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Upon hearing this, Lin Yi was slightly taken aback, his doubts deepening.

It's trending?

Lin Yi knew that killing Talolanke would attract some attention, but it shouldn't have anything to do with the word "fire".

"What happened?" he asked.

Lin Yi was indeed somewhat puzzled.

In the fragments of his past life's memories, as the intensity of the border battlefield continued to rise, the geniuses of various races hunted each other down. While news of their deaths was not as commonplace as eating rice, it was not exactly earth-shattering news either.

Not to mention the Kunmo Race, even among the more powerful Devouring Race's prodigies, quite a few have fallen by the wayside.

But no one has become "famous" yet.

Therefore, killing a Talolanke was, in his view, merely fulfilling a predetermined objective and incidentally avenging his comrade—nothing more.

Xuanji seemed to have anticipated his question and calmly explained, "Master, the promotional video was initially only played within the K-77 star system, and its effect was remarkable. Subsequently, the commander of the neighboring legion that came to provide support saw it and thought it would greatly benefit morale, so he requested a copy to play in his defense zone."

"After a while, the news started spreading among the nearby legions."

She paused, a subtle shift in her tone, as if stating a coincidence.

"The problem is that about a week ago, Sky Halberd Lord happened to be inspecting the Kunmo Race's border War Zone and saw this propaganda video in a certain army corps. The Lord thought it had a clear message, strong contrasts, and was very moving, so he ordered it to be played throughout the entire Kunmo Race's border War Zone to inspire the entire army."

Lin Yi suddenly realized it was a command from a venerable lord.

This has a completely different impact; it has already gone beyond the scope of a regional event.

Xuanji continued, "After it was played throughout the military on the border, someone quickly uploaded the promotional video, along with some of your... well, background information, to the Human Race section of [Starsea News], the most influential public information platform on the Virtual Network."

"My background information?"

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow.

Although his background information wasn't deliberately kept secret, you'd need at least a purple-level access privilege to find it.

"Yes."

Xuanji's voice remained steady, but the content left Lin Yi both amused and exasperated.

"The information mentions that you hail from the indigenous civilization ' Silverblue,' a true example of a grassroots success story. Upon passing the promotion assessment, you gained the favor and allegiance of Aurelia, a veteran Star Domain level Elven race serving as a Spirit Race Civilization Guardian, and even brought her entire Xina Family with her. Subsequently, you were taken in as a personal disciple by the Eternal Divinity. You then founded the East Peak Mercenary Group, excelling on the border battlefields, and are now hailed as one of the strongest candidates for Human Race in the next Genius Battle."

"Furthermore, the promotional video features dramatic elements such as 'patient planning, using oneself as bait, and forceful revenge.'"

Xuanji seemed to be thinking of the right words, and finally used a metaphor that Lin Yi was very familiar with.

"In the terms of online literature on Blue Star, your current public image can be described as that of a 'power fantasy protagonist.' Therefore, you've generated tremendous attention and discussion among a wider audience, which is why you've become famous."

Lin Yi was speechless for a moment after hearing this.

He finally understood.

It's not that what he did was unique, but rather that he happened to do the right thing at the right time, in the right capacity, and was given a push by a powerful figure, ultimately being placed on the most popular platform.

The fact that the great talents killed each other in the past life was not taken seriously because there was so much war and tragedy at that time that people had become numb to it.

Currently, these initial frictions have not yet attracted enough attention from the general public. In addition, the Human Race as a whole is currently in a phase of accumulating strength and being relatively "patient".

His outburst resonated with the desire of countless ordinary people to stand tall and Human Race.

"It was a coincidence that I became the first to stick my neck out." Lin Yi shook his head, somewhat amused and helpless.

He wasn't particularly pleased with this; in fact, he found it somewhat troublesome.

However, he was somewhat curious about the specific reactions from the outside world.

What did those comments say?

He asked Xuanji to demonstrate.

Xuanji immediately complied, unfolding a light screen in front of Lin Yi, on which popular comments extracted from the Human Race section of the [Starsea News] section scrolled rapidly:

[Top Comment]: "Wow! That's a true prodigy. Twenty years of forbearance, and then a sudden burst of power, killing the enemy chieftain with a spear—it got my blood pumping! He's a million times better than those rich kids who just brag about their family background!"

(Reply 1): "Agreed! Especially that last comparison shot, it gave me goosebumps. Blood for blood, it made me want to join the Star Realm Army."

(Reply 2): "So exciting! Especially when they retaliate in the same way."

[Second Hot Comment]: "Everyone, can you analyze what level Lin Yi's Triple Domain is? Can anyone explain? I feel that even among the Spirit Race, those at the Star Core level who can master the Triple Domain are among the most powerful, right?"

(Reply 1): "There's still a bit of a gap between him and the Spirit Race, but not by much, because some people say Lin Yi is less than 1000 years old, and his future is promising!"

(Reply 2): "According to my brother's inside information, all the top talents in the training camp were stunned, and it's said that Young Master Hui Yao became withdrawn on the spot."

[Third Hot Comment]: "Am I the only one with a skewed focus? I looked up information on the East Peak Mercenary Group, and that Spirit Race young lady, Aurelia, is just too beautiful! The information says she actively followed Lin Yi??? I don't envy his talent, but I have to admit, she's stunning!"

(Reply 1): "Skill and good looks combined, what an amazing combination!"

(Reply 2): "Don't just look at her appearance. Aurelia is also Star Domain level genius, a master of the Life Rule, not just a pretty face."

(Reply 3): "I don't care, I've already imagined a million words of interstellar romance."

[Fourth Hot Comment]: "From humble beginnings, a beautiful woman falls for him, a god becomes his teacher, and he becomes famous on the battlefield—this life script is so dramatic, even novels wouldn't dare write it like this! Does the East Peak Mercenary Group need any more members? I feel like following him would be a good career path."

[Fifth Hot Comment]: "Could this be a deliberate publicity stunt? For a civilization of indigenous origin to progress at such an absurd speed seems a bit fake."

(Reply 1): "Are there no geniuses among natives? Can you call your aristocratic scions geniuses? The battle record is real, the promotional video was officially released by the Star Realm Army, do you know more than the military?"

(Reply 2): "Exactly, is it so hard to acknowledge that others are excellent?"

(Reply 3): "It's not impossible; there might be someone behind it that we don't know about."

Lin Yi quickly browsed through the pages, his feelings somewhat complicated.

There was passionate support, rational and objective analysis, amazement at his abilities, envy and even doubt about his experiences, and even a lot of gossip stories with suggestive undertones about him and Aurelia.

This is the price of fame; everything about you will be scrutinized and discussed under a magnifying glass.

He turned off the screen and rubbed his temples.

At this moment, Xuanji added, "Master, in addition to this, we've also received a large number of Contact Mark requests during this period."

"Who are these people?"

Lin Yi asked, something he had expected, but it was also the most troublesome.

"Based on the brief information attached to the application," Xuanji replied, "It can be roughly divided into several categories: First, various chambers of commerce and brand groups hope to invite you to endorse their products, ranging from top-tier gene potions and high-end customized Soul Weapon to interstellar hovercraft and even nutrient solution brands."

"Secondly, some cultural media companies hope to produce special reports, biographies, or negotiate script licensing for you."

"Thirdly, there are representatives of certain powerful groups and families who hope to get to know you and express goodwill; fourthly, there are some purely personal requests to make connections."

Lin Yi felt a headache coming on.

The fact that these people were able to obtain his Contact Mark and submit their applications directly to him indicates that they have some influence and connections behind them.

If not handled properly, you could offend people for no reason.

Ignoring them all would seem arrogant, but responding to each one would seriously hinder his cultivation.

He pondered for a moment, realizing that this was no longer something he could easily handle alone.

This involves personal image, resource integration, and even the building of potential interpersonal networks.

"Xuanji, establish a top-level virtual conference room and invite the high-ranking members of the Xina Family, Aurelia, as well as the core members and think tank of our Blue Star Civilization to a meeting," Lin Yi decided.

This kind of thing requires the help of civilization and teamwork.

"Instruction confirmed, virtual meeting room established, access request sent."

A moment later, Lin Yi's consciousness entered the virtual conference room.

Soon, the other figures also solidified one after another.

Li Zhenguo and Zhou Donglai, from the Blue Star Civilization, looked serious and slightly excited.

On the Xina Family's side, the leaders were Liyue and two Star Domain level elders.

Aurelia appeared last, still a phantom in simple emerald green armor. She nodded slightly to Lin Yi before quietly standing a little behind Liyue.

"Gentlemen."

Lin Yi skipped the pleasantries and cut straight to the point, "I'm sure Xuanji has already shared the situation with everyone. Because of my killing of Talolanke and the subsequent promotional video, I've gained unexpected attention within Human Race society, resulting in a flood of cooperation requests and requests for personal connections."

"This could be an opportunity, but it's bound to be a problem. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss a proper course of action."

Liyue seemed to have anticipated this, and she spoke first.

"Commander Lin Yi, there's no need to be too troubled. Reputation is a resource in itself, and it's a necessary stage in the process of becoming stronger. It's just that it's happening a little earlier now. Appropriate reputation can leverage many areas that are difficult to reach by strength alone. The key is how to guide and monetize it."

"My Xina Family, has some limited experience in this area and is willing to provide our full assistance."

Elder Li Shan stroked his beard and nodded, adding, "The clan leader is right. The current focus should be on establishing a screening mechanism, concentrating our main efforts on valuable collaborations."

After a moment's thought, Li Zhenguo replied, "Commander, I believe this is incredibly good news for our Silver Blue Civilization. Your reputation is the best calling card for our civilization. We can use this opportunity to enhance our civilization's visibility among the Human Race and attract investment, technology, and talent!"

As the chief administrator of the civilization, his primary consideration was the civilization as a whole.

Zhou Donglai, however, displayed his usual caution. "The opportunities are indeed enormous, but risks are also present. The commander-in-chief is currently riding high, which will inevitably touch upon certain existing interest structures. We must be wary of both overt and covert attacks. In choosing partners, we must be extremely cautious, preferring to have none rather than compromise on quality, and avoid getting too deeply involved with forces that have a bad reputation or complex backgrounds."

After hesitating for a moment, Aurelia added softly, "The content of the cooperation should also be limited, and must conform to the overall image and positioning of the Commander and our East Peak Mercenary Group."

When she mentioned "we," she paused almost imperceptibly.

Seeing that the discussion had a clear direction, Lin Yi ordered Xuanji, "Xuanji, categorize and display the main business cooperation invitations we have received so far by industry and brand influence."

"Yes, Master."

A huge screen of light unfolded in the virtual study, displaying dozens of gleaming brand logos and brief cooperation intentions.

Liyue glanced at the list and quickly pointed out a few.

"Star Dome Dynamics," I recall, is one of the top three manufacturers of military ships and power systems for the Human Race, with close ties to the Star Realm Army, making cooperation extremely valuable. "Sourcecore Technology" focuses on high-end Soul Weapon cores and intelligent combat systems, possessing strong technological barriers, and backed by both the Spirit Race and Machine Race. "Tree of Life Pharmaceuticals" is a cross-species giant within our Spirit Race, especially authoritative in gene optimization and life restoration; cooperating with them grants access to top-tier resources.

She paused, then pointed to another sign. "' Universal Media,' the largest comprehensive media group in the Pan-Spirit Alliance, with influence covering the entire Pan-Spirit Alliance. Although it's only the Human Race branch, controlled cooperation with them, such as an authoritative interview, can be very helpful in guiding public opinion and shaping a positive image."

Then, her finger moved to the bottom of the list, her brow furrowing slightly. "These... require careful consideration. For example, ' Phantom Star Entertainment,' which mainly deals in virtual idols and the entertainment industry, doesn't fit our positioning. And this one..."

Her finger hovered over the logo of a flamboyantly designed perfume bottle that radiated a captivating purple glow—"Phantom's Breath," a luxury men's fragrance and personal care brand.

Lin Yi's lips twitched involuntarily.

Why would you ask a genius with Triple Domain, known for his decisive and ruthless fighting on the battlefield, to endorse a perfume?

Almost simultaneously, he felt a gaze sweep over him quickly from the side before immediately looking away.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and saw Aurelia with her head slightly lowered, intently looking at the patterns on the virtual carpet, as if some priceless tome was engraved on it.

However, the subtle blush on her ears betrayed that she was not as calm as she appeared.

Clearly, she also thought of the suggestive gossip stories about the two of them circulating online. If Lin Yi really accepted this kind of endorsement, who knows what outrageous plots would be fabricated about him.

Liyue naturally noticed their subtle reactions, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. "Brands like these, which are seriously inconsistent with the Commander's image as a combat genius and might even evoke negative associations, can be rejected outright."

Li Zhenguo then spoke up, "Besides brand collaborations, there are also some non-commercial invitations that need to be considered."

"For example, the ' Starsea Higher Academy Joint Committee ' sent an invitation, hoping that the Commander could give a public speech across the entire Xinghai network to inspire the younger generation. This is a good thing for enhancing social influence, and it's acceptable, but the specific format and content need to be discussed in depth."

The meeting lasted for nearly a full hour. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on various aspects, including brand selection, bottom lines for cooperation, public opinion guidance, and risk avoidance.

Lin Yi mostly listened, only making decisions at crucial moments.

Ultimately, a preliminary plan was formed.

The "Lin Yi External Affairs Coordination Group" was established, with Aurelia in overall charge, Liyue and Zhou Donglai providing strategic advice, Li Zhenguo representing the Blue Star Civilization, and Xuanji serving as the information hub.

Priority will be given to top brands or organizations closely associated with the Human Race military, leading universities, and important research institutions. Cooperation with low-end, fast-moving consumer goods, entertainment-oriented, or mismatched brands will be rejected.

In terms of resource allocation, most of the profits from business partnerships were used for Lin Yi's personal benefit.

The remainder will be used for the development of the East Peak Mercenary Group and to contribute to the construction of Blue Star Civilization. The Xina Family, as a strategic partner, enjoys certain priority cooperation rights and channel fees.

"Since everyone agrees, let's proceed accordingly," Lin Yi declared decisively. "I'll leave the remaining tasks to you all."

Everyone readily agreed that it was their duty, and then their figures faded away, exiting the virtual conference room.

Finally, only Lin Yi and Aurelia remained in the room.

Outside the virtual window flows a vast and tranquil galaxy.

"Ellie."

Lin Yi looked at her and said gently, "You've had a tough time these past few days. Don't take those comments on the internet to heart."

Aurelia raised her head, her blue eyes filled with a complex expression, a mixture of embarrassment and a hint of inexplicable emotion.

She gave a soft "Mmm" and whispered, "I know. I just... I didn't expect it to turn out like this."

Aurelia paused, then lowered her voice, "I won't let these things interfere with important matters."

Seeing her trying so hard to remain calm, Lin Yi couldn't help but smile, "Alright, go ahead. Improving your strength as quickly as possible is the key to dealing with everything."

Aurelia nodded, glanced at Lin Yi one last time, and then her figure slowly disappeared.

Lin Yi was the only one left in the virtual conference room.

He walked to the window, gazing at the boundless sea of stars, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Reputation, resources, and connections—these are all components of power.

Since things have come to this point by chance, let's make the most of it.

Ultimately, however, one's own understanding of the rules and control of power are the foundation for standing firm in the starry sky.

Then, Lin Yi had a thought and also logged out of the Virtual Network.

In the quiet room, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and unwavering, devoid of any trace of the turmoil from the outside world.

The most urgent task is to quickly and accurately transform the enormous gains from killing Talolanke, especially the substantial military merit, into tangible improvements in cultivation.

"Xuanji," he called softly.

"Master, please give your orders." A phantom figure in palace attire quietly appeared.

"Retrieve my military merit balance and the Star Realm Army's internal access exchange list," Lin Yi ordered.

With 20 million military merits already in hand, this exceeds the scope of regular exchanges and is enough to unlock some truly valuable items.