C85 It Was Not the Same as Before!

What is the universe? It encompasses everything within itself.

In Lee Zi's understanding, as well as that of all civilizations, there was believed to be only one universe.

Yet, within this modest secret realm, Lee Zi appeared to glimpse the presence of another universe! The awe was beyond words.

Chu Yi fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.

He speculated that the fall of this universe might be connected to the scenes depicted in the murals he had observed.

Regrettably, the most crucial parts had vanished, and even the remaining murals did not reveal any truths.

Chu Yi was at a loss for any theories.

"Forget those things for now..."

Chu Yi earnestly advised Lee Zi, "Until we are sufficiently powerful, let's not dwell on these matters."

"They're not opportunities for us..."

An uncontrollable chance or an inscrutable one is not an opportunity but a harbinger of misfortune.

Clearly, despite her youth, Lee Zi had deeply grasped this concept.

"We should head back now..."

Considering the time spent training in the wilderness, they had been away for just under ten days. Yet, the events of these ten days had been profoundly startling.

"Yes, it's time we returned."

This expedition had been quite beneficial for Chu Yi, who had advanced from the peak of the Bronze level to nearly mid-tier in the Silver level.

In the Universe Secret Realm, Chu Yi absorbed only a small amount of spiritual energy, but his powerful Yuan Shen compensated for the shorter cultivation time compared to Lee Zi, allowing him to absorb even more spiritual energy.

Lee Zi, in truth, reaped the most rewards.

She had refined her Original Battle Body, one of the most formidable in the Immortal Demon World. Coupled with the Origin World that Chu Yi had crafted for her by breaking the rules, Lee Zi was poised at the pinnacle of potential.

Of course, whether she could ultimately reach the zenith of this realm would depend on her destiny and fortune.

Sensing their surroundings, Chu Yi led Lee Zi swiftly towards the horizon.

Despite the signal block being lifted, Chu Yi had no intention of sending a distress signal from this location.

Anyone who knew they were here would start to wonder.

Chu Yi preferred to avoid any unnecessary trouble until he was sufficiently strong.

Although Lee Zi was no longer the Silver Three-Elemental Warrior of the past, her new Battle Body was incredibly powerful, far more formidable than her former self.

As a result, Lee Zi's speed had barely decreased.

Accompanying Chu Yi, they trekked on foot for two days and nights until they were well beyond the ominous black coffin area. It was then that Chu Yi took out his terminal to send a distress signal...

...

Clearly, the government's response time was impressively quick.

Within mere minutes, a massive spaceship appeared at Lee Zi and Chu Yi's location.

The pair had deliberately made themselves look ragged after two days and nights.

After all, a neat and tidy appearance wouldn't exactly scream 'fleeing in distress.'

During those two days, Chu Yi and Lee Zi had exhausted themselves to the point of looking like they were on the run.

All of it was intentional; otherwise, it would be difficult to explain their condition later.

Two silhouettes descended from the sky; they were government officials.

Chu Yi noted that both possessed Silver Level strength.

Yet, these government Silvers were different from the independent Silvers they had encountered before. Government members had access to the best resources, and their gear was nearly armed to the teeth.

Though they appeared to be merely Silver Level, they could likely take on three to five of their peers without much trouble.

Upon seeing Chu Yi and Lee Zi's disheveled state, the officials didn't rush to assist them. Instead, they used their devices to scan the couple from a distance before swiftly approaching them.

"Identify yourselves."

One official supported Chu Yi as he asked.

"Officer, my name is Chu Yi, and this is my girlfriend, Lee Zi."

"We're both students from Seventeenth High School in Redmarsh. We came here for training but unfortunately ran into some trouble."

Chu Yi kept his explanation brief; the more he said, the more chances there were for mistakes.

They would need to explain further later on, but they would be dealing with different people by then.

Upon hearing Chu Yi's words, the soldier assisting him gave him a peculiar look.

"You're students from Seventeenth High School?"

Chu Yi nodded in acknowledgment.

The soldier's gaze shifted as he looked at them, now filled with a peculiar glint that was easy to discern. It was a look of odd fortune—as if to say they had incredibly good luck.

Indeed, if Chu Yi and Lee Zi were merely ordinary students, their escape could be considered nothing short of miraculous. Although Cangmu had intentionally allowed some students and teachers to leave to facilitate his plan, the unpredictability of natural disasters—especially in the wilderness—meant that nothing was certain.

Before long, Chu Yi and Lee Zi found themselves aboard the spaceship. The soldiers wasted no time in escorting them into the medical cabin.

"Now that you're here, you can relax. We'll ensure your safe arrival at Seventeenth High School," one of the soldiers assured them.

At these words, Chu Yi and Lee Zi seemed to visibly unwind, and it wasn't long before they drifted off to sleep. Chu Yi was merely feigning slumber, but Lee Zi was genuinely exhausted.

Chu Yi's senses were on high alert, extending throughout the spaceship, making it impossible for any conversation or action to escape his notice. The incident with Zhao Jun had taught him to trust no one. If the enemy could infiltrate even the inspection team, what was to stop them from penetrating other defenses? Caution was paramount.

"By the way, one of the two we rescued this time is named Lee Zi," one of the soldiers remarked.

"According to the list from Seventeenth High School, this Lee Zi is indeed that Lee Zi!" Chu Yi's ears perked up at this.

They were aware of Lee Zi's identity. He glanced at Lee Zi, who was sound asleep beside him, and a smile crept onto his lips. Her reputation had grown so significantly that she was recognized by many.

"It must be that Lee Zi. However, when I tested her earlier, she only exhibited Bronze Level power fluctuations," one soldier commented.

"And it was the kind of power you'd expect from someone who has just reached the Bronze Level. Something doesn't add up here..."

The other voice paused, then let out a deep sigh. "You're focused on her realm, but what I'm seeing is the absence of any genetic power fluctuations in her."

"How could that be?!" the first voice exclaimed in disbelief.

"It's true. I detected no genetic power emanating from her. Do you realize what that means?"

What did it mean?

Chu Yi's focus sharpened; he too was eager to find out what sort of reception awaited Lee Zi upon her return.

"Of course I'm aware."

"For this year's college entrance exam, some top-tier institutions like Adirang Academy will have their special admissions candidates participating. I've heard that Lee Zi is considered their ace in the hole."

"If the folks at Adirang Academy were to discover she's been incapacitated, then..."

He trailed off, shaking his head as if reluctant to continue.

"That's not our concern. Our job is to ensure she's safely returned."

"Right, and don't forget to notify Adirang Academy about the situation here later. It's part of our responsibilities, after all."

With that, the conversation ceased.

Though the exterior world seemed to have settled, Chu Yi's inner turmoil was anything but calm, churning with a myriad of thoughts.

From the exchange, it was clear to Chu Yi that Lee Zi, now stripped of her genetic power, was in a precarious position.

'Forget it. I'll deal with it as it comes.'

The spacecraft's velocity was impressive, reaching Redmarsh City in just a mere half-hour.

A gentle jolt signaled their arrival, and though Chu Yi's eyes remained closed, his heightened senses painted a vivid picture of his surroundings.

As the spaceship's door opened, Chu Yi's gaze first fell upon Principal Lee Guoqiang.

Lee Guoqiang's face was etched with worry and distress, a clear sign of the profound impact this loss had on him.

While other principals might fret over potential repercussions, Chu Yi understood Lee Guoqiang's character.

He recognized that Lee Guoqiang's grief and anger stemmed from the tragic loss of students and teachers.

Several figures flanked Lee Guoqiang, but they weren't Seventeenth High School's faculty. Among them was one in particular that caused Chu Yi to shudder slightly.

This figure was no stranger to Chu Yi; it was Zhen Ye, a sophomore from Adirang Academy.

Accompanying Zhen Ye were several Adirang Academy teachers, all wearing somber expressions.

Chu Yi was certain they had gotten the news.

Before long, a group had assembled outside Chu Yi and Lee Zi's medical pod.

"Wake them up!" demanded a teacher from Adirang Academy, his tone harsh.

Lee Guoqiang, standing nearby, intervened.

"They've exhausted all their energy. Waking them now would only hinder their recovery process!"

A flicker of annoyance crossed the Adirang Academy teacher's face.

Lee Guoqiang might be a principal, but he was just a high school principal after all.

In the grand scheme of Adirang Academy, with its three top-tier institutions, a mere principal hardly mattered.

"I said wake them up, and that's final. Enough with the pointless chatter!"

The Adirang Academy teacher was assertive, while Lee Guoqiang's face was etched with anger.

"Would you be doing this if it were the old Lee Zi?"

If Lee Zi were still the same person as before, there's no way they would be acting like this. Back then, Lee Zi was their prized gem, so precious that they would be afraid to let them slip through their fingers.

But now...

"Things have changed..."