Star Sea Shock, In a Single Thought
"The Law of Time!!"
In the seventh section of the audience, a Machine Race spectator suddenly stood up, the energy core inside his metal chest emitting an overload-like hum.
"How is this possible!" On the other side, several spectators dressed in the traditional robes of the Crystal Spirit Race exclaimed in surprise.
"Buzz"
"Whoosh"
A cacophony of noise surged from every corner.
In an instant, millions of people expressed the same shock in different languages and tones.
On the floating crystal platform where Eternal Rock stood, the Eternal Divinity's gaze was fixed on the silver secret mark between Lin Yi's brows. He slowly inhaled and then exhaled.
So that's how it is.
The sudden transfer of him to the position of bodyguard by the higher-ups, the Void Token, and the promise of free resurrection—all the speculations were answered at this moment.
The law of time.
At the Star Core level, one comprehends the higher laws.
Eternal Rock's lips curled up uncontrollably, he couldn't suppress it.
Behind him, Aurelia placed her hand on her chest, momentarily stunned.
Further back, Lin Yao was so excited her face was flushed.
Chen Yu stared blankly for a long time before finally muttering, "Fuck!"
Zhou Yuxuan pinched his thigh hard, and the pain confirmed that this was not a dream.
Kaliya clasped her hands together in front of her chest, closed her eyes, and whispered something.
While millions of spectators at the scene were stunned into silence, the Virtual Network had descended into utter frenzy.
The comment section refreshes so fast that it's impossible for the average person to keep up.
[Holy crap! A law! It really is the law of time!]
[Am I seeing things? Star Core level? Time law?]
[Is there anyone with sufficient authority to speak up?! How many Epoch ago was the last Star Core level superior law?!]
[Those with sufficient permissions have arrived! According to the database: In the publicly available records of the Pan-Spirit Alliance, the last known Star Core level High-Rank Law Comprehender was the Time Ruins Lord of the Spirit Race 207490 Epoch ago! Before that, it was the Condensing Star Lord of the Star Spirit Race 471143 Epoch ago!]
[How many? Two hundred thousand Epoch ago? More than four hundred thousand Epoch ago?]
So what does this mean? Can someone who knows explain this?
[What does this mean? It means that as long as Lin Yi doesn't die young, he will definitely become a Venerable Lord in the future! And a strong one among Venerable Lords! Time Ruins Lord first became a Venerable Lord, he could fight three against one and kill one of them, do you understand?!]
[Holy shit.]
The Human Race has truly taken off this time.
[Hahaha! I bet on Lin Yi to come in first place before the competition even started, and I won! I really won!!!!]
[Calm down, upstairs. The match isn't over yet, but it seems there's really no suspense left.]
To be fair, although the competition isn't over, the champion has already been decided.
Edith's loss was not unjustified, truly not unjustified. A genius who appears only once every hundred Epoch met one who appears only once every two hundred thousand Epoch; one can only say she was born at the wrong time.
[Where are you going to show your face? Didn't you say Edith had made great progress in the Time Tower and that she was sure to win this time?]
[The Spirit Race audience is here. Losing to the laws of time is not shameful. Princess Edith is honorable in defeat.]
[Spirit Race +1. Lin Yi is indeed strong, we acknowledge that.]
[Human Race audience rejoices!! Since the Overlord, our Human Race has produced another prodigy with a Star Core level superior law!]
[Damn it, after watching so many Genius Battle, aside from the Spirit Race, it's always been the Crystal Spirit Race Machine Race, and the Holy Radiance Race taking turns winning. Human Race best result is always just getting into the top three. This time, we're finally going to win the championship!]
[It's not just about winning the championship. This is a future leader!]
[Yes! Your Majesty! Our Human Race needs another Your Majesty!]
[All the smaller and medium-sized races that have good relations with Human Race are probably holding an emergency meeting right now.]
[That's for sure. The friendship of a venerable lord is enough to change the fate of a small tribe.]
[I'm thinking there must be Nightmare Race smashing things right now; they were the ones who were jumping around the most enthusiastically before.]
While the comment sections were being refreshed wildly, the commentary booths of major media outlets were also experiencing an upheaval.
On the "Skywave Star Sea" channel, the host was so excited that he was incoherent.
"The Law of Time! Ladies and gentlemen! The Law of Time!" His voice trembled slightly. "Contestant Lin Yi has successfully comprehended the Law of Time, a superior law, at the Star Core level level! What does this mean? What does this mean?!"
Before the host could even ask, Yong Yao chimed in, "This means that as long as Lin Yi doesn't perish prematurely, he will inevitably become a Venerable Lord. According to historical records, all Star Core level Upper Law Comprehenders, as long as they don't die young, will eventually become Venerable Lords without exception."
"Moreover, those who wield the laws of time are often among the top fighters of their level. Lin Yi's future is limitless!"
Another media giant, Star Ring Media, has a more direct style of explanation.
"Crushing! A dimensional defeat!" the host practically roared. "The absolute crushing of the rules by the laws of time. Edith is very strong, with her Ninefold Spacetime Light and Dark Domain, but before the laws of time, all of that is meaningless!"
"I only have one thing on my mind right now," a god-level guest couldn't help but say, "How will Lin Yi end this match? Will he just wipe them out instantly? Or..."
--
The competition venue.
On the highest crystal pillar.
Lin Yi remained oblivious to all the noise and commotion from the outside world.
His entire attention was focused on what was in front of him, on Edith's frozen figure.
The silver-white armor, the light and dark runes that froze halfway through their flow, the burning fighting spirit in his emerald eyes, and the fist that was only thirty centimeters away from his face.
Three months ago, on the Ninth Floor platform of the Central Divine Mountain, he fought a fierce battle with Spirit Race prodigy of equal strength.
Three months later, he didn't even need to lift a finger; Edith was rendered immobile.
This is the crushing power of the law over the rules.
The difference in dimensions is an insurmountable chasm.
"However, since you want to go all out," Lin Yi thought to himself, while raising his right hand and slowly pressing it towards Edith's forehead.
However, just as his palm was about to touch Edith's forehead, Lin Yi suddenly had a thought.
wrong.
If Edith is defeated now, she will immediately lose all challenge opportunities and be moved to the lowest unclaimed crystal pillar.
Right now, the qualifying rounds have just begun, and that position is basically around 900th place, or even last place.
This means that the Spirit Race's most promising talent, nurtured with all their resources, and the face of the Spirit Race this generation, will be knocked out of the top 128 in the first round of the ranking competition, and won't even make it to the finals.
Having demonstrated the power of time, his first place in the rankings is now firmly in his grasp.
In the sea of stars, there is more than just fighting and killing.
If we were to completely humiliate the Spirit Race today, it might feel good in the short term, but it could sow the seeds of unnecessary resentment in the future.
not to mention.
Edith greeted him in Silver Blue Language before the match, which was a sign of respect.
Lin Yi's gaze swept over Edith's frozen eyes.
There was only fighting spirit there. This girl was a pure seeker of the Dao, but she lost because of her lack of talent.
Upon realizing this, Lin Yi immediately changed his mind.
But at this point, his palm was less than three centimeters from Edith's forehead. If he suddenly withdrew his hand, it would seem too contrived and would be a poor choice.
In a flash, Lin Yi's mind raced.
Then, under the gaze of millions of eyes, Lin Yi placed his palm on Edith's forehead and gently pushed it away.
Edith's body involuntarily drifted backward.
One step, two steps, three steps.
Soon, she withdrew from the area of the platform at the top of the crystal pillar and from the pale blue light shield.
Both feet landed in the air.
Time resumed its flow.
Edith was stunned.
She looked at Lin Yi, who had withdrawn his hand from the crystal pillar and stood calmly, and at the silver secret mark between his eyebrows that had completely disappeared, her mind a mess.
What just happened?
I unleash my full power, and then, against the laws of time!
However, he was not harmed in any way; he was simply pushed out of the crystal pillar's range.
Edith wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say.
Lin Yi stood at the edge of the crystal pillar, looking at her with a faint smile on his face.
Then he spoke, using the clear and accurate ancient language of the Spirit Race.
"You're too kind."
Edith's pupils contracted slightly.
Ancient language of the Spirit Race.
Moreover, it uses classical high-level grammar, and the orthodox pronunciation used only by the ancient Spirit Race.
He even learned this?
Yes, he also has an ancient family of the Spirit Race who went into exile with him, so it's not surprising that he has learned the Spirit Race language.
The thought flashed through Edith's mind in an instant, and she quickly regained her composure.
She gave Lin Yi a deep look, a complex light flashing in her emerald eyes.
"The Law of Time," Edith whispered, also in the Spirit Race language, "I didn't lose unjustly."
She paused, then suddenly bowed slightly to Lin Yi.
It's not a bow, but a martial arts salute, a defeated person's respect for the victor.
Thank you.
She spoke from the heart.
Given Lin Yi's demonstrated control over the laws of time, if he truly wanted to kill her instantly, she wouldn't even have a chance to react.
But the other party only pushed her out of the crystal pillar and did not injure her.
This composure dispelled the last trace of resentment in Edith's heart.
Losing to someone like that is not shameful.
Lin Yi accepted the bow without hesitation, then stepped aside and gestured for him to proceed.
Edith did not speak again.
She turned around, her gaze sweeping across the array of crystal pillars below, finally settling on the second tallest pillar.
The one standing on that crystal pillar was a Crystal Spirit Race contestant.
At this moment, the Crystal Spirit Race contestant was looking at Edith with a tense expression, then at Lin Yi at the highest point, his expression quite interesting.
It was as if I was simultaneously witnessing a battle of gods and my own impending fate as cannon fodder.
Edith did not hesitate.
She flashed and appeared directly on the second crystal pillar.
Almost the instant Edith appeared.
The Crystal Spirit Race contestant jumped down without hesitation.
It wasn't a challenge; it was a voluntary stepping down.
He even made a "please" gesture to Edith in mid-air, the movement so fluid it seemed as if he had rehearsed it a thousand times, before flying without looking back towards a crystal pillar in the middle section below.
Are you kidding me!
Let Edith take on the challenge?
They've just been tortured by the laws of time and are seething with anger. What if they're even a fraction of a second too late and get instantly killed?
Is it unfair that they came in last place?
The Crystal Spirit Race contestant decisively stepped aside, but no one mocked him.
In this situation, preserving the opportunity to challenge for a more secure ranking is indeed a wise move.
Edith landed steadily on the second crystal pillar.
She looked up at Lin Yi at the highest point.
Lin Yi also looked down at her.
Their eyes met in mid-air, one calm as a deep pool, the other complex as a whirlpool.
Then, Lin Yi turned around and sat cross-legged on top of the crystal pillar.
He simply closed his eyes and began to rest.
That posture, that demeanor, made it seem as if the time laws that had just shaken the starry sea were being displayed, and that push that determined the outcome of the peak duel was just a trivial matter done casually.
Edith watched his retreating figure, remained silent for a few seconds, and then sat down cross-legged.
The qualifying rounds are still ongoing.
But everyone knows that the real showdown has ended.
In a way that no one expected.
--
The highest spectator area.
When Lin Yi unleashed the power of the laws and froze Edith, the Xuan Yan's fingers, which were gripping the wine glass, tightened slightly.
When Edith was pushed out of the crystal pillar, she bowed in thanks.
Suddenly, Xuan Yan picked up his wine cup, drank it all in one gulp, and then slammed the cup down on the crystal table.
"Good lad!" Xuan Yan's smile was extremely bright. "What a good lad!"
Beside him, the Star Orbit Lord, shrouded in starlight, also nodded slightly, an approving expression appearing on his illusory face.
"Overwhelming strength, yet not utterly annihilating," the Star Orbit Lord said softly. "This skillful maneuvering... your Human Race's higher-ups will likely gain more than just one new warrior in the future."
On the other side, the Ten Thousand Machines Lord of the Machine Race smiled, "Lin Yi changed his attack method in the last 0.17 seconds. This shows that his decision was not a pre-planned tactic, but a judgment made on the spot."
"That's not important." Xuan Yan waved his hand, a smile still on his face. "What matters is the result."
As he spoke, he looked in the direction of the Spirit Race's crystal platform.
Radiance Lord picked up the cup of slightly cooled flower tea and took a small sip.
Then, the Spirit Race Lord raised his eyes and looked at Xuan Yan from afar.
Their eyes met in mid-air.
Radiance Lord raised his teacup and gestured slightly to Xuan Yan.
Xuan Yan also raised his empty cup and returned the greeting.
No words were spoken, but everything was understood without being said.
"However, the very act of him displaying the laws of time," the Star Orbit Lord said slowly, "Will likely cause quite a stir in the Star Sea."
Xuan Yan's smile faded slightly, but his eyes remained sharp.
"Then let's lift it," he said calmly.
These words were spoken in a very plain manner, but their implications silenced the surrounding venerable figures.
A crystal platform exclusive to the Spirit Race.
Radiance Lord put down his teacup and his gaze fell on Edith, who was sitting cross-legged on the second crystal pillar.
"Your Majesty, Edith..." a Spirit Race Eternal Divinity deity beside him spoke in a low voice, his tone complex.
"We've lost," Radiance Lord said calmly, "A complete and utter defeat."
"But what about the laws of time?"
"No buts." The Radiance Lord interrupted him. "A loss is a loss. Lin Yi's ability to comprehend the Law of Time at the Star Core level is a testament to his skill. It's not shameful for Edith to lose to such an opponent."
He paused, his gaze still fixed on Edith: "The important thing is what she learned from this battle."
The Eternal Divinity hesitated, "Learn what? The overwhelming power of the Time Law cannot be compensated for by skills or tactics."
"Learn humility," Radiance Lord said slowly. "Learn to know that there are always higher levels to reach. Learn to understand that some gaps cannot be bridged by effort and resources alone."
He picked up his teacup and took another sip.
The Radiance Lord looked at Lin Yi, who was resting with his eyes closed on the highest crystal pillar, and a glint of admiration flashed in his eyes.
"Lin Yi's final push was a gesture of respect for our Spirit Race. He didn't choose to completely humiliate Edith, but instead gave her a chance to leave with dignity."
"And Edith," he looked at the girl on the second crystal pillar, "She accepted the favor, bowed in thanks, and then gracefully accepted the second place. Such grace certainly befits the title of the Spirit Race's number one genius."
The Radiance Lord gently set down his teacup, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
"In this battle, Edith lost the match, but she didn't lose her spirit. Lin Yi won the match, and he won respect. Very good."
Upon hearing his direct superior's assessment of the match, the Eternal Divinity immediately bowed and said, "Your subordinate understands."
Nightmare Race Crystal Platform.
The dark purple mist was churning wildly.
When Lin Yi displayed the laws of time, the mist churned violently.
When Lin Yi changed from pressing to pushing, the mist suddenly froze for a moment.
When Edith expressed her gratitude, Lin Yi accepted the gift with composure.
"Snort!"
The Annihilation Lord finally couldn't hold back any longer, letting out a cold snort and cursing inwardly.
"They completely overwhelmed us with their strength, yet they still pretend to be magnanimous. The Spirit Race lost the match, but they still act all high and mighty. They're all acting geniuses, disgusting!"
The fog churned for a long time before slowly subsiding.
--
On the field.
As Lin Yi and Edith sat down cross-legged, the other contestants finally recovered from their shock and continued the competition.
But the atmosphere had completely changed.
During the battle, everyone would subconsciously glance at the highest crystal pillar, and then at the deep blue figure with his eyes closed in meditation.
The law of time.
The supreme laws at the Star Core level.
Future Lord.
These words echoed in the minds of every player, making their battles more anxious and less composed.
After all, competing against such a monster would be incredibly stressful.
Meanwhile, the commentary booths of major media outlets in Xinghai were just recovering from their initial shock and began analyzing what had just happened.
On the "Skywave Star Sea" channel, the host finally found his voice, but it still trembled with excitement.
"Viewers, you all saw what just happened."
"Lin Yi's final push," the host continued, "Demonstrated not only skill, but also composure."
Yong Yao nodded in agreement, "Indeed. There were no losers in this match. Lin Yi proved his strength, Edith demonstrated the spirit of the Spirit Race."
Star Ring Media's style is more direct.
"A crushing victory! But a graceful crushing victory!" The host's voice remained high. "The absolute crushing of the rules by the laws of time! Yet, Lin Yi did not choose to humiliate his opponent, but ended the battle in the most gentle way! What is this? This is the demeanor of a true champion!"
On the Virtual Network, the comment section was flooded with messages.
[The Spirit Race audience is here too. Losing to the laws of time is not shameful. Lin Yi's final push was gentlemanly. Edith Edith's thanks were also gentlemanly. There were no losers in this match.]
[The Spirit Race brother upstairs is so generous!]
[That's truly impressive. If this were some other ethnic group, they'd probably be furious after losing the match.]
[You can just state the Nightmare Race's name directly.]
[Maybe that's what genius is. Strong skills and a sharp mind.]
[I'm only curious about one thing right now: how did Lin Yi master the Time Law? It's at the Star Core level! This can't be explained by talent alone.]
[Which of these prodigies didn't have a stroke of luck? But luck is also a part of strength.]
[Indeed. The Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle is the most grassroots-oriented and influential competition. This victory has a greater impact on the confidence of ordinary Human Race than a victory in the Star Domain level expert Battle.]
Just as the Venerable One above was having a brief discussion and the Virtual Network comment section was boiling over, all the media platforms that were broadcasting the Ultimate Arena live were also thrown into a huge mess.
An information tsunami is forming, and they must be at the forefront of the first wave.
The headquarters of "Star Sea Express" is located in the floating news city in the core star system of the Crystal Spirit Race's territory.
Inside the editor-in-chief's office, more than thirty holographic screens surround the central workbench, each displaying different perspectives of the Ultimate Arena.
From panoramic views from high above to close-ups focusing on the tallest crystal pillar, and captures of the awe-inspiring expressions of audience members of various races in the stands, all the images point to the same fact.
The capable, middle-aged editor-in-chief of the Crystal Spirit Race Soren, jumped up from his seat.
His light blue skin glowed faintly with excitement, and the crystal in the center of his forehead, inherited from his ancient bloodline, was flashing intensely—a reaction of the Crystal Spirit Race when their emotions were running high.
"Quick! Switch all channels! All of them! Immediately!" Soren practically roared, his voice echoing through the control room. "Headline! Get the headline right now! Use the biggest font size and the most eye-catching color!"
Behind him, the editing team, comprised of seven different races, was already operating at breakneck speed.
"What title should we use?!" a young Spirit Race editor shouted, his voice trembling. "<The Laws of Time Appear! Human Race Prodigy Lin Yi Shocks the Starry Sea!> Is that alright?!"
Soren stared intently at the close-up shot on the main screen of Lin Yi's brow as the silver secret mark slowly faded away, his mind racing.
wrong.
not enough.
This headline is too ordinary and doesn't deserve this level of news.
"Change it to..." Soren took a deep breath, his voice suddenly rising, "<The Star Core level Superior Law Reappears! The First Person in Nearly Two Hundred Thousand Epoch is Born!> Subtitle: <Human Race Lin Yi Demonstrates the Law of Time, Crushing the Spirit Race's Prodigy Edith!>"
"Clear!"
The editorial team worked frantically.
Three seconds.
Just three seconds later, all three million news channels and billions of information push nodes under Star Sea Express, distributed across the Pan-Spirit Alliance, changed to the same headline.
The accompanying image is a close-up of the silver secret pattern between Lin Yi's eyebrows; it was the most stunning one selected from 320 different shots taken from various angles.
The trajectory of the flowing silver runes was deliberately slowed down, and every tiny ray of light was clearly visible, as if sealing the secrets of time.
The title is scarlet and uses the most impactful font in the Starry Sky Common Language, occupying one-third of the top of the screen.
Below is the full text of the report, which begins with the sentence:
"At the Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle Ranking Tournament, Human Race prodigy Lin Yi, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, demonstrated his mastery of the Star Core level Time Law. This marks the first time in nearly two hundred thousand Epoch that a cultivator has touched the threshold of the Time Law at the Star Core level. Historical records show that all those who comprehend advanced Star Core level laws, as long as they do not perish prematurely, ultimately achieve the status of a Venerable Lord. Lin Yi's future is destined to be extraordinary."
The report spread rapidly.
From the bustling central star system to the remote frontier star systems, from military bases to civilian residential stations, all terminals connected to Star Sea Express saw this news pop up at the same time.
The headquarters of "Spirit Race Observer" is located inside the Tree of Life deep within the Spirit Race holy star "Eternal Forest".
This media outlet is an authoritative source with official Spirit Race backing, renowned for its elegant, objective, and in-depth reporting, and its influence within Spirit Race territory is irreplaceable.
At this moment, there is complete silence in the circular conference hall at the top of the Tree of Life.
Editor-in-Chief Sora is an elegant woman dressed in traditional Spirit Race robes.
She sat quietly in the main seat, her expression still maintaining the composure unique to the Spirit Race, but deep within her emerald eyes surged waves that were difficult to quell.
On the screen in front of her, the image of Edith frozen in time, her fist stopped in front of Lin Yi's face, was frozen in time.
The scene is beautiful.
Silver-white armor, flowing light and dark runes, the fighting spirit in his emerald eyes, and the silver secret pattern that was lighting up between Lin Yi's brows.
From a photographic art perspective, this is a perfectly composed image.
But from the Spirit Race's perspective
"The laws of time," Sora repeated the word in a low voice, almost inaudibly, "Human Race... how could this be?"
She closed her eyes.
Countless images flashed through my mind.
Edith's record of arduous training day and night in the Time Tower, the Spirit Race's high command's expectations for this Genius Battle, the voices within the race declaring "We must win this time," and the Radiance Lord's calm yet profound words of advice before the competition. "Report as is; victory and defeat are commonplace."
Victory and defeat are common occurrences.
But what if the defeat is so complete, so utterly crushing?
"Editor-in-Chief, how should we report this?" A young Spirit Race editor asked cautiously, his voice trembling with barely concealed anxiety. "Should we emphasize Miss Edith's honorable defeat, or should we focus on the awe-inspiring nature of the laws of time?"
Another editor added, "Or, could we approach this from the perspective of ' the Spirit Race displaying good manners'? Miss Edith's final bow of thanks, and Lin Yi's leniency—these are all points worthy of detailed discussion."
Sora slowly opened her eyes.
Her eyes had regained their calm—at least outwardly.
"Objective reporting," she said slowly, each word clear and calm, "No bias, no belittling. No deliberately glorifying failure, nor deliberately downplaying the shock."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over all the editors in the conference room:
"The focus is on three facts."
"First, Lin Yi demonstrated the Star Core level of Time Law. This is an objective fact. He is the First Heavenly Prodigy in the entire Pan-Spirit Alliance for nearly two hundred thousand Epoch. We must acknowledge this and report it truthfully."
"Secondly, after being suppressed by the laws of time, Edith readily admitted defeat and bowed in gratitude, demonstrating the grace of the Spirit Race."
Third, Lin Yi chose to hold back when he could have easily defeated his opponent; this magnanimity deserves respect.
After she finished speaking, the meeting room was silent for a few seconds.
A senior editor hesitated, "Editor-in-chief, wouldn't reporting it this way make us seem too weak? After all, Ms. Edith lost so badly."
"Then what?" Sora interrupted him, "So thorough? So humiliating?"
She stood up and walked to the huge viewing window.
Outside the window lies the boundless green of the Eternal Forest, with ancient trees of life stretching to the horizon—the foundation accumulated by the Spirit Race over countless Epoch.
"A loss is a loss." Sora said, his back to the crowd. "The overwhelming power of the Time Law over the rules is a difference in dimensions. This isn't a tactical error, nor is it a lack of strength; it's the suppression of innate rank. It's not shameful for Edith to lose to such an opponent."
"But it would be shameful if we didn't even have the courage to admit defeat."
She turned around.
"The Spirit Race's elegance and grace are not only displayed in victory. On the contrary, true elegance lies in maintaining composure and rationality even in defeat."
"Write it as I suggested. The title should be --<The Law of Time Appears in the World, the Spirit Race Defeats but Still Shows Glory>. The introduction should read: In the ranking competition of the Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle, the Human Race's prodigy Lin Yi displayed the Star Core level of the Law of Time, while the Spirit Race's prodigy Edith displayed the heart of a warrior and the demeanor of a loser."
The editors exchanged glances, and then bowed in unison:
"Yes, Editor-in-Chief."
The report was released five minutes later.
There were no harsh words, no deliberate downplaying, only calm narration and objective evaluation.
But beneath those calm words, every Spirit Race reader can feel the complex emotions hidden between the lines.
Shock, resentment, and helplessness, but ultimately transformed into a calm acceptance.
The report's readership exploded within Spirit Race territory.
The comments section was unusually quiet, with few heated arguments and mostly rational discussions.
"The laws of time... there's really nothing we can do about it."
"Miss Edith has done her best; losing to an opponent like this is not shameful."
"Lin Yi's final push was gentlemanly. Our Spirit Race will remember this kindness."
"At least we lost with class."
This, perhaps, is the foundation that the Spirit Race has accumulated over millions of Epoch.
--
While the Virtual Network comment section was buzzing with discussion, across the entire Starsea, in countless places watching the match, reactions varied.
In an underground bar on an industrial planet in the Human Race realm, hundreds of technicians erupted in deafening cheers after a brief silence.
"The Law of Time!"
"Lin Yi! Lin Yi! Lin Yi!"
Some people threw their energy drinks into the air, some hugged the people next to them, and some were so excited that they couldn't speak coherently.
The owner behind the bar laughed and waved his hand, "All drinks are half price today!"
In the tactical analysis room of the military academy, further away, the instructor stood on the podium, looking at the excited students below, their faces flushed, and spoke in a deep voice:
Did you see everything?
"We saw it!" the trainees answered in unison.
"What did you see?"
"The Law of Time! The Star Core level Law of Time!"
"Anything else?" the instructor continued.
The trainees were taken aback for a moment.
The instructor said slowly, "And then there was Lin Yi's final push. You can't learn Lin Yi's talent. But even with an absolute advantage, he didn't choose to humiliate his opponent, but instead gave him dignity. That composure, that wisdom, is more worthy of learning than the law of time itself."
He looked at Lin Yi, who was sitting cross-legged on the projection, and slowly said.
Talent determines how high you can go, but mindset determines how far you can go. Remember that.
"Yes!"
In the private viewing hall of a certain Human Race, the clan elder watched the projection, remained silent for a long time, and then spoke:
"Pass down the order: for all family businesses, fees for commercial dealings with the Silver Blue Civilization will be reduced by 30%. Commissions from the East Peak Mercenary Group will be given the highest priority."
"Elder, this..."
"Do as instructed." The elder waved his hand. "By showing goodwill now, he will remember our family's kindness when he becomes a Venerable Lord in the future."
"Yes!"
Similar scenes are playing out across the Star Sea.