Waves Across the Starsea, a Red Application

The summit of the Central Divine Mountain.

After defeating the Losa projection, Lin Yi did not act with the arrogance and domineering attitude that the outside world had imagined.

He simply stood there quietly, feeling the power of the rules within his body slowly calm down, and feeling the blood that had been slightly boiling due to the intense battle gradually cool down.

The astronomical numbers on the Points have now been set.

511 million.

First.

He did it.

But the expected ecstasy and excitement did not materialize.

Instead, there was a long-lost weariness, and with it... a sense of emptiness.

Eight hundred years of concealment, eight hundred years of ascetic practice, eight hundred years of patience.

Everything points to this battle, to this moment when we declare to the stars, "I have arrived."

But now, that moment has passed.

Goal achieved.

What's next?

Lin Yi shook his head slightly, shaking off those inexplicable thoughts.

It's not time to think about "what's next." The Genius Battle has only just begun. There are still many things to do, such as secret realms, team leadership, racial competition, and more.

But at least for now, atop this sacred mountain, in the time before the competition ends, he can pause for Time Stop.

Lin Yi looked around.

The sea of clouds churned beneath our feet, while in the distance, the lights of other contestants, like fireflies, chased and fought across the vast continent.

But all of this was no longer relevant to him.

Presumably, no contestant would be foolish enough to come here and risk their life.

Lin Yi walked to the edge of the platform and sat down casually next to a large, rounded rock eroded by the wind.

He adjusted to a more comfortable position, straightened his legs, placed his hands behind his head, and looked up at the azure sky.

Then, he closed his eyes.

It wasn't cultivation, it wasn't enlightenment, it was just... spacing out.

Empty your mind and let your nerves, which have been tense for eight hundred years, truly relax for the first time.

All the noise and clamor of the outside world seemed to be shut out from this mountain peak.

The sound of the wind gradually faded into the distance.

Lin Yi's consciousness seemed to sink into a warm and tranquil deep sea.

He wasn't thinking about anything.

Just breathing.

In stark contrast to the almost frozen silence atop the mountain was the tsunami sweeping across the entire Pan-Spirit Alliance in the Virtual Network world.

The main camera shot remains unchanged from the moment Lin Yi leans against the boulder, closing his eyes to rest.

There were no intense battles, no dazzling special effects, and not even any superfluous movements.

Only one figure rests quietly atop the sea of clouds.

However, the number of spectators did not decrease; instead, it surged at an alarming rate.

What is he doing???

"Just spacing out? Taking a break? I'm already in first place in Points, so I really don't need to do anything..."

"No, this is the Ninth Floor the Central Divine Mountain! How many people in history have ever reached the summit? Shouldn't he issue a victory declaration or something?"

"Maybe... he's tired? That battle with Losa's projection must have been extremely taxing."

"Where are those accounts that said Lin Yi was stuck at a bottleneck, or that his talent was just so-so? Come out and say something, don't play dead..."

"I watched the replay carefully. During Lin Yi's final close-quarters combat, his use of the power of rules was abnormally refined. Every strike was breaking through his defenses. This kind of fighting style is more than ten times more mentally taxing than a simple exchange of blows."

"What incredible nerve... The outside is in an uproar, and he's sleeping here?"

The discussion forum was flooded with messages so fast that the naked eye couldn't keep up; all that could be seen was a blurry torrent of colors.

Even more frenzied than the discussion forums were the emergency push notifications from Xinghai's various media outlets.

Almost at the same minute that Lin Yi's Points was finalized.

<Pan-Spirit Alliance News Agency>: [Human Race genius Lin Yi confirms his Ninefold Domain, ascends the Central Divine Mountain, the biggest dark horse of this year's Genius Battle is born!]

<Starsea Watchtower>: [Nine Layers of Time and Space: Life and Death! In-depth Analysis of Lin Yi's Combat Power]

<Spirit Race Daily Mirror>: [The Light of Lanxing Faces Its Strongest Challenge! Human Race Lin Yi Displays Ninth-Level Strength, Is Edith's Top Position in Danger?]

Human Race: [Good news! Our race's prodigy Lin Yi, has reached the summit of the sacred mountain and is currently ranked first!]

<Holy Radiance Race Truth News>: [A Dark Horse Emerges: The Unexpected Rise of Human Race Lin Yi]

<Crystal Spirit Race Crystal Gazette>: [Technical Review: Analysis of Lin Yi's Battle Pattern in Defeating Losa's Projection>

The titles are increasingly sensational, and the content is increasingly in-depth.

Analysts, commentators, powerful figures from various races, and even some Eternal Divinity were brought out to provide real-time commentary.

Lin Yi's already limited public information was analyzed repeatedly: native of Blue Star, potential to reach level 7 in the Civilization Advancement Assessment, East Peak Mercenary Group, killed Kunmo Race prodigy on the border, and was exceptionally included in the list...

Each fragment was magnified in an attempt to piece together the growth trajectory of this "monster".

Meanwhile...

Human Race territory, including planets, space cities, and fleet bases.

Inside the bar, the crowd that had been cheering for a player from their own civilization to kill an opponent fell silent. They looked up at the dazzling "Lin Yi (Human Race)" at the top of the screen and the astronomical number following it.

Then, someone smashed the wine glass first.

"Human Race!!!"

A roar exploded, carrying with it the pent-up frustration of countless Epoch and the ecstatic joy of finally getting what it had been waiting for.

In the college square, the professors were not lecturing. The students sat in neat rows, all staring at the projection screen. Many young people's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Inside the fleet command center, the captain, who was on patrol, slammed his hand on the control panel: "Order the entire ship! Double the rations today! Let's celebrate!!"

"Yes!"

The staff officer's voice trembled.

Origin Star, Star Source District.

The Dawnlight Hall beneath the Crown of Starweaver.

There was no party here tonight, but several figures quietly gathered in the main hall.

Starweaver sat in the main seat, with a complete replay of Lin Yi's battle floating in front of her, which had already been played three times in a row.

Frost Ash, Heart Whisper, Martial Evening, Return to Source, Sharp Edge, and Void Simulation —the other six Eternal Divinity who attended Lin Yi's welcome party—are all present at this moment.

"What do you all think?" Starweaver's voice was calm, but a light flickered deep in her eyes.

"Nine levels, time and space life and death, domain control... extremely high."

Frost Ash spoke slowly, the female deity specializing in the opposing rules of ice and fire speaking with a rare air of amazement, "The way he defeated Losa's projection wasn't through superior combat techniques, but through more refined application of his domain and combat instincts. This refinement is honed through countless trials, not something that can be achieved simply by accumulating resources."

"The intensity of the battles he experienced previously probably exceeded our expectations."

Heart Whisper said softly, "I can feel the suppressed killing intent in his eyes; this isn't something that can be cultivated in a training ground."

Martial Evening, a deity known for her fierce fighting style, was currently watching the scene on the screen where Lin Yi was engaged in close combat.

"Beautiful, absolutely beautiful! Abandoning weapons and engaging in close-quarters combat, achieving maximum practical effect with minimal rule consumption... This is the choice of someone who has truly crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. No wonder he is a prodigy who led his civilization through real battles in the promotion assessment."

Return to Source nodded slowly. "His application of the fundamental rules has reached a level of exquisite detail. The rule of earth softens the ground, Water Rule condenses the air. These small techniques may seem insignificant to us, but in a battle at the Star Core level, using them at the right time can be the key to victory."

Sharp Edge pondered for a moment and said, "All things considered, Lin Yi's strength is among the top tier in the Ninefold Domain the Star Core level realm. He might even... have the potential to reach the theoretical limit."

Starweaver let out a soft breath, a smile appearing on her face, "It seems that the nominations by Xuan Yan and Sky Halberd Lord were too conservative back then."

Upon hearing this, everyone smiled knowingly.

They all knew that there was considerable internal controversy when the list committee approved Lin Yi's exceptional application.

Many people believe that including Star Core level in the list is too risky, easily abandoned halfway, and the return on investment is uncertain.

But now, all the controversy and all the doubts have vanished in the face of those 511 million Points.

The Human Race has waited far too long, and finally they have a monster who can stand at the very top of the Pan-Spirit Alliance at the Star Core level.

Meanwhile, in Lin Yi Manor, Aurelia stared blankly at the figure on the screen.

She remembered the gesture Lin Yi had made to her in the restaurant last night.

"Nine".

It wasn't about offering comfort, but calmly stating a fact: I will win, and I will win without a doubt.

She suddenly felt a soreness in her nose, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up.

Outside the manor, the Feng team is responsible for security.

All team members gathered in front of the observation screen, and all was silent.

After a long while, the Deputy Captain, a burly man at the peak of the Star Domain level, subconsciously swallowed and looked at Wind Edge: "Captain, is this escort mission... too worthwhile?"

Feng didn't answer; he just stared at Lin Yi's name and Points on the screen, remaining silent for a moment.

He then took a deep breath, turned to face all his team members, and said, "Listen up! Everyone, be on your best! Your safety is our highest priority."

"Yes!" the twenty Star Domain level Guards roared in unison, their eyes burning with fervor.

They all know that this resume will accompany them throughout their lives, becoming their most important asset when it comes to future promotions or resource allocation.

Blue Star, East Peak Military Academy Headquarters, Nie Chang's Office.

Nie Chang did not roar excitedly like the others.

He simply sat quietly in his chair, watching the familiar figure on the screen, and the string of points that he had to count several times to confirm the Points of digits.

Outside the window, the excited shouts of the students echoed throughout the entire campus.

... Lin Yi commands Ninefold Domain, making him the strongest among Human Race!

"Not only Human Race number one, but now the Pan-Spirit Alliance is number one!"

"My brother's in the Seventh Fleet, and he said the whole ship's gone crazy. The captain even opened his prized wine collection!"

"Is our military academy about to become famous? The commander-in-chief is our school's Principal."

"Nonsense! From now on, the first line of the admission brochure will read: 'Our school Principal, Lin Yi, is the champion of the Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle!'"

The excited voices of the young man drifted through the window and into Nie Chang's ears.

Nie Chang slowly leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

He recalled the beginning of the New Era, when the person standing before the Abyss Beast Nest had said to him, "Leave it to me, trust me."

Young people.

He remembered when Lin Yi left Blue Star, he patted him on the shoulder and said, "Old Nie, I'm leaving the family to you."

Thinking back on the past thousand years, every time I heard doubts about Lin Yi, my unwavering trust in him remained.

"Commander..." Nie Chang opened his eyes, looked at the image frozen on the screen, and revealed a proud smile, "You have finally... reached a place where everyone can see you."

He stood up and walked to the window.

The banners of the Silver Blue Civilization have long been planted throughout the star field.

And now, the one who holds the flag stands atop the sea of stars.

Virtual Network, an encrypted communication space called "Xuchen's Rebellious Disciple".

This is a private communication channel between Lin Yi and his senior classmates.

At this moment, messages are scrolling through the channel at lightning speed.

Cang Ming: Junior brother, I give you full marks for that act. Eight hundred years, you really know how to hold back.

Lieyang: Hahahaha! I just browsed the Dark Nether Race's forum, and it was full of wailing. It cracked me up, especially those guys who mocked my junior brother for being stuck at a bottleneck. Their accounts are all hacked, they're probably too ashamed to show their faces now.

Xuanshu: Ninefold Space-Time Life and Death... Junior Brother's foundation is much stronger than ours was back then.

Thousand Illusions: It's a pity that Prison Suppressor has been on missions all these years and we can't get in touch with him. He would be very happy if he knew this news.

Bingling: That's for sure. The situation at the border is tense right now, and only a few of us are free.

Thousand Illusions: Alright, everyone disperse. Junior Brother still has a match to play, let's not disturb him. Let's get together and celebrate his victory after the match.

The channel went silent.

But everyone's heart was filled with joy.

Of course, often, the happiness of some people is built on the unhappiness of others.

The Virtual Network is the exclusive space of the "Radiance Lord," the Spirit Race official in charge of this year's Genius Battle.

At this moment, the space was completely silent.

The figure of the Radiance Lord was shrouded in a hazy glow, making his expression impossible to discern.

But the dozens of light screens floating in front of him were replaying Lin Yi's entire battle process from the first to the Ninth Floor at different angles and speeds.

The final battle against Losa's projection, in particular, has been played on a loop for the fifth time.

After a long while, a soft sigh, devoid of any discernible emotion, echoed in the space.

"As expected... the Human Race pulled this trick after all."

The Radiance Lord's voice was calm, but those familiar with him could hear the complex emotions hidden beneath that calm. "Hiding their strength for eight hundred years, hiding it to the ninth Star Core level... hiding it to the point of encompassing time, space, life, and death." He said slowly, "Xuan Yan and Tian Ge, they certainly have guts, and they can really endure."

Iser, standing to the lower left, bowed his head and dared not speak.

"Are you angry?" the Radiance Lord suddenly asked, as if asking himself, or perhaps Iser.

Iser carefully chose his words: "The Human Race' actions are indeed... somewhat dishonorable. But there's no rule against it."

"Yes, the rules don't prohibit it."

The Radiance Lord said calmly, "So we can only blame ourselves for insufficient intelligence and underestimating the extraordinary nature of this exceptional genius."

He certainly had reason to be displeased.

As the host of the Genius Battle of the past hundred Epoch, if a non- Spirit Race Genius Battle prodigy were to win first place during his term, it would be considered a dereliction of duty no matter how you look at it.

When the news reached his clan, those factions who had disagreements with him inevitably used this incident to their advantage.

But on the other hand...

"Are you happy?" Radiance Lord asked a second question.

This time, without waiting for Iser's reply, he continued, "We should rejoice."

His gaze fell on Lin Yi's crisp and efficient combat scenes on the screen.

"The two ninth-level experts from the other two races have a clear objective: to tear open a gap in our Pan-Spirit Alliance's secret realm teams and focus on hunting down our race's prodigies."

"Originally, we only had Edith as our card. Now, we have one more, and it's... possibly a stronger card."

The Radiance Lord's eyes shimmered with light.

"Both of them are at the ninth level, and both are masters of the rules of spacetime. When they join forces in the secret realm, they can attack or defend as needed, and are more than capable of handling most dangerous situations. This time in the secret realm, they can be said to have handled it with ease and confidence."

"From the perspective of the overall interests of the Pan-Spirit Alliance, and from the survival rate of our Spirit Race's core members, Lin Yi's sudden emergence is a good thing, a very good thing."

Anger and joy intertwined, the Radiance Lord bowed down in a breathtaking interplay.

Finally, he gently shook his head.

"Enough. Things have come to this point; dwelling on it is pointless. Since Human Race has revealed their hand, we should play along."

He turned from the light to Iser.

Even if Edith breaks through to the ninth level with the help of the Sacred Source Crystal Core Fragment, as a newcomer to the ninth level, her chances of winning against an opponent like Lin Yi, who has honed the Ninefold Domain to such a high level, are still quite high.

"Pass on my orders."

Iser immediately straightened up and listened intently.

"Activate the fifth level of the Time Tower of Time, granting Edith five days to use it. After she breaks through to the ninth level, she can enter the tower to consolidate her realm and familiarize herself with the world."

Time Tower!

Iser was startled.

That is one of the most precious cultivation holy sites within the ancestral court of the Spirit Race. The flow of time within the tower is the same as outside; the higher the level, the greater the difference.

The fifth floor has a five-day usage period, but inside the tower, it's five hundred years!

Although the strong interference of the laws of time within the Ata prevents cultivation based on the Rule Comprehension, it does allow for cultivation of secret techniques and other methods.

Only those who have made outstanding contributions or significant contributions to the community are eligible to enter Tongxiang.

This time, the Lord has really gone all out to make up for Edith's shortcomings.

"Yes! I will do it immediately!" Iser suppressed his excitement and bowed to accept the order.

"Go," Radiance Lord waved his hand. "Also, regarding the Human Race... send a congratulatory letter in my name. The wording should be unusual, but please be enthusiastic, understand?"

"Understood, Your Majesty!" Iser replied knowingly.

This is a two-pronged approach: it demonstrates the Spirit Race's acceptance of Lin Yi's real-world abilities and shows their magnanimity, while also being a precaution against unforeseen circumstances.

In case... Edith ends up being Lin Yi's opponent, causing the first place to slip away, it will be easier to bring up the matter when making contact regarding the Sub-Secret Realm.

Once Iser's figure disappeared, the Radiance Lord turned his gaze back to the light screen.

The image remains frozen on the mountaintop, showing the deep blue figure sitting by a boulder, eyes closed in meditation.

Lin Yi...

The territory of the Spirit Race, a vast complex of buildings on a certain inhabited planet.

A meditation room entirely composed of pure light energy and crystal.

Edith sat cross-legged on a floating platform of light. In front of her, a crystal monster, no bigger than a fist, seemed to contain a miniature starry sea. It slowly rotated, emitting warm and vast energy fluctuations. The monster was Sacred Source Crystal Core Fragment.

She was not fully immersed in cultivation.

On one wall of the quiet room, a giant light screen was displayed, showing the live match footage of Lin Yi Yi's group.

In fact, after she cleared the eighth level of the Divine Mountain on the first day, she didn't watch the competition for the next few days at all.

Those contestants all posed a real threat to her.

The differences in rules, the levels of expertise, the depth of knowledge... everything is crystal clear, without any suspense.

If you have time to spare, please seize every minute and second to purify your own rules using the Sacred Source Crystal Core Fragment, solidify your foundation in the Eighth Realm, and launch an attack on the "Ninth Realm" that the Radiance Lord expects.

Only today did she slightly halt her intensive cultivation.

Today is Lin Yi's match day.

As fellow perceivers of the rules of spacetime, Edith had a natural curiosity about Lin Yi.

She was eager to see what was so special about this person who was highly regarded by the Human Race and even led the Starsea Observers Team to evaluate him as "possibly hiding the real world."

Could you offer her some inspiration on how to apply the rules?

Or at least let her understand the depth of the Human Race's expertise in spacetime.

So she separated a wisp of her divine power and connected it to the Guanhao Channel.

Then..

She witnessed Lin Yi effortlessly and casually climb to the top, starting from the first floor.

Edith's silver eyes, which held the brilliance of a galaxy, went from initial calm to solemnity, and finally to an undisguised shock.

When Lin Yi reached the Eighth Floor and nearly annihilated the Star Demon Race projection, Edith had already sat up straight on her own. The Sacred Source Crystal Core Fragment on the light platform trembled slightly due to the sudden fluctuation of her aura.

"Ninefold... Time and Space, Life and Death..."

She murmured to herself, her voice revealing her emotions, but the fingers clasped on her knees tightened slightly.

This goes beyond the scope of simply referencing.

On the same path of dreams, a Pioneer has emerged who has gone even further than her.

As Lin Yi stepped onto the Ninth Floor and the projection of "Morning Star" Losa unfolded, Edith had completely forgotten about cultivation, and all her divine powers were fully engaged in the duel.

She watched with utmost focus, her silver eyes reflecting the light and shadow of each clash of rules, analyzing the energy flow of every move, and deducing the gains and losses of every response and choice.

Then, she saw Lin Yi abandon his gun and close in, his fists, elbows, and knees raining down like a storm, tearing apart Losa's magnificent and exquisite defensive system in the most brutal, direct, and "elegant" way.

Edith's breathing paused for an extremely brief moment.

Her scalp tingled slightly.

It wasn't fear, but rather an... indescribable sense of shock.

The Spirit Race's pursuit of excellence lies in the unity of rules and aesthetics.

Every move and every stance is meticulously crafted, adhering to the rhythm of energy flow, the coordination of rules, and the posture of each movement.

Even in the midst of life-or-death battles, one must maintain the composure and elegance befitting a top-tier race.

This is something ingrained in the cultural genes of the Spirit Race, a flawless aesthetic passed down through countless Epoch.

Edith received this kind of education from a young age.

All the opponents she had encountered, whether they were demonstrations of teaching from strong individuals or sparring matches among peers, followed this paradigm.

Edith never imagined that things could go this way.

Abandon weapon-based rule enhancements, use your body as a weapon; abandon long-range rule-based combat, pounce on your opponent for close-quarters combat; abandon flashy complex moves, use the most basic rule-based micro-management to create brilliance.

brutal.

rough.

Absolutely no aesthetic appeal.

But... it's concise and efficient.

Edith could even feel a fine layer of goosebumps rising on her skin.

That's a bodily instinctive reaction when a perception is overturned.

She watched as Losa's projection, Lin Yi, relentlessly attacked her with a barrage of close-quarters blows, ultimately being pierced by a single finger and dissipating into specks of light.

The image freezes on Lin Yi's solitary figure atop the mountain.

The quiet room was completely silent.

After a long while, Edith slowly exhaled a long breath, and the shock in her eyes gradually settled into a complex contemplation.

She suddenly turned her head and looked towards the doorway.

There, a silver-haired youth, dressed in the traditional attire of the Spirit Race, with a gentle and refined demeanor, quietly appeared.

"Brother," Edith said calmly, her voice cool, "What is it?"

"I have just received the Lord's decree."

The young man entered the meditation room, his gaze sweeping over Lin Yi's figure on the light screen. "With the Venerable Lord's special permission, after you break through to the Ninefold Domain the Sacred Source Crystal Core Fragment, you may enter the fifth floor of the Time Tower for five days of cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Edith's silver eyes lit up slightly.

Time Tower!

Even with her status and talent, she had only entered the Time Tower a handful of times, and had never been allowed to enter the fifth floor.

The Time Gap within the tower was of immeasurable benefit to her in consolidating her initial state of being at the ninth level, familiarizing herself with the surge in power, and even deducing new combinations of immense strength.

The Lord's move undoubtedly reflects his high hopes for her and his desire for her to close the gap with Dou Lin Yi as soon as possible.

"Please thank Your Majesty for me." Edith nodded, then asked, "Is it because of him?"

The meaning of "he" is self-evident.

The silver-haired youth gave a wry smile and nodded, "Lin Yi's display of realism and unparalleled skill has led the Lord to believe that even if you break through to the ninth level, you may still have the advantage in a duel. Therefore, some additional... assistance is needed."

Edith remained silent for a moment.

She wasn't angry at being looked down upon; instead, she calmly accepted the judgment.

After witnessing Lin Yi's flawless performance, she knew that even if she advanced to the ninth level, she would still find it difficult to guarantee victory against his honed domain control and almost instinctive intuition.

"I understand," she replied calmly, turning her gaze back to the light screen.

In the video, Lin Yi remains "dazed," as if all the noise and commotion outside has nothing to do with him.

This kind of fixed destiny is equally astonishing.

After a moment of silence, Edith suddenly spoke, her voice very soft.

"Brother, do me a favor... Could you please help me get his virtual contact information?"

The silver-haired youth looked at his younger sister with some surprise.

In his memory, his younger sister was exceptionally talented, arrogant, and had little room for anything else but cultivation and family responsibility.

From childhood to adulthood, countless outstanding talents from the Spirit Race and geniuses from other races have tried to approach her, but she has always dismissed them as "a waste of time."

Using the excuse that it was "useless for spiritual practice," they coldly rejected Qianli.

She never, ever took the initiative to ask any man for a way to connect with her.

Edith...

The silver-haired youth hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing his words, trying to be as tactful as possible, "Lin Yi's talent and abilities are indeed astonishing, truly rare in the Star Sea."

"But... he is, after all, Human Race. The gap between the two races in terms of core resources and inherited heritage remains enormous."

He's currently at the Star Core level, but when he advances to the level of a Deity, God, or even higher, he might not be able to keep up with your pace. Within our Spirit Race, there are also many outstanding individuals...

"Brother, what are you saying?"

Edith frowned slightly, a hint of annoyance flashing across her face.

"I'm only interested in his way of dealing with things. Besides, we're both people who understand the rules of spacetime, so we have more to discuss regarding our understanding of those rules."

"Moreover, once we enter the Myriad Secret Realm, as we are all from the Pan-Spirit Alliance, we will inevitably need to join forces to fight the enemy."

Is it only natural to get to know each other beforehand and establish basic communication channels?

Upon hearing this, the silver-haired youth breathed a sigh of relief. "I see... I was overthinking it."

He secretly blamed himself for being too sensitive.

My younger sister has always prioritized cultivation and family; how could she possibly develop other thoughts about a Human Race genius because of a single competition?

Indeed, as fellow practitioners of the rules of spacetime and potential allies in future secret realms, it is perfectly reasonable for them to establish contact in advance.

However, before he could fully relax, he heard his younger sister add in that calm, even tone, "Please, brother, the outstanding man you mentioned earlier... he was promoted using so many resources from the family and clan, and he couldn't even see Lin Yi's back. How dare he call himself outstanding?"

The silver-haired youth was immediately speechless, his wry smile deepening.

That statement... though absurd, seems... to be true.

The Spirit Race possesses countless geniuses, and the resources they receive far surpass those allocated to the Human Race.

However, at the Star Core level level, those who can steadily reach the eighth level are extremely rare, let alone the ninth level, especially the ninth level which involves all the rules of time, space, life, and death.

Lin Yi's existence is like a mirror, reflecting the true nature of many so-called "geniuses".

"Alright, alright, I'll get to it."

The silver-haired youth raised his hands in surrender, "It's just a virtual mining token, I'll find a way to get it. As for the Human Race, they'll probably refuse the Azure Star Family's offer of friendship."

At the same time, he secretly thought, "My sister's current interest in Lin Yi is mostly due to mutual respect between strong individuals and curiosity about novel and unique methods. Once the secret realm ends, or as their cultivation levels improve, the differences in their social circles and the levels of interaction they've formed will gradually become apparent, and then it will naturally fade..."

1

"There's no need to go against her wishes now, lest it cause unnecessary backlash."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, brother."

Edith nodded and turned her gaze back to the light screen.

Fun?

What is the value of this exchange?

Slight cooperation?

Perhaps both.

But only she knew that when she saw Lin Yi tear apart Losa's elegant defenses in such a brutal and brute force, something deep inside her, something that had always been solid, was gently pried open.

It was a kind of doubt about the established path, and also a quiet longing for another possibility...

She suddenly felt a sense of anticipation; fighting this Human Race named Lin Yi was truly a strange exchange.

And what would it be like to fight him and use your wits to outwit him in that perilous secret realm of the future?

Edith pondered this as she turned her gaze back to the Sacred Source Crystal Core Fragment floating before her.

The practice must continue.

After all, only those at the same level can truly engage in communication, and right now, I'm the one lagging behind.

Amidst the uproar and commotion of the Asian clowns, the ninth day of competition saw Wu's match come to an end.

As the gentle announcement of the end of the competition rang in the minds of all participants, Lin Yi slowly opened his eyes.

The sea of clouds atop the mountain remained, but the feeling of being enveloped by virtual rules faded away quickly.

Lin Yi stood up, patted the dust off his clothes, took one last look at the place where he had climbed to the top and "rested" for so long, and his figure gradually disappeared.

Almost the instant he left the competition scene and his consciousness fully returned, the phantom of Xuanji in palace attire quietly appeared, gracefully bowing in greeting.

Congratulations, Master.

Xuanji's voice was light and cheerful, filled with genuine joy, "I've reached the Ninth Floor the Central Divine Mountain and ranked first in the Pan-Spirit Alliance's Genius Selection Competition."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi couldn't help but laugh, a feeling of ease and joy welling up inside him.

Having hidden for eight hundred years, burdened with too many expectations and pressures, the Light Monster can finally temporarily shed them and stand firmly at the summit.

This feeling is definitely bad.

"Congratulations to you too!" Lin Yi waved his hand with a smile. "You deserve some credit as well."

That's a tacit statement. Without Xuanji's efficient information processing and resource management, his cultivation efficiency would at least be somewhat reduced.

Xuanji pursed her lips slightly, her smile deepening, but she quickly regained her usual composure.

"Master, your virtual imprint received a massive amount of information during your competition."

Xuanji brought up several screens, on which data streams scrolled rapidly. "As of now, there are 37,123 pending messages and 11,773 Liankuang imprints. The number of messages continues to increase."

Lin Yi was not surprised by this.

A tall tree attracts good fortune, and this particular tree is one that "attracts good fortune," directly drawing in the violent forces of Xinghai.

"The messages will be categorized by priority and source. You will do the initial screening, and then show me the important ones."

"For important matters, simply use the standard template to reply with 'thank you for your attention,'" Lin Yi instructed.

He doesn't have time to read tens of thousands of dream messages.

"Yes, Master. The inadequate screening program has been initiated." Xuanji nodded, her tone pausing slightly, taking on a serious tone.

"Additionally, it is important to remind the owner that among the 11773 Dream Alliance Mine Marks, in addition to the 279 Dream Gold Permission Marks, 5 Dream Red Permission Marks were detected."