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

Chapter 302 The Arrival of the Guardians, First Encounter with the Origin (Three-in-One)

The next moment, their figures vanished simultaneously, and then they appeared at the same time outside the main port of the fortress.

The leader, a powerful expert at the Transcendent Realm level dressed in a dark blue battle robe, calmly swept his gaze across the steel fortress before him, a place etched with the marks of bloodshed and war.

The twenty Star Domain-level guards behind him were like twenty silent statues, their auras completely concealed, yet they subtly formed some kind of mysterious formation, connected with the aura of the captain at the head, as if they were an inseparable whole.

Almost at the same time they appeared, the massive alloy gate facing this direction of the fortress slowly opened with a low rumble.

A group of figures dressed in the uniforms of border regiment officers, led by General Ruger, strode out to greet them.

As an invincible powerhouse at the Star Domain level and a powerful figure like the commander of the Border Legion, Luger's status was enough to allow him to speak on equal terms with ordinary Realm-level powerhouses.

However, Luger's expression was different from the previous visits by Transcendent Realm level experts; he appeared extremely serious.

Because the moment the other party appeared and the identification signal reached the command center, he already knew the identity of the visitor.

Astral Army, Sentinel Legion!

The Astronautical Army, as the most powerful military force of the human race, is also divided into subdivisions.

The main force consists of conventional border guards, mobile strike units, and expeditionary exploration units, while the "Guardian Legion" is the elite force within the Astral Army that directly obeys the Supreme Council.

They rarely participate in conventional warfare, and are more often responsible for guarding key locations, carrying out special classified missions, and protecting certain important figures.

A standard Guardian Legion squad consists of one Realm-level captain and twenty elite Starfield-level members.

The squad in front of us perfectly matched the description in terms of personnel configuration, clothing details, and the deep-rooted discipline and elite temperament.

Ruger's mind raced.

Why would a squad from the Royal Guard personally descend upon his remote border fortress?
He immediately ruled out the possibility of paving the way for important figures' military missions or inspections, as such situations would involve different procedures and notification methods.

So the only special factor left for me seems to be that young man, Lin Yi, who rose to prominence at an incredible speed and established himself here with the Dongfeng Mercenary Group as his base.

In the blink of an eye, Luger had already arrived with several star-level deputies.

He raised his hand first, giving a standard legion greeting, "Astral Army, 93778th Frontier Legion, Legion Commander Ruger, welcomes my colleagues from the Sentinel Legion. May I ask what brings you here today?"

His gaze was mainly fixed on the captain of the Realm of Derivation, while he was also secretly observing the twenty Star Domain level team members.

These guards, though individually not as strong as him, who had been honed to the point of being invincible in star domain battles, possessed a harmonious and unified aura, with an indescribable tacit understanding and connection among them.

Ruger had heard that the Guardian Legion possessed a powerful joint secret technique, and that if these twenty Star Domain level beings joined forces, they would be able to briefly contend with or even threaten a World Derivation level being.

The captain of the leading team, Yanjie, did not show any disrespect to Luger because he was only a Star Domain level officer. He first raised his hand to return the salute seriously, and then said, "General Luger, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Nagfeng from the Guard Legion. My unit has been ordered to come here to find Lord Lin Yi, to convey the Supreme Council's resolution, and to carry out the follow-up escort mission."

The words were concise and clear, yet they gave Ruger a jolt.

His mission to find Lin Yi confirmed his suspicions.

But what bothered him even more was the other party's wording.

"Lord Lin Yi!"
A squad leader of the elite guards at the level of a Derivative Realm used the honorific "Your Excellency" to address a young man at the level of a Star Core Realm.

This is highly unusual in a hierarchical military system that places particular emphasis on strength.

Unless, of course, this Star Core-level individual's status has risen to such a level that even a World-level Guard officer must show him sufficient respect.

Supreme Council Resolution: Escort Mission
Several keywords collided in Luger's mind, and combined with Lin Yi's displayed talent, a vague but shocking conjecture gradually emerged.

Could it be.
Ruger suppressed the turmoil in his heart, kept a straight face, and immediately turned to his adjutant beside him and whispered, "Immediately notify the East Peak Mercenary Group's headquarters, Commander Lin Yi, that a special envoy from the Supreme Council has arrived, and ask them to prepare to receive him."

The adjutant received the order and quickly relayed the message through the internal communication network.

At the same time, Luger nodded to Captain Yanjie and said, "Lord Lin Yi is currently at the East Peak Mercenary Group's base inside the fortress. Please follow me."

"Thank you for your trouble, General." Captain Yanjie nodded slightly.

Led by General Ruger, the group entered the fortress.

Along the way, whether it was soldiers on duty or officers and mercenaries passing by, they all turned their heads and secretly guessed the origins of this unfamiliar squad when they felt the invisible pressure emanating from them.

When they saw that even General Luger was personally accompanying and leading the way, they were even more awestruck, knowing that an extraordinary figure had arrived.

At the entrance of the Dongfeng Mercenary Group's base, Lin Yi, having received an urgent notification, was already waiting with Irelia.

Lin Yi was still wearing the Dongfeng Mercenary Group uniform, his aura calm and restrained.

Irelia stood half a step behind him, her expression serious yet tinged with hidden curiosity.

When Lin Yi saw General Luger approaching with a group of unfathomable, unfamiliar powerful figures, his gaze narrowed slightly, and he already knew what was going on.

General Luger stopped first and introduced them: "Commander Lin Yi, this is Captain Nagifeng of the Star Guard Legion, who has been ordered to come and find you."

He cleverly refrained from saying much and handed over the initiative to the Imperial Guard.

Nagi stepped forward, his gaze falling on Lin Yi. He carefully and politely examined him, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. So young, yet his aura was as deep and profound as an abyss. Facing the invisible pressure of their team's aura, he was able to remain so calm and composed. He was truly no ordinary person.

Then, he stood at attention, placed his right hand on his chest, and solemnly saluted, "Astral Army, Guard Legion, 931st Battle Group, 46th Squad, Captain Nagi Feng, here to pay homage to His Excellency Lin Yi on the orders of the Supreme Council and the Human Race Special Genius Cultivation List Management Committee."

Upon hearing the word "audience," General Luger's pupils constricted slightly, and Irelia instinctively covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Even Lin Yi himself was a little surprised.

This ceremony seems overly formal.

Captain Nagi seemed oblivious to everyone's reactions. With a solemn expression, he flipped his hand, revealing an ancient, dark gold metal box.

He opened the metal box and took out a document that was neither paper nor silk, but rather seemed to be a "document" formed by mixing some kind of law energy with strange metal foil.

The document emitted a faint glow, and complex and mysterious runes flowed across its surface.

Nagi held up the special document with both hands, looked directly at Lin Yi, and said loudly:

"Supreme Council Order:"

"Nominated jointly by Venerable Xuan Yan and Venerable Tian Ge, reviewed and approved by the Human Race Special Genius Cultivation List Management Committee, and submitted to the Sovereign for approval."

"It is hereby confirmed that Lin Yi, a Star Core level cultivator, possesses exceptional talent and boundless potential. His character and conduct have passed the assessment, and his identification with and contributions to the race meet the standards. Therefore, he is hereby exceptionally admitted as a formal member of the human race's 'Special Genius Cultivation List'."

"This order shall take effect immediately."

After the document was read aloud, Captain Nagi stepped forward and solemnly handed the document, which symbolized recognition and opportunity, to Lin Yi with both hands.

Lin Yi took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and solemnly accepted it with both hands.

The document felt slightly heavy in my hand, with a peculiar tactile sensation, as if a warm energy flowed into my body through my palm, creating a subtle resonance with my soul.

He knew that this was not just a document, but a special token, and perhaps it even contained some special functions.

"Thank you very much, Captain Nagifeng, for personally delivering this." Lin Yi put away the document and nodded in gratitude.

"This is our duty." Captain Nagi's tone remained respectful, but he relaxed slightly.

"Furthermore, by joint order of the List Management Committee and the Star Force Headquarters, effective immediately, the 46th Squad of the 931st Battle Group of the Guardian Legion, led by me, Nagfeng, will be solely responsible for the core security work of His Excellency Lin Yi during his time on the List, until His Excellency is promoted to the Transcendent Realm level, or until he is transferred to another position."

He paused, looked at Lin Yi, and asked, "According to the regulations of the roster, you may choose to continue cultivating at your current residence, or you may move to the exclusive area for roster members on Origin Star. What are your plans? Our department will immediately deploy the corresponding security plan based on your choice."

All eyes were on Lin Yi.

General Luger's mind was in turmoil.

"List of Special Geniuses to be Cultivated"!
Even with his limited authority, he had only vaguely heard of the name and knew that it was a top-secret plan by the highest levels of the human race to cultivate future pillars of strength. Ordinary star field level beings and even many world-level beings had no chance to know the details.

Unexpectedly, Lin Yi was exceptionally admitted, nominated by two Venerable Lords and reviewed by the Sovereign!

No wonder the Imperial Guards addressed him as "Your Excellency" and performed the audience ceremony.

This young man's future is already a sure thing—an eternal god, or even higher!
Although Irelia didn't know exactly what the list meant, the words "Supreme Council Decree," "Nomination by the Lord," "Approved by the Overlord," and "Dedicated Guardian" were enough for her to understand what an earth-shattering opportunity Lin Yi had obtained.

She couldn't help but turn to look at Lin Yi.

His eyes held both joy for Lin Yi and a hint of inexplicable complexity.

Lin Yi didn't notice any of this. Without hesitation, he gave the answer he had already decided: "I choose to move to Origin Star."

“Understood.” Nagi nodded. “Then, when do you plan to depart? My spaceship is waiting outside and can depart at any time.”

"We can set off now."

Lin Yi decisively said, then turned to Irelia, "Irelia, notify Liu Yuan, Elizabeth, and Zhang Zhen to gather at the entrance of the base immediately and prepare to go to Origin Star with me."

"Yes, leader!"

Preparations had been made well in advance, and Irelia immediately contacted the three of them via communicator.

Then, Lin Yi looked at General Luger, who had a complicated expression.

“General Luger, I am deeply grateful for the care and support the Legion has given us on the border over the years. When I go to Origin Star this time, my clone will remain here to oversee the East Peak Mercenary Group and handle daily affairs. I hope you will continue to take care of me in the future.”

Ruger quickly waved his hand, his tone more polite than ever before, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible respect.

"Lin Yi, you flatter me. The Dongfeng Mercenary Group is a reliable comrade and partner of my 93778 Legion. In the future, as long as it does not violate military regulations, my 93778 Legion will do its best to help you. Here, I wish you a smooth cultivation on Origin Star and that you will reach the pinnacle soon."

Having served as a legion commander for so many years, Ruger was certainly not the arrogant and impetuous type; he quickly adapted to his new position.

The young man before him was no longer the "rising star" who needed his care, but "Your Excellency," who had received the endorsement of the highest level of the human race and was destined to stand at the pinnacle of the race in the future.

Befriending them would only benefit both yourself and the 93778 Legion.

Soon, Liu Yuan, Elizabeth, and Zhang Zhen arrived at top speed.

They had all been notified beforehand, and now seeing the scene at the entrance of the camp, with the legion commander personally accompanying them, a group of terrifyingly powerful strangers, and Commander Lin Yi's serious expression, they immediately understood that it was time to set off.

They dared not ask any questions, but stood at attention awaiting orders. Lin Yi simply said to the three of them, "As the top three meritorious members of the group, you three have been granted the first batch of accompanying qualifications, for a period of one hundred years. Now, set off with me immediately."

The three responded in unison, "Yes, Commander."

Once everyone was present, Nagi Feng made a "please" gesture: "Sir, the spaceship is ready at the port. Please follow me."

Lin Yi nodded to General Luger one last time, and then, accompanied by Irelia, Liu Yuan, Elizabeth, and Zhang Zhen, and guarded by Nagi Feng and his twenty starfield team members, headed towards the port.

Wherever the team went, it attracted even more attention.

Soon, everyone boarded the dark silver Royal Guard's special spaceship.

The interior of the spaceship is much more spacious than the exterior appears, decorated in a simple yet technologically advanced and utilitarian style, with many devices bearing the unique insignia of the Star Guard and the Royal Guard.

As the spaceship's engines silently started, it quietly glided out of the port and disappeared into the deep starry sky. After the spaceship entered a stable cruising state, Nagifeng arranged for the team members to perform their respective duties, while he went to the private rest cabin prepared for Lin Yi.

“Your Excellency, during the voyage, if you need anything, you may call me or any of the team members at any time through the cabin communication,” Nagi said, his attitude still respectful, but more approachable than when they were at the fortress.

Hearing Nagifeng say that, Lin Yi didn't stand on ceremony; he happened to have something he wanted to ask.

He asked Nagi to sit down, "Captain Nagi, there is something I don't understand, and I hope you can enlighten me."

"Your Excellency, please speak."

"As I understand it, the information of members in a training program like the Special Genius Cultivation List should be kept highly confidential to prevent targeting by hostile forces. But judging from today's scene, it seems that they haven't deliberately concealed it?" Lin Yi asked.

After all, the Imperial Guard squad came to pick up the people in such a grand manner, and General Ruger and others were already aware of the existence of the "list".

Upon hearing this, Captain Nagi Feng smiled slightly. "Your considerations are not without merit. The strategy for maintaining the confidentiality of the list of members has evolved over time."

He paused to think for a moment before continuing, "A long time ago, when our human race had not yet joined the ranks of powerful races, our overall strength was relatively weak, and we faced more complex and perilous external pressures and competition, the identities of the members of the list had to be kept strictly confidential."

“Back then, geniuses often had to remain anonymous and receive training and development in secret to avoid risks.”

"But as the overall strength of our human race continued to increase and our position within the Pan-Spirit Alliance became increasingly stable, becoming one of the recognized powerful races, this rule of secrecy was gradually relaxed until it was finally abolished."

Nagi's tone carried a hint of pride, "There are two main reasons."

"Firstly, it's due to objective conditions. The core residential and cultivation areas of the members on the list are fixed in the 'Star Source Zone' of the Origin Star. Although it is heavily guarded and difficult to spy on normally, its special nature cannot be hidden from the intentional investigation of other forces of the same level within the Pan-Spirit Alliance. Rather than trying to cover it up, it is better to face it openly."

“Secondly, and more importantly,” Nagi Feng said with piercing eyes, “when we are strong enough, we will have the confidence and ability to protect our own geniuses.”

He smiled and said, "It is said that this policy change stemmed from the ruler's feelings."

"The Sovereign once said: When we were weak, the geniuses of our clan had to be hidden away like treasures, kept secret for fear of being coveted by others. But if we go through all the trouble to become strong, and still have to make our own geniuses hide, then wouldn't all that strength have been wasted?"

"Moreover, the existence of geniuses on the list is itself a demonstration of the potential and future of our human race. It is a silent deterrent and declaration that our human race has produced many outstanding talents and has successors."

After hearing this, Lin Yi felt enlightened and deeply agreed with the assessment.

This statement gets straight to the point!

The weak must be patient and conceal their abilities to protect themselves, while the strong should confidently display their strength to intimidate others.

The human race has now clearly acquired the qualifications and confidence to "show its strength".

Behind this is the elevation of status achieved through the bloodshed and sacrifice of countless predecessors.

"Thank you for your explanation, Captain. I understand now," Lin Yi said sincerely.

"You're too kind, sir." Nagi waved his hand. "The task of guarding the geniuses on the list is an extremely sought-after job within our Guardian Legion. Being able to get to know a future pillar like yourself in advance and establish a good relationship is a rare opportunity and connection for me and my team."

"Once you arrive at Origin Star and settle in the Star Origin District, you will find that it is not just a simple cultivation holy land."

He only touched on the point briefly, but Lin Yi had already grasped the deeper meaning behind his words.

This doesn't stop him from recalling how, after passing the civilization advancement assessment on Blue Star and being rated as a level 7 potential genius, the entire planet experienced a surge of visits, investments, and connections from representatives of various powerful forces.

However, the stage has now changed from a planet that has just entered interstellar travel to the entire human race, and the level of those we associate with has also risen to a level that was unimaginable back then.

"I'll be relying on Captain Nagi and all the brothers to look after me during this time ahead," Lin Yi said with a smile.

"It is our duty, and we cannot shirk it." Nagi immediately said seriously, then smiled. "It is our honor to travel with you."

The rest of the voyage was uneventful and tedious.

The Guard's ships are of excellent performance, traversing a network of fixed stargate channels to make long-distance jumps.

Lin Yi spent most of his time meditating in his cabin, occasionally exchanging ideas with Nagi Feng to learn some basic knowledge about Origin Star and the Star Realm Army.

Irelia and the other three were assigned to other cabins, where they were making the most of their time to adjust and process the limited information Lin Yi had given them about the "list" and Origin Star.

Time flies, and a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the spaceship had just completed an ultra-long-distance stargate jump and exited from a huge stargate exit.

Almost the instant they left the stargate and entered normal flight, everyone in the cabin clearly felt a change.

Source energy concentration!

The cosmic void outside the spaceship seemed to be filled with invisible, high-concentration energy.

Even through the thick bulkheads and energy shields of the spaceship, everyone could feel the energy activity and purity of the surrounding space, which was far higher than that of the border star system.

With each breath, it seems as if pure energy seeps into the body, invigorating the spirit.

"We have entered the Tianhua Starfield. This is one of the outer barrier areas of the Origin Starfield, and the source energy concentration has reached the level six standard."

Captain Nagi's voice came through the cabin broadcast, "The closer we get to the Origin Star, the higher the concentration will continue to rise. The area where the Origin Star itself is located is a level nine energy enrichment zone."

Level 6 energy source zone, which is already the standard for the core territory of many medium-sized races, is only the "outer barrier zone" here.

Lin Yi and the others were deeply shocked, gaining a more direct understanding of the profound heritage of the human race's capital.

Moreover, during the remainder of the journey, the spacecraft was scanned, probed, and its identity verified at a significantly higher frequency.

Powerful spiritual energy or probing fluctuations frequently sweep across the depths of the void.

Occasionally, one can also sense a fleeting, terrifying burst of immense energy in the distant starry sky.

About a month later.

Nagi appeared at the door of Lin Yi's rest cabin with a smile on his face: "Origin Star, we're almost there. The spaceship will soon activate panoramic observation mode, and you can get a direct feel for it."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi got up and followed Nagi Feng to the spaceship's main control room. Irelia and the other three also arrived after being notified.

Nagi gave an order to the spaceship's intelligent life support, and immediately, the front bulkhead and part of the side walls of the spaceship quickly became transparent, eventually disappearing as if they had vanished, revealing the starry sky outside to everyone without reservation.

What first caught Lin Yi's eye was not the bustling starport or dense space buildings he had envisioned.

It was not a vast, boundless, and dazzling sea of ​​stars.

Here, the stars are exceptionally bright, the nebulae are magnificent and colorful, and the energy flows silently and intertwine in the deep space like the aurora borealis, forming a series of grand and mysterious cosmic paintings.

In the center of this sea of ​​stars, there exists an exceptionally "clean" area.

There were no typical interstellar dust belts, no messy asteroids, and even the starlight seemed to have been smoothed out by some force, becoming soft and orderly.

At the center of this region, a giant planet floats silently.

Clearly, that is the Primordial Star.

It is not a planet in the usual sense.

However, what first caught Lin Yi's attention were the nine slightly smaller "companion stars" that were evenly distributed in the synchronous orbit far away from the Origin Star. These stars also exuded tremendous energy and a mysterious aura.

They are not natural celestial bodies, but enormous man-made objects.

These "companion stars" are covered with runes and float there silently, like nine silent guardians protecting the central primordial star.

Further away, there are even more and larger interstellar defense platforms, as well as fleet shadows that are faintly visible, forming an impenetrable three-dimensional defense network.

In the void between the Origin Star and these defensive facilities, there are some huge suspended objects that look like islands or mountains.

Most of them were built with magnificent temples and towers. Lin Yi guessed that they were probably the separate residences or cultivation grounds of some powerful beings.

At the very core of these outer defenses lies the Origin Star, with its layers upon layers of magnificent halos rippling like water.

These halos change color constantly, sometimes displaying a rainbow of colors, sometimes transforming into pure gold or silver, and sometimes appearing as a hazy gray like the beginning of chaos.

Within the halo, countless tiny, yet incredibly clear, law runes could be vaguely seen arising and passing away, as if the entire planet were enveloped by an "atmosphere" composed of materialized laws.

Only through this dazzling and mysterious halo of laws can one vaguely see the planet's true form.

Its entire body presents a strange texture; the direction of the mountains, the distribution of the rivers, the outline of the ocean—all natural landforms seem to conform to the laws of the universe, exuding a profound and immortal aura.

Tranquility, solemnity, vastness, mystery, and power—a multitude of feelings intertwine, impacting the hearts of every first-time witness.

Lin Yi took a deep breath. Even through the spaceship, he could almost feel the supreme meaning that cleansed his soul and nourished his very essence.

Irelia, Liu Yuan, Elizabeth, and Zhang Zhen were so mesmerized that they almost forgot to breathe.

This is the capital of the human race!

This is where they are about to live.

Captain Nagi smiled slightly at the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes.

His calm voice rang out, "Your Excellency, everyone, welcome to—Origin Star."

Then, the spaceship began to adjust its attitude and steadily headed towards the planet shrouded in endless radiance and majesty.

(End of this chapter)