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

Chapter 291 The Opportunity for Rise, Full Contact (5K)

At this moment, the logical chain seemed to be connected.

Blood Crystal Coins, the energy currency upon which native cultivators rely for survival, actually have their true core value not in the energy itself, but in the barely perceptible "contaminated spiritual energy" hidden deep within.

Or, to put it another way, the contaminated source material.

While the native cultivators absorbed the blood crystal coins primarily to absorb their energy, their cultivation talents were subtly enhanced.

Of course, every blessing has its curse; at the same time, they also suffer from rampant corruption, and their lifespans are greatly reduced.

These discarded coins, left in the open air and exposed to the "blood sun" for many years, not only replenished the chaotic energy, but more importantly, the light of the blood sun may contain extremely rare source material characteristics, or some kind of factor that can generate this kind of "spiritual enlightenment energy" source energy. Under the long exposure, it re-precipitated and accumulated in the crystal.

Lin Yi looked down at the dark red blood crystal coin in his hand, his gaze becoming incredibly profound.

This seemingly ordinary crystal, in his eyes at this moment, seemed to reveal a corner of a shocking secret.

The cruel rules of this secret world, the cycle of "daylight" and "blood sun," the madness of the monsters, the short lives of cultivators, and even the abnormally high proportion of star cores—all seem to point to the blood-red sun hanging high in the sky, and the ultimate mystery it may contain.

Lin Yi slowly tightened his grip on the blood crystal coin in his hand.

The discovery of the Blood Crystal Coins almost confirmed his conjecture—that the Spiritual Enlightenment Qi, even if it is not the Source Matter itself, must be a high-dimensional energy at the same level as the Source Matter, or closely related to it.

The impact of this realization is enormous.

The Purple Mist Space and the Spiritual Enlightenment Qi have always been his deepest secrets, his greatest reliance for advancing rapidly and surpassing his peers in the understanding of rules.

After the initial shock came a flood of thoughts.

"If the essence of spiritual energy is so high, it might even be equivalent to source matter."

Lin Yi paced slowly in the command center, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the dark red blood crystal coin. Thoughts raced through his mind, "So, can it be extracted? For my own use, or even... for someone else to use?"

The idea, once it came to mind, was irresistibly tempting.

The benefits that spiritual energy brought to his understanding of the rules need no further explanation.

Clearly, if this ability could be bestowed upon others, even if it were merely a heavily diluted version like the Blood Crystal Coin in order to avoid attracting attention, it would be enough to create a group of geniuses in the understanding of rules.

what does this mean?
This signifies a qualitative leap in the overall strength of Earth's civilization, representing the greatest opportunity for its rapid rise.

What excited Lin Yi even more was the application of clones.

He was extremely surprised when he first successfully summoned the Time-Traveling clone and learned that a purple mist space also existed at the core of the clone's soul.

In Lin Yi's mind, it was perfectly normal that a clone couldn't inherit such a wondrous purple mist space, according to common sense.

But unexpectedly, the clone also had a purple mist space.

After pondering for a long time, Lin Yi guessed that this purple mist space might not simply be located in his soul, but had become something like a unique "soul organ".

However, this organ is somewhat special; it can produce spiritual energy, just like a hematopoietic organ.

Since it is an organ, it naturally becomes a part of Lin Yi's existence.

Therefore, even the self who was summoned to the "previous second" in the timeline naturally carries this organ and its basic functions.

At the time, this was just Lin Yi's own guess.

He didn't dwell on the matter too much; after thinking about it for a while, he let it go.

After all, at the time, he thought, "So be it, it's not really that useful anyway."

Because the clone is limited by its nature as a "summoned creature," its ability to comprehend rules is extremely low, far inferior to that of the original body.

Therefore, in Lin Yi's view at the time, even if the clone possessed spiritual energy, it could not be used as efficiently as the main body to comprehend new rules or deepen existing rules.

At most, it can be used to accelerate the cultivation of certain techniques and combat skills, and improve the proficiency of combat skills.

However, while this is a great help, martial arts techniques are ultimately just "skills".

On the path to true strength, the level of "Tao"—that is, the understanding and mastery of the rules—is decisive.

Mastering a powerful combat skill to its peak might make you the best among your peers, but if your understanding of the rules stagnates and your realm cannot be improved, it will ultimately be nothing but a mirage.

Therefore, the clone possessed spiritual energy, which Lin Yi previously considered somewhat like "casting pearls before swine," greatly diminishing its value.

but.
What if we could find a way to extract the spiritual energy?

The strategic value of those clones will undergo a dramatic change!

The clone cannot directly comprehend the rules using spiritual energy, but the main body can!

If the clone could accumulate spiritual energy during the activity period like a "miner" and then "transport" it back to the main body in some way, how terrifying would the main body's speed of comprehending the rules be?

Lin Yi's thinking even went further. If he could find a way to stably seal away spiritual energy and make it into something like an "Enlightenment Pill" or a "pure version of Blood Crystal Coins," it would be a strategic resource that would shake the entire clan!
After all, as his realm improves, the number of clones he can maintain simultaneously will also increase, and after becoming an eternal god, his lifespan will be endless! Naturally, he can consider finding a way to modify a portion of his spiritual energy.

Lin Yi let out a long breath, forcibly cooling down his feverish mind.

The idea is wonderful, but the path is full of unknowns and difficulties.

All of this is predicated on the ability to safely and effectively extract spiritual energy from the purple mist space, and to process it to eliminate any potential "binding" characteristics, or at least find a way to allow it to be safely used by others.

This is by no means an easy task.

The Purple Mist Space is mysterious and unpredictable. He knows very little about its operating principles, only that it can absorb some unknown energy in the universe and transform it into spiritual energy. He has now confirmed that the Blood Sun energy can greatly accelerate this process.

How to proactively intervene and extract information is entirely unknown territory.

Thinking of this, Lin Yi's gaze fell back on the blood crystal coin in his hand.

"The natives of this world seem to have found a clumsy way to utilize this shared energy."

Lin Yi pondered, "They slowly absorb the blood sun energy through this special crystal mineral, which contains a trace of the original spiritual enlightenment energy, but at the same time, it also absorbs a large amount of chaotic energy, forming this polluted composite energy block."

"They cannot separate and purify it; they can only absorb it along with the pollution, paying the price of shortened lifespan in exchange for increased power."

"Then, do they have any other further inheritances? Over the years, haven't any local natives discovered the anomaly in the blood crystal coins, or even tried to use the energy of the blood sun?"

Lin Yi frowned and pondered for a while, then began to weigh the current situation against his long-term plans.

It's almost certain that Blood Sun is related to the source substance.

That blood-red sun hanging in the sky is very likely the source of this secret realm's ability to stably produce "source matter" related energy.

Its value is undoubtedly strategic.

If one could control, or even just occupy, this secret realm for a long period of time, it would be an unimaginable treasure.

However, Lin Yi's rationality told him that the Blood Sun was something he shouldn't touch.

First of all, the Blood Sun itself is extremely strange and dangerous. It can incite madness in all the creatures in the secret realm, and the energy level and rules it contains are extremely high. If you make contact with it rashly, the consequences are unpredictable.

The "Time-Sequence Relic Realm" mentioned by her senior sister Qianhuan made her feel that she needed to go there in person. This secret realm, which is directly linked to "Origin Matter", is not so easy to touch its core "Blood Sun".

Secondly, and more practically, is the rule of the human race.

The Astral Army's Exploration Regulations clearly state that strategic-level resources must be handed over, and Source Essence, without a doubt, is a strategic-level resource.

Their small mercenary group had neither the qualifications nor the strength to monopolize such an important resource.

Once it is confirmed that this place is related to the source, and after the two-way channel is opened and the message is sent back, Lin Yi believes that this secret realm will inevitably be completely taken over.

"Therefore, trying to take advantage of Blood Sun itself is unrealistic and cannot be done." Lin Yi clearly realized this.

Instead of plotting for that distant and risky day of bloodshed, it's better to turn your attention back to yourself.

Lin Yi looked inward at the surging purple mist space and grinned. "After all, compared to the Blood Sun, I myself am a potential source material generator. Why take the risk and put the cart before the horse?"

Having figured this out, Lin Yi had a clear plan for the period before the two-way channel was stabilized.

First, collect as many Blood Crystals and Blood Crystal Ore as possible.

This thing is a form of hard currency in this world, and collecting it won't attract much attention.

Furthermore, although the spiritual energy contained within is weak and severely polluted, quantitative changes may lead to qualitative changes.

More importantly, they are excellent samples for studying the extraction and purification of spiritual energy and the energy cycle of this world. Perhaps we can find inspiration from their crystal structure and energy adsorption properties to develop methods for artificially storing or transmitting spiritual energy.

Even if they can't find a way to utilize their own spiritual energy in the future, they can still settle for purifying the Blood Crystal Coins. Simply purifying the Blood Crystal Coins will greatly benefit the ordinary members in improving their strength.

Secondly, Lin Yi planned to have the team members do their utmost to collect the cultivation manuals of this world.

These techniques are the culmination of human wisdom accumulated over countless years as people struggled to survive in a harsh environment.

The stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade.

They may not be of high level, and they may have serious side effects, but their unique ideas, especially how to deal with and utilize Blood Crystal Coins, and even the potential ability to utilize Blood Sun, may have crucial reference value for Lin Yi's thinking on how to safely extract spiritual energy.

"According to Captain Rek, the two-way passage is stable for about seventy years. This period is the most valuable time to collect resources. Once the two-way passage opens, this secret realm will inevitably be taken over by the military."

Having figured this out, Lin Yi immediately changed his plans for the next period of time.

Clearly, relying solely on Zhou Yuxuan's small team to operate covertly in Red Iron City would ultimately be inefficient, and the resources and information they gathered would inevitably be one-sided.

To maximize benefits within a limited timeframe, we must mobilize greater resources and take a more proactive approach to engaging with the world.

Lin Yi immediately convened a strategic meeting at the command center with all core members, including Zhou Yuxuan who was connected remotely.

That's the situation.

Lin Yi revealed the connection between Blood Crystal Coins and Blood Sun, concealing the core secrets of the Purple Mist Space. He only emphasized that he had discovered a special energy quality contained in the Blood Crystal Coins, which might be of great value to cultivation. He then explained the strategic significance of collecting Blood Crystal Coins and cultivation techniques.

"Therefore, we must expand the scale of our operation. Relying solely on Yu Xuan's team in Crimson Iron City is like a drop in the ocean. We need to bring more people into this world under more legitimate identities to collect data openly and legally."

As he spoke, Lin Yi looked at Chen Yu, Andrei, Elizabeth, and other key combat personnel, as well as the captains responsible for logistics coordination, and said:
"I have decided that fifty Star Core-level members and two hundred Star Dust-level members will remain at the camp, and I will personally oversee the defense of the core area and deal with any emergencies that may require high-end combat power."

"The remaining members all broke up into smaller groups and left the Pale Forbidden Land in batches, operating outside in the name of the Silver Blue Society."

"To the outside world, we are a mysterious organization, claiming that we originated from a secluded place and are now coming out to experience the world."

Lin Yi paused for a moment, waiting for everyone to process the news before continuing.

"The Silver Blue Society's code of conduct generally consists of three points."

"First, we are absolutely neutral and will not intervene in any conflicts between nations or cities. Our goal is to gather resources and knowledge, and any attempt to win us over or force us to take sides will be considered hostile."

"Secondly, we mainly undertake two types of missions: one is to eliminate groups of monsters that threaten human settlements, and the other is to be hired to assist in the defense of cities threatened by monsters. These two types of missions can quickly make a name for yourself, gain trust and rewards, and also allow you to become familiar with the combat methods of this world in actual combat, and have the opportunity to come into contact with more local cultivators."

"Third, while carrying out the mission, we will simultaneously establish commercial channels, using some of the non-sensitive technological products we carry, as well as the bounties earned from completing the mission, to acquire blood crystal coins and various cultivation manuals on a large scale. We can open shops or cooperate with local chambers of commerce."

After Lin Yi finished speaking, he looked at Zhou Yuxuan and said, "Yuxuan, Crimson Iron City and its surrounding area will serve as the Silver Blue Society's first foothold and testing ground. You and your team members will automatically become the Silver Blue Society's advance leaders in this area. Utilize the existing foundation to quickly establish a foothold."

"Yes! Captain!"

Everyone responded in unison, their eyes gleaming with eager anticipation.

Having been cooped up in the camp for so long, the prospect of a large-scale operation, especially under the guise of this mysterious organization, undoubtedly excited them greatly.

"remember."

Lin Yi concluded by saying, "Safety first. Do not reveal any technological weapons that exceed local knowledge unless absolutely necessary. Focus on demonstrating your individual strength in combat. What we seek is resources and knowledge, not conquest. If you encounter any tough opponents, call for support immediately. I, or our Silver Blue Society headquarters, will be your strongest backing."

With Lin Yi's order relayed, the entire Dongfeng Camp immediately began operating efficiently.

Those remaining on duty increased security, especially regarding the protection of the space passageway and the Reck Engineering Team.

Those preparing for overseas assignments began receiving disguise clothing and a small amount of blood crystals as start-up capital.

The energy printers work day and night, preparing them with equipment in a local style and "curiosity" samples for trade.

Within a few days, squads of "Silver Blue Society" members, dressed in rough leather armor or dark robes and wearing simple, strange ornaments, quietly left the Pale Forbidden Land and headed towards Crimson Iron City and other human cities further away.

Inside Crimson Iron City, Zhou Yuxuan's team, with the support of local forces, was able to operate with even greater ease.

They not only intensified their acquisition efforts, but also began to attempt limited contact with the city lord's mansion, offering assistance in defense in exchange for the opportunity to access some of the official collections of books.

Soon, in several countries surrounding the Pale Forbidden Land, a mysterious organization called the "Silver Blue Society" began to emerge.

The locals discovered that these Silver Blue Society members were extremely powerful, with even the weakest members possessing considerable skill, and among them were many formidable "King-level" experts.

Furthermore, these people are extremely disciplined, efficient in their actions, and have a very high success rate in completing the missions to eliminate monsters. They are also decisive and efficient, and the rewards they demand are mostly blood crystals and various ancient books.

Moreover, these so-called Silver Blue Society members strictly adhere to the principle of neutrality, do not participate in any power struggles, only target monsters, and although they are somewhat distant in their interactions with others, they are still considered to be trustworthy and keep their promises.

This unique style of doing things allowed the "Silver Blue Society" to avoid many troubles while quickly accumulating a certain reputation and a sense of mystery.

The influence of the "Silver Blue Society" quickly spread from the Pale Forbidden Land as its center, along with their mission footprints and business networks, to the surrounding countries.

Massive amounts of blood crystal coins, various cultivation manuals, and complex information about this world began to be collected continuously through various channels and then sent to the depths of that area marked as forbidden territory.

Lin Yi, on the other hand, was stationed in the camp deep within the Pale Forbidden Land, like a spider at the center of a spider web.

Through the encrypted communication network, he can keep track of the movements, achievements, and difficulties encountered by each "Silver Blue Society" team at any time.

Most problems can be solved by the team leaders or area managers themselves.

Occasionally, when encountering some tough nuts to crack, such as the lair of a powerful monster king that has been entrenched in a certain place for many years, or some blind local tyrants who try to double-cross him, Lin Yi would quietly take action.

(End of this chapter)