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

Chapter 248 Impacting the Source Law, the Third Rule (5K)

Finally, a strange buzzing sound came from the far reaches of the void. At the edge of the platform, deep and dark ripples spread out, and at the center of the ripples, the solemn sounds of clashing swords and galloping horses could be faintly heard.

Soon, a figure stepped out from the center of the dark ripples.

She wore a black armor with gold patterns. The armor was simple and covered all the key parts of her body. The runes engraved on it seemed to flow slowly as if they were alive, exuding vicissitudes and resilience that had been tempered by endless blood and fire.

The armor did not conceal her tall and slender figure; on the contrary, it added to her heroic air.

That's right, Second Senior Sister Heng Huan.

Her face was not stunningly beautiful, but it had distinct features and a kind of resilience that had weathered many storms. Her phoenix eyes seemed to cut through all illusions as they opened and closed, and even the cheerful stream of starlight around her seemed to freeze for a moment when her gaze fell upon them.

Heng Huan did not deliberately exude any aura, but an invisible malevolent energy, seemingly originating from a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood, naturally spread out.

Her appearance caused Qianhuan, who had been playing around, to sit up straighter, and Zhenyu, the senior brother who had been resting with his eyes closed, to open his eyes again and nod slightly to her.

"Second Senior Sister."

Lieyang, Cangming, Xuanshu, Bingling, and Lin Yi all bowed in unison.

This senior sister, who represented humanity on one of the most dangerous front lines, deserves everyone's respect.

Heng Huan glanced at everyone present, nodded slightly to Zhen Yu and Qian Huan as a greeting, and then looked at Cang Ming, "Xiao Jiu, the location is well chosen, thank you for your trouble."

Cangming smiled and said, "Second Senior Sister's presence this time truly makes this Star Banquet Platform shine."

Heng Huan nodded slightly, his gaze finally settling on Lin Yi.

"So you are Lin Yi?"

Heng Huan said, "The tiered battlefields are just trials. Make the most of them. If you go to the front lines of the Abyss Cave later, it won't be so easy."

Lin Yi felt a chill run down his spine and respectfully replied, "Yes, Second Senior Sister. Lin Yi will certainly keep Senior Sister's teachings in mind, strive to improve my strength, and dare not slack off."

Heng Huan said no more and walked to an empty star-shaped stone platform to sit down.

At this point, apart from Master Xuchen, all the remaining members of the sect were present.

The auras they naturally exuded intertwined, making this virtual starry sky seem somewhat overwhelmed, and the rules began to ripple.

Lin Yi, standing amidst it all, felt as if he had stumbled into a banquet of gods, and deeply felt his own insignificance.

At this moment, in the very center of the platform, in that area that was originally empty, the scene began to blur and overlap.

It's not a distortion of light, but rather a subtle alteration of the very concept of space itself.

One moment the starry background was crystal clear, the next it was like an ink painting submerged in water, the edges blurring and blurring, blurring the line between reality and illusion.

A figure emerged naturally from this chaotic interplay of reality and illusion, as if he had stepped into reality from an ancient dream.

The newcomer appeared to be an ordinary middle-aged man, dressed in a blue robe, with a gentle face and peaceful, profound eyes. His presence was sometimes as clear as something right in front of you, and sometimes as elusive as clouds in the sky, making him hard to grasp.

It was indeed Master Xuchen.

"Master!"

All the disciples, including the eldest disciple Zhenyu and the third disciple Qianhuan, bowed in unison.

"Everyone's here? No need for formalities, please have a seat." Xu Chen smiled slightly and casually walked to the head seat and sat down.

Everyone took their seats as instructed, and all eyes were on Xu Chen.

Xu Chen's gaze swept calmly over each disciple present. When he saw his second senior sister, Heng Huan, he nodded slightly. "Heng Huan is back too. Is things still peaceful at the Abyss Cave?"

"Reporting to Master, things have been alright recently. There have been occasional frictions, but the overall situation is under control," Heng Huan replied succinctly.

"Okay, that's good." Xu Chen nodded, then sighed softly.

The sigh, though soft, made everyone present tense.

"I've summoned you all here for two reasons. First, it's been a long time since we last met, and I want to see how you've been doing. Second," he paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through the virtual Star Banquet Platform and looking towards the endless, distant real universe, "I have a feeling that this border conflict has more to do with something than it seems."

He looked at Zhenyu and Qianhuan: "Some time ago, I visited the two Source Law Lords, 'Mingji' and 'Xingyu,' respectively, to discuss the border situation. Their statements were rather vague, as if they had reservations."

Upon hearing this, both Zhenyu and Qianhuan's expressions became more serious.

Even the Lord of Source Law was vague in his explanation; what lies behind this is probably far beyond our imagination.

"If it's really as I suspect," Xu Chen's voice carried a hint of heaviness, "it won't be of much use until it reaches the Source Law."

A profound silence fell over the Star Banquet Stage.

The Realm of Origin Law is a realm that countless eternal gods cannot reach in their entire lives. Master's words are almost a assertion that the future turmoil may be so great that even eternal gods may not be able to stay out of it, or even be powerless to stop it.

“The difference between reality and illusion lies in a single thought. Sometimes, the reality that lingers before our eyes is the greatest illusion.” Xu Chen sighed, then said, “I am going into seclusion. This time, I will attempt to break through to the Origin Law Realm.”

"what?!"

This statement was truly astonishing.

"Master!" Fourth Senior Brother Lie Yangzi was the most anxious and couldn't help but speak up, "You failed to advance to the next level last time, and your divine kingdom was damaged. Only 300,000 years have passed since then. Isn't it a bit too hasty to try again in such a short time?"

Attempting to break through to the realm of the source law is extremely dangerous, with the risk of divine kingdoms collapsing and bodies and souls being destroyed.

Xu Chen failed to advance to the next level last time. Although he survived, he spent a long time recuperating.

The risk is undoubtedly greater if the impact is repeated now.

Xu Chen looked at Lie Yang, not displeased by his questioning, but instead smiled, "Sometimes, you have to be more enterprising. Waiting may not bring a better opportunity, but may even cause you to miss a good chance."

As he spoke, he glanced at the disciples and slowly said, "Some time ago, I converted most of my resources and accumulations into clan honors."

Upon hearing the words "Clan Merit," a look of understanding flashed in the eyes of Cangming, Xuanshu, Henghuan, Bingling, and even Lieyang.

Lin Yi was struck by the word and silently memorized it.

Xu Chen continued, "Then, I used these clan merits to apply to the clan and finally obtained a spot to enter the Primordial Origin Sea."

The Primordial Origin Sea?!
This time, even Zhenyu and Qianhuan couldn't help but show surprise.

Heng Huan, Cang Ming, and the others looked completely bewildered. Clearly, this so-called "Primordial Origin Sea" was a place that even they, as seasoned veterans of the Origin Realm, had never heard of before.

"Master, you actually went there!"

Qianhuan's beautiful eyes widened. "Legend has it that those are fragments of the origin left over from the beginning of the universe, containing the most ancient traces of the source laws. However, the spacetime within them is disordered and the laws are violent. Even eternal gods who delve into them risk getting lost and falling into ruin."

Xu Chen remained calm: "Risk and opportunity coexist. I have gained a little from it."

He didn't elaborate on what he had gained, but everyone understood that for an eternal god who had failed in his attempt to break through the Source Laws to say he had "gained something" and to resolve to try again, the gains must have been enormous.

Lin Yi listened from the side, completely bewildered. The terms "Clan Merit" and "Primordial Origin Sea" were like gibberish to him, but he could sense the weight and danger they contained from the shocked reactions of his senior brothers and sisters.

Furthermore, he noticed that when the term "Clan Merit" was mentioned, several senior brothers and sisters from the Derivation Realm all knew about it, while it seemed that only two senior brothers and sisters at the God-level truly understood the terror of the "Primordial Origin Sea".

"This time, my attempt to break through to the Source Law is a one-way street," Xu Chen stated as if stating a predetermined fact. "If I succeed, my human race will gain another Source Law, giving us more confidence to deal with future changes. If I fail..." He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone present understood what that meant.

The fall of an eternal god is a great loss to humanity, let alone their master.

The atmosphere suddenly became extremely heavy.

Xu Chen, however, seemed completely unconcerned and began to give instructions to his disciples one by one.

He looked at Zhenyu: "Zhenyu, you are the strongest and are in charge of such an important place as the Prison of Sin. You have a great responsibility and you are always calm and composed when dealing with matters. You can discuss things with your third junior sister."

Zhenyu said in a deep voice, "Disciple understands and will certainly not fail Master's expectations."

After instructing Zhenyu, Xuchen looked at Qianhuan: "Qianhuan, you have inherited the true teachings of my Illusionary Laws. You are resourceful and adept at weaving illusions and deducing all kinds of changes. This is your strength. The Way of Illusion lies in reflecting all laws. Although imitating it is not as effective as those who specialize in the original source, its value lies in its ever-changing nature and its unpredictability, which is enough to deal with all kinds of situations."

Then, he subtly changed the subject, "But the ultimate essence of illusion lies in containing reality within illusion, and illusion within reality. It requires a steadfast heart capable of seeing through the fog and grasping the truth. Your free-spirited nature and love of novelty and change are talents, but they also need time to mature."

"In that case, after I go into seclusion, you, as the senior sister, will have sufficient cultivation. You will need to put in more effort to assist your senior brother in taking on the responsibility of teaching and guiding your junior brothers and sisters, especially Lin Yi, who is still a novice and needs guidance on his future path."

Upon hearing this, Qianhuan's smile vanished.

She remained silent for a moment, a hint of worry flashing across her beautiful face.

Master's current attempt to break through to the Source Law Realm is far more dangerous than ever before. Entrusting her with the responsibility of teaching may sound like a trust, but isn't it also a kind of arrangement to prevent any unforeseen circumstances?
Qianhuan, with her keen mind, instantly grasped the deeper meaning.

This heavy responsibility made her uneasy, not because of the responsibility itself, but because of the risks it implied.

Immediately, as if to dispel the heaviness, her beautiful face instantly switched to an expression tinged with a hint of grievance, and she deliberately spoke in a tone that carried a touch of coquetry and complaint:

"Huh? Instruct my junior brothers and sisters? Master, you know I'm terrible at teaching. I'm still only half-baked in my own cultivation, relying entirely on intuition. If you ask me to teach, I'll just go astray."

She took half a step forward, her eyes sparkling as if she were being unreasonable, "So, Master, it's better to wait until you come out of seclusion to take on such an important responsibility yourself. You can't be lazy and dump everything on me."

Xu Chen was a man of great stature; how could he not hear the concern and unease hidden in her words?

He looked at his disciple, who had inherited his mantle most and was also the most astute, and shook his head with a smile.

"You silly girl, you should save your mind for such petty schemes. How can someone who has cultivated the Illusionary Laws to such a level claim to be 'unable to teach'?"

Then, Xu Chen softened his tone, "Teaching others is also a process of sorting out what you have learned. It will greatly help you to calm your mind and solidify your understanding. This matter is settled then."

Seeing that her master's mind was made up and that there was no way to change it, Qianhuan slowly dropped her playful expression. "Yes, Master. This disciple understands. I will do my best."

Seeing that Qianhuan had agreed, Xucheng turned to look at Henghuan.

"Heng Huan, you are in the Abyss, facing the enemy head-on, making decisive decisions. I am not worried about your determination, but you must remember that rigidity cannot last. Sometimes, retreating is a strategy."

Heng Huan's gaze was resolute: "This disciple will remember Master's teachings."

"As for Lieyang, your courage and diligence are your strengths, but you must also learn to control your anger. Flames can burn enemies, but they can also scorch yourself. Ask your sixth junior brother for advice on calming your mind."

Lieyang scratched his head and replied in a muffled voice, "Yes, Master, I will find time to talk to Sixth Brother."

Xu Cheng sighed. He could tell that Lie Yang hadn't listened to him again, so he didn't say anything more and went straight to Xuan Shu and said, "Xuan Shu, you are meticulous. You will need to take care of some miscellaneous matters. If there are any urgent matters, you can make decisions together with your senior brother and third senior sister."

Xuan Shu bowed and said, "This disciple will do his utmost in what is his duty."

Xu Cheng nodded slightly.

He had always trusted his sixth disciple.

Then, Xu Cheng instructed Bing Ling, "The way of extreme cold lies in condensing without dispersing and restraining without releasing. Your injuries have not yet healed, so you should focus on recuperation and not rush to achieve results."

A flicker of emotion crossed Bing Ling's cool eyes as she nodded gently, "Thank you for your concern, Master. I understand."

Then, Xu Chen looked at Cang Ming: "Cang Ming, you are lively yet steady. You have gained a lot of experience in recent years and are now capable of handling things on your own. Border affairs are complicated. As the supervisor, you need to grasp the right balance, uphold the rules, and also know how to be flexible. Also, take good care of your junior brother."

Cangming smiled and agreed, "Master, don't worry, I know the rules, and I'll take good care of my junior brother."

Finally, Xu Chen's gaze fell on Lin Yi.

"Lin Yi, you joined the sect the latest and your cultivation is still shallow. Although your talent is not amazing, you have a solid foundation, a calm and steady mind, and you are not arrogant or impatient. You take one step at a time, which is very good. The path of cultivation is long. In the early stages, it is more important to walk steadily than to walk fast."

"This disciple will certainly keep Master's teachings in mind, proceed steadily and surely, and dare not slacken," Lin Yi replied respectfully.

Xu Chen nodded slightly and continued, "Furthermore, your home civilization, the Silver Blue Civilization, although newly arrived in the Star Sea and with a shallow foundation, possesses considerable potential at its core, far surpassing ordinary civilizations. As the leader of this civilization, you bear a heavy responsibility. Civilization and personal cultivation sometimes complement each other, and sometimes they interfere with each other. You need to carefully grasp the balance and guide them appropriately."

"A vibrant and promising civilization may bring you unexpected benefits in the future, which would also be a blessing for our human race."

Lin Yi felt a chill run down his spine and bowed deeply: "Yes, Master. Lin Yi will live up to Wenming's trust and Master's expectations."

After giving his instructions one by one, Xu Chen's relaxed smile reappeared on his face, as if the discussions about the dangers of breaking through to the Origin Law Realm and the heavy instructions about his final affairs were just illusions.

"Alright, everything that needs to be explained has been explained. As your master, I won't stay here any longer and disturb the communication between you fellow disciples."

With a carefree flick of his sleeve, Xu Chen's figure, like a reflection in water shattered by a pebble, began to dissipate from the edges into shimmering specks of light. His final words seemed to come from the depths of a dream: "Take care."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished completely, as if he had never been there.

Only the starlight that briefly froze and then resumed its flow on the Star Banquet Platform proved that Xu Chen had just arrived.

After the master left, a strange silence fell over the Star Banquet Stage.

The amount of information conveyed in those words was too much and the impact was too strong, leaving everyone somewhat unable to process it all at once.

In the end, it was the eldest brother, Zhenyu, who spoke first, his voice low and deep: "Master's mind is made up."

Qianhuan toyed with the ends of her hair, letting out a rare sigh: "The Primordial Origin Sea... Master really went all out this time. The flow of time inside is different from the outside world, and the laws are even more bizarre. Master said he gained something, but the price he paid was probably..."

Heng Huan said in a deep voice, "Since Master has made his choice, we can only trust him."

Lieyang didn't speak; he clenched his fists, and even his fiery hair seemed to dim slightly.

Xuan Shu comforted him, saying, "Master's path is ultimately his own to walk. The greatest support we can give him is to do our own thing well and not distract him."

Bingling remained silent, and Cangming also put away his usual smile, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Lin Yi stood aside, listening silently to the conversation between his senior brothers and sisters, his heart filled with turmoil.

Clan Merit, the Primordial Origin Sea, and the Undercurrents Behind the Border
These words construct a grand and dangerous picture that he cannot yet fully comprehend.

He clearly realized the enormous gap between himself and his fellow disciples, especially his master, eldest brother, and third sister.

Faced with such a momentous topic concerning the fate of the race and the future of the sect, he had no right to interrupt and could only listen, trying his best to absorb information that was far beyond his current level.

After a period of discussion, the atmosphere remained somewhat heavy.

Whether their master succeeds or fails in his attempt to break through the Source Law, it will be a major turning point for them.

At this moment, Ninth Senior Brother Cangming seemed to feel the atmosphere was too oppressive. He coughed lightly and took the initiative to change the subject, turning his gaze to Lin Yi, his face once again displaying that familiar smile:
"Alright, alright, Master is all-powerful, he must have some confidence. There's no use in us worrying here."

He said to Lin Yi, "Junior Brother, I saw that you were already quite proficient in using the rules when you made your move on Crimson Star last time. Your Metal Domain was perfected, and your Life Rule was also very profound. It seems that you are not too far from merging with the second domain. So, what are your plans for the next rule?"

(End of this chapter)