C99 Is It Worth It?

Chu Yi's formidable presence finally emerged at this moment.

The Chu Yi of the past was fond of plotting. He always enjoyed calculating the pros and cons, weighing whether his actions were worthwhile.

But this time, Chu Yi let go.

As he gazed upon the ancient carvings that glimmered faintly around him, Chu Yi sensed that his transformation was linked to this place.

It wasn't that the place possessed some power that had directly altered him; rather, it was the sense of ancient desolation and the spirit of indomitable sorrow that had influenced him.

This transformation had occurred subtly and gradually.

The ancient temple finally rose from the ground.

Had Chu Yi capitalized on the temple's downfall to continue his onslaught, it likely would never have risen again.

And Chu Yi would have easily claimed his first victory.

Yet Chu Yi refrained from doing so. After all, such a victory did not count as a true victory in his eyes.

It's often said that the outcome is all that matters, not the process. But should one still adhere to morality in the face of life and death, even if it leads to their own demise?

That argument isn't without merit, but it doesn't apply to the current circumstances.

Now, this is the arena, the stage for the selection of geniuses!

Now, this is a battle for fairness and justice!

In such a contest, what's required is not just any victory, but one that is honorable and overwhelmingly strong.

Chu Yi's nature is such, and in this environment, he's even less likely to change.

So, Chu Yi waited, giving the ancient temple the opportunity to stand and face him once more.

Watching quietly, the ancient temple smiled in the next moment.

"You are very strong."

"Extremely strong!"

"Stronger than any opponent I've faced before!"

The ancient temple had already fought several rounds in the selection battle.

In the past, it had encountered many exceptionally talented individuals, and had even faced numerous defeats. Yet, the ancient temple considered Chu Yi to be the most formidable opponent it had ever encountered.

Not solely because of Chu Yi's strength—though his power was indeed among the elite of those he had faced.

What was even more significant was Chu Yi's willpower.

Terrifying, truly terrifying!

The ancient temple prided itself on its strong will, confident that even the loss of a limb wouldn't cause it to flinch.

The dazzling strike previously unleashed was incomparable to mere broken limbs. The terrifying force it harbored was capable of destroying not just the physical body but the spirit as well.

The devastation it wrought was far more intense than the agony of physical injuries.

This technique was a signature move of the ancient temple, and they had anticipated that even a slight brush with it would impair Chu Yi's combat abilities.

Yet, who could have imagined that Chu Yi would confront such a mighty blow head-on, absorbing the entirety of its damage?

Even amidst excruciating pain, he managed to muster another powerful strike!

The truly fearsome aspect wasn't just his monstrous talent or formidable combat strength.

Their journey had been too smooth. At the first sign of adversity, they were prone to falter. Moreover, sheer strength didn't always guarantee victory in battle.

Among the elite, strength often served merely as a preliminary gauge before the clash.

The most daunting adversaries were those with a terrifying will. In battle, they could exceed their own limits, leaving you uncertain of their true potential.

Often, you'd expect them to fall at a single blow, only to discover, as your own strength waned, that they were still standing, still fighting.

The ancient temple had once faced such an opponent, marking the most unforgettable battle of his life.

And now...

He faced another, even more formidable than before.

Though he had only exchanged blows with Chu Yi once, the ancient temple knew he was no match for him.

Nevertheless...

As a pinnacle genius of his own civilization, the ancient temple held onto his pride.

He could accept defeat, but he would never shy away from battle.

"Come on, show me the power of a top-tier genius!"

In a flash, the ancient temple's body seemed to ignite, the myriad red lights emerging once again.

This time, however, the red lights didn't transform into an offensive force against Chu Yi. Instead, they were absorbed into the ancient temple's body.

As the red lights merged with him, his face contorted with pain that he couldn't hide.

Suddenly, a profound aura emanated from the ancient temple's form.

Chu Yi's eyebrows quivered slightly. "A War Body?"

No, it wasn't a War Body.

In a flash, Chu Yi was sure of it; this was not a War Body.

Yet, it couldn't be entirely dismissed as such either.

The instant the ancient temple integrated the red light into its body, it possessed the might of a War Body.

To be precise, it was more akin to a pseudo-War Body.

It was an artificial enhancement, using external forces to endow oneself with the capabilities of a War Body.

Such tactics were not uncommon in the Immortal Demon World, but aside from moments of desperation, they were seldom employed.

After all, forcibly transforming one's body in an instant was tantamount to challenging the boundaries of the Origin Law, inevitably leading to severe repercussions.

The consequences were not just pain but also damage to one's very essence.

Chu Yi had not anticipated that the ancient temple would resort to such self-destructive measures for a single battle.

As the red light flooded into his body and the ancient temple's aura peaked, it erupted in power!

"Argh!"

The scream was one of agony and madness combined!

The ancient temple, already towering over two meters tall, stretched even taller, resembling a monstrous being.

With a mere leap, he covered hundreds of meters, arriving before Chu Yi in the blink of an eye.

His eyes blazed crimson, and his body was marred by intersecting bloodstains, making the ancient temple appear incredibly fierce and fearsome.

Yet, even more horrifying was the ancient temple's might!

The War Body represented the pinnacle of physical strength in the universe.

Even the feeblest War Body was profoundly formidable.

Now, the ancient temple was not only larger but also significantly more powerful.

A single punch was unleashed, causing both air and sound to explode, hurtling towards Chu Yi.

The ancient temple could not sustain this state for long, so this punch was both its first and last!

If it were merely a punch, Chu Yi wouldn't be so concerned. But at that moment, he acutely felt an immense pressure from the countless forces converging in the space around him.

This was...

The power near the realm of the rules!

Chu Yi knew that only when genetic power reached Perfection could one tap into the power of the rules.

And now, Chu Yi sensed the vibrations of the Rule Force emanating from the ancient temple, a revelation that far exceeded his expectations.

This couldn't be classified as the pure force of rules, yet even a hint of it was immensely fearsome.

Chu Yi had no time to ponder before the force bore down on him in an instant!

Boom!

The arena was a circular structure spanning over three kilometers in diameter.

But when the Ancient Temple's strike hit, it left a crater a full kilometer across!

One kilometer in diameter...

The sheer size of it was staggering.

Chu Yi stood on the brink of the vast pit, his eyes wide with trepidation.

It was horrifying, truly horrifying!

The Ancient Temple's mighty blow had inflicted such dreadful damage, something Chu Yi hadn't anticipated.

Certainly, Chu Yi could have withstood the attack directly, but it would have necessitated revealing much of his power.

If his adversary were a super powerful genius on his level, Chu Yi wouldn't hesitate to unveil his capabilities. But the Ancient Temple, while formidable, wasn't a threat significant enough to warrant such exposure. If he were to reveal himself now...

Perhaps it was a subconscious decision, but Chu Yi opted to remain concealed.

In the final moment, he evaded the massive surge of energy.

It was a narrow escape, but bolstered by his enhanced speed, Chu Yi's burst of velocity was astonishing.

Running his fingers over the bloodstains on his body, Chu Yi's gaze was one of solemn reverence.

This was the caliber of a top-tier genius!

And yet, this wasn't even among the ranks of the Invincible Geniuses, nor those supreme geniuses from the pinnacle of civilizations.

This was, after all, merely the preliminary round!

Despite this, Chu Yi had sustained serious injuries.

Had it been anyone else in his place, the outcome might have been quite different...

Exhaling deeply, Chu Yi watched the Ancient Temple emerge from the endless ashes, a trace of respect in his eyes.

Had he unleashed his full strength, he wouldn't have suffered any injuries, but that alone proved nothing.

His opponent was formidable, and his unwavering martial spirit caused even Chu Yi's soul to quake.

The Ancient Temple was not him; he had not endured the five thousand years of torment in the Immortal Demon Temple.

This was merely an exceptional genius, yet the fact that he could withstand such agony and still deliver such a potent strike was enough to shake Chu Yi to the core.

"You're incredibly strong. I hope we'll have another chance to spar in the future."

The ancient temple staggered as he walked, clearly spent. The blow he had delivered used up all his strength, leaving him powerless afterward.

"Is it really worth it?"

Chu Yi's gaze held a mix of emotions as he looked at his opponent. He couldn't fathom why the ancient temple would risk everything for just a preliminary battle.

"What do you mean, 'worth it'?"

The ancient temple paused, obviously confused.

Chu Yi fell silent for a moment, then gestured towards the ancient temple, "This must be some kind of ultimate secret technique, right? Forcibly condensing immense power within oneself to create a False Battle Body. You gain tremendous strength temporarily, but you're aware of the consequences."

"To wager your future on a single preliminary match, do you truly believe it's worth it?"

Is it worth it?

Really, is it worth it?