C51 Lee Zi Muttered to Herself

Chu Yi was frantically gathering his strength, and the lizard beast watched with a flash of disdain in its eyes. Unlike the Steelback Bear, which was all brawn and no brains, the lizard beast prided itself on its superior intellect, although it still couldn't match an adult human. Its intelligence far surpassed that of most Demonic Beasts, and its mockery was palpable.

The lizard beast knew that gathering strength at such a moment was tantamount to a death wish. It would certainly clamp down on its prey before the strength gathering was complete. The human's best bet would have been to flee or launch a desperate strike, which, while likely not altering the outcome, would at least inflict some damage. But he didn't. He foolishly chose to stand and fight, sealing his fate.

Indeed, the lizard beast's intelligence was commendable among Bronze Level Demonic Beasts, but it had overlooked a crucial fact: it was facing a human, a being of higher intellect. The human it saw as prey wouldn't have the chance to strike back before being grievously wounded or swallowed whole. But the lizard beast had forgotten about the presence of another person.

Yes, there was another human.

The lizard beast's gaping maw was inches from Chu Yi's face, its eyes gleaming with a human-like sly grin. But in an instant, the grin vanished. The lizard beast sensed a formidable power erupting to its side, a force that would be enough to deal a severe blow just as it was about to consume the human.

Despite its agility, the lizard beast's defenses were robust. The terrifying force might only be enough to wound it severely, but that was sufficient. In the swamp, it might have had some room to maneuver, but in the dense forest, a serious injury could spell doom.

The lizard beast was acutely aware that even if it managed to kill the two humans, a wounded creature like itself wouldn't survive long afterward. Yet, the thought of leaving was unbearable. It refused to let such an opportunity slip away. So, in this urgent moment, the lizard beast made a decision: it retracted its body, aiming to dodge the incoming strike and reassess its strategy.

However, the lizard beast's lack of intelligence was starkly evident at that moment. Indeed, had the lizard beast chosen to evade, it might have successfully dodged Lee Zi's powerful strike. But once again, it neglected to consider its prey—Chu Yi—who was readying an even more formidable blow.

By the time the lizard beast realized its predicament, it was too late; Chu Yi's attack was already upon it. Unleashing his full strength, Chu Yi delivered a blow that, even without the enhancement of his Yuan Spirit, was devastatingly powerful. With more than twenty tons of force behind it, the outcome was inevitable.

The Steelback Bear, a quintessential tank, had crumbled under such an assault, and the smaller, more agile lizard beast was no exception. It recognized the gravity of the situation, but its options had run out. Its earlier dodge had cost it any chance of evading in mid-air, leaving it with only one desperate course of action—to brace for the impact head-on.

Demonic Beasts are so named because, despite their intelligence, they often act on instinct. And in this moment of despair, the lizard beast tapped into its full power in a terrifying frenzy. It opened its massive jaws and lunged at Chu Yi, determined to take someone down with it.

The lizard beast had set its sights on Chu Yi, whom it perceived as a fool and an easy target. Yet, as Chu Yi faced the gaping maw, a hint of a smile crossed his lips. Perhaps the lizard beast clung to a faint hope that its last-ditch effort might force him back. Indeed, anyone else might have hesitated, considering the lethal poison in the beast's bite—a bite that could mean certain death, even with today's potent antidotes.

But Chu Yi was no ordinary man. As the fearsome jaws approached, his punch never wavered. In an instant, they collided...

Lee Zi, watching from a distance, felt her heart leap into her throat. She was ready to call for Teacher Zhao to retrieve the powerful antidote they had prepared. Facing a lizard beast's bite was a near-certain death sentence.

Yet, in that critical moment, when it seemed Chu Yi and the lizard beast might both meet their end, Chu Yi once again demonstrated his remarkable agility.

Chu Yi's body contorted in an extraordinary way, narrowly evading the gaping maw of the lizard beast!

It was a scene beyond belief!

Consider this: Chu Yi's bizarre maneuver not only sidestepped the fearsome strike but also left his powerful punch unscathed!

Bang!

The lizard beast, though not as massive as the Steelback Bear, still towered over four meters tall.

Yet, with a single punch from Chu Yi, its colossal frame was sent soaring into the air.

In that instant, Lee Zi witnessed the lizard beast's body contort, its scales shattering under Chu Yi's blow as blood sprayed in all directions, causing her face to pale dramatically.

"Chu Yi, get out of the way!"

The blood of the lizard beast was laced with lethal poison, making the creature a veritable embodiment of venom.

Chu Yi had heeded Lee Zi's earlier warning. Thus, after obliterating the lizard beast with his punch, he immediately spun around and sped away.

Still, black mottles appeared on Chu Yi's fist.

Having made contact with the lizard beast, some of its toxic blood had inevitably marked him.

Lee Zi, now frantic with concern, rushed to Chu Yi's side before he even touched the ground.

"Chu Yi, are you okay?" she asked, reaching for his discolored hand.

Knowing the poison could be contagious, Chu Yi would not risk Lee Zi's safety by allowing her to touch him.

"I'm fine," he reassured her with a gentle smile.

If it weren't for their current location and the presence of Teacher Zhao, Chu Yi wouldn't have given the poison a second thought. While he couldn't employ the more formidable immortal arts, the basic Heart-Cleansing Spell, capable of neutralizing myriad poisons, was well within his grasp.

Indeed, it was a basic technique, ineffective against the most potent toxins of the Immortal Demon World, but the venom of the lizard beast posed no challenge whatsoever.

In Chu Yi's eyes, the poisons of this world paled in comparison to those of the Immortal Demon World.

In the Immortal Demon World, the poisons that are potent enough to claim the title are terrifying substances capable of outright killing an immortal!

And these toxins...

Heh...

"Chu Yi!"

Lee Zi was genuinely worried.

On the other side, Chu Yi nonchalantly waved his hand.

"Relax, Miss Lee Zi!"

Hearing this, Lee Zi's cheeks blushed, but the urgency in her eyes remained unmistakable.

"We should head back first. Detoxification is the priority."

Lee Zi had mentioned before that the poison on the skin's surface was lethal to ordinary people, but for Bronze Level warriors, it wasn't a major concern. A suitable antidote could ensure safety within minutes.

Moreover, with the robust physique of a Bronze Level warrior, enduring it for a day or two wouldn't pose any problems.

However, it was clear that Lee Zi had forgotten her earlier remarks. She was preoccupied with Chu Yi's poisoning, her usually stoic demeanor completely shattered.

Unable to withstand Lee Zi's incessant worrying, they finally called upon Teacher Zhao.

Truth be told, there was no need to summon him; Teacher Zhao had been observing from nearby.

Standing before Chu Yi and Lee Zi, he watched them with a mix of helplessness and amusement.

More specifically, his attention was on Lee Zi, who had him both laughing and feeling exasperated.

As their protective teacher, he couldn't just stand by and watch Chu Yi and Lee Zi face mortal danger. But was that small amount of poison truly a threat to Chu Yi's life?

Teacher Zhao had already discerned that Chu Yi was a half-step Silver Level warrior. At most, the poison would only slightly impact Chu Yi's combat abilities.

They could wait until they returned to their base in the evening to administer the antidote. There was plenty of time, and it wouldn't interfere with the trial.

So, Teacher Zhao had remained out of sight.

But Lee Zi's constant chatter was proving too much for him to ignore.

Although he hadn't been Lee Zi's guardian teacher for long, Teacher Zhao felt he understood her well. Yet, he had never anticipated she would become such a relentless worrier.

Indeed, it's often the most unexpected things that can cause us to lose our composure...

There was no choice but to bring Chu Yi and Lee Zi back to the base.

Upon their arrival, Teacher Cang at the base was taken aback.

He knew that if any student encountered a problem, he would be held responsible, and the more students involved, the heavier his burden would be!

However, if something were to happen to Lee Zi, his worries would be over.

Because in that case, he would be done for!

Teacher Cang was aware that to the Federation's higher-ups, Lee Zi's significance was much greater than that of the other forty-nine students. Should anything happen to Lee Zi, Teacher Cang was acutely aware of the dire consequences that would follow.