Reporting them in turn, a hefty windfall
Red permission marker...
Lin Yi repeated the word in a low voice, his eyes slightly narrowed.
In the Pan-Spirit Alliance Virtual Network, gold mostly represents Eternal Divine level, while red... is basically the mark of Venerable Lord Rank, with few exceptions.
Now, five people have sent him Contact Mark requests at once.
"Master, shall we process these applications now?"
Xuanji bowed slightly and gently reminded her.
Lin Yi did not answer immediately.
He was indeed somewhat surprised, but he didn't lose his composure.
He didn't rush to approve all of Xuanji's applications immediately.
After all, what if they both approve at the same time, and then they both invite you to a virtual visit?
He hasn't activated a Virtual Network avatar yet; that's a privilege for those with gold-level or higher permissions. He can't just leave one Venerable Lord waiting on the sidelines while he deals with another, can he?
That would not only be impolite, but could also unintentionally offend someone.
Rather than getting into this awkward situation, it's better to pretend you were preoccupied with something else and didn't see it, and then deal with them one by one according to their importance.
"Xuanji."
After a moment's thought, Lin Yi spoke, "Who are the applicants? Let me take a look."
"Yes."
Xuanji raised her hand and waved it, and five virtual marks emitting a crimson light appeared in front of Lin Yi, each marked with a brief explanation below it.
Lin Yi's gaze swept over them one by one.
The first mark came from "Human Race Xuan Yan", the second from "Human Race Sky Halberd Lord", the third from "Human Race Lord Abyss Prison", the fourth from "Starflame Race Yan Huang Lord", and the fifth from "Spirit Race Radiance Lord".
Lin Yi raised his eyebrows slightly.
Three Human Race rulers and two non-human rulers.
He wasn't surprised by Xuan Yan and Sky Halberd Lord.
These two are pivotal figures in the Human Race Supreme Council, and they were the direct driving force behind his exceptional nomination for the "Special Talent Cultivation Roster."
Strictly speaking, I am a junior trained by their faction, so contacting me immediately after the competition was both a sign of concern and a matter of course.
But who exactly is this third Human Race ruler – the Lord Abyss Prison "?
Lin Yi quickly searched his mind for the names of the Human Race's supreme rulers that he knew.
Xuan Yan, Tian Ge, Nether Sea, Qing Lan, Mountain Suppressor, Flying Star... these are all Venerable Lord Rank who are renowned within the Human Race and frequently appear in various public documents or historical records.
He had never heard of the name "Qiuyuan" before, and with his limited access, he had never seen any related records in any public documents.
It's as if... this lord deliberately hid himself behind some kind of veil.
"We have no connection whatsoever, nor have we ever heard of it."
Lin Yi thought to himself, "Why would they contact me at this time?"
A sense of unease rose in his heart.
In the vast sea of stars, any seemingly illogical action often conceals a deeper meaning.
Especially given the level of proactive contact at this level, it's highly unlikely to be a spur-of-the-moment decision.
As for the two alien rulers...
Lin Yi could understand the aloofness of the Starflame Race's Lord.
As the head of this year's Mercenary Alliance Star Core level Training Camp, Yan Huang naturally pays attention to himself, a "student" who rose from the training camp and has now reached the summit of Mount Shen.
In a way, I've brought honor to the Mercenary Alliance.
But the Radiance Lord of the Spirit Race...
Lin Yi's eyes turned slightly cold.
Logically speaking, he had just climbed to Spirit Race position by stepping on Edith, the most dazzling genius of the Elven race.
In this situation, instead of thinking about how to improve Edith's strength to turn the tide, the Radiance Lord, who was in charge of this year's Genius Battle Spirit Race, immediately came to contact his "rival".
"Could it be that they're trying to coerce or bribe me into throwing the next match, or even fixing it altogether?"
Lin Yi speculated, not without malice.
It's no wonder he assumed the Spirit Race's higher-ups were acting with the utmost malice.
Throughout the long history of the Star Sea, what means wouldn't those high and mighty beings use to uphold racial honor and vested interests?
Overt suppression, covert deals, and even direct threats to personal safety...
When faced with real interests, the so-called "fair competition" is often incredibly fragile.
Lin Yi took a deep breath, suppressing his chaotic thoughts.
Regardless of the motives of these lords, what he needs to do now is to make the safest possible response.
"Xuanji."
Lin Yi instructed, "First, help me approve Xuan Yan's application. Also..."
He continued, "Go out and tell Ellie and the others to wait a moment. I'll go over after I finish dealing with the Lord's communications."
Lin Yi knew without a doubt that Aurelia and the others were already gathered in the manor's living room, waiting for him to come out of the training room.
The news of his ascent of the sacred mountain has probably spread throughout the entire Origin Star by now.
As your closest partners and subordinates, their feelings at this moment must be even more excited than yours.
"Clear."
Xuanji bowed and accepted the order, her illusory figure slowly dissipating.
The manor's living room.
Just as Lin Yi had predicted, everyone had already gathered there.
Aurelia stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, her blue eyes gazing in the direction of the training room, her hands unconsciously clasped together in front of her.
Her expression appeared relatively calm, but the slight rise and fall of her chest and the occasional pursing of her lips betrayed the turmoil within her.
Chen Yu, Zhou Yuxuan, Kaliya, and Lin Yao stood in the center of the living room, their faces filled with barely suppressed excitement.
They had just emerged from the virtual battle arena themselves.
The preliminary rounds of the Genius Battle were conducted in groups. Except for Chen Yu, they all competed on the same day as Lin Yi, but in different groups.
All three of them completed their first round of competition. After a hard-fought battle, although their results varied, they all successfully entered the top 100 and advanced.
As soon as they withdrew from the competition, they received an explosive message pushed through the Virtual Network.
<Human Race Lin Yi ascends to the Ninth Floor the Central Divine Mountain!>
<The Ninefold Spacetime Life-Death Domain Appears Out of Nowhere!>
<Points surpass 500 million, crushing the Spirit Race Edith>
They rushed out of the room and immediately saw Aurelia in the middle of the living room, still watching the battle recap.
"Deputy Commander..."
Zhou Yuxuan immediately asked, "Vice Commander, is it true? This is the Commander's battle recap? Were you watching the Commander's match as well?"
Aurelia nodded gently and said softly, "I'm watching."
She did more than just look.
From the moment Lin Yi stepped onto the first level of the sacred mountain, her gaze never left the screen.
As Lin Yi swept through the levels with near-total dominance, her heart raced.
As Lin Yi was locked in a fierce battle with the projection of Losa on the Ninth Floor, her palms became sweaty.
When Lin Yi finally tore through her opponent's defenses with a ferocious close-quarters combat style, her breath almost stopped.
Especially the final moment, when Lin Yi pointed his fingers like a sword and pierced the chest of the Losa projection.
Aurelia clearly remembers feeling as if her heart had been squeezed tightly, followed by an indescribable surge of pride and... thrill.
As everyone whispered among themselves, light and shadow shifted in the center of the living room, Xuanji's illusory image quietly appeared.
She bowed gracefully and said, "My master just received Virtual Network contact requests from several Venerable Lord Rank beings and is currently processing them one by one. He instructed me to come and inform you all. Please wait a moment; my master will arrive shortly."
As soon as he finished speaking, the living room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone's expression froze.
Even the usually composed Aurelia's pupils shrank, and a look of shock appeared on her face.
"A Venerable... Venerable Lord Rank?"
Chen Yu finally found his voice, but his tone was erratic and unsteady. "Several?"
"Yes." Xuanji nodded in confirmation.
Everyone was speechless.
Venerable Lord Rank!
Those are beings standing at the pinnacle of the cosmos, each one a behemoth who holds the fate of billions of living beings in their hands and whose word can determine the rise and fall of civilizations.
Ordinary practitioners may never see the face of a revered master in their entire lives.
Even for Star Domain level or World Derivation level powerhouses, gaining an audience with the Lord requires immense opportunity and merit.
Now, several Venerable Lords have proactively sent contact requests to Lin Yi.
My brother...
Lin Yao's voice trembled slightly, "The competition just ended... The Lords' reactions were way too quick!"
That's not surprising.
Zhou Yuxuan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart. "Reaching the Ninth Floor of the Divine Mountain, the Ninefold Spacetime Life-Death Domain, and breaking 500 million Points... It seems normal that the Venerable Lords would pay attention to this performance immediately?"
"But...
Chen Yu still found it hard to accept, "Several Venerable Lords contacting us at the same time... Isn't this too much? Can the Commander... can he handle it?"
This is a common concern among everyone.
How majestic is the will of Venerable Lord Rank being?
Engaging with them, even in a Virtual Network meeting, requires an extremely cautious attitude and appropriate responses.
Although Lin Yi possesses astonishing talent, he is, after all, only a Star Core level. When facing beings who have lived for countless Epoch and wield boundless power, will he make a mistake due to his lack of experience?
Could I have unintentionally violated some taboo?
"Master knows what he's doing," Xuanji said softly. "You all need not worry. Master instructed me to convey that he will come to meet with you all after handling the communications with the Venerable Lords."
After speaking, Xuanji's illusory figure bowed slightly, then turned into specks of light and dissipated.
Silence fell over the living room once again.
After a long silence, Chen Yu murmured, "I suddenly feel... the distance between us and the Commander seems to be growing further and further."
Upon hearing this, everyone wore complex expressions.
They recalled the years they had fought alongside Lin Yi, the moments they had shared on Blue Star, on the border, and in the Mercenary Group.
At that time, Lin Yi was powerful, but at least he was still within their comprehension.
But now...
Ascending the sacred mountain, Ninefold Domain, receiving the venerable master's attention...
All of this has far exceeded the boundaries of their original understanding.
"So what if we're far apart?" Aurelia suddenly spoke up. "Our Commander is still our Commander. The higher he climbs, the more we should strive to keep up with him, instead of wallowing in self-pity here."
She turned around, her emerald eyes sweeping over everyone. "Don't forget, the Commander had everyone sign up for the Genius Battle so that we could broaden our horizons and identify our shortcomings. Now, the Commander has set a benchmark for us; the rest is up to us."
Aurelia then ignored everyone's reactions and turned her gaze back towards the training room, silently thinking, "No matter what others do, I will do my best to accompany you all the way."
Inside the cultivation room.
After Lin Yi connected with the Xuan Yan's Contact Mark, he didn't have to wait long.
About three minutes later, a virtual invitation came through.
"Accept." Lin Yi's mind raced.
The next moment, the scene before my eyes rippled like water.
His figure instantly appeared in a magnificent palace.
The palace was made entirely of a warm, lustrous jade. Countless star-like gems were inlaid on its towering dome, emitting a soft yet bright light. Four giant pillars supported the main hall, and the mythical beast patterns on the pillars were lifelike, as if they might take off at any moment.
The interior of the hall was simple and solemn, with no superfluous decorations, only a large jade table in the center and a figure sitting upright behind it.
He was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties, with a gentle face and deep, starry eyes, wearing a simple blue robe.
He sat there, seemingly integrated with the entire palace and this virtual space, natural and harmonious.
Lin Yi had naturally seen the image of Xuan Yan before, and he quickly bowed and greeted him, "Lin Yi greets Xuan Yan."
O
"No need for formalities, please sit."
Xuan Yan pointed to a futon opposite the jade table, his voice calm and devoid of emotion.
Lin Yi sat down as instructed, maintaining an upright posture and keeping his eyes straight ahead.
The Xuan Yan scrutinized Lin Yi for a moment before slowly speaking, "The Ninth Floor of the Divine Mountain... well done."
His tone was very calm, but Lin Yi could hear the approval in it.
"It was just luck."
Lin Yi said modestly.
"Lucky?"
Xuan Yan shook his head. "In the Star Sea, there is no such thing as luck. You were able to reach the top because of your real strength."
The Ninefold Spacetime Life-Death Domain... Even when I was at the Star Core level, I never reached such a level."
Lin Yi's heart stirred slightly.
Xuan Yan is... affirming his talent, and even subtly comparing himself to him in his youth.
That's extremely high praise.
"But..
Xuan Yan changed the subject, his tone becoming serious.
"The competition isn't over yet, and nothing is certain. Although you're currently in first place, Edith is no pushover. She has the resources of the entire Spirit Race backing her, and is personally overseen by Radiance. She's bound to improve in the future."
"Your Excellency's reminder is correct."
Lin Yi nodded solemnly, "The Genius Battle has only just begun. There are still preliminary rounds, knockout rounds, ranking rounds, and the finals to come. Any defeat could mean the end of all our previous efforts. I will definitely stay humble and give it my all."
"Hmm." Xuan Yan nodded in satisfaction. "It's good that you can stay awake."
He paused, then continued, "Your performance this time has brought honor to the clan and also brought glory to me as the recommender. The clan-level rewards have their own procedures and will be sent to your account later. As for me..."
Xuan Yan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "As your recommender, I should show my appreciation. So... I'll give you 500 clan merits. You can exchange them for anything you need at the clan merit treasury."
How many?
Lin Yi was stunned on the spot.
500 clan honors??
His mind even went blank for a brief moment.
It should be noted that since being included in the Special Talent Cultivation Roster, his access system has automatically enabled him to browse the clan merit treasury.
He had also clicked in out of curiosity to take a look.
Any one of the treasures displayed there made Lin Yi's eyes water and his heart race.
But all he could do was look.
Because he didn't even have the slightest bit of family honor.
Lin Yi naturally also investigated how clan honors were obtained.
That's not even at the Star Core level, nor even at the World Derivation level being that can be easily accessed.
The simplest clan honor mission, such as "guarding a certain border War Zone, one clan honor can be obtained per Epoch" -- the prerequisite is that you need to have god-level combat power and pass the military's review.
For example, "Clearing out a star monster's lair will reward you with 5-50 clan merits depending on the lair's level" -- similarly, requires god-level combat power and must be completed in a team.
There are also missions that reward 1,000-5,000 clan merits for completing a clan's strategic mission, which are usually only available to Eternal Divinity and above.
In other words, the default minimum participation threshold for the clan merit system is god-level combat power.
Lin Yi guessed that the reason why those members at the World Derivation level in the list were granted access was because they usually possessed the ability to fight beyond their level, and their actual combat strength had reached the level of gods.
But his "exceptional" entry into the Star Core level... means he can only stare helplessly at the treasure vault.
His original plan was to wait until he broke through to the World Derivation level and possessed divine combat power before slowly accumulating clan merits to exchange for the treasures he desired.
But now...
Xuan Yan casually gifted 500 clan merits!
This is almost equivalent to the total reward for guarding the border for five hundred Epoch, or completing ten high-difficulty extermination missions.
"Your Majesty, this... this is far too precious..."
Lin Yi snapped out of his daze and quickly said...
"Precious?"
Xuan Yan smiled. "Perhaps it is for your current level. Since you are someone I recommended, you naturally cannot be stingy."
He looked at Lin Yi, a profound meaning flashing in his eyes. "The items in the clan's treasury will greatly benefit your subsequent cultivation. Make good use of them and improve your strength as soon as possible. Your stage should not be limited to the Star Core level."
Lin Yi took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and solemnly bowed. "Lin Yi understands! Thank you for your generous gift, Your Excellency!"
Xuan Yan waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be so polite.
"I've said everything that needed to be said, you..."
Xuan Yan was about to wave Lin Yi away when he saw Lin Yi suddenly raise his head, a hint of hesitation on his face.
"My lord, there is one more thing I need to report to you," Lin Yi said.
"Oh?" Xuan Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Speak."
Lin Yi quickly replied, "Just now, after the competition ended, I received Contact Mark request from the Spirit Race's Radiance Lord in the Virtual Network."
He didn't hide anything and told the whole story directly.
In that instant, Lin Yi thought of many things.
Regardless of the true purpose of the Radiance Lord's contact with him.
Whether it's a threat, an enticement, a test, or something else, at this sensitive juncture, it's extremely sensitive that a Spirit Race Lord would secretly Human Race genius.
If I keep it a secret and contact Huiguang privately, and the other party does something underhanded or deliberately releases ambiguous information, I could easily find myself in a passive position.
Rather than being unable to defend oneself later, it's better to report Huiguang's actions to the clan now, which also serves as a formal "report" to their lord.
In this way, no matter what happens later, you will have room to maneuver.
At least, Xuan Yan will know the ins and outs of the matter, and will be able to speak up for himself in crucial moments.
"Huh? Is that so?"
The expression of Xuan Yan immediately turned serious.
"As the Lord of the Spirit Race responsible for matters related to the Genius Battle, Huiguang needs to contact you at this time..."
Xuan Yan paused for a moment, seemingly thinking quickly about something.
Suddenly, he raised his hand and gently tapped the air.
A crimson rune appeared in the air, then quickly spread out, transforming into a portal.
A figure stepped out from the portal.
He was a man who looked to be around thirty years old, dressed in a dark gold battle robe, with a resolute face, sharp eyes, and an aura of unparalleled fierceness.
As soon as his figure materialized, he said to Xuan Yan, "Xuan Yan, why are you in such a hurry to find me? What happened...? Huh?"
His gaze fell on Lin Yi, and he paused slightly.
"Lin Yi? You're here too?"
Lin Yi quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings Sky Halberd Lord."
The one who suddenly appeared was none other than Sky Halberd Lord.
Sky Halberd Lord looked at Lin Yi, smiled amusedly, and said, "So that's why my Contact Mark request wasn't approved after the competition ended. Turns out you came to Xuan Yan's place first."
Lin Yi was immediately somewhat embarrassed.
He quickly instructed Xuanji in his mind, "Immediately contact Sky Halberd Lord through his Contact Mark."
"Yes."
Xuanji's response echoed in his mind.
Almost simultaneously, Sky Halberd Lord's brow twitched slightly, clearly indicating that he had received a notification that the mark had been successfully passed.
"Alright, stop teasing him."
Xuan Yan scoffed, "Tian Ge, Lin Yi has always been taught by my daughter in her place. Isn't it normal for him to come to me first? Stop with the nonsense."
He looked at Tian Ge and said seriously, "Lin Yi just told me that Hui Guang wants to contact him. What do you think about this?"
"Glow?"
Sky Halberd Lord's expression also turned serious. "He contacted Lin Yi?"
He looked at Lin Yi, Lin Yi quickly nodded in confirmation.
Sky Halberd Lord first gave Lin Yi an appreciative look, then stroked his chin and laughed heartily, "How can we look? Of course, we're looking to see what tricks that old codger Huiguang is up to! Since he's taken the initiative to contact us, wouldn't it make us look guilty if we avoided him?"
Xuan Yan nodded.
He didn't really come to Tian Ge for advice; he could make the decision himself.
The real purpose was to let Lin Yi make an appearance in front of Sky Halberd Lord, improve his favorability, and also let Tian Ge know about this matter. In case of any changes in the future, one person may act for personal reasons, but the two can act for the public good, so that they can deal with it.
Now that his goal was achieved, Xuan Yan directly instructed Lin Yi, "Do as Sky Halberd Lord said. Later, use the mark of radiance to see what his true intentions are."
"Yes," Lin Yi replied respectfully.
However, he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he scratched his head and looked a little embarrassed.
"My lord, there is actually something else," Lin Yi said.
Hmm? There's more?
Xuan Yan and Tian Ge both looked over.
"Speak," Xuan Yan said.
Lin Yi quickly reported, "It's like this, besides Radiance Lord, I also received contact requests from two other lords. One of them is Lord Danhuang of the Starflame Race. I know that Lord Danhuang is the head of this year's Mercenary Alliance Star Core level Training Camp, so it makes sense."
"But... there is one more... the Lord Abyss Prison of My Human Race."
Lin Yi hesitated before saying, "I have never had any dealings with this Venerable One, nor have I ever heard of his name. Therefore, I am worried... if I were to contact him rashly, I might offend some taboo in my words or actions. So I would like to ask the two Venerable Ones for their advice."
"Prison Abyss?"
Xuan Yan and Tian Ge exchanged a glance, both showing surprise on their faces.
"Lord Abyss Prison... actually contacted you on his own initiative?"
Tian Ge frowned slightly, as if he was thinking about something.
Xuan Yan's expression also became somewhat solemn.
Seeing this, Lin Yi became even more puzzled.
Judging from the reactions of the two lords, this "Lord Abyss Prison" seems to hold an extremely special position within the Human Race, perhaps even... a level higher than Xuan Yan and Tian Ge?
"If we're talking about overlap, it's not entirely nonexistent."
Xuan Yan pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke, "Your senior brother, Prison Suppressor, is a direct general under Lord Abyss Prison. Perhaps it is because of this relationship that Lord Abyss Prison has taken some interest in you."
"The senior brother's boss?" Lin Yi suddenly realized.
So that's how it is.
Although Prison Suppressor Brother Zhenyu is usually elusive and only carries out classified missions, the fact that he is valued by someone like Lord Abyss Prison speaks volumes about his status and strength.
Given this relationship, it's understandable that the Lord Abyss Prison would pay attention to him.
As for taboos...
Xuan Yan shook his head. "Although Lord Abyss Prison has a cold and aloof personality, he is not a narrow-minded person. You just need to remain respectful and respond truthfully. Answer whatever he asks; there's no need to try to please him or be overly nervous."
"Thank you for your instruction, Your Excellency." Lin Yi felt somewhat relieved.
With the guidance of the Xuan Yan, at least he knew how to maintain a proper balance.
"Alright, that's all I needed to say."
Xuan Yan waved his hand. "Go and handle the communications with the other Venerables. Remember, be vigilant when contacting Radiance, and report any unusual activity to us immediately."
"Yes!"
Lin Yi respectfully, his consciousness slowly withdrawing from the virtual space.
Consciousness returned to the meditation room.
Lin Yi opened his eyes and let out a long sigh of relief.
Although the meeting with the two venerable masters was brief, the invisible pressure still made him somewhat tense.
Especially when the "Lord Abyss Prison" was mentioned at the end, the instantaneous change in Xuan Yan and Tian Ge's expressions made Lin Yi realize that this Lord, whom he had never met, was probably even more extraordinary than he had imagined.
"Xuanji..." Lin Yi instructed, "Use the Contact Mark of the Lord Abyss Prison."
"Yes."
The mark has been approved.
But to Lin Yi's surprise, Lord Abyss Prison did not extend a virtual meeting invitation like Xuan Yan had.
Instead, a brief message was sent.
[Lin Yi: Your senior brother Prison Suppressor has important duties to attend to, so I offer my congratulations on his behalf. Also, if you ultimately win first place in the Genius Battle, I will grant you a significant opportunity.]
The message was brief, the tone was flat, and it didn't even include any pleasantries or words of encouragement.
But Lin Yi sensed a certain meaning in those few words.
"My senior brother has gone on a mission... Even the Lord said it's an important opportunity."
Lin Yi muttered to himself.
To be considered an important opportunity by an existence of the level of Lord Abyss Prison, its value is probably no less than the 500 clan merits bestowed by Xuan Yan.
Even... possibly even higher.
"As long as we can get first place..."
Lin Yi pondered for a moment, then silently made a note of the matter.
"Next... Yan Huang."
With a thought, he passed the mark of the Starflame Race's Lord.
Similarly, Venerable Danhuang did not initiate a virtual meeting, but instead sent a longer message.
[Congratulations, Lin Yi, on reaching the summit of Mount Tai and displaying your extraordinary prowess. Your performance has shaken the cosmos and brought glory to our Galactic Mercenary Alliance.]
[In light of your exceptional talent and achievements, and following a decision by the Alliance's leadership, your genius level has been upgraded from Tier 2 to Tier 1, granting you all the privileges and resource allocation of a Tier 1 genius.]
[In addition, I'll personally give you an extra 2 billion training camp Points, which you can exchange for the necessary treasures before the finals to further enhance your strength and ensure everything goes smoothly.]
[I hope you will continue your efforts and bring glory to the alliance. If needed, you can contact me through this mark.]
[--Yan Huang]
The wording...
Lin Yi clicked his tongue for a moment.
The wording was rather official; he felt it was somewhat like something sent by Intelligent Life form.
Regardless, the 2 billion training camp Points are real.
Lin Yi looked at the number, a slight smile playing on his lips.
In the past, this number would have been enough to make his heart race.
After all, in the training camp, Points are the hard currency, which can be exchanged for various rare resources and opportunities for enlightenment.
However, given the generous gift of 500 clan merits from the Xuan Yan, these 2 billion Points, while still precious, no longer excited him too much.
However, Lin Yi still felt quite emotional.
This is the chain reaction brought about by the increase in strength and status.
When you reach a high enough position, resources that you once had to fight tooth and nail for will now be delivered to you on their own initiative.
"A genius... 2 billion Points..." Lin Yi chuckled. "Very well, I can exchange them for some cultivation aids to prepare for the upcoming competitions."
Now, only one person remains.
Lin Yi's gaze fell on the crimson mark belonging to the "Radiance Lord of the Spirit Race".
His gaze turned serious.
Although the connections made by the previous venerable ones each had their own deeper meanings, at least their positions were clear and their purposes were relatively straightforward.
Radiance Lord...
Why would the person in charge of this year's Spirit Race Genius Battle contact me at this sensitive time? What is he trying to do?
Coercion? Bribery? Testing? Or... something else entirely?
Lin Yi took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and said in a deep voice, "Xuanji, use the Contact Mark of the Radiance Lord."
"Yes."
The crimson mark glowed faintly, then vanished in a stream of light.
Lin Yi waited quietly.
He knew that this conversation with the Spirit Race's Lord would likely influence the course of the subsequent Genius Battle, and even... the relationship between the Human Race and the Spirit Race in their cooperation within the Secret Realm.
But regardless of the other party's purpose, having already "registered" with the two Venerable Lords, Xuan Yan and Tian Ge, he felt confident.
At least, the Human Race's high command is already aware of this matter, so he doesn't have to face the pressure from the top races alone.