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

Chapter 268 Star Core "Extreme Realm" (5.4K)

Before long, the commotion at the foot of the Endless Tower gradually subsided.

The onlookers, whether they were the second and third-tier prodigies or the more fourth-tier members who were just there to watch the spectacle, all left with varying degrees of shock and reflection.

After this battle, Lin Yi's name has undoubtedly been deeply imprinted in the hearts of almost all the geniuses in the Star Core Training Camp.

Kenx clenched his fist and growled, "Ha! Did you see the look in those guys' eyes? Hahaha!"

Amber's eyes gleamed as she leaned closer to Lin Yi and whispered, "Captain, now we can truly make a name for ourselves."

Lin Yi smiled but didn't say anything. He was about to lead his team away when he saw that Huiyao and a group of human geniuses hadn't left with the crowd but were waiting on the sidelines. They walked over together at that moment.

With a sincere smile on his face, Huiyao spoke first: "Lin Yi, congratulations! From today onwards, our human race will have another member in the three tiers of the training camp."

Xingyu, standing to the side, had a much more complicated expression. He looked at Lin Yi, his lips moved slightly, and finally turned into a congratulatory smile.

Qingfeng stood a little behind with several core members of the White Phoenix team.

She was dressed in a sleek, fiery red battle dress, exuding a cheerful and generous air. At this moment, she stood with her arms crossed, a curious smile playing on her lips as she sized up Lin Yi, making no attempt to hide her curiosity.

A woman with a cool and aloof demeanor whispered something to her from behind. Qingfeng smiled and nodded, her eyes brightening even more.

Huiyao's gaze swept over Kenx and the others beside Lin Yi, nodding to them as well, before finally settling on Lin Yi.

"Your advancement to the third tier is a joyous occasion and deserves celebration. Tonight, I'm hosting a banquet in the virtual community 'Starry Sea Pavilion' for everyone to gather together. Firstly, to congratulate you, and secondly, to take this opportunity for us human prodigies to get closer and exchange ideas. What do you think, Lin Yi?"

Since the other party took the initiative to extend goodwill, and did so in the name of the entire human race, Lin Yi naturally wouldn't refuse.

He had already learned from Kenx that Radiance came from an extraordinary background, being a direct descendant of a Human Lord of the Source Laws, and that the power and connections behind him were not to be underestimated.

Building good relationships with such a person, as well as the entire circle of human geniuses, would be more beneficial than harmful to his future development.

"Captain Huiyao, you're too kind," Lin Yi replied with a smile, his tone calm. "I am deeply grateful for everyone's kindness, and I will definitely be there on time for the banquet tonight."

Seeing that Lin Yi readily agreed, Hui Yao's smile widened even more.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries and agreeing on the specific time and virtual coordinates, they took their leave.

Before turning around, Xingyu's eyes briefly met Lin Yi's, and he finally nodded slightly, indicating that he had completely let go of the previous grudge.

Qingfeng waved to Lin Yi with a bright smile: "See you tonight." Then she turned around and followed the group.

"Captain, Captain Radiance is quite a righteous person, without any of the airs of those aristocratic scions."

Kenx said, watching their retreating figures. As an intelligence officer, he had some understanding of the various characters in the training camp.

Lin Yi's gaze was profound: "Those who can gain a foothold in the training camp and be entrusted with high hopes by the Lord are no ordinary people."

After a brief celebration with his teammates at a small gathering point and a few cups of specially made energy drinks, Lin Yi returned to his private space assigned to him in the training camp.

He needs to take advantage of the large number of points he has just gained and quickly convert those resources into immediate combat power.

With a thought, he summoned Xuanji.

"Owner."

"Pull up the training camp points redemption list, filter into three categories: weapons, armor, and source energy training aids, and prioritize them according to my needs."

"Instruction confirmed."

A huge screen of light unfolded before Lin Yi, with countless shimmering lists of items scrolling, filtering, and freezing rapidly. Lin Yi's gaze remained calm as he quickly browsed through them.

He first looked at the weapons category.

While the previous "Nine Luminaries Thunder Pearl" was good, it was more focused on energy bursts and long-range control. As his strength increased, especially as close combat became more important, he needed a main weapon that could perfectly bear the sharpness of his metal rule, the unpredictability of his spatial rule, and the resilience of his life rule.

"Soul Weapon requirements: extreme sturdiness and sharpness; the material must be able to withstand the power of the three domains and the cutting of spatial rules; the form must have the characteristics of being able to be separated and combined to adapt to different battle situations."

Quickly narrow down the list to a few items.

【Rending Universe】: Modified from fragments of a Realm-level weapon, consisting of ninety-nine dark gold blades. These can be separated and reassembled, moving like a dragon soaring through the void with unpredictable trajectories. Characteristics: Extreme sharpness, spatial affinity, armor penetration. Points: 180000.

【Thousand Prism Blades】: Composed of countless mirror-like prisms, its form shifts between a battle blade and a prism storm, unpredictable and ever-changing. Characteristics: Illusion, Deflection, Cutting. Points: 165000.

Lin Yi's fingertips traced the virtual image of [Lieyu], feeling the ultimate sharpness of the simulation. Although Lieyu was more expensive, it was obviously more suitable for him.

"Exchange for [Rending Universe]".

"Redeem successful. 180000 points will be deducted. The item will be delivered to your designated location via secure channels."

Next up is the armor.

Domain-enhanced armor is the primary defensive measure for powerhouses at the second level or above. An excellent physical battle armor is more like an "inner armor" and a "platform," requiring it to be lightweight and not hinder movement, perfectly capable of supporting the outer armor formed by amplifying domain power, and also possessing some practical functions.

[Voidwalker's Suit]: Woven from the molted skin of a "Void Worm" and "Star Core Adamantite," it is as light as a feather, possesses astonishing defensive capabilities, exhibits excellent conductivity to spatial laws, and has a large internal storage space. Features: Spatial affinity, extremely high physical/energy resistance, lightweight, internal storage. Exchange Points: 120000.

【Life-Weaving Light Armor】: Woven from fibers of the Ancient Tree of Life and Starry Silver Threads soaked in the Spring of Eternity, it not only possesses powerful defense but also continuously nourishes the wearer's life essence, accelerating injury recovery and providing additional bonuses to the application of life rules. It has a built-in active storage space for storing living beings. Exchange Points: 135000.

After a moment's thought, Lin Yi chose the [Voidwalker's Armor].

Its space-friendly design and larger built-in storage space are more practical for him at present.

The nourishing effects of the rules of life can also be achieved in his own domain.

"Exchange for the [Voidwalker's Armor]".

"Redeem successful, 120000 points deducted."

Finally, there is the support of source energy cultivation, which is the foundation and must not be neglected.

The effects of the auxiliary cultivation materials he had previously exchanged were gradually becoming insufficient to meet his current needs.

【Star Heart Fragment】: Contains extremely pure stellar primordial power. Wearing it greatly accelerates the condensation of star cores and the refining of source energy, with an effect approximately three times that of the "Source Core Gathering Array." It has no cooldown period and remains effective continuously. Exchange Points: 150000.

"Exchange for [Heart of the Stars Fragment]".

"Redeem successful, 150000 points deducted."

At this point, Lin Yi had just received 400,000 points, plus some previous savings, totaling 497000 points. He immediately spent 450000 points, leaving only 47000 points for daily classes and facility use.

Looking at his nearly empty points balance, Lin Yi felt no heartache, but rather was filled with anticipation.

These three treasures will comprehensively enhance his combat abilities and cultivation speed.
-
In the evening, Lin Yi teleported according to the coordinates provided by Huiyao.

The scene before him suddenly opened up, and what appeared in front of Lin Yi was a magnificent pavilion floating atop a sea of ​​clouds, exuding the ancient charm of the Xia Kingdom.

With its flying eaves and brackets, carved beams and painted rafters, vermilion pillars and white marble railings complement each other beautifully. Palace lanterns hanging under the eaves emit a soft glow, virtual clouds flow slowly beneath your feet, and simulated cranes cry out as they fly by in the distance.

The plaque bears the three characters "Xinghai Pavilion" written in vigorous calligraphy.

Kenx, Mo Yuan, and others also appeared around Lin Yi's side at almost the same time.

On such a formal occasion, they were all human and, as Lin Yi's core team, naturally had to attend together.

Huiyao, who had been waiting at the door, immediately greeted him with a smile, but his words surprised Lin Yi: "Brother Lin, you've arrived."

"Brother Lin?"

This name, which has a distinctly ancient Xia Dynasty feel, stands out in the common language environment of Xinghai.

Seeing the surprise on Lin Yi's face, Hui Yao laughed heartily, with a hint of smugness: "What? Not used to this title? I've done a thorough review of your Silver Blue Civilization, including the banquet venue we've customized for this event. How about it, isn't it authentic?"

He even imitated a slightly awkward fist-and-palm gesture.

Lin Yi couldn't help but chuckle, his opinion of Huiyao rising even higher.

He returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute, replying in fluent Xia Mandarin: "Brother Huiyao, you're very kind, it's very authentic!"

This interaction instantly dispelled the awkwardness of their first formal social interaction. Xingyu, standing to the side and behind Huiyao, was visibly taken aback. He looked at his captain in surprise, then shook his head, seemingly unsure how to describe it.

"Haha, it's a rare gathering, so we need to do something new."

Huiyao smiled and led Lin Yi and his group into the pavilion.

Inside Xinghai Pavilion, there are pavilions, towers, bridges, and flowing water. Virtual moonlight shines on the lotus pond, creating shimmering ripples.

The ninety-one human geniuses in the training camp had gathered in twos and threes, some gazing into the distance from the railing, others conversing by the water.

Many people turned their attention to Huiyao as he led Lin Yi in.

Qingfeng was chatting and laughing with several female team members on a curved bridge when she saw them. She immediately called out, "Huiyao, you've chosen a great spot!" Her words were echoed by many people around her.

"It's really unique; Captain Radiance has put a lot of thought into it."

"I didn't expect virtual communities to have this style; it's quite novel."

"The environment is beautiful."

Whether or not they genuinely appreciated this ancient style, everyone politely offered a few compliments, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Huiyao smiled and nodded to those around him, then led Lin Yi to the platform in front of the main hall.

He clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention, and his clear voice rang out: "Fellow countrymen, the main reason we gather here today is to celebrate the addition of another top genius to our human race—Lin Yi, who has officially advanced to the third tier!"

Huiyao raised his antique jade goblet first, “Virtual wine, but true feelings! Let us drink this cup together, to celebrate Lin Yi, and to celebrate our human race!”

Congratulations!

Everyone responded in unison, raising their glasses regardless of where they were in the pavilion, creating a lively atmosphere.

Regardless of their personal relationships, at this moment, under the banner of "Humanity," everyone has shown unwavering unity.

After finishing their drinks, the atmosphere became even more lively, and the rest of the time was for free socializing.

Qingfeng was the first to walk over with a cup in her hand. She walked briskly and smiled brightly: "Lin Yi, triple domain, I admire you! If there's anything we can do to cooperate in the future, just let me know."

As she spoke, she casually patted Lin Yi's arm with her free hand, appearing quite familiar with him. Behind her were several women of different temperaments, all curiously observing Lin Yi with poise and grace.

"Captain Qingfeng, you flatter me." Lin Yi smiled and clinked glasses with her. "The Baifeng team is just as capable as any man. If I need their services, I will definitely give them priority."

"That's great." Qingfeng laughed heartily, tilted her head back and drank the fine wine in her cup in one gulp. "Then you go ahead and get busy. There must be a lot of people asking you to drink today. We'll talk later."

After saying that, she led her sisters in a hurried manner toward another group of people.

Then, more and more people came forward.

Some were calm and reserved, like Canglan from the Hanhai team, who simply offered a congratulatory message, "Congratulations, looking forward to cooperation," and exchanged contact tokens.

Some are good at socializing, such as a handsome young man named "Moyu" from the "Thousand Machines Team". He can quickly find topics to talk about and chat about interesting things in the training camp or his experience in a certain mission.

There were also some slightly green newcomers who came to congratulate him with admiring eyes, and Lin Yi responded gently to them all.

Kenx stayed close to Lin Yi throughout, not only whispering information about the newcomers when needed, but also actively engaging in conversation with other members of the opposing team when Lin Yi was talking to someone, thus maintaining a positive atmosphere.

His presence allowed Lin Yi to focus more on communicating with key figures.

Just then, a tall, thin man with sharp, hawk-like eyes walked over carrying a wine glass. When Kenx saw him, his body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and then he quickly whispered to Lin Yi, "Captain, this is Ling He, the captain of the Sharp Edge team, a peak fourth-tier player. My brother once asked me to join his team."

Lin Yi understood.

Ling He walked closer and first raised his glass to Lin Yi, "I've long admired your name! Meeting you today, I can confirm your reputation is well-deserved. To advance three levels in such a short time, I'm truly impressed!"

After clinking glasses with Lin Yi, he turned his gaze to Kenx, a complex smile on his face, tinged with emotion: "Kenx, long time no see."

Kenx responded calmly, "Captain Linghe."

Ling He looked at Kenx, then at Lin Yi beside him, shook his head, chuckled self-deprecatingly, and said, "Your brother told me before that you'd rather follow an unknown rookie team than come to me, and I laughed at you for your poor judgment, thinking you were wasting your talent. Now it seems I was the one with poor judgment, being narrow-minded! You have an even sharper eye than your brother."

These words not only affirmed Kenx's choice but also elevated Lin Yi to a very high position.

Kenx smiled and straightened his back slightly: "Captain Ling, you flatter me. I was just lucky to run into you, Captain."

Lin Yi spoke up at the right moment, "Captain Ling, you flatter me. Kenx is my right-hand man. Our team's success today is inseparable from the efforts of each and every one of them. The Sharp Edge team has a good reputation, and there may be opportunities for cooperation in the future."

Upon hearing this, Ling He's eyes lit up; this was exactly what he wanted to hear: "Haha, great. With that in mind, I'm relieved. I look forward to cooperating!"

He chatted with Lin Yi and Kenx for a few more minutes before leaving, satisfied.

This little incident made many people who were paying attention to the situation here think even higher about Lin Yi.

Not only is he incredibly strong, but he can also command the unwavering loyalty of his subordinates, something that cannot be achieved through force alone.

After chatting with several familiar geniuses for a while, Huiyao found an opportunity to walk with Lin Yi to a relatively quiet corridor.

Kenx wisely chose not to follow, but instead stayed put to chat with key members of other teams and further expand his network.

Leaning against the carved wooden railing under the eaves, outside lies a rolling sea of ​​clouds.

"Brother Lin," Huiyao cut straight to the point, "Your cultivation years are still short, but your understanding of the rules is already far ahead of others, which is astonishing. I wonder what stage your Source Energy realm has reached now? If there is anything I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask." He asked very skillfully.

Lin Yi felt there was no need to hide this, so he frankly said, "I just condensed my ninety-first star core not long ago."

"Ninety-one star cores?"

Huiyao's face showed a look of "I knew it," and then he sighed, "As expected! For us, it is usually the Source Energy Realm that is struggling to catch up with the understanding of the rules, and we are often troubled by the fact that our star cores are full but we cannot break through the domain shackles. I didn't expect that the situation would be completely reversed for Brother Lin."

Lin Yi naturally understood what Huiyao meant.

At the Star Core level, for ordinary cultivators, condensing 99 Star Cores is the ultimate goal, leaving no room for further improvement; the only option is to break through.

But for geniuses, especially those who can comprehend a field, this path is far from over.

Each time a domain is mastered, the power of the domain can be used to forcibly compress and gather the already condensed star cores, breaking the upper limit and gaining an additional space to condense 100 star cores.

In theory, if one can master the nine realms, one can condense a full 999 star cores at the star core level, reaching the legendary "extreme realm"!
This is why many prodigies would rather remain at the Star Core level for a long time, painstakingly comprehending the rules, than easily break through.

Even if we reach the theoretical limit of 999 star cores, the total energy source is actually only about the same as the most basic first-order star spiral.

But that's not how it works. The more star cores a star has, the stronger its foundation and the greater its future potential.

This fundamental advantage is something that all practitioners aspiring to the pinnacle would never want to miss.

Comparatively speaking, while treasures that accelerate source energy cultivation and condense star cores are equally precious, they are much more affordable than those rare items that can enhance one's understanding of rules.

Therefore, what limits the number of star cores a genius can obtain is often not resources, but rather the bottleneck in their understanding of the rules.

Huiyao gently swirled the wine in his glass, a complex smile playing on his lips, tinged with self-mockery.

"Brother Lin, to my shame, I overestimated myself and condensed my star cores to the upper limit of the second realm, which is 299, early on. As a result, I have been hovering at the threshold of the third realm ever since. With the next genius battle approaching, I am really anxious. After all, before you appeared, I was the strongest of our human race in this competition. If my performance is too poor, I will not only lose face for myself, but also for my family elders and even the human race."

"Fortunately, you appeared."

As he spoke, Huiyao paused, his expression turning solemn. The next moment, a soft starlight gathered in his palm, quickly condensing into a constantly rotating lotus flower.

"This is the Starry Twin Lotus."

Huiyao pointed to the light and shadow and introduced, "It is a treasure that I prepared for myself in my early years to accelerate the condensation of the star core. Unfortunately, it must be consumed within three hundred years after it is harvested, otherwise most of its effects will be lost. Now that the time limit is about to expire, I have not been able to break through the third realm and continue to condense the star core, so consuming it would be a waste."

He looked at Lin Yi and said sincerely, "I thought that instead of wasting it, I would like to give it to Brother Lin to help you. It is my way of contributing to the future pillars of our human race as a member of the human race. I hope Brother Lin will not refuse."

Lin Yi looked at Huiyao, feeling quite emotional.

Huiyao's move was very clever; he delivered a generous gift while preserving face for both sides, demonstrating the skill and tact of a scion of a prominent family.

(End of this chapter)