There was no shortage of geniuses in this world, anywhere.
However, how many geniuses could grow up to be?
Rare as a phoenix feather or a qilin horn.
Chu Cheng's talent was incredible, but he had come this far. He had surpassed the Infernal Vanguard, his own uncle, the Gourmet, who had become a Paragon at the same age.
The price he had to pay in secret had to be enormous.
In the eyes of others he was the Prince of the Nightclub, but in reality it was a way for him to vent the loneliness and pain of his training.
Because of this, from a psychological point of view, he was healthier than the Gourmet had been. He had more potential.
When the Gourmet became a Paragon, he didn't hesitate to give up his Hades title. It wasn't because he wanted to avoid responsibility, but because he knew Chu Cheng would do a better job than he did. That was why he made the decision.
He gave up the Hades title for Chu Cheng.
From this, it could be seen how high Chu Cheng's talent was.
Facing the Pharmacist, he took one step at a time towards the arena. His steps grew more determined, and his aura grew stronger.
The Adepts in the rest area could vaguely see that Chu Cheng's body seemed to be constantly growing taller and stronger. By the time he reached the bottom of the ring, he was like a towering mountain.
Compared to him the Pharmacist was much calmer. She walked towards the arena as she had in her previous matches. She didn't look the least bit moved.
Today the Pharmacist was dressed in the traditional qipao of ancient China. She had worn it in all her previous matches, but the color and embroidery were different.
Today she was dressed in a moon-white gown.
It was embroidered with a plum blossom pattern. The qipao was a garment that tested a woman's figure to the limit. It completely covered the body, and if the figure wasn't perfect it would be completely exposed.
Although the Pharmacist had given birth to a child.
Her figure was as slender as ever, without the slightest flaw. Her black hair was pulled up in a high bun on top of her head, giving her a classical charm.
If you looked closely you could actually feel it.
There was something about her that was calm and tranquil. Anyone who looked at her would feel at peace.
The Pharmacist walked to the other side of the arena. She didn't make any movements. Instead, a faint golden cloud rose from beneath her feet.
Carrying her delicate body, they floated up the arena, without any trace of smoke or fire.
On the other side, Chu Cheng walked towards the arena step by step. He did not show off, but his aura was still rising.
On the VIP platform, the Terminator's lips curled into a faint smile. He turned to the Gourmet beside him. "Finally, an interesting match.
Jun'er, tell me.
What if your mother won?
Or will that red-haired uncle win? "
Jun'Er said without hesitation, "Mom!"
The Terminator smiled. "Is that what you feel, or are you just being biased?"
Jun'er shook her head and said, "You don't have to feel it.
That red-haired uncle had used a lot of strength before he went on stage.
He must be afraid of his mother, that's why he's acting like this.
He's already scared before the competition. Of course he can't beat mom. "
The Terminator was taken aback by her words. He exchanged a glance with the Gourmet. Both Paragons could see the shock in each other's eyes.
Yes!
This was a very simple truth.
But coming from the mouth of a child no more than six years of age.
It was as shocking as ever.
It was a testament to Jun'er's superhuman powers of observation.
Yes, even before the fight had begun.
Chu Cheng had shown weakness.
He'd begun to raise his aura even before the fight had begun, no doubt because he was worried he wouldn't have time to do so.
That in itself was a sign of weakness.
The Terminator heaved a long sigh. "If only this child had been born in the Northern Alliance.
Skyfire Avenue is truly blessed! "
The Gourmet smiled. "Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty."
"How long do you think it'll take for this fight to end?" The Terminator asked.
"Hard to say," the Gourmet answered.
Although Chu Cheng was showing weakness, his will wasn't affected. In fact, it felt like the pressure was rebounding him.
He's not as strong as the Pharmacist, but he's got a lot of potential.
How long he'll last will depend on how much of his potential is drawn out. "
The Terminator chuckled. "Watching this fight, I'm sure you're feeling even more conflicted than I am."
On one side was the leader of Skyfire Avenue, and on the other was the Gourmet's nephew. That was why the Terminator had said it.
The Gourmet chuckled. "No, I'm actually very happy to see this fight.
A fight between two strong Adepts helps them understand their own abilities better. It helps them understand the changes in the world.
For Chu Cheng, this was a fight that would benefit him greatly.
If they'd met in the round-robin, it wouldn't have been as beneficial.
The knockout round would be a fight with his back to the wall. That would motivate Chu Cheng even more. He'd have to cut off all means of retreat to face the Pharmacist.
I don't think it'll be easy for the Pharmacist to beat him. "
The Terminator chuckled. "Very well, let's wait and see."
Forty-eight Adepts, four arenas. There would be six batches of fighters for the final elimination round.
Of the four matches in the first round, the most noteworthy was the one between the Pharmacist and Chu Cheng.
Skyfire Avenue's competitor was the Beautician.
The Beautician's opponent was the Dark Sorcerer.
The Beautician was adept at illusions, while her opponent was adept at dark curses. This was going to be a battle of the strongest, and it was hard to say which of the two would have the upper hand.
"Three. Two. One. Begin."
The cold electronic voice announced the start of the fight.
In an instant, the hundred thousand spectators in the stands were completely silent.
Everyone was holding their breath.
The official tallies were out. More than ninety-five percent of the audience had chosen to watch the fight between the Pharmacist and Chu Cheng. It was clear how much they wanted to watch the fight.
Unfortunately, there was no commentary for the fight.
If you wanted to listen, you'd have to wait until the fight was over and watch the analysis.
Without a doubt, no matter how the rest of the day went, this fight would be one of the most watched. It might even be number one.
The Pharmacist's eyes were as calm as still water. She stood in the arena, watching Chu Cheng.
There was no change in her expression.
Chu Cheng was different from the last few fights. His eyes were resolute and determined, as if he'd been reborn. He'd lost all of the playfulness he'd had before. He didn't look like the little prince of the nightclub.
In the audience, Vampire Princess Lina sat in the front row. Although she wasn't on the podium, she was still very close to it.
She was watching the fight as well.
"This guy …" she muttered to herself. "If he wins, I'll give him another chance.
He looks a little different today. "
Yes, Chu Cheng was different!
Chu Cheng's eyes turned grey as soon as the bell rang out. There was no Hades' Flame around him. Instead, his entire body was a deathly grey. A meter wide beam of grey shot out from beneath his feet, heading straight for the Pharmacist.
The Pharmacist's calm eyes flickered, but she didn't move. She didn't move, just as she had in the previous fights.
She didn't move, but Chu Cheng did. His body shot forward like an arrow, and he joined the gray light on the ground as he raced toward the Pharmacist.
The Pharmacist waved her right hand, and a beam of golden light flashed.
Gold and grey shone brightly in the arena.
Dang! Amidst the crisp sound, Chu Cheng's entire body shook, and his forward momentum came to an abrupt halt.
The beam of golden light bounced back.
Chu Cheng's body stopped for a moment, then sped up again, charging forward at an even faster speed than before. His aura was still as unwavering as ever.
Behind him, a grey blur trailed behind him.
The beam of golden light rebounded once more, heading straight for Chu Cheng.
"Dang!" Another loud sound rang out. Chu Cheng paused again, and the golden light bounced back.
For the first time, a look of surprise crossed the Pharmacist's pretty face. She lifted her right hand, and her fingers began to move in a rhythmic motion. The golden sword in the air flared with light, and in the blink of an eye it became a million blades of light that shot toward Chu Cheng.
However, Chu Cheng came to a sudden stop.
In doing so, he'd evaded the golden net's most powerful attack.
His aura, however, didn't diminish. In fact, it skyrocketed.
The grey blur behind him didn't disappear. Instead, it grew in size until it covered Chu Cheng from head to toe.
With Chu Cheng's body as the center, a strange gray suddenly spread out. When the golden sword net rushed into this gray, it was as if it had drilled into a quagmire and became sluggish. Even the light on the golden sword dimmed.
On the VIP platform.
The Terminator nodded to the Gourmet. "Family knows family. Not bad. Chu Cheng's understanding of the Hades bloodline is much deeper than before.
Is this the power of the netherworld? "
The Gourmet nodded, but his eyes never left the ring. He watched closely as Chu Cheng changed.
It was only through battle that an Adept's control over his Discipline could be seen. It was also through battle that one's comprehension reached a certain degree.
-----
Today is Father's Day. Early in the morning, Lin Lin ran to my bedside with a bamboo stick in his hand. "Happy Father's Day, Daddy."
Then the lively kid turned and ran off.
Tang Tang was even more thoughtful. She gave me a certificate, hugged me, and let me kiss her. It read: Daddy Zhang Modong has won the title of Best Father. I'm ashamed. I spend most of my time working. I don't have time to play with them.
Happy Father's Day to all the dads. Everyone, send your blessings.
(To be continued)