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

Chapter 295 An Unexpected Invitation (6.5K votes requested at the end of the month)

Therefore, Lin Yi did not hesitate at all and directly had Xuanji accept the invitation and connect her consciousness to the virtual universe network.

Then, he appeared in a courtyard full of Xia Kingdom style.

Cangming was still wearing a loose-fitting, ancient Chinese-style robe, and was leisurely brewing tea while sitting on a stone bench, the fragrant aroma of tea filling the air.

Upon seeing Lin Yi's figure materialize, he raised his head, a teasing smile appearing on his face.

"Junior brother, you've arrived?"

Cangming pointed to the empty seat opposite him, "Sit down. I heard you had a very fruitful trip to the Blood Sun Secret Realm this time? You encountered Origin Essence on your first visit to the secret realm. Even I, your senior brother, am a little envious of your luck."

Lin Yi sat down as instructed, took the teacup from Cangming, smiled slightly, and said humbly, "Senior brother is too kind. It was just a chance encounter that allowed me to pick up some scraps. The real treasures are beyond the reach of a small mercenary group like ours."

He knew perfectly well that given Cangming's status and relationship with the Star Guardians, it was only natural that he would know this information.

Cangming chuckled, not delving into the matter further. He took a sip of tea and changed the subject: "A great harvest is a good thing, meaning a deeper foundation and the ability to do more. I've called you here today because there's something I need to discuss. I wonder if you're interested, Junior Brother."

"Please speak, senior brother." Lin Yi put down his teacup and adopted a listening posture.

He knew that the "matter" Cangming was talking about was definitely not a trivial matter.

"Is such that."

Cangming didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "I have an old friend named Hongyan, who, like me, is a Transcendent Realm level expert, hence he is known as Lord Hongyan. He has a beloved direct descendant who is about to celebrate his thousandth birthday. In addition to inviting me, Lord Hongyan specifically hopes to invite you to the banquet through me."

"I?"

Lin Yi was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

The guest list for a birthday banquet held by a powerful expert at the Transcendent Realm level must be carefully selected. He had never met this Lord Hongyan before and had no relationship with him. Why would the other party insist on inviting him?
However, Lin Yi thought about it again and realized that perhaps the other party was trying to get to know him, this "potential stock," out of respect for Senior Brother Cangming. This kind of thing was normal.

Since my senior brother has spoken, I must give him face. It's just a matter of showing up in the virtual world and saying a few words of congratulations.

With that in mind, Lin Yi readily agreed.

“I see. Since it’s an invitation from your friend, I’ll naturally give you face. No problem, just let me know the access coordinates for the virtual banquet, and I’ll be there on time to offer my congratulations.”

To his surprise, Cangming shook his head upon hearing his words, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

“If it were really that simple, just a virtual meeting, I wouldn’t have bothered to meet with you in person. Lord Hongyan hopes to invite you to attend in person this time.”

"Hmm? You were there in person?"

Lin Yi was genuinely surprised this time.

The universe is vast and boundless; even if one can jump through a fixed stargate route, it still takes a considerable amount of time.

Therefore, unless the guests are extremely close allies or relatives, or are considered to be very important guests who must be present in person to show respect, most guests will choose to participate in this type of banquet using a virtual identity.

This way, one can express their feelings without interfering with their spiritual practice and daily affairs.

A world lord of the Derivation Realm whom he had never met before wanted him, the "Number One Star Core Level Person," to make a long trip just because it was the thousandth birthday of one of his juniors.
This is perhaps a bit too grand, and even seems somewhat nonsensical.

After all, with his current status and connections, he could easily disregard ordinary realm lords, especially those he had no prior dealings with.

No wonder they needed to find a senior brother to act as the middleman.

To be honest, Lin Yi was somewhat unhappy about it.

Traveling back and forth is time-consuming and exhausting. It would be better to use that time to stay at the base to train or handle internal affairs.

However, Senior Brother Cangming had always taken good care of him, from giving him a treasure when they first met to protecting him in many ways. This was the first time he had asked him for help, even though it was to relay someone else's request.

But this matter of saving face cannot be refused under any circumstances.

After a moment's thought, Lin Yi suppressed his slight displeasure, regained his composure, and said, "I understand. Since Lord Hongyan has extended such a warm invitation, and with Senior Brother here, there is naturally no problem. Senior Brother, please inform me of the specific time and space coordinates and the banquet time, and I will arrange the itinerary. At that time, Lord Hongyan's people can contact me directly."

Cangming smiled again when he saw that Lin Yi had agreed without even asking any questions.

He waved his hand and said, "Junior brother, don't be in a hurry. How could your senior brother let you suffer a loss?"

"This trip will certainly not be in vain. Lord Hongyan knew that this journey would delay your cultivation, so he prepared a gift of thanks. I know that you are diligently cultivating the rules of death, so I took it upon myself to ask him for a portion of the Water of Eternal Abyss as a token of my gratitude for your trip."

"The waters of the Eternal Abyss?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi's expression immediately turned serious.

He certainly knew what the "Water of Eternal Abyss" was.

That was a rare treasure of rule insight of the same level as "Fleeting Beauty" that he had previously consumed, specifically targeting rules related to death, termination, and annihilation, with excellent effects.

However, unlike the explosive, almost violent indoctrination-like experience of "Fleeting Beauty," the effect of "Eternal Abyss" is more gentle and lasting, like sinking one's consciousness into a silent, bottomless abyss of death, where one slowly and profoundly comprehends the true meaning of death, often for several days.

Because of its long-lasting effects and wider applicability, it is generally considered to be slightly more valuable in the market than "Fleeting Beauty".

Most importantly, treasures of this caliber are mostly firmly controlled by major powers and rarely flow out of the country. Even when they are exchanged, it is mostly through barter, and rarely directly measured by star crystals or military merits.

So here's the question: why would Lord Hongyan be willing to offer "Water of Eternal Abyss" as a token of gratitude just to invite him to a junior's birthday banquet?
Lin Yi immediately realized that things were not so simple.

He looked at Cangming, his gaze questioning: "Senior brother, the Lord of Hongyan Realm went to such great lengths, surely it's not just for me to show my face and have a meal? Is there some other reason behind it?"

Cangming nodded approvingly, not surprised by Lin Yi's keen insight.

"That's natural. The reason he invited you so solemnly is because he values ​​your status as the number one human star core-level person of the new generation. To put it bluntly, he not only wants to invite you to the banquet, but also wants you to take charge."

"Me? To be stationed at the Transcendent Realm level?"

Lin Yi found it somewhat absurd.

No matter how strong he is, he is still only at the Star Core level. In front of the Derivation Realm, what difference is there between him and an ant? How can he possibly hold a position of authority?

"Yes, that's you."

Cangming affirmed, and then explained in detail, "This Lord of Hongyan Realm can trace his bloodline back to His Majesty Honghuan. His Majesty Honghuan and our master are close friends."

Upon hearing that his master was involved, Lin Yi immediately became serious.

Cangming continued, "This time, Hongyan is holding a grand banquet for the birthday of his direct descendants. According to the unspoken rules in the circle, the forces that are not on good terms with His Majesty Honghuan's faction will likely send people to join in the fun."

"The so-called 'joining in the fun' is simply engaging in some 'friendly' exchanges and competition among peers. This is both a way to showcase the potential and connections of one's younger generation and a form of unspoken rivalry."

"If the host is at a disadvantage in the sparring, or even completely suppressed, then the banquet will inevitably lose face and become a laughing stock."

"The problem is that among the current generation of Star Core level juniors of His Majesty Honghuan's lineage, there are no particularly outstanding figures. On the other hand, the other side is said to have cultivated a Star Core level prodigy. With this shift in power, Lord Hongyan was worried that the banquet would be awkward, so he came to me for help."

As he spoke, Cangming smiled and said, "After all, if we can get you, the recognized number one Star Core level expert, to be here, we can not only suppress their arrogance, but also greatly demonstrate their lineage's connections and influence among the new generation."

Lin Yi suddenly realized.

It turns out that he was invited to check out the venue and also to do some "side gigs" to boost the event's popularity.

And this "eternal abyss water" is his "protection fee" plus "appearance fee".

Lin Yi had never encountered such unspoken rules within the elite circles in his previous life, and in this life, having only recently risen to power, he had not yet ventured into them. Hearing about them now, he found them quite novel.

However, upon further reflection, he became somewhat puzzled: "Senior brother, since there are such rules, why has no other force ever invited me to participate in similar occasions in the more than one hundred years since I rose to power?"

Upon hearing this, Cangming scoffed, "Do you think everyone has such a big face or is willing to spend so much? You've risen too fast; your circle hasn't been fully opened yet."

"Moreover, rashly making such a request, which is almost like hiring someone, would be humiliating if rejected, or even seen as an insult. Wouldn't that be making an enemy for no reason? If the Lord of Hongyan Realm didn't have a past relationship with his sect and know them well, and if he didn't ask me to mediate, he wouldn't have made this request."

Lin Yi nodded; that made sense.

A genius is naturally proud, and it's truly difficult to persuade someone to do so without having the right connections or paying a high price.

"Originally, I didn't want you to get involved in this kind of thing."

Cangming's tone softened slightly, "Although the banquet venue isn't too far from here, a round trip, including the banquet time, would take at least ten years. Time is the most precious thing for you, and it would be unwise to waste your cultivation. Besides, although you are the number one at the Star Core level, your cultivation level is still relatively low, and traveling alone would pose a safety risk."

He then changed the subject: "However, since your clone has returned from the secret realm and is available, and given His Majesty Honghuan's close relationship with our faction, it's only right and proper that we help him out. Sending your clone on this trip will save face, get you the reward, and leave your main body unaffected—it's a win-win situation."

"I'll go alone?"

Lin Yi caught the key phrase and asked in surprise, "Ninth Senior Brother, aren't you going?"

He had assumed that Cangming would go with him.

Cangming grinned, revealing a helpless smile: "I would like to join in the fun, but unfortunately, I am responsible for guarding the graded battlefield, so how can I leave so easily? Lord Hongyan invited me in name, but in reality, he just wanted me to be a messenger. His real target has been you from beginning to end."

Lin Yi couldn't help but chuckle; his senior brother had actually become an extra in his invitation.

His mind raced, and he quickly weighed the pros and cons.

The clone can travel there, ensuring the safety of the main body.

It takes about ten years, which is not unacceptable for practitioners with long lifespans.

The reward, "Water of Eternal Abyss," was a top-tier treasure he desperately needed to greatly accelerate his comprehension of the rules of death; its value was immeasurable. Furthermore, since the Honghuan lineage had a close relationship with his master, it wouldn't hurt to take this opportunity to make contact, establish a good relationship, and perhaps even visit them.

By any measure, this is an extremely worthwhile deal.

"Senior brother has considered everything very thoroughly."

Lin Yi smiled and said, "In that case, I'll go this time. Ten years in exchange for a drop of Eternal Abyss Water is worth it."

"Haha, good! I knew you were a straightforward person, junior brother."

Cangming clapped his hands and laughed, "Then I will reply to Hongyan in this way. I will send you the specific time and space coordinates, banquet time and contact information later. Hongyan will arrange the reception."

"Thank you for your trouble, senior brother." Lin Yi cupped his hands in thanks.

Afterwards, the two brothers chatted for a while over tea about their recent situations. Cangming mainly talked about the situation of the Kunmo tribe on the graded battlefield before ending the virtual meeting.

After her consciousness returned to reality, Xuanji immediately received a message from Cangming.

It contains detailed records of the target star system's coordinates, the banquet venue named "Wanhua Star," and the specific contact information for the Lord of Hongyan Realm.

"Xuanji, notify your clone to prepare. We will depart for Wanhua Star in three days."

"Yes, Master."

Three days later, a personal spaceship shimmering with a dark blue light quietly departed from the port of the Border Legion's fortress base.

Lin Yi's clone took charge, set the navigation route, and the spaceship's engine spewed out a dazzling tail flame, instantly accelerating and disappearing into the vast sea of ​​stars, heading towards the distant "Wanhua Star" to begin its jump voyage.
-
Five years passed in the blink of an eye.

As the spaceship smoothly docked at the special interstellar port on Wanhua Star, Lin Yi followed the guide and boarded a special shuttle, arriving directly at the foot of the mountain where "Firefly Manor," prepared specifically for this banquet, was located in the core area of ​​the planet.

Meanwhile, at the magnificent and exquisite gate of the Firefly Manor, today's birthday celebrant, Hong Hanran, dressed in a gorgeous gown, was welcoming a steady stream of guests with several close girlfriends.

Her smile was appropriate, her demeanor elegant, displaying the poise of a noble lady.

According to the rules, she was mainly responsible for greeting her friends of the same age and some guests of relatively ordinary status, while more important guests were received by her father in a slightly more inner area.

As for the Lord of Hongyan Realm, he will only personally appear at the entrance of the main hall of the manor when he senses the arrival of guests of the same rank or of extremely high status.

Taking advantage of a lull in the guests, a woman in a pale yellow dress next to Hong Hanran quietly tugged at her sleeve.

"Hanran, I just received news that the people from Moyu Star have arrived at the airport. The leader is Ling Xuan. He is a true prodigy who has mastered the Flame Domain and is infamous among the younger generation in our star field."

A worried look appeared on the woman in the pale yellow dress. "They're definitely here to embarrass you. When they get to the door, should we... should we make up an excuse and say that all the seats are full and not let them in?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Hanran's slender fingers curled slightly.

How could she not be worried?

Although my father said that our ancestor had actually managed to invite that person, we haven't seen a single person yet.

She couldn't even imagine how embarrassing it would be if that prodigy was delayed on the way or simply didn't come. He would be publicly challenged by Ling Xuan at her family's birthday banquet, and no one on her side could stop him.

That would not only be a loss of face for her, but also for the entire Hongyan lineage, and even for His Majesty Honghuan's lineage.

Hong Hanran took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, maintaining a flawless smile on her face, gently patted her best friend Ruojin's hand, and whispered:

"Jin'er, don't panic. All guests are welcome. How could our Hong family turn away our guests? That would be truly laughable. Don't worry, I have a friend who can handle this."

Upon hearing this, Ruojin almost rolled her eyes.

She leaned closer, her voice low and exasperated, "My dear young lady, do you have any friends I don't know who can deal with the prodigies of the domain? Stop being stubborn, let's think of a way quickly."

Hong Hanran pursed her lips and didn't reply.

Just then, a slight energy fluctuation came from the foot of the mountain, and a row of flamboyantly designed shuttles bearing the emblem of the Ink Feather Star came to a steady stop.

The hatch opened, and several figures appeared, then transformed into dazzling streaks of light, swiftly soaring to the mountaintop and landing on an open space not far from the manor gate, drawing the attention of some early-arriving guests.

The leader was a young man dressed in a dark red battle robe. He had a handsome face, and his eyes seemed to flicker with flames as he scanned the room. It was none other than Ling Xuan.

Behind him were several equally distinguished young men and women, all of whom looked up to him with complete deference.

Ling Xuan's gaze bypassed the welcoming attendants and landed on Hong Hanran. A smile then appeared on his lips. "Ling Xuan of Moyu Star has come to celebrate Miss Hong Hanran's birthday. I've heard that many distinguished guests are gathered here today. Surely you won't turn away us, these guests who have come from afar, at the door?"

His words seemed polite, but the phrase "came from afar" and the slightly emphasized tone carried an invisible pressure.

Ruo Jin's face paled, and she instinctively wanted to step forward to argue, but Hong Han Ran gently pressed her down.

Hong Hanran stepped forward, suppressing the turmoil in her heart and maintaining the demeanor of a hostess, and nodded slightly: "Young Master Lingxuan, you flatter me. Today is Hanran's birthday, and I am deeply grateful for your presence. All guests are welcome, please come in."

She turned to the side and made an inviting gesture, her posture impeccable, but her slightly tense voice still betrayed a hint of nervousness.

A hint of smugness flashed in Ling Xuan's eyes, seemingly quite pleased with Hong Hanran's forced restraint.

He laughed heartily, said no more, and led his men through the manor gate and into the manor.

As he passed by Hong Hanran, a woman in a dark green dress deliberately snorted and gave him a provocative look.

Some neutral guests, as well as those who had already entered and were now chatting in twos and threes on the courtyard corridors or terraces, also noticed the scene at the entrance. Their thoughts intertwined, and whispers quietly arose:
"It's Ling Xuan from Moyu Star. He really came."

"Tsk tsk, His Majesty Honghuan's faction has been at odds with them for quite some time now. They're clearly here to cause trouble."

"Judging from Miss Honghan's expression, she probably wasn't sure herself. Her mention of a friend earlier was likely a delaying tactic, a way to save face by saying her friend was late."

"Didn't the Lord of Hongyan Realm invite outside help? That shouldn't be the case."

"Invite them? Are geniuses so easy to invite? They are all proud and arrogant. Unless they are close friends or willing to pay a huge price, who would want to get involved in this kind of struggle for no reason?"

"It seems there's going to be quite a show at today's birthday banquet. I just hope it doesn't turn out too badly, after all, it's a young girl's birthday celebration."

"Let's wait and see. Since Lord Hongyan dares to hold this banquet, he must have made some preparations."

These comments, though seemingly insignificant, were like an invisible spider web, entwining Hong Hanran's mind and making it difficult for her to breathe.

She forced a smile and continued to greet the guests who arrived, but the anxiety in her eyes grew stronger.

Time passed slowly, and the long-awaited "savior" remained nowhere to be found. Even Ruojin began to sigh and consider whether to suggest that she feign illness and leave early.

At the foot of the mountain, another shuttle quietly glided into its berth.

The hatch opened, and a figure dressed in simple blue attire slowly stepped out.

Lin Yi did not choose to fly directly to the mountaintop manor entrance on a beam of light like the previous guests. Instead, he walked leisurely up the mountain path paved with shimmering white star-shaped stones, as if appreciating the carefully arranged scenery along the way, just like an ordinary visitor.

As they walked and admired the scenery, more than half an hour later, Lin Yi finally appeared at the bustling entrance of the Firefly Manor.

His appearance was unassuming, without any powerful aura emanating from him, so that he didn't initially attract much attention.

It wasn't until he stopped and calmly surveyed Hong Hanran and her entourage who were welcoming them that his unusually composed demeanor gradually attracted the attention of those around him.

To outsiders, he was a very young-looking man. His face was not particularly handsome, but his features were well-defined, and his eyes were as deep as an ancient well, as if they contained an endless starry sky.

He stood there, without making any movement, yet he naturally became the center of the area, and even the light seemed to be slightly deflected towards his position.

Ruojin, who was looking around and thinking about how to help Hong Hanran escape, was the first to notice Lin Yi.

He was a young man dressed in a simple blue outfit, quietly standing in the line of guests waiting to enter the manor. He had neither servants around him nor fancy clothes, and he appeared too plain compared to the other guests.

However, Ruojin's gaze lingered on him.

Although the energy fluctuations he perceived were only at the level of a star core, no different from those of many young people present, this person was surrounded by an indescribable aura.

It wasn't an intentionally emanating pressure, but rather a restrained and serene presence, like a vast starry sea hidden beneath a calm surface.

His deep eyes swept across the room with a composure and insight beyond his years, as if the surrounding hustle and bustle were irrelevant to him, as if he were in his own world.

Ruojin quickly searched her memory, confirming that she had never seen this face in any social setting, nor did she remember Hong Hanran mentioning such a friend.

Such magnanimity is something that ordinary forces cannot cultivate.

A sense of curiosity arose in her heart. When did Hanran get to know such a person? And she kept it so well hidden, even from me?

Thinking of this, Ruojin couldn't help but gently tug at Hong Hanran, who was still looking worried beside her, and gestured with her eyes to the blue-clad youth in the group, asking in a low voice:

"Hanran, when did you make a friend like this? You didn't even introduce him to me? That's so unfair!"

Hong Hanran was feeling uneasy when Ruojin pulled her along, and she looked in the direction Ruojin was looking, somewhat bewildered.

At first, she didn't immediately recognize Lin Yi, only feeling that the young man in blue was indeed different from others.

But when Hong Hanran saw that calm face, especially when she met those eyes that seemed to reflect the turmoil in people's hearts, her heart skipped a beat, and then a huge surge of joy and relief rushed into her heart.

She instinctively gripped Ruojin's arm tightly.

"It's him! Jin'er, he's here."

(End of this chapter)