Pretending to be a genius starts with the civilization advancement assessment.

Chapter 300 The Lord's Past, The Scheme of Law (7.1K)

Lord Tiange did not turn around, but continued to gaze up at the phantom of the stone spear, as if it were the only thing worth paying attention to in this place.

His body, though not particularly imposing beneath his grey robe, possessed an imposing aura; even his mere silhouette was enough to make ordinary cultivators at the Transcendent Realm tremble.

Lord Xuan Yan had dealt with Tian Ge several times and knew that this was his nature, so he did not take offense and said to himself, "I intend to nominate one person to be included in the special genius cultivation list. This person is named Lin Yi. He has been cultivating for more than three hundred years, has reached the Star Core level, and has comprehended the five rules of time and space, life and death, and gold."

"Lin Yi."

Lord Tiange finally turned around slowly.

It was a face with sharp, angular features, as if carved by a knife and axe, with short hair standing on end like iron halberds, and eyes so sharp they seemed to be able to cut through the laws of nature.

His gaze fell on Xuan Yan, and he asked directly, "Is he the one you want to nominate?"

Xuan Yan nodded slightly: "Indeed, you know him too?"

"know."

A sharp smile appeared on the lips of Lord Tiange. "He's a good kid. He did something impressive while fighting on the border. The border legion made a promotional video about it, and I thought it was good, so I gave it a push."

Xuan Yan suddenly realized.

He was so focused on his own affairs that he didn't pay much attention to these things.

"Oh it's you."

Xuan Yan's tone was unreadable, "Qian Huan didn't mention it. I thought it was just normal propaganda from the Star Realm Army."

"Normal advertising?"

Tian Ge scoffed, "The Star Realm Army fights countless battles every day, many more brutal and glorious than that. How could a battle at the Star Core level be so easily pushed into the limelight? It's just because that kid is to our liking, and it's also a way to give a warning to some of those so-called geniuses who are afraid of fighting and only know how to shut themselves away and cultivate in seclusion."

He looked at Xuan Yan, "So, you want us to sign together and make an exception to include him on the list?"

"Yes."

Xuan Yan frankly admitted, "Given his current potential and growth rate, the conventional resource supply cycle can no longer keep up with his needs. Only the special resource pool in the list has things that are more suitable for him."

Tian Ge remained silent for a moment, without answering immediately.

He turned his gaze back to the phantom of the stone spear, as if weighing something.

Xuan Yan did not urge him, but simply stood and waited.

He knew Tian Ge's personality; he was straightforward and hated beating around the bush.

Agree is a no, and disagree is a no.

To Xuan Yan's surprise, Tian Ge did not hesitate for long.

"can."

Lord Tiange's voice was crisp and clear, "I will add my name."

A hint of surprise flashed in Xuan Yan's eyes.

He knew that Tian Ge's attitude towards the list had always been complicated, even somewhat dissatisfied, so his quick agreement surprised him.

"Don't you want to ask a few more questions? For example, is he reliable? Is his future path clear? What controversies might arise from making an exception?" Xuan Yan couldn't help but ask.

"Why ask such nonsense?" Tian Ge turned around and faced Xuan Yan directly. "I promoted him within the Star Boundary Army, so naturally I knew about his past. Otherwise, if something went wrong, wouldn't we become a laughing stock? Of course, the most important point..."

He emphasized, "I'm willing to give this kid my name. Not just because he's talented, but also because his performance in the border legion proves that he's not the kind of person who only knows how to take and not how to give back, nor is he the kind of person who occupies human resources while thinking about the benefits of the spirit race!"

As he spoke, Tian Ge took a step forward, his gray robe fluttering without wind, and a chilling aura spread out, even causing the chaotic air currents emanating from the stone spear phantom in the hall to stagnate for a moment.

“Xuan Yan, as a resident member of the Supreme Council, you should know better than I do.” Tian Ge’s voice deepened, carrying undisguised coldness. “The original purpose of establishing the list was to concentrate resources and cultivate pillars who can truly support the human race.”

"It is a pillar, not a decoration, and certainly not a parasite that only knows how to suck blood!"

"But look at the list these past few years, what kind of people have emerged? Talent? They certainly met the requirements. They comprehended the laws rapidly and their realms improved dramatically. But then what?"

Tian Ge's voice echoed in the empty hall.

"He only cares about cultivation and his own future! He avoids the summons of his clan whenever possible, ignores the flames of war on the border, and is indifferent to the power struggles within the alliance."

"It's as if they've become eternal, become supreme beings, just to enjoy their own freedom and ease. At most, they'll look after their own bloodline and family, and that's considered more than enough!"

"Even more so, some individuals have been flirting with the Spirit Clan, maintaining overly close relationships. Core members of their families and even their businesses have secretly migrated to the Spirit Clan's territory, and they themselves spend most of their time there!"

"They call it an exchange and learning, drawing on the pinnacle of the Spirit Race's civilization. In reality, they probably do more for the Spirit Race in dealing with their troubles and exploring secret realms than for the human race. At the highest meeting, they keep talking about how the Spirit Race is a pinnacle race and how we humans should adapt and learn from them. It's utterly nonsensical!"

At this point, Tian Ge seemed to suddenly remember something and paused, "Xuan Yan, what I just said wasn't about you."

"As everyone knows, you went to the Spirit Clan early on, and even the key resources for your advancement to the Source Law were provided by the Spirit Clan. You did not use any resources from the Human Clan. Later, you were willing to return to the Human Clan with Qianhuan and have been working tirelessly for the development of the Human Clan ever since. I, Tiange, respect this choice and sense of responsibility."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yan revealed a complex smile. "Tian Ge, you don't need to go out of your way to save face for me. The rumors circulating outside about attacking the Spirit Clan and taking back his daughter are just a whitewash, a way to save face for both sides."

He shook his head slightly, his voice low: "Back then, which of you old buddies doesn't know that I was redeemed?"

"If the Overlord hadn't personally intervened and reached some kind of agreement with the Spirit Clan back then, I would never have been able to leave the Spirit Clan's territory with Qianhuan, let alone return to the Human Clan to take up an important position. As for what price the Overlord paid and what conditions he promised, to this day, I still don't know the details."

The hall was silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of the stone spear phantom breathing out air.

Tian Ge noticed the fleeting complex emotion in Xuan Yan's eyes, and his sharp gaze softened slightly.

Why bother with that?

He smiled and advised, "No matter what price we paid back then, looking back now, it was all worth it."

"If you hadn't returned, the development of our human race's virtual network system would never have reached its current state. Although I don't understand those complex technologies and architectures, I've heard reports from my subordinates that our self-developed virtual network can now achieve instantaneous coverage at the Starlink level."

When Tian Ge mentioned the area he was in charge of, the bitterness in Xuan Yan's eyes subsided slightly.

"It's only Starlink-level coverage; it's still far from sufficient."

"The stability, carrying capacity, and depth of information penetration and rule simulation of virtual networks, especially lossless real-time communication and consciousness connection across large star systems, are critical bottlenecks that must be overcome before our network can be considered truly independent."

"It needs to achieve at least cosmic-level coverage and stable core performance to be considered barely usable and able to partially replace the reliance on the Pan-Spirit Alliance virtual network."

He sighed, "We're still a long way off. The virtual network is the nervous system for communication, cultivation, and even war. As long as we don't have the ability to completely break free from the Pan-Spirit Alliance's virtual network, we will remain subject to others."

Tian Ge nodded solemnly. Although he was skilled in warfare, he also deeply understood the importance of information and communication autonomy.

"I only know how to fight and kill. I'm far inferior to real geniuses like you when it comes to comprehensive things like construction and technology."

Tian Ge spoke frankly and sincerely, "Although we haven't had much contact, I've seen everything you've done over the years. I trust you as a person, and I believe that what you've done is for the good of humanity. In the future, if you need any help from me in building this virtual network, or in other matters that require military support or clearing obstacles, please don't hesitate to ask."

Xuan Yan looked at Tian Ge, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Thank you. I will not hesitate to ask if you need my help."

This little incident eased the tense atmosphere in the hall, which had been somewhat strained due to the list issue.

But then, Tian Ge stared intently at Xuan Yan.

"I intend to formally propose amendments to the rules governing the list at the next Supreme Council meeting. This would involve increasing the weight given to ethnic identity and past contributions during the review process, or adding some mandatory obligations."

"Since they enjoy resources far exceeding those of ordinary people, it is only natural for them to assume corresponding responsibilities for their community!"

"Even if we use massive resources to force some selfish geniuses to reach the Source Law level, what good will it do? What use is a Lord who only cares about himself and is indifferent to the rise and fall of his race? The millions of soldiers of our Star Boundary Army shed blood and sacrificed their lives on the front lines to protect such people?"

Xuan Yan remained silent.

What Tian Ge said, how could he not know?
Before humanity became a powerful race, things were fine. But after becoming a powerful race, especially in the last hundred thousand years, as humanity gradually rose to prominence, it attracted more and more attention from all races, and various overt and covert methods came one after another.

In recent years, he has seen many exceptionally talented geniuses who, in the process of growing up, gradually regard "ethnic responsibility" as a burden or even a hindrance.

The resources provided by the directory are almost unconditionally generous, with the initial intention of encouraging them to focus wholeheartedly on reaching new heights.

But when some people actually reach the top, they forget who built the ladder for them and who is guarding the foundation beneath it.

"There are a few that you nominated."

Tian Ge stared at Xuan Yan, "Now that he has become the Venerable Lord, he has repeatedly shirked his responsibilities when the Supreme Council assigned him tasks, either because he was in a critical period of seclusion or because he had reached a crucial stage in his cultivation."

"Last time, when we specifically asked him to go on duty to guard the Black Abyss Secret Realm, guess what? He immediately sent a message saying that he was comprehending an ancient secret technique and it was not advisable to interrupt it, so we suggested that someone else be sent."

Tian Ge sneered: "Comprehend secret techniques? I had people investigate. During that time, he was clearly in his own divine kingdom, entertaining so-called friends from the spirit race. Did he really think that becoming a Venerable Lord meant he could transcend worldly affairs and disregard even the most basic obligations?"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yan gave a wry smile: "When the rules for the list were first established, we certainly did not anticipate the situation that would arise today."

"As you know, when dealing with geniuses who aspire to become lords or even higher, overly strict rules and regulations may stifle their spirituality and potential. It is more about self-awareness and the constraints of tradition."

"Tradition? Self-awareness?"

Tian Ge couldn't help but raise his voice, "For those who have long lost their sense of community and only have themselves left, tradition and self-awareness are worthless!"

"They had already calculated that as long as they didn't openly betray the human race and were strong enough, the race wouldn't really do anything to them. After all, the cost of cultivating a Venerable Lord is too high."

Xuan Yan remained silent.

He knew where Tian Ge's anger stemmed from.

As a hardliner in the military, Tian Ge had witnessed the sacrifices of soldiers on the front lines. What he found most intolerable was the indifference and selfishness of certain vested interests in the rear, especially those "exquisite egoists" who enjoyed the most resources but bore the least responsibility.

The list of geniuses, especially those who shirked their responsibilities after being promoted, or even those who harbored ambiguous relationships with the Spirit Race, undoubtedly touched a nerve with him.

"Rules changes have far-reaching implications."

Xuan Yan slowly said, "The existing geniuses on the list, the forces behind them, and those who have already advanced to the Venerable Lord level will face tremendous resistance. Some people may even say that this is a constraint on geniuses, which is not conducive to the cultivation of our human race's top combat power and is a step backward in history."

"Restriction? Reversing?"

Tian Ge scoffed, his voice resolute, "If even the most basic responsibilities to one's clan are seen as a constraint, then such a genius is better left uncultivated!"

"Our human race was able to rise from humble beginnings and stand tall in the Pan-Spirit Alliance, not because of a group of so-called geniuses who only care about themselves or are even two-faced, but because of hundreds of millions of heroes who are willing to shed their blood for the race!"

“The directory resource is a public resource of the community, not a private ladder for a few people, much less a breeding ground for cultivating expatriates.”

Tian Ge looked at Xuan Yan and softened his tone, "Xuan Yan, I know you are concerned about balance and stability, but this trend cannot be allowed to continue."

"If everyone follows those role models, the list will become a breeding ground for selfish and powerful individuals, or even centrifugal ones, rather than a cradle for cultivating pillars of the community. If this continues, people's hearts will be scattered, their backbones will be weak, and no matter how many venerable lords there are, they will be nothing more than a pile of loose sand, or even just doing the work for others."

Xuan Yan fell silent again.

Inside the hall, only the faint sound of the stone spear phantom spitting out chaotic energy could be heard.

After a long silence, Xuan Yan sighed softly. "You're right."

He raised his head, his gaze regaining its deep, ancient depths. "This trend must not continue. It's time to re-examine the original purpose of the list. Letting it run rampant will only cause it to stray further from its original intention."

“If you propose to amend the list rules and improve the rights and responsibilities clauses in the next Supreme Council meeting, I will second it.”

Upon hearing this, the sharp light in the eyes of Lord Tiange softened slightly. He nodded and said nothing more: "Alright."

The matter was settled, and Xuan Yan did not linger any longer.

“I will complete the process of nominating names as soon as possible,” Xuan Yan said.

"Ah."

Tian Ge responded, his gaze returning to the illusory stone spear, as if he were once again immersed in comprehending the supreme path of slaughter, leaving only one sentence behind.

“Tell that kid that the list is an opportunity, but also a responsibility. Make good use of that resource and don’t let me, or the soldiers on the front lines who are inspired by him, down.”

Xuan Yan nodded slightly, his figure fading away from the spot, silently leaving the Hidden Edge Hall.

Silence returned to the hall.
-
Virtual network, a space exclusively for Qianhuan.

Lin Yi had been waiting here for about half a standard hour.

He remained calm, standing quietly by the waterside pavilion, watching the koi carp gracefully swaying their tails in the pond. He sorted through his insights after the fusion of the five domains, while also pondering Senior Sister Qianhuan's suggestions regarding the rules of water.

The senior sister told him to "wait here for a moment" and then disappeared on her own.

Lin Yi didn't think much of it, and he didn't know where his senior sister had gone or who she was talking to. He knew that he just needed to wait patiently.

Suddenly, light and shadow shifted around them, and the misty fog condensed, revealing Qianhuan's figure.

Her flowing robes were still magnificent, her bare feet were still as white as jade, and she wore her usual faint smile, as if she had only been gone for a short while.

"Junior brother, have you been waiting long?"

Qianhuan walked to the edge of the pool, sat down casually, and stirred the clear water.

"Sister."

Lin Yi turned and bowed, neither saying he was in a hurry nor that he wasn't, but simply asked, "Is there any result?"

"Well, that's a good start."

Qianhuan nodded and said with a light laugh, "Your nomination to be included in the list will be jointly submitted by the two Venerables. If there are no major surprises, it's only a matter of time before it passes the review."

Lin Yi was startled upon hearing this.

Although his senior sister spoke casually, he was no novice and naturally understood the weight of the words "joint nomination by the two venerable masters".

"Thank you very much, Senior Sister!" Lin Yi said sincerely.

He didn't know the specifics of the process, but he could guess that his senior sister must have put in a lot of effort.

"Thank me for what?"

Qianhuan waved his hand, "It's because you're good enough. If your talent wasn't up to par, the Lord wouldn't have agreed."

Then, she changed the subject, her tone becoming slightly more formal: "However, before you are officially added to the list, and for a period of time after you are added, there is something you need to pay special attention to."

"Please speak, senior sister," Lin Yi said solemnly.

"Regarding your death rules being perfected and the successful fusion of the five domains," Qianhuan said to Lin Yi, "do not reveal this to outsiders for the time being, especially in public. Conceal this part of your strength as much as possible."

Lin Yi was slightly taken aback:
"Hidden? Senior sister is worried about someone standing out from the crowd?"

"That's one aspect, but not the main reason."

Qianhuan explained, "Recently, there has been a lot of undercurrent within the Pan-Spirit Alliance, and the actions of various races have been more frequent than before. Although there may not be any god-level spies among the alien races lurking in our human territory for a long time, there are definitely star-domain level and world-derivation level spies."

Her tone was calm, yet carried a hint of warning.

"I didn't remind you of these things before because ordinary geniuses, even the best among the Star Core level, are not worth activating these precious hidden cards unless they reach certain core levels or show sufficient potential. The risk and reward are not proportional."

"But if you continue to showcase your talent and demonstrate the strength to win first place in the Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle, then it will be a different story."

Lin Yi frowned slightly: "They dare to make a move in the heart of the human race's territory?"

“A direct assassination is extremely risky, especially for a target like you who is on the list,” Qianhuan said. “But covert methods are hard to guard against. There are many ways to poison you, lure you into dangerous secret realms, or incite conflicts between you and other geniuses or forces.”

"Although once you are officially included in the list, the clan will provide you with corresponding defensive forces, including covert guards and early warning mechanisms, it is always good to conceal your strength in order to reduce unnecessary trouble."

She looked at Lin Yi and added, "Of course, your main body is stationed at the border legion fortress, which is a key location of the Star Boundary Army and is heavily defended. As long as it is not attacked by an Eternal God-level powerhouse, you are safe. When you go out, you should use your clones more often, so you can withstand the losses."

"Therefore, security risks are not actually the primary consideration for me advising you to keep your skills to yourself."

Lin Yi astutely grasped the key point: "That..."

Qian Huan's lips curled into a sly smile: "It's to prevent the Spirit Clan from targeting us prematurely."

"Is the Eldar deliberately targeting us?"

Lin Yi was somewhat surprised. "Is it because of the Genius Battle? But isn't the Genius Battle a stage for fair competition among geniuses of all races in the Pan-Spirit Alliance? As the organizer and leader, would the Spirit Race openly target a particular participant? If this is exposed, how can the other races be convinced?"

"It's not the kind of hostile, alien-like targeting you're thinking of."

Qianhuan shook her head. "Instead, they might use some... well, unconventional methods and resources to ensure that the title of number one is absolutely not lost."

She hesitated for a moment, then decided to give Lin Yi a heads-up: "Did you know that the geniuses sent by the Spirit Clan to participate in the Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle are usually not the strongest geniuses of their generation?"

"Not the strongest of his generation?"

Lin Yi was slightly taken aback; he truly did not know that such a thing existed.

Next, Qianhuan briefly explained to Lin Yi the Ling Clan's "Primordial Ancestral Court" internal selection process: the top three receive generous rewards but do not participate in the Genius Battle, and usually only the fourth-ranked player is sent to fight. He also explained the strategy of sending the top three or even the actual first-ranked player to fight when the assessment is that the fourth-ranked player is unstable.

"The true number one selected within the Spirit Clan's Primordial Ancestral Court, at the Star Core level, has usually already pushed the rule fusion to the seventh or even eighth level."

Qianhuan's tone carried a hint of emotion, "Moreover, the rules they comprehend are by no means ordinary. More importantly, if they feel that a certain foreign genius is a great enough threat, in order to ensure victory, they may be allowed to use some treasures or secret techniques that are normally forbidden or extremely precious to greatly enhance their strength in a short period of time."

She looked at Lin Yi with a sincere gaze: "Junior brother, it's not that I don't trust your talent and potential. But we must face reality."

"The treasures and resources of our human race are indeed inferior to those of the Spirit Race, who have ruled the Pan-Spirit Alliance for countless years. Their resource reserves are deeper and their methods are more diverse."

"If they prematurely perceive you as a threat that can only be suppressed by unconventional means, then before you actually step onto the final stage, you may face an unconventional opponent who is built up with all sorts of precious resources."

"This will put you in a very passive position."

Qianhuan concluded, "Unless we invest more and more precious resources to help you deal with it, we cannot, like the Spirit Race, easily use some of our most treasured reserves for the sake of winning a Star Core-level Genius Battle."

Lin Yi finally understood.

The senior sister told him to hide his talents, but her main purpose wasn't primarily to worry about his safety, although that was a factor. Her main purpose was to "steal a chicken."

As long as he only demonstrates the power of the fusion of four rules.

In this way, even if the Eldar suspects that he is hiding something, in their evaluation system he may just be a very competitive genius, but not necessarily a threat level that "requires breaking with convention and using extraordinary means".

In this case, the Eldar will likely still only send their usual "fourth" member, or at most use the weakest one of the top three.

He can then suddenly reveal his hand in the finals or crucial battles, catching his opponent off guard and seizing the greatest victory at a relatively low cost.

“I understand, senior sister.” A thoughtful look flashed in Lin Yi’s eyes. “Feign weakness to the enemy, and accumulate strength within. Unleash it at the final moment, in order to obtain the most secure victory with the least cost. In essence, it’s to get that first place more economically and efficiently.”

"exactly."

Qianhuan nodded approvingly, "It saves us some of our precious resources and increases our chances of winning, so why not?"

"After all, the first reward of the Genius Battle is fixed, and the resources in the list are not something that comes easily; each one embodies the hard work of the clan. Wouldn't it be more worthwhile to use them in more crucial areas, such as helping you break through to the next realm and comprehend the laws, than to waste them on the arms race of the Genius Battle at the Star Core level?"

Lin Yi wholeheartedly agreed.

He was used to leaving room for maneuver and concealing some of his strength as a backup plan.

His senior's suggestion coincided with his own style of doing things.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister. I know what to do now."

Lin Yi solemnly replied, "Before the Genius Battle, I will only demonstrate the realm of the fusion of the four rules. The matter of the fusion of the Death Rule and the fifth rule will never be easily revealed."

"Well, as long as you have an idea."

Qianhuan stood up, looking much more relaxed. "I've told you everything I needed to. As for the list, just wait for good news. I'll notify you when the process is complete."

"Next, proceed step by step and study the rules of water carefully. Study the notes and techniques that your senior sister gave you. If you have any questions after you have mastered the rules of water, you can ask me at any time."

"Yes, Senior Sister." Lin Yi bowed.

"Go."

Qianhuan waved her hand, her figure becoming hazy. "Cultivate diligently. Reaching the threshold of the roster is just the beginning. The road ahead is long. Senior sister looks forward to you bringing surprises to the human race in the Genius Battle."

As soon as she finished speaking, Qianhuan's figure vanished like a dream.

Lin Yi stood alone amidst the mountains and rivers, his thoughts churning.

"While it would be ideal to steal a chicken, we also need to be prepared for a direct confrontation if we are exposed."

Lin Yi thought to himself, "The true number one among the Spirit Race is at the seventh or eighth level, let's say the eighth. If some special method is added, it might even reach the ninth level."

"Then, I need to reach at least the ninth level; otherwise, it's not necessarily safe."

"Although my senior sister didn't say it just now, it's clear from the fact that it requires nominations from two Venerable Lords that it must not have been easy for me to be included in the list."

"Therefore, I must get first place to prove to my senior sister and to prove that the two Venerable Lords did not recommend the wrong person."

"And to secure first place..."

Lin Yi silently calculated in his mind, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes.

"We need to find a way to try and master the rules!"

(End of this chapter)