C283 Then as You Wish

Chu Yi watched silently as his opponent, Zhao Wuheng, sized him up in return. The live broadcast equipment was up and running, with countless viewers across the internet eagerly anticipating the showdown. Chu Yi's speed was legendary, and his strength was widely recognized as surpassing that of the other seeded players; it was for this reason that the government had designated him as No.1.

However, this time, Chu Yi was up against a truly exceptional talent. To the masses, even if Chu Yi were to emerge victorious, it wouldn't come without a significant cost. At this point, they were likely to witness a portion, if not the majority, of Chu Yi's capabilities. The public's curiosity about Chu Yi's power was immense, especially since his prior displays had been overwhelmingly impressive, overpowering all challengers with sheer individual might.

While the seeded players typically engaged in back-and-forth battles with their adversaries, possibly out of respect for their opponents' reputations, many onlookers surmised that even these dominant players would incur substantial costs in their conquests. But Chu Yi was different. He concluded the fight with a single punch, highlighting the gap between him and the rest.

Therefore, Chu Yi's first encounter with a seeded player was set to be the center of universal attention. The next moment found Chu Yi stepping into the arena, his demeanor unchanged, his eyes reflecting a profound calmness. His opponent, Zhao Wuheng, was an enigma, maintaining a low profile to an almost infuriating degree. Apart from his name, no one knew anything else about him. As an elite genius of the government and among the top echelon, it was natural for his identity to remain confidential. Yet, the secrecy surrounding him was exceptional.

Even the other elite seeds within the government had some information circulating about them, but not a trace could be found regarding Zhao Wuheng. His understated presence was undeniable. In the preceding battles, Zhao Wuheng had garnered considerable attention; given the group's dynamics, if he avoided elimination, he was destined to be the first to challenge Chu Yi in the top sixteen.

Many were intrigued, eager to glimpse the prowess of the seeded player who was fated to challenge Chu Yi. Yet, despite witnessing four rounds of combat, no one, not even the elite fighters, could discern his true strength.

Zhao Wuheng maintained a low profile, mirrored by his understated combat style. Truthfully, if you were to judge him on a single match, you might not think Zhao Wuheng particularly strong. In each battle, he was only marginally stronger than his adversaries. Merely a notch above, he consistently outmaneuvered his opponents, but a swift victory was never in the cards.

Many spectators, after observing Zhao Wuheng's initial bout, were left shaking their heads, suspecting some undisclosed advantage that secured his position as a seeded player. But as the rounds progressed, skeptics dwindled.

By the end of the fourth round, doubt had evaporated. The reason was clear: Zhao Wuheng's latest adversary was a formidable force to be reckoned with—a genius in his own right, just shy of the prowess displayed by Lee Zi and Fairmoor's Fourth Young Master.

Yet, even against such a daunting opponent, Zhao Wuheng's approach remained unchanged—effortlessly composed, betraying no weakness. But this absence of struggle was, paradoxically, the greatest cause for concern. To remain only slightly superior from start to finish was too consistent to be credible. It was widely acknowledged that Zhao Wuheng's capabilities were fearsome, far surpassing those he had previously faced.

Zhao Wuheng was a top-tier warrior with a deeply concealed edge. His rival, Chu Yi, had already laid bare his formidable abilities. Thus, their impending clash was the most anticipated event of the top sixteen—a true spectacle that captivated countless onlookers. Yet amidst the fervor, both competitors maintained an enigmatic calm that was beyond words.

Judging solely by their demeanor, no one would suspect that Chu Yi and Zhao Wuheng were on the verge of battle.

"Chu Yi..."

"Zhao Wuheng..."

In a departure from his usual approach, Chu Yi unexpectedly took the initiative to introduce himself.

Zhao Wuheng, caught off guard by the cordial greeting, was momentarily flustered but managed to quickly reciprocate with his own name.

The next moment, an imposing figure at the Half Step to War God level emerged between them, ready to officiate the match.

The pressure was immense for this Half Step to War God. He was acutely aware that both Chu Yi and Zhao Wuheng were formidable adversaries, the kind of exceptional talents that were hard to fathom.

Should these titans unleash their fury, even his considerable abilities would be put to the test. While suppressing them might be straightforward, ensuring the fight didn't result in irreversible harm was an entirely different challenge.

He understood that if either combatant exerted their full power, he would have to muster the strength akin to that of the most elite Diamond Level Great Generals.

The Half Step to War God inhaled deeply, steadying himself before declaring with measured gravity, "The battle begins!"

As his words resonated, the crowd's excitement reached a fever pitch, indescribable in its intensity.

Yet, contrary to expectations, neither Chu Yi nor Zhao Wuheng launched an immediate assault.

Zhao Wuheng's restraint was somewhat understandable, but Chu Yi's was puzzling to the onlookers. In the previous four rounds, Chu Yi had been swift to act, overpowering his opponents the instant the battle commenced.

But now...

"Unleash your greatest strength," Chu Yi urged.

"Show me the full extent of your power..."

His gaze fixed on Zhao Wuheng, Chu Yi's eyes remained serene. He recognized his opponent as one of Earth's most extraordinary talents, albeit not quite on par with Reinhard, whom he had encountered earlier.

Yet, aside from a select few, Zhao Wuheng stood out as a truly fearsome force. Chu Yi was genuinely prepared to offer him the opportunity to shine at his brightest.

Zhao Wuheng, still silent, exhaled softly.

Although he was reluctant to acknowledge it, Zhao Wuheng was acutely aware that without a chance from Chu Yi, he wouldn't even have the opportunity to tap into his foundational power.

Chu Yi was in a league of his own—far surpassing his contemporaries in strength.

In the past, Zhao Wuheng, like other prodigious talents, had doubted Chu Yi, dismissing him as a hyped-up wonder. He believed that once Chu Yi faced them, his true nature would quickly come to light.

But the reality was quite different...

Chu Yi methodically conquered them, step by step, demonstrating what it meant to be a truly invincible prodigy.

Now, it was Zhao Wuheng's turn to face him.

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Wuheng nodded in acceptance.

Truth be told, Zhao Wuheng had initially been reluctant to reveal his full capabilities.

This so-called foundation was merely a special substance, sealed within his body by the techniques of some of the most powerful experts.

Should the need arise, he could unleash it at any moment, instantly boosting his cultivation level and strength.

To most, this seemed like an incredible advantage, a stroke of great fortune.

However, for the elite among the prodigies, this was not necessarily a blessing.

They preferred to enhance their abilities gradually. A sudden surge in power could destabilize their foundation, potentially hampering their progress.

If they advanced steadily, their pace of improvement might be slower than an instantaneous breakthrough, but once they leveled up, they could then proceed to the next stage.

If they chose the rapid enhancement route, they would need to spend an inordinate amount of time solidifying their foundation and refining their skills.

This would end up costing more time than if they had simply worked on improving gradually.

It simply wasn't worth it—not at all.

Zhao Wuheng had previously suspected that he might not be a match for Chu Yi, which is why he wanted to test the waters in battle first, then play it by ear depending on how the fight unfolded.

Exactly, it was all about assessing the situation.

If unleashing his foundation could overpower Chu Yi, Zhao Wuheng wouldn't hesitate to do so. But if the gap was insurmountable, and even with all his power unleashed he still couldn't match Chu Yi, then there would be no point in trying.

Zhao Wuheng hadn't anticipated that Chu Yi would offer him an opportunity right from the start, nor that he would utter such provocative words. With no retreat left, Zhao Wuheng was compelled to act.

In an explosive moment, his aura surged, shattering the void. In an instant, much like Young Master Lee before him, Zhao Wuheng broke free from all constraints and ascended to a new echelon. Young Master Lee had previously risen to the status of High Order Gold, but Zhao Wuheng proved to be even more formidable. Surpassing the High Order Gold, he didn't pause, advancing straight to the pinnacle of Gold status.

The emergence of such a powerful aura left countless onlookers astounded. They had not expected Zhao Wuheng to conceal such depth. Bolstered by his profound foundation, he had managed to achieve the peak of Gold, far surpassing the ordinary seeded players.

With a cryptic glint in his eyes, Zhao Wuheng turned to Chu Yi. "Now, it's your turn..."

A smirk graced Chu Yi's lips. "You've made your request, so let it be as you desire..."

In that moment, the true extent of Chu Yi's power was revealed to all. He was a High Order Gold, an existence that required no foundational support, a pure High Order Gold presence. While the other seeded players remained at the Intermediate Gold level, Chu Yi had already attained the High Order Gold.

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