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

Chapter 238 Three Peaks, Helpless (5.8K, Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Lin Yi immediately checked the list of contact marks.

Sure enough, a new contact mark with the name "Ninth Senior Brother" was added to the list, radiating a purple glow.

His application, submitted more than forty years ago, was approved.

"A purple mark. It really is a being of the Evolution Realm level."

Lin Yi understood, gaining a more intuitive understanding of the level of his master Xu Chen's disciples.

Before he could think it through, Xuanji gave him another hint.

"Received a coordinate invitation."

Lin Yi accepted without hesitation.

In an instant, the virtual space switched, and the scene before my eyes changed completely.

There are no opulent decorations here, only a metal platform that looks like it has been through the ravages of war, and outside the platform, a deep universe dotted with broken stars and slowly rotating nebula dust.

A sense of desolation and loneliness washed over me.

A figure stood with his back to him, gazing into the distance from the railing.

The man was dressed in a simple black robe, with a tall and straight figure and his black hair casually draped over his shoulders. Even just his back view gave people the feeling that he was integrated into this starry ruin, serene and vast.

As if sensing Lin Yi's arrival, the man slowly turned around.

His face looked quite young, even with a sunny and handsome air, but his eyes were like an ancient well that had been sedimented for millions of years, so deep that one could not see the bottom, and it seemed as if the scene of stars being born and dying was flowing in them.

"Junior brother?"

With a gentle yet slightly curious smile, he said, "I am your ninth senior brother, Cangming."

"Lin Yi greets Senior Brother Cangming."

Lin Yi bowed respectfully.

When facing a senior brother at the Transcendent Realm level, it is essential to observe proper etiquette.

Cangming nodded slightly in return.

He looked at Lin Yi with a calm gaze, his curiosity undisguised.

"I had been in seclusion for a while, but recently I received a call-up invitation from the Strategic Affairs Department under the Hengji Huanyu Council, so I came out to stretch my muscles. I didn't expect that as soon as I came out to deal with the backlog of information, I found that I had a junior brother. This surprise has relieved some of the fatigue from my seclusion, so naturally I had to come and see you as soon as possible."

His tone was calm and his words were appropriate. He explained why he had come and expressed goodwill.

Lin Yi understood that Master Xu Chen taking on disciples was obviously no small matter, and these senior brothers and sisters must have internal communication channels.

Then, as if remembering something, he asked with great interest, "By the way, junior brother, did Master give you a brief introduction to us good-for-nothing senior brothers and sisters?"

Lin Yi frankly replied, "Senior brother, Master only left a contact mark and did not explain the situation of the senior brothers and sisters in detail."

It would be foolish to try to outsmart someone at the Transcendent Realm level.

"Haha, sure enough."

Cangming chuckled and shook his head. "Did he tell you to contact your sixth senior brother, 'Xuan Shu,' beforehand?"

Lin Yi's heart stirred slightly; this Ninth Senior Brother really understood Master's character.

“Yes, Ninth Senior Brother.” He nodded in acknowledgment.

"See? I knew it."

Cangming's face revealed an expression of "I knew it."

"Senior Brother Xuan Shu is calm and meticulous. As for Master, he is naturally happy to have a leisurely life and has pushed him out to be the steward. However, since I happen to have come out of seclusion first, it can be considered fate. I will take over his responsibility as a guide and introduce you to the basic information of each senior brother and sister."

Cangming's tone became slightly more formal, "Including you, Master has a total of sixteen disciples in name. However, the path of cultivation is long and full of thorns and unexpected events. Over the long years, eight of them, including you, are still alive today."

Lin Yi listened quietly, which was consistent with the fact that his master had only given him seven contact marks.

"The eldest brother is 'Suppressor of Prisons', and the third sister is 'Thousand Illusions'."

When Cangming mentioned these two names, his tone naturally carried a hint of respect: "These two have already ascended to eternity and are the pride of all our junior brothers and sisters."

Even though Lin Yi had heard Xing Yi mention it before, he was still deeply shocked to hear it confirmed by a senior brother at the Transcendent Realm level.

Two eternal deities, plus the master, that's three deities in one family!

This weight, even when considered within the entire human race's territory, should not be underestimated.

"In addition, there is my second senior sister, Heng Huan."

Cangming paused for a moment, "She is stationed in the Myriad Realms Abyss year-round. Fourth Senior Brother Lieyang has a fiery temper and is often away on campaigns; you can't know his exact location yet. Sixth Senior Brother 'Xuanshu' is the one Master asked you to find; he's in charge of internal coordination within the sect. Seventh Senior Sister 'Bingling' has a cold and aloof personality and is currently recovering from her injuries. And me, ranked ninth, Cangming, I just recovered from my injuries and, since I don't have any missions, I accepted an aid application from the council."

He paused, then added calmly, "As for the other senior brothers and sisters among them, they have all perished on the long path of cultivation or in past battles."

These few words paint a magnificent yet cruel picture of powerful beings in the starry sky.

With only 8 out of 16 surviving, a 50% failure rate, the path to the highest realm is fraught with peril.

Lin Yi could sense the vicissitudes of time and the ruthlessness of life and death hidden behind those plain words.

"Recently, due to frequent border conflicts, the situation has become somewhat delicate. The council has mobilized forces from all sides, and those of us who are currently in seclusion will likely be pulled out to participate in various activities one after another."

Cangming changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of reminder, "According to past practice, after everyone emerges from seclusion, if the time is right, we might find an excuse to get together and exchange ideas. Junior Brother, let me remind you,"

He looked at Lin Yi, his eyes filled with good-natured teasing, "The likes of Senior Brother and Third Senior Sister, even if they slip through their fingers, it's still considered an opportunity for us at the Transcendent Realm level. As Eternals, they're always generous, and they'll probably be even more so towards you, their newly promoted junior brother. Unless you have something extremely urgent to attend to, you'd better not go into seclusion for too long. You'd be missing out on a great opportunity."

This was a practical suggestion from his senior, concerning his actual interests, which Lin Yi naturally kept in mind.

"Thank you for the reminder, Ninth Senior Brother. I've got it in mind. I'll definitely keep it in mind."

"Ah."

Cangming responded, then casually inquired about everyday matters, "By the way, how are you doing these days? Are you still handling the follow-up matters of your civilization's advancement on your home planet 'SilverBlue'?"

Lin Yi knew that with his senior brother's level and connections, if he really wanted to find out, he probably wouldn't be able to hide his basic information.

After a moment's thought, he frankly told me: "I have left Silver Blue Star and have now formed a mercenary group called 'Dongfeng'. We are currently mainly active in the border star field, taking on some missions, accumulating practical experience, preparing for breaking through the second realm, and paving the way for the future development of civilization."

"Oh? You're at the border?"

Cangming's tone revealed a hint of surprise, as if this information was slightly unexpected. "Are you planning to participate in the tiered battlefield that is about to officially open over there?"

"Yes, senior brother. We do have that plan."

Lin Yi readily admitted it.

"Which star system?"

Cangming asked another question, appearing slightly more serious than before.

A hint of surprise flashed through Lin Yi's mind. Why ask such a specific question?

But he didn't hesitate and answered directly: "K-77 star system, specifically the 'Ash Star System' area."

"K-77? Ash Starfield?"

Cangming repeated himself, then chuckled, "That's quite a coincidence. The council's summons I received is to serve as one of the supervisors for several border-level battlefields within the human race's territory. Which specific star system I'll be responsible for is still under internal coordination and hasn't been finalized yet. However..."

He smiled slightly as he looked at Lin Yi, "Since you're in K-77, junior brother, I'll just say hello to my old friend in charge of assignments and go there. He'll still give me that much face."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi was overjoyed.

Having his senior brother as a supervisor is like adding an incredibly solid insurance policy to his journey in the tiered battlefield, which is definitely a great thing that he couldn't ask for.

"Thank you very much, Senior Brother!" Lin Yi bowed again sincerely, as this favor was quite substantial.

"It's nothing, we're family, no need to be so polite."

Cangming waved his hand, as if he had only done a trivial matter. But then, his tone shifted slightly, and he said solemnly, "However, junior brother, there's something I must remind you. In the early stages of the tiered battlefield, most participants are geniuses like you and me, or those of our subordinate races. With your strength and understanding of the rules, going in to train, gain some military merits, and solidify your foundation is indeed a safe and sound choice."

Then, Cangming paused slightly, as if considering his words: "However, remember not to linger there, and certainly do not regard it as the main way to acquire resources in the long term."

Lin Yi's heart tightened, and he suppressed his joy.

He realized that his senior brother's warning was not unfounded.

"Before long, that area will no longer be limited to border skirmishes between powerful races like ours."

Cangming's voice deepened, "It will gradually evolve into a place of conflict, a chessboard for the true geniuses of the top races to vie for supremacy. At that time, the battlefield will become extremely complex, and the situation will be even more unpredictable and dangerous. With your current strength, it would be quite dangerous for you to remain there."

"A prodigy from a top-tier race?"

“That’s right.” Cangming nodded. “When the time is right, the nature of the so-called ‘border conflict’ fighting here will be completely changed. At that time, the real protagonists will be the core geniuses from the three top races: the Pan-Spirit Alliance, the Abyss Clan, and the Eclipse Clan.”

He looked at Lin Yi with a serious expression: "These geniuses from the top races, besides competing with each other, have an important task: to hone their skills in these 'specific battlefields.' Compared to them, you may have great potential now, but if you get involved too early, the risks will be extremely high."

Lin Yi's mood gradually grew heavy.

The Abyss Clan, who call themselves the "Source Clan," are said to be descendants of the "Primordial Beasts" from the beginning of the universe. They come in various forms, are all beast-like intelligent beings, possess strong bodies, and have strange and unpredictable innate abilities.

The Eclipse Clan was originally just a maverick insect branch of the Abyss Clan. Because their ideology and evolutionary path were incompatible with those of the other Abyss Clan, a war that eventually broke out, affecting countless star fields.

After the war, this terrifyingly powerful branch declared independence, calling themselves the "Eclipses." These two races, along with the Spirit Race, constitute the three pinnacle races of the universe.

Lin Yi immediately thought of the monstrous talents in the Pan-Spirit Alliance's genius battle. The top-ranked ones were monsters who had fused five or six levels of rules. How could the geniuses of the opposing peak races be weak?
If what my senior brother said is true, then that place will become a hunting ground for such beings. As a star core-level being who has not even fully integrated the two rules, he is indeed no different from an ant and could be affected and crushed at any time.

It's not worth risking your life for a little military merit.

For a moment, he almost had the urge to leave the border as soon as possible and get away from this place of trouble.

Safety first; it's the instinct of those who have been reborn.

But soon, a strong question arose in my mind.

wrong!

In his past life, until his death, he had never heard of top geniuses from powerful races appearing on a large scale on the border battlefield between humans and medium-powered races like the Kunmo and Liemang.
At most, it's just that the geniuses cultivated by the human race themselves make a name for themselves there.

The timelines don't seem to match.

Lin Yi keenly noticed the unusual situation.

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Yi cautiously asked, "Senior brother, when you said 'not long ago,' how many standard years do you mean?"

He needs to confirm this crucial timescale.

The universal standard year is similar to the old Blue Star year, approximately 362 days.

"Hmm?" Cangming seemed surprised that Lin Yi would ask such a specific question.

He paused for a moment, as if calculating and assessing various variables, "Based on the current escalation of the conflict and some predictive models within the council, it will take anywhere from six or seven thousand to over ten thousand standard years. In short, it won't be long."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi's tense nerves instantly relaxed, and he even felt a little amused and exasperated.

really!

For beings of the Transcendent Realm whose lifespan is thousands of epochs and whose seclusion might last for hundreds of years, several thousand years is indeed "very fast".

But for someone who has only been reborn for a hundred years, several thousand years is enough time for him to do a lot of things.

It seems that, at least for a considerable period of time in the future, such as three or four thousand years, the border battlefield should remain relatively safe, within a stage that he can control and utilize.

After letting out a sigh of relief, Lin Yi's tone became much more relaxed: "I understand, thank you for reminding me, senior brother. I will keep a good eye on things and won't be greedy for credit or act rashly."

Once you relax, curiosity takes over.

Lin Yi couldn't help but ask, "Senior brother, there's something I don't understand. The border conflicts between our human race and the Kunmo and Lietang races should theoretically be limited in scale and impact on the universe. Why would they attract the personal intervention of the geniuses of the top races? Would the Spirit Race send their geniuses to help our human race fight?"

Upon hearing Lin Yi's words, Cangming let out a cold snort that was difficult to decipher.

There was no anger in that voice; it was more like a detached cynicism born of a world-weary perspective.

"Help you? Do you think this war is something that our human race, or the Kunmo and Liemang races can just start on their own?"

His tone was clearly sarcastic.

Lin Yi was slightly taken aback, realizing that he might have touched on a deeper truth: "Senior brother, what do you mean?"

"Sigh," Cangming sighed again, gazing at the endless universe. "Never mind. With your talent and temperament, you'll know the truth about these universes sooner or later. Since we've come this far, I'll tell you in advance so you'll be more informed in the future."

As he spoke, he casually waved his hand.

A grand and detailed three-dimensional star map instantly unfolded before Lin Yi.

The star map is vast and boundless, but the three most striking colors are: emerald green representing the territory of the Spirit Race, dark gold representing the star field ruled by the Abyss Race, and dark purple marking the territory of the Eclipse Race.

The territories of countless other races, including humans, are marked with a relatively dull gray.

"This is a simplified star map of the current cosmic structure, marking only the territories of the most powerful and elite races. Junior brother, take a closer look and see if you can spot any problems."

Lin Yi observed intently.

Although he has purple-level access and could theoretically view such star charts, he was either busy with cultivation and mercenary group affairs or felt that such macroscopic patterns were too far removed from his own experience, so he did not study them in depth.

Now, under his senior's guidance, he quickly discovered an extremely unusual phenomenon.

"Senior brother, why do these three core territories seem to be completely separated? Are they separated by buffer zones composed of countless other races' territories?" Lin Yi asked in surprise. "The distribution of the universe can't be that coincidental, can it?"

"coincide?"

A cold glint appeared on Cangming's lips.

"How could the universe operate with so many coincidences? Long ago, the territories of the three dominant races were directly adjacent, with constant friction and endless wars. Several great wars broke out during this period, affecting countless races and reducing many civilizations to ashes. Later, perhaps because the casualties were too great and touched the core issues, or because of some deeper games and compromises, the three parties had no choice but to reach a tacit understanding and finally cease hostilities."

"To prevent direct war from happening again in the future, they believe that a sufficiently wide buffer zone is needed."

Cangming traced lines on the star map with his finger. On the star map, those vast star regions located between the territories of the three major races and occupied by many powerful or medium-sized races such as the Human Race, the Kunmo Race, and the Liemang Race were specially marked, like colorful isolation strips.

"Thus, they joined forces to promote the largest territorial replacement strategy in history. Through a series of means, including forced migration, transactions, and covert manipulation, they relocated, resettled, and even supported many races that were not considered top-tier at the time to their original border regions, filling and shaping these buffer zones."

“We humans, as well as the Kunmo, the Rift Mantis, and many other races in this star sea, are essentially ‘chess pieces’ placed in specific positions in this grand game that spans the star sea.”

Lin Yi held his breath, and a cold and precise word slowly emerged in his mind.

"Therefore, one of the strategic significances of our races located in the buffer zone is to serve as a strategic buffer zone between the dominant races."

Cangming's voice was calm to the point of cruelty: "If there are any irreconcilable conflicts between them, or if they need to resolve certain issues that are inconvenient to personally intervene, or if it is merely to test the other party's bottom line and the power of the new generation, they often do not easily intervene on a large scale themselves. Instead, they influence, support, arm, or even indirectly manipulate our races to open up battlefields in the star field on which we depend for survival, and to carry out controlled and limited wars."

"Through our fighting and attrition, they can not only handle the conflict and achieve their strategic objectives at low cost, but also take this opportunity to send their carefully cultivated young talents into the battlefield under the guise of observers, volunteers, or military advisors, to conduct real combat training in the most realistic and bloody environment. They can sharpen their claws, see bloodshed, eliminate the weak, and cultivate true elites."

Cangming paused, his tone becoming even more sarcastic: "And the most ridiculous and pathetic thing is that when conflicts arise between races within our buffer zone, in order to avoid being quickly defeated by an opponent who has the covert or overt support of a particular top race, we often have to actively beg those top races to send their prodigies to assist in the battle, and pay a considerable price for it. Moreover, many times, we have to express our gratitude for this, thanking them for being willing to uphold justice or provide assistance!"

Lin Yi fell completely silent, a chill rising from the bottom of his heart and spreading to every part of his body.

The image of the Eldar as a humble and gentle supreme race that Irelia, the Sina family, and even Evan and other Eldar friends had cultivated in his mind was utterly shattered at this moment.

Looking at the star map before him, which symbolized the highest order of the universe, Lin Yi felt as if he had truly touched the top layer of this dark forest for the first time, where the cold, cruel, and extremely real laws of operation operated.

The so-called clash of civilizations and racial wars, from a higher perspective, may just be a carefully directed drama, and they are all actors who have no choice in the matter.

He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "This...this is just a proxy war."

"Proxy war?"

Cangming softly repeated the unfamiliar yet perfectly apt term, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes before calmly nodding. "A very accurate description. That's right, it's a proxy war. The territory and resources we shed and sacrifice here to fight for may just be decorations on a chessboard in the eyes of the top races. And we don't even have the right to refuse to be pawns."

After they finished speaking, they both fell into a long silence.

Only the star map continued to rotate silently, its light from the three supreme races shining coldly, reflecting the rise and fall and struggles of countless civilizations in the buffer zone.

(End of this chapter)