C98 First Battle!!

Chu Yi had ascended to the rank of Silver Level Great Warrior, and with this advancement, his Stellar Combat Body underwent a transformation. This evolution greatly enhanced the radiance of Chu Yi's primordial spirit.

This formidable power must be one of the revitalized abilities of the primordial spirit.

"Right now, I may be somewhat weak, but with steadfast dedication, I believe that once I reach the Gold level or ascend to War God, this formidable power will rival the enhancements provided by those celestial War God bodies."

The War God bodies were already defying the natural order, and Chu Yi's own formidable power was on par with these extraordinary beings. Such a revelation would surely astound anyone who heard it.

"Contestant Chu Yi has defeated a One-star trial adversary. Rank: One-star."

"Contestant Chu Yi has vanquished a One-star trial adversary within five minutes. Rank increased by one star."

"Contestant Chu Yi has dispatched a One-star trial adversary within two minutes. Rank increased by one star."

"Contestant Chu Yi has eliminated a One-star trial adversary within one minute. Rank increased by one star."

"Contestant Chu Yi's final rank is Four-star."

"A Four-star evaluation has activated the exemption clause for the assessment reward."

"Contestant Chu Yi has cleared the assessment."

"Contestant Chu Yi, you are now entering the Human Tribe Elite Selection Preliminaries. Will you engage in combat..."

Before Chu Yi could fully grasp the situation, a series of announcements echoed from the void.

Initially puzzled, Chu Yi quickly pieced things together. He surmised that the assessment was tiered; a standard ten-minute defeat of an opponent would merit a One-star rating.

But a swift victory would earn bonus points.

Chu Yi estimated that his rapid defeat of the opponent had catapulted him from a mere One-star rating straight to Four-star.

A Four-star rating seemed to grant him exemption from further assessments.

Gazing into the void, Chu Yi didn't hesitate and called out decisively, "Yes!"

"Contestant Chu Yi, your match is being arranged. Please stand by..."

With nothing else to do, he waited calmly for the matchmaking to conclude.

Chu Yi was genuinely intrigued by the so-called assessments and selections. Now, he was beginning to grasp the implications of Chu Yun's previous remarks.

Still, the exact regulations of this selection battle remained a mystery to him.

Just then, the voice in the void spoke once more.

"Match confirmed. The battle countdown begins: ten, nine, eight..."

Chu Yi quickly adjusted his stance, readying himself.

Though the identity of his opponent was unknown, Chu Yi surmised they wouldn't be weak.

Only those strong enough to pass the preliminary trials could make it to these audition battles.

As the countdown hit zero, Chu Yi noticed a dramatic shift in his surroundings.

In an instant, he sensed the space around him morphing.

Before he knew it, the once barren and murky space transformed. Countless stands materialized around him, and the void beneath Chu Yi's feet solidified into firm ground.

Surveying his new environment, a curious glint flickered in Chu Yi's eyes.

An arena!

Indeed, if he wasn't mistaken, this was an arena.

Yet, the unfamiliar decorations around him exuded an ancient and timeless aura.

Cheers erupted from every direction. Even though Chu Yi couldn't see any spectators in the stands, their enthusiastic roars were unmistakable.

Suddenly, a towering figure emerged.

Chu Yi recognized that this must be his adversary.

A human!

Given that this was the Human Race Genius Selection Battle, it made sense for his opponent to be human.

But this human differed from what Chu Yi had anticipated.

Standing over two meters tall, his upper body bare, his skin was etched with a myriad of intersecting scars.

These weren't merely decorative lines; they were the marks of past wounds.

Witnessing this, Chu Yi inhaled sharply.

Despite having lived through the Immortal Demon Era and existing for over five thousand years, Chu Yi's actual combat experience was limited.

In truth, it was only in the past month or so since his return to this world that Chu Yi had faced numerous battles.

For the most part, Chu Yi had been sheltered, like a delicate flower in a greenhouse, untouched by the trials of adversity.

But now...

Seeing the web of scars adorning his opponent's face and body, Chu Yi realized the extent of battles this man had endured!

Many scars extended from his face down to his waist, marks that would have spelled the end for any ordinary person.

Chu Yi was certain; this individual had survived countless battles to the brink of death, amassing a wealth of combat experience.

A grave expression crossed his eyes.

Chu Yi's adversary, the Human Sovereign, mirrored the sentiment.

Chu Yi was unaware of the exact nature of the tool he wielded, but the Human Sovereign was well-versed in the Human Race's Elite Competition.

Though it was merely the preliminary round, those who had made it this far were without a doubt the invincible geniuses of their civilizations.

Whether or not these prodigies had battle experience, they were not to be taken lightly. One could never be certain of the terrifying abilities they might possess.

"Ancient Temple, I look forward to your guidance!"

The Human Sovereign spoke up.

Chu Yi blinked in surprise, then responded with a light smile, "Human, Chu Yi..."

His simple introduction, accompanied by a warm smile, exuded a gentle demeanor.

Yet, facing Chu Yi, the Ancient Temple grew even more cautious.

He was acutely aware that the seemingly harmless geniuses were often the most ruthless in combat.

"The battle begins!"

A figure emerged above the arena, but this time it wasn't the synthetic, emotionless voice from before. It was a real person orchestrating the fight.

As the command was given, the Ancient Temple launched his attack.

A punch tore through the air, aimed squarely at Chu Yi.

Despite the Ancient Temple's barbaric appearance, his punch was infused with a purifying essence that felt almost like an artistic explosion.

This simple punch created the illusion of artistry, which was quite astonishing.

Yet, this artistic punch was far from just a visual spectacle; Chu Yi could sense the formidable aura it carried.

To say the least, if this punch landed, even a mid-level Gold would be shattered!

Hiss —

Was this the caliber of a human race genius?

To think that a mere preliminary round opponent possessed the skill to challenge those of a higher rank was somewhat frightening...

As the punch neared, Chu Yi effortlessly sidestepped it.

Indeed, the opponent was on par with a mid-level Gold General, but he was no match for Chu Yi.

Chu Yi, once an Elementary Silver Level Great Warrior who had defeated Zhao Jun at the pinnacle of Gold, was now at the brink of the Silver Level's middle tier, making him even more formidable.

Within his perceptual range, Chu Yi was unbeatable. In this domain, it was nearly impossible to inflict harm on him unless one's strength, speed, and various other attributes completely surpassed Chu Yi's. An iron fist grazed by, causing a slight tremor in the space around them—an explosion of force. It seemed as though Chu Yi had narrowly escaped by sheer luck. Yet, those capable of reaching this place were no fools; they wouldn't entertain such thoughts. Moreover, the spectators of this fight were far from ordinary humans; even the most average among them were formidable beings whose strength was immeasurable to someone at Chu Yi's level.

The ancient temple showed a hint of surprise as the punch failed to connect, but there was no hint of panic. It knew it was up against a demon with a formidable fighting spirit, the kind everyone dreaded. These demons, relying on their battle will, could evade a lethal strike at the pivotal moment.

The ancient temple had been immersed in battle for twenty-three years, fighting ever since the age of ten. It had encountered countless foes, each a top-tier prodigy. While it was rare to encounter a prodigy with such a robust fighting spirit, the ancient temple had indeed faced them before!

So, when the punch missed its mark, and the ancient temple realized it was confronting a battle demon, it immediately altered its combat approach. As it pivoted, a radiant red light burst forth from its body, dazzling and intense as a blazing sun, causing the air itself to sear.

Chu Yi's expression shifted subtly as he sensed the fearsome power within the red glow. If it touched him, the consequences would be as dire as a direct hit from the ancient temple's fist. The attack was an area-of-effect onslaught, utterly unavoidable. Even if his primordial spirit were at its zenith, evading such an attack that saturated the space was impossible.

With no room to dodge, resistance was the only option. In that moment, Chu Yi gritted his teeth and launched a punch of his own. The red light swiftly engulfed him, and a formidable force wove around him, its overwhelming power causing his body to shake uncontrollably.

Streaks of blood appeared, only to be instantly vaporized by a surge of red light.

To endure such an environment would be excruciating, yet Chu Yi seemed impervious to the pain. His punch was relentless, showing no signs of hesitation or delay.

Boom!

The body of the ancient temple was overturned onto the ground with a single blow.

Clouds of dust billowed up.

A hush fell over the scene.

It wasn't shock that silenced the crowd, but sheer surprise.

For the myriad creatures in the stands, such a spectacle was too insignificant to note—if not for the reputation of a human prodigy, they wouldn't have spared it a glance.

But now...

Clearly, many were taken aback.

No one had anticipated Chu Yi's approach.

At the moment when his adversary was at his fiercest, he chose to meet force with force in a head-on collision!

Was it a smart move?

Far from it—it was downright foolish.

Yet, this was the type of combat they relished the most.

This was the essence of youthful combat!

No matter your strength, I am mightier!

I am determined to vanquish you at your moment of greatest power!