept that not a single prodigy from the common folk has made it into the national exams.
In the end, it seems commoners will always remain just that—commoners.
In the end, they simply couldn't match the formidable beings nurtured within the ranks of the noble families.
The elite and monstrous talents within the government, though technically risen from common folk, had mostly been integrated into the government from a very young age.
Their privileges were virtually indistinguishable from those born into aristocratic lineages.
Thus, to many, the government's elite monsters were just that—government elites—while the monsters from the populace were their own, emerging from the common ranks.
Yet...
Not a single one...
Was it tragic?
Profoundly so.
But then, Lee Zi emerged!
To the commoners, she was a beacon of light, piercing through the gloom and darkness, giving countless individuals a glimpse of brightness!
Through Lee Zi, these commoners found renewed hope.
They realized that being offspring of the commoners meant nothing against their potential!
They recognized that even monstrous geniuses from their own ranks could make a difference!
Lacking the vast wealth of noble families and the nurturing of top-tier powers, she possessed innate talent!
It was this formidable talent that propelled Lee Zi to the summit, securing her place among the top 32!
Lee Zi had become the ultimate hope for the commoners, the sole beacon proving that they, too, could ascend and become the era's pride.
While most of the populace remained unaware of this shift, their subconscious was already embracing it.
And so, Lee Zi's prestige among the people, rooted in her commoner status, began to fully ferment and spectacularly blossom...
