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

Chapter 372 News of the First Secret Realm
Lin Yi's application was answered shortly after it was submitted.

The surrounding light shifted and changed, transforming the treatment room into a tranquil starry courtyard.

Beneath your feet is a smooth, obsidian-like ground, reflecting the starry sky, with a few ancient trees whose branches and leaves shimmer with a silvery-blue light sparsely dotting the corners of the courtyard.

In the center of the courtyard, beside an ancient gray-white stone table, the Venerable Xuan Yan sat, his slender fingers casually tracing patterns in the air, causing a miniature star map composed of countless points of light to rotate.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Lin Yi strode forward, stopped three steps away from the stone table, and respectfully bowed.

Xuan Yan Venerable Lord raised his eyes, his gaze lingering on him for a moment, then nodded slightly and pointed to the stone bench opposite him.

"sit."

Lin Yi sat down as instructed.

Lord Xuan Yan picked up the white jade teacup on the table, which was steaming with wisps of heat. "You came to see me in such a hurry because of that No. 1 secret realm?"

He skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point. At his level, his concept of time differed from that of ordinary people, and he didn't need those pointless formalities.

"Yes." Lin Yi also went straight to the point, "Lord, what exactly is that No. 1 secret realm? How could it make the three races simultaneously put down their fighting and sign this 100-epoch ceasefire agreement?"

This was the biggest question lingering in his mind.

The Venerable Xuan Yan paused almost imperceptibly in the hand holding the teacup.

He did not answer immediately, but remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the illusory, deep starry sky outside the courtyard, as if he were weighing something.

The emerald green tea in the cup rippled gently, reflecting the fragmented light of the star map.

“According to the rules, at your level, you are not qualified to know information at this level.” Venerable Xuan Yan finally spoke. “The true origin and core secrets of the No. 1 Secret Realm are only known to those at the Venerable level and above.”

He put down his teacup and turned his gaze back to Lin Yi's face, a complex consideration flashing in his deep eyes.

“However,” Xuan Yan Venerable Lord’s tone changed slightly, “with the talent and potential you have shown, as long as you don’t perish along the way, you will definitely be able to step into the Venerable Lord level in the future.”

"Therefore, I can make an exception and let you know part of it in advance."

Xuan Yan Venerable stared into Lin Yi's eyes and slowly said, "But this is only for your personal knowledge, and you must not disclose it to anyone else in any form."

Lin Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately nodded solemnly.

Lord Xuan Yan leaned back in his chair, not giving a direct answer, but instead throwing back a question, "In your opinion, under what circumstances would the three races, who have been bloodthirsty and have invested countless resources and lives, simultaneously stop fighting?"

Lin Yi did not answer immediately.

He lowered his eyes slightly, images flashing through his mind.

He recalled the "dead star field" outside the porthole of the "Shadow Shuttle," which had been completely torn apart by the aftershocks of the battle between the gods and was still riddled with spatial rifts; he recalled the cold, long list of the dead in the battle reports.

War is like a destructive machine running at full speed; once started, its enormous inertia is difficult to stop.

What could force this machine to brake is either a sheer cliff ahead that could shatter it to pieces, or an incredible treasure that the operator cannot refuse and must immediately turn around.

“It can only be profit.” Lin Yi raised his head. “Profits large enough to tempt the three supreme beings, and possibly something that concerns the fundamental interests of the race’s future.”

This is the most reasonable conclusion he could deduce based on the available information.

At the Supreme level, ordinary resources and territories are probably insufficient for them to make such a significant strategic shift.

After listening, Lord Xuan Yan nodded slowly, his expression revealing neither approval nor any other emotion.

You're half right.

half?
Lin Yi's eyebrows suddenly rose.

This answer was somewhat unexpected.

He believed that his deduction had touched upon the core of the problem.

Profit-driven motives are one of the most fundamental logics behind the actions of all races in the universe.

"Please enlighten me, Your Excellency," Lin Yi said.

"Interests are certainly one aspect," Xuan Yan Venerable tapped his fingertips lightly on the stone table, "but the probability of obtaining what can be called the 'ultimate benefit' in that secret realm is not high, almost negligible. This ceasefire is largely due to pressure."

"Pressure?" Lin Yi repeated subconsciously, his heart filled with turbulent waves.

What else could possibly put pressure on all three races and the four supreme beings standing at the pinnacle of the universe at the same time?

He couldn't imagine it.

In his current understanding, the Supreme Being is almost the end of the path of cultivation. They are the supreme beings who can make their words law and whose thoughts can create and destroy galaxies. They themselves are the source of pressure.

Seeing the undisguised astonishment and confusion in Lin Yi's eyes, Lord Xuan Yan revealed a faint smile.

There was no ease in that smile; instead, it carried a deeper meaning that Lin Yi could not fully comprehend at the moment.

"That's not something you should know right now." Lord Xuan Yan didn't continue explaining and abruptly cut off the topic.

He raised his hand, and the virtual star map vanished, replaced by an extremely simple structural diagram.

A colossal tower, shrouded in layers of mist, with clearly marked tiers on its surface.

“When you can reach the 50th level of that secret realm on your own,” Venerable Xuan Yan pointed to the middle of the map, which was specially highlighted, “I will naturally tell you what this pressure is. Knowing too much now will not do you any good; on the contrary, it may affect your judgment and state of mind.”

50 floors?
Lin Yi's attention was immediately drawn to this specific number.

He originally thought that the secret realm might be divided into areas, but he did not expect it to be such a clear hierarchical structure, like a trial or challenge.

"Does the interior of Secret Realm Number One have many layers?" he asked for confirmation.

"A total of 99 floors." Venerable Xuan Yan gave the exact number, his tone calm, as if he were talking about something ordinary.

But Lin Yi noticed that when the Xuan Yan Venerable Master uttered this number, a trace of melancholy flashed quickly across the depths of his eyes.

Or rather, it's a mixture of reminiscence and extremely complex emotions.

However, that emotion vanished so quickly that Lin Yi almost thought it was an illusion.

“99th floor.” Venerable Xuan Yan repeated in a low voice, then shook his head, a cryptic expression on his face, like self-mockery or a sigh. “But… never mind, there’s no point in saying this now. You will go in soon, and what you will experience, see, and touch firsthand will be far clearer and more profound than hearing me describe it a thousand times in pale language.”

He waved his hand, clearly not intending to discuss the issue of hierarchy any further.

Upon seeing this, Lin Yi immediately suppressed the many more questions surging in his mind.

He knew that the Lord had already spoken so far and made his attitude clear. To press further would be tactless and only cause offense.

Some information, if not at a certain level, can become a burden if you know it.

He has memorized the two key numbers, "99 floors" and "50 floors".

He quickly shifted his focus back to more realistic and pressing issues.

"My lord, now that the ceasefire agreement is in effect, what about the injuries of the Eternal Beginning Sovereign?" Lin Yi carefully chose his words.

This is one of his biggest concerns.

The Overlord is the pillar of humanity; its fall would directly lead to a decline in humanity's status within the Pan-Spirit Alliance.

"Hmm." Venerable Xuan Yan nodded, his expression softening slightly. "This time, three Sovereigns in the Pan-Spirit Alliance suffered serious injuries. During this hundred-epoch ceasefire period, they will all receive treatment from the Supreme One."

Lin Yi immediately felt relieved.

With the Supreme Being personally involved, as long as they don't perish on the spot, they should be able to be saved.

As long as the ruler is not in danger of falling, the sky for humanity will not fall.

This is arguably the most direct benefit of the ceasefire.

But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, the next words of the Venerable Xuan Yan made his heart leap again.

"However, you must understand that treatment and recovery are two different concepts." The Xuan Yan Venerable's tone was calm, yet it revealed the cold reality. "Even if a Supreme Being intervenes, it is only to help the Ruler stabilize the collapsing origin and avert the crisis of death. This is equivalent to pulling him back from the edge of the most dangerous cliff."

"As for the subsequent recuperation and recovery," Venerable Xuan Yan shook his head slightly, "The Supreme One still needs to prepare for the restart of the great war after the hundredth era, and it is impossible to do these things. Therefore, the Supreme One can only rely on the long years to recover little by little."

He gave a clear timescale: "This process, at the most optimistic estimate, will take at least ten thousand epochs. During these ten thousand epochs, the Primordial Ruler will be unable to take action and will even need to remain in an absolutely safe environment for a deep slumber-like recovery."

The Ten Thousandth Era.
Lin Yi secretly gasped.

This period of time may not be long for the Overlord, but for the overall strategy of the human race, it means that there will be a long and dangerous window of opportunity in terms of deterrence at the highest level of combat power.

Although the Overlord has fallen without fear, and the human race still has its sky, this sky will no longer be able to shelter the races below from the wind and rain for a considerable period of time, and will no longer be able to form an effective strategic deterrent.

This will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the Terran race's ability to act and its voice in the future interstellar landscape.

He almost immediately recalled Edith's subtle warning earlier.

"My Lord," Lin Yi's tone unconsciously carried a hint of urgency, "I've heard that the Spirit Race might reassess and adjust the subsequent support and resource allocation based on the contributions of our allies in the previous phase of the war. If the war resumes after the Hundred Eras, given our current accumulated merits and the inability of our Overlord to intervene..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already clear.

Once the Eldar reduce their support, the Human race will be in a very passive position due to the temporary absence of high-end combat power and their own lack of outstanding combat achievements. They may even become the main targets of attrition in the new round of war.

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Venerable Xuan Yan's eyes flashed with surprise. He looked Lin Yi over again and smiled, "I didn't realize you were so well-informed. You can even catch up on the undisclosed decision-making trends within the Spirit Clan."

He did not deny it; instead, he directly affirmed Lin Yi's concerns.

"Indeed, this matter is basically settled within the Spirit Clan's Supreme Council. It's just that the specific reduction in scale and method is still in the final stages of consultation and refinement." Venerable Xuan Yan picked up his slightly cooled teacup, took a sip, and his tone revealed little emotion. "As for our human race, among the powerful races, our early battle achievements are indeed not optimistic, ranking near the bottom."

Lin Yi was not surprised by this.

In the early stages of the war, the Time Lord and the high gods of the Time Law were unable to leave their posts, and the absence of one of their own rulers for five thousand years resulted in the human race failing to achieve significant results in several key battles.

The decline in military achievements was an inevitable result of a combination of factors.

"Therefore," Lord Xuan Yan put down his teacup, "this truce period of one hundred eras is not only a time for our human race to recuperate, but also the last and best opportunity for us to catch up on our war achievements and reverse our unfavorable evaluations!"

"The first secret realm is open to all three races. Inside, although the special rules of the secret realm prevent us from truly killing our opponents, however!" Lord Xuan Yan emphasized, "Killing them out of the secret realm or forcing them to withdraw will still be counted as corresponding battle merits."

"Moreover, due to the unique nature of the First Secret Realm and its assigned strategic importance, the bonus coefficient for this type of battle merit is far higher than that of a regular battlefield. Killing or driving away an opponent of the same level can yield battle merit equivalent to killing several enemies of the same level in the outside world!"

A glint flashed in Lin Yi's eyes, and his heart involuntarily skipped a few beats.

A glint flashed in Lin Yi's eyes. The fighting outside had ceased, but a more direct and intense competition would unfold in that mysterious secret realm. Resources, opportunities, and military achievements were all intertwined.

That place will become a new battleground where the three races vie for power and control over the future.

"Secret Realm Number One. Only those at the God-level can enter." He subconsciously repeated this known key restriction.

Xuan Yan Venerable looked at him with profound eyes.

"That's right, the highest level is only accessible to gods."

After saying his last profound words, Lord Xuan Yan did not continue immediately. He gave Lin Yi a few seconds to digest and absorb the information.

The starlight flowed silently in the courtyard, and Lin Yi could feel something awakening within him.

"Now that we understand the key," the voice of Venerable Xuan Yan rang out again, pulling Lin Yi back to reality, "then the task ahead is clear."

Lin Yi looked up, his gaze focused.

"For all members who meet the selection criteria and are qualified to enter the No. 1 Secret Realm," Venerable Xuan Yan lightly traced the edge of the stone table with his finger, a tiny glimmer of light flashing, "before entering the secret realm, they will all receive additional resource subsidies from the clan. The purpose is singular: to make you stronger before you enter."

"Therefore, what you need to do, or rather, the only thing you need to think about, is two things."

Lord Xuan Yan held up two fingers. "First, during this limited preparation period before entering the secret realm, make good use of all available resources and do everything possible to maximize your strength. Enlightenment of laws, source energy realm, proficiency in secret techniques, combat experience, equipment—everything that can be converted into immediate combat power is your goal."

He paused briefly, looked at Lin Yi, and only after confirming that the other party fully understood did he slowly lower the first finger and continue: "Second, after entering the secret realm, your goals are equally clear: to do everything in your power to acquire all the resources within the secret realm. At the same time, strive to reach higher levels. Remember, a level itself is a qualification, a privilege, and even a form of protection."

"While doing all this," Venerable Xuan Yan's voice deepened, "protect yourself; that's the bottom line. On that basis, kill as many enemies as possible. Every time you drive a member of the enemy faction out of the secret realm, you not only gain battle merits, but also reduce the effective forces that the enemy clan can subsequently deploy into the secret realm."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi's heart stirred.

He immediately grasped the key information hidden in the words of the Venerable Xuan Yan: "reduce the number of times the enemy can enter the secret realm."

This clearly means that the qualification to enter that first secret realm is not permanent or unlimited.

Every ethnic group and every individual probably has some kind of "number of times" or "life" limit.

Once you are killed and forced out of the secret realm, it likely means you will completely lose the right to re-enter, or you will have to pay an extremely high price to regain it.

In this way, every successful expulsion weakens the enemy's future potential and high-end combat capabilities.

This is exactly the same logic as external wars, which weaken the opponent's strength by depleting their manpower, except that the battlefield is limited to that special "arena" that can only be entered by gods at the highest level.

However, since Venerable Xuan Yan said that "the specific details will naturally be known later," and had previously clearly stated that many core rules of the secret realm could only be unlocked by reaching a certain level, Lin Yi suppressed the urge to ask about the specific mechanism and allocation method of the "number of times."

He believed that when the time came to know, both the Lord and the relevant instructions before entering the secret realm would provide the answer.

At this moment, Venerable Xuan Yan picked up his teacup and drank the last drop of tea.

"Later, you group of prodigies who emerged from the Sacred Tree Secret Realm will return to your respective clans under the unified arrangement of the Spirit Clan." Venerable Xuan Yan put down his teacup and looked at Lin Yi. "Before returning, you should still have some time within the Spirit Clan's territory. Make the most of the battle merit exchange system and some cultivation facilities that the Spirit Clan opens to its allies. Don't waste them."

"Yes, Lord." Lin Yi immediately understood. This was the Lord reminding him that before leaving the Spirit Clan, he could still use his battle merits or other means to gain some more benefits and solidify his foundation.

"Go." Lord Xuan Yan waved his hand, his figure beginning to blur in the Star Court, and the surrounding starry sky slowly dissipated like a faded ink painting. "Rest and recuperate, consolidate what you have gained. The First Secret Realm... that is the real stage."

"Respectfully seeing off Your Excellency." Lin Yi rose and bowed respectfully once again.

Once the figure of Venerable Xuan Yan had completely disappeared and the virtual space had returned to the appearance of his treatment room, Lin Yi finally breathed a long sigh of relief and slowly sat down.

The conversation just now was very informative, and he needs time to sort it out and formulate his next action plan.

The core objective is crystal clear: become stronger, enter the secret realm, and become even stronger while simultaneously striking down enemies.

"Continue the treatment first, and while you're at it, learn from their experience."

Lin Yi recalled the exquisite methods by which the Qinglin Realm Master applied the Laws of Life, and made a plan in his mind.

Half an hour later, Xuanji's voice suddenly rang out: "Master, Edith, along with Qingye, Huiyao, Valerie, and other prodigies, arrived outside the Healing Hall three minutes ago and submitted a visit request, hoping to see you. The request has passed the initial verification by the hall's system. May I grant them an audience?"

Edith and the others have arrived?
They're well-informed.

After a moment's thought, Lin Yi realized that they had come to visit him so soon after he came out, and he had to accept their kindness.

"Xuanji, reply that access is permitted and guide them to my current temporary rest area," Lin Yi instructed.

The Healing Hall provides each patient receiving intensive treatment with a private rest room that also functions as a reception area.

"Command confirmed. Guiding the visitor."

Lin Yi walked to the window of the lounge. Outside the window was the artificial scenery of the inner courtyard of the Healing Hall, with flowing water and blooming exotic flowers, exuding a tranquil and peaceful energy field.

He took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind about "Secret Realm No. 1," "pressure," and "99th floor," and his face returned to calm.

A moment later, the door to the lounge slid open silently.

Edith entered first, still dressed in a simple silver-white casual outfit, with clear blue eyes. Behind her, several familiar faces, including Qingye, Huiyao, and Valerie, filed in, all with expressions of concern.

"How are you feeling?" Edith stepped forward first, her blue eyes carefully examining Lin Yi's complexion and aura.

"He's basically fine now; the Spirit Race's healing techniques are truly remarkable."

Lin Yi smiled, stretched his arms, and felt the energy flowing smoothly within his body. "Thank you for coming to see me."

"It's nothing," Qingye replied, taking out an exquisite crystal box with sealing runes flowing on its surface. "We've gathered some things, and although we know you certainly don't need them, it's still a small token of our appreciation, and we hope it can help you recover quickly."

Huiyao and Valerie nodded in agreement.

What they brought out were also some kind of precious healing or restorative treasures.

Lin Yi felt a warmth in his heart, but he really didn't need it.

Firstly, his injuries were indeed nearly healed; secondly, he valued the opportunity to continue "observing" the Qinglin Realm Lord's application of the Laws of Life.

He smiled, but shook his head firmly: "I appreciate everyone's kindness, but I don't need this treasure. My injuries are much better now, and" he paused slightly, then said frankly, "the Qinglin Realm Lord who treated me is quite accomplished in the application of the Law of Life. I wanted to take this opportunity to learn more about it. If I use external objects, it might interfere with this direct understanding of the Law."

Upon hearing this, Edith's eyes flashed with understanding.

She herself was a prodigy and immediately understood Lin Yi's plan: to treat the treatment process as a valuable learning opportunity.

She nodded, gesturing for Qingye to put the crystal box away: "Since that's the case, then so be it. It seems that you gained more than just injuries from this trip to the secret realm."

Her words were clever, expressing both understanding and subtly touching upon Lin Yi's last-minute adventure.

Lin Yi laughed and didn't hide anything, "It was indeed a close call. We found a great place, but unexpectedly it attracted a god-level being, and we were almost slapped out. Before leaving, we risked going back to test it out."

He didn't specify what a "good place" was, nor did he mention the outcome of "giving it a try".

But Edith was an extremely intelligent person. From the way Lin Yi's eyes shone despite his serious injuries when he was first sent out, she had already judged that he had probably succeeded.

To be able to snatch chestnuts from the fire under such circumstances and successfully bring "something" out, Edith was secretly awestruck, gaining a deeper understanding of Lin Yi's strength and courage.

She didn't press for details about what the treasure was, nor did she ask if the attempt had succeeded, because that was a matter of personal chance, and pressing for answers would have seemed tactless.

Therefore, Edith simply gave a faint smile, "Congratulations. It seems your gains in this Sacred Tree Secret Realm far exceeded your expectations."

"Likewise," Lin Yi said with a smile. "You must have gained quite a bit in the secret realm as well."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the conversation naturally turned to the hottest topic of the moment.

Huiyao, being straightforward, couldn't help but lower his voice and ask, "Do you know anything about that No. 1 secret realm, or the ceasefire between the three races?"

The others also showed expressions of concern.

Although they each have their own backgrounds and channels, Lin Yi, as the most prominent prodigy of the human race at present, may be able to obtain more core information.

Lin Yi nodded, his expression turning serious: "I only found out recently, and I did communicate with the Lord." He carefully chose his words, "I don't know much about the specifics, and due to confidentiality restrictions, I can't reveal anything now, but I can clarify some general directions."

He looked at the companions before him, who could be said to have shared life and death with him in countless secret realms, and solemnly said: "This ceasefire is a joint decision made by the highest levels of the three parties. The external war will not restart within one hundred eras, but the competition will shift to the interior of Secret Realm No. 1."

He paused, then continued, "What we need to do now is make good use of the ceasefire period to improve ourselves as much as possible. Whether it's our understanding of laws, our source energy realm, or our secret equipment, every little bit helps. Once we enter the secret realm, everything will be decided by strength. At that time, we will naturally know what we need to know."

These words revealed key information while strictly adhering to boundaries, without mentioning specific rules, levels, or pressure, and at the same time provided clear action guidelines: to quickly become stronger.

Edith and the others were all extremely intelligent, and they immediately grasped the key point from Lin Yi's words, and understood his position that he could not say more.

Knowing these directions is already much clearer and more reliable than many unfounded rumors circulating outside.

“I understand.” Edith nodded. “It seems we can’t relax for a moment once we get back.”

“That’s right.” Qingye clenched his fist. “I thought I could catch my breath after leaving the Sacred Tree Secret Realm, but I didn’t expect an even bigger challenge to be waiting for me.”

After chatting for a while longer, mainly about their respective plans, Edith and the others got up to say goodbye, not wanting to disturb Lin Yi's continued recuperation.

The two days flew by in focused treatment and reflection.

That afternoon, he had just finished his treatment and was consolidating his gains when Xuanji's voice rang in his mind, indicating that someone had come to visit again.

The visitor was Ya tide.

This illusory law prodigy of the Spirit Race still had a slightly pale complexion from recovering from serious injuries, but his eyes had regained their usual coldness and sharpness.

She came alone, wearing a simple light purple training uniform, her silver hair casually draped over her shoulders.

"It seems you've recovered quite well," Lin Yi said with a smile as he ushered her into the reception room.

Ya tide nodded and sat down in the guest seat, but her gaze remained fixed on Lin Yi's face, as if trying to discern something.

After a few seconds of silence, she suddenly spoke, "You went there again in the end?"

She didn't say where she was going, but they both knew exactly where.

Lin Yi looked into Ya tide's eyes, where the emotions were very complex.

There was curiosity, a desire to explore, and perhaps even a hint of concern for "successful people" that she herself was unaware of.

Lin Yi suddenly laughed heartily, feeling quite cheerful.

Although the journey to the Sacred Tree Secret Realm was thrilling, the rewards far exceeded expectations.

Facing Ya tide, his former rival and final ally, he had no intention of hiding the outcome.

If it weren't for Ya tide, she would have been kicked out of the Sacred Tree Secret Realm long ago.

With a slight thought, Lin Yi flipped his wrist and took out two items from his storage space.

Above the left palm, fifteen Sacred Source Fruits, their bodies shimmering with golden-green liquid light, floated silently, emanating a powerful and pure energy fluctuation and a rich aura of the laws of life.

Above the right palm were ten crystal-clear crystals, their interiors shimmering with a bluish-gold light as if alive—these were the Sacred Source Crystals.

Moreover, the size and energy purity of each piece meet a standard.

Fifteen high-quality Derivative-level Sacred Source Fruits.

Ten standard portions of Sacred Source Crystal.

The quiet room was instantly filled with these two superimposed fluctuations.

Even with Ya tide's composure, a slight tremor crossed her usually cold face when she saw these two items, especially the ten standard portions of Sacred Source Crystals.

Seeing her shocked expression, Lin Yi's smile widened.

"Just lucky," he said with a smile. "It worked."

(End of this chapter)