An anxious Supreme and a member of the Human Race Council

The following morning.

Lin Yi opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and full of energy like never before.

He turned his head and saw that Aurelia was awake and lying quietly beside him, her emerald green eyes staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.

"You're awake?" Lin Yi reached out and took her hand.

"Hmm." Aurelia turned to look at him, a hint of shyness flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

"I received quite a few gifts yesterday," Lin Yi, sitting up. "Would you like to take a look?"

"Okay." Aurelia sat up and tidied her long hair.

The two, dressed neatly, arrived at a private room within the manor.

The quiet room wasn't large, but it was furnished comfortably and had a special energy isolation table for handling valuable items.

Lin Yi first took out the simple wooden box given to him by the Bright Moon Supreme and placed it on the table.

"Let's see what the Supreme One gave us first."

There was no energy fluctuation on the surface of the wooden box. Lin Yi pressed lightly with his fingertip, and the lid slid open silently.

The interior space of the box has been specially treated and is much larger than it appears from the outside.

Five items were neatly arranged inside.

Lin Yi's gaze swept over them, and his breath hitched slightly.

The first item was a constantly changing silver liquid, Flowing Silver Time Marrow. This was one of the best treasures for aiding in comprehending the Time Origin Law. The box contained two fist-sized pieces of liquid.

The second item is a crystal-clear piece with Temporal Constant Crystal Core, which is also quite heavy.

The third item was three thin, pale gold leaves, like gold Age Gold Foil.

The fourth item is a bottle containing about ten drops of a clear liquid, Time Dew. This small bottle will last a long time.

The fifth item is an irregular black stone with natural time-patterned patterns on its surface, Cosmic Pattern Stone, about the size of a palm.

Each and every one of them is a valuable auxiliary item that practitioners of the Time Origin Law dream of.

Moreover, these are not trial packs; they are all full-size, enough to last from now until the effect almost diminishes to the point of being useless.

Lin Yi stared at the five treasures in the box and remained silent for a long while.

"Bright Moon Supreme... how much does she want me to quickly and completely master the Time Origin Law and reach the level of understanding of the Dominator?"

Aurelia also looked at the treasures and said softly, "The Supreme One seems to be in a hurry."

"Yes, indeed." Lin Yi closed the wooden box and said with a smile, "He was in a hurry. Let's see what the Supreme One gave you."

7

"Good."

Aurelia nodded, took out the wooden box that the Bright Moon Supreme had given her, and opened it directly.

The box was lined with soft velvet, and only a single leaf was placed on top.

The leaves are pale blue with clear veins, and they look ordinary, but the vitality they exude is surprisingly strong.

Aurelia carefully picked up the leaf, closed her eyes, and focused her mind on sensing it.

A moment later, she opened her eyes, her gaze filled with surprise.

"How is it?" Lin Yi asked.

"The Supreme Being sealed a piece of information within the leaf," Aurelia said. "This leaf has three uses. First, it can be activated, transforming into a life puppet with the combat power of a standard Sun Venerable Lord Rank being; this can only be used once."

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow.

A standard-day Venerable Lord Rank combat power? This is definitely a life-saving trump card.

"Secondly, wearing it on your person can greatly increase your affinity with the Life Law, aiding your cultivation," Aurelia continued. "Thirdly... you can consume it, using the primordial imprint it contains to try and touch and comprehend the Origin Law."

She looked at Lin Yi, "The Supreme One said that she obtained this leaf from a ruin she visited in her early years. It is of no use to her now, but it is perfect for me."

"Good stuff." Lin Yi nodded.

This gift provides both a protective shield and guidance for the path of spiritual practice.

Aurelia carefully put the leaf back into the box and placed it close to her body.

"Let's take another look at what the Overlord gave us."

Lin Yi then took out the box that the Eternal Beginning Dominator had given him.

This box is even simpler; when opened, it contains only a pale gold mark.

Lin Yi reached out and touched the mark.

The mark instantly merged into his palm, and information flooded into his consciousness.

He was stunned for a moment, then a look of bewilderment appeared on his face.

"What's wrong?" Aurelia asked.

"It's Source Treasure Points," Lin Yi said. "The Eternal Beginning Dominator gave me ten thousand Source Treasure Points."

Aurelia was also taken aback for a moment.

"The Sovereign also left a message," Lin Yi continued, "At my level, I have my own plans and judgments about the path of cultivation. I know best what I lack and what I need. So he didn't bother choosing a gift and just gave me Source Points to buy it myself."

He shook his head and chuckled, "It really is... simple and unpretentious."

But it must be admitted that this is indeed the most practical and foolproof gift.

Ten thousand Source Points is almost equivalent to the entire fortune of an ordinary Venerable Lord Rank expert.

The Eternal Beginning Dominator was indeed generous in his actions.

Next came the gift from the Qing Dan.

It was a booklet made of celadon jade.

Lin Yi's consciousness sank in and discovered that it contained the Qing Dan's insights and experiences regarding the "Origin Law of Life." Although it did not involve core secret techniques, the ideas, perspectives, and understanding of the origin of life contained within were invaluable treasures for any powerful cultivator of the Origin Law Life.

"This is also a good thing." Lin Yi put it away. Although he couldn't use it now, he would be able to use it when he cultivated the third or fourth Origin Law in the future.

After reviewing the top-tier gifts, Lin Yi began to organize the gifts from the other guests.

The gifts from Venerable Lord Rank guests were incredibly varied and included all sorts of things.

Some give away time-related resource items directly, some give away rare ores and exotic materials, and some give away special privileges or access to secret realms.

For example, the Radiance Lord sent someone to deliver the "Eternal Battle Armor" that he had left at the Sacred Forge.

Moreover, it is an "enhanced version" that has been upgraded and strengthened by the Sacred Forge, and its defensive and auxiliary performance is equivalent to a second-tier Source Treasure.

A rough estimate suggests that the gifts given by each Venerable Lord are worth between 10 and 50 Source Points, while the gifts given by Divine-level guests are worth between 0.1 and 1 Source Point.

Although it may not seem like much to the Lord, it adds up to a huge sum when added together.

Lin Yi quickly estimated that, including the 10,000 Source Treasure Points given by the Eternal Beginning Dominator, the total was 25,500 Source Treasure Points.

This number made him gasp.

They've struck it rich.

No wonder the major powers and families in the universe always like to find various reasons to hold celebrations and banquets. It is indeed an efficient way to "make money." Of course, the premise is that you have enough status and face to make people willing to give you gifts.

However, Lin Yi quickly calmed down.

"Xuanji, write down the names of all the gift givers and the details of their gifts," he instructed.

"Yes, Master."

Accepting a gift means acknowledging a favor.

The rules of the universe dictate that there should be give and take.

He received so many gifts today, seemingly making a fortune, but in the long run, this is actually just normal social interaction.

In the future, whenever these revered deities or gods have any joyous occasions in their families, this favor will have to be repaid.

Moreover, given his status, the value of a return gift is usually no less than what the other party originally gave.

Thinking about it this way, Lin Yi's excitement about "getting rich" subsided considerably.

In the days that followed, Lin Yi and Aurelia settled down on Silver Blue Star.

Instead of immediately going into seclusion to cultivate, they traveled around Silver Blue Star like any ordinary couple. They visited places where they had fought, the new campus of the East Peak Military Academy, and the achievements of Silver Blue Civilization over the years.

This simple and warm life is a rare opportunity for relaxation and nourishment for the two who have experienced too much fighting and cultivation.

Ten standard years have passed in the blink of an eye.

After that, Lin Yi took Aurelia on a trip.

They didn't set a specific destination; they just went wherever their hearts led them.

Visit those uniquely landscaped, life-bearing planets under the Purple Gold Star Union and experience different civilizations: see some famous celestial wonders, witness the birth of nebulae, and observe black holes; also visit some bustling commercial star regions, stroll through the streets, and buy some interesting but impractical trinkets.

The two talked a lot during their trip.

They talked about their past experiences on Blue Star, their time with the East Peak Mercenary Group, their insights into cultivation, and their vague thoughts about the future.

There was no pressure, no sense of urgency, just pure companionship and travel.

More than a hundred standard years have passed quietly in this interstellar journey.

On this day, they were strolling through a strange sea of flowers on a planet known as the "Dream Garden," where the colors and shapes of the flowers changed automatically.

Xuanji sent a message.

"Master, the Human Race Supreme Council has sent an official notification. The next plenary session of the Supreme Council will be held on Origin Star thirty standard years from now. As a newly elected councilor, you must attend on time."

Lin Yi stopped in his tracks.

Aurelia looked at him. "Are you going back?"

"Yes." Lin Yi nodded. "As a new member of the Supreme Council, I must attend the first meeting."

"Go ahead. I'm already very grateful that you've stayed with me for so long. Besides, I'm planning to return to the Origin Universe Tower anyway." Aurelia stared at Lin Yi and said slowly, "I want to reach the realm of gods as soon as possible."

Lin Yi wholeheartedly supported Ellie's desire to cultivate diligently. He first sent Ellie back to the fortress before returning to Origin Star alone.

The manor remained quiet and full of energy.

Lin Yi entered the quiet room and took out all the gifts he had received at the banquet, except for a few core treasures that he knew he could use, and the ones he had left for Aurelia and his family.

Various rare materials, finished source treasures, special potions, authority tokens... filled almost half of the quiet room, their precious light flowing and energy intertwining.

"Xuanji," Lin Yi called out.

"Owner."

"These," Lin Yi pointed to the pile of treasures, "Will be thoroughly categorized and valued. Then, through several large merchant guilds within the Pan-Spirit Alliance, they will be sold in batches using various methods such as auctions, long-term listings, and secret transactions. The goal is to maximize their conversion into Source Treasure Points or equivalent, easily tradable high-value resources."

"Understood. However, Master, since these are all high-value items, it is expected that it will take some time to fully realize their value. I will report the progress to you regularly."

Lin Yi showed no dissatisfaction, which was expected.

Selling these gifts to generate cash was part of his plan. While these resources were valuable, many were not urgently needed by him or aligned with his current path.

Switching to Source Points offers greater flexibility, allowing him to exchange them for what he needs most at any time.

In the quiet room of the manor on Origin Star, Lin Yi with the task of converting the massive amount of gifts he had received into cash in Xuanji. Then, he completely immersed himself in the further insights into the <True Explanation of Time Source Rhythm> and the deeper application of the "Time Source Heartlink Codex".

He didn't rush to use the enlightenment treasures given to him by the Supreme One, but instead focused on solidifying his theoretical knowledge. After all, he had already reached the critical point of 19.9%. If he broke through again, he wouldn't be able to go back to the 50th floor, and he wouldn't be able to get back the few source treasures he left inside.

Therefore, he plans to wait until he returns to the 50th floor of the Origin Universe Tower, retrieve those source treasures first, and then use these enlightenment treasures to break through.

Thirty standard years is but a few deep meditations for a Lord who has crossed the threshold of the Origin Law.

On this day, Xuanji's voice rang out.

"Master, the meeting will be held in three standard days from now at the Council Hall of Origin Star."

The silvery light flowing in the quiet room paused slightly, then receded into Lin Yi's body like a tide.

"Understood," Lin Yi replied, his figure disappearing into the quiet room.

The next moment, he appeared in the main hall of the manor.

With a slight thought, he replaced his everyday clothes with an antique robe woven with "star-patterned silver threads".

Without lingering, he stepped out of the main hall, his figure transforming into a condensed silver-gray streak of light, speeding towards the most central area of Origin Star — the Council Hall.

Along the way, the Central District of Origin Star remained magnificent and tranquil.

The magnificent manors and palaces, each shrouded in an independent energy barrier, resemble silent giants in a sea of stars, many exuding a subtle yet powerful aura.

The closer you get to the core, the more solemn and majestic the architectural style below becomes, with sharp lines and the trajectory of the energy flow also conveys a sense of rigor and order.

Soon, a vast and majestic complex of buildings, entirely enveloped in a pale golden energy membrane, appeared at the edge of the field of vision.

That is the core of the highest power of the Human Race - the Council Hall complex.

Its territory is vast, with the main hall towering into the clouds. Its surface flows with an energy glow like liquid gold, exuding a majestic aura that inspires awe under the constant and gentle artificial Sky Curtain of the Origin Star.

Lin Yi pressed the Flowing Light button on the designated Venerable Lord Rank landing platform outside the building complex.

The platform is paved with a single piece of "Zhenxing Jade," smooth as a mirror, with several giant pillars engraved with reliefs depicting the epic history of Human Race standing along its edges.

At this moment, several figures had already arrived on the platform before him, maintaining a polite distance from each other. Their auras were either as deep as the sea or as fiery as the sun; all of them were Human Race lords.

His arrival immediately attracted the attention of several esteemed figures on the platform.

"Star Abyss."

A lord clad in dark gold armor, with a faint aura of Sharpness emanating from him, spoke first; it was none other than Sky Halberd Lord.

"Sky Halberd Lord," Lin Yi replied politely.

"Star Abyss, you've come at the perfect time." Another gentle voice rang out, and the figure of Xuan Yan quietly appeared, still dressed in a green robe, as warm and refined as jade.

"This is your first time attending the Supreme Council. I'll be sitting next to you when the meeting begins. Feel free to ask me about the procedures and details."

"Thank you for your trouble, Xuan Yan," Lin Yi said gratefully.

"Let's go, it's Time Gap to enter," said Sky Halberd Lord.

The venerable lords said no more and stepped into the majestic main entrance that was slowly opening.

Lin Yi followed closely behind.

Passing through the seemingly thin light curtain at the main entrance, which actually contained multiple layers of spatial isolation and detection, the view suddenly opened up before my eyes.

The interior of the Council Hall is far more magnificent than what can be seen from the outside.

The dome is high and distant, and the stars are slowly moving along some mysterious trajectory.

A soft yet bright light source, seemingly from nowhere, fell evenly, illuminating every corner.

In the center of the main hall is a huge circular meeting area.

The ring structure consists of multiple layers.

At the very top was a huge white jade chair, undoubtedly the seat of the sole ruler of Human Race, the Eternal Beginning Dominator.

The next level is a relatively sparse circle of dark jade chairs with exceptionally wide and heavy seats, numbering less than twenty. These seats were reserved for the most powerful rulers of the Human Race, and most of them are currently empty.

On the next level, the number of seats increased significantly, to nearly a thousand. They were made of a slightly lighter shade of "Azure Jade" and were arranged more compactly. This was for other Venerable Lord Rank councilors of the Human Race.

At this moment, more than six hundred dignitaries have taken their seats in the circular council area.

Some closed their eyes to rest, others whispered to their neighbors, and still others examined the virtual light screen in front of them, which was made of pure energy. The entire hall was filled with a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

These lords, who are usually scattered throughout the Human Race, holding sway over their respective regions, or even venturing into dangerous places, gathered here. The invisible aura emanating from them alone gave this space a solidified, weighty feel.

Lin Yi followed Xuan Yan, Tian Ge, and other Venerable Lords into the main hall, and then stopped in the temporary waiting area outside the circular area.

As notified in advance, newly elected members of parliament can only enter the circular area and take their seats after the meeting has officially begun, after the chairperson has formally announced their eligibility, and after they have received permission.

His appearance attracted the attention of many self-illuminating lights within the ring area. Lin Yi remained calm and nodded slightly in greeting to the self-illuminating lights directed at him.

Time passed second by second, and more and more dignitaries arrived at the Council Hall.

Lin Yi saw many familiar or only known faces: Lord Mo Chen, whom he had met once before; Lord Hai Hong, who was in charge of the daily affairs of the council; Sorrow Severing Lord, whom he had met at the banquet on Silver Blue Star... One after another, figures that were rarely seen appeared.

Finally, when the Azure Jade Throne in the circular area was nearly full, the atmosphere in the main hall became even more solid.

This means that over 90% of the Human Race's Venerable Lord Rank combat power has gathered here.

Just then, the space around the innermost ring of black jade seats rippled slightly.

Seventeen figures appeared almost simultaneously and took their seats calmly.

Their auras were even more profound and unfathomable; some were like ancient glaciers, some like the core of a blazing star, and some seemed to be completely integrated with the surrounding space.

These are the top rulers of the Human Race, the highest pillar of Human Race strength besides the Eternal Beginning Dominator, and are usually referred to as "elder statesmen".

Their opinions often carry significant weight in the Supreme Council.

Seventeen top-tier lords appeared, and the subtle conversations within the hall completely ceased, becoming so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Immediately in front of the circular council area, on an ancient stone platform slightly higher than all the seats, ripples spread across the space like water.

The figure of Lord Hai Hong appeared, dressed in a dark blue robe with gold trim.

His face was solemn as his gaze swept across the entire room, lingering briefly on Lin Yi before he spoke, his voice clearly reaching the ears of every lord. "The Human Race Supreme Council, plenary session, now begins."

"As is customary, first, I, Hai Hong, as the person in charge of the rotating affairs of this parliament, will announce the attendance at this meeting."

A solidified light screen appeared before him, displaying flowing data. "Sky Nether Lord, Lord Flowing Shadow, and others have notified themselves of their absence due to being in a critical phase of exploring a special secret realm. All other lords are present."

After the reading was completed, Lord Hai Hong paused briefly and turned his gaze to Lin Yi in the waiting area.

"First, the meeting will proceed with its first special agenda item. In accordance with Articles 3 and 7 of the <Human Race Supreme Council Charter>, and with the approval of the Council of Elders and the Eternal Beginning Dominator, it is hereby formally announced that: Star Abyss Lord, Lin Yi, possesses combat strength reaching the Venerable Lord Rank standard, exhibits exceptional potential, and meets the qualifications for a member of the Human Race Supreme Council."

"Effectually effective from this day forward, Star Abyss Lord hereby appointed as a member of the Human Race Supreme Council!"

"Please, Star Abyss Lord, take your seat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, all the lords in the entire Council Hall turned their gazes to Lin Yi was standing in the waiting area on the outskirts.

Lin Yi took a deep breath and, under the watchful eyes of everyone, began to walk.

His steps were unhurried and steady, his footsteps landing on the ground that bore the epic history of Human Race, producing a soft yet clear sound.

His silver-gray robe swayed slightly with his steps, and the time-flowing patterns on the edges gleamed subtly in the soft light of the hall.

At this moment, he seemed to be walking on an invisible path of glory, moving from the periphery to the core of the Human Race's power hall.

As he walked to the edge of the circular council area, the ground and space in the area of the Azure Jade Thrones, which were originally closely arranged, rippled slightly near the front row.

A brand-new piece of azure jade, as if condensed from the void, quickly outlined the shape of the chair.

The wide backrest and smooth armrests are completely consistent with the style of the surrounding seats, yet they have a unique "newborn" luster.

This seat of parliament belongs to him, Star Abyss Lord Lin Yi of the Star Abyss!

The moment the seats materialized, an invisible wave swept through, connecting and binding permissions with the entire Council Hall's system.

Lin Yi stopped in front of the chair, faced the circular area directly ahead, and bowed slightly to greet Lord Hai Hong was presiding over the meeting, and all the Venerables present.

"Please take a seat, Councilor Star Abyss." Lord Hai Hong's tone softened slightly.

Lin Yi then turned around and sat down comfortably on the brand-new azure jade throne.

The seat has a warm and smooth feel, subtly resonating with his own inherent Origin Law time and space.

A virtual light screen automatically unfolded before him, visible only to him, displaying the preliminary agenda of the meeting, summaries of some proposals to be considered, and a description of the basic rules of the Council Hall.

At this point, he officially became a member of the highest authority of the Human Race.

Lin Yi felt little emotional, only a heavy sense of responsibility quietly growing within him.

From then on, many of his decisions would no longer concern only himself and those close to him, but would also be related to the fate of Human Race's vast territory spanning billions of light-years and trillions of its people.

The Xuan Yan, seated to his left, transmitted his voice, "Very good. The formalities are complete. Next, the routine agenda."

Lin Yi nodded slightly to indicate that he understood.

"Next, we will proceed with the second item on the agenda," Lord Hai Hong said swiftly, wasting no time, "To review the proposal regarding adjustments to the allocation of resources in the frontier star regions and the rotation plan for the garrison lords. The proposal was jointly submitted by the Star Realm Army and the Logistics Directorate, and the details are as follows..."

The meeting then entered the regular agenda review phase.

The esteemed leaders discussed a range of important matters concerning the survival and development of their people, including the situation on the Frontline, resource allocation, technological research and development, diplomatic strategies, and internal governance.

The debates were sometimes heated, sometimes calm, but always kept within the bounds of reason.

Each lord represents the interests of their own power, faction, and even the path of cultivation, but when faced with the overall interests of the community, most disputes can eventually be resolved through compromise or a middle ground.

As a newly elected legislator, Lin Yi spent most of his time listening and observing.

He quickly absorbed this high-level information that he had never had access to before, by reviewing detailed background information, data analysis, and summaries of viewpoints from different factions through the virtual screen in front of him.

The Xuan Yan would occasionally transmit a few words to him, explaining the historical origins of a certain topic or the stance behind the speeches of several Venerables.

He discovered that the Human Race's Supreme Council operated more efficiently and pragmatically than he had anticipated.

The Venerable Lords have endless lifespans and extensive knowledge. They rarely engage in meaningless squabbles. Many complex issues can be resolved through several rounds of debate and with the approval of several top or heavyweight Venerable Lords, after which a preliminary consensus can be reached and submitted to Lord Hai Hong for consolidation.

Time passed as each issue was deliberated.

Time slipped away silently as discussions unfolded on issues concerning the fate of ethnic groups and those that could affect billions of light-years of territory and countless lives.

When Lord Hai Hong announced the end of the discussion on the last core issue, "The Strategic Focus and Resource Allocation Direction of the Race in the Next Epoch," and the vote was completed, the atmosphere in the entire Council Hall quietly underwent some indescribable change.

The solemn voice of Lord Hai Hong rang out once more. "All the pre-set agenda items for this plenary session have been reviewed. Now, in accordance with Article 1 of the <Charter of the Human Race Supreme Council>, we request the Supreme Speaker to give final approval to the resolutions of this session."

As soon as the words were spoken, all the Venerable Lord Rank councilors in the hall, including the innermost councilors, whether they had been resting with their eyes closed or reviewing documents, silently straightened their postures and turned their gazes to the white jade chair that had remained empty at the very front of the circular council area.

The seat was originally empty.

But in the next instant, a figure appeared silently and sat down peacefully.

The Eternal Beginning Dominator.

Lord Hai Hong bowed and respectfully presented the light screen, which contained all the results of the meeting's deliberations, to the direction of the Eternal Beginning Dominator.

The light curtain automatically flew up and hovered in front of the Eternal Beginning Dominator.

The Eternal Beginning Dominator did not check immediately; he first nodded slightly. "Thank you all for your hard work."

These four simple words brought a solemn look to the faces of many venerable figures.

Then, the gaze of the Eternal Beginning Dominator fell upon the light screen.

He first looked at the section on newly added members of parliament.

"Star Abyss Lord, Lin Yi, join the Supreme Council." The Eternal Beginning Dominator slowly announced, "Approved."