The title Star Abyss, without leaving home
Lin Yi put away the memory crystal bestowed by the Eternal Beginning Dominator, turned around, and stepped out of the radiant passage.
As expected, Lord Tianhe was still waiting outside.
Upon seeing Lin Yi emerge, he smiled and greeted him.
"Are you done talking?" Tian He asked.
"Yes, thank you for waiting so long, Your Excellency."
"It's nothing," Tian He his hand. "I'll take you to the rest area. There's a villa here in the fortress specifically prepared for visiting dignitaries; the environment is quite nice."
"A villa?" Lin Yi had a vague recollection of it; he had glimpsed it while looking at the fortress map. It was a small, independently developed space located on the edge of the fortress's Core Zone.
"Yes, follow me." Tian He transformed into a streak of green light and sped off in one direction.
This is a privilege reserved for Venerable Lord Rank powerhouses within the fortress; they can fly freely without needing to use a Flying Shuttle shuttle.
Lin Yi understood, and with a slight movement, he transformed into a streak of silver-gray light and followed.
Two streaks of light, one after the other, shot through the air along the wide main corridor inside the fortress.
The corridor is flanked by semi-transparent energy barriers, outside which lies a bustling void where commuter Flying Shuttle glide silently and orderly along pre-designed routes.
Inside the fortress, except for specific personnel performing emergency missions, everyone below the lord must use these means of transportation.
As Lin Yi and Tianhe passed by, all the Flying Shuttle on the channel ahead, under the control of the fortress's intelligent management system, simultaneously veered slightly to the sides, clearing the central passage.
All the powerful figures encountered along the way, whether they were guards on duty or gods who had just completed their missions, instinctively stopped what they were doing, bowed slightly in the direction of the flowing light, and paid their respects.
Many people's self-awareness lingered longer on the silvery-gray light that Lin Yi had transformed into.
This newly crowned lord has become the new focus of the fortress.
The two streaks of light quickly arrived at the entrance to an area shrouded in a soft energy light barrier.
Tian He stopped in front of the light screen, regained his form, and raised his hand to transmit a specific soul fluctuation.
The light curtain silently parted to create a portal.
"Please." Tian He gestured.
Lin Yi stepped inside.
The moment you step into the light curtain, the space transforms.
The hustle and bustle of the outer fortress was instantly shut out, replaced by a tranquil and vast miniature starry sky.
Beneath your feet lies a transparent path formed from condensed starlight, winding forward to several courtyards of different styles suspended in the "starry sky".
The courtyard is not built directly on solid ground, but relies on a stable spatial node, like an isolated island in a sea of stars. It is surrounded by slowly rotating phantoms of stars and dreamlike nebula light bands. The energy concentration is dozens of times higher than that of ordinary areas of the fortress, yet it is gentle and easy to absorb.
"This way."
Tianhe led Lin Yi onto the Starlight Road, heading towards one of the courtyards.
A faint silver halo swirled around the perimeter of the courtyard; it was an inherent protective and isolating array.
"The fortress's AI has definitely activated access for you. You can freely enter and exit, and you can also fine-tune some of the internal environmental parameters according to your preferences," Tian He said. "It's fully equipped with cultivation rooms, meditation terraces, reception rooms, and more. If you need any special resources or services, you can directly contact the fortress's AI, and they will handle it with the highest priority."
Lin Yi briefly scanned the interior of the courtyard with his divine sense. The space was much larger than it appeared from the outside, thanks to the use of sophisticated space expansion technology. The interior decoration was not luxurious or dazzling, but the materials used were extremely exquisite.
The floor is paved with "Tranquil Mind Star-Pattern Stone" that can spontaneously gather the gentle power of stars, the walls are inlaid with "Spirit-Calming Jade Marrow" that helps calm the soul, and even the few potted plants casually placed are rare varieties of "Star Dew Orchid".
"This place is indeed quite nice," Lin Yi nodded.
"Hehe, this is the standard treatment for Venerable Lord Rank." Tian He waved his hand and changed the subject, "By the way, you'd better set a time and place for the celebration banquet as soon as possible. Those old guys in the council... can't wait for a lively celebration, they're all eager to give you, the newly promoted Venerable Lord, a proper celebration."
He paused, then added, "And there's the honorific title. You need to think of one. After all, those little guys will feel uneasy calling you by your name directly. This honorific title will be with you for a long time, so decide on it as soon as possible. It will make it easier for everyone to address you and also easier to input into various systems."
Lin Yi fell into deep thought upon hearing this.
The celebratory banquet... would be more appropriate fifty years from now.
This period of time is enough for him to gain a preliminary grasp of the <Time Source Heartlink Codex>, and it also allows the news of "Lin Yi stepping into the 50th level" to fully ferment within the Pan-Spirit Alliance, giving all parties time to react and prepare.
As for the location... he hardly hesitated.
Silver Blue Star.
That was his hometown, the starting point of all his stories, and the most solid anchor in his heart. Holding the celebration of his ascension to the rank of Lord there was of extraordinary significance.
His Parents and Ellie would surely prefer to witness his glory there.
As for the honorific title...
"Star Abyss," Lin Yi said.
"Star Abyss?" Tian He repeated, savoring the two words.
"Um.
Lin Yi's gaze seemed to pierce through this miniature starry sky, looking towards the boundless depths of the universe beyond the fortress. "My destiny began to change from Blue Star, from the Abyssal Beast."
Tianhe nodded thoughtfully, "Star Abyss... not bad, it has profound meaning and a grand vision. Star Abyss Lord, very good."
Then I'll call you that for now.
"The banquet is scheduled for fifty years from now, and the location is... Silver Blue Star," Lin Yi continued.
"Silver Blue Star? Not bad, holding it in our hometown is meaningful." Tian He nodded to indicate he understood. "I'll help you spread the word first, so the council and all parties can prepare."
Thank you for your help.
"Of course." Tian He didn't linger. "You should rest and familiarize yourself with the surroundings. Contact me anytime if you need anything."
After watching Tianhe transform into a streak of light and leave the villa, Lin Yi stepped into the courtyard.
The door closed silently behind him, completely isolating him from the outside world.
He first went to the main hall, brought up the control panel, raised the courtyard's security level to the highest level, and set a security mode that only he and those he specially authorized could enter.
As soon as the settings were completed, Xuanji reminded her, "Master, you have received Virtual Network meeting invitation. The contact name is Hai Hong, the person in charge of daily affairs of the Human Race Supreme Council."
"Hai Hong? Lord Hai Hong? The Supreme Council is quite swift in its actions."
Lin Yi's mind stirred slightly. "I accept the invitation."
"Yes, Master."
As the words fell, Lin Yi's consciousness was instantly pulled into a minimalist virtual space.
Opposite them, a middle-aged man dressed in a dark blue robe with gold trim was already waiting; he was none other than Lord Hai Hong was in charge of coordinating the daily affairs of the Supreme Council.
"Lord Lin Yi," Lord Hai Hong spoke first, a perfectly timed smile on his face, "Congratulations. I am Hai Hong, primarily responsible for the council's daily liaison, affairs coordination, and agenda arrangement."
"Lord Hai Hong." Lin Yi nodded in return.
"As per the established procedure, there are several important matters that need to be formally communicated to you and your intentions confirmed," Lord Hai Hong. "First, after being personally reviewed and confirmed by the Eternal Beginning Dominator, you have been officially included in the list of members of the Human Race Supreme Council. The corresponding privileges have just been upgraded simultaneously, and the specific list and explanation of privileges have been sent to your exclusive identity imprint, which you can view at any time."
"Secondly, regarding the parliamentary system. Under normal circumstances, the Supreme Council holds a plenary session once every ten thousand years, and all members are required to attend as much as possible. A routine meeting is held once every thousand years, attended by the nineteen top-ranking Venerable members and the Eternal Beginning Dominator, to discuss important matters. In case of emergency, an extraordinary meeting can be convened at any time. For some special matters that are not urgent but of great importance, the routine meeting can be upgraded to a plenary meeting for discussion."
He paused slightly, looking at Lin Yi: "The appointment of new councilors is a non-urgent but important matter. Therefore, the next millennium meeting, originally scheduled for 211 years from now, will automatically be upgraded to a plenary session. All councilors without urgent duties will attend. One of the main agenda items will be to formally welcome you and complete some necessary ceremonial procedures."
"I understand," Lin Yi replied calmly.
This means that, 211 years later, he will make his first official appearance before all the Human Race lords as a councilor.
"Third," Lord Hai Hong continued, "According to convention, if a new councilor's Star Union is not yet directly under the jurisdiction of another councilor, then that Star Union will be directly under the new councilor's jurisdiction. Therefore, the initial plan is to place the Purple Gold Star Union under your direct jurisdiction. Do you think this needs to be adjusted?"
"I have no objection," Lin Yi readily agreed.
This not only made it easier for him to take care of his hometown, but also solved the practical problem of his rapid rise to power and the lack of reliable direct subordinates.
"Then it's settled," said Lord Hai Hong. "Actually, you don't need to worry about the specifics. The Purple Gold Star Union has a mature operating system, and daily affairs are handled by specialists. As the highest authority, your role is more about setting the direction and deciding on major matters. Moreover..."
He chuckled and said, "Many old fogies in the council have long wanted to send their chosen descendant deities to your ranks for training. A Time Lord with limitless potential—everyone has high hopes for your future."
Lin Yi smiled but didn't respond to that question.
Interpersonal relationships and power struggles are unavoidable once you reach the top; he just needs to be aware of that.
"Alright, that concludes the official announcement." Lord Hai Hong added, "You can familiarize yourself with the list of authority at your own pace regarding the other details. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Also, regarding your celebration banquet... does the council need any assistance with the preparations? Many members have expressed their interest."
"Not for now, thank you, Lord Hai Hong," Lin Yi said. "The banquet will be held fifty years from now on, on Silver Blue Star."
"Fifty years from now, Silver Blue Star..." Lord Hai Hong repeated, then said, "I understand. Well then, Star Abyss Lord, I won't bother you any longer."
Lord Hai Hong nodded, and the virtual image slowly dissipated.
He ultimately used the honorific title that Lin Yi had just decided upon, indicating that the news had spread very quickly.
The connection was broken, Lin Yi's consciousness returned to the main hall of the villa.
He leaned back in the chair made of a kind of "calming and warming jade" that could soothe the soul and exhaled softly.
Member of the Supreme Council, directly under the jurisdiction of the Purple Gold Star Union... these identities and powers came swiftly and naturally.
Having experienced the entire process of leading the Blue Star Civilization from humble beginnings to rise, he was no stranger to shouldering heavy responsibilities; it was just that the stage was now larger and more stakeholders were involved.
He needs some time to adapt to his new role, but he will never be bound by it.
His foundation has always lay in his own strength.
In the following period, Lin Yi mainly received congratulations from the various venerable lords of the Human Race through the Virtual Network.
One after another, communication requests bearing the mark of Venerable Lord Rank being arrived.
The first thing to appear was a virtual projection of Xuan Yan.
He was still dressed in a green robe, his demeanor gentle and refined.
"Lin Yi," Xuan Yan said with a smile, "This time you've really earned me face, and also earned face for our Human Race. Your status is different now, so you don't need to do many trivial things yourself. If you need any help, just ask."
Lin Yi naturally didn't need to be polite with the Xuan Yan. After a moment's thought, he said, "I can handle everything else. But the celebration banquet... I need to inform Prison Suppressor, Thousand Illusions, and some of my friends in the secret realm, including those at the World Derivation level..."
Star Domain level beings are manageable, but I currently have no god-level subordinates, especially those capable of entering the 47th floor, making it inconvenient to transmit messages in and out of the secret realm.
"That's easy," Xuan Yan laughed. "Leave it to me. I'll make sure your message reaches every single person."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Your Excellency."
"It's no trouble at all," Xuan Yan said. "Has the time and place for the banquet been set?"
"Fifty years after the standard, Silver Blue Star."
"Okay." Xuan Yan nodded and noted it down.
Next came the projection of Sky Halberd Lord.
"Lin Yi, well done. 50 floors... I'm getting more and more curious about how far you'll go in the future."
"The road ahead is long, and we still need to work hard," Lin Yi said.
"Hard work is a must," Tian Ge nodded, "But the proper celebration is indispensable. At the banquet, I'll give you a congratulatory gift, guaranteed to be something you'll need at this stage."
"Thank you Sky Halberd Lord."
Congratulations from other venerable figures also arrived via the Virtual Network.
Some were enthusiastic, while others were reserved, but all of them were extremely friendly, expressing their recognition and welcome of this newly appointed Human Race ruler.
Even some foreign lords with whom they had interacted before, such as Radiance Lord, sent their congratulations.
Lin Yi responded politely to each question, behaving appropriately, neither overly enthusiastic nor lacking in respect.
After all communications were completed, tranquility returned to the villa.
Lin Yi sat quietly for a moment, then pulled up the list of permissions sent by Lord Hai Hong and quickly browsed it.
The list is long, covering all aspects such as resource allocation, intelligence review, personnel appointment and dismissal recommendation authority, and temporary military command authority, detailing the vast power and corresponding responsibilities of a member of the Human Race Supreme Council.
"931 Venerable Lord Rank..." Lin Yi murmured to himself, but he was certain that the Venerable Lord Rank among the Human Race was definitely more than the publicly disclosed figure, and there must be some hidden ones.
He then glanced at the other messages briefly before closing them.
His attention was not on these worldly powers at this moment.
The Eternal Beginning Dominator instructed him to stay behind for a short rest, preparing to lead the team to participate in the Pan-Spirit Alliance Expert Tournament 470 years later.
The arrangement itself wasn't problematic, but Lin Yi had his own plans.
Fortresses... are not absolutely safe after all, and the Qing Dan resides in this fortress.
Although the Eternal Beginning Dominator analyzed that the other party was unlikely to make a move, Lin Yi did not want to entrust his safety to someone else's rational assessment.
He needed to return as soon as possible to the absolutely safe rear area, the absolute core of the Human Race, the Origin Star.
There, he will focus wholeheartedly on completing the cultivation of the <Time Source Heartlink Codex>.
Once this secret technique is mastered, the connection between his Main Body and his clone will reach a whole new level, greatly enhancing both his safety and operational efficiency.
At that time, many things can be left to the clone to handle, while the Main Body can cultivate and improve more secretly.
With that thought in mind, Lin Yi no longer hesitated. He sent a message to Tian He: "Tian He, I am preparing to return to Origin Star."
Shortly after the message was sent, Tian He replied, concisely and clearly. "Understood. Be careful on the road."
Lin Yi stood up and walked out of the main hall of the villa.
Without alerting anyone, he went directly to the fortress's interstellar teleportation hub.
At this moment, in the waiting area specially set up outside the teleportation zone, about twenty god-level powerhouses with different auras had gathered.
They are queuing in an orderly fashion, waiting to use the inter-stellar teleportation channel to travel to different locations according to the intelligent system's arrangements.
This interstellar teleportation is the preferred long-distance travel method for deities in non-emergency situations.
After all, traveling by spaceship is too slow, and using the Divine Kingdom channel directly is too expensive. Although this kind of fixed inter-stellar teleportation channel requires complex energy charging and coordinate calibration to start, it is reasonably priced and is usually the first choice.
When Lin Yi, the Venerable One, transformed into a silver-gray stream of light, landed here and regained his form, all the waiting powerhouses immediately focused their attention on him.
After a brief moment of astonishment, the gods of both the Human Race and other races of the Pan-Spirit Alliance quickly recovered and bowed in unison.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Lin Yi remained calm, gave a slight nod to everyone in return, and walked straight toward the core teleportation platform without stopping.
The guardian deity came forward to greet them.
Almost simultaneously, all the powerful individuals in the waiting area received an instant notification from the teleportation hub's management Intelligent Life:
[Emergency Priority Adjustment: Venerable Lord Rank privileges activated. Interstellar teleportation channel T7 will be opened ahead of schedule for an emergency teleportation mission. All personnel in the current batch can prepare in advance and will be teleported to the preset coordinates along with this channel. Repeaters can prepare in advance...]
This announcement immediately caused a slight commotion in the waiting area.
The waiting powerhouses exchanged glances. Those who happened to be in line enjoyed an unexpected convenience, saving them waiting time.
This kind of "collateral benefit" arising from the privileges of the strong is not uncommon in the higher societies of the universe.
No one felt it was unfair; on the contrary, they felt it was perfectly reasonable.
The time of one venerable one is naturally more precious than the combined waiting time of all of them.
Under the watchful eyes of many, Lin Yi stepped into the exclusive teleportation platform, which was engraved with intricate star patterns.
Around the platform, several deities responsible for its maintenance and operation bowed in reverence.
Lin Yi stepped onto the center of the platform.
A solid yet warm feel comes from beneath your feet; the platform is made of exceptional material that greatly stabilizes spatial fluctuations.
"Respectfully bidding farewell to the Venerable Lord!" all the gods said in unison.
The teleportation platform shone brightly, and countless silver spatial runes lit up and flowed as if they had come to life, enveloping Lin Yi's figure.
After a strong but unusually smooth spatial fluctuation, the light faded, and the platform was empty.
Origin Star, Interstellar Teleportation Zone.
The soft, steady light faded, revealing Lin Yi's figure.
Beneath your feet lies the "Star Pattern Jade" platform, smooth as a mirror and shimmering with faint Star Radiance, while all around you are tall, magnificent palace-style buildings that exude energy and radiance.
The energy concentration here is astonishingly high, yet incredibly gentle and peaceful, as if it has undergone the most precise refining.
The air was filled with an ancient and profound atmosphere that brought peace to the mind. This was a unique field formed by the accumulation of billions of years of Human Race and the constant presence of the Eternal Beginning Dominator Main Body.
This is the true heartland of Human Race, the seat of the Supreme Council.
Lin Yi took a deep breath, and his tense mind finally relaxed completely.
He had just stepped out of the teleportation platform area.
Outside, several figures were already waiting quietly.
The leader was a man dressed in a silver-white robe embroidered with star patterns, whose aura was as deep as an abyss; he was clearly also a Venerable Lord Rank being.
He was followed by several deities dressed in the uniforms of the Origin Star Management Committee.
"Star Abyss Lord, welcome back to Origin Star."
The middle-aged man in silver robes stepped forward and smiled, "I am Mo Chen, the current rotating head of the Origin Star Management Committee. Upon receiving notification from the management AI that you have been teleported to Origin Star, I extend my welcome on behalf of the committee."
"Lord Mo Chen, thank you for your trouble." Lin Yi returned the greeting politely.
The Origin Star Management Committee is responsible for all daily operations, resource allocation, and order maintenance on this Human Race capital star. It is overseen by several veteran lords on a rotating basis and wields considerable power.
Lord Mo Chen, "As is customary, newly elected councilors enjoy exclusive manor residency rights in the Central District of Origin Star. There are currently four completely vacant manors in the Central District. I have already transmitted detailed information to you regarding their locations, internal configurations, and accompanying unique cultivation facilities. You can view them at any time and make your selection." He added, "Once you have selected one, the management committee will immediately conduct the final handover of authority and environmental adaptation adjustments to ensure everything is ready when you move in."
"Thank you for your trouble, Lord Mo Chen." Lin Yi nodded.
Information Flow into his consciousness, quickly presenting three-dimensional images and detailed descriptions of the four manors.
After comparing several options, Lin Yi chose a relatively secluded and quiet manor, "The one on the east side, I guess."
Lord Mo Chen raised his hand and tapped lightly in the void, seemingly confirming something. "The transfer of authority is complete. The intelligent butler Chen is ready to be deployed. You may move in at any time."
"Thank you." This thoughtfulness certainly saved Lin Yi a lot of tedious work.
"It's my duty." Lord Mo Chen smiled slightly. "Star Abyss Lord is new to the Central District. If you have any questions about the environment, facilities, or rules here, please feel free to contact me or ask your intelligent butler, Chen." It has access to almost all non-classified information. I've also heard about the celebration banquet. Fifty years from now, on Silver Blue Star... If you need me to coordinate spaceships, security, or other matters at that time, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Indeed, I will have to trouble Lord Mo Chen then."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lord Mo Chen turned and left with several staff members.
Lin Yi didn't delay any longer.
With a slight thought, his figure instantly transformed into a condensed silver-gray stream of light, speeding towards the eastern side of the "Central District," the core of Origin Star, according to the coordinates of the manor he had just obtained.
Along the way, the scenery of the Central District the Origin Star was fully visible.
The buildings below are no longer as diverse in style and relatively scattered as those in Star Source District.
The buildings in the Central District are even more magnificent. Each manor and palace occupies a vast area and is shrouded in a powerful, independent energy barrier, separated from each other by large areas of woodlands, lakes, or mountains that flow with strange energy.
Lin Yi could clearly sense that many of the manor and palaces below contained a hidden yet powerful aura.
He soon arrived at the east side of the Central District.
A region shrouded in a pale silver mist of energy appeared ahead. At the edge of the mist, the outline of the manor gate was faintly visible. The gate was ancient and imposing, with complex runes engraved on it, and it was now glowing slightly as Lin Yi approached.
The light stopped in front of the door, Lin Yi regained his form.
The door slid open silently inwards.
The interior of the manor utilizes an extremely ingenious folding and expansion technique, making it far more spacious than it appears from the outside.
Beneath your feet lies a jade path flowing with warm, Star Radiance light, winding its way to the main building deep within—a simple, three-story, silver-gray palace.
"Welcome, Star Abyss Lord. I am your intelligent assistant; you may call me 'Chen'."
A gentle voice rang out, and at the same time, a figure materialized before him. "All functions of the manor are operating normally, and the defense system is activated. Would you like me to give you a brief introduction to the functions of each area of the manor, or do you have any other priority commands?"
"We'll talk about it later," Lin Yi said. "Take me to the quiet room first."
"Understood, please follow me." Chen gestured to lead the way and floated forward.
Following Chen's guidance, Lin Yi arrived at the meditation room.
As Lin Yi approached, the door slid open silently.
The interior space is not very large. It is carved from a single piece of "Return to Source Black Stone" that can absorb all energy fluctuations and soul probing, and its surface is engraved with layers of runes.
In the center of the meditation room is a circular platform about half a meter above the ground. The platform is made of "Lan Yun Jade," which can spontaneously gather and purify energy. Several pure energy orbs float above it to aid meditation.
Lin Yi walked step by step onto the "Lan Yun Yu" platform and sat down cross-legged.
The warm, smooth jade exuded a perfect coolness. With a thought, he took out the memory crystal bestowed upon him by the Sovereign.
"Let's begin."
Lin Yi's Soul Power enveloped the memory crystal.
A deluge of information, like a burst dam, surged into his consciousness.
First, there is the complete inheritance of the <Time Source Heartlink Codex>, whose exquisite nature far surpasses the brief description he had seen in the exchange list.
The core of this secret technique lies in establishing a "concentric seal" that reaches the very Soul Origin.
Next comes the content after 20% of <The True Explanation of Time Source Rhythm>, as well as the cultivation insights and understanding of the Eternal Beginning Dominator.
This knowledge, like the most detailed maps and road signs, pointed him to a clear path to higher levels. The solutions to many obstacles, the common pitfalls, and the suggestions for resource allocation were all invaluable.
Lin Yi hesitated only slightly before deciding to directly use his Spiritual Enlightenment Qi.
He wasn't in a hurry to finish the first 20% of the <True Explanation of Time Source Rhythm>, as he could study it slowly. But the <Time Source Heartlink Codex> was different; he planned to complete its cultivation as soon as possible.
Because, during his time in the Main Universe, unless there are special circumstances, his Main Body will stay on the Origin Star and not go out.
As for external matters such as banquet preparations, the handover of the Purple Gold Star Union, council affairs, and leading the team to participate in the Pan-Spirit Alliance Expert Tournament 470 years later...
These things can be handled by the clone once the secret technique is mastered.