Lin Yi simply shook his head at everyone's offers. His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness.
"Dad, Uncle, Uncle Jianjun, listen to me."
"I know everyone's worried about me, but things are different now."
Lin Yi pointed out the window. "Everyone knows how many monsters are lurking downstairs. After this Source Energy enhancement, and with this armor, I'm only somewhat confident I can protect myself."
His gaze swept over Chen Yu, Zhou Yuxuan, and the others. "But bring other people along? It's not that I'm looking down on anyone. If we charge down there now, it'll be close-quarters combat, a bloody fight. I can't guarantee I'll be able to support you in time, so there's a good chance of unnecessary casualties. And we don't have any medicine."
Seeing the displeasure on everyone's faces, Lin Yi changed tack.
"What you need to do right now is conserve your strength. Even if I'm not injured when I get back, I'll definitely be exhausted. Then I'll have to rely on all of you to defend this place."
"Also, Uncle, Ah Yu."
Lin Yi turned to Chen Yu, who was still holding his club, and gave him a specific task. "There's something else important I need you to help me with."
Chen Yu froze for a moment, then hurriedly asked, "What is it? Just say the word, Brother Yi!"
At the word "important," he immediately straightened up.
"Come outside with me in a moment. Stay on the second floor—you don't need to go down. Find a good angle, and when I go downstairs to deal with those monsters, record a video. Uncle, take a shield and weapons and protect him, while also helping cover me."
"Huh?"
Chen Yu looked utterly baffled, almost wondering if his ears were playing tricks on him.
Facing the confused looks from Chen Yu and the others, Lin Yi calmly explained, "The fight footage is for a tutorial later."
He paused slightly. "I'm sure I'm not the only one who's obtained the Source Energy Guidance Technique. Once I've dealt with the trouble downstairs, I plan to record a video."
Lin Yi pointed to his temple. "I'll explain how I overcame the key obstacles in the Source Energy Guidance Technique, as well as what to keep in mind when absorbing Source Energy Crystals afterward. Since the internet is still working, I want to upload it as soon as possible."
Chen Yu seemed to catch on to something and asked tentatively, "You want to make a tutorial video?"
"Exactly."
Lin Yi nodded. "There's too much information in the Guidance Technique. Even if people get their hands on it, they may not know how to get started. I was lucky enough to make progress relatively quickly, so I might as well explain some of the key points as plainly as I can, especially the particularly obscure parts about guiding Source Energy particles through the body."
His voice carried a hint of emotion. "I've been thinking that one person can only do so much. If I put my experience online, the sooner everyone gets started with Source Energy, the more people we can save."
From the corner, Zhou Yuxuan suddenly interjected, "So the fight video is proof?"
"That's right."
Lin Yi's lips curled slightly. "Who's going to believe empty claims online? Only if I show what I can do will people take my explanation seriously."
He sighed. "Otherwise, who'd believe an ordinary student could understand Source Energy cultivation? A demonstration like the one I gave you wouldn't be nearly as impressive as fighting monsters."
Lin Yi wore an expression of noble resolve, but beneath the surface, his mind was turning over more ambitious plans.
Besides helping others, this video is also a stepping stone. If I can establish a reputation during the initial phase of the disaster, I'll be able to get involved with the official system sooner and exert influence.
"Atta boy!" Zhou Jianjun was the first to break the silence, slapping his thigh. "That's the right way to handle it! Chen Yu and I will go out with you."
"Exactly!" Lin Ruiming nodded, his eyes full of pride. "That's my good son!"
Chen Yu suddenly understood, excitement lighting up his face. "Got it, Brother Yi! I'll find the trickiest angle. I guarantee I'll get clear, explosive footage!"
The atmosphere, which had been thick with worry and shame, was now eased by a shared sense of pride.
In a world under the shadow of disaster, they weren't just survivors passively fighting to stay alive. They could also take part in changing the course of this catastrophe.
Lin Yi gave his armor one last inspection, then confirmed solemnly, "Everyone understand? Then let's go."
Meanwhile.
In the main control room of the Emerald Whisper Starship, in orbit around Blue Star.
Irelia was studying a holographic display of real-time battles across Blue Star's continents when a series of urgent alerts interrupted her.
The crystal on her forehead glimmered. "Xingyu, what's wrong?"
The virtual Little Sprite leaped out of the console, its wings beating rapidly. "Master, abnormal data detected! A life-form on the surface of TC-YHLHXB-ZJ-G-7392113 has successfully guided Source Energy into its body!"
Irelia froze slightly. Her slender fingers swept across the console, bringing up the data details. "That's impossible. The trial only began less than four hours ago."
The image unfolded, showing the moment blue light gathered at Lin Yi's fingertips.
Irelia stared intently at the armored youth, her delicate face filled with surprise. "The Blue Star Civilization absolutely has no Source Energy inheritance. No one taught him, yet he's already mastered the basics of Source Energy?"
When her grandmother had personally guided her cultivation, it had taken her three whole days just to get started—and her family had hailed her as a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius.
And this young man before her...
"Pull up his records."
A hint of urgency crept into Irelia's voice, though she herself didn't notice it.
Xingyu's wings fluttered lightly as countless streams of data interwove in the air.
As the Guardian of the Blue Star Civilization, Irelia's shipboard AI, Xingyu, had access to all the information generated by the Blue Star Civilization since it had entered the information age.
A moment later, a detailed file appeared:
[Lin Yi, male, 18 years old, from Helu City, Xia Kingdom; incoming freshman at Qingteng University; parents are both ordinary employees; no special background; no unusual experiences.]
Irelia quickly scanned these utterly ordinary details, her brow furrowing tighter and tighter.
At last, her eyes settled on "perfect score in physics on the college entrance exam," and she fell into thought.
"Keep an eye on this individual."
She spoke softly, unconsciously rubbing the edge of the console with her fingertip. "If he can maintain this rate of growth..."
Xingyu tilted its head. "Do you think he'll receive a high rating, Master?"
Irelia didn't answer immediately.
She turned to look through the porthole at the black, shuttle-shaped spacecraft, her expression complex.
If that young man really was the kind of prodigy capable of earning a rating of level seven or higher, then when Xu Chen was in a good mood, the odds of getting a chance to obtain a communication seal might increase considerably.
But in the long history of the Spirit Race, she had seen far too many fleeting geniuses who dazzled everyone at first, only to quickly sink into mediocrity.
"Keep monitoring him, and give me a detailed growth-curve report regularly."
Irelia took one last look at Lin Yi preparing for battle on the screen, then turned and walked toward the observation deck.
Xingyu tilted its head, waiting for her to say more, but its master had already fallen silent, gazing out at the vast starry sky.
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