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

Chapter 292 Seventy Years of Turmoil, A Two-Way Channel (5K)

Seventy years is enough time for a name to rise from nothing to become a colossal entity that commands both awe and reliance from all powers on this continent cursed by the blood sun.

The rise of the Silver Blue Society did not begin from humble beginnings.

When its members first appeared in groups in cities on the edge of the continent, they brought with them a sense of order and power that was out of place in this land.

The first decade was a decade of establishing roots and building trust.

The mercenary guild in Blackwater City, a major town in the eastern part of Heng Kingdom, was bustling with activity.

A local mercenary leader with a hideous scar on his face, along with several burly men, blocked the Silver Blue Society team as they were about to hand over their mission.

"Outsider? Don't you know the rules here?"

Scarface spoke fiercely, his late-stage Grandmaster aura pressing down on the other party without reservation, "This mission to wipe out the Shadow Demon's lair is something our Blood Wolf Gang has their eyes on!"

Nightingale, the leader of the Silver Blue Society team, merely raised her eyes slightly, "The mission rules are first come, first served."

"rule?"

The scarred man grinned maliciously as he stepped forward, his large, fan-like hand resting on the bone blade at his waist. "Here, strength is the rule!"

Before he finished speaking, a fierce pressure suddenly descended, like an invisible shackle, instantly imprisoning him and all his subordinates in place, making even breathing extremely difficult.

Everyone looked on in shock, only to see that behind the pretty woman, a middle-aged man who had been silent with his arms crossed had opened his eyes at some point. His eyes seemed to flash with cold stars, and he exuded a terrifying aura belonging to the king level.

The once bustling union hall suddenly fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.

The scarred man's face drained of color instantly, cold sweat poured down his back, and he dared not utter another word.

The pretty woman stopped looking at him and walked straight to the counter. "Silver Blue Society, accept the mission."

This news spread like wildfire throughout the eastern cities.

The news that "the Silver Blue Society team has a King-level expert in charge" made all the forces that were eager to make a move back their minds.

Their astonishing efficiency in clearing out monster lairs, and their commitment to keeping promises after completing missions, have gradually made the name "Silver Blue Society" synonymous with "strength" and "reputation".

The second decade was a decade of establishing authority and expansion.

In this decade, or more precisely, in the thirteenth year, the Blackrock City Incident occurred.

It was this incident that caused a qualitative change in the Silver Blue Society's reputation, transforming it from a "powerful organization" into a "top-tier force on the continent."

Black Rock City is located in a treacherous place at the border between Heng Kingdom and Fengxiao Kingdom, backed by the "Ghost Cry Ridge" where strange monsters dwell.

After an exceptionally violent bloodbath, the patrol returned with news that suffocated the entire city—traces of the "Molten Mountain Beast" had been discovered half a day's distance from the city.

Lava Mountain Beast, the legendary king of monsters!
Shaped like a giant ape, clad in heavy lava armor, its roar can ignite the earth's fire. Every appearance of the Monster King signifies a catastrophe of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

The Lord of Blackrock City, a mid-stage King-level expert known for his bravery, immediately sent the most urgent request for help to the royal city.

However, he was met only with cold indifference and a suggestion to relocate the entire city.

After all, the strongest beings in the royal city, although they are also at the royal level, are generally considered to be inferior to the monsters in terms of combat power. Not to mention the Lava Mountain Beast, which was originally among the most powerful monsters.

Therefore, even the royal city could not help.

"No! How can we easily abandon the legacy of our ancestors!" the city lord roared in the council hall, his eyes bloodshot.

An advisor cautiously offered a last hope: "Lord, the Silver Blue Society is very mysterious. Should we try to ask them for help?"

Clinging to the last glimmer of hope, the city lord personally came to the Silver Blue Branch Pavilion in the city.

Inside the branch pavilion, a woman with an extremely aloof demeanor listened quietly to the city lord's desperate statement and his promise to spend all his wealth.

She simply replied calmly, "I understand the situation. Please return. Headquarters will make its own decision."

There were no promises, no guarantees, and the flat tone sent the city lord's heart sinking into an icy abyss.

He returned dejectedly and began arranging the evacuation of the entire city.

However, just as that agonizing night was about to pass and dawn was breaking with a pale light on the horizon.

"Boom!"

A deep, resounding crash, like a giant hammer striking the earth, came from the direction of the city gate, causing the entire city to tremble.

The city lord and the garrison rushed to the top of the city wall with their hearts pounding, but the expected attack from the monster king did not occur.

Only in the open space in front of the city gate did a hideous head, resembling a small hill, appear.

Its dark red lava shell, its enormous, unseeing eye, and the still-flowing, scorching blood from its fracture all testify to its terrifying identity in life—the Lava Mountain Beast!

On the city wall, after the deathly silence, came deafening cheers and shouts of joy, as if they had survived a catastrophe.

Slaying the emperor in one night!
This news swept across the entire continent faster than the wind.

"Have you heard? In Blackrock City, the Silver Blue Society killed a monster king overnight."

"Really? The Monster King is a disaster that requires the entire nation's strength to fight."

"It's absolutely true! The head of the Lava Beast is still nailed to the gates of Blackrock City! Just how strong is the Silver Blue Society?"

From then on, the Silverblue Society's reputation reached a whole new level.

"Possessing the power to slay emperors" has become their new label.

It is no longer merely mysterious and trustworthy, but possesses terrifying power that can determine the fate of a city or even a nation.

All forces that heard of this matter, regardless of size, at this moment, elevated their perception of the Silver Blue Society from "powerful" to "unfathomable" and "not to be trifled with."

The Silver Blue Society's collection efforts were now unimpeded, and its branches began to be established at an astonishing pace in major cities across the continent. The silver-edged, blue-background flag became an awe-inspiring symbol.

The third decade will be a decade of reaching the summit and demonstrating our existence.

At the end of the most bustling "Glory Avenue" in Hengguo City, an unprecedented building has sprung up.

The seven-story pavilion is constructed with unknown metals that gleam with a cold, silvery light and blue crystals as deep as the night sky. Its lines are smooth, full of geometric beauty and a sense of timelessness.

It stands out from the surrounding rugged and ancient buildings, yet it exudes a captivating majesty.

The three large characters "Silver Blue Pavilion" on the huge plaque silently proclaimed the extraordinary nature of its owner.

The establishment of the Silver Blue Pavilion in the capital cities of various countries marked the Silver Blue Society's formal rise to the very center of the continental stage.

It is not only a symbol of strength, but has also become synonymous with knowledge and wealth.

A vast amount of cultivation manuals and astronomical sums of blood crystal coins flowed from here and through the network of branch pavilions across the continent, like rivers flowing into the sea, towards that mysterious forbidden land.

In the decades that followed, the influence of the Silver Blue Society continued to grow, its roots penetrating every corner of the mainland.

Amidst the howling winds of the northern ice plains, the scorching yellow sands of the western deserts, and the damp miasma of the southern jungles, the lights of the Silver Blue Pavilion have always been one of the most striking symbols in the "night."

Seventy years have passed in the blink of an eye.

One day in the seventy-first year.

In the center of the camp, the "Hermes" space anchor generator, which had been operating continuously for more than seventy years, suddenly turned its constant low hum into a high-pitched one, full of surging power.

The pale blue energy beam emitted from the generator core suddenly contracted, and the entrance to the constantly distorted and fluctuating spatial channel solidified at its edges, eventually transforming into a flawless blue mirror, stably embedded in the void. Beyond the mirror was the reassuring starry sky of the main universe.

A two-way stable channel has been fully opened.

"We did it! We did it!"

Captain Rex practically roared those words. He high-fived each of the engineering team members, then greeted Lin Yi before hurriedly returning to the main universe.

After all, discovering information about the source material was a great achievement, and according to regulations, he also needed to go back and report immediately.

Lin Yi stood quietly before the observation window of the command center, gazing at the stable "door," a ripple of emotion stirring deep within his calm eyes. The rest period was over.

Seven days later.

Ripples spread across the mirror-like surface of the spatial passage.

Squads of soldiers clad in dark gray light powered armor marched out in silence.

They numbered nearly a thousand and moved with astonishing speed, launching their operation with remarkable efficiency the moment they appeared.

Various modular building components, large engineering machinery, and probe tower bases flashing with energy arcs were quickly removed from the space equipment and precisely assembled.

The leader of this group was an elderly man dressed in a gray robe.

Lin Yi noticed that as soon as the old man stepped into the secret realm, he narrowed his eyes slightly and then raised a device covered with star patterns that resembled a compass.

The compass needle spun wildly for a few breaths, then suddenly stopped, pointing firmly to the "sun" in the sky, which was emitting a pale afterglow.

At the same time, the compass itself emitted a soft yet exceptionally firm golden halo, as if it were resonating with some invisible and immense power.

A knowing glint flashed in the old man's eyes. He immediately took out another observation mirror, aimed it at "Daylight," and carefully adjusted the runes on the mirror tube. Countless fine streams of data seemed to flow through the depths of the lens.

He observed for a long time, occasionally uttering obscure terms: "...a living node with distorted rules...an abnormally active energy decay spectrum...a mad field of intent with periodic pulses...indeed, it partially matches the characteristics of the 'Land of Desolation,' but is even more...aggressive."

After a while, the old man seemed to have completed the initial exploration. He put away his instruments and fixed his gaze on Lin Yi, who had been observing from the side for a while after being startled by the commotion in the passage.

The old man smiled gently, quickly approached Lin Yi, and nodded, saying, "Commander Lin Yi, I am Lan He, advisor for the Star Realm Secret Affairs. I have been ordered to come and conduct a preliminary assessment."

"Consultant Lanhe, it's a pleasure to meet you," Lin Yi replied politely.

Scholars who can serve as advisors to the Astral Army cannot be judged by their actual abilities.

If a comparison must be made, the status of Lanhe can be said to be comparable to, or even higher than, that of the Yanjie.

"The situation was urgent, so I spoke frankly."

Lanhe's expression turned serious. "The data Captain Rek brought back confirmed the source material reaction. I've just confirmed that it's related to that luminous object in the sky. Commander Lin Yi has been stationed here for over seventy years. I wonder if he's made any further discoveries? Any information is crucial."

Lin Yi nodded, indicating that Xuanji should transmit the data package, which had already had its core secrets removed.

Apart from the most crucial secret, there's no need to hide anything else.

Of course, it couldn't really be hidden.

Lanhe Consultant took the storage unit, connected it to a palm-sized transparent optical computer, and his fingers slid rapidly, with data flowing like a waterfall on the holographic screen.

He watched with extreme focus, sometimes zooming in on the energy waveform diagram, sometimes comparing the strange records from different regions. When he saw the analysis of the "hidden high-dimensional characteristics" in the energy structure of the Blood Crystal Coin, his eyes suddenly lit up, and his fingers flew across the virtual keyboard.

After a long while, he let out a long breath, and his gaze toward Lin Yi was filled with undisguised admiration.

"Commander Lin Yi, the data you provided is of great value. It not only confirmed the source-matter correlation, but also constructed a complete ecological and social model, which is excellent and saves a lot of time."

"It's my duty, you flatter me, advisor," Lin Yi said politely.

"Now that I have the necessary information, I will return first." Lanhe smiled. "The safety of this place and the stability of the passage are still important, so please continue to take care of it, Commander Lin Yi."

After saying that, Lanhe didn't say anything more and led the thousand-strong advance team back to the space passage.

Lin Yi looked at the camp, which had returned to peace, and knew that all of this was only temporary.

Sure enough, three days later.

The spatial passage suddenly erupted with a blinding, intense light.

The first thing that catches the eye is a dark silver square array that exudes a cold, metallic luster.

One after another, Astragalus warriors, their entire bodies encased in streamlined, fully-covered power armor, strode out of the passage like a metallic tide.

They worked in silence, proceeding with astonishing efficiency.

The massive engineering mechs roared out, their tracks crushing through the gravel. Modular alloy fortresses rapidly assembled under the control of robotic arms, forming the outer defensive framework.

The energy tower base, emitting a faint blue light, was precisely implanted into the designated location, beginning to construct a powerful combined shield force field.

Before the dust had even settled, a steel military camp with a futuristic feel was already taking shape.

Lin Yi watched silently from the side.

Based on his years of combat experience, he quickly made the judgment.

This advance force is a fully-fledged Astral Army warband, numbering 100,000.

In Lin Yi's view, this kind of power was more than enough.

But unexpectedly, not long after, another group, with the same neat but lighter steps, stepped out of the passage.

This team also numbered about a thousand, but instead of wearing heavy power armor, they wore dark blue combat uniforms.

These people did not carry any heavy weapons, but each of them stood there quietly, like peerless swords sheathed in their sheaths, their sharpness contained within, yet nonetheless daring to look directly at them.

The energy fluctuations emanating from their bodies were perfectly integrated and flawless, clearly all at the perfect level of star core.

The combined aura of a thousand people created an invisible aura.

The leader was a middle-aged military officer with a stern face.

He first gave a crisp military salute in the direction of the commander of the Astral Army, then turned his gaze to Lin Yi's location and nodded slightly in greeting.

Then, the middle-aged officer did not give any further mobilization or slogans, but simply raised his right fist.

"Disperse! Break through!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the figures of these thousand Star Core level Perfection experts blurred instantly, turning into afterimages, and dispersed at an astonishing speed to the vast, cleared flat area outside the camp. They quickly sat down cross-legged and took out a source energy crystal that emitted a deep light, placing it in their hands.

next moment.

"boom!"

A thousand beams of energy, each a different color yet equally dazzling, shot into the sky.

Fiery red, deep icy blue, vibrant emerald green, rich and majestic earthy yellow, and incomparably sharp golden white.
A thousand beams of light, each representing a different rule or attribute, ripped through the sky like a waterfall flowing backward, instantly forming a giant energy vortex.

The clouds in the sky were violently torn apart, and even the bright sun hanging high in the sky seemed to dim its light.

The energy vortex vibrated violently, and clearly visible runes flickered within the pillar of light. Powerful ripples of energy surged and spread in all directions like a tangible tide, causing the newly erected tents of the Astronauts in the distance to rustle and the metal supports to groan under the strain.

One, ten, a hundred. Like sleeping stars being lit up one after another, one terrifying aura belonging to the Star Vortex level was no longer concealed. Like ancient beasts that had been sleeping for thousands of years, they were awakening from their slumber one after another, bringing unparalleled power and descending fiercely into this world.

The energy vortex formed by the convergence of thousands of beams of light, with its radiance and power, has become the sole core and master of this world.

Its radiance and oppressive power could be clearly seen even in the Heng Kingdom's capital city, millions of miles away. In that direction, which was considered an absolute forbidden zone for life, a dazzling pillar of light, reaching from the sky and stirring up the wind and clouds, pierced through the heavens and earth like a sword of divine punishment.

All the powerful individuals who sensed this fluctuation of power felt a profound sense of insignificance and trembling from the depths of their souls.

Deep within the royal palace, the King of Heng's golden cup fell to the ground, the fine wine splashing onto the luxurious carpet, but he was oblivious, staring blankly at the pillar of light, muttering, "Pale Forbidden Land. Silver Blue Pavilion. What exactly are they?"

On the walls of the Crimson Iron City, Lord Helian Tu gripped the cold crenellations tightly, staring blankly into the direction of the Pale Forbidden Area.

He had witnessed the rise of the Silver Blue Society firsthand and even benefited from its kindness, but now, feeling the aura emanating from any one of the pillars of light, he realized that his understanding of the Silver Blue Society and that forbidden area was merely a glimpse through a tube.

On the continent, countless forces, countless powerful figures, and countless ordinary people all turned their attention to that former death zone, now the headquarters of the Silver Blue Society.

They knew that times had changed.

An irresistible, colossal force has torn open the curtain of this world in the most domineering and direct way, announcing its existence.

The Pale Forbidden Land, on this day, became the absolute coordinate of the transition between the old and new eras.

(End of this chapter)