A show of support and gifts, a missed tournament

As soon as Tian He finished speaking, the void on the platform seemed to freeze for a moment.

The gentle eyes of the Lan Zhi suddenly narrowed, and the deep pupils reflected the still-unresolved ripples of spacetime in the void.

She could naturally deduce that there was only one reason why the Eternal Beginning Dominator would suddenly appear at this time.

Lin Yi.

The emotions of the Lan Zhi became extremely complex in an instant.

As the lord of the Spirit Race, she was always extremely respectful and cautious in front of her sovereign, Qing Dan, never daring to overstep her bounds in words or deeds.

But this newly ascended Human Race ruler had only just emerged from the secret realm a short while ago, yet the Human Race sovereign had gone so far as to interrupt his healing process and come to the fortress in such a direct manner, just to see him.

The difference between them stirred up a complex and indescribable feeling in Lan Zhi's heart.

She could even clearly guess the core purpose of Eternal Beginning Dominator's trip—to gain support.

By standing up for Lin Yi and having the Sovereign personally attend in the most direct way, the Human Race could demonstrate to all forces in the Pan-Spirit Alliance the importance that the human race attaches to Lin Yi.

"I'm afraid... it's not just about expressing a stance," Lan Zhi thought to herself. "Since the Eternal Beginning Dominator has come in person, he will surely bestow upon us great treasures to prevent any possible unforeseen events."

Thinking of this, she looked at the young Human Race beside her, a trace of emotion flashing in the depths of her eyes.

Both are at the Venerable Lord Rank, but the difference between her, an ordinary Venerable Lord who barely managed to cross the threshold of Venerable Lord by seizing a sliver of opportunity in her early years and risking her life, and whose understanding stagnated for many years afterward, and Lin Yi, a "chosen one" destined to step onto a higher stage, is more than just a world apart.

The Yao Chen, standing to the side, had his crystal body shimmer slightly before returning to its calm state.

Although he did not speak, the subtle fluctuations in his energy revealed his inner turmoil.

Lin Yi was equally surprised at that moment.

The Eternal Beginning Dominator arrived so quickly? Wasn't he supposed to be healing in a secluded place?

The thought had barely formed in his mind when he quickly realized what it meant.

By the way, the "master heals" refers to the Main Body; the clones are not greatly affected.

The Eternal Beginning Dominator is a powerful ruler who has mastered four Origin Law, especially the Space Origin Law. He is adept at traversing the void. In addition, the fortress is an important hub, and it also has Divine Kingdom passage connecting the territories of various powerful races. With the power of a ruler, it would indeed not take long for him to send an avatar over.

Just as Lin Yi's mind raced, the Tian He turned to him and solemnly said, "Lord Lin Yi, the Sovereign just transmitted a message to me, instructing me to take you to the Still Void Hall within the fortress, which is specifically used to receive Sovereigns coming and going." The Sovereign is waiting for us there.

"Thank you for guiding us Tian He." Lin Yi nodded, his expression calm.

"Of course." Tian He nodded slightly to Lan Zhi and Yao Chen. "Please excuse us."

Lan Zhi quickly composed herself, a gentle smile returning to her face, "Please, both of you."

Yao Chen also nodded slightly in greeting.

Without saying anything more, the Tian He gestured to Lin Yi, and the two of them moved, transforming into streaks of light and flying towards the fortress.

Deep within the fortress lies the "Still Void Hall" area.

This is not a specific palace, but a miniature space-time that has been independently created, with exceptionally stable and harmonious laws.

From the outside, all that can be seen is a hazy glow of ever-changing colors, and only those with permission are allowed to enter.

The Tian He led Lin Yi to the edge of the rosy clouds, where a gentle yet supremely majestic thought swept over them.

"Come in." The voice of the Eternal Beginning Dominator resounded directly in Lin Yi's mind.

The rosy light automatically parted to create a path.

Stepping inside, the view suddenly opens up before you.

This place feels like an independent starry sky, with a solid path of starlight beneath your feet, and slowly rotating phantoms of stars all around, serene and vast.

At the end of the Starlight Path, a figure stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at an exceptionally bright star in the "distance".

He wore a simple gray robe and was not particularly tall, but standing there, he seemed to be the center of the entire space-time, with all the starlight and laws naturally flowing around him.

It is the Eternal Beginning Dominator.

Lin Yi stopped and bowed respectfully. "Lin Yi greets the Ruler."

The Eternal Beginning Dominator slowly turned around.

Lin Yi had naturally seen images of the Eternal Beginning Dominator before, but this was the first time he had seen him in person. He felt that the pillar of Human Race had eyes as deep as the cosmos, and at this moment he was wearing a gentle smile.

Moreover, he could not see any signs of injury on the Sovereign; his aura was perfectly harmonious and integrated with the surrounding space and time.

No need for such formalities.

The Eternal Beginning Dominator's gaze fell on Lin Yi, scrutinizing him for a moment before nodding. "Lin Yi, you're much faster than I expected. 50 floors, one-star mark... You've done very well."

"It's all thanks to the strong support of our community," Lin Yi said modestly.

"A race only supports those with talent. I shouldn't linger here." The Eternal Beginning Dominator waved his hand, looking at Lin Yi. "I have two main purposes for coming here."

"Firstly, it's to make my stance clear to all races, especially the high-ranking members of the Spirit Race: you are the future hope of our Human Race. Any force that wants to make any moves should first consider whether they can withstand the wrath of our Human Race."

These words, spoken calmly, contained an undeniable resolve. Lin Yi felt a warmth in his heart and solemnly replied, "Thank you for your protection, Master."

"Secondly," the Eternal Beginning Dominator continued, raising his hand and drawing a strange light into his palm, which quickly transformed into a crystal-like treasure with countless tiny grains of time slowly flowing backward.

The moment this treasure appeared, the surrounding spacetime was subtly affected. Light around it was slightly distorted, as if the flow of time itself became unstable.

"This item is called the Reverse-Time Crystal." As the Eternal Beginning Dominator introduced it, the crystal slowly floated in front of Lin Yi. "It is not a treasure for attack or defense; it has only one function: when you encounter an attack from a top-tier Sovereign, it can buy you some time... time to self-destruct."

Lin Yi was startled and accepted the crystal with both hands. It felt cool to the touch, yet as heavy as a star.

He could sense the strange power contained within it that contradicted the normal flow of time.

The Eternal Beginning Dominator watched Lin Yi put away the crystal, a faint smile appearing on his face, "Of course, I estimate you'll most likely never need this. The news of you reaching the 50th level and obtaining the mark, as well as my actions, will soon spread throughout the high-ranking officials of all races. Especially those sovereigns of the Spirit Race; they're not stupid. They'll naturally realize that since I've come, I must have left you some life-saving measures to deal with unforeseen circumstances. Knowing you possess the ability to self-destruct, they won't do something so foolish as to lose more than they gain."

Lin Yi nodded respectfully and said, "Your Majesty's considerations are thorough; Lin Yi understands."

He acknowledged that the analysis of the Eternal Beginning Dominator was reasonable, and that in such a game at the higher levels of the universe, "deterrence" is often more effective than actual use.

The fact that the ruler personally bestows the treasure is itself the strongest deterrent signal.

However, deep down, he still retained a sense of vigilance.

He did not want to entrust his safety entirely to others' so-called "rationality" and "weighing the pros and cons".

After all, there are crazy people everywhere; what if one comes along?

He would naturally not say these words to her face.

However, the Eternal Beginning Dominator seemed to see right through him, giving him a deep look before slowly saying, "Lin Yi, I know what you're thinking. You believe that relying on external intimidation is ultimately less reliable than personal strength, is that right?"

Lin Yi paused slightly, but did not deny it.

"Your idea is correct," said the Eternal Beginning Dominator. "If you truly want to be free from threats and not rely on others for your safety, there is only one path: become stronger! Become strong enough that all those who covet power feel despair, strong enough that they dare not even entertain irrational thoughts!"

He paused, looking at Lin Yi with expectation in his eyes, and a hint of complexity only he understood. "You are different from me. As the leader of the Human Race, I have many responsibilities that require me to appear in Main Body, which greatly restricts me and makes me hesitant to make many decisions. But you..."

"Once you reach the Dominator level in the future, and conceal your Main Body properly, traveling only as an avatar... even those Supreme beings standing at the pinnacle will have to be wary of you. When that day comes, our Human Race's status within the Pan-Spirit Alliance, and even our influence throughout the entire universe, will be completely different!"

"Dominator level, huh...?"

Lin Yi slowly repeated the word, gripping the "Reverse-Time Crystal" in his hand, and said in a deep voice, "Rest assured, Master, Lin Yi... will do his best."

After a moment's hesitation, he ultimately didn't say "I will achieve it," but instead chose to be more modest and changed his words to "I will try my best."

Anyway, it won't be long before the facts speak for themselves, so there's no need to make a fuss now.

"Good!" A satisfied look appeared on the face of the Eternal Beginning Dominator. "I look forward to that day. Oh, and there are a few other small matters I need to inform you of as well."

Lin Yi composed himself and respectfully said, "Please give your orders, Master."

"The first matter," said the Eternal Beginning Dominator, "Is about your job assignment."

"According to the custom within the Human Race, each newly promoted Lord is usually assigned specific duties along with a seat in the council, such as guarding a region or being responsible for certain special tasks. This serves two purposes: firstly, it ensures a balance of power and responsibility, and secondly, it allows the newly promoted Lord to integrate into the race's high-level structure and become familiar with its operation more quickly."

"However, I believe you are still in a period of rapid improvement in strength, and your potential is far from being fully realized. In addition, the Origin Universe Tower Secret Realm has not yet ended, and you will inevitably have to devote most of your energy to exploring the secret realm and cultivating yourself. If I were to assign you a specific position now, you would probably be overwhelmed and unable to perform your duties, which might actually delay your cultivation and affect the matter itself."

Lin Yi nodded; this was exactly what he had in mind.

He will soon return to the secret realm to continue his ascent to higher levels. Give him a permanent position; how will he handle external affairs while he's in the secret realm?

"Therefore," the Eternal Beginning Dominator smiled, "I've decided to postpone the specific job assignment for now, until your trip to the Origin Universe Tower is completely over, and then decide based on the specific circumstances and your wishes. What do you think?"

"Your Majesty's considerations are thorough; Lin Yi has no objections," Lin Yi replied, this arrangement being exactly what he wanted.

"Alright, then let's leave it at that for now." The Eternal Beginning Dominator nodded, then continued, "The second matter concerns how to contact me."

"According to the rules I set beforehand, during my healing period, any internal affairs of the Human Race require the joint signature of at least three Venerable Lord Rank to contact me directly through the emergency channel."

At this point, the Eternal Beginning Dominator revealed a faint smile, "Hehe, actually, my injuries had already recovered to about 70-80% after the Supreme One intervened. In fact, I even benefited from the misfortune and gained some insights. I originally planned to take this opportunity to go into seclusion for a while to fully digest what I had learned."

"However, for so many years, our Human Race lords have been used to seeking my advice on any major issues."

I was injured and unable to manage affairs this time, so they were forced to handle things themselves, and they did a good job. Therefore, I simply established this rule: anything that can be decided through discussion should be handled by ourselves as much as possible.

"Has it become somewhat clear?"

Lin Yi's heart skipped a beat. "These words sound very familiar. Could it be that after a while, the Eternal Beginning Dominator will directly change from the Four Laws Ruler to the Five Laws Ruler? If the Ruler can really advance further, it will be a major benefit for the entire Human Race."

As for Eternal Beginning Dominator's feigned illness later on, Lin Yi felt he could understand it.

After all, the Human Race only has one ruler. If they rely on him for everything, the entire race's operation could come to a standstill if the ruler encounters a special situation like this one.

"However..." the Eternal Beginning Dominator changed the subject, "You are different."

"Your talent is exceptional, and you are destined to shoulder great responsibilities in the future. Therefore, if you have any important matters or encounter any difficulties in your cultivation, you can contact me directly without needing the joint signature of other Venerable Lords."

Lin Yi's heart skipped a beat.

This grants him the privilege of direct contact with the ruler, which is clearly a sign of extremely high trust and importance placed upon him.

This means that, to some extent, he was regarded by the Eternal Beginning Dominator as a core figure who could "directly reach the ears of Heaven".

Thinking of this, Lin Yi solemnly said, "Thank you for your trust, Master..." Then, his mind raced, and he said directly, "Master, I happen to have something I need to ask you."

"Oh?"

The Eternal Beginning Dominator paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. "You're quite the ladies' man. Speak, what is it?"

"That's right, Master. In the exchange list on the 50th floor, I saw a manual called <The Time Source Heartlink Codex>."

This is a top-tier Time Origin Law auxiliary technique, worth 112 billion Points. This technique can establish a deep soul resonance with the Time-Trace Shadow Clone, achieving real-time control and synchronized perception, which is extremely suitable for the younger generation.

He paused, then continued, "However, I thought that since you, the Ruler, specialize in the Time Origin Law, and must have already reached the 50th level, such a top-tier secret manual that perfectly suits your path is likely already included in the clan's treasury. Therefore, I didn't exchange for it for the time being. I thought that if I could learn it through the clan's channels, I could save these 112 billion Points and instead exchange for a top-tier inheritance of equivalent value that isn't in the clan's treasury. This way, I could satisfy my own needs and also add to the clan's foundation."

After listening, the Eternal Beginning Dominator's eyes flashed with surprise, then he smiled with some satisfaction, "Good, very good. Lin Yi, you can take the initiative to think about problems from the perspective of the entire clan, adding to the clan's foundation... This thoughtfulness makes me even happier than your talent."

He affirmed Lin Yi's idea, then raised his hand, and a point of dazzling silver light condensed at his fingertip, quickly transforming into a transparent crystal that emitted profound temporal fluctuations, which floated towards Lin Yi.

"You guessed right. The <Time Source Heartlink Codex> is indeed included in the clan's treasure trove; I acquired it many years ago," said the Eternal Beginning Dominator. "Even if you hadn't told me, I was prepared to give it to you. This memory crystal not only contains the complete <Time Source Heartlink Codex>, but also the subsequent parts of the <True Explanation of Time Source Rhythm>, as well as... some of my cultivation insights and understandings of the Time Origin Law from the beginner level to my current realm."

Lin Yi was startled and quickly accepted it with both hands.

Not to mention the later parts of the <True Explanation of Time Source Rhythm>, which inevitably require a lot of Points to redeem, the more crucial thing is that there is also the Overlord's cultivation insights, which will undoubtedly greatly improve his efficiency in learning and understanding the <True Explanation of Time Source Rhythm>.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Master!" Lin Yi said excitedly.

"No need to be so polite." The Eternal Beginning Dominator waved his hand. "As for what you said about exchanging Points for rare clan inheritances..."

He pondered for a moment and said, "How about this? You can consult the list of Source Law level secret manuals in the clan's treasury later. Don't limit yourself to the Time Origin Law; other Origin Law, and even some common top-tier auxiliary and combat secret techniques, are all worth considering. Whichever aspect you feel is lacking, or which type of inheritance would be most beneficial to the clan's current and future powerhouses, then decide for yourself and exchange for a secret manual of equal value to supplement it."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi understood.

Eternal Beginning Dominator's seemingly delegating words were actually a test for him.

This is not something that can be done simply by filling in a few expensive secret texts that are not in the treasure trove. It requires him to comprehensively consider the number and structure of the existing lords of the Human Race, their areas of expertise in Origin Law, the possible future development paths of the best among the high-ranking gods, and the overall strategic needs of the race in cultivating high-end combat power.

This tests his insight, perspective, and understanding of the current situation of the ethnic group.

But Lin Yi didn't feel pressured; on the contrary, he was eager to try.

He said in a deep voice, "Lin Yi understands and will make a careful choice."

"I trust your judgment." The Eternal Beginning Dominator smiled slightly, changing the subject and moving on to the third matter.

"This last matter concerns the formal change of your identity and authority," said the Eternal Beginning Dominator. "Once you become Venerable Lord Rank combatant, you will be automatically removed from the Special Talent Registry. This is the rule, meaning you are no longer a genius who needs special protection and resources to nurture you, but have truly become one of the pillars and decision-makers of the race."

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"I've calculated the remaining rewards you hadn't claimed from the previous list, and they total 2000 Source Points," said the Eternal Beginning Dominator. "Lin Yi, from this day forward, you are a true high-ranking member of our Human Race. This identity means that many times, the sacrifices will outweigh the rewards. You will need to plan for the future of the race, be responsible for the safety of your people, balance the interests of all parties, and make some decisions that may not be easy... You'll have to get used to this gradually."

At this point, the Eternal Beginning Dominator seemed to recall Lin Yi's background, and his tone softened somewhat. "Of course, given your experience, you might not need much of an adjustment period. After all, during the Civilization Advancement Assessment, as the strongest being in your civilization, you should have already experienced this feeling of shouldering heavy responsibilities and needing to consider the overall picture."

Lin Yi nodded silently.

Indeed, leading the Blue Star Civilization from a small corner of the world to the vast universe, the responsibility and pressure had already tempered his character.

Now it's just a bigger stage and heavier responsibilities.

"However, a high-ranking position naturally has its advantages," the Eternal Beginning Dominator said, changing the subject. "Some trivial matters and routine resource allocation will be handled by others; you don't need to do them personally. You can focus more of your energy on your own cultivation and truly important matters."

He paused briefly, as if remembering something, and said, "By the way, according to the rules of the council, whenever a new councilor joins, the most recent major event at the Pan-Spirit Alliance level that requires Venerable Lord Rank to lead or participate in will be the responsibility of this new councilor."

The Eternal Beginning Dominator looked at Lin Yi, a hint of a smile in his eyes, "The most recent event of its kind was the Pan-Spirit Alliance Expert Tournament, which included 470 standard-year-old individuals. This time, you Human Race, leading those Star Domain level older than you to participate."

"The Pan-Spirit Alliance Expert Tournament?" Lin Yi was slightly taken aback.

He naturally knew about this competition. It was a grand competition held within the Pan-Spirit Alliance for Star Domain level expert, aiming to discover and train core members, enhance the alliance's cohesion, and also to select personnel for a high-level secret realm.

When he was still at the Star Core level, he had considered participating in the competition even when he reached the Star Domain level, since such competitions could hone his skills and bring honor to the Human Race.

Unexpectedly, things changed quickly; before he even participated, he became the team leader.

"470 standard years... that's not a long time," said the Eternal Beginning Dominator. "During this time, you should take a short rest and familiarize yourself with your new permissions and duties. There's no need to rush back to the Origin Universe Tower."

Lin Yi quickly weighed the options.

470 years is indeed not a long time for a god. Using this time to consolidate his newly broken realm, study the newly acquired <Time Source Heartlink Codex> and the insights of the Sovereign, and familiarize himself with the affairs of the Human Race's high-level officials, in preparation for leading a team to participate in the Battle of the Strongest, is indeed a good arrangement.

Moreover, he had just spent tens of thousands of years in seclusion exploring the secret realm, and he needed to relax and adjust his mind a little.

"Yes, Lin Yi obeys." He agreed.

"Alright." The Eternal Beginning Dominator smiled with relief after everything was explained.

"When are you planning to hold your celebration banquet? Remember to let me know." He said with a smile, his tone like an elder concerned about a younger person's happy occasion. "The Human Race has gained a new Time Lord, which is a major event worth celebrating. Those youngsters in the council are probably itching to give you a proper celebration."

Lin Yi respectfully replied, "Everything is left to the arrangement of the Sovereign and the Council."

"Yes, they will contact you." The Eternal Beginning Dominator nodded, then gave Lin Yi a final, deep look. "Strive to cultivate diligently, but remember, your clan is your strongest support. Go."

As the words fell, the figure of the Eternal Beginning Dominator began to blur, and the vast spatial fluctuations surrounding him rapidly dissipated.

In the end, he transformed into specks of Star Radiance, merging into the background of this miniature starry sky, as if he had never existed.

Still Void Hall, the previous tranquility returned, leaving only Lin Yi and the memory crystal in his hand that still contained priceless knowledge.