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

Chapter 361 News of the Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

Edith?
Since the members of the Star Origin Society returned to their respective clan territories, they have rarely been in direct contact.

What is she looking for at this time?
"Did she leave a message explaining her purpose?" Lin Yi asked.

“No, Master. It only says ‘Important matters, to be discussed in person’,” Xuanji replied.

Lin Yi pondered for a moment.

Given Edith's personality, she wouldn't be this formal unless something really happened.

"Reply to her, I'm connecting now," Lin Yi instructed, then closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the boundless torrent of data.

His consciousness first passed through a golden stream of light. After obtaining god-level combat power certification in the Pan-Spirit Alliance battlefield system, his virtual network permissions were also automatically upgraded to the gold level.

Then, a familiar sense of temporal dislocation came over him, and when he opened his eyes again, he was already in his own private virtual space.

By this time, his private space had changed dramatically.

No longer the "Silver-Blue Space" that simulated the combination of the starry sea and the blue star in the early days, now that he has high enough authority, the cost of setting up a virtual space for private meetings is just a small amount of money for him. Therefore, after Xuanji was promoted to the level of the Derivation Realm, he asked Xuanji to make some changes to his private virtual space.

After all, he would often come into contact with god-level powerhouses later on, so he couldn't be too impolite.

Therefore, after careful planning, Xuanji transformed this place into a celestial paradise with a strong ancient Xia Dynasty style.

Beneath my feet lies a shimmering, warm jade ground. In the distance, verdant mountains rise one after another, and amidst the swirling clouds, the clear cries of cranes echo.

Nearby, a winding corridor meanders across the azure waters, connecting to an octagonal pavilion suspended in mid-air. The pavilion is made of an unknown sacred wood, with soaring eaves, carved beams and painted rafters. In the center of the pavilion sits a black jade tea table and two futons.

Outside the pavilion, a clear spring murmurs, adorned with exotic flowers and rare herbs, and the air is filled with a refreshing and calming fragrance.

Lin Yi, dressed in a simple blue robe, stood by the pavilion with his hands behind his back, looking down at the churning sea of ​​clouds below.

This style was intentional on his part, as it not only aligns with the preferences of his own cultural background but also highlights a unique style and cultural depth within the interstellar context.

"Xuanji, invite Edith in."

Lin Yi gave the instructions.

"Invitation sent. Recipient accepted. Connecting now."

A few breaths later, ripples spread across the space outside the pavilion.

A tall, silver-haired figure materialized from the ethereal and stepped out.

It was Edith.

Today she was wearing a simple silver cultivation robe in the style of the Spirit Clan, which made her skin look even whiter than snow.

However, the moment she looked up and saw the scene around her, a hint of astonishment flashed in her jade-like eyes.

Immortal mountains and seas of clouds, ancient pavilions and winding corridors—this was completely different from the style of the virtual spaces she usually encountered in those of powerful deities.

But she reacted quickly, the surprise vanished instantly, and with a slight smile, she placed her hands on her sides, bowed gracefully, and performed a standard ancient Xia Dynasty lady's bow.

"Edith greets Your Majesty."

Lin Yi turned around, a smile on his face, and gestured for him to sit: "There's no need for such formalities between us."

It wasn't surprising that he knew these things about Edith.

After all, Edith had already studied Xia culture in depth. Moreover, as far as he knew, almost all the members of the Star Origin Society had also deliberately studied and learned about it.

Edith followed his instructions and stepped into the pavilion, sitting gracefully on the futon opposite Lin Yi. Then she smiled and said, "I haven't formally congratulated Your Majesty yet, but I've heard that you've already entered the realm of powerful gods. It's truly amazing."

Lin Yi sat down opposite her, raised his hand and gently waved it, and two cups of steaming tea appeared on the black jade tea table.

"You're quite well-informed." He smiled, picked up his teacup and took a sip. "In the official certification of the Pan-Spirit Alliance battlefield system, I'm still only a regular god-level being. This news is probably only circulating among the gods in Star Silence Fortress right now, isn't it? I didn't expect that you, being in the Spirit Clan's territory, would also know about it."

He was telling the truth.

Battlefield system rating updates require actual combat performance or official test certification.

Although his understanding of spatial laws has soared, he has yet to achieve any solo combat or slaying of powerful gods since his return. Naturally, the system has not been updated. The fact that Edith was able to receive the news so quickly speaks volumes about the power behind her.

Edith also picked up her teacup, feeling the warmth emanating from the cup with her fingertips. A glint of light flashed in her blue eyes as she said meaningfully, "After all, you are the core of our group, so everyone is naturally paying close attention. Moreover, although the details of your mission with His Majesty Yueming have not been made public, some rumors are inevitable."

She paused, then added playfully, "Looks like my congratulations aren't too late."

Lin Yi shook his head and chuckled, putting down his teacup. His gaze fell on Edith's face, and he cut straight to the point: "You should be focusing all your efforts on digesting what you've gained from the secret realm and trying to break through to a higher realm. You came to me not just to congratulate me, right?"

"What's wrong? Have you hit a roadblock and want to schedule a meeting so I can give you some pointers?"

"When you encounter a bottleneck, you want to receive guidance" is a secret code among members of Xingyuan Society.

The Star Origin Space opens for one year every epoch, but the distribution and transmission of spiritual energy naturally cannot wait that long.

Lin Yi assumed that Edith had come to arrange the time or place for the next transmission of spiritual energy.

After all, this is a core aid for all members of the Star Origin Society to improve their speed of understanding the rules.

Unexpectedly, Edith shook her head slightly, her smile fading. "It's not because of that. I came here for something else."

She looked intently at Lin Yi with her blue eyes and slowly said:
"I have received definite information that our Spirit Clan's high command is preparing to open the Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm soon."

"what?"

Lin Yi was immediately startled.

The Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm!

It should be noted that the reward he received for winning first place in the Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle included a ten-day opportunity to study the Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm.

The Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm of the Spirit Race is the only known cultivation treasure land that can rapidly improve a cultivator's source energy realm without any side effects!

For Lin Yi, this news was of great significance.

He has already reached 80% comprehension of the laws of space, and his understanding of the laws of time is already perfect. The current weakness that restricts his combat power from further improving is precisely the realm of source energy.

The improvement of source energy, each level of advancement requires a massive accumulation of energy and painstaking effort. If one proceeds step by step, even with the accumulation of resources, it will still take a long time.

The Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm is the best shortcut to overcome this bottleneck.

Lin Yi suppressed his turbulent thoughts and asked in a deep voice, "Are you sure? Is the source reliable? When is it expected to start?"

He couldn't help but take this matter seriously.

Upon returning from the myriad secret realms, he immediately inquired about the rewards for winning the Genius Battle, especially the ten-day opportunity to comprehend the Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm and the "Embryo of a Growth-Oriented Eternal Artifact" that was promised to be tailor-made for him.

However, the reply received was: The Spirit Clan leader of the Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle, Lord Radiant, was seriously injured in the battle at the entrance to the Myriad Secret Realms five thousand years ago and is currently in seclusion to recuperate.

The review, coordination, and opening of secret realms related to the rewards are currently on hold because they involve the core resources of the Spirit Race and require the personal promotion or authorization of the Radiant Lord.

Although Lin Yi was anxious, he understood that with his status and position, he could not urge a seriously injured Spirit Clan Lord, so he only mentioned it briefly to Lord Xuan Yan.

At the time, Venerable Xuan Yan said he would "pay attention and inquire when the opportunity arises," but he also hinted that for Venerable-level beings, the time scale is often measured in thousands of years, and asked him to wait patiently.

Lin Yi originally thought that it was very likely that this reward would be delivered in a few hundred or even a thousand years. He could only focus his energy on digesting the existing resources, improving his understanding of the laws, and accumulating battle merits.

Unexpectedly, not long after all this time, Edith brought news that the secret realm was about to open.

This is many times faster than his most optimistic estimate!
Edith clearly understood Lin Yi's concern. She explained, "The source of the information is within my family and is quite reliable, because activating the Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm requires the joint efforts of multiple Venerables, not just Venerable Radiance alone."

"As far as I know, although Lord Radiance was not fully recovered from his injuries, as soon as he heard that our group had returned safely from the Myriad Secret Realms, he immediately began to work on opening the Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm. In addition, the higher-ups intended to accelerate the cultivation of the new generation of top talents, so the proposal to open the secret realm was quickly put on the agenda."

"The specific start date has not yet been announced, but internal assessments and preparations have already begun. Based on the process of similar cases in the past, it is estimated that from preparation to official launch, it will take at least ten years and no more than fifty years."

Ten to fifty years!
This timescale is almost "recent".

Lin Yi pondered for a moment, then said to Edith, "Thank you for telling me this news; it's very important. Regarding my qualification for enlightenment, according to the procedure, I should wait for the Spirit Clan to confirm the time and then contact me, right?"

Edith nodded: "Yes, although the Radiant Lord is still in the recovery period, the specific matters will be handled by his subordinates or the Elven race's special agency responsible for secret realm affairs. They will contact you after the final opening time is confirmed."

She paused for a moment, then added, "Furthermore, according to some information I've heard, the opening of the Sacred Tree Secret Realm this time is on a very large scale. Those qualified to enter aren't just the winners of this year's Genius Battle rewards. Star Core-level geniuses who have reached a certain level of understanding of the rules over the past five thousand years, other qualified Star Swirl-level geniuses, and some Star Domain-level powerhouses with outstanding battle achievements have also been granted a certain period of time to study the secret realm. Therefore, the participants will be more diverse."

Lin Yi understood her implied meaning: the competitive pressure within the secret realm might be even greater.

He also knew a general idea about the Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm. It was a secret realm formed by a giant sacred tree, and the Sacred Source Fruit produced there could not only rapidly increase source energy, but was also a treasure that helped to comprehend the laws of life.

However, because the number and size of fruits hanging on different sacred branches vary, and the strength of the tree spirits guarding the fruits also varies, if people entering the secret realm find good branches at the same time, they will most likely compete to see which one is better.

After all, time inside is limited. Giving up your spot to others and wasting time searching for the Sacred Source Fruit again would reduce your own gains.

"It all comes down to strength." Lin Yi's lips curled into a slight smile. "By the way, are you familiar with the process of creating a divine artifact embryo?"

Edith nodded and said, “The customization of the artifact embryo usually starts simultaneously after the qualification for the secret realm is confirmed. At that time, our Spirit Race’s ‘Holy Forging Institute’ will require you to submit a detailed description of your requirements, including the type of weapon or equipment you wish to use, your preferred law of cultivation, your preferred combat style, and your prediction of your future growth path.”

"They will assess your needs and communicate with you multiple times to determine the final solution. Because it involves eternal-level materials and the forging of profound laws, the whole process will take a lot of time. It may even require you to complete certain prerequisites to enhance your compatibility with the embryo."

Lin Yi silently made a note of it.

It seems that while waiting for the secret realm to open, he still needs to carefully devise a plan for the artifact.

“I understand. Thank you again for the information, Edith.”

Clearly, the stronger one is when entering the Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm, the more one will gain. Receiving information in advance allows one to plan ahead.

"You're too kind," Edith smiled slightly. "As for guidance, it's not urgent for now. We'll see if we need your help after the secret realm ends."

Before parting ways with the various prodigies of the Star Origin Society, Lin Yi gave them a portion of purified source essence, enough for them to cultivate in the short term in conjunction with comprehending the treasures. Therefore, Edith's need in this regard was not urgent.

Lin Yi smiled and nodded.

He knew very well that Edith had deliberately brought this up to show that her visit was purely to inform people of the secret realm and that she had no other requests.

“Alright. It’s settled then.” Lin Yi raised his glass in a gesture of respect. “I’ll contact you again once I receive official notification from the Spirit Clan.”

"Definitely." Edith raised her glass in response. The two finished their tea.

Edith's figure slowly faded away, turning into a stream of light and disappearing into the pavilion.

The pavilion returned to silence, with only the faint sounds of a waterfall and the calls of cranes in the distance.

Lin Yi sat alone before the ink jade desk, deep in thought.

"The Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm is finally coming."

Lin Yi stood up, walked to the pavilion, and leaned on the railing to gaze into the distance.

The sea of ​​clouds churned beneath his feet.

"Lord of Radiance." Lin Yi murmured the name, his eyes deep.

He had previously refused the Radiant Lord's offer of recruitment, but he did not expect that as soon as the other party heard the news that this group of geniuses had come out of the secret realm, he immediately promoted the opening of the Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm.

Regardless of whether the other party was acting out of public interest or personal motives, for him, entering the secret realm to improve his strength was the primary goal.

As for the rest, we'll deal with whatever comes our way.

After Edith's virtual meeting ended, Lin Yi's consciousness returned to the real cultivation room, and the turmoil in his heart about the Supreme Sacred Tree Secret Realm was temporarily suppressed.

Opportunities are important, but improving our capabilities to seize them is even more urgent.

“Xuanji,” Lin Yi said.

A phantom figure in palace attire silently appeared, bowing and standing: "Master."

"Help me formulate my initial requirements for the artifact customization, and remember to keep an eye on the Spirit Clan's announcements. Once the opening time of the Sacred Tree Secret Realm is confirmed, let me know immediately."

"Okay, master."

"Where is the cultivation aid I ordered?" Lin Yi asked.

“Reporting to Master, the Void Dimension Anchor and the Primordial Space Breath will be escorted by a god-level powerhouse and are expected to arrive at the manor in seven standard days,” Xuanji replied. “In addition, the dimensional anchoring chip you previously exchanged is still valid.”

Lin Yi nodded slightly.

The dimensional anchor chip has been active for fifteen years and is still in effect, which will provide him with a continuous boost in his subsequent sprint.
-
Seven standard days later, outside the manor.

A middle-aged man dressed in dark silver armor stepped out of a dedicated high-speed transport ship, holding a multi-layered encrypted alloy box in his hands.

The powerful fluctuations of laws emanating from its body indicated that it was a god-level being.

"Lord Lin Yi, these are the supplies you exchanged." The middle-aged deity handed over the alloy box. "Please verify."

"Thank you for your trouble," Lin Yi said politely as he took the box.

He then activated his access and unlocked the alloy box layer by layer.

Inside were two items: a deep blue crystal with flowing light points inside, and three wisps of silver mist sealed within a transparent crystal of laws.

"The supplies are correct, thank you." After checking, Lin Yi thanked the escorting deities.

"It's my duty. I wish you a successful cultivation journey." The middle-aged deity returned the greeting crisply and decisively, then returned to the transport ship, transforming into a streak of light and departing efficiently and without any hesitation.

Lin Yi did not return to the cultivation room, but directly instructed: "Xuanji, reserve the commuter shuttle to the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws Returning to Origin."

"Yes, Master. The shuttle has been booked and is expected to arrive at the manor's landing pad in fifteen minutes," Xuanji replied.

Fifteen minutes later, a streamlined, silver-gray commuter shuttle docked on the landing pad on time.

Lin Yi boarded the shuttle, and the cabin door closed silently.

The shuttle flew smoothly along the designated commuter route within the Origin Star and soon arrived at the Hall of All Laws Returning to the Origin.

This is a magnificent building that covers a vast area.

Its overall color is dark gold, and its surface is covered with runes that seem to be alive.

Lin Yi demonstrated his authorization and, after rigorous verification, entered the hall.

The interior space utilizes spatial folding technology, making it far more spacious than the exterior. The dome is a flowing illusion of a starry sky, and underfoot is a smooth, mirror-like dark metal floor. A straight passage leads into the depths, with independent entrances on both sides separated by soft light membranes.

Lin Yi followed the passage to the entrance marked "Spatial Law Optimization Zone".

The light membrane sensed his permission and silently opened.

Lin Yi stepped into it, and found himself in a vast, almost pure white space. In the very center of the space, a circular platform about fifty meters in diameter floated. The platform was entirely silver-gray, and its surface was covered with intricate and complex spatial law runes, which flickered according to a certain pattern.

"Identity confirmed." A gentle notification echoed in the space. "Your usage rights are for a standard period of five years. Space law optimization environment shaping in progress. Please take your positions."

Lin Yi stepped onto the platform.

The runes on the platform surface suddenly lit up, and countless silver rays rose from the edge of the platform, weaving together to form a huge semi-transparent light shield that enveloped him.

Inside the light shield, the scene changed, transforming into a special void filled with countless spatial folds, dimensional faults, and silver threads of law.

Lin Yi could sense that the activity level of the spatial laws here was more than ten times that of the outside world, while interference from other laws was minimized.

"Environment shaping is complete."

Upon hearing the prompt, Lin Yi sat down cross-legged and first adjusted the dimensional anchoring chip, which was fused to his brow and was continuously emitting a faint cooling sensation, to its optimal sensing state.

Next, he held the "Void Dimension Anchor," the deep blue crystal, in his palm.

As a cool energy surged into his soul, Lin Yi felt his perception of the complex spatial dimensions around him soar, and the hidden dimensional structures and faults became as clear as if they had been highlighted.

Finally, he broke the seal on the Primordial Space Breath.

Silver mist surged forth, actively merging into his body and soul.

In an instant, a strong longing and resonance came from the spatial law imprint deep in the soul, as if spring rain had arrived on parched earth, and the barrier between the soul and the origin of space had become thinner than ever before.

Triple external enhancements are in place!

Lin Yi's thoughts sank into the purple mist space.

The spirit of enlightenment, ignite!
boom!
As the purple flame of enlightenment ignited in his soul, Lin Yi's thinking, comprehension, and deductive abilities were instantly pushed to their limits.

Under the five-fold superposition of the Origin Platform, the dimensional insight of the Void Anchor, the primordial affinity of the Primordial Space Breath, the stable gain of the Dimensional Anchor Chip, and the core drive of the Spiritual Enlightenment Qi, Lin Yi's comprehension of the spatial laws began an unprecedented high-speed sprint.

His consciousness was completely submerged in the ocean of spatial laws.

In the first month, the comprehension of spatial laws was 83.5%.

Three months, 87.1%.

In six months, 91.3%.

Within a year, it exceeded 95%.

The following year, it increased from 95% to 98%.

Three and a half years have passed, 99.9%.

Just one last step!
Without pausing for a moment, Lin Yi launched an attack directly at the final barrier.

Another half year passed.

Finally, enlightenment pierced the darkness like a thunderclap.

Deep within Lin Yi's soul, the silver-white spatial law imprint burst forth with a flawless and dazzling brilliance, its structure undergoing its ultimate transformation, becoming a perfectly three-dimensional rune that complemented the perfect temporal law imprint beside it.

Spatial Law Comprehension: 100%!

The dual superior principle, complete perfection!

boom!
Centered on Lin Yi, a powerful spatial law fluctuation spread out uncontrollably, impacting the light shield of the Myriad Manifestations Returning to Origin Platform and creating violent ripples.

The entire silver void trembled, and countless spatial folds resonated in unison, as if celebrating the birth of a master of spatial laws.

Lin Yi slowly opened his eyes.

The left eye is silver-gray, reflecting the long river of time; the right eye is silver-white, reflecting the endless void.

Two different, yet distinct, laws of power flowed harmoniously within him, resonating with each other and producing a profound and mysterious charm that transcended any single law.

"It's done," Lin Yi muttered to himself.

He slightly moved his fingers, a thought flashing through his mind.

Swish!
A hundred meters ahead, a stable spatial area vanished silently, revealing the pitch-black void behind it. However, the edges of the darkness were firmly bound by an invisible force, unable to encroach upon reality in the slightest.

This is just the most basic application, but the control it demonstrates is vastly different from when the level of understanding is 80%.

"The perfection of the dual laws has finally reached this point."

Lin Yi felt the surging power within him, and an unprecedented sense of security welled up in his heart.

Even without relying on any divine artifacts or combat skills, his understanding of the laws of spacetime alone would place him at least in the middle tier among powerful deities. If he were to acquire the Sky-Piercing Shuttle and the secret technique he was about to cultivate, he would be among the top tier of powerful deities.

But he didn't stop.

Because what follows is the real key.

Spacetime fusion!

Time and space are two sides of the same coin.

While the power of a single perfect being is indeed formidable, only by truly fusing the two can its terrifying power be fully unleashed.

(End of this chapter)