Qing Yan's stance, astonishing wealth

Upon Tian He couldn't help but chuckle.

He gestured towards Xuan Yan, then looked at Tian Ge and teased, "Xuan Yan is asking you, since I've already given you the Azure Vast, as the recommender, is there anything you want him to arrange to bring in for Lin Yi?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Ge's face immediately darkened.

He glared at Tian He and said irritably, "You know me. I'm all alone, with no family descendants to take care of, and I don't manage any power. I use most of my resources to improve my strength and study secret techniques. Where would I have anything suitable to send into the secret realm?"

"However," Tian Ge hesitated for a moment, then continued, "How about this? I don't have the item, but I can give him a chance."

"Chance?"

Xuan Yan raised an eyebrow slightly.

"A chance to enter the Myriad Arms Tomb."

Tian Ge spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it made Xuan Yan and Tian He's eyes light up at the same time.

Xuan Yan responded almost immediately.

"Alright! Tian Ge, it's settled then!"

Tian He clicked his tongue twice, surprised, "Then you've bled. I remember that opening the Myriad Arms Tomb once requires consuming the Death Source Law Power accumulated inside your Extinction Stone Spear, right? You've nurtured that thing for countless Epoch, and you usually treasure it like the back of your hand. You actually dared to use it this time?"

"What's there to be reluctant about?"

Tian Ge remained calm, as if he weren't referring to his own treasured secrets. "I was unwilling to open them before because those guys' talents weren't worth my help. Going in would have been a waste of time and yielded little."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yan immediately laughed, "Tian Ge, you make sense. Real resources should be used in the most suitable places; those mediocre people will only waste opportunities."

Tian He nodded in agreement, and then said seriously, "Since the three of us have expressed our opinions, then it's settled."

The three of them chatted for a while longer about some details.

"In that case, let us each go our own way." Xuan Yan was the first to stand up.

Tian He and Tian Ge also stood up.

The three exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and their thoughts subtly shifted.

The verdant fields, the tea pavilion with its green vines—the surrounding scenery began to fade rapidly, like a painting that had lost its color.

The next moment, the three figures simultaneously opened their eyes in their respective real-world locations.

--

And almost at the same time.

Beside the entrance to the secret realm, deep within the crystal tree fortress that shimmers with a dreamlike glow.

Two figures were walking in a wide and quiet corridor.

The walls on both sides of the corridor seemed to be solidified from pure starlight, smooth as a mirror, reflecting the figures of those present—it was none other than the Spirit Race's Lan Zhi, and the Spirit Race's high-ranking deity, Adeline, who followed half a step behind her, appearing somewhat nervous yet unable to conceal her excitement.

The two walked slowly, yet silently.

The energy concentration in the surrounding area was astonishingly high, and even the air had a viscous texture. It was a unique force field that could only be formed in places where the Overlord resided.

Finally, they stopped in front of a massive, unassuming door made of some kind of dark silver metal.

There was nothing in front of the gate; there were no guards or any signs.

But Adeline could sense an invisible yet vast, star-like will enveloping this area.

She subconsciously suppressed all her aura, even trying her best to calm the fluctuations in her soul.

Lan Zhi stopped in her tracks, straightened her emerald green robe embroidered with the patterns of the ancient tree of life of the Spirit Race, and bowed slightly to the massive metal gate with a respectful expression.

"Lan Zhi, along with our clan's high deity Adeline, requests an audience with Qing Yan."

The mental fluctuations entered, but vanished without a trace.

But only three breaths had passed.

The massive, dark silver metal door slid open silently, revealing a misty space behind it composed of countless cyan light spots.

A gentle, calm voice resounded directly in Lan Zhi and Adeline's consciousness:

"Come in."

Lan Zhi turned solemn. She gave Adeline behind her a look, signaling her to follow, and then stepped into the space filled with azure light.

Adeline took a deep breath, calmed her wildly beating heart, and followed suit.

The massive metal gate closed silently behind them.

The space behind the door is not large; it's more like a simple, quiet room.

In the center, behind a blue table that resembled jade but was not, the Qing Yan sat upright, holding an ancient scroll made of some kind of animal hide, seemingly reading it.

He was still dressed in a simple white robe, his face somewhat blurred in the hazy light, only his gentle and peaceful eyes were clearly reflected in the eyes of the newcomer.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

The Lan Zhi bowed deeply in respect.

"Adeline greets Your Majesty!"

Adeline bowed her head, for this was the first time she had ever seen the tribal leader so closely.

After bowing, Lan Zhi stepped forward and respectfully reported, "My Lord, the incident at the entrance to the secret realm was, upon investigation, caused by Lin Yi. Our Pan-Spirit Alliance engaged in a decisive Decisive Battle with the Yuanshi and Yuanshi clans around the evacuation point. Lin Yi, with his strength at the level of a high-ranking god and wielding a Source Treasure, played a decisive role."

"Furthermore, one of our high deities, Adeline, who had just emerged from the evacuation point, recorded crucial footage of the Decisive Battle on the 45th level of the secret realm using her Myriad Star Eye."

"Oh? Lin Yi?"

The Qing Yan put down the scroll in his hand, his gaze falling on Adeline. He nodded and said, "Adeline, your decisive decision to abandon the opportunity to continue exploring and acquiring resources, and your immediate departure from the secret realm with the important images to bring the news back, demonstrates your concern for your people. This action is commendable."

Upon hearing this, Adeline was overjoyed, never expecting such an unexpected gain. Suppressing her excitement, she bowed again. "Since Adeline works for Star Ring Media, it is her duty to bring important information back to the clan in a timely manner. She doesn't deserve such praise from the Sovereign."

The Qing Yan nodded slightly, offering no further praise, and turned his gaze to Lan Zhi: "Show the footage to illustrate the details."

"Yes," Lan Zhi responded, then looked at Adeline.

Adeline immediately understood, stepped forward, and respectfully took out the silver-white "Myriad Star Eye."

Soon, the light curtain unfolded in the center of the quiet room.

A figure with black hair stood alone before the vast enemy ranks.

The azure fist energy, refined to its fullest extent, silently tore through the starry sky.

Hundreds of seven-colored rays of light exploded simultaneously, like a devastating galaxy painting.

The formation collapsed, countless gods fled in terror, and treasures scattered like rain.

The entire playback was completely silent in the quiet room.

The Qing Yan watched quietly, his expression remaining largely unchanged from beginning to end, except for a fleeting hint of surprise deep within his gentle eyes.

The video ended, and the light curtain disappeared.

The quiet room was once again enveloped in a hazy, blue light.

The Qing Yan remained silent for a moment, then lightly tapped his fingers on the table, producing a crisp "tap" sound.

He first looked at Adeline, who was still standing respectfully, and said, "Adeline, the footage you brought back is of extraordinary value."

Adeline's heart pounded, and she listened intently, holding her breath.

"Go," said Qing Yan. "Release the footage you recorded. Currently, our Pan-Spirit Alliance is generally at a disadvantage within the secret realm, and we truly need a resounding victory like this to boost morale."

"Yes! I obey the Lord's command!"

Adeline bowed deeply, and then, at the signal of Lan Zhi, left the quiet room.

The metal door opened and closed silently, leaving only Qing Yan and Lan Zhi inside.

The atmosphere seemed to have relaxed a bit, but Lan Zhi remained respectful.

The Qing Yan's gaze fell on Lan Zhi, and he sighed softly, "Lan Zhi, do you remember? That kid Lin Yi, the first time I saw him was outside the entrance to the Myriad Secret Realm, when the Genius Battle had ended and they were about to enter the secret realm."

Lan Zhi remembers. At that time, Your Majesty personally encouraged all the prodigies who entered the secret realm."

"Yes."

A hint of reminiscence flashed across the eyes of the Qing Yan. "Back then, I felt that this child was calm and composed, with a light deep in his eyes, and was no ordinary person. I just didn't expect his growth rate to be so rapid. In less than 30,000 years, he had mastered six laws. Such progress is rare even in the long history of our Pan-Spirit Alliance."

Lan Zhi deeply agreed, then hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously, "My Lord, Lin Yi's talent is so extraordinary, and he has made such a great contribution, which is a blessing for our Pan-Spirit Alliance. But for the Human Race, I'm afraid Eternal Beginning Dominator will pay even more attention to him. Should we... take some countermeasures?"

He didn't spell it out explicitly, but his meaning was clear.

Should we consider using some methods to try and win them over, or even poach them?

Upon hearing this, the Qing Yan revealed a half-smile. He looked at Lan Zhi and asked, "How do you intend to deal with this? Like we've done with some promising prodigies in the past, offering them great rewards, high positions, or even marriage alliances, subtly influencing them until their core interests are ultimately tied to our Spirit Race?"

Lan Zhi simply feels that it would be a pity if such a talent were to belong entirely to the Human Race. If we could win his heart towards our Spirit Race, even if it's just by increasing goodwill and contact, it would be beneficial for the future."

"Not a bad idea." Qing Yan nodded, then changed the subject, his tone calm but sending a shiver down Lan Zhi's spine, "But you might not be aware of something."

Lan Zhi looked up, her eyes filled with doubt.

"Lin Yi likely came into Heng Shi's sights long ago, otherwise, where did his nascent Origin Treasure come from? If he got it by luck, the probability is too low. And Heng Shi— " Qing Yan's lips seemed to curl into a smile, "Is extremely protective of his own and ruthless in his methods. You should have heard about what he did to take Xuan Yan away back then, right?"

Lan Zhi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly said, "Back then, my strength was still shallow, and I had not yet reached the Origin Law Realm. I only heard a little about it later. It seems that I fulfilled my agreement with the Supreme One and fought against three people at once. In short, it caused quite a stir."

He only knew that it involved a little-known clash between the Spirit Race and the Human Race, but he didn't know the details.

"Have you heard a little about it?"

The Qing Yan chuckled softly, a laugh carrying an ambiguous meaning. "I am one of the three rulers he defeated back then."

"Forehead"

The Lan Zhi froze, her pupils suddenly contracted, and a fine layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out from her back. Almost instinctively, she bowed and begged for forgiveness.

Qing Yan casually waved his hand, interrupting him. "It's alright, it's all old news. We became friends after a fight, after all. Besides, because of that incident, I'm actually one of the sovereigns of the Spirit Race with a relatively good relationship with Heng Shi now."

Lan Zhi breathed a slight sigh of relief, but the shock in her heart did not diminish in the slightest.

Eternal Beginning Dominator three opponents single-handedly and succeed?

It should be noted that Qing Yan, is renowned for his formidable combat prowess within his clan. Doesn't that imply that Heng Shi is incredibly strong?

"So, do you understand?" The Qing Yan's smile faded, his gaze becoming profound. "If it were an ordinary prodigy, we could just poach them. Heng Shi might even thank us for helping him filter out those with weak wills, and we wouldn't bother with it. But someone like Lin Yi is different."

He shook his head and said, "This isn't just a matter of talent and potential; it also involves Heng Shi's bottom line and his reputation. He went to such lengths for Xuan Yan back then, and now he's doing it for Lin Yi, whose potential surpasses even Xuan Yan's."

Lan Zhi finally understood, and even more cold sweat broke out on her back.

Undermining someone's career in this way is no longer a simple struggle for interests; it could very well trigger a conflict at the level of power, ultimately resulting in more harm than good.

"Of course, it's not that we're afraid of Heng Shi. After all, no matter how strong Heng Shi is, a Supreme Being can suppress him with a flick of the wrist. So, the most crucial point is," Qing Yan's voice softened, becoming solemn, "That you may not yet know, or rather, haven't fully grasped, that the direction has changed."

"It's changed?" Lan Zhi was taken aback and asked subconsciously, "Please enlighten me, Master."

The Qing Yan raised his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through the quiet room and reaching into the endless, distant depths of the universe.

"Bright Moon Supreme believes that the future of the Pan-Spirit Alliance lies in cooperation and a true alliance, not in one country dominating. She believes that some of the Spirit Race's past strategies towards its allies need to be adjusted. We should increase our support for promising talents from all races and help them truly grow."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Lan Zhi, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "The Supreme One doesn't want to be trapped here."

The Lan Zhi was struck dumb, standing there stunned.

Bright Moon Supreme!

That's a newly promoted Supreme Being from the Spirit Race!

If the other supreme being does not explicitly object, then her will is the will of the highest level of the entire Spirit Race!

"Therefore," Qing Yan concluded, his tone returning to its usual gentleness, "Our strategy towards Lin Yi also needs to change. Let him grow, let him become stronger, regardless of whether he can meet the Supreme's expectations, but we must show this attitude."

Lan Zhi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the raging storm in her heart, and bowed solemnly, saying, "Your subordinate understands. Thank you for your explanation, Master!"

The Qing Yan's gaze returned to the Lan Zhi. "Therefore, we don't need to do anything special to Lin Yi now, nor do we need to deliberately win him over or be wary of him. That would be a bad move and only offend Heng Shi. Besides, he is ultimately a prodigy of our Pan-Spirit Alliance, and his great achievement has brought honor to our Pan-Spirit Alliance."

"Merit should be rewarded; that's only natural." He paused, tapping his fingertip lightly on the table. "Lan Zhi, since you're responsible for treating the severely injured deities at the exit of the secret realm, keep an eye out. If Lin Yi completes his exploration and emerges from the secret realm, bring him to me immediately."

The Lan Zhi's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

The Qing Yan nodded slightly, said no more, picked up the animal skin scroll on the table again, and seemed to be engrossed in it once more.

Lan Zhi knew this was the signal to end the conversation, and bowed respectfully again. "This subordinate takes her leave."

He slowly stepped back a few paces before turning and walking toward the dark silver metal door.

The door slid open silently, and he stepped into the corridor. The door behind him closed quietly, shutting out the quiet room filled with bluish light.

Walking through the corridor bathed in starlight, Lan Zhi's mind was filled with a jumble of thoughts.

The meaning of the Overlord's final instructions was clear: the Spirit Race's attitude towards Lin Yi was "rewarding merit," "normal commendation," and "recognition and support among allies," rather than an additional attempt to poach him.

This aligns with the new direction set by Bright Moon Supreme and avoids potential pitfalls that might touch upon the sensitive nerves of the Eternal Beginning Dominator.

"When the Qing Yan summoned Lin Yi last time, he bestowed upon him a Fearless War God, which already shocked all sides."

Lan Zhi, recalled that scene from the past, "Now that Lin Yi has displayed such astonishing combat power in the secret realm, and controls the Origin Treasure with the Six Laws at his disposal, his potential and value have increased by more than a hundred times compared to before?"

He could almost foresee that when Lin Yi emerged from the secret realm again, his strength would likely have stabilized at least at the peak of the upper god level, and he might even have reached an even higher threshold.

At that time, the Qing Yan summoned him again and bestowed a reward upon him, praising the treasure's immense value.

"Even I, as the venerable one, would probably feel envious."

The Lan Zhi smiled silently, a hint of curiosity and anticipation rising in her heart. "I wonder what the Sovereign will bestow this time? A secret treasure containing Sovereign-level insights? Or some kind of rare and precious cosmic treasure?"

He shook his head, suppressing these speculations.

He couldn't fathom the thoughts of the ruler.

He only needed to do his job well, keep an eye on the exit of the secret realm, and take Lin Yi to see the Sovereign as soon as he came out.

--

The secret realm, level 45, is a star battlefield that has just witnessed an earth-shattering Decisive Battle.

The pervasive energy turbulence is slowly subsiding under the self-healing power of the universe's laws, and the shattered spatial cracks, like hideous scars, are gradually healing.

Lin Yi's figure hung alone in the center of this starry sky.

During the previous battle, when the allied forces were routed and treasures rained down, he quickly swept up all the spoils and stored them in his storage equipment.

Only now, with all the formidable enemies gone and the battlefield deathly silent, did he finally have the time to begin taking stock of the gains from this earth-shattering battle.

Lin Yi focused his divine sense into the storage equipment he carried with him.

The first thing that catches the eye is a mountain of various god-level weapons, armor, shields, fragments of secret treasures, and puppet remains. They come from the Abyss Race, the Devouring Race, and other vassal alien races, each with its own unique style and extraordinary materials, many bearing strong ethnic characteristics and the imprint of their laws.

Although most of them suffered varying degrees of damage in the battle just now, their basic materials and the partial law patterns they contained are still quite valuable. Selling them or reforging them would bring in a huge fortune.

These physical loot items, which were "brought in from outside and could not be directly exchanged for Points in the secret realm," were so numerous and varied that even Lin Yi was slightly taken aback.

A rough estimate suggests that its total value, if converted into currency or resources circulating in the outside world, would be an astronomical figure that would tempt even ordinary lords.

But this is just an appetizer.

Lin Yi's divine sense swept over these physical equipment, focusing on another, even more dazzling area.

Suspended there is the core of this harvest.

Those massive amounts of native resources from the secret realm that can be directly exchanged for Origin Universe Tower Points within the Origin Universe Tower exchange space!

Various minerals, crystals, plant essences, liquid energy clusters, and exotic metals, shimmering with strange luster and radiating powerful or pure energy, are on display in a dazzling array.

These were the fruits of the nearly seven hundred severely wounded and eliminated enemy gods' hard work in the secret realm, either through searching and accumulating resources or by seizing them from other races or even the Pan-Spirit Alliance.

But now, all of these have become Lin Yi's spoils of war.

Lin Yi held his breath and began communicating with the secret realm's imprint, rapidly scanning and valuing this vast Source Sea.

The Information Flow from the imprint feedback swept through his consciousness like a waterfall.

[Scanning loot]

[Scan complete.]

[Estimation of exchangeable resources in progress]

[Calculation complete.]

A number was imprinted clearly and vividly deep within his consciousness.

Even with his experience of living two lives, enduring countless life-and-death trials, and weathering many storms, his heart still pounded uncontrollably when he saw that number with his own eyes.

"Sent."

Lin Yi murmured, "This time... we've really struck it rich."

It's no wonder he lost his composure like that.

Because, based on the recent inventory and valuation of the Secret Realm Mark,

This excludes physical treasures such as weapons and equipment that need to be taken out of the country before they can be sold.

These are simply native resources of the Secret Realm that can be directly exchanged for Origin Universe Tower Points in the Secret Realm Exchange Space.

Its total value is an astonishing 179.1 billion Origin Universe Tower Points!

This number, like a blazing sun, scorched Lin Yi's senses.

179.1 billion!

"179.1 billion." Lin Yi repeated the number, this time his voice was much more stable, but the blazing fire deep in his eyes burned even more fiercely.

He knew that this wealth was the reward he deserved after taking a huge risk, using himself as bait, turning the tide in the Decisive Battle, and almost single-handedly defeating the main force of the Abyss-Devouring Allied Forces.

But this wealth also means that he has now become the most lucrative and dangerous "prey" in the eyes of those top experts.

It's obvious that the gods of the Abyss and Erosion races who went out wouldn't keep it a secret for him, and the gods who came in later would definitely bring the news into the secret realm.

Clearly, once he rises to a higher level, he will become the primary target for those top-tier rivals, especially those rivals who also possess Origin Treasures.

However, Lin Yi felt no fear at this moment, only a boiling fighting spirit and boundless anticipation for the future.

After all, 179.1 billion—what a terrifying concept that is!

Lin Yi subconsciously used a low-level Source Essence Crystal to perform a conversion.

Based on 170 billion Points, that's enough to exchange for 340,000 low-grade Source Essence Crystal!