C30 Chen Yi Stepped onto the Stage.
Forty-one waves!
As Chen Yi predicted, Hu Zhen was no ordinary contender. He withstood the onslaught up to the forty-first wave, finally succumbing to a simultaneous strike from five arrows.
His performance left Bei Yu, watching from below, with his mouth agape, as if he could swallow a duck egg whole. Being overtaken by Lau Rou was one thing—she was, after all, among the elite geniuses of Willow State. As much as Bei Yu hated to admit it, Lau Rou was indeed a notch above him. But being surpassed by Hu Zhen? That was a bitter pill to swallow.
Hu Zhen was merely a youth with a Yellow Rank Level Nine talent. How on earth did he achieve such a remarkable feat? It wasn't just Bei Yu; many in the arena were astounded by Hu Zhen's performance!
Forty-one waves. It might not match Lau Rou's forty-six, but Hu Zhen was now the second participant to break past the forty-wave mark. And what's more, he hailed from Willow State East!
Bei Yu at thirty-one waves, Hu Zhen at forty-one waves... Good heavens!
Was this really the same Willow State East, historically the weakest region they all knew? Those who had previously looked down upon it were now filled with doubt. Such prowess could hardly be described as 'weak'!
The audience was not alone in their astonishment; even the prominent figures of Willow State seated on the high platform were taken aback. They had always regarded Willow State East as the least formidable region. Yet, what they were witnessing now defied all expectations.
"It has to be this young man!"
Master Qian Yuan, however, was looking at Chen Yi with unwavering conviction. In his view, the transformation in Willow State East could be attributed solely to Chen Yi's influence.
In this world, there's a phenomenon known as the Genius Effect—where the emergence of one genius can inspire the rise of many others. It may sound mystical, but it's a pattern that often emerges.
And Chen Yi? Was he a genius? Undoubtedly!
A sixteen-year-old Pharmacist capable of crafting Top Quality Rank Three Medicine Pills. If that's not the hallmark of a genius, then what is?
Certainly, Master Qian Yuan's perspective might have been quite different had he known that Chen Yi was an old monster reborn. As it stood, Chen Yi's presence was simply seen as a manifestation of pure genius in his eyes.
While Master Qian Yuan was unaware of the extent of Chen Yi's talents as a cultivator, he had a hunch they were nothing short of remarkable.
News of a youth with Earth Grade Talent emerging in the eastern part of Willow State had long been circulating among the region's elite. However, Master Qian Yuan, having been in a period of convalescence, was not privy to these whispers.
Yet, he had his suspicions.
The mere fact that Chen Yi possessed a soul force formidable enough to instill fear in him was quite telling.
"How on earth did the modest Chen family produce such an extraordinary individual?"
What baffled Master Qian Yuan the most was how the Chen family had nurtured Chen Yi. He had even ordered an investigation into the matter before his retreat. But Chen Yi's tendency to keep a low profile, especially before his victory over Wang Yun, meant that there was precious little to uncover.
"Could the Chen family's ancestors have left behind some kind of legacy or treasure?"
The thought crossed Master Qian Yuan's mind.
"I need to have this looked into thoroughly!"
As he gazed down at Chen Yi, his eyes narrowed with determination.
Should there exist a treasure capable of significantly enhancing a Pharmacist's abilities, he was resolved to acquire it at all costs.
Unbeknownst to Chen Yi, his interactions with Master Qian Yuan were setting the stage for a shift in the world's future trajectory.
...
The central and eastern regions of Willow State were not the only areas where young talent was emerging. The youths from the other three divisions were proving themselves to be formidable, with new geniuses coming to the fore.
More youths who had withstood over thirty waves soon joined the ranks.
Even though most were halted at the thirty-first wave, Bei Yu found it difficult to come to terms with it.
He wasn't entirely pleased with reaching the thirty-first wave, despite having given it his all. He believed his performance was nearly unparalleled.
Yet, almost instantly, Lau Rou and Hu Zhen had emerged, and he could grudgingly accept that. But now, with several more making their mark, how could he possibly come to terms with it?
His utmost efforts had yielded such fragile results?
Bei Yu, a prodigy painstakingly cultivated by the Bei family, always held himself in high regard. The current spectacle left him feeling somewhat off-kilter.
"Lau Chen!"
At that moment, Mentor Yun Feng, stationed on the elevated platform, called out a name.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, the venue erupted as if struck by an earthquake, with a thunderous roar of cheers bursting forth.
Lau Chen.
The elder brother of the Lau siblings, heralded as Willow State's premier young prodigy!
A youth whose destiny was anything but ordinary.
Even the Willow State dignitaries on the platform watched him with keen interest.
White hair, a black trench coat, a statuesque height of around 1.8 meters... but what truly captivated everyone was his strikingly handsome face!
It was undeniable; the Lau family's genes were enviable.
The men, exceptionally handsome; the women, naturally stunning...
It's no surprise the Lau siblings enjoyed such staggering popularity. With looks like theirs, they easily garnered a legion of followers!
But they were more than just a pretty face.
If Lau Rou's earlier display in the ring was akin to a butterfly's graceful dance, then Lau Chen was the embodiment of a swift, agile leopard, demonstrating how to weave and dodge through a barrage of arrows with unmatched speed.
His movements left afterimages, so rapid they were imperceptible to the naked eye!
The scene had long since whipped the crowd into a frenzy, their cheers piercing the heavens!
Not just the audience, but the other young competitors were visibly astounded.
How could anyone possess such fearsome speed?
Even Chen Yi's expression shifted for the first time.
Spirit Essence Stage.
With a single glance, he recognized Lau Chen's level of cultivation. As Lau Chen moved at that incredible speed, a faint green vortex swirled beneath his feet.
Essence Qi.
Chen Yi, who had just managed to condense his Qi two days prior, was intimately familiar with this energy.
Lau Chen had actually harnessed Essence Qi... It was no wonder he was lauded as Willow State's top genius!
Chen Yi was impressed, and even Mentor Yun Feng, usually so stoic, squinted his eyes in a rare display of intrigue.
He clearly recognized Liu Chen's Essence Qi.
Seventy-one waves!
That was Liu Chen's final tally.
As he watched Liu Chen evade seven arrows, only to be struck in the calf by the eighth, the entire arena erupted as if shaken by an earthquake, with a thunderous roar of voices!
Seventy-one waves!
Seventy-one waves!
"Liu Chen!"
"Liu Chen!"
"Liu Chen!"
...
Liu Chen's supporters were already chanting his name in a frenzy.
Incredibly strong!
He made the other youths' attempts look feeble by comparison.
Even Lau Rou couldn't quite measure up to him.
Indeed, the kings of the Central Domain were in a league of their own!
The thirty-one and forty-one waves of Willow State East paled in comparison to Liu Chen—they were mere dust!
"Ha, I told you, the Lau siblings hadn't even stepped up yet. Once they do, everyone else is just playing for second place!"
"Exactly. The Lau siblings are in a class by themselves!"
"How do those guys from Willow State East even stack up?"
"They don't. They're nothing but trash. A little better than the worst, but still trash!"
...
Liu Chen's impressive display set off a tidal wave of chatter throughout the stands. Willow State East once again became the butt of their jokes.
These taunts darkened the faces of Bei Yu and the other youths, leaving them without a comeback.
Against Liu Chen's seventy-one waves, their own scores seemed insignificant...
"Chen Yi."
Just then, Mentor Yun Feng on the high platform called out the next name.
"Is it finally my turn?"
Chen Yi's eyebrows lifted as he made his way to the stage.
"People from Willow State East, save yourself the embarrassment and just get off the stage!"
"Exactly, don't even bother wasting our time!"
...
Voices from the surrounding stands reached Chen Yi even before he could step onto the stage.
Below, Mentor Yanshan looked on, his expression tinged with concern.
Chen Yi, blessed with Earth Grade Talent, was his most promising student. If the crowd's jeers got to him, it could spell trouble.
But his concern was clearly unfounded. Chen Yi's demeanor remained calm, unaffected by the noise around him.
"This Arrow Array is quite impressive."
As Chen Yi stepped into the arena and made contact with the energy barrier, a subtle shift occurred in his expression. The entire energy barrier's data suddenly flooded his mind.
In his past life, alongside his primary pursuit of alchemy, he had explored the realm of array formations. This was primarily because high-level Medicine Pills required the support of an array during their refinement. He had dedicated time to study this field. While his expertise wasn't profound, his understanding was certainly elevated.
He immediately saw through the Arrow Array upon contact.
Although the Arrow Array was fairly standard, its structure clearly allowed for significant enhancements. Since the arrows within were formed entirely from energy, the array's creator could manipulate the energy to generate arrows at will. The quantity and potency of these arrows depended solely on the energy the creator harnessed.
Should one release the energy equivalent to tens of thousands of arrows all at once, ensnaring the enemy, the resultant devastation would be truly formidable!
"It's worth learning."
Chen Yi committed the Arrow Array's intricate patterns to memory and entered with a smile.
Whoosh!
No sooner had he entered than a whistling sound grazed his ear.
With a swift sidestep to the left, he evaded the incoming arrow. And as he sidestepped the first, the second arrow was already on its heels.
The rapid succession and cunning angles of the first two arrows had been the downfall of many young competitors here.
But with a simple duck, Chen Yi let the Arrow Array skim over him.
Swoosh!
The third arrow came a bit slower, allowing Chen Yi to dodge with even greater ease.
He breezed through the first ten waves without breaking a sweat.
At the eleventh wave, two arrows launched simultaneously from different directions.
Without so much as a glance, Chen Yi stepped forward, and the arrows harmlessly crossed paths behind him.
His anticipatory maneuvering dazzled onlookers with keen eyesight.
To predict and evade the arrows' trajectory before they even fully emerged from the barrier was no small feat.
Was it mere luck that Chen Yi guessed their path?
Clearly, that wasn't the case.
Wave after wave of arrows were released, and Chen Yi managed to dodge each one with uncanny foresight.
This impressed the keen-eyed onlookers, who were certain of his ability to anticipate the arrows' trajectory, leaving them astonished.
The general audience, however, failed to grasp the depth of his skill. They watched as Chen Yi preemptively evaded the arrows, assuming he was just dodging blindly. Yet, he miraculously avoided each successive volley.
Their disbelief led to a chorus of hisses, filling the arena with a cacophony of disapproval.
Amidst the hissing, the arrow array on the platform reached its twenty-first salvo, and three arrows burst forth from the energy of the barrier.
