C278 The End

It was clear that Young Master Lee was terrified in the face of Lee Zi's wild behavior.

He feared that the so-called guardians would fail to protect him.

Had he remained his former self, such concerns would be nonexistent.

Being a Diamond Level Great General signified the pinnacle of human combat prowess. While it might not be the absolute peak, it was close enough, given the scarcity of War Gods above this level.

As one of the elite within the Diamond Level Great Generals, they should undoubtedly be capable of protecting the younger ones.

Yet, Young Master Lee knew all too well that his battle with Lee Zi had escalated to a fever pitch, pushing them both to their limits.

At this point, any retreat would spell certain defeat.

Young Master Lee dreaded failure, but even more so, he couldn't bear the thought of falling due to untimely assistance.

The latter was truly the most unbearable prospect!

However, given the current circumstances, unless he conceded defeat, Lee Zi appeared relentless.

While Young Master Lee pondered his next move, Lee Zi's lethal intent struck once more.

This time, her assault wasn't as fierce as before. Lee Zi, not being an actual deity, couldn't remain unscathed indefinitely.

Moreover, due to her level of cultivation, she was under even greater pressure than Young Master Lee.

Yet, to many, it seemed unlikely that Lee Zi, having emerged from commoner roots, had faced significant adversity.

When faced with immense suffering, the resilience of commoners couldn't match that of the young prodigies trained from birth by noble families, much less the elite prodigies groomed by the government.

But the current events were challenging everyone's perceptions.

Under such devastating blows, typical prodigies would have already crumbled. Even those nurtured by noble families or government elites would likely be struggling to cope, their pain surely impacting their combat effectiveness.

Indeed, that's how it should be.

Nonetheless, one could only imagine what Young Master Lee was going through at this moment.

In reality, Young Master Lee was teetering on the brink of collapse, yet Lee Zi seemed utterly unfazed, still operating at her peak performance.

The scene unfolding before them was rather unsettling...

Indeed, these people had no comprehension of the formidable nature of Lee Zi's will.

When they truly grasped the extent of Lee Zi's resolve, even a being as mighty as Chu Yi was profoundly shaken to his core.

The process of fundamental transformation was excruciating. Even Chu Yi, with his defiant will, found himself crying out in agony. But Lee Zi withstood the ordeal with remarkable fortitude, not only enduring but excelling. Despite hours of relentless pain, she persevered and completed the transformation.

Chu Yi held great admiration for Lee Zi in this regard.

He was aware that without the passive, millennia-long torment of the Immortal Demon Temple, he could never measure up to Lee Zi.

And now, to think that these people were underestimating Lee Zi's willpower?

On the stage, Chu Yi's eyes betrayed concern, but they also shone with pride.

This was Lee Zi!

Naturally, Chu Yi was intensely focused on the situation.

He shared Young Master Lee's concerns and also feared that if Lee Zi and Young Master Lee truly clashed irreconcilably, any danger that arose could escalate into a massive crisis.

This was something Chu Yi would never permit.

Thus, he was ever vigilant, monitoring every detail of the confrontation.

Just because the top Diamonds couldn't achieve something didn't mean Chu Yi couldn't.

Revealing his strength might be risky, but when weighed against Lee Zi's safety, it was inconsequential...

...

In the void, it was as if a river of time and space had manifested, imperceptible yet palpable. Young Master Lee sensed the dimensions of time and space within it.

At that moment, astonishment filled Young Master Lee's eyes.

To wield such a force in combat, even if only in a rudimentary form or as a bluff, was terrifying and awe-inspiring. The mere hint of such power was enough to suggest a capability of apocalyptic proportions.

Confronted with such a fearsome force, even a powerhouse like Young Master Lee felt the sting of despair.

Young Master Lee had not anticipated that, at such a critical juncture, Lee Zi would reveal such a world-altering strategy!

Indeed, it was nothing short of world-altering!

To Young Master Lee, Lee Zi at that moment seemed like a divine being, stepping out from the far reaches of time and space, with every utterance and gesture potent enough to obliterate worlds.

Lee Zi's previous displays of lethal prowess had already left Young Master Lee in awe, stunned by the formidable depths of the Chu family's heritage. Yet, in the face of Lee Zi's latest and most formidable technique, Young Master Lee was struck by a sudden realization: this level of martial artistry couldn't possibly originate from the Chu family. The technique Lee Zi was now unleashing was surely beyond anything the Chu family could offer, for it transcended what Earth's civilization could possibly master.

It wasn't just Young Master Lee who was taken aback. Countless elite fighters felt the same. In an instant, many of the finest warriors stood up, alarmed. If Young Master Lee could sense the subtle yet overwhelming might of this power, how could these even more formidable individuals not perceive it?

"What is this technique?"

"Such terrifying strength!"

"There's a chilling presence spreading that instills fear."

"Can the Chu family truly wield such a deadly art?"

Unlike Young Master Lee, many were privy to the Chu family's true nature, understanding that the family's complexity was far beyond common knowledge. The Chu family boasted a presence at the War God Level, making them the only clan openly supported by a War God. Yet, the government's interest wouldn't be so piqued by just a War God alone. It was, in fact, the powerful legacy behind Chu Tianfeng and his wife's sect that drew the Union Government's keen attention.

But even with such a fearsome lineage, could they really produce such an awe-inspiring, heaven-defying technique? Doubts flickered in the eyes of many onlookers. Of course, some harbored other designs. But such thoughts vanished as quickly as they came, for they all recognized the reality of their situation.

Firstly, even if they could acquire such a technique, the question remained whether they could actually master it. Secondly, considering the pivotal roles of Lee Zi and Chu Yi, and with Chu Yi's backing from the towering Chu family, they were clearly out of reach for the average schemer. Moreover, it was crucial to remember that Lee Zi was no pushover.

Thus...

Those who entertained any ambitions swiftly abandoned their previous notions.

Above the arena, the dreadful aura intensified, becoming increasingly formidable. A fearsome, destructive energy continued to spread, surging towards Young Master Lee. He knew then that he was witnessing Lee Zi's ultimate technique, her grand move. And such a move...

Young Master Lee was acutely aware that even as a High Order Gold, and at the pinnacle of his strength, he stood no chance against such a formidable strike. Such an assault was beyond the capabilities of someone at their level to withstand, a fact he understood all too well.

In the face of the impending, fearsome power, Young Master Lee ultimately made his decision. "I concede!" Despite his reluctance and the knowledge of the harsh treatment he would face from his family after surrendering, Young Master Lee had run out of options. To continue resisting would mean certain death—a truth he was painfully aware of.

He did not wish to die; Young Master Lee yearned to live. He recognized that no matter how tenaciously he fought, death was inevitable. Even with an arsenal of techniques and nearly ten top-tier Diamond Great Generals at his side, Lee Zi's devastating attack would mean his end.

Though the aftermath of surrendering would be fraught with difficulty, potentially crippling, at least he would remain alive. Moreover, as long as he lived, he could move forward, regardless of losing his former status and influence. With his talent, he would eventually rise to become one of the elite.

If he died, he would lose everything.

At the crossroads of life and death, Young Master Lee had chosen wisely. Furthermore, with the emergence of Lee Zi's strike, he believed he could justify his actions to his family. Such an attack would likely obliterate even a newly ascended peak Diamond entity, vanishing in an instant.

Thus, whether he conceded or not was inconsequential; the outcome would remain unchanged.

The power in the void seemed momentarily perplexed. Indeed, her power was inferior to Young Master Lee, especially after he had unleashed his full potential. Consequently, Lee Zi had sustained greater damage. Yet, through the sheer might of her battle form and the robustness of her life force, she managed to endure the onslaught.

The injuries, while not debilitating, brought constant agony. Lee Zi had resorted to her most lethal technique, knowing she had reached her breaking point. To persist would fundamentally undermine her very essence.

For Lee Zi, compromising her future for the sake of a national exam was simply not worth the sacrifice.

Even amidst excruciating pain, Lee Zi remained remarkably composed.

This is precisely why Lee Zi resorted to her ultimate killing technique!

Of course, had Young Master Lee been powerful enough to withstand it, Lee Zi would have been forced to reveal her most profound capabilities.

Thankfully, Young Master Lee was acutely aware of their disparity in strength and ultimately conceded, sparing Lee Zi any further inconvenience.

As she released her power, an onslaught of pain ensued.

During the battle, Lee Zi hadn't felt it, or perhaps she had forcefully repressed it.

But now, with the pressure gone, a torrent of agony surged over her.

If it were merely pain, Lee Zi might have dismissed it, using her indomitable will to quell the suffering.

However, beyond the pain, a multitude of complications began to emerge.

To contend with Young Master Lee and to bridge the gap in absolute power after his breakthrough, Lee Zi had pushed her strength to its limits with each strike, employing formidable killing techniques.

Just as Young Master Lee had surmised, the use of these techniques inflicted a toll on her own body.

As a result, Lee Zi was now covered in wounds.

At that critical moment, just as Lee Zi was on the verge of collapse, a figure emerged in the arena.

It was Chu Yi...