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

Chapter 99 A pillar of light soars into the sky, attracting worldwide attention.

"Start the equipment!"

Almost the instant Lin Yi finished speaking, Nie Chang gave a deep order into the communicator.

The technicians, who had been waiting in the core area of ​​the camp for a long time, pressed the button they had been waiting for.

hum! ! !
A deep yet penetrating hum seemed to come from the depths of the earth, causing the entire square to tremble slightly.

next second.

An incredibly thick, solid golden beam of light suddenly shot into the sky from a certain point in the center of the camp.

The beam of light, several meters in diameter, was dazzling and seemed to be made of the purest liquid gold, shooting straight and resolutely into the sky!

It easily pierced through the perennial haze over the settlement, as if trying to punch a hole in the sky itself. Its brilliance was so great that it was dazzling even in the daytime, becoming the sole protagonist between heaven and earth.

This moment is not just about Helu City.

In most of the Xia Kingdom, where the abyss beasts had not yet completely taken over and where signals could still be received, countless survivors witnessed this unforgettable scene—no matter where they were, as long as they looked up, they could see the dazzling golden pillar connecting heaven and earth in the distant sky.

It is like a lighthouse in the darkness, a hope in despair, proclaiming the indomitable will of human civilization and a brand new beginning.

Survivors in several neighboring countries, with their open viewpoints, could also witness this miraculous sight, sparking countless exclamations, prayers, and speculations.

A survivor's stronghold in Kitahara Province, Japan.

A young man, hiding in a half-collapsed abandoned factory and flipping through a tattered comic book while eating canned food, seemed to sense something and looked up in confusion. When he saw the golden pillar of light connecting heaven and earth in the distance through the broken window, his eyes widened suddenly, and the comic book in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

"That...that's?!" He lunged to the window, his voice trembling with excitement. "A golden pillar of light! Could it be...the 'Light of Hope' has descended?!"

Hanguo, the defense perimeter of Mount Fushan.

A soldier from the Han Kingdom, who was observing the movements of the abyss beasts in the distance with a high-powered telescope from his sentry post, suddenly adjusted the focus, locking the lens firmly onto the unexpected golden beam of light.

He gasped, immediately pressed the communicator, his voice trembling with shock:
"Report! Command! Headquarters, bearing 529, a massive golden pillar of light has been detected rising from the direction of Xia Kingdom! Repeat, massive golden pillar of light detected!"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the communicator, then a voice said, "We...saw it too."

India, New Duli underground bunker.

A slightly overweight senior Indian official, dressed in traditional clothing, was listening to a tedious report on food rationing when suddenly an assistant rushed in, whispered a few words in his ear, and handed him a Polaroid photograph.

The official frowned impatiently, but when his gaze fell on the golden beam of light that stretched from heaven to earth in the photograph, his impatience instantly turned into extreme shock and solemnity.

An underground command post near Wonsan, South Korea.

A slightly overweight young man with a serious expression, dressed in military uniform, stood in front of a huge military map. A young officer strode in, stood at attention, saluted, and quickly and quietly reported the urgent message from the ground observation station.

Then, images from ground surveillance were displayed on the screen—the golden beam of light stood out starkly and powerfully against the backdrop of the gray sky.

He stared at the screen for a long time, his face expressionless.
-
Meanwhile, at the Dongfeng Training Camp Square, the magnificent sight of golden light soaring into the sky had already left everyone in awe.

But then, just a few minutes later, an even more wondrous and fundamental change quietly descended upon everyone.

The first thing you feel is your breathing.

It felt as if I had suddenly stepped out of a filthy and stuffy basement and into the depths of a lush mountain forest after the rain.

Each breath became exceptionally smooth and refreshing, the inhaled air seemingly carrying some indescribable "vitality," invigorating the spirit and invigorating the mind.

Next came the physical sensation, like parched land receiving timely rain, with every cell in the body involuntarily leaping and cheering.

A warm and abundant sense of energy enveloped everyone, not violent, but all-pervasive, gently nourishing their bodies. Some old wounds tingled, fatigue vanished, and even their thoughts became exceptionally clear and sharp.

"Is this what a high-concentration energy environment is like?" someone in the trainee formation couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, their face filled with unbelievable ecstasy.

"I think I think I understand what that 'warm sunshine feeling' really means." Another student's voice trembled with excitement.

Zhou Yuxuan closed his eyes, carefully sensing the surroundings, and suddenly understood: "So that's how it is. This is the proper environment for cultivating Source Energy. Before, it was like we were trying to find water in the desert."

Chen Yu grinned excitedly, feeling an inexhaustible energy within him, and couldn't wait to start training immediately.

The members of the delegation in the viewing area had mixed feelings.

They greedily breathed in this unprecedented air, experiencing an instinctive sense of comfort, their shock and envy reaching their peak.

Sir Howard and Mr. Williams exchanged a glance, both seeing the determination in each other's eyes. They had to do whatever it took to secure more cooperation and spots; this kind of environment was of paramount importance for cultivating strong individuals.

Feeling the abundant energy within him and seeing the excited and inspired students below the stage, Li Zhenguo smiled with genuine satisfaction.

Seeing that the time was right, Nie Chang stepped forward again and his loud voice rang out:

"The opening ceremony of the Dongfeng Training Camp has now come to a successful conclusion."

"Instructors of all teams, please lead your trainees into the camp in an orderly manner to familiarize them with the environment. Training will begin immediately according to the plan." "Friends from various diplomatic missions, please follow the staff to the rest area."

Once the order was given, the crowd in the square began to move in an orderly manner.

Filled with excitement and awe, the trainees, led by their instructors, stepped into the gates of the Dongfeng Training Camp with great enthusiasm.

As they passed the giant rock at the entrance, many people involuntarily slowed their pace. They were eager to see the two characters "Dongfeng" that contained supreme mysteries, yet they were also intimidated by the fierce and thunderous will of the rock and dared not look at it for long. They only glanced at it briefly before burying their awe and longing deep in their hearts.

Only one thought kept echoing in their minds.

Become stronger! Become stronger as quickly as possible! Reach the Stardust level as soon as possible, and comprehend the power of those rules!
As the two trainees walked, they couldn't help but whisper to each other, their voices filled with deep emotion for their head instructor:

"Hey, do you think Chief Instructor Lin is really only at the Stardust level?" a student asked in a low voice, glancing back at the direction of the podium with awe.

Another student grinned and lowered his voice as well: "He can kill a 18,000-strong Abyss Beast in one hit, his enlightenment can trigger phenomena, and he can carve words into a thunder dragon with a casual wave of his hand. You believe Chief Instructor Lin when he says he's a Stardust level expert? In my opinion, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he's a half-Star Core level expert!"

"Half a star core level? I think it's more than that."

The sounds of conversation gradually faded away, blending into the increasingly noisy camp area.
-
The aftershocks of the opening ceremony had not yet subsided. The trainees and spectators on the square were still slowly dispersing in excitement and awe, while the people on the dais had begun to leave in an orderly manner.

According to convention, for such an important ceremony, the one who should have given the concluding remarks and announced the end was Li Zhenguo, the highest-ranking official.

However, before the ceremony began, Li Zhenguo firmly rejected this arrangement.

"Today is Dongfeng's home ground, and it's Comrade Lin Yi's and these kids' home ground." He said this to Nie Chang and others at the time. "I'm just an old guy who's here to cheer them on. I can't steal the spotlight. The final speech and announcement must be made by Chief Instructor Lin Yi."

This respect and delegation of authority moved Nie Chang and others, and also made it clearer to the higher-ups' view of Lin Yi and the forces he represented.

At this moment, the ceremony ended, and Li Zhenguo's schedule was tight, requiring him to return to the capital immediately.

Accompanied by Lin Yi, Nie Chang, Liu Qiying, Zhang Weidong, and other high-ranking officials, he walked through the still noisy crowd toward the tarmac.

Along the way, many survivors and soldiers who recognized them spontaneously stopped and cast respectful and grateful glances their way.

Li Zhenguo would occasionally stop to have a brief conversation with the people nearby, inquiring about their living conditions in a gentle and concerned tone.

Soon, the group returned to the same landing pad they had come from.

The transport helicopter and its escort team were ready, and the rotors began to slowly rotate, emitting an increasingly loud roar.

As they were about to part, Li Zhenguo shook hands with Nie Chang, Liu Qiying, and others one by one, and gave them a few brief instructions on the follow-up work and security of the training camp.

Finally, he walked up to Lin Yi, extended his hand, and shook it firmly.

"Comrade Lin Yi, I am now officially handing over the training camp to you."

Li Zhenguo's eyes were full of trust and expectation. "If you encounter any difficulties, you can contact me directly through Nie Chang or via the dedicated line. The country and the people are your strongest support."

"Please rest assured, sir, I will do my utmost." Lin Yi replied solemnly.

Li Zhenguo nodded, seemed to hesitate for a moment, but still asked, "Actually, I have another question, which may involve your cultivation privacy, but I would still like to ask it if I may."

His gaze sharpened. "I've carefully watched the video of 'Operation Dawn' and repeatedly studied the footage of your actions just now."

Li Zhenguo carefully chose his words, "Compared to before, the change feels enormous. Before, when you killed that black tiger, you seemed to need to use steel balls as a medium, but just now, you were able to condense a thunder dragon at will and leave a mark on the stone. Does this mean that the insight you gained just now has brought you great benefits?"

Lin Yi made no attempt to hide this, readily nodding in acknowledgment: "Yes, Chief. I have gained some insights just now, and my understanding and control of the power of rules is indeed more profound than before."

A glint flashed in Li Zhenguo's eyes, and he visibly breathed a sigh of relief, a smile of satisfaction spreading across his face.

But he immediately followed up with an even more crucial question, his tone unconsciously lowering slightly: "Good! That's great! So, with your current strength, how long would it take before you could face the leader of a medium-sized abyss beast's lair head-on?"

Li Zhenguo thought for a moment and added, "One of our most important strategic nodes has been occupied by a medium-sized abyssal beast's nest."

Upon hearing this, Nie Chang, Liu Qiying, and the others couldn't help but feel anxious, their eyes fixed on Lin Yi.

Lin Yi immediately understood that this question must be related to the planning of the subsequent strategic counter-offensive.

He thought for a moment, then calmly raised his right hand and held up one index finger.

Seeing this, Li Zhenguo's face showed even greater relief. He nodded vigorously, his tone filled with a sense of relief: "Good! Good! One year! We can wait! As long as there is a clear timetable, no matter how great the difficulties, we can find a way to overcome them and fully support you."

However, before he could finish speaking, Lin Yi calmly interrupted him.

"Commander."

Lin Yi revealed a mischievous smile typical of young people, "What I mean is, as soon as it appears, it will die instantly."

　A daily wage of 10,000 is definitely a bit of a stretch. Today felt like I was overwhelmed. I didn't even have time to properly review it myself. Please check the quality; if there are any issues, I'll revert to 7,000 later. Quality must be the priority.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)