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

Chapter 261 Four No's and Two Straights, A Reunion After a Century (6K views, please vote for me)
As Lin Yi walked into the commercial pedestrian street, he noticed that on both sides of the street, futuristic streamlined alloy buildings and deliberately preserved antique-style eaves intertwined, creating a peculiar sense of temporal and spatial intersection, as if the past and future of civilization were forcibly spliced ​​together at this moment.

However, he didn't find anything wrong with it; on the contrary, he thought it had a strange kind of beauty.

After walking a few steps, a rich aroma, a blend of traditional spices and the fragrance of some peculiar fungus, drew Lin Yi to a street food stall.

The stall owner was a sprightly old man who was skillfully operating a semi-automatic cooking arm to make a signature product – “Xingyuan Grilled Skewers”.

It's a novel concoction that combines traditional lamb skewers with a type of chewy, edible, fluorescent fungus.

There was a queue of moderate length in front of the stall.

"Old Zhang, the taste is really authentic today! May your business prosper!" a regular customer greeted loudly.

"Haha, thanks to the Cradle Project, young people these days love to try new things and are willing to spend money!"

Old Zhang chuckled and replied, his hands still busy, handing the grilled meat skewers to the customers. "It's this fluorescent mushroom. Its price is as unpredictable as its light. It was fine for the first few days after the subsidy was issued, and the suppliers were polite. But in less than half a month, you'll see, the price will go up again! Our profits will also shrink accordingly."

Lin Yi also ordered a skewer, tried it, and found it surprisingly good. The traditional charcoal aroma and the unique sweetness of the mushrooms blended perfectly, and the faint glow of the skewer added a touch of charm in the evening.

As he slowly savored the food, he listened to the casual conversations of the people in line. These everyday conversations often reflected the true social landscape better than any report.

"Have you heard? The land for the community park in the newly planned Xinghai Jiayuan community in the east of the city is supposedly going to be used by a chamber of commerce from the Kalando Star Region to build their logistics hub."

"Tsk, it's the same again! The residents over there have protested several times, but what's the use? The higher-ups just say that they should prioritize the overall situation of openness and inclusiveness and give priority to ensuring the reasonable needs of interstellar partners."

"Sigh, there's nothing we can do. We need their technology and their channels right now, so we'll just have to bear with it."

"That's not entirely true."

Another man, who looked like a young white-collar worker, chimed in, trying to balance things out, "The Elven race project team at Xinghai Mining that I'm in charge of liaising with, their manager is very courteous. Last time, he even offered to help us upgrade the community's waste recycling system. He was very cooperative."

"That's a true, established, top-tier civilization with a profound foundation and sophisticated methods! What's annoying is those... how should I put it, half-baked experts! Relying on the fact that they come from some unknown star field, and maybe have a star field-level or world-evolution-level ancestor, they think they can look down on us, a newly emerging civilization. When discussing cooperation, the conditions they set are like charity."

Lin Yi listened silently, memorizing these fragmented pieces of information.

This unequal pressure and subtle disdain from the outside world are real, and not just the public's sensitivity or suspicion.

In order to quickly integrate into the Starsea Network and acquire crucial technologies and resources, the Silver Blue Civilization has indeed been overly restrained and even somewhat weak in certain areas, which has undoubtedly emboldened some outsiders.

The public's feelings are the most direct; discontent and helplessness are brewing in private, and although they have not erupted into fierce conflicts, they are surging like an undercurrent.

This is a kind of growing pain that a weak civilization cannot completely avoid when facing complex interstellar politics in the early stages of its rise.

After listening for a while, Lin Yi finished his kebabs on the spot, left the food stall, and turned into a large comprehensive shopping mall that claimed to "gather the charm of ten thousand stars".

This place is practically a mini-cosmic culture expo.

The jewelry store, styled after the Sheena family, exudes a soft glow and a tranquil atmosphere. The mineral specimen museum, with its rugged style from an unknown race, displays crystals that shimmer with strange energy. There's even a minimalist home furnishing store that mimics the logic and aesthetics of the mechanical race, with its cold, hard lines and absolute functionality that catches the eye. The store is dazzling and bizarre.

At the entrance of a “Source Energy Insight and Mind-Body Enhancement Hall”, decorated like a sacred temple in a forest of the Elven race and filled with an unknown incense, a group of stylish young men and women were queuing to enter.

A middle-aged man dressed in an exaggerated, elf-like robe, speaking with a dramatic intonation, was giving a rousing speech on a makeshift platform nearby.

"Fellow countrymen! It's time to open your eyes!"

"The Spirit Race is a being closer to the origin of the universe and eternity. Look at their lifespans of tens of thousands of years, look at their innate talent of being born with source energy! This is the correct direction for the evolution of life."

"Our Silver Blue Civilization's greatest strategic opportunity right now is the alliance with the Sheena family! We should encourage intermarriage, actively learn their culture and way of thinking, and even consider, after dozens of generations of effort, completely integrating our bloodline and culture into the Spirit Race. This is the shortcut to a higher civilization! This is called strategic bloodline and cultural optimization!"

Many young people in the audience looked on with fervor, as if they had found the ultimate answer to life and a ladder to a higher social status.

Lin Yi noticed that in another corner of the mall, a small classroom with a sign that read "Inheritance of Xia State Guqin and Cultivation of Character" was deserted. Only an elderly gentleman with gray hair was wiping the strings of a guqin with focused concentration under the soft light. His figure looked particularly lonely and desolate against the backdrop of the bustling mall.

This lack of cultural confidence and near-"convertible fanaticism" resonates with a significant number of young people who have witnessed the splendor of the cosmos but lack sufficient historical depth and core cultural confidence.

They are eager to find a higher, more universal identity label, but in their impatient self-denial, they inadvertently lose their way and their true selves.

However, this trend did not extend to every corner.

In the mall's public rest area, Lin Yi saw a group of volunteers, consisting of college students and community workers, holding a small event with the slogan "Rationally Understanding Our New Neighbors - A Brief Analysis of the Sheena Family Culture and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations".

They did not simply praise, but rather used publicly available information provided by Xuanji to objectively introduce the history, social structure, technological characteristics, and current predicaments of the Spirit Race, and compared them with the development path of human civilization, emphasizing the importance of communication, learning, and independence.

Although the number of listeners was far less than that of the "Source Energy Insight Hall," the people sitting around had rational, curious, and focused eyes, and their questions were more in-depth.

This shows that the forces of reason are also striving to make their voices heard and compete for the right to speak, but the process is destined to be long and arduous.

After browsing around for a while, Lin Yi walked out of the mall. The sky was beginning to darken, and the city was dressed in a dazzling coat woven from neon lights, holographic advertisements, and aircraft navigation lights.

Lin Yi strolled to a newly built community park that was part of the old city renovation project.

Children laugh and chase each other on the smart playground equipment, while parents chat on the benches or handle business on their wrists—a peaceful scene.

But a scene on a dimly lit bench at the edge of the park, out of place with the surroundings, caught Lin Yi's attention.

A well-dressed and meticulously made-up young woman was intently scrolling through her personal terminal.

Beside her feet, a little girl of about four or five years old, dressed rather simply, was gripping the edge of the bench with both hands, gazing longingly at the interactive smart toys that other children were holding in the sandpit not far away.

The woman looked at the terminal for a while, then her face lit up with joy.

She grabbed the little girl and roughly operated the small child welfare terminal on her wrist, muttering under her breath, "With this month's A-grade nutritional supplements and potential development course subsidy, we've finally saved enough money for that 'Starflow' flying skateboard I've got my eye on."

The little girl was pulled and stumbled, her small body swaying. Tears welled up in her eyes instantly, but she bit her lower lip tightly, afraid to cry out.

An elderly woman playing in the sand with her grandson nearby couldn't bear to watch any longer and whispered a word of advice: "Young lady, your child is still young, at a crucial time for growth and development. It would be best to use the government subsidies on your child."

"What's it to you? Mind your own business!"

The woman immediately retorted in a shrill voice, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, "It's my child, how I spend the subsidies is my own business! What do you old-fashioned people know? We're in the interstellar age now, investing in yourself is the most important thing, raising her to adulthood is already a great achievement!"

The old woman shook her head, knowing that communication was impossible, so she stopped talking, took her grandson's hand and walked away silently, sighing softly as she went: "It's such a tragedy. Some young people these days treat having children as a way to make money, and they don't care at all whether the child lives or dies."

"And then there are those unscrupulous merchants who collude to raise prices and create so-called 'subsidized special supply' products, specifically designed to swindle these subsidy funds. In the end, the government's goodwill flows into their pockets."

Lin Yi's heart sank slightly.

He knew that any good policy aimed at universal benefit could be distorted and exploited in the face of complex implementation processes and human desires.

The original intention of the "Cradle of the Stars" project was to encourage childbirth and provide preferential treatment to the next generation, thereby ensuring the future of civilization. However, in some corners, it has spawned a gray industry chain of "birth arbitrage" and distorted and abnormal consumer and parenting views.

Clearly, there are loopholes that need to be filled and enforcement efforts need to be strengthened in areas such as subsidy disbursement, eligibility verification, and price regulation of specific commodities.

Just as he was pondering this, a deep, powerful engine roar came from afar, like the howl of a wild beast, violently tearing apart the relatively quiet night sky of the park.

More than ten extravagantly designed, dazzlingly painted anti-gravity luxury flying cars, like a swarm of bees that have caught the scent of prey, swept low over the park with an oppressive roar and turbulent airflow, almost touching the red line of the city's safe flight regulations. This caused the children to look up in fear or curiosity, while most of the adults frowned and showed displeasure.

"It's that little brat from the Lin family's convoy again."

An elderly man playing chess under the park lights nearby didn't even look up. His tone was filled with a sense of helplessness and annoyance, "They parade around like this every day. You can hear their engines three blocks away, but I've never seen any department actually do anything about it."

"Well, what can you do when someone has such a great older brother?"

His chess partner across from him moved the pieces while speaking, his tone somewhat complicated, "His younger brother, Lin Xuan, is the undisputed number one figure in our Helu City, no, it should be said that he is the number one figure in the second-generation elite circle of the entire Blue Star. Although so far, we haven't heard of him doing any major heinous crimes such as bullying men and women, he spends all his time either hanging out in those top-tier private clubs with interstellar themes and organizing some deep-space speed races that burn through money like water. He's a standard playboy template, and he's used his brother's illustrious reputation in a completely different way."

Lin Yi stood there, the cool evening breeze ruffling his hair.

"Sigh, every family has a few good-for-nothings, even the Lin family is no exception. But fortunately, Lin Yao's reputation is quite good; I heard she's very talented." The man who had complained earlier sighed. "Lin Yao..."

The chess player's tone became somewhat subtle, and his movements slowed down as he placed his pieces.

"She is indeed a true genius, but... well, she has too many suitors, and she seems to enjoy being the center of attention. Didn't the StarNet Entertainment section break the news a few days ago that two heirs from different star regions' powerful families publicly challenged each other to a duel in the most high-end virtual fighting community for her, and the stakes alarmed the Chamber of Commerce Alliance? It caused quite a stir, and I heard that she herself didn't explicitly stop it, but rather seemed to enjoy it."

Lin Yi stood there, the setting sun casting a long shadow over him.

His brother's indulgence, his sister's potential vanity, and the lack of family education after his rise in status—these family matters, intertwined with the various social phenomena he had just witnessed, gave him a complex and heavy feeling.

Lin Yi realized that not only at the macro-social level, but also in his own family, amidst the enormous changes brought about by his rise in status, there were problems that he had not anticipated and had failed to address in time.

Fortunately, it wasn't a serious problem and wasn't difficult to fix.

Lin Yi shook his head and continued walking.

At the community service center, he saw staff patiently explaining to a new father how to properly apply for and use childcare subsidies, and recommending several baby product vendors so he could compare them and make a purchase based on his needs.

On the street corner's bulletin board, news of the busting of a gang that used false information to swindle subsidies from "Cradle of Starry Sea" was being played on a loop.

Outside the walls of a middle school, he heard the passionate debate of teenagers inside, discussing "the unique value of the Silver Blue Civilization in the Star Sea".

As night deepened, Lin Yi unknowingly found himself in a familiar area, guided by his memory.

The scene before him was quite different from what he remembered, filled with a rugged military atmosphere and a sense of desolation.

A huge holographic sign shone brightly in the night sky, projecting the majestic and powerful words: "Silver Blue Community East Peak Interstellar Military Academy".

This place was formerly known as Dongfeng Military Academy. Now, after several expansions and upgrades, it has become the highest military academy for selecting and training interstellar defense forces and reserve talents for the Dongfeng Mercenary Group from across the entire Silver Blue Civilization.

It is also a sacred place in the hearts of countless young people who yearn for the stars and aspire to power.

Lin Yi stood outside the main gate of the college.

The gate is magnificent, combining a high-strength alloy with an energy barrier. On both sides are huge alloy reliefs, one of which depicts the arduous journey of humanity from its cradle on its home planet to deep space.

On the other side is the emblem of the East Peak Mercenary Group and its epic scene of fighting bloody battles in the sea of ​​stars.

In the very center stands a dark metal monument tens of meters high, its body resembling a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, resolutely piercing the starry sky. Its smooth and powerful lines gleam with a cold, hard luster in the night.

On the sword hilt-shaped base, two lines of powerful characters are inscribed in both the universal language and the Xia Kingdom script:
"Bearing the hopes of our homeland, we aim our swords at the depths of the stars."

There was no signature, but Lin Yi could clearly feel the boundless will contained between the lines.

This is perhaps the soul of this military academy today, and the truest reflection of the entire Silver Blue Civilization as it embraces the starry sea.

Lin Yi concealed all his presence, like an invisible observer, and silently blended into the campus.

Even at night, the college remains vibrant and disciplined.

On the road, the trainees, dressed in their training uniforms, walked in groups of three or five, their steps hurried yet orderly. Their expressions carried the vigor unique to young people, and also bore the mark of the perseverance and decisiveness that belonged to soldiers.

Lin Yi strolled to a large, comprehensive open-air training ground.

Even at this time, there were still many people on the training ground spontaneously sweating and practicing non-stop.

Some were in the adjustable gravity zone, carrying heavy special equipment, undergoing extreme physical training. Every squat and every punch was accompanied by heavy breathing and beads of sweat hitting the ground. Others were in the energy guidance zone, closing their eyes and concentrating, guiding the faint energy particles in the air, their bodies shimmering with various colors of light. Still others were in the weapon control zone, repeatedly practicing basic movements such as assault, blocking, and precision shooting, striving to hone each movement into instinct.

His gaze, like the most sophisticated scanner, slowly swept over these hardworking figures, finally pausing for a moment on a slightly thin figure, but with exceptionally agile movements and a ruthless air.

The man was practicing a thrusting technique that combined military combat skills with mercenary techniques. His movements were as agile as a fox, and his attacks were cunning and ruthless, exuding a fierce and courageous aura that was clearly honed in life-or-death battles. This was completely different from the somewhat rigid academic style of the people around him.

"Hey, it's him."

Lin Yi's memories were instantly stirred, as clear as if they were from yesterday.

That was many years ago, during the civilization advancement assessment stage, when he had the opportunity to personally guide the "Lynx" squad, and that was the mercenary who was somewhat thin.

Unexpectedly, the lowly mercenary who was struggling to survive and relied on his talent and ruthlessness to make a living has now passed the extremely rigorous selection process of Dongfeng Military Academy and become one of its students.

Moreover, it seems that he has not only not had his edges smoothed out by the academy system, but has also combined his past wild experience with formal training, resulting in significant progress in both his strength and temperament.

Seeing his old friend find his way on this path to the sea of ​​stars and forge his own path, Lin Yi felt a sense of relief.

This proves that the seeds he planted and the upward mobility channel he built are indeed changing the fate of many people and selecting and forging truly useful talents for civilization.

After observing for a while and not seeing any familiar faces, Lin Yi left the bustling training ground and headed towards the relatively quiet teaching and administrative areas.

Unlike the scattered lights in the distant dormitory area that were gradually going out, many office windows here still shone brightly, especially the central office building, which was shaped like a sword's hilt and was brightly lit.

Lin Yi's heart stirred, and he strolled into the office building.

The interior corridors were quiet and clean, with only a few intelligent cleaning robots gliding silently along predetermined routes.

Guided by his memory, he arrived at an office at the end of the third-floor corridor. The doorplate was made of matte metal and clearly read: "Vice Principal: Nie Chang".

The lights inside were still burning steadily.

Lin Yi paused at the door for about two seconds, seemingly considering something, before finally raising his hand and knocking three times with his knuckles.

"Please come in."

A slightly tired voice immediately came from inside.

Lin Yi pushed open the door and went inside.

The office furnishings are much simpler and more organized than when he was there, but there are also many more advanced interstellar office equipment.

Several large screens embedded in the wall are silently scrolling through complex student data, training reports, star situation maps, and even material dispatch lists.

Nie Chang sat behind his large desk, still wearing his familiar old-style training uniform, even though the new military uniform was hanging on the rack next to him. He was looking down with a furrowed brow, staring at the electronic version in his hand, as if he had encountered a difficult problem to solve.

Without even looking up, he habitually said, "Just leave the documents on the table. I'll review them tonight and contact you before the training camp starts tomorrow morning. Go home and get some rest."

Lin Yi didn't move or make a sound; he just stood quietly at the door.

After a while, Nie Chang seemed to notice something was wrong.

There was no slight thud as expected when the document was put down, nor the usual "Yes, Vice Principal" from a young faculty member, nor the sound of footsteps leaving.

Nie Chang raised his head with a hint of surprise.

Then, he seemed to be paused, his hand holding the electronic pen frozen in mid-air.

"Clap."

The electronic pen slipped from his unconsciously loosened fingers and gently fell onto the smooth tabletop.

The screen of the electronic board went dark, perhaps because it had lost its operating instructions, reflecting his stunned face.

In the office, only the two of them remained silently gazing at each other, and the faint shouts of military academy students training at night could be heard from outside the window.

(End of this chapter)