Facing everyone's objections, Lin Yi only shook his head slowly. His tone was calm, but his resolve left no room for doubt.
"Dad, Uncle, Uncle... listen to me."
"I know you're all worried about me, but things are different now."
Lin Yi pointed out the window. "Everyone knows how many monsters are gathered downstairs. After this Source Energy enhancement, and with this armor, I'm only somewhat confident I can protect myself."
His gaze swept slowly over Chen Yu, Zhou Yuxuan, and the others. "But bring everyone else along? I'm not underestimating you. Going down there now means fighting at close quarters, a bloody battle. I can't guarantee I'll be able to support you in time, so... there's a real chance of needless casualties. And we don't have any medicine."
Seeing the unease on everyone's faces, Lin Yi changed tack.
"What you need to do right now is conserve your strength. Even if I come back uninjured, I'll definitely have used up a lot of energy. Then I'll be relying on all of you to defend this place."
"Also, Uncle, A Yu..."
Lin Yi looked at Chen Yu, who still had his stick raised, and gave him a clear assignment. "I have something else important I need your help with."
Chen Yu was taken aback, then hurriedly asked, "What is it? Just say the word, Brother Yi!"
At the word "important," he immediately straightened up.
"Come outside with me in a moment. Stay on the second floor—there's no need to go down. Find a good angle, and when I go downstairs to deal with those monsters, film it. Uncle, take a shield and a weapon and protect him, while also being ready to help me if I need it."
"What?"
Chen Yu looked utterly baffled, almost convinced he'd misheard.
Facing Chen Yu and the others' confused expressions, Lin Yi explained calmly, "The battle footage is for a tutorial later."
He paused briefly. "I'm sure I'm not the only one who's gotten the Source Energy Guidance Technique. Once I've dealt with the trouble downstairs, I plan to record a video."
Lin Yi pointed to his temple. "I'll explain how I overcame the key hurdles in the Source Energy Guidance Technique, along with what to watch out for when absorbing Source Energy Crystals. The internet is still working, so I'll upload it as soon as possible."
Chen Yu seemed to catch on to something and asked tentatively, "You mean... make a tutorial video?"
"Exactly."
Lin Yi nodded. "The Guidance Technique contains too much information. Even if people get it, many still might not know where to begin. I was lucky enough to make progress fairly quickly, so I want to explain some of the key points as plainly as possible—especially the really obscure parts, like how to guide and circulate Source Energy Particles."
His voice carried a hint of emotion. "I've been thinking that one person's strength is limited. If I share what I've learned online, then the sooner everyone can get started with Source Energy, the more people we can save."
From the corner of the room, Zhou Yuxuan suddenly cut in. "So the battle footage is... proof?"
"That's right."
The corner of Lin Yi's mouth lifted slightly. "Who's going to believe empty claims online? Only if I show that I have the strength to back it up will people take my explanation seriously."
He sighed. "Otherwise, who'd believe an ordinary student could understand Source Energy cultivation? The demonstration I gave you was nothing compared to a fight with monsters. That's what will really make an impression."
Lin Yi looked utterly righteous, but deeper plans were churning in his mind.
Besides helping people, this video will be a stepping stone... If I can establish a reputation during the early stages of the disaster, I'll be able to get involved with the official system sooner and exert influence.
"Good lad!" Zhou Jianjun was the first to break the silence, slapping his thigh. "That's the right way to do it! I'll go out with you and Chen Yu in a bit."
"That's the spirit!" Lin Ruiming nodded, his eyes full of pride. "That's my boy!"
Chen Yu finally understood, excitement lighting up his face. "Got it, Brother Yi! I'll find the trickiest angle. I promise the footage will be clear and explosive!"
The air, which had been thick with worry and embarrassment, was now somewhat lighter, replaced by a shared sense of pride.
In a world shrouded by disaster, everyone could be more than passive survivors trying to stay alive. They could also take part in changing the course of the catastrophe.
Lin Yi gave his armor one final check, then said solemnly, "Everyone clear? Then let's go."
Meanwhile.
In the main control room of the Jade Whisper Starship, in outer space above Blue Star.
Aurelia was studying a holographic projection showing real-time battles across Blue Star's continents when a series of urgent alerts interrupted her.
The crystal on her forehead glimmered faintly. "Xingyu, what is it?"
The virtual sprite leapt out of the control console, its wings beating rapidly. "Master, abnormal data detected! A life-form on the surface of TC-YHLHXB-ZJ-G-7392113 has successfully guided Source Energy into its body!"
Aurelia froze for a moment. With a swipe of her slender fingers across the console, she brought up the data details. "That can't be... The trial only began less than four hours ago."
The image unfolded, showing the instant blue light gathered at Lin Yi's fingertips.
Aurelia stared intently at the armored youth, surprise written across her delicate face. "The Blue Star Civilization has absolutely no legacy of Source Energy cultivation. No one taught him, yet he's already managed to take his first step in Source Energy cultivation?"
When her grandmother had personally guided her cultivation, it had taken Aurelia three full days just to barely get started—and her family had hailed that as a once-in-ten-thousand-years talent.
And this young man before her...
"Pull up his records."
Aurelia's voice held a note of urgency she hadn't even noticed herself.
Xingyu's wings fluttered lightly as countless streams of data intertwined in the air.
As the guardian of the Blue Star Civilization, Aurelia's ship AI, Xingyu, possessed all the information produced by the Blue Star Civilization since it had entered the information age.
A moment later, a detailed file appeared:
[Lin Yi, male, 18 years old, resident of Helu City, Xia Country, incoming freshman at Qingteng University, parents both ordinary employees, no special background, no unusual experiences...]
Aurelia skimmed through the details, which were utterly unremarkable, her brow furrowing more and more.
Finally, her gaze stopped at "perfect score in physics on the Gaokao," and she seemed thoughtful.
"Keep monitoring this individual."
She gave the order softly, unconsciously rubbing the edge of the console with her fingertips. "If he can keep growing at this rate..."
Xingyu tilted her head. "Do you think he'll receive a high rating, Master?"
Aurelia didn't answer right away.
She turned toward the black, shuttle-shaped spacecraft outside the porthole, her expression complicated.
What if... if the boy really was the kind of prodigy who could earn a rating of level seven or higher, then perhaps, if she caught Lord Xuchen in a good mood, her chances of getting a Contact Mark would increase considerably...
But throughout the long history of the Spirit Race, she had seen too many meteoric talents dazzle everyone at first, only to quickly fade into mediocrity.
"Keep monitoring him, and prepare a detailed growth-curve report for me regularly."
Aurelia took one last look at Lin Yi preparing for battle on the screen, then turned and walked toward the observation deck.
Xingyu tilted her head, waiting for her to say more, but her master had already fallen silent, gazing out at the vast starry sky.
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