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

Chapter 247 Let it come to find us, the whole sect gathers (5.6K)

The request was granted quickly after it was sent.

Lin Yi did not choose his somewhat private virtual living room, but instead set the meeting place in the "Silver Blue Space," a domain that he had specially applied to expand using a lot of star crystals and built based on his own private space and the Pan-Spirit Alliance's permissions.

This is not simply a simulation of the scenery of Earth, but a harmonious blend of the vastness of the starry sea and the delicate beauty of Earth.

Beneath my feet lies the clear, rippling sea, reflecting the starry sky. On the distant horizon, the outline of a blue planet appears and disappears amidst the nebula.

Cangming's figure quietly materialized. He was still wearing that black robe, and his gaze swept around with a hint of curiosity.

"Junior brother, the arrangement of this place is quite interesting."

Cangming commented with a slight smile.

Unlike the grandeur or austerity of typical virtual spaces, this place possesses a unique tranquility.

Lin Yi didn't rush to ask questions, but instead led Cangming towards an elegant pavilion that suddenly appeared in the middle of the sea.

The pavilion, constructed of verdant bamboo and warm jade, blends strangely harmoniously with the surrounding starry backdrop.

He raised his hand in a gesture, and a set of simple and elegant tea set naturally appeared on the stone table in the pavilion, with a pot of clear tea steaming in the air.

"Please sit down, senior brother."

Lin Yi, with a respectful yet composed demeanor, personally poured Cangming a cup of tea. The clear tea rippled gently in the jade cup. "This is a specialty drink from my junior brother's hometown. Please try it, senior brother."

Cangming readily accepted the suggestion, picked up his teacup, and only took a small sip at the very end.

He closed his eyes slightly, feeling the slightly bitter taste melt on his tongue, followed by a sweet aftertaste that rose up his throat. After a moment, he opened his eyes and smiled, "Bitter at first, then sweet, with a long aftertaste, not bad."

Lin Yi understood that at his senior brother Cangming's level, he had seen countless rare treasures and fine wines in the universe. His hometown tea didn't have a particularly unique taste; its value lay in the sentiment and sincerity of his hometown.

He didn't point it out, but simply smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it, Senior Brother."

After finishing his tea, Cangming put down the cup and looked at Lin Yi. "Junior Brother, you certainly have patience. So, what's the matter that you rushed me here for?"

Knowing that he had laid enough groundwork, Lin Yi stopped beating around the bush, straightened his expression, and briefly recounted the attack on the Crimson Blood Star base, the tragic deaths of Tavik and others, and the legion's initial assessment that the Kunmo Clan prodigy was after him.

"Oh? You mean this?" Cangming wasn't surprised, as if he had expected it. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "What, you want to take revenge?"

Lin Yi met Cangming's gaze and frankly admitted, "I do have such thoughts. My comrades were slaughtered because of me, and this grudge must be avenged. But there is a saying in my hometown: 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.' Therefore, I would like to ask my senior brother to tell me the specific information about the Kunmo tribe, such as their exact strength, abilities, and current whereabouts."

Upon hearing this, Cangming smiled and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes: "Plan before you act, that's good. I've seen many talented people who have a smooth journey, but they turn from confidence into arrogance, look down on everyone, and eventually fall in obscurity."

"Did you know that, according to the Pan-Spirit Alliance's incomplete statistics, less than 30% of the powerhouses who ultimately ascend to the position of Eternal God are the most admired geniuses in each Genius Battle? The rest either get stuck in the Evolution Realm like your senior brother and me, unable to make any progress, or, for various reasons, they perish early on."

He paused, his tone carrying a warning: "I can tell you the information you want. That Kunmo tribe member is one of the more active 'Blade Princes' of this generation. He has already left Crimson Star, and even left the K-77 star system."

"Gone?" Lin Yi frowned slightly, somewhat surprised. "Wasn't I its target? How could it leave so easily?"

"Since it didn't find you, it naturally won't linger on Crimson Star."

Cangming explained, "For a prodigy of this caliber, lingering in one place after being exposed makes them easy prey for their opponents, potentially leading to a trap. Its retaliatory destruction of the command center is both an act of revenge and a provocation against you, or rather, against humanity. Once its objective is achieved, it will naturally move on. For example, if you stayed for more than five consecutive days after completing the Crimson Star mission, both the border legion and I would have reminded you to leave to avoid being targeted. Besides…"

Cangming looked at Lin Yi, his tone becoming more serious: "Even if it hadn't left, with your current strength, you would be no match for it."

Lin Yi's expression turned serious: "Please enlighten me, Senior Brother."

“Judging from the residual fluctuations of the rules it made, it has clearly mastered the fusion of the two domains. Although it seems to be just entering this realm and has not yet reached perfection, it has finally crossed that threshold.” Cangming said slowly, “As for you, junior brother, judging from the methods you used on Crimson Star a few days ago, although your metal domain is perfected and your life rules are profound, you are still a bit short of the necessary skill to fuse the two and take that crucial step.”

"The difference between the first and second levels of the domain may seem like a small step, but it is actually a qualitative leap. If you were to confront it, your chances of winning would be extremely low."

Cangming earnestly advised, "Therefore, I must remind you that in the future, if you encounter an opponent who is clearly prepared to target you in the tiered battlefield, and the situation is unclear while there is an opportunity to escape, try to escape first."

"Don't feel ashamed to leave without making a move. In the cosmic battlefield, survival is the key. Those arrogant people who think 'I'll test my strength' or 'How will I know if I don't fight' or who are too proud to admit it will most likely become stepping stones on their opponents' road to fame."

Lin Yi listened silently, knowing that Cangming's words were invaluable advice, the result of countless sacrifices and lessons learned.

He didn't stubbornly insist on saying things like "I'll break through soon" because of his competitive spirit. Instead, he kept the advice in mind and said in a deep voice, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. Lin Yi understands."

However, Lin Yi then added, "Senior brother, if I believe I can handle it someday, how can I find its trail?"

Cangming was not surprised that Lin Yi had not given up his desire for revenge. On the path of cultivation, there are some knots in one's heart that must be untied by oneself.

He replied, “Finding its trail isn’t too difficult. If it’s still active within the tiered battlefield system, it’ll be easy for the Astronautical Army’s intelligence to detect it and pinpoint its approximate area if it strikes again. The difficulty lies in how you can quickly traverse potentially extremely distant star systems after receiving the information, and how to ensure it doesn’t flee again. Therefore, the conventional method is to simply stake out its active area for an extended period. Or…”

He gave Lin Yi a meaningful look: "Find a way to make it come to you on its own."

"You took the initiative to seek me out?" Lin Yi's eyes flickered slightly.

“That’s right. For example, do something that it can’t ignore, so that it or the Kunmo clan feels it has to send it to get rid of you. Or, appear in a key situation where it is bound to appear.”

Then, Cangming changed the subject, "But this method is extremely risky, like snatching chestnuts from a fire. You can't control who comes, nor can you guarantee that it will be the only one. If you attract an even more powerful character, or fall into a carefully laid trap, then you're just courting death."

"It seeks me out proactively, making it impossible for me to ignore it."

Lin Yi repeated in a low voice, many thoughts already flashing through his mind.

He bowed to Cangming again: "Thank you for informing me, Senior Brother. I understand now."

Cangming nodded, said no more, then gestured, his figure slowly fading away and disappearing into the silver-blue space.

He has provided all the necessary reminders; the rest of the journey is up to this junior brother to walk on his own.

After seeing Cangming off, Lin Yi sat alone in the pavilion for a long time, drinking the now-cold tea in his cup in one gulp.

"Strength... or not enough strength."

Lin Yi muttered to himself, then his eyes regained their clarity and determination, and he once again immersed himself in the tedious yet fulfilling practice.
-
Time flies, and half a year passed quickly while I was engaged in arduous training and handling mercenary group affairs.

On this day, Lin Yi, who was cultivating, was awakened by Xuanji's gentle voice.

"Principal, I have received a virtual encrypted invitation from 'Ninth Senior Brother Cangming'. Note: Small gathering of the sect, please come immediately."

Lin Yi slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and bright, revealing a restrained brilliance.

He stood up, not rushing to connect, but first adjusting his mental state to its best before calmly giving the instructions:

"Xuanji, connect invitation."

The moment the command was issued, the surrounding scenery did not switch instantly as it usually does when accessing a virtual network; instead, it seemed to be gently wiped away by an invisible hand.

The scene in the training room dissipated like the receding tide, replaced by a strange sense of weightlessness and traversal, as if the soul was ascending along a passage constructed of pure intention and the power of rules towards some indescribable place.

There was no blinding light or deafening sound. When everything settled down, Lin Yi found himself in a wondrous scene beyond imagination.

He was standing above an endless void, his feet not on solid ground, but on a transparent base that seemed to be made of solidified starlight.

Looking down, you can see a magnificent spiral galaxy slowly rotating below, as if you are viewing a living cosmic star map.

Above, there is a multi-layered, staggered spacetime structure, where different nebulae and star clusters are born, die, and change, flowing with a dreamlike luster.

"Junior brother, over here."

Cangming's familiar voice rang out from the side.

Lin Yi turned his head and saw Cang Ming still wearing a black robe, smiling at him with a hint of "I knew you would be shocked".

"Ninth Senior Brother," Lin Yi said, composed himself and bowing.

"Let's go, our senior brothers and sisters should be arriving soon." Cangming called out and walked forward.

Lin Yi followed closely behind, and the starlight base beneath their feet extended automatically with their steps, as if it were alive.

After walking a short distance, the view suddenly opened up before us.

A platform suspended against a backdrop of multiple starry skies appears before your eyes.

The platform has an ancient and grand style. The ground is made of an unknown material that is as smooth as jade and contains starlight. There are no walls around it, only a few giant pillars carved with complex star trails and ancient runes, which define the boundaries of the area.

At the center of the platform are several square, smooth-polished floating stone platforms, resembling shattered stars, each surrounded by a soft halo of light, forming its own seating area. Further away, a stream entirely composed of liquid starlight flows gently, with occasionally nimble light fish leaping out of the water, splashing specks of starlight.

The air was filled with an indescribable fragrance, neither sandalwood nor cassia. Taking a breath of it made one feel refreshed and cleansed, as if one's soul had been cleansed.

"How about it? This 'Star Banquet Platform' is a temporary venue that I obtained at a considerable cost by applying for deep access to the Pan-Spirit Alliance's virtual network."

Cangming introduced with a hint of pride, "Although it is virtual, the rules here are close to the origin. Although they are of little use to us, they are of great help to your level of understanding."

"A masterpiece of craftsmanship, truly breathtaking," Lin Yi exclaimed sincerely.

He could sense that every blade of grass, every tree, every ray of light, and every shadow here contained profound rules and truths.

"Haha, that's nothing. The real show will start when Senior Brother and Third Senior Sister arrive."

Before Cangming finished speaking, the space beside a giant pillar of stars at the edge of the platform rippled like water.

The next moment, a figure stepped out silently.

The newcomer wore a long robe that seemed to be woven from countless shadows and fragments of starlight. He was not tall, and was even somewhat thin, but the moment he appeared, the entire "Star Banquet Platform" seemed to sink slightly.

It's not a physical heaviness, but a sense of "suppression" stemming from the rules themselves.

The surrounding starlight streams seemed to slow down for a moment, and the leaping light fish quietly darted back to the bottom of the water.

His face was ordinary, and his exact age was hard to discern. His eyes were deep and dark, like black holes that devoured everything, with occasional glimmers of starlight appearing and disappearing within them. As his gaze swept over Lin Yi, he felt as if everything about him had been seen through, and a sense of instinctive awe rose from the depths of his soul.

"Senior Brother." Cangming immediately dropped his joking tone and bowed respectfully.

Lin Yi's heart skipped a beat. He dared not be negligent and followed closely behind, bowing and saying, "Lin Yi greets Senior Brother."

The newcomer was none other than the eldest disciple of the sect, the eternal deity—Zhenyu!
The prison guard's gaze lingered on Lin Yi for a moment. The gaze was not oppressive, but it carried a sense of ancient vicissitudes and majesty that seemed to see through eternity.

He nodded slightly, his voice calm, yet it seemed to resonate deep within his soul: "Hmm, the foundation is decent, and the temperament is quite steady."

He said only this one sentence, and then walked to the main star stone platform, sat down, and closed his eyes to rest.

He sat there, as if he had become the center and foundation of this world, and all things were at peace because of him.

Lin Yi felt a chill run down his spine.

He subconsciously compared his senior brother with the other eternal deity avatars he had seen in the training camp. He had a feeling that his senior brother seemed to be even more unfathomable than those eternally existing avatars.

Shortly after Zhenyu arrived, on the other side of the platform, at the source of the starlight stream, space shattered like a mirror, then instantly reformed.

A slender figure appeared, accompanied by a clear, crisp laugh like the shattering of ice and jade.

"Oh my, the place Xiao Cangming found is pretty good, it's interesting. How about I let you organize it in the future?"

As soon as the voice faded, the figure clearly appeared before everyone.

This is a woman of unparalleled beauty, a masterpiece of nature, whose every smile and frown could stir the stars.

She wore a flowing, ever-changing rainbow dress, the colors of which were indescribable, as if encompassing all the magnificent sunsets and dreamlike hues of the world.

Her temperament was ethereal and dreamlike; as her eyes moved, it seemed as if countless worlds were being born and dying within them.

Third Senior Sister, Thousand Illusions! Another eternal deity!
Qianhuan smiled and swept her gaze over the people present, her eyes lingering on Lin Yi for a moment longer.

When her gaze fell upon him, Lin Yi was momentarily dazed, as if he saw countless versions of himself and countless possibilities for the future flashing before his eyes. He quickly steadied his mind and managed to shake off the strange influence.

"Hey, this must be Junior Brother Lin Yi, right? He looks good, but he seems a bit dull."

Qian Huan moved with light, seemingly slow steps, yet she arrived in front of Lin Yi in a single stride, curiously examining him. "I heard you even lured out the Blade Prince on the border battlefield?"

Before Lin Yi could answer, Cangming interjected, "Third Senior Sister, your information network is still so impressive."

"That's natural."

Qianhuan proudly raised her pointed chin, then smiled at Lin Yi and said, "Don't be afraid, little guy. I have high hopes for you. Come to my 'Qianhuan Heaven' when you have time, and I guarantee you'll see a sight ten thousand times more spectacular than this."

As she spoke, she winked mischievously.

Faced with the unconventional and lively Senior Sister Yongheng, Lin Yi could only remain respectful: "Thank you, Third Senior Sister."

Qianhuan chuckled and stopped teasing him. She gracefully sat down next to her senior brother, Zhenyu.

But once she sat down, she acted completely unrefined, her fingers tracing the surrounding starlight, weaving various strange patterns of light and shadow, a stark contrast to the still and steadfast Zhenyu beside her.

Immediately afterwards, above the platform, a previously calm starry sky was suddenly torn open like a curtain, and a scorching, explosive aura surged out.

A figure resembling a humanoid star strode out from within, its body engulfed in an inextinguishable golden divine flame, scorching even the void itself until it was slightly distorted.

"Hahaha, you're not too late, are you! Cangming, the place you chose is too cold under the stars, not exciting enough."

The newcomer's voice was booming, making the platform vibrate.

He was tall and strong, with a rugged face and a head of red hair like burning flames. His eyes shone with golden light when they opened and closed. He was none other than the fourth senior brother, Lieyang.

Before he had even fully landed, his burning gaze swept over Lin Yi. "This is the new junior brother? I heard he went straight to the border battlefield as soon as he joined the sect? Not bad. If you get the chance, I'll teach you a few moves, I guarantee you'll have a good time!"

His aura was wild and unrestrained. Although he tried to restrain himself, the intense aura that seemed capable of burning the starry sea still made Lin Yi feel a faint stinging sensation on his skin.

"Fourth Senior Brother." Cangming seemed used to Lieyang's style and greeted him helplessly.

Lin Yi quickly bowed and said, "Lin Yi greets Fourth Senior Brother."

"Alright, alright!" Lieyang waved his hand, and a scorching wind swept by. "Don't be as reserved as your sixth and seventh senior brothers and sisters. In our sect, we settle things with our fists! Once you reach the Yanjie, no, the Star Domain is fine too, then we can have a proper sparring session."

He emphasized the word "exchange of skills," his eyes filled with anticipation.

As soon as Lieyang sat down, the space beside him rippled out calmly like water, and a figure quietly appeared, as if he had always been there.

The newcomer wore a simple gray robe, had an ordinary face, a gentle demeanor, and deep, serene eyes that seemed to encompass all things.

The moment he appeared, the scorching heat emanating from the blazing sun seemed to be soothed by an invisible force, becoming much gentler.

"Fourth brother, calm down, don't scare your junior brother." The newcomer's voice was calm, carrying a reassuring quality.

"Sixth Senior Brother." Cangming and Lin Yi bowed simultaneously.

The person who came was none other than the sect's chief steward, the sixth senior brother, Xuan Shu.

Xuan Shu smiled and nodded to Lin Yi, his gaze gentle and wise: "Junior Brother Lin Yi, it's a pleasure to meet you. Our master has exceptional insight; you must have extraordinary abilities to have become his disciple. If you encounter any difficulties in your cultivation or in the outside world in the future, feel free to come to me anytime if you don't mind the trouble."

His words were like a gentle breeze, quite different from Lieyang's wildness, Qianhuan's unconventionality, and Zhenyu's majesty, yet they possessed a convincing power.

"Thank you very much, Sixth Senior Brother," Lin Yi said gratefully.

This sixth senior brother gives people a feeling of extreme reliability.

Just then, a faint chill quietly spread out, and at the edge of the platform, specks of ice crystals condensed out of thin air, forming a cold and aloof figure.

She was dressed in a plain white gown, her face exquisitely beautiful, yet with a sickly pallor, like an eternal, unyielding ice.

His aura was restrained, but the chill that penetrated deep into his soul could not be completely concealed.

It was none other than Seventh Senior Sister Bingling.

She nodded slightly to everyone as a greeting, her voice clear and cold as snow: "Senior Brother, Third Senior Sister, Fourth Senior Brother, Sixth Senior Brother, Ninth Junior Brother."

His gaze finally fell on Lin Yi, and he nodded gently, "Junior Brother."

"Seventh Senior Sister," Lin Yi greeted her.

Bingling didn't say much. She silently walked to a star-shaped stone platform a little further away, sat down, closed her eyes to regulate her breathing, and faint phantom images of ice phoenixes hovered around her.

(End of this chapter)