Pretending to be a genius starts with the civilization advancement assessment.

Chapter 218 Zi Chen's Reaction, First Steps into the Virtual World (5K)

Just half an hour before Lin Yi and Irelia established the Star Alliance at the headquarters of the Blue Star Community, on the distant other side of the starry sky, in one of the core areas of the human race's territory, the capital star of the Purple Gold Star Alliance—Zi Chen Star—was bathed in a magnificent light woven from countless man-made star rings and orbital buildings.

This planet itself is a colossal megacity.

The skyscrapers, each with its own unique shape, resemble a forest of metal and energy. Their height is enough to pierce the clouds, and their tops are flashing with colorful navigation lights and information streams, as if they are conversing with the stars.

The air is filled with a constant stream of various vehicles flying along trajectories accurate to the nanometer level.

From small personal shuttles to luxury passenger ships stretching for kilometers, a dazzling and uninterrupted three-dimensional transportation network is being created.

On the planet's periphery, dozens of star rings of varying sizes are slowly rotating, covered with giant ports that churn out starships, bustling shipyards like honeycomb, defensive platforms exuding a chilling aura, and commercial centers comparable in size to small cities.

This is the political, economic, and cultural heart of the "Purple Star Alliance".

Every day, countless pieces of information, supplies, and people from all races converge and circulate here, maintaining the prosperity and deep-seated order of this vast star field.

In the synchronous orbit of Zichen Star, inside a magnificent building that blooms like a silver lotus in layers, lies the Civilization Advancement Affairs Management Office, a subordinate agency of the "Affairs Executive Committee," the highest management body of the Zijin Star Alliance.

This department is responsible for monitoring, recording, and processing all promotion assessments for primary civilizations within the sphere of influence of the Purple Gold Star Alliance.

Normally, the work here proceeds in an orderly manner, like a precise energy timer. Most of the results are at level 2 or 3, and occasionally level 4, with no major disturbances.

However, today, this usual tranquility was broken by a sudden notification message.

Inside the agency's core data processing center, soft light flowed calmly across the circular light curtain that spanned the entire field of vision, and countless data streams representing assessment results from different civilizations slid by like gentle electronic streams.

A middle-aged official, dressed in standard civil service attire and with a small chip embedded in his forehead to assist in processing massive amounts of information, was routinely reviewing the latest batch of assessment results.

Suddenly, a deep and distinctive humming sound rang out from his workstation.

At the same time, on the light screen in front of him, a piece of information that had just been entered into the database was marked with a dazzling and noble golden border, which was an automatically assigned high-priority identifier.

The official's nonchalant expression instantly changed. He was stunned for a moment, then immediately rushed to the screen and quickly pulled up the detailed data of the information, his fingers almost blurring the image.

[Civilization Identifier: TC-YHLHXB-ZJ-G-7392113]

[Final assessment for Civilization Promotion: Level 5]

[Civilization Potential Coefficient Correction: High! Far Exceeds Model Predictions]

[Note: The highest individual rating detected was Level 7]

[Associated Deity Examiner: Xu Chen]

"Level 55 civilization?! And there's even a Level 7 individual rating?!"

The official from the assessment agency first rubbed his eyes vigorously to make sure that it wasn't just his vision being blurred from years of immersion in virtual games. Then, he repeatedly called up three independently operating redundant databases for cross-checking.

But the result remains cold and undeniable.

A civilization from a region previously marked as "energy-poor" and with a potential assessment of only "low" not only successfully advanced to a high rating of Level 5, but also produced an individual with a Level 7 rating.

This was unprecedented in his millennia-long career at the Examinations Authority.

After the initial shock, the official did not dare to delay and immediately initiated the emergency reporting procedure.

This report, marked "High-level assessment of civilization - priority," caused a huge reaction within the management agency and was rapidly and frantically passed up the strict hierarchy of authority.

The message quickly bypassed several administrative levels that would normally take months or even years to process, and appeared directly on the private desk of Mo Heng, the head of the "Newly Appointed Civilization Guidance and Integration Department" under the Executive Committee of the Purple Star Alliance.

Mo Heng was a middle-aged man with a refined appearance, but whose eyes were as deep as a black hole that could devour everything.

He was a powerful early-stage expert at the Transcendent Realm level, and also one of the true high-ranking figures of the Purple Gold Star Alliance.

As Mo Heng browsed the brief yet incredibly substantial report about this newly emerging civilization on the light screen, a ripple finally appeared in his usually calm eyes.

"Level 5 civilization, Level 7 individual. And this was achieved through an assessment personally overseen by His Majesty 'Xu Chen'."

Mo Heng muttered to himself, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the tabletop, which was made from fragments of a star's core, producing a crisp sound.

At his level, he understands even more clearly what the combination of these two ratings means.

After a moment's thought, Mohen considered countless possibilities and consequences in his mind before making a decision.

On the one hand, in accordance with the established regulations of the Star Alliance, he directly signed the order with the authority of the Transcendent Realm level: "In accordance with the Level 5 civilization assessment standards listed in the 'Regulations for the Guidance of Newly Appointed Civilizations,' immediately dispatch the 'Enlightenment-III Type' guidance fleet, led by a Star Domain level officer, to its star domain for official contact and guidance. Ensure that the process is absolutely standardized and the attitude is friendly, demonstrating the magnanimity of our Purple Gold Star Alliance to the newly appointed civilization."

The command transformed into an invisible flow of information, instantly arriving at the Purple Gold Star Alliance Civilization Guidance Office, with its priority marked as "high".

However, at almost the same instant the official order was issued, Mo Heng also issued another command through a secret method in the Pan-Spirit Alliance virtual network that directly connects to the core layer of the family.

His voice was calm. "Activate the family's contingency plan for recruiting external personnel and forces, adhering to the 'Dawn-level' standard. Simultaneously, retrieve the 'Starry Sea Pact' level gift list from the reserves, and prepare the 'Source of Hope' research mothership and a complete set of 'planetary-level' industrial warp modules. Have our nearest family cruiser fleet immediately change course and arrive before the officially guided fleet. Their ultimate mission is to express our Mo family's sincerest goodwill to that level 7 rated genius and the civilization behind him as soon as possible. Objective: Establish a solid, long-term friendly relationship; at the very least, forge this bond of goodwill, and do not allow it to be lost."

Mo Heng saw things very clearly.

A genius rated at level 7, as long as he doesn't perish prematurely, will have a minimum level of achievement at the Transcendent Realm, and may even have the opportunity to glimpse the Eternal Realm.

Investing in a company before it fully emerges and before it is fiercely contested by various forces offers the lowest costs, with potential future returns exceeding expectations.

This is not only a family matter, but also, to some extent, a crucial piece to be laid in advance for the future power struggle within the Purple Gold Star Alliance.

Almost simultaneously with Mo Heng's actions, thanks to their respective intelligence networks, the medium-sized families, large business guilds, and even some hidden forces of the Purple Gold Star Alliance, whose sense of smell was even more acute than that of interstellar hounds, also received this astonishing news, just like predators who had caught the scent of rare prey.

"Quickly! Activate the family special fund immediately, and make the gift list according to the standards for befriending a Star Domain-level Perfected individual! Contact all the nearest branch of the Chamber of Commerce and tell them to spare no expense, even if it means burning engines, to get to that coordinate as quickly as possible. This is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for our family to join the top echelons!"

"Level 5 Civilization! This means a completely blank future, a vast market with its own unique culture, and endless possibilities for cooperation. We must seize the opportunity, even if it's just to obtain one agency right." "Level 7 Individual Assessment. How many tens of thousands of years ago did this happen in our Purple Gold Star Alliance? Immediately have our Chief Elder of External Relations prepare to depart, bringing with him our top-tier source energy optimization liquid spectrum library and the mining rights to three rare energy crystal veins as a gift. We must make this prodigy feel our sincerity."

In no time, almost all the major factions' communication channels were talking about this message.

Everyone's goal was remarkably consistent: to get as close to this nascent treasure of a Level 5 civilization as possible, to invest in it, and to establish even the most basic contact with that Level 7 genius before it was fully exposed to the spotlight of the starry sea and divided up by the top giants.

Meanwhile, within the human realm, the heads of the branches of the other five behemoth forces that truly stood at the pinnacle of power and strength, located within the Purple Gold Star Alliance, also received this urgent intelligence almost simultaneously.

Their reaction was not as chaotic as that of smaller forces; they were more composed and possessed a more overwhelming strategic momentum.

These people in charge were all at the same level as Mo Heng, belonging to the realm of evolution.

The commander of the Human Race Astral Legion stationed at the Purple Gold Star Alliance was a burly man exuding an aura of iron-blooded ferocity.

Upon receiving the message, he merely snorted coldly and ordered his adjutant: "Notify the Recruiting Office to add 'Lin Yi' to the 'Seed of Gods' list, with SSS-level privileges. Immediately draft a 'Star General' special recruitment order, granting him the authority to independently command a standard interstellar fleet, with resource allocations three times the standard for core members within the legion. Also, have 'Blood Wolf' lead his squad on a trip; he's a peak Star Domain level expert, he's got the credentials."

The elder of the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance's branch in this area was a man as steady as a mountain.

His order was concise and forceful: "Pass on my command to open the '7-Star Mercenary Training Channel' for this Level 7 prodigy, lowering the entry threshold to the minimum. Also, dispatch 'Star Fox'; that guy is quick-witted, possesses high-level Star Domain strength, and excels at dealing with all sorts of people. Take my token and tell that young friend that the Alliance can give him what he desires most—freedom, as well as endless missions and resources matching his potential."

The regional president of the Human Race Star Sea Bank is a woman with an elegant demeanor who seems to possess endless wealth.

She looked at the report, a charming smile playing on her lips. "Potential is the highest quality asset. Inform the venture capital department to grant the Level 7 prodigy an initial credit line of 'three stars.' Furthermore, have our 'wealth envoy,' a star-domain-level financial master, personally travel there with this gift list, especially the interest-free loan agreement for the 'Civilization Development Fund.' What we need to do is become his most indispensable partner on his path to rise."

The general manager of the Human Interstellar Merchant Guild, Zi Chenxing, is an old man who appears lazy but whose eyes gleam with calculation.

He squinted, seemingly calculating the potential benefits and risks. "Tsk tsk, a Level 7 rating, impressive. Utilize all intelligence resources; I need to see a detailed report as soon as possible on his personal preferences, the technological leanings of this newly advanced civilization, and its resource shortages. Send a star-domain-level 'trade route pioneer' to lead the expedition. The gifts should be tailored to his tastes. Our advantage lies in our channels and resources. We need to make him understand that by cooperating with the trade association, his civilization can avoid ten thousand years of detours."

The head of the Human Race branch of the Pan-Spirit Alliance Virtual Network is a mixed-race woman with an ethereal temperament.

With a gentle tap, the information flowed through her fingertips.

"Give that level 7 prodigy access to a star-domain level... wait? Someone's already granted him access to a virtual network?"

She was slightly startled.

Could anyone possibly get past her?
Is it
She nodded a few times, then frowned and remained silent for a while, as if receiving some message.

Then, a look of surprise appeared in her eyes. After hesitating for a moment, she continued, "Prepare the car. I'll go there myself."

Apart from the most mysterious and seemingly independent human Bloodblade Legion, which remains completely silent, the upper echelons of the Purple Gold Star Alliance are experiencing a series of strategic upheavals due to this civilization that has suddenly entered their field of vision.

All forces unanimously dispatched core members at the star domain level, a level of recruitment protocol reserved for a powerful, established family.

At the same time, another detail was quickly captured and analyzed by various forces—the guardians of this civilization came from the Eldar.

"Eldar?"

When Mo Heng saw the attached report, he raised an eyebrow slightly, then relaxed. "That saves some trouble. Although the Spirit Clan is strong, they are still billions of light-years away. No matter how powerful their families are, they can't reach that far, so the support they can provide is limited. It's nothing more than gifts, funds, or general introductions to connections, which don't pose a real threat."

This analysis quickly became a consensus. The leaders of the other five major forces, as well as those medium-sized families, breathed a sigh of relief after learning that the guardian was a member of the Spirit Race, and removed the Spirit Race from their list of main competitors.

Unbeknownst to them, the "distant" Elven race had already mobilized its entire force and was en route to Earth, having staked the fate of their entire clan on it.

These powerful forces are extremely efficient once they take action.

Soon, the largest airport on Zichen Star, "Gate of the Stars", will be built.

With massive warp engines spewing out dazzling jets of energy, an unprecedentedly large hybrid fleet began to slowly depart from its respective berths. Under the precise guidance of the intelligent navigation system, it adjusted its direction in the void and converged into a powerful torrent.

Leading the way were thirty elegantly designed "Enlightenment-III" guide ships, bearing the official mark of the Purple Gold Star Alliance, like messengers of order.

Behind them was a spectacular formation of ships of all kinds, far exceeding the number of the official fleet.

There are family-owned private ships with extremely luxurious decorations, resembling mobile palaces; there are massive heavy transport ships as large as mountains, laden with various industrial modules and gifts; there are special reconnaissance ships with sharp lines and covered with stealth coatings; there are giant research arks exuding a strong academic atmosphere; and there are even some heavily armed warships belonging to different factions, maintaining a tacit vigilant distance.
This massive delegation, led by the government and spontaneously formed by various top powers and numerous families who had caught wind of the event, resembled a miniature yet restless interstellar society. Carrying their own ambitions, calculations, expectations, and determination, they sailed into the stargate, entered the hyperspace channel, accelerated instantly, and disappeared into the background of the dazzling starry sea.

The target was that once-overlooked, barren star field, that blue planet with a Level 5 rated civilization, seemingly radiating an alluring glow.

Calculated from Earth's time, all of this mobilization and departure took less than half an hour from the upload of the final civilization assessment results.

In such a short time, a fleet that is about to completely change the fate of Earth and will inevitably become a boulder in the broader power structure of the stars is already on its way. This demonstrates the efficiency of human civilization and its emphasis on talent.
-
The quiet reception room at the Community headquarters.

As if by telepathy, as the distant starry sea was stirred by their presence, Irelia seemed to sense the invisible ripples.

After finalizing the arrangements for her family's allegiance, a huge weight was lifted from her heart. She first took a sip of the natural beverage prepared on the table, then looked at Lin Yi with a serious expression in her icy blue eyes.

“Lord Lin Yi,” she asked hesitantly, “there is still some time before the victory celebration banquet begins, and external affairs need to be dealt with later. Since His Majesty Xu Chen has already gifted you the virtual network launcher, would you like me to guide you through the initial familiarization with the access and basic operation of the ‘Pan-Spirit Alliance Virtual Network’ while we have the time?”

She smiled slightly and added, "After all, this is the most important platform for you to learn about the Star Sea, acquire knowledge, and communicate with all parties in the future. Moreover," she suggested naturally, "we can also exchange contact marks here, which will make communication more convenient if needed in the future."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi's eyes flashed; he had the same idea.

Whether it's to integrate into the Star Sea as quickly as possible or to maintain a closer connection with the "Guardian" with a special identity, mastering the virtual network and exchanging marks are the top priorities.

"That would be perfect," Lin Yi replied with a smile, taking out the lander that was as thin as a cicada's wing. "I'll have to trouble you with your guidance, Madam."

Irelia nodded and began to explain in a low voice how to activate it, how to build the initial identity, and how to choose an access point.
Her explanation was detailed and clear, like a patient mentor, offering Lin Yi seemingly very limited help, just as the leaders of those forces who had just sent out delegations on the distant Zichen Star had speculated.

　Oh dear, I was late today because of Su Chao, and sure enough, Brother Nan got upset. Also, thank you to all the readers for your generous donations over the past few days!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)