The Sovereign's Intent and Grand Design

The gate closed silently behind us, shutting out all the noise from the outside world.

The corridor wasn't long; at the end was a quiet room with a simple, almost empty style.

There were no ornate decorations, no powerful energy fluctuations, only a table carved from something resembling jade, and a figure sitting upright behind it.

The Qing Yan.

He looked like a middle-aged scholar in his forties, wearing a simple blue robe, his silver hair casually tied up. At this moment, he was holding a white jade teacup, and the fragrant aroma of tea filled the air, making one's soul feel refreshed.

There was no oppressive aura as Lin Yi had imagined, nor any flowing light. He just sat there quietly, as if he had merged with the surrounding space and time, achieving the ultimate harmony with nature.

"Lin Yi greets the Lord." Lin Yi respectfully.

"You've arrived." Qing Yan looked up at Lin Yi, a warm smile on his face. "Sit."

His voice was gentle and soothing, like a spring breeze.

Lin Yi bowed slightly, then sat down on a jade stool of the same material opposite the table as instructed.

The Qing Yan smiled, said nothing more, and simply waved his hand.

On the table, an empty white jade teacup flew up on its own, and the clear, slightly green tea from the pot poured into the cup in a graceful arc, filling it exactly eight-tenths full, before landing steadily in front of Lin Yi.

"Try it," said the Qing Yan.

"Thank you, Master." Lin Yi picked up the teacup with both hands and took a sip without hesitation.

The tea soup is warm and smooth on the palate, then transforms into a clear yet powerful warm current that surges into the depths of the soul.

Lin Yi felt as if his soul was being immersed in warm spring water. Countless tiny impurities, the fatigue accumulated from years of high-intensity training and battles, and even the slight sluggishness brought about by the rapid improvement of the laws of space and time were all washed away and soothed in this instant.

My soul is clear, and my thinking is clearer than ever before.

He could even feel that his 100% understanding of the laws of time had been refined, making its operation more smooth and seamless.

Although he had only recently begun to understand the Space Law, the nascent imprint of those laws had become much more stable under the nourishment of the tea.

Nice one!

It is absolutely a top-tier treasure that works on the soul!

Lin Yi was deeply moved, but he didn't show it on his face. He simply put down his teacup and said sincerely, "Thank you for the tea, Master."

The Qing Yan smiled, offering no explanation for the tea's origin, as if it were merely a casual, trivial matter.

He put down his teacup, looked at Lin Yi, and said in his still gentle tone, "You fought well in this battle. You were dominant, turned the tide of the battle, and boosted the morale of the entire army. Your achievements are considerable."

Lin Yi was about to say something modest when the Qing Yan raised his hand to stop him and continued, "The assessment of battle merits is calculated by the battlefield system according to its rules. You will receive all the merits, resources, and privileges you are entitled to. However..."

He changed the subject, his smile deepening, "I'll personally give you an extra reward."

As he spoke, the Qing Yan flipped his hand, and a pure white jade box with natural cloud patterns flowing on its surface appeared on the table, gently floating to Lin Yi's front.

"You can study how to use it when you get back." The Qing Yan didn't explain much, his tone casual, as if he were just giving away an ordinary item.

But Lin Yi knew in his heart that something personally awarded by the Sovereign could not possibly be an ordinary item.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty!" Lin Yi immediately stood up and bowed respectfully.

He didn't make the mistake of opening and checking the box on the spot, but carefully put it away.

The Qing Yan nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with Lin Yi's attitude.

He picked up his teacup again, took a sip, and then asked seemingly casually, "The Myriad Secret Realm. The Pan-Spirit Alliance has explored them for countless Epoch, yet its knowledge of their interiors remains limited. All they know is that those who enter and are trapped never return. That you were able to break through and return safely after being stranded for five thousand years is nothing short of a miracle."

He put down his teacup and looked calmly at Lin Yi: "I wonder if you would be willing to tell me about your experiences in the secret realm?"

They've arrived.

Lin Yi felt a chill run down his spine, but his face remained impassive.

He had anticipated being questioned by higher-ups about his experiences in the secret realm after he emerged.

I just didn't expect it to alarm the ruler himself.

Despite Qing Yan's gentle tone and the use of a consultative "whether you are willing" approach, Lin Yi knew exactly what was going on.

That's just being polite.

How many of those below dared to truly say "no" when the ruler wanted to know the secret?

Not going to tell?

They may not openly coerce you, but covert investigations, probing, and even some clandestine detection methods will likely follow immediately.

However, Lin Yi remained calm.

Firstly, he had long anticipated this turn of events, and he was already intimately familiar with the experience of unifying the "external message" with all members of Star Source Society, including the process of editing and revising the version.

The lines between what can be said and what cannot be said are clearly drawn.

Secondly, the reminder from Xuan Yan at the door—"State your case clearly, answer concisely, and do not say too much"—while seemingly a word of advice, was actually more like a disguised "guarantee" and "signal."

The meaning is obvious.

In the midst of a full-scale war, the Spirit Race have to consider the feelings of the Human Race, and given his great contributions, they won't do anything to him.

Of course, if the ruler asks you personally, you should still answer, as long as you can justify your answer. But be careful to be concise and avoid saying too much or making mistakes.

At the same time, Lin Yi guessed that the conversation at the door might have been meant for the ruler inside.

Therefore, Lin Yi paused for a moment before beginning his story.

"Reporting to the Master, shortly after we entered the Myriad Secret Realm, we were ambushed by the combined forces of the Abyss Race and the Devouring Race's prodigies. They all broke through to the Star Vortex level upon entering, gathering their strength to annihilate us."

Lin Yi spoke at a steady pace and with clear logic.

"Inside the secret realm, the fog is divided into three layers: gray, black, and blood. Each layer has extremely strong suppression of rules, greatly restricting source energy and soul perception, but the suppression of laws is relatively weaker. We fought and retreated, and when we finally withdrew to the depths of the Blood Mist Layer, the team had less than seven hundred people left. The exit was completely blocked by the allied forces of the two races, forcing us to stay."

Lin Yi recounted his edited and abridged account of his experience, focusing on two key points. "First, in dire straits, everyone united. The prodigies of various races voluntarily shared the Source Essence Crystal they had hunted and purified with me." He emphasized the collective choice, adding, "Fortunately, I possessed considerable talent, and with the aid of numerous Source Essence Crystal, my strength rapidly increased."

"Secondly, with our increased strength, we can hunt high-level Mist Beast more efficiently and obtain more crystal cores. At the same time, I can use my clones to purify the crystal cores by burning them, which is much more efficient than theirs. The purified crystal cores will be returned to the team according to their contribution and needs," Lin Yi summarized. "In this way, a virtuous cycle is formed, with the strong leading the way, and eventually we will survive the long years and wait for the opportunity to reappear."

The Qing Yan listened quietly, a gentle smile always on his face. His fingertips occasionally tapped the table, making it impossible to tell whether he believed it or not.

After Lin Yi finished speaking, he nodded slightly and said, "I see. In dire straits, to unite as one, each using their strengths, and ultimately carve out a way to survive is excellent. As the team leader, you deserve immense credit."

That's a nice way of putting it, but Lin Yi isn't naive enough to think that the Overlord actually believes it.

However, the Qing Yan did not delve into any details, as if he were merely going through the motions.

He offered Lin Yi a few more words of encouragement, such as "The safety of the future Human Race territory still depends on you young people to shoulder the heavy responsibility" and "Cultivate well and step into eternity as soon as possible," before indicating that Lin Yi could leave.

"Lin Yi takes his leave." Lin Yi stood up, bowed again, and then turned to walk towards the gate.

The gate opened silently, and Lin Yi stepped out.

Just as the gate closed again, a thought flashed through Lin Yi's mind:

"That's it... you passed?"

He had assumed that the ruler would at least ask about a few key details, and might even use some kind of detection method to verify the truth.

Unexpectedly, it really was just to "listen to a story" and then he was let go.

Such smooth sailing made Lin Yi feel as if it were all too real.

However, he quickly suppressed this thought.

In any case, we've gotten through this hurdle.

The ruler personally summoned and endorsed his statement, so when other high-ranking officials inquired about it later, his explanation had official backing.

Outside the door, Xuan Yan was still waiting there.

Seeing Lin Yi come out, he nodded slightly, without asking any further questions, and simply said, "Come with me."

The two walked one after the other through the complex passages inside the fortress, eventually arriving at a highly guarded training room located in the Core Zone of the fortress.

Xuan Yan granted him access and brought Lin Yi inside.

The cultivation chamber is spacious, well-equipped, and has an extremely high energy concentration, clearly a configuration reserved for important figures.

"This place is temporarily yours to use." Xuan Yan waved his hand, and two chairs automatically rose in the cultivation room. He casually sat down and looked at Lin Yi, "Qing Yan, what did you ask? How did you answer?"

Lin Yi sat down opposite him and recounted his conversation with the Qing Yan almost verbatim, including his own "abridged" version of the experience.

After listening quietly for a moment, the Xuan Yan slowly said, "It's alright. At least it sounds plausible."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi smiled wryly and said, "Your Excellency, you don't believe what I'm saying either?"

"Believe?" Xuan Yan smiled. "Qing Yan doesn't believe it. While it's important that he asked you what happened in the Myriad Secret Realm, he doesn't think you'd tell him everything. His main purpose isn't to delve into the specific fortuitous encounters you had in the secret realms, but to confirm one thing."

He looked at Lin Yi, his gaze piercing. "I'm confirming that you, Lin Yi, are still the same Human Race Lin Yi, and not some strange thing that escaped from the secret realm."

Lin Yi felt a chill run down his spine and immediately understood the key to it.

For the upper echelons of a group, while the extraordinary encounters of geniuses are important, what is even more important is the controllability of the geniuses themselves.

As long as it's confirmed that Lin Yi is still one of us, then no matter how fast his strength improves or how many secrets he has, it's all tolerable for now.

Lin Yi couldn't help but recall the cup of tea that the Qing Yan had given him earlier. Now that he thought about it, it was probably more than just a cup of tea.

Perhaps, in addition to seeing himself with his own eyes, the Qing Yan also used physical verification methods.

Presumably, if there were any strange things in one's soul, that cup of tea wouldn't cleanse the soul; it might just burn one to ashes.

"As for fortuitous encounters," Xuan Yan shook his head, his tone somewhat wistful, "Heh, let alone the Sovereigns, even those who cultivate to the Venerable Lord Rank, which one doesn't have their own opportunities and secrets? The universe is vast, and the secret realms are endless; all sorts of strange things can happen. As long as they don't harm their clan or betray the alliance, who would really dig deep enough? If we really wanted to investigate every powerful individual's background thoroughly, the Pan-Spirit Alliance would have disintegrated long ago."

Lin Yi nodded in deep agreement.

This is one of the reasons why he dared to use that set of arguments.

It is common for the powerful to possess secrets, and as long as they do not cross the line, those in higher positions usually maintain a certain degree of tacit approval.

"However," Xuan Yan's tone shifted, his expression becoming more serious, "There's something I need to ask you again."

"Your Excellency, please ask." Lin Yi sat up straight.

Xuan Yan stared intently at Lin Yi and solemnly asked, "Is it possible to replicate your experiences in the Myriad Secret Realm?"

Lin Yi had anticipated this question and already had a plan in mind.

He looked thoughtful, remained silent for nearly ten seconds, then slowly shook his head, his tone firm. "No."

This statement is partly true and partly false.

The Purple Mist Space is unique to him, the Star Source Space is bound to his soul imprint and can only be entered for one year per Epoch, and the core of Purified Source Essence system is the transformation of Purple Mist. These are indeed impossible to replicate.

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yan nodded slightly. "I understand."

A fleeting hint of regret crossed his face, but he quickly let it go.

Opportunities abound in the universe, but only a very few can be replicated on a large scale.

It was already incredibly lucky that Lin Yi and his group managed to catch them even once.

However, what Xuan Yan said next made Lin Yi's relaxed heart jump again.

"However, Lin Yi," Xuan Yan changed the subject, his expression serious, "There's something I need to remind you of."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi felt a chill run down his spine.

Xuan Yan continued, "Just Qing Yan lightly dismissed this matter doesn't mean it's truly over. It's just that we are currently at a crucial juncture in the war between the two races, and everything is for the sake of the battle. You have just returned from the secret realm and made great contributions; this is precisely the time to boost morale."

"Furthermore, the rules of the Myriad Secret Realm are inherently different from the norm. Your extraordinary encounter this time is likely highly unique, difficult to replicate, and even more difficult to promote as a regular means of improvement. Based on these considerations, the Overlord has chosen to temporarily shelve the matter and not delve into it further."

He looked at Lin Yi, his gaze deep. "But you must understand, temporarily setting it aside does not mean permanently forgetting it. Once this war ends and the situation stabilizes, the higher-ups of the Spirit Race, or other forces, might bring up this old grievance again. If they do ask about it then, they won't be as polite as they are today."

Lin Yi's heart sank immediately.

The subtext of the Xuan Yan is clear: we are not pursuing this now because the war requires you, but this does not mean that the higher-ups really believe that explanation, nor does it mean that they have given up on investigating.

Once the war ends and external pressure decreases, more internal resources will be available to sort out these issues.

If, at that time, higher-ups insist on investigating, the Spirit Race will still have many methods and means.

"Of course, that's for the future." Xuan Yan's tone softened slightly, but still carried a warning. "For now, you only need to remember two things: First, your previous statement has been filed with the Sovereign. Use that same statement consistently when speaking to others, and avoid contradictions. Second, focus on improving your strength."

"As long as you are strong enough that those who want to dredge up old grievances have to think twice before doing so, then those 'old grievances' may remain just old grievances forever."

You must understand, only the strong have the right to possess secrets.

Lin Yi took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. "Thank you for your guidance, Your Excellency."

He truly understood.

Passing this hurdle is only temporary; the real test may be yet to come.

He must seize every moment to become stronger, strong enough to deter any potential suitors.

"It's good that you understand." Xuan Yan nodded, then changed the subject, "However, there is something more urgent than this, and you must pay extra attention to it, especially you, Lin Yi."

"Looking at the other talented individuals who came out with you, the way they looked at you wasn't just out of respect for the team leader and other strong people."

Lin Yi didn't shy away from this. "After all, we've shared life and death for five thousand years, fought our way out of dire straits together, so our bond is naturally different. In the secret realm, there are no distinctions between clans, only comrades who have shared life and death. This kind of experience is hard for outsiders to understand."

"I understand, of course I understand." Xuan Yan waved his hand. "I'm not going to delve into this. Small groups exist everywhere; yours is just a bit larger, which is normal, especially in your environment. It would be strange if you didn't form close-knit groups. In fact..."

He paused, then said meaningfully, "Given the current war situation, the leadership of various ethnic groups would probably welcome this outcome."

Lin Yi's mind raced, and he immediately understood Xuan Yan's meaning.

Such an alliance, which transcends racial boundaries and is composed of top talents, is undoubtedly an excellent example of propaganda at a time when close unity and cooperation among all races are especially needed.

As long as it does not harm the interests of their respective ethnic groups, the higher authorities may indeed adopt an encouraging attitude.

"However," Xuan Yan's tone suddenly turned serious, "There is one thing you must pay special attention to."

Lin Yi's expression hardened. "Please enlighten me, Your Excellency."

"You've spent five thousand years in the secret realm, and your strength has improved far too quickly. Especially you, with your Star Core level Time Law at its peak and your Space Law at the beginner level, it's simply too dazzling."

"The Eternal Divinity might not harm you. They have already attained immortality. In the context of the current all-out war, would they really harm their own prodigies for a possible, yet unrepeatable, stroke of genius? If exposed, the consequences would be unbearable for them, and their race would not allow it."

"However, the World Derivation level... that's another story."

A cold glint flashed in Xuan Yan's eyes. "Those guys who have been stuck at the peak of the World Derivation level for countless years, with their lifespans nearing their end but still unable to open the Gate of Eternity. Under the pressure of death, in long periods of despair, they are capable of anything. They will cling to any glimmer of hope for a breakthrough like a lifeline."

"Once they've decided that you might possess a secret to rapidly enhancing their understanding of the laws—even if it's just a guess—it's enough to make them risk everything."

Lin Yi immediately felt a sense of alarm.

Xuan Yan is right.

After attaining eternity, one gains endless lifespan, thus reaching the shore and wearing shoes.

These eternal beings have many concerns and still care about their reputation, but those nearing death and with no hope of breaking through to the World Derivation level can be considered to have nothing to lose!

To prolong their lives, to achieve eternity, they would do anything.

"Therefore, not only you need to be careful, but also those prodigies who came out with you," Xuan Yan continued. "Once their clans learn that you have come out of the secret realm, they will quickly recall them. As for those prodigies from the Spirit Race and other powerful clans, their clans will naturally provide them with protection."

"However, for prodigies from small or medium-sized clans whose families lack the support of Eternal Divinity, they are easily targeted by certain beings at the World Derivation level."

Lin Yi nodded solemnly.

This is indeed a big problem.

"Of course, you are absolutely safe in this fortress, on the Frontline the war," Xuan Yan said, his tone softening. "The rules here are strict, and the surveillance is tight; no one dares to cause trouble here. But once you leave the Frontline and return to the rear or your respective territories, you must be much more careful."

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Excellency," Lin Yi said solemnly.

Xuan Yan nodded, a smile returning to his face, "Alright, now that we've finished discussing the important matters, Eternal Rock will also be transferred to this War Zone. As for your home race in the Silver Blue Starfield, there will be other arrangements; you don't need to worry about them."

He stood up and patted Lin Yi on the shoulder. "I have officially connected your permissions to the Pan-Spirit Alliance Frontline battlefield system. For specific details, ask your Intelligent Life."

"I imagine you have many things to attend to and many people to meet." Xuan Yan smiled, turned, and walked outside. "You can access the Virtual Network here at any time. If anything happens, contact me directly through the battlefield system."

"Respectfully seeing off Your Excellency." Lin Yi rose to see him off.

After Xuan Yan left, the gate to the cultivation room closed automatically, and the internal defense system quietly activated, isolating the place into a private space.

Lin Yi let out a long breath and walked to the platform in the center of the cultivation room to sit down.

"Xuanji," he murmured to himself.

"Master!" an excited voice immediately rang out.

Immediately, a pale blue light condensed in front of Lin Yi, transforming into a woman dressed in Flowing Cloud palace attire.

She wore an elegant updo, her face was refined and rational, and a fleeting glint of data flashed in her eyes—it was the virtual image of Xuanji Main Body.

After five thousand years, her virtual image has become more solid, and her temperament more composed, but the excited light flashing in her eyes at this moment reveals the turmoil in her heart.

"Master, you're finally back." Xuanji's voice trembled slightly, and her fingers tightened gently beneath the hem of her palace dress.

Lin Yi could sense the deep worry in Xuanji's words.

As Intelligent Life bound to his master, Xuanji's torment over these five thousand years is probably no less than that of anyone else.

"You've worked hard," Lin Yi said gently. "It's alright now."

"Yes!" Xuanji nodded vigorously, quickly calming herself and regaining her usual efficiency and rationality. "Master, according to the authorization of Xuan Yan, your permissions have been updated. Xuanji requests to synchronize the Pan-Spirit Alliance Frontline battlefield system and update all databases and real-time information."

"Approved. Synchronize immediately," Lin Yi ordered.

"Connecting to the main battlefield network. Identity verification passed, permission check completed!" Just three seconds later, she looked up. "Synchronization complete. Master, your current permission status is as follows."

"Position: Star Realm Army Tactical Advisor (Temporary)."

Basic authority level: Eternal Divine level.

"The merit points for the Secret Realm Exit Campaign are currently being calculated."

"Unlocked permissions include: real-time Dynamic map of the Frontline battlefield (Eternal Divine level), internal communication channel of the Pan-Spirit Alliance (Eternal Divine level), strategic resource exchange list (Eternal Divine level), merit exchange system (full access), confidential intelligence database (Eternal Divine level), and access to internal facilities of the fortress (Eternal Divine level), etc."

"Their permissions have actually been upgraded to the Eternal Divine level." Lin Yi walked to a chair in the room and sat down, slightly surprised.

However, it was only slightly so. After all, his current understanding of the laws was indeed at the god-level, so it was understandable that he could enjoy some special treatment ahead of time.

Thinking of this, Lin Yi had an idea and took out the small cyan jade box that had been personally bestowed by the Qing Yan.

He was filled with curiosity about the master's actions.

"Xuanji," Lin Yi instructed as he reached for the jade box, "Immediately compile and report the following information according to its importance: First, the key battlefield information I need; second, the list of personnel requiring urgent contact or meetings; third, any important matters pending."

Click.

The clasp on the jade box clicked softly, and the lid was lifted.

The box was lined with soft black velvet padding, and an object lay quietly in the center.

It was a tiny metal figure, less than ten centimeters tall, with a dark gold color and a surface that shimmered like mercury.

The figure's face is blurred, as if shrouded in a thin mist, but the overall lines are smooth, full of an indescribable spirituality and mystery.

"Is this some kind of puppet? Or a special medium for transmitting knowledge?"

While secretly speculating in his mind, Lin Yi curiously reached out a finger and gently touched the forehead of the metal figure.

The moment my fingertips touched the little figure.

An unimaginably massive Information Flow surged into the depths of his consciousness.

The overwhelming amount of information caused Lin Yi's pupils to shrink sharply, and he remained stunned for three or four seconds before recovering from the shock.

He couldn't help but murmur:

"How can there be something so outrageous?"