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

Chapter 378 The Return of Heroes, A New Year's Feast (Happy New Year~)

As soon as Lin Yi finished speaking, Li Zhenguo and the others began to breathe heavily, and Zhou Donglai's eyes flashed with disbelief.

The other high-ranking officials were also staring intently at Lin Yi, their eyes burning with a longing that had been suppressed for thousands of years and an unbelievable ecstasy.

“Commander.” Li Zhenguo’s voice was hoarse. He turned to look at Zhou Donglai. The two old partners who had worked together for thousands of years saw the same intense emotions in each other’s eyes.

Finally, Li Zhenguo steadied himself. He took a deep breath and asked in as calm a tone as possible, "Commander, I wonder if this resurrection should be kept secret? With the New Year approaching, if possible, could we start a live broadcast across the entire civilization so that everyone can witness this joyous occasion?"

He said this with obvious caution.

Lin Yi looked at Li Zhenguo and nodded: "It seems that you have also figured out the trick."

"In principle, information about resurrection needs to be kept confidential below a certain level and will not be allowed to circulate freely on the Pan-Spirit Alliance virtual network."

Li Zhenguo and the others felt a chill in their hearts.

But Lin Yi changed the subject: "However, it's not a big problem."

After saying that, Lin Yi directly instructed, "Xuanji."

The illusory image of a woman in palace attire solidified instantly beside Lin Yi, bowing gracefully: "Master."

"In my name, I request special live-streaming privileges within the Silverblue Civilization. Note: I wish to resurrect the fallen within the Silverblue Civilization."

"Received, application sent." Data streams flashed rapidly through Xuanji's eyes.

Just three seconds later.

Xuanji raised her head. "Master, the access has been directly granted by Her Majesty Xingyi, the head of the Purple Gold Star Alliance branch of the Virtual Network Company. Postscript: The information security level of all members of the Silver Blue Civilization regarding the 'resurrection' matter has been downgraded to 'can be disclosed internally within the civilization.' Wishing Your Majesty and the Silver Blue Civilization a Happy New Year."

"Xingyi?" Lin Yi smiled. "Please give my thanks."

After saying that, Lin Yi looked at Li Zhenguo and said, "That's fine. You can make the arrangements."

Li Zhenguo nodded vigorously, then turned to the group of excited executives behind him and quickly ordered: "Activate the highest priority civilized broadcasting system! Notify all media platforms to immediately connect to the 'Silver Blue Star News' main signal! Emergency broadcasting throughout the entire civilization."

"Yes!" Zhou Donglai was the first to respond, his voice so loud it didn't sound like that of an old man.
-
Silver Blue Star, Dongzhou District, Linhai City.

This is a typical newly built city, with smooth architectural lines and crisscrossing overhead rail lines.

The Yue family mansion is located in a quiet, upscale residential area on the outskirts of the city. It occupies a considerable area, but at this moment it appears unusually deserted.

The living room is decorated with New Year elements, and the table is full of exquisite snacks and fruits.

The people sitting around in the living room were a room full of women.

The oldest was an elderly woman with gray hair and a kind face. Her name was Yue Qinglan, a Star Core level, and she was Yue Zhenguo's daughter. She was the most senior member of the Yue family.

She was surrounded by many middle-aged women, whose auras had all reached the Star Core level. They were all her daughters-in-law, granddaughters-in-law, and other younger relatives.

Further down were several younger girls and two teenagers who looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old.

Yue Jizhi and Yue Xiaoyu.

This is the only direct bloodline remaining in the Yue family.

"Grandma, I've prepared three different fillings for this year's dumplings and glutinous rice balls," a middle-aged woman said, breaking the silence with a forced smile. "Jizhi and Xiaoyu both love shrimp, so I made extra."

Yue Qinglan nodded, but her gaze involuntarily drifted to the wall in the living room.

It was a huge screen of light.

At the top is Yue Zhenguo, and at the bottom is Yue Chengzhi.

Just as she was about to say something, the holographic projection screen in the center of the living room and everyone's personal terminals were simultaneously forced to switch to a high-priority emergency broadcast signal.

A gentle system notification sounded: [Highest priority public announcement, please pay attention, all citizens.]

Everyone in the Yue family instinctively looked up.

On the screen appeared Li Zhenguo's aged but unusually serious face.

His background appears to be above the Dongfeng Military Academy, with a large expanse of gray-white below faintly visible.

"All citizens of the Silver Blue Civilization, I am Chief Administrator Li Zhenguo."

Li Zhenguo's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement, and even trembled slightly.

"Now, we are informing the entire civilization of an urgent and important message: Our Silver Blue Civilization's Commander, His Eternal God Lin Yi, has returned to Silver Blue Star today!"

Yue Qinglan sat up abruptly.

"Upon his return, the commander-in-chief immediately went to the Memorial Forest of Heroes at Dongfeng Military Academy to pay tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for civilization."

"And just now, the commander-in-chief clearly informed us that he will personally take action to resurrect the heroes who sacrificed their lives in the war, bring them home, and celebrate the New Year with us!"

"resurrection?"

In the living room, all the women in the wife's family gasped in surprise almost simultaneously.

"This resurrection operation will be broadcast live to the entire civilization. All citizens can watch it through the official 'Silver Blue Star News' platform."

Li Zhenguo's image faded, and the screen switched to a live feed over Dongfeng Military Academy.

The camera zooms out.

Under the azure sky, the boundless, gray-white forest of steles is clearly visible.

Above the Forest of Steles, Lin Yi stood with his hands behind his back, his black hair and black eyes conveying a calm expression.

Following them were high-ranking officials such as Li Zhenguo, as well as thousands of excited veterans from Dongfeng.

Yue Qinglan stared intently at the screen, her body trembling slightly.

resurrection?

Is it really possible?
Her father, Yue Zhenguo, died more than four thousand years ago.

Her brother, Yue Zhiqiang, died more than four thousand years ago.

Her husband, son, nephew, grandson—names and faces flashed rapidly through her mind.

For over four thousand years, the men of the Yue family have gone to the battlefield one after another, and never returned.

She believed that the fate of the Yue family was that generation after generation of men would embark on journeys, while generation after generation of women would remain in their empty homes, dying in endless longing.

But now, Commander Lin Yi says he wants to be resurrected?
Yue Qinglan stared intently at the screen, something churning violently in her cloudy eyes.
-
The Silver Blue Civilization, the inhabited planet K-8912, the "Watch" space station.

This is the base of the Third Patrol Detachment of the Silver Blue Civilization Garrison Fleet, located in a relatively remote area.

The space station was brightly lit, but the atmosphere was solemn.

In the passageway, fleet officers and soldiers in dark blue uniforms hurried about, yet remained orderly.

The restaurant area is currently on break.

Many officers and soldiers sat at the table eating, resting, and talking in hushed tones.

The public screen on the wall was originally playing soothing music and news about the latest developments in civilization.

Suddenly, the screen flashed, revealing Li Zhenguo's face and an emergency announcement.

"The commander-in-chief will personally intervene to resurrect the heroes who sacrificed their lives in the war."

The entire restaurant fell silent instantly.

All the officers and soldiers, whether they were eating, chatting, or reading, stopped what they were doing and turned their eyes to the screen.

A young lieutenant dropped his spoon onto his plate with a clatter, but he was oblivious, staring intently at the screen, his lips trembling slightly.

His name is Chen Rui, and he joined the army thirty years ago.

His elder brother, Chen Feng, is the energy systems engineer on the "Zhiyuan" main ship of the Silver Blue Civilization's third main fleet, and is a Stardust-level sixth-order engineer.

Fifty years ago, the "Zhiyuan" was attacked during a battle. Its hull was breached and its core energy compartment exploded. All 872 officers and men on board, including his elder brother, were killed and their remains were never found.

Chen Rui enlisted in the army, to some extent, to take over his older brother's responsibilities.

He never imagined that one day he would hear the word "resurrection".

"Resurrected?" A veteran muttered to himself. He was a veteran who had experienced the era of civilization advancement assessments, and his eyes gleamed with disbelief. "Just like when the assessments ended back then? His Majesty Xuchen resurrected all the victims."

"Brother Wang, is it really, really possible?" A younger private's voice trembled. "My parents...my parents are still alive...in that battle forty years ago."

An eerie silence fell over the entire restaurant, with only Li Zhenguo's excited voice echoing on the screen and faint exclamations coming from the distant passageway.

Immediately afterwards, all officers and soldiers' personal tactical terminals also received push notifications and live stream links.

Almost without hesitation, everyone immediately clicked on the "Silver Blue Star News" live stream.

On the screen, Lin Yi's figure, suspended in mid-air, stood like a pillar of strength.

Chen Rui clenched his fists tightly as he looked at the vast forest of steles on the screen, remembering that his elder brother's memorial stele was among them.

He remembered his older brother patting him on the shoulder before he left and saying, "Xiao Rui, take good care of Mom and Dad, and wait for me to come back."

Wait for him to come back
Chen Rui's vision blurred instantly.
-
Yinlanxing, Beiyuan District, is an ordinary residential community.

Zhang Jianguo and his wife Wang Xiufang sat on the sofa, with a holographic projection playing a New Year's special program in front of them.

Their only son, Zhang Hao, is a technician in the First Interstellar Engineering Corps of the Silver Blue Civilization, at the seventh level of the Stardust class.

Fifteen years ago, while constructing a stabilization device for a base on a meteorite, they encountered a rare interstellar particle storm, causing the engineering vessel to sink and killing Zhang Hao and all twelve technicians in his team.

It took the elderly couple a long time to barely recover from their grief.

With the New Year approaching, they specially decorated their home to be lively, with dishes that their son loved to eat laid out on the table, as if this would make it seem as if their son were still there.

Just then, the TV screen suddenly switched.

Li Zhenguo's urgent announcement sounded.

"Resurrecting the Martyrs Who Sacrificed Their Lives"

The spoon in Zhang Jianguo's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

Wang Xiufang suddenly stood up, and because the movement was too sudden, she swayed slightly, and Zhang Jianguo quickly helped her up.

"Old Zhang, Old Zhang, did you hear that?" Wang Xiufang gripped her husband's arm tightly. "The commander said resurrection? Hao'er... can Hao'er come back?"

Zhang Jianguo's lips trembled as he stared at Lin Yi's figure on the screen and at the forest of steles. It was as if something was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word.

He recalled the last time his son left home, he smiled and said to them, "Dad, Mom, once I finish this mission and get my bonus, I'll take you on a trip to the central star system to see a real interstellar city!"

The son never came back.

All they received was a death notice and a cold medal.

Now the commander says he wants to take them home?

The elderly couple, supporting each other, stumbled back to the sofa, their eyes fixed on the screen, tears silently streaming down their faces.
-
Silver Blue Civilization, a virtual community communication platform for "rising stars".

This is the online community that the younger generation of civilized people love to gather in.

They listened to their ancestors recount the miracles of the civilization advancement assessment, and their fathers recount the horrors of war, but many details, especially those related to "resurrection," could not be found on the virtual network. The elders were also vague about it, only saying, "It was the power of the gods."

Many young people actually have doubts.

The community is currently in an uproar because of the sudden announcement of civilized behavior.

[Pinned] [Official Live Stream Link: Commander Lin Yi, the Eternal God, is resurrected at the Heroic Spirits Forest of Dongfeng Military Academy (Live Stream Across All Civilizations)]

The comments section below the post was flooded with messages.

"Holy crap! Really?! Resurrection?!"

"Didn't the elders upstairs mention that His Majesty Xu Chen resurrected all the victims when the Civilization Advancement Assessment ended?"

"But that was in the projection of the gods' divine kingdom! And they've only been dead for a little over forty years! Now five thousand years have passed! Their deaths are scattered across the starry sky!"

"I still think it's too fantastical. If it were true, wouldn't it overturn the existing life science system?"

"Science? Brother, we cultivate source energy and rules! You're trying to talk science to an eternal god?"

"Stop arguing! The live stream has started! Look!"

In the video, Lin Yi slowly speaks.

Fellow countrymen.

"I am Lin Yi."

Today, I will be welcoming some brothers who have been gone for a long time.

"go home."

As Lin Yi finished speaking, the scene fell silent, and all eyes were fixed on him, filled with an almost suffocating anticipation.

"Then," Lin Yi said, his gaze sweeping over the vast forest of steles below, then looking at the excited Li Zhenguo, Liu Yuan, and the others behind him, as well as the entire Silver Blue Civilization watching through the live stream, "let's begin."

He took a step forward, and the air beneath his feet seemed to ripple with invisible waves.

Although his fearless war god clone is powerful, it is essentially something he retrieved from the river of time and maintains by the power of time that he continuously injects into it. It does not possess the ability to independently perform high-level spacetime manipulation such as resurrection.

This kind of thing must be done by him personally.

Lin Yi slowly closed his eyes.

The next instant, a vast wave of energy surged outwards from him.

The silver-gray light of the laws of time and the silver-white halo of the laws of space, like ribbons that had come to life, swirled around him and eventually formed a strange cocoon of light that completely enveloped him.

On the surface of the cocoon of light, the phantom of the passage of time and the folded lines of space are faintly visible, radiating a wave that makes one's soul tremble.

Within the cocoon of light, Lin Yi's consciousness had transcended the constraints of his physical body, like a fish swimming upstream, leaping into the river of time.

As he worked against the current, he quickly assessed the workload of the operation.

Although the number of victims of the Silver Blue Civilization over the past five thousand years is enormous, the vast majority of them are at the Stardust level, with the Star Core level accounting for less than one percent. His Law Realm has long since reached the God level, and his control over spacetime is exquisite and masterful.

More importantly, his total source energy is already comparable to the late stage of the Evolution Realm.

This is the source of his confidence to say that he could revive everything in one go.

Moreover, there is another extremely crucial advantage: process standardization.

Before setting off, the Silver Blue Warriors would hold a swearing-in ceremony at the Dongfeng Military Academy.

This means that he doesn't need to painstakingly locate and retrieve people one by one like he does when rescuing people in secret realms.

He only needs to conduct "mass fishing" at this fixed location at different times.

This efficiency has increased by more than a hundred or a thousand times.
Consumption has been reduced significantly.

Of course, this approach also has its limitations.

Those who are resurrected will only retain their memories and state from the moment they swore an oath and set off.

For them, one moment they were bidding farewell to their loved ones with great passion and heading to the battlefield, and the next moment they suddenly appeared in the "future" thousands of years later. The experience of thousands of years of fighting, sacrifice, and even death itself in between was a blank.

But this is a billion times better than eternal silence.

In the long river of time, there is no precise concept of time.

Lin Yi quickly identified the first target node.

The year 6298 of the New Era. Above the main campus of Dongfeng Military Academy.

This is the scene from thirty years ago, when the second-to-last expeditionary force of the Silver Blue Civilization swore an oath and set off before the war had completely ended.

The last batch of troops had not yet reached the front lines when the armistice agreement was signed, so no new casualties were reported.

Lin Yi's perspective hangs high above the river of time, looking down at what lies below.

More than 100,000 soldiers in silver-blue Star Realm uniforms stood in neat rows, suspended in mid-air, their faces showing either determination, youth, or the sadness of parting. Below them were their relatives and civilians, a dense, dark mass.

Li Zhenguo is giving a pre-battle pep talk on the stage.

From Lin Yi's perspective, about a third of these warriors appeared much more ethereal and duller in color than the others, as if they might vanish into the sands of time at any moment.

These were the victims who died in the subsequent battles.

Lin Yi didn't delay and his mind stirred slightly.

A gigantic hand, formed entirely from the laws of space and time, appeared out of thin air.

The giant hand gently scooped downwards.

Those illusory warriors, however, transformed into hazy streaks of light and shadow the instant the giant palm swept across, and were drawn into its palm.

Then the giant hand retracted and disappeared into the spacetime cocoon surrounding Lin Yi.

Above Dongfeng Military Academy, in the real world.

Less than three seconds after Lin Yi was enveloped in the spacetime cocoon.

Clear ripples immediately spread across the space in front of him.

Immediately afterwards, one after another, figures dressed in silver-blue Star Realm Army uniforms stumbled out from the center of those ripples, solidified from the ethereal, and quickly stabilized in mid-air.

One, ten, a hundred, and more and more!

In just a few breaths, a dense swarm of soldiers appeared in front of Lin Yi.

Most of them were very young, many still had a childish look on their faces, and their eyes were filled with the passion of having just finished taking the oath, as well as the astonishment of suddenly finding that the environment had changed drastically.

"What's going on?"

"Didn't we just finish our oath and prepare to board the ship?"

"Is Chief Li not finished speaking yet?"

"This...it still looks like the airspace above a military academy? But those buildings..." "Look! It's Chief Li!"

"And there are many more veterans behind them!"

The resurrected warriors looked at Lin Yi, who was enveloped in a cocoon of light, and the powerful veterans from Dongfeng and high-ranking officials like Li Zhenguo, who were watching them with excited and complicated expressions. They were completely confused about what was going on.

At that moment, the comment section of the entire Silver Blue Civilization, which was watching the live broadcast through the "Silver Blue Star News" platform, exploded.

"My God! They really came back to life!"

"Dad!!! I saw my dad!"

"Son! My son! Mommy saw him! Mommy saw him!"

"Long live the Commander-in-Chief! Long live the Silver Blue Army!"

"God! This is the power of the gods!"

"He's alive. He's really alive!"

Countless families erupted in cries of grief and ecstatic joy at this moment.

Above Dongfeng Military Academy.

Li Zhenguo forcibly suppressed the excitement that was about to burst out of his chest. He took a deep breath and took a few steps forward.

"Soldiers of the Silver Blue! I am Li Zhenguo! Please remain calm and listen to me!"

His voice carried a calm and steady quality that came with experience, instantly silencing the slight commotion in the room.

All the resurrected soldiers, regardless of rank, instinctively looked at this familiar supreme commander.

"You did indeed complete your oath of allegiance to the cause, but that was thirty years ago! After that, you went to the battlefield, fought bravely, and ultimately sacrificed yourselves for civilization!"

"Sacrifice?" The soldiers looked at each other in disbelief.

They clearly felt they had just taken the oath, their bodies were intact, and they were full of strength, so how could they have sacrificed themselves?

“Yes, sacrifice!” Li Zhenguo emphasized, “But today, the commander of our Silver Blue Civilization, His Eternal God Lin Yi, has returned! With his supreme power, he reversed time and space, bringing you back to the present world from the desolate river of death!”

“Your current state is stuck at the moment of your oath-taking and departure. You need to re-understand the thirty years of war that have passed in between.”

Li Zhenguo paused, his gaze sweeping over the virtual network connection bracelets worn on the soldiers' wrists.

Because Lin Yi was so thoughtful, although most of these consumables were destroyed when the soldiers sacrificed their lives, he used his energy to restore them along with their clothing, so that the soldiers wouldn't return naked.

He continued, “Now, I command! Based on the existing formation, move to the rear in an orderly manner! Make way for our compatriots who will be returning later! No noise, no chaos! Execute the order! While waiting, you can learn about what is happening through the virtual network.”

Li Zhenguo's instructions were very clear. Although the resurrected soldiers were full of doubts and extremely shocked, their long-term military training and instinct for obedience instantly prevailed.

"Yes, Chief!" Several officers in the team were the first to react. Despite being terrified, they immediately saluted and obeyed.

Under the command of the officers, the soldiers began to move in an orderly manner to the rear, to the airspace behind the ranks of veterans such as Liu Yuan and Elizabeth.

Many of them were Stardust-class warship operators or technicians, but they all possessed basic skills in levitation and slow flight.

Seeing that the first batch of resurrected individuals had successfully received and begun to carry out orders, Li Zhenguo's eyes flashed with satisfaction. Without turning his head, he quickly instructed a high-ranking official in charge of logistics behind him: "Immediately mobilize the floating platforms and assemble them in the military academy area! At the same time, prepare a reception banquet! According to the standards for interstellar foreign guests, be quick!"

"Yes, Chief!" The high-ranking official was so excited that his face turned red. He immediately turned around and frantically issued instructions through the encrypted channel.

Following Li Zhenguo's order, the entire administrative machinery of the Silver Blue Civilization began to operate with unprecedented efficiency.

Throughout the long river of time, Lin Yi's "fishing" work proceeded efficiently and steadily.

Like a highly skilled fisherman, he repeatedly extended the giant hand of law at different points in time, scooping up those illusory figures in batches.

The new era began in 5893.

The new era began in 4871.

The new era begins in 3510.
The new era begins in 2781.
Each time a retrieval is performed, spatial ripples will spread in the air in front of Lin Yi in the real world, and a line of soldiers wearing military uniforms from different periods, looking bewildered, will emerge.

Li Zhenguo commanded with composure, and the administrative officials and intelligent servants who arrived later quickly took over the guidance, directing the ever-increasing number of resurrected warriors to the increasingly spacious rear troop formation area.

Meanwhile, massive floating platforms, like moving aerial islands, converged on the military academy area.

The live stream comment section was already flooded with excited tears, cheers, and incredulous exclamations.

The entire Silver Blue Civilization was immersed in a dreamlike ecstasy and awe.

A day passes in a blur, as the real world intersects with the river of time.

Lin Yi finally traced the river back to its very source, to that initial point.

The new era began in 1224.

Above the main campus of Dongfeng Military Academy.

This is the place where the first batch of astral armies dispatched by the Silverblue Civilization in response to the call to arms—the Silverblue First, Second, and Third Battle Groups—swore their oath and set off.

Lin Yi's gaze fell.

He saw Nie Chang standing at the very front of the line, wearing a brand-new Star Realm Army commander's uniform with gleaming epaulets, his face calm yet resolute.

Standing slightly behind Nie Chang was Chen Yu, also dressed in a crisp military uniform, with his usual cheerful smile on his face, but with a calm and composed look in his eyes.

Behind them are the most outstanding warriors selected from the early elites of the Silver Blue Civilization.

Their eyes were firm, their morale was high, and they were filled with a sense of mission for the upcoming journey across the stars, but there was also a hint of unease about the unknown battlefield and leaving their homeland.

Among this group of warriors, the proportion of illusory figures was extremely high, and almost all of them were dull and lifeless.

Lin Yi quietly looked at Nie Chang and Chen Yu, and at those familiar or unfamiliar young faces, a complex smile appeared on his face.

"Old Nie, Chen Yu, brothers," Lin Yi said silently in his heart, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

The giant hand of law reached out again, gently brushing across.

In the real world, above Dongfeng Military Academy.

The spatial ripples spread out on a massive scale for the last time.

Nie Chang, Chen Yu, and others appeared at the forefront of all the resurrected teams.

They maintained the same stance and demeanor as when they swore an oath, and Nie Chang even subconsciously straightened his back, as if he were still conducting a pre-battle inspection.

When Nie Chang saw his surroundings clearly, felt the countless excited gazes, and especially saw the soul-stirring cocoon of light in front of him, a look of astonishment flashed in his eyes.

Chen Yu's smile froze.

Li Zhenguo took a deep breath, suppressed his turbulent emotions, and conveyed the same explanation and order to the first batch of returning heroes.

Nie Chang and Chen Yu exchanged a glance, both seeing a monstrous wave in each other's eyes.

They didn't speak, but pursed their lips tightly, raised their hands to salute Li Zhenguo and Lin Yi, and then turned around without hesitation to organize the first batch of resurrected soldiers behind them, who were equally bewildered but disciplined, to move to the rear troop formation area.

The movements were swift and decisive, as if they were simply carrying out a special battlefield relocation mission.

After doing all this, Lin Yi did not immediately return from the river of time.

His consciousness shifted, and he arrived at the main planet of the Xina family, Rett.

Also in the new era of 1224, in the family council hall.

Lin Yi looked down at the scene below.

Clan Chief Li Yue sat in the main seat, her face still beautiful and dignified. Below her were the few remaining Starfield-level elders of the Sheena Clan, as well as some core members.

"The Human Race's conscription order has not been issued to us, but the Silverblue Civilization is our ally. Commander Lin Yi has given us a second chance, and the Dongfeng Mercenary Group shares weal and woe with our race." Liyue said slowly, "My mind is made up. I, Liyue Sheena, will join the ranks of the Silverblue warbands as an advisor, providing combat guidance and support."

"Patriarch!" an elder couldn't help but speak up, "Our Xina family has suffered many calamities and has not yet recovered. Our Star Domain-level combat power is invaluable, and going to the front lines is far too dangerous."

Li Yue raised her hand to stop him, "My mind is made up, there's no need to discuss it further."

Ultimately, four Starfield-level individuals, including Liyue, volunteered to become military advisors for the Silver Blue Legion of the Astronautical Army.

Of the four, including Li Yue, the figures of three had already become illusory.

Lin Yi looked at the illusory figures of Li Yue and the others, and sighed inwardly.

In principle, only gods who have mastered the laws of spacetime can resurrect star-domain level powerhouses. With his current strength, even mass resurrection of star-domain level powerhouses is unlikely.

But Lin Yi estimated that after mastering the Law of Life, he could barely succeed in reviving only three people.

Lin Yi once again condensed a giant hand of law, this time with even denser and more complex time runes on it.

Compared to the "easy" process of retrieving Stardust-class and Star Core-class warriors in batches, this operation was significantly more arduous.

Lin Yi clearly felt that the rate at which his own source energy was consumed had suddenly increased significantly, and he also felt a distinct stinging pain deep in his soul.

"call"

Lin Yi, in the river of time, stirred his thoughts slightly, confirmed that all targets had been captured, and then quickly returned to the present world without lingering.

Above Dongfeng Military Academy, the silver and silver-gray radiance on the surface of the Time-Space Cocoon slowly receded.

As the cocoon of light dissipated, Lin Yi's figure reappeared in everyone's sight.

His face was slightly paler than before he entered, but his eyes remained deep and calm.

As he appeared, ripples spread through the space in front of him once more, and three figures slowly coalesced.

The person in the lead was none other than Li Yue, who was dressed in the elegant traditional robes of the Spirit Clan and possessed a graceful and noble demeanor.

Behind her were two Spirit Clan women dressed in the attire of elders of the Sheena family, exuding a calm and composed aura.

Their faces also showed a hint of confusion, but the perception and soul instincts of a star-domain level expert made them aware of the huge changes in their surroundings the moment they stepped out of the real space, as well as the source in front of them that made their souls tremble slightly—Lin Yi.

"Grandmother!" Irelia, who had been standing quietly behind Lin Yi, watching the cocoon of time and space disappear, could no longer hold back and cried out.

She moved as if to step forward.

But she stopped in her tracks, because she saw that the resurrected Liyue and others were instinctively mobilizing their power. Their state was also stuck at the moment they made their decision, completely unaware of everything that followed.

"Commander Lin Yi?"

Li Yue frowned slightly. She looked at Lin Yi, whose aura was unfathomable, and then at the dense, seemingly endless array of warriors. Finally, her gaze fell on Irelia behind Lin Yi. Seeing the tears of excitement welling up in her granddaughter's eyes, she was even more puzzled.

"Irelia?" Li Yue's voice carried a hint of uncertainty. She sensed that Irelia's aura was much stronger than she remembered, and seemed to be more mature.
Irelia took a deep breath, forcibly calming herself down, and immediately transmitted the crucial information to Liyue and the other two elders via soul communication.

The amount of information transmitted through the soul was enormous and shocking, instantly impacting the consciousness of the three members of Liyue.

Sacrifice? Fortress 83227? Resurrection? Over five thousand years? Eternal deities?
Every word was like a thunderclap, exploding in their hearts.

Eternal Gods
Li Yue is, after all, the patriarch of the family who has led the clan for thousands of years, and her mental fortitude far surpasses that of ordinary people.

She was the first to forcefully break free from the immense shock, looking at Lin Yi with an incredibly complex expression.

She tidied her appearance and, together with the two elders, bowed deeply in Lin Yi's direction.

"Liyue Hina, along with the clan elders, expresses her deepest gratitude to His Majesty Lin Yi for his life-saving grace!"

Lin Yi had just returned from the River of Time, and his mental energy and source energy were quite depleted, but he did not show it much on his face.

He raised his hand to support them, and a gentle yet irresistible force lifted the three of them up.

"Chief of Liyue, Elders, there's no need for such formalities." You sacrificed yourselves to aid Yinlan; now that I've returned, it's only right that I welcome you home.

At this moment, Li Zhenguo stepped closer and said:
"Commander, because there are too many compatriots who have been resurrected and returned, and they come from different planets of the Silver Blue Civilization, and tonight is New Year's Eve, time is short, it is no longer realistic to let everyone return to their home planets to reunite with their families."

"I suggest we hold a New Year's feast for all of us Silver Blue People right here, above the Dongfeng Military Academy, on these floating platforms!"

As Lin Yi listened to Li Zhenguo's suggestion and looked at his aged but vigorous face, he thought to himself: As expected of Chief Li, he is as reliable as ever in doing things.

He nodded. "Okay, let's do it this way."

After saying that, he turned to Liyue, who was standing to the side with a calm expression, and said, "Liyue Clan Chief, you should stay as well. Today, there is no distinction between races, only family reunion."

Liyue had recovered from her initial shock. Upon hearing this, she smiled elegantly and bowed again: "It is our honor to participate in such a grand event as Silverblue."

After receiving Lin Yi's affirmation, Li Zhenguo turned around and nodded emphatically to the officials waiting in the back.

The order has been issued.

The intelligent machine servants and logistics personnel, which were already prepared, began to operate like precision instruments.

Large transport ships flew over the various floating platforms, unloading the prepared delicacies, delicacies, and fine wines that were still steaming hot.

Long tables, each large enough to accommodate dozens of people for a meal, were quickly and neatly arranged, covered with tablecloths adorned with silver-blue symbols of civilization and festive New Year decorations.

Li Zhenguo then gestured to Lin Yi, Irelia, Liyue, and the others, saying, "Commander, Chief of Liyue, Vice Commander Irelia, everyone, please follow me to the main stage."

He led everyone to the highest, widest, and best-viewing of all the floating platforms.

The main stage, located in the center of the banquet area, was the largest in size, equivalent to several football fields, and was decorated in the most grand manner.

When Lin Yi and the others landed, at the edge of the platform, Nie Chang, Chen Yu, Liu Yuan, Elizabeth, Zhou Yuxuan, Andrei, and all the core members of the Dongfeng Mercenary Group, as well as some of the highest-ranking representatives of the Silver Blue Civilization, were already waiting.

By this time, Nie Chang and Chen Yu had already roughly learned what had happened during the missing five thousand years through their personal terminals.

When he saw Lin Yi land, Nie Chang immediately stepped forward, straightened his back, gave a standard military salute, and said in a firm voice, "Commander!" His eyes were filled with complex emotions and respect.

Chen Yu also put aside his usual carefree attitude, saluted solemnly, and called out, "Commander!"

It seems that all the words can be contained in these two words.

Lin Yi looked at the two of them, walked up to them, patted Nie Chang on the shoulder hard, and punched Chen Yu in the chest. Everything was understood without saying a word.

At this moment, Li Zhenguo activated his source energy and addressed all the soldiers in a loud voice:
"Returning warriors!"

All eyes turned to them.

"Because there are many compatriots who have been resurrected and returned, and they come from all over the Silver Blue Civilization, tonight is New Year's Eve."

"Therefore, with the Commander's approval, we will hold a New Year's feast for all of us right here, above the Dongfeng Military Academy, on these floating platforms!"

He looked down at the densely packed soldiers below, dressed in uniforms from different eras, and slowly said:

"This is where you set off! Silver Blue is the home we all share! Tonight, we are united, we forget the past, we celebrate reunion! We celebrate new life! We celebrate the return of the heroic souls of Silver Blue!"

After a brief silence, a thunderous roar of cheers erupted from the million-strong army below.

Although many people are still uncertain about the future and have no idea about the past, the words "going home" and "reunion" are enough to ignite the deepest longing and excitement in everyone's heart.

Liu Yuan, Elizabeth, Zhou Yuxuan, and Andrei, these veterans who returned alive, couldn't help but have tears in their eyes and applaud vigorously.

On the other side, in the area of ​​the Ninth Battle Group to which the Yue family belonged.

Hundreds of soldiers from Yue Fei's family gathered together, creating a somewhat peculiar atmosphere.

Generation after generation of fathers and sons, grandfathers and grandsons, spanning thousands of years, stand together at almost the same age, looking at each other with curiosity, excitement, and a touch of indescribable emotion in their eyes.

Yue Zhenguo looked at Yue Zhiqiang, suddenly grinned, and patted his son's back hard: "Good lad! You didn't let your old man down! I checked the record, not bad!"

Yue Zhiqiang's eyes welled up with tears, and he choked out, "Dad!" Behind him, more "fathers" and "sons" hugged and patted each other, their laughter and tears a resonance of blood ties and vows that transcended time.

The comment section of Silver Blue Star News' live stream was already flooded with blessings and sentiments.

Although families cannot reunite immediately, seeing those figures in military uniforms from different eras embracing, talking, and raising their glasses with their comrades on the floating platform in the live broadcast, that scene of reunion that transcends life and death and time and space still brought tears to the eyes of countless people in front of the screen.

"Although Dad can't come home for dinner tonight, I know he's with his comrades and the commander-in-chief at home. That's enough!"

"Did you see the Yue family's entire extended family? It's so impressive! This is what inheritance looks like!"

"Salute to all the heroic souls! Welcome home!"

"Long live Silver Blue! Long live the Commander!"

Night fell quietly.

Above Dongfeng Military Academy, thousands of lights illuminated hundreds of floating platforms, making them appear like suspended stars, their brilliance mirroring the real stars in the sky.

The banquet was not noisy; instead, there was a solemn and warm hum, which consisted of countless conversations of long-awaited reunions, suppressed and excited whispers, and the crisp sound of glasses clinking.

At the head of the long table on the main stage.

Lin Yi slowly stood up.

He didn't use any amplification equipment, but the moment he stood up, countless eyes in the entire banquet hall naturally focused on him.

The commotion subsided as quickly as the tide receded.

Lin Yi picked up the full wine glass in front of him.

The glass of wine is crystal clear, reflecting the starlight and the lights of countless homes.

He looked around, his gaze sweeping over Nie Chang, Chen Yu, Liu Yuan, Elizabeth, the Yue family's reunited formation, and the faces of every resurrected warrior. It was as if his gaze pierced through the live broadcast camera, seeing the countless people of the Silver Blue Civilization who were waiting, praying, and celebrating.

"Gentlemen."

Lin Yi raised his wine glass.

Welcome home.

These four simple words, like the final key, completely unlocked the last shackle in the hearts of all those returning home.

next moment.

"go home!!!"

A thunderous roar, a mixture of tears and smiles, erupted from the soldiers' mouths and from the hearts of countless people watching the live broadcast, soaring into the sky as if even the galaxy trembled.

Lin Yi tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

Below, countless arms were raised simultaneously, and countless wine glasses shimmered under the lights and starlight, as if converging into an ocean of light.

Tonight, the heroes return home, and families are reunited.

　A lengthy article of over 10,000 words, available throughout the Spring Festival! Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, may your journey be swift and successful, and may you be at the forefront of your endeavors.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)