Three Races on the Same Stage, Racial Foundations

Are the three top races simultaneously hosting similar Genius Battle?

Lin Yi was immediately taken aback.

This could not possibly be a coincidence!

When it comes to the level of racial survival and competition, especially among the three giants who have waged war and harbored hatred for each other for countless years, any large-scale action that is highly coordinated and follows a similar pattern must be hiding a strategic plot concerning the fundamental interests of the race.

This is no longer competition, but rather a kind of tacit understanding?

Or is it driven by some higher-level rules or needs?

In an instant, a fragment of memory that he had almost forgotten suddenly became crystal clear, like a seashell washed ashore by the waves of a starry sea.

Not long ago, in the "Star Shatter Belt" War Zone, when he was fighting to the death with those three Kunmo Race, before they used that strange secret technique of burning their own clan's blood essence to forcibly raise their realm, they roared with resentment and determination, "Forcing us to use the methods prepared for such a secret realm."

The battle was intense at the time, and he had no time to think deeply about it, assuming it was the enemy's ultimate trump card prepared for some unknown danger or important mission.

At this moment, combined with the information revealed by Senior Sister Thousand Illusions about the secret realm and the simultaneous Genius Battle of the three races, that sentence was like the last and most crucial piece of the scattered star map puzzle, instantly connecting all the scattered clues perfectly.

The Kunmo Race, as the most loyal henchmen and vanguard race of the Devouring Race, has spared no expense in preparing a secret technique for its top geniuses. The target—no, it's almost certain—is precisely the secret realm shared by the three races, which is the focus of the Devouring Race's version of the Genius Battle!

All the doubts seemed to have found their only way out.

Lin Yi suppressed his turbulent emotions and slowly said, "Senior Sister, so this grand event, which involves the three top races and attracts the attention of countless star fields, is actually more like a preliminary round for vying for the qualification to enter a special secret realm?"

You can understand it this way.

Thousand Illusions reaffirmed Lin Yi's judgment.

Her expression had lost some of its languor and gained a touch of solemnity and profundity befitting Eternal Divinity.

Lin Yi remained silent.

This truth overturned his previous understanding.

The grand event that impacted the entire Pan-Spirit Alliance was ultimately for the sake of a secret realm.

After pondering for a moment, Lin Yi asked, "This secret realm must be extremely restricted; only those at the Star Core level can enter, or perhaps only within it can they reach their full potential."

"Furthermore, the output within is of paramount importance; otherwise, the three major races wouldn't have invested their most outstanding young geniuses in this gamble. Moreover, the secrecy surrounding this matter is extremely high. Even with my purple-level access, I've never heard a single word about it on the Virtual Network."

"Purple-level access is naturally restricted; queries are not possible."

Thousand Illusions said calmly, "This matter is not a top secret among those at the World Derivation level; many World Derivation level individuals were eyewitnesses. However, due to rules and tacit understandings, they do not discuss it in semi-public settings such as Virtual Network, let alone mention it to those without sufficient authority."

That secret realm is called the Myriad Secret Realm.

Thousand Illusions finally unveiled the heavy veil shrouding the endless mysteries. "It is jointly controlled by the three peak races of the Spirit Race, the Abyss Race, and the Devouring Race, and many of the peak battles between the three races originated from it."

She explained in detail, her tone filled with awe at the creation of the universe. "It can only be entered by those at the Star Core level. It is called the Myriad Secret Realm because every time it opens, the internal world rules, environment, landscape, ecosystem, and even the spacetime structure itself can be completely reshaped."

"Mountains and rivers have turned into vast oceans, and civilizations have risen from deserts. Your experience from the last time you entered is almost useless for the next time. Each step you take is equivalent to entering a completely new world."

Lin Yi suddenly realized that this perfectly explained why it was necessary to select the most outstanding geniuses.

Such an unknown environment especially requires individuals with strong adaptability, learning ability, and the capacity to quickly rise to prominence and find potential for survival in a completely unknown environment.

Fixed strength and familiar tactics will be greatly diminished in the face of the ever-changing and diverse "Myriad Secret Realm," and may even become a constraint.

"But beneath this myriad of changes, the core rules and ultimate goal remain constant."

"Within this, a core resource will inevitably emerge. This resource takes countless forms and has no fixed shape, but its essence contains an extremely pure, almost primordial, primordial energy of the Cosmic Source Realm."

After a slight pause, Thousand Illusions continued, "This wisp of primordial energy, through special and complex methods of refinement and purification, can ultimately yield ' Source Essence '."

"Source Essence?"

Lin Yi keenly noticed this new word and subconsciously repeated it.

"Not bad, Source Essence."

Thousand Illusions affirmed, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"This item provides irreplaceable assistance to us Eternal Divinity in forging our own Origin Law. It is one of the key resources that propels deities to continue on their path, break free from inherent shackles, and reach higher levels."

Origin Law!

These two words exploded in Lin Yi's mind.

All doubts were suddenly resolved.

No wonder!

No wonder the three races are willing to go to such lengths, and no wonder they need to select the most outstanding Star Core level geniuses.

The Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle is not only a turning point for personal glory and destiny, but also carries the heavy mission of obtaining "Source Essence" for the gods of their respective races, influencing the comparison of high-end combat power, the rise and fall of future fortunes, and even whether the race's civilization can continue in the cruel universe.

However, Thousand Illusions did not stop talking.

"Speaking of which, junior brother, do you know why all the races in the universe, from the pinnacle beings like the Spirit Race, the Abyss Race, and the Devouring Race, to our Human Race, the Li Race, and even those weaker races struggling to survive on the edge of the starry sea, are so keen on exploring newly discovered secret realms?"

"Is it merely for those seemingly precious resources, lost legacies, or opportunities to Rule Comprehension?"

Lin Yi's thoughts were drawn back to this deeper question. After a moment's thought, he was startled, "Could it be that... those new secret realms also contain Source Essence?"

"It's close, but more accurately, there's a slight possibility."

Thousand Illusions nodded slightly, revealing the most primal driving force behind the competition among all races in the universe.

"Any unexplored secret realm, regardless of its size or how absurd its form, possesses an extremely small, slim, but undeniable probability of directly giving birth to formed Source Essence, or containing primordial substances from Source Essence can be extracted."

"This is also the fundamental reason why those seemingly weak races in the vast universe are able to seize that one in a billion glimmer of hope, give birth to their own powerful beings, and even achieve a leap in racial level, gradually moving towards prosperity."

"For those tiny and weak races, exploring thousands of secret realms might not yield even one Source Essence, but if it does, it could create a Supreme Ruler, completely altering a race's fate and status in the universe."

As she spoke, Thousand Illusions sighed, her gaze seemingly piercing through time and space, her tone carrying a barely perceptible sigh, "Our Human Race, back then, relied on the indomitable will and selfless exploration of our ancestors, coupled with that elusive yet crucial bit of luck, to gradually reach where we are today."

Lin Yi was completely stunned.

He originally thought that "Source Essence" only existed in the "Myriad Secret Realm," the ultimate secret realms jointly controlled by the three major races.

Unexpectedly, in any new and unknown corner of the universe, lies the faintest yet most powerful hope to defy fate and create a legend.

But after a moment's thought about this fact, Lin Yi couldn't help but blurt out, "Senior Sister, doesn't that mean that the more vast the territory controlled by a race, the richer its star field, the more new secret realms will theoretically be born within that territory as the universe Dynamic evolves?"

"So, the overall probability of discovering and acquiring Source Essence also increases? Is one of the deepest meanings of the struggle for territory actually for this fertile ground that breeds opportunities?"

"That's natural."

Thousand Illusions affirmed Lin Yi's deduction, her tone carrying a hint of cold reality.

"Territory is not merely about visible Resource Star, energy veins, and thriving populations; it also represents fertile ground and a breeding ground for the unknown and opportunities."

As she spoke, she smiled with a hint of sarcasm, "If it weren't for the fact that the Spirit Race, the Abyss Race, and the Devouring Race are roughly equal in strength, mutually restraining and hindering each other, forming a fragile and dangerous Dynamic, most of the known rich star regions in this universe would have already been swiftly divided up by these three families."

"We other races are probably struggling to even retain our meager territories; we've long since become their slaves, let alone have any chance of rising to power through that slim probability of a secret realm."

"The so-called myriad races of the starry sky, their living space is largely built on the foundation of mutual apprehension among the three giants."

"However, even now, with the three major races checking and balancing each other and eyeing each other covetously, the calculation of interests and compromises are everywhere."

"For example, based on practical strategic needs and in-depth cooperation in certain areas, our Human Race needs to cede a portion of the exploration rights for newly discovered secret realms within our own territory each year to the Spirit Race. This is a necessary price to pay for choosing sides among the three dominant races. As a powerful race, our Human Race is now in a relatively better position, only needing to cede 20%, while other races..."

Thousand Illusions shook her head, leaving her words unfinished.

But Lin Yi had already fully understood the unspoken meaning behind it.

Lin Yi remained silent.

With just a few words, his senior sister meticulously unraveled the complexities of the universe, revealing to him the deepest aspects of the competition among all races.

One of the core purposes of the struggle for territory is to obtain the probability of the birth of Source Essence.

This goes far beyond the struggle for conventional resources; it addresses the very foundation of racial continuation and advancement.

In contrast, the bloody battles fought by the Star Realm Army against the Kunmo Race on the border seem to be merely the most brutal expenditures under this grand scheme, undertaken to maintain and even expand this "fertile ground for opportunities."

The gain or loss of every inch of territory could mean a change in the ownership of a certain secret realm in the future, which in turn would affect the probability of obtaining that Source Essence.

So, junior brother.

Seeing the light in Lin Yi's eyes finally turn deep, Thousand Illusions brought the topic back to him, her tone returning to its previous calmness.

"The Myriad Secret Realm is the only known ultimate secret realm that can reliably produce Source Essence. It is a strategic location that the three major races must fight for. Only the top one thousand in the Genius Battle are qualified to enter, as it concerns the foundation and future fortune of their race."

"Adapting to exploration of secret realms in advance, and honing the ability to quickly adapt, survive, explore, and accurately seek opportunities in completely unknown environments with vastly different rules, is extremely important, both for your competition for the Source Essence in the Myriad Secret Realm and for the various unknown dangers and opportunities you may encounter on your long cultivation path in the future."

"Junior brother understands." Lin Yi nodded solemnly.

"Alright, I've shared everything I knew, both what I should and shouldn't have said."

Thousand Illusions resumed her lazy and leisurely demeanor, as if what she had just recounted was not a world-shaking secret that could affect the entire universe, but merely an interesting anecdote during a leisurely afternoon.

"Practice the <Time Rewind Clone Technique> diligently, striving for perfection and stability, and avoiding rash actions. I will arrange for a reliable person to deliver the Time Source Core and your senior sister to you. Junior brother, your senior sister eagerly anticipates your brilliance in the upcoming Genius Battle and your performance in the Myriad Secret Realm to come."

As she finished speaking, she gently waved her wide sleeves, as if brushing away the clouds and mist before her eyes.

The surrounding fairy mountains and pavilions, the swirling sea of clouds, the cries of cranes and the murmur of springs, began to fade and become transparent, like a faded ink painting, and finally completely disappeared into the invisible data stream.

The virtual communication was completely disconnected, and Lin Yi's consciousness returned to reality.

He opened his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his turbulent emotions.

The amount of information obtained today is enormous. Not only did we obtain the coveted clone technique and the invaluable Time Source Core, but we also glimpsed a shocking secret about the Origin Law behind the Genius Battle.

"The art of creating clones must be mastered as soon as possible."

Lin Yi made up his mind.

This is not only a powerful tool for survival and exploration, but also an essential means to cope with the complex, ever-changing, and strangely regulated environment of the "Myriad Secret Realm" in the future. It is also an important reliance for competing for Source Essence and for the Human Race to contend for supremacy.

At the same time, he subconsciously sensed the "Voidwalker" armor he wore, which had accompanied him through many battles and helped him overcome numerous crises.

The tear on his left shoulder was still clearly visible, like a scar.

Touching the broken edge, Lin Yi could feel the fracture and dimness of the array patterns beneath.

Facing even stronger enemies in the future and the clash of the three races' most outstanding talents, a more powerful top-tier battle suit is of paramount importance.

"Resources. We still need a massive amount of resources!"

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Yi's eyes. "The Endless Tower, it's time to venture there again and let some people rediscover the name Lin Yi."

The "Endless Tower" of the Star Core level training camp is the best way to test combat strength and obtain a large number of Points and rare resources.

He was busy with battlefield missions and Rule Comprehension, and did not deliberately try to improve his ranking.

Now that my strength has greatly increased and I possess Fourfold Domain, once I've mastered the techniques of those Fourfold Domain, I'll try to break records, earn enough Points to upgrade my battle armor, and accumulate resources for future explorations of secret realms and training in the Death Rule.

Time slipped away quietly during the practice.

--

Five years later, Lin Yi finished a short period of seclusion, and then, on a whim, he accessed the Star Core level training camp.

His figure materialized in the private rest area. He immediately pulled up his contact list, hesitated briefly, and sent a concise message to his teammates:

"I'm going to challenge the Endless Tower now."

The message was sent, and within seconds, a series of virtual projections eagerly materialized in front of him.

Kenkes was the first to appear. "Captain?! What did you say? Charge the tower? You're going to charge the Endless Tower now?"

Immediately afterwards, a petite figure appeared; it was Amber.

She covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Captain... you... weren't you always on battlefield missions and teaching on the platform? How come suddenly... and, with your previous strength, did you reach 50% comprehension of the Time Rule?"

"Given the power of the higher-level rules, even if it's only 50%, it should be enough to reach the 40th floor."

Then, Star Firefly appeared.

Even Mo Yuan, who is usually quite quiet, said, "Captain, I'll come to watch the battle."

Seeing the shocked yet expectant reactions of his teammates, Lin Yi couldn't help but smile inwardly.

He could understand their reaction. After all, in other people's eyes, it hadn't been too long since he last reached the third level, and his strength improvement should have been within a reasonable range.

Reaching the 40th floor is already quite astonishing and in line with expectations given his "genius" status.

Lin Yi's expression remained unchanged, still calm, and he said in a relaxed tone, "Well, I've made some progress recently, and since I'm a bit short on resources, I thought I'd go into the tower to try my hand at something and stretch my muscles."

His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Star Firefly's expectant little face. He smiled slightly and said vaguely, "As for how many floors we can reach, we'll do our best. Let's try and see how far we can go."

"Give it a try?"

These words, when heard by Kenkes and Amber, were practically an admission that the goal was the difficult 40th floor!

The two became even more excited.

"Go, Captain! You can do it!" Amber waved her little fist in encouragement.

"Haha, great! With the captain on the case, we're sure to succeed!" Kenkes rubbed his hands together, eager to try and conquer the tower himself.

However, none of them knew that beneath Lin Yi's calm exterior, he had already set a goal far beyond their imagination.

Lin Yi knew very well that with his current mastery of the Fourfold Domain, especially with the two superior rules of time and space at his disposal, the 40th floor was by no means the end, or even the main goal.

What he wanted was to make a name for himself and firmly establish his undisputed top position among the younger generation of Human Race.

It was to obtain the massive amount of Points and rare resource access needed to support his subsequent training in the Death Rule, upgrade his battle armor, and prepare for exploring secret realms.

"Currently, the top spot in the training camp is held by floor 54."

Lin Yi silently recited in his heart, a flash of silver-gray light appearing deep in his eyes, "Since the Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle hasn't even started yet, let's begin with the Endless Tower for first place."