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

Chapter 229 Human Border, Emergency Rescue (5.5K)

Lin Yi stood in the observation deck on the top floor of the community headquarters, looking down at the vibrant city below.

The affairs of Silver Blue Star, like the gears in a precision clock, are running smoothly on their predetermined tracks.

The Star Harbor bustles day and night, new buildings rise from the ground, and the faces of the people walking on the streets show more confidence and anticipation for the future after the advancement of civilization.

"It's time to go."

The thought echoed in his mind.

With everything settled, he believed that Li Zhenguo and Zhou Donglai would handle the remaining domestic and foreign affairs better than he could.

It would take some time for the Eldar members of the Sheena family to arrive on Earth, but he didn't want to wait any longer.

The vastness of the starry sea and the journey ahead both beckoned to him.

Before leaving, Lin Yi carefully reviewed the situation in his mind to see if there were any oversights.

After all, this separation will last for hundreds or even thousands of years, and we can only meet again in the virtual world.

He provided evolution fluid to his parents, uncles and aunts, and his eldest uncle's family—all the relatives and friends who had helped them during their difficult times in his past life, and even Ye Qingyu, whose talent was limited and who had never been able to break through to the Stardust level on his own. This ensured that they at least reached the Stardust level and had the foundation for a long lifespan.

In fact, a few years ago, his parents took the lead in responding to the call for civilized and fertility initiatives to optimize the gene pool, and gave him a younger brother and a younger sister.

The new life and liveliness of his family eased his sorrow at his impending departure.

As for Ye Qingyu, she has remained single for decades.

Not only did he remain single, but he also moved his family to the vicinity of his parents' residence, becoming a frequent visitor to their home. He also became very close to his two younger siblings, practically becoming half a family member.

Lin Yi wasn't a blockhead; he naturally understood the affection behind that silent waiting.

But he knew even more clearly where the path beneath his feet would lead—to the end of time and space where even stars would be annihilated, the realm of eternal gods.

Lin Yi was well aware that the union of people with vastly different lifespans was by no means a good thing for either of them; it would ultimately be a tragedy of witnessing a beautiful woman grow old while they themselves remained forever frozen in time.

He had mentioned it to Ye Qingyu twice, but she just listened quietly, then gently shook her head, her eyes gentle yet stubborn. The next time, she would still bring his mother's favorite pastries to visit.

Seeing her like this, Lin Yi stopped trying to say anything more.

However, after that, whenever he sent cultivation resources to his parents, younger brother and sister, he would also make it a habit to prepare a portion for her.

For Lin Yi, the cost of preparing additional resources was negligible, but if it could help Ye Qingyu go further on her cultivation path and see further ahead, it would be a way to fulfill the bond they had formed in these two lifetimes.

Composing himself, Lin Yi convened a brief but crucial meeting with the top leaders of the civilization.

"After I leave, Zhenguo will oversee all internal affairs. Dong will lead military and foreign affairs negotiations."

Lin Yi's gaze swept over every core member present. "The principle for our relationship with the major powers can be summed up in four words: neither humble nor arrogant. We don't provoke trouble, but we're not afraid of trouble either. The highest-ranking ships left by the major powers are only Star Swirl-class, while we still have a Guardian-class warship parked in outer space."

Lin Yi left behind enough resources to support the civilization's cultivation for the next few decades, and once again instructed: "In handling government affairs, you can rely more on the assistance of the Xuanji. Make decisions on major matters. As for yourselves, you must not slack off in your cultivation."

"In the vast sea of ​​stars, the status of a civilization ultimately depends on the quantity and quality of its powerful beings. I hope that when I return next time, I will see that all of you have already entered the realm of the Star Core."

There was no lengthy farewell; all the instructions and entrustments were contained in just a few words.

Subsequently, Lin Yi boarded the "Shanming" and quietly took off.

Lin Yi did not agree to the higher-ups' request for a grand farewell ceremony, but at the moment he broke through the atmosphere and headed into the deep universe, news channels around the world simultaneously broadcast breaking news:

Commander Lin Yi departed Silver Blue Star today aboard his personal spaceship "Shanming" for the Star Sea to rejoin the main force of the Dongfeng Mercenary Group. We wish the Commander great success in his military campaigns and a smooth journey across the Star Sea!

The message was brief, yet it stirred up ripples in countless families.

People stopped what they were doing and looked up at the sky. Although the spaceship was nowhere to be seen, their eyes were filled with blessings for the pioneers and guardians, as well as boundless hope for the future of civilization.
-
Twenty years is but a fleeting moment in the vast universe.

Zichen Star, as the capital of the Zijin Star Alliance, is shrouded in hustle and bustle all day long.

The enormous airport is like a forest forged from metal, with all kinds of ships rising and falling, taking in and spitting out goods and people from all directions.

Today, a group of people attracted considerable attention next to the private berth rented by the Dongfeng Mercenary Group.

The one leading them was Irelia.

Twenty years have passed, and her aura as a star-domain level expert has become even more refined and profound. Her well-tailored light armor in the style of the Spirit Race accentuates her slender and upright figure, and her ice-blue eyes are calm as water as she gazes at the entrance of the channel.

Standing beside her were several core members of the Dongfeng Mercenary Group.

Liu Yuan remained calm and capable, with sharp eyes.

Chen Yu, however, was getting impatient. He kept tiptoeing to look around, muttering, "Why hasn't the commander arrived yet? He should be here soon!"

Andrei, standing beside him, crossed his thick arms, a hopeful smile on his honest face: "Hey, it's been a long time since I've seen the commander. I wonder how much his cultivation has improved."

On the other side, Elizabeth stood quietly, exuding an icy aura that kept strangers at bay. Only the occasional glimmer of light passing through the shipping lane would reflect a barely perceptible ripple in her eyes.

Besides these former Blue Star members, there were also two or three Eldar members. They were skilled individuals selected by Irelia from the Sheena family and now held high-ranking positions in the mercenary group. At this moment, they also looked respectful and curious, waiting for the arrival of the legendary leader.

Just then, a sleek, blue-hued spaceship, like a gliding swift, precisely and gracefully entered the berth. The words "Dongfeng" on the side of the ship gleamed under the port lights.

"It's the commander's 'Shanming'!" Chen Yu was the first to shout.

The hatch opened, and Lin Yi stepped out.

He was still wearing that dark combat uniform, his aura restrained, seemingly not much different from twenty years ago.

"Commander!" the crowd greeted in unison, their voices filled with genuine joy.

Lin Yi's gaze swept over the familiar faces, each bearing the marks of time and the trials of the starry sea, and a gentle smile appeared on his face: "Ellie, everyone, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"Commander, you must be tired from your journey."

Irelia stepped forward and smiled, "Welcome to Purple Star."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the group boarded a commuter bus and arrived at a property owned by the Dongfeng Mercenary Group, located near the Mercenary Alliance branch.

The headquarters of the Corps was not particularly grand, but it was fully functional.

Inside the meeting room, everyone took their seats.

Irelia gave a brief report on the situation over the past twenty years.

The mercenary group completed hundreds of missions, large and small. Although they did not have any particularly outstanding achievements, they accumulated valuable experience in the Star Sea and their teamwork became increasingly mature.

Meanwhile, the mercenary group's rating has steadily risen to the top of 1 star, and in another year or two, it will reach the 2-star mercenary group level.

Chen Yu and the others chimed in with their own stories of the interesting and thrilling moments from the mission.

Lin Yi listened quietly, nodding occasionally.

Finally, he said, "Everyone did a great job, even better than I expected. When you first enter the Star Sea, taking a steady and solid approach is key."

Now that Lin Yi has arrived, Irelia naturally handed over the decision-making power for selecting mercenary missions back to him.

Lin Yi didn't stand on ceremony and went straight to the point, his gaze fixed on the mission light screen projected in the center of the conference room: "Xuanji, conduct a preliminary screening of missions suitable for us. Let me see what suitable missions are available recently."

Soon, Xuanji projected the missions that aligned with the mercenary group's strategic direction and acceptance criteria onto the central light screen of the conference room.

"This one will do."

Lin Yi pointed to the Level 2 transport mission with the number ZL-BJ-77439 on the light screen.

Everyone quickly and carefully read the instructions for the mission.

[Task ID: ZL-BJ-77439]

Type: Military Logistics

Level: 2

Content: To transport a batch of standard military supplies to the K-77-JHD-93432 Astral Army border outpost.

Published by: 96th Fleet, 93778th Legion, Frontier Forces of the Astral Army
Reward: 8000 Star Crystals
Note: The route has been cleared and the risk is low.

This task does seem ordinary, even somewhat tedious, and the reward is only average.

But Lin Yi didn't choose this mission for nothing. He remembered very clearly that in his previous life, around this time, this Starbound Army border outpost, and another border outpost on a nearby planet, would be attacked by an alien race.

Because border outposts have the task of monitoring and defending the line of defense to prevent people from deliberately luring them out of the outpost's defensive array, they cannot leave without permission. Therefore, emergency support can only rely on nearby mercenary groups, as well as Astral Legion outposts and patrol fleets at greater distances.

After the attacked border outpost issued a warning, the Astral Army Border Legion, to which it belonged, simultaneously issued an emergency support mission to all mercenary groups near the outpost through the battlefield system. The mission was rated as level 4, and there were no level restrictions for the mercenary groups that accepted the mission.

It's important to know that in mercenary mission ratings, levels 1-2 indicate the possibility of Star Core-level combat, while levels 3-4 indicate Star Swirl-level combat. Level 4 means that Star Swirl-level casualties are highly likely.

The group that carried out this supply mission was a level-two mercenary group called "Radiance".

Meanwhile, along with Lieyao, there are seven other mercenary groups in the surrounding area.

Six of them accepted the task.

These six mercenary groups joined forces and, at the cost of nearly half their casualties, managed to hold off the alien offensive at the outpost and wait for reinforcements. As a result, they gained a large number of mercenary points and the friendship of the Astral Army, which subsequently gave them many priority missions.

Because the Leliat Mercenary Group and "Radiance" had a long-standing cooperative relationship and good relations, the people of Radiance often boasted about their glorious achievements, so Lin Yi had a very deep impression of this matter.

Now, Lin Yi, the leader of the Dongfeng Mercenary Group, has no choice but to take on this mission for the sake of the safety of Lie Yao's fallen brothers.

Of course, he not only had to survive, but also make those daring alien races pay a heavy price.

Seeing that Lin Yi had immediately accepted a border supply mission that was extremely far away, Irelia's eyes flashed with a hint of doubt, but out of trust in Lin Yi, she did not ask any questions.

Liu Yuan frowned slightly and cautiously pulled up more information about the target and its surrounding star field from the mission details.

The data shows that it was just a small, routine outpost located on the edge of the K-77 system, mainly responsible for monitoring a relatively quiet border area, and it certainly didn't seem like it would pose a great risk.

Chen Yu scratched his head: "Captain, isn't this mission a bit too easy? We've been waiting for you for so long, shouldn't we do something more exciting and big?"

Lin Yi shifted his gaze from the mission briefing, swept it over the crowd, and a smile appeared on his face: "Simple? Not necessarily. Our focus in the future will be on border missions and battlefield missions. There, merits accumulate quickly, and there are more opportunities to fight. These are the whetstones for our Dongfeng to grow rapidly."

He paused, his tone becoming more composed: "This level two mission targets the border region. We can take this opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the border environment, routes, and the deployment rhythm of the Astrail Force there. Consider it a low-intensity reconnaissance and acclimatization voyage."

This reason is reasonable. Taking on battlefield missions in the future is a long-term plan that has been established long ago, and familiarizing themselves with the border environment is indeed a necessary preparation for mercenary groups that aspire to conquer the stars.

"Moreover," Lin Yi lowered his voice, as if it carried a chill, "the alien race. Hmph, we'll have to face them sooner or later. It won't hurt to find out their strength first."

He didn't say anything more, but the underlying chilling meaning sent a shiver down everyone's spine.

“Understood.” Irelia nodded first. “Since the leader has decided, we will prepare immediately.”

Liu Yuan chimed in, "Although it's a Level 2 mission, since we're going to the border and it's our first time, we can't afford to be careless. I suggest we prepare for combat according to the alert standards for a Level 3 mission."

"That's right, let's do it this way." Lin Yi said succinctly.

Once the order was given, the East Peak Mercenary Group's war machine immediately began to operate efficiently.

The fleet, centered around the North Wind, began its final pre-departure checks. Energy shield generators were preheated, weapon systems were loaded with live ammunition, and assault boat and mech pilots conducted their final simulation exercise.

The entire base was filled with an atmosphere that was relaxed on the outside but tense on the inside, as if the place they were about to visit was not a simple supply point, but a battlefield full of dangers.

More than two months later, the Dongfeng Fleet ended its continuous stargate jumps and entered the regular navigation phase at the edge of the K-77 system.

Outside the window, there were sparse stars and vast darkness, and the outline of the planet where the transport target was located was already faintly visible in the distance.

The flight went surprisingly smoothly, and the anticipated tension at the border did not materialize.

The atmosphere gradually relaxed in the rest cabin of the Sharp 3 assault ship.

Zhang Zhen, the assault team leader of the ship, looked at the calm starry sky on the scanner and couldn't help but laugh as he said to his companion beside him, "It seems we were worrying too much. We've heard that the border isn't very peaceful lately, with constant minor skirmishes, but so far we've had a calm journey, without even encountering a large meteorite. The border doesn't seem to be a problem at all!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several pairs of eyes in the cabin instantly turned to him like cold knives.

"Shut up, Zhang Zhen!" a veteran team member growled irritably. "How dare you spout such nonsense?"

"Exactly! If we really attract anything, I'll be the first to stuff you into the drone launcher and shoot you out!"

Zhang Zhen shrank back after being yelled at, gave an embarrassed laugh, and realized that he had misspoke, so he dared not say another word.
-
Meanwhile, at the 93778th Legion Command, light-years away on the border of the Astronautical Army.

On the huge star map sand table, the light spot representing the K-77-JHD-93441 outpost is flashing red wildly, signifying that it has suffered a heavy blow.

The real-time battle footage transmitted nearby showed that the stronghold built on a giant meteorite in the Ash Planetary Belt, whose composite energy defense array was originally shrouded in a pale blue glow, was now covered with cracks, like a glass dome that had been struck by a heavy hammer.

Dense beams of energy were pouring down on the shield from the darkness, creating violent ripples.

Some small, menacing-looking assault boats could be vaguely seen, like sharks that had smelled blood, circling the stronghold and searching for weak points in the shields to launch a fierce attack.

Inside the base, the alarms blared deafeningly.

The Astral Army commander stationed there, a Star Swirl-class squadron leader with a fresh burn scar on his face, reported: "K-77-JHD-93441 is under heavy attack. The enemy has a Star Swirl-class squad. The defensive array's energy is below 60% and it can't hold out for much longer! Requesting emergency support!!"

The signal traveled through the chaotic battlefield and was received by the distant legion command.

The commander stared at the isolated, helpless red dot on the star map, his face turning ashen.

He swiftly ordered: "Immediately dispatch the 'Sharp Blade' rapid response fleet to provide support! At the same time, notify the third patrol team patrolling near the K-77 star system to proceed to the target at top speed!"

"commander"

The adjutant operated the system rapidly, his tone heavy, "'Sharp Blade' fleet will need at least four standard hours to arrive, and the third patrol squad will also need nearly three standard hours. The outpost probably won't hold out for that long."

The commander took a deep breath and looked at the star map, where several cursors representing registered mercenary groups were flashing around the stronghold. "Issue an emergency regional support mission to all nearby registered mercenary groups through the battlefield coordination system! Level 4! No level restrictions for accepting the mission."

The adjutant was taken aback: "Commander, the highest level mercenary group in this area is only level 3. Sending them on a level 4 mission... this..."

The commander interrupted him, "Release it! Let them decide for themselves whether they want to come or not."

"Yes!" The adjutant did not hesitate any longer and quickly synchronized the mission information with the Mercenary Alliance system.

Meanwhile, the East Peak Mercenary Group fleet.

As if to confirm everyone's "premonition," almost the very next second after Zhang Zhen closed his mouth—

[WARNING! Astral Army encrypted wide-area emergency communication received! Message flag: Highest priority!]

Xuanji's cold and urgent notification sound rang out simultaneously on the communicators of all captains and high-ranking officers in the fleet, breaking the peace that had just been restored in the cabin.

[Regional Emergency Support Mission Issued!]

[Published by: 93778th Frontier Legion Command of the Astral Army]

[Mission Location: K-77 system, near the 'Ash Planet Belt' outpost (ID: K-77-JHD-93441)]

[Mission Type: Defense/Repel]

[Task Level: 4]

[Situation Summary: Outpost K-77-JHD-93441 has been attacked by an unidentified elite alien squad. The defensive array has been severely damaged, and the garrison has suffered heavy casualties. Support is urgently needed.]

[Requirements for accepting the challenge: No restrictions on mercenary group level.]

[WARNING: The enemy has been confirmed to possess multiple Star-level combatants, posing an extremely high threat level. Exercise caution before accepting the mission!]

Dongfeng Fleet, bridge of the Beifeng.

Lin Yi asked without hesitation, "Xuanji, confirm the authenticity of the mission information and locate the precise coordinates of the stronghold."

"Information verified. Source confirmed as the 93778th Border Legion Command of the Astral Army. Target location coordinates locked. Distance from our current position is 27 standard minutes at full speed."

Irelia looked at Lin Yi, her icy blue eyes gleaming with eagerness: "Captain, this level four mission... shall we?"

Everyone looked at Lin Yi, waiting for his decision.

Lin Yi's gaze swept over the bright red "Level 4" on the screen, along with the description "No level limit for accepting the challenge," and a smile of excitement appeared on his lips.

"Of course we'll accept, we have a half-star domain level."

Lin Yi gave a direct affirmative answer.

"Give the order to the entire fleet!"

Lin Yi's voice instantly echoed across every ship, "All warships, highest combat readiness level! Target changed, let's go rescue people first!"

(End of this chapter)