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

Chapter 320 The Starry Sea Shocks, A Moment's Thought

"The Law of Time!!"

In the seventh section of the audience, a mechanical spectator suddenly stood up, the energy core inside his metal chest emitting an overload-like hum.

"How is this possible!" On the other side, several spectators dressed in the traditional robes of the Crystal Spirit Clan exclaimed in surprise.

"buzz"

"Wow"

A cacophony of noise surged from every corner.
In an instant, millions of people expressed the same shock in different languages ​​and tones.

On the floating crystal platform where Yongyan stood, the eternal deity's gaze was fixed on the silver secret pattern between Lin Yi's brows. He slowly inhaled and then exhaled.

It turned out to be the case.

The sudden transfer of him to the guard position by the higher-ups, the Void Token, and the promise of free resurrection—all the speculations were answered at this moment.

The law of time.

At the Star Core level, one comprehends the higher laws.

Yongyan's lips curled up uncontrollably, he couldn't suppress it.

Behind him, Irelia placed her hand on her chest, momentarily stunned.

Further back, Lin Yao was so excited her face was flushed.

Chen Yu stared blankly for a long time before finally muttering, "Fuck!"

Zhou Yuxuan pinched his thigh hard, and the pain confirmed that this was not a dream.

Kanlia clasped her hands together in front of her chest, closed her eyes, and whispered something.

While millions of spectators at the scene were stunned into silence, the virtual world had descended into utter madness.

The comment section refreshes so fast that it's impossible for the average person to keep up.

Holy crap! A law! It really is the law of time!

Am I seeing things? Star-core level? Time law?

[Is there anyone with sufficient authority to speak up?! How many epochs ago was the last star-core level superior law?!]

[Those with sufficient permissions have arrived! Database records show that the last known Star Core-level High-Rank Law Comprehender in the Pan-Spirit Alliance's public records was the Time Ruins Lord of the Spirit Race 207490 epochs ago! Before that, it was the Star Condensation Lord of the Star Spirit Race 471143 epochs ago!]

[How many? Two hundred thousand epochs ago? More than four hundred thousand epochs ago?]

So what does this mean? Can someone explain it to me?

[What does this mean? It means that as long as Lin Yi doesn't die young, he will definitely become a Venerable Lord in the future! And a powerful one among Venerable Lords! When Venerable Lord Shixu first became a Venerable Lord, he could fight three opponents and kill one of them. Do you understand?!]

Holy crap.

The human race has truly taken off this time.

[Hahaha! I bet on Lin Yi to come in first place before the competition even started, and I won! I really won!!!]

[Calm down, upstairs. The match isn't over yet, but it really seems like the outcome is pretty much decided.]

To be fair, although the competition isn't over, the champion has already been decided.

Edith's loss was not unjustified, truly not unjustified. A genius who appears only once every hundred epochs met someone who appears only once every two hundred thousand epochs. It can only be said that she was born at the wrong time.

[What happened to all that bragging? Come out and show yourselves! Didn't you say Edith had made huge progress in the Tower of Time and was sure she'd win this time?]

[The Eldar audience is here. Losing to the laws of time is not shameful. Princess Edith is honorable in defeat.]

[Spirit Race +1. Lin Yi is indeed strong, we acknowledge that.]

[Human viewers are ecstatic!! Since the rise of the Overlord, our human race has produced another prodigy with a Star Core-level superior law!]

[Damn it, after watching so many Genius Battles, aside from the Spirit Race, it's always been the Crystal Spirit Race, the Mechanical Race, and the Holy Radiance Race taking turns winning. Our best result is always just making it into the top three. This time, we're finally going to win the championship!]

[This isn't just about winning a championship. This is a future leader!]

[Yes! Your Majesty! Our human race will have another Your Majesty!]

[All the smaller and medium-sized races that have good relations with humans are probably holding emergency meetings right now.]

That's for sure. The friendship of one lord is enough to change the fate of a small tribe.

I'm guessing there are Nightmare Clan members smashing things right now; they were the ones who were jumping around the most enthusiastically before.

While the comment sections were being refreshed wildly, the commentary booths of major Xinghai media outlets were also experiencing an upheaval.

On the "Tianlan Xinghai" channel, the host was so excited that he was incoherent.

"The Law of Time! Ladies and gentlemen! The Law of Time!" His voice trembled slightly. "Contestant Lin Yi has successfully comprehended the Law of Time, a superior law, at the Star Core level! What does this mean? What does this mean?!"

Before the host could even ask, Yongyao chimed in, "This means that as long as Lin Yi doesn't perish along the way, he will inevitably become a Venerable Lord in the future. According to historical records, all Star Core-level Upper Law Comprehenders, as long as they don't die prematurely, will eventually become Venerable Lords without exception."

"Moreover, the masters of the Time Law are often top-tier fighters among their peers, so Lin Yi's future is limitless!"

Another media giant, StarRing Media, has a more direct style of commentary.

"Complete crushing victory! A dimensional reduction attack!" the host practically roared. "The absolute crushing of the rule level by the laws of time. Etis is very strong, with her nine-fold spacetime light and darkness domain, but in the face of the laws of time, all of that is meaningless!"

"I only have one thing on my mind right now," a top-tier guest couldn't help but say, "How will Lin Yi end this match? Will he just annihilate everyone? Or..."
-
Arena.

On the highest crystal pillar.

Lin Yi remained oblivious to all the noise and commotion from the outside world.

His entire attention was focused on what was in front of him, on Edith's frozen figure.

The silver-white armor, the light and dark runes that froze halfway through, the burning fighting spirit in his emerald eyes, and the fist that was only thirty centimeters away from his face.

Three months ago, on the ninth platform of the Central Divine Mountain, he fought to a standstill with a Spirit Clan prodigy of equal strength.

Three months later, he didn't even need to lift a finger; Edith was immobilized.

This is the crushing power of the law over the rules.

The difference in dimensions is an insurmountable barrier.

"However, since you want to go all out," Lin Yi thought to himself, while raising his right hand and slowly pressing it towards Edith's forehead.

However, just as his palm was about to touch Edith's forehead, Lin Yi suddenly had a thought.

wrong.

If Edith is defeated now, she will lose all challenge opportunities and be moved to the lowest unclaimed crystal pillar.

Right now, the qualifying rounds have just begun, and that position is basically around 900th place, or even last place.

This means that the Eldar's most promising talent, nurtured with all their resources, and the face of the Eldar this generation, will be knocked out of the top 128 in the first round of the ranking competition, and won't even make it to the finals.

Having demonstrated the power of time, his first place in the rankings is now firmly secured.

In the sea of ​​stars, there is more than just fighting and killing.
If we were to completely humiliate the Spirit Clan today, it might feel good in the short term, but it could sow the seeds of unnecessary resentment in the future.

not to mention.
Edith greeted him in silver and blue before the match, which was a sign of respect.

Lin Yi's gaze swept over Edith's frozen eyes.

There was only fighting spirit there. This girl was a pure seeker of the Dao, but she lost because of her lack of talent.

Upon realizing this, Lin Yi immediately changed his mind.

But at this point, his palm was less than three centimeters from Edith's forehead. If he suddenly withdrew his hand, it would seem too contrived and would be a poor choice.

In a flash, Lin Yi's mind raced.

Then, under the gaze of millions of eyes, Lin Yi placed his palm on Edith's forehead and gently pushed it away.

Edith's body involuntarily drifted backward.

One step, two steps, three steps.

Soon, she withdrew from the area of ​​the platform at the top of the crystal pillar and from the pale blue light shield.

Both feet landed in the air.

Time resumes its flow.

Edith was stunned.

She looked at Lin Yi, who had withdrawn his hand from the crystal pillar and stood calmly, and at the silver secret mark between his eyebrows that had completely disappeared, her mind was in chaos.

What just happened?
I unleash my full power, and then, against the laws of time!

However, I was not harmed at all; I was simply pushed out of the crystal pillar's range.

Edith wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say.

Lin Yi stood at the edge of the crystal pillar, looking at her with a faint smile on his face.

Then he spoke, using the ancient language of the Spirit Clan in perfect pronunciation.

"Accepted."

Edith's pupils contracted slightly.

Ancient language of the Spirit Clan.

Moreover, it uses classical high-level grammar, and the orthodox pronunciation used only by the ancient Eldar.

He even learned this?
Yes, he also has an ancient family of the Spirit Race who went into exile, so it's not surprising that he learned the Spirit Race language.
The thought flashed through Edith's mind in an instant, and she quickly regained her composure.

She gave Lin Yi a deep look, a complex light flashing in her emerald eyes.

“The laws of time,” Edith whispered, also in the ancient language of the Elven race, “I did not lose unjustly.”

She paused, then suddenly bowed slightly to Lin Yi.

It's not a salute, but a martial arts gesture of respect, a defeated person's admiration for the victor.

"Thank you."

She meant it sincerely.

Given Lin Yi's control over the laws of time that he just demonstrated, if he really wanted to kill her instantly, she wouldn't even have a chance to react.

But the other party only pushed her out of the crystal pillar and did not injure her.

This composure dispelled the last trace of resentment in Edith's heart.

It's not shameful to lose to someone like that.

Lin Yi accepted the bow without hesitation, then stepped aside and made a "please" gesture.

Edith did not speak again.

She turned around, her gaze sweeping across the array of crystal pillars below, finally settling on the second tallest crystal pillar.

The one standing on that crystal pillar is a Crystal Spirit contestant.

At this moment, the Crystal Spirit Clan contestant was looking at Edith with a tense expression, then at Lin Yi at the highest point, his expression quite interesting.

It was as if he had simultaneously witnessed a battle of gods and his own impending fate as cannon fodder.

Edith did not hesitate.

She flashed and appeared directly on the second crystal pillar.

Almost the instant Edith appeared.

The Crystal Spirit contestant jumped down without hesitation.

It wasn't a challenge; it was a voluntary stepping down.

He even made a "please" gesture to Edith in mid-air, the movement so fluid it seemed as if he had rehearsed it a thousand times, before flying without looking back towards a crystal pillar in the middle section below.

What a joke!
Let Edith take on the challenge?

They've just been tortured by the laws of time and are seething with anger. What if they're a fraction of a second too late and get wiped out instantly?
Is it unfair that they came in last place?

The Crystal Spirit Clan player decisively stepped aside, but no one mocked him.

In this situation, it is indeed a wise move to preserve the opportunity to challenge for a more secure ranking.

Edith landed steadily on the second crystal pillar.

She looked up at Lin Yi, who was at the highest point.

Lin Yi also looked down at her.

Their eyes met in mid-air, one calm as a deep pool, the other complex as a whirlpool.

Then, Lin Yi turned around and sat cross-legged on top of the crystal pillar.

He actually closed his eyes and started to rest.

That posture, that demeanor, seemed to be a display of the time laws that had just shaken the starry sea, and that push that determined the outcome of the peak duel was just a trivial matter done casually.

Edith watched his retreating figure, remained silent for a few seconds, and then sat down cross-legged.

The qualifying rounds are still ongoing.

But everyone knows that the real showdown has ended.

In a way that no one expected.
-
The highest spectator area.

When Lin Yi unleashed the power of the laws and froze Edith, the Xuan Yan Venerable's fingers, which were gripping the wine glass, tightened slightly.

When Edith was pushed out of the crystal pillar, she bowed in thanks.
Suddenly, Venerable Xuan Yan picked up his wine cup, drank it all in one gulp, and then slammed the cup down on the crystal table.

"Good lad!" Xuan Yan's smile was extremely bright. "What a good lad!"

Beside him, the Star Orbit Lord, shrouded in starlight, also nodded slightly, an approving expression appearing on his illusory face.

“Overwhelming strength, yet not utterly annihilating.” Lord Star Orbit said softly, “This skillful maneuvering will likely bring more than just one new warrior to the human race’s leadership in the future.”

On the other side, the Mechanical Lord of the Mechanical Race smiled and said, "Lin Yi changed his power delivery method in the last 0.17 seconds. This shows that his decision was not a pre-set tactic, but a judgment made on the spot."

"That's not important." Venerable Xuan Yan waved his hand, still smiling. "What matters is the result."

As he spoke, he looked toward the direction of the Spirit Clan's crystal platform.

Lord Radiance picked up the cup of slightly cooled flower tea and took a small sip.

Then, the Spirit Clan Lord raised his eyes and looked at Xuan Yan from afar.

Their eyes met in the air.

Lord Huiguang raised his teacup and gestured slightly to Xuan Yan.

Xuan Yan also raised his empty cup and returned the greeting.

No words were spoken, but everything was understood without being said.

"However, the very act of him displaying the laws of time," said the Star Orbit Lord slowly, "will likely cause quite a stir in the Star Sea."

Xuan Yan's smile faded slightly, but his eyes remained sharp. "Then let's lift it," he said calmly.

These words were spoken in a very plain manner, but their meaning silenced the surrounding lords.

A crystal platform exclusive to the Eldar.

Lord Radiance put down his teacup and looked at Edith, who was sitting cross-legged on the second crystal pillar.

"My Lord, Edith, she..." A Spirit Race Eternal God spoke softly beside him, his tone complex.

"We lost," said the Radiant Lord calmly. "We lost completely."

"But what about the laws of time?"

"No buts." The Radiant Lord interrupted him. "A loss is a loss. Lin Yi's ability to comprehend the laws of time at the Star Core level is his skill. It's not shameful for Edith to lose to such an opponent."

He paused, his gaze still fixed on Edith: "The important thing is what she learned from this battle."

The eternal deity hesitated, saying, "Learn what? The overwhelming power of the Time Law cannot be compensated for by skills or tactics."

“Learn humility,” Lord Radiant said slowly. “Learn to know that there are always higher levels out there. Learn to understand that some gaps cannot be bridged by effort and resources alone.”

He picked up his teacup and took another sip.

The Radiant Lord looked at Lin Yi, who was resting with his eyes closed on the highest crystal pillar, and a look of admiration flashed in his eyes.

"Lin Yi's final push was a gesture of respect for our Spirit Clan. He didn't choose to completely humiliate Edith, but instead gave her a chance to make a graceful exit."

“And Edith,” he looked at the girl on the second crystal pillar, “accepted the favor, bowed in thanks, and then readily accepted the second place. Such grace is worthy of the title of the Elven race’s number one genius.”

The Radiant Lord gently set down his teacup, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

"In this battle, Edith lost the match, but she didn't lose her composure. Lin Yi won the match, and he also won respect. Very good."

Upon hearing his direct superior's assessment of the match, the eternal deity immediately bowed and said, "Your subordinate understands."

Nightmare Clan Crystal Platform.

The dark purple mist was churning wildly.

When Lin Yi displayed the laws of time, the mist churned violently.

When Lin Yi changed from pressing to pushing, the fog suddenly froze for a moment.

When Edith expressed her gratitude, Lin Yi accepted it with composure.
"Humph!"

The Lord of Annihilation finally couldn't hold back any longer, letting out a cold snort and cursing inwardly.

"They completely overwhelmed us with their strength, yet they still pretend to be magnanimous. The Spirit Race lost the match, yet they still act all high and mighty. They're all acting geniuses, disgusting!"

The fog churned for a long time before slowly subsiding.
-
In the arena.

As Lin Yi and Edith sat down cross-legged, the other contestants finally recovered from their shock and continued the competition.

But the atmosphere had completely changed.

During the battle, everyone would subconsciously glance at the highest crystal pillar and at the deep blue figure with his eyes closed in meditation.

The law of time.

The supreme laws at the stellar core level.

Future Lord.

These words echoed in the minds of every player, making their battles more anxious and less composed.

After all, competing against such a monster would be too much pressure.

Meanwhile, the commentary booths of major media outlets in Xinghai were just recovering from their initial shock and began analyzing what had just happened.

On the "Tianlan Xinghai" channel, the host finally found his voice, but it was still trembling with excitement.

"Dear viewers, you all saw what just happened."

"Lin Yi's final push," the host continued, "demonstrated not only his skill, but also his composure."

Yongyao nodded in agreement, “Indeed. There were no losers in this match. Lin Yi proved his strength, and Edith demonstrated the spirit of the Elven race.”

StarRing Media's style is more direct.

"A crushing defeat! But a crushing defeat with sportsmanship!" The host's voice remained high. "An absolute crushing defeat of the rules by the laws of time! But Lin Yi did not choose to humiliate his opponent, but ended the battle in the most gentle way! What is this? This is the demeanor of a strong person!"

On the virtual internet, the comment section was flooded with messages.

[The Eldar audience is here too. Losing to the laws of time is not shameful. Lin Yi's final push was gentlemanly. Princess Edith's thanks were also gentlemanly. There were no losers in this match.]

[The Elven Clan brothers upstairs are so generous!]

[That's truly impressive. If this were some other ethnic group, they'd probably be furious after losing the match.]

[You can just state the Nightmare Clan's name directly.]

[Perhaps this is what genius is all about. Strong skills and a sharp mind.]

[I'm only curious about one thing now: how did Lin Yi master the Time Law? It's at the Star Core level! This can't be explained by talent alone.]

Which of these prodigies didn't have a stroke of luck? But luck is also a part of strength.

Indeed. The Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle is the most grassroots-oriented and influential competition. This victory has a greater impact on the confidence of ordinary humans than a victory in the Star Domain-level Powerhouse Battle.

Just as the Venerable One above was having a brief discussion and the virtual network comment section was boiling over, all the media platforms that were broadcasting the Ultimate Arena live were also caught in a huge flurry of activity.

An information tsunami is forming, and they must be at the forefront of the first wave.

The headquarters of "Starsea Express" is located in the floating news city in the core star system of the Crystal Spirit Clan's territory.

Inside the editor-in-chief's office, more than thirty holographic screens surround the central workbench, each displaying different perspectives of the ultimate arena.

From panoramic views from high above to close-ups focusing on the tallest crystal pillar, and captures of the shocked expressions of audience members of various races in the stands, all the images point to the same fact.

The capable middle-aged editor-in-chief of the Crystal Spirit Clan, Soren, jumped up from his seat.

His light blue skin glowed faintly with excitement, and the crystal in the center of his forehead, inherited from his ancient bloodline, was flashing intensely—a reaction of the Crystal Spirit Clan when their emotions were running high.

"Quick! Switch all channels! All of them! Immediately!" Soren practically roared, his voice echoing through the control room. "Headline! Get the headline right now! Use the biggest font size and the most eye-catching color!"

Behind him, the editing team, comprised of seven different races, was already in a frenzy of activity.

"What title should we use?!" a young Elven editor shouted, his voice trembling. "Would something like 'The Laws of Time Appear! Human Prodigy Lin Yi Shocks the Starry Sea!' be acceptable?!"

Soren stared intently at the close-up shot on the main screen of Lin Yi's brow as the silver secret mark slowly faded away, his mind racing.

wrong.

not enough.

This headline is too ordinary and doesn't deserve this level of news.

"Change it to..." Soren took a deep breath, his voice suddenly rising, "The subtitle of 'Star Core Level Superior Laws Reappear! The First Person in Nearly Two Hundred Thousand Eras is Born!' should be 'Human Race Lin Yi Demonstrates the Law of Time, Crushing the Spirit Race Prodigy Edith!'"

"understand!"

The editorial team worked frantically.

three seconds.

Just three seconds later, all three million news channels and billions of information push nodes under Xinghai Express, distributed across the Pan-Spirit Alliance, changed to the same headline.

The accompanying image is a close-up of the silver secret pattern between Lin Yi's eyebrows, the most stunning one selected from 320 different angles.

The trajectory of the flowing silver runes was deliberately slowed down, and every tiny ray of light was clearly visible, as if sealing the secrets of time.

The title is scarlet and uses the most impactful font in the Starry Sky Common Language, occupying one-third of the top of the screen.

Below is the full text of the report, which begins with the following sentence:
"At the Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle Ranking Competition, human prodigy Lin Yi demonstrated his mastery of the Star Core level Time Law under the spotlight. This is the first time in nearly two hundred thousand epochs that a cultivator has touched the threshold of the Time Law at the Star Core level. Historical records show that all those who comprehend the higher-level Time Laws at the Star Core level, as long as they do not perish prematurely, will eventually become Venerable Lords. Lin Yi's future is destined to be extraordinary."

The report spread rapidly.

From the bustling central star system to the remote frontier star systems, from military bases to civilian residential stations, all terminals connected to Starsea Express saw this news pop up at the same time.

The headquarters of the "Ling Clan Observation" is located inside the Ancient Tree of Life deep within the "Eternal Forest," the sacred star of the Ling Clan.

This media outlet is an authoritative media with official Eldar backing, known for its elegant, objective, and in-depth reporting, and its influence within Eldar territory is irreplaceable.

At this moment, there is complete silence in the circular conference hall at the top of the Tree of Life.

Editor-in-Chief Sora is an elegant woman dressed in a traditional Eldar robe.

She sat quietly in the main seat, her expression still maintaining the composure unique to the Spirit Clan, but deep within her emerald eyes surged waves that were difficult to calm.

On the screen in front of her, the image of Edith frozen in time, her fist stopped in front of Lin Yi's face, was frozen in time.

The picture is beautiful.

Silver-white armor, flowing light and dark runes, the fighting spirit in his emerald eyes, and the silver secret pattern that was lighting up between Lin Yi's brows.

From a photographic art perspective, this is a perfectly composed image.

But from the Eldar's perspective
“The laws of time,” Sora repeated the word in a low voice, almost inaudibly, “How could humans…?”

She closed her eyes.

Countless images flashed through my mind.

Edith's record of her arduous training day and night in the Tower of Time, the expectations of the Eldar for this battle of geniuses, the voices within the race that "we must win this time," and the Radiant Lord's calm but profound words of advice before the competition: "Just report the facts; victory and defeat are common occurrences."

Victory and defeat are common occurrences.

But what if the defeat is so complete, so utterly crushing?
"Editor-in-Chief, how should we report this?" A young Elven editor asked cautiously, his voice filled with barely concealed anxiety. "Should we emphasize Miss Edith's honorable defeat, or should we focus on the awe-inspiring nature of the laws of time?"

Another editor added, "Or, could we approach this from the perspective of 'the Eldar displaying good manners'? Miss Edith's final bow of thanks, and Lin Yi's leniency—these are all points worthy of detailed discussion."

Sora slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes had regained their calm—at least outwardly.

“Objective reporting,” she said slowly, each word clear and calm. “No bias, no belittling. No deliberately glorifying failure, nor deliberately downplaying the shock.”

She paused, her gaze sweeping over all the editors in the conference room:
"The focus is on three facts."

"First, Lin Yi demonstrated the Star Core level Time Law. This is an objective fact. He is the number one prodigy in the entire Pan-Spirit Alliance for nearly 200,000 epochs. We must acknowledge this and report it truthfully."

"Secondly, after Edith was suppressed by the laws of time, she readily admitted defeat and bowed in gratitude, demonstrating the demeanor of the Eldar."

"Third, Lin Yi chose to hold back when he could have easily killed his opponent, and this magnanimity deserves respect."

After she finished speaking, the meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

A senior editor hesitated, saying, "Editor-in-chief, wouldn't reporting it like this make us seem too weak? After all, Ms. Edith lost so badly."

“Then what?” Sora interrupted him. “So thorough? So humiliating?”

She stood up and walked to the huge viewing window.

Outside the window lies the boundless green of the Eternal Forest, with ancient trees of life stretching to the horizon—the foundation accumulated by the Spirit Race over countless eras.

“A loss is a loss.” Sora said with his back to the crowd, “The crushing power of the Time Law over the rules is a difference in dimensions. This is not a tactical mistake, nor is it a lack of strength; it is the suppression of innate rank. It’s not shameful for Edith to lose to such an opponent.”

"But it would be shameful if we didn't even have the courage to admit defeat."

She turned around.

"The Eldar's elegance and grace are not only displayed in victory. On the contrary, true elegance lies in maintaining composure and rationality even in defeat."

"Write it as I said. The title should be: 'The Law of Time Appears in the World, the Spirit Race is Glorious Despite Defeat.' The introduction should read: 'In the ranking competition of the Pan-Spirit Alliance's Genius Battle, the human race's prodigy Lin Yi demonstrated the Star Core level Law of Time, while the Spirit race's prodigy Edith demonstrated the heart of a warrior and the demeanor of a loser.'"

The editors exchanged glances, and then bowed in unison:
"Yes, editor-in-chief."

The report was released five minutes later.

There were no harsh words, no deliberate downplaying, only calm narration and objective evaluation.

But beneath those calm words, every Eldar reader can feel the complex emotions hidden between the lines.

Shock, resentment, and helplessness, but ultimately transformed into a calm acceptance.

The report's readership exploded within the Eldar territory.

The comments section was unusually free of heated arguments; instead, it was filled with rational discussions.

"The laws of time... there's really nothing we can do about it."

“Miss Edith has done her best; it’s not shameful to lose to an opponent like this.”

"Lin Yi's final push was graceful. Our Spirit Clan will remember this kindness."

"At least, we lost with class."

This, perhaps, is the foundation that the Spirit Race has accumulated over millions of eras.
-
While the virtual online comment section was buzzing with discussion, across the entire Starsea, in countless places watching the match, the reactions varied.

In an underground bar on an industrial planet in the human realm, hundreds of technicians erupted in deafening cheers after a brief silence.

"The Law of Time!"

"Lin Yi! Lin Yi! Lin Yi!"

Some people threw their energy drinks into the air, some hugged the people next to them, and some were so excited that they couldn't speak coherently.

The owner behind the bar laughed and waved his hand: "All drinks are half price today!"

In the tactical analysis room of the military academy, further away, the instructor stood on the podium, looking at the excited students below, their faces flushed, and spoke in a deep voice:
"Did you see everything?"

"We saw it!" the trainees answered in unison.

"What did you see?"

"The Law of Time! The Star Core Level Law of Time!"

"Anything else?" the instructor continued to ask.

The trainees were stunned for a moment.

The instructor said slowly, "And then there was Lin Yi's final push. You can't learn Lin Yi's talent. But even with an absolute advantage, he didn't choose to humiliate his opponent, but instead gave him dignity. This composure, this wisdom, is more worthy of learning than the law of time itself."

He looked at Lin Yi, who was sitting cross-legged on the projection, and said slowly.

"Talent determines how high you can go, but mindset determines how far you can go. Remember that."

"Yes!"

In the private viewing hall of a prominent human clan, the clan elder watched the projection, remained silent for a long time, and then spoke:
"Pass down the order: for all family businesses, fees for commercial dealings with the Silver Blue Civilization will be reduced by 30%. Commissions from the East Peak Mercenary Group will be given the highest priority."

"Elder, this..."

"Do as instructed." The elder waved his hand. "By showing goodwill now, he will remember our family's kindness when he becomes a Venerable Lord in the future."

"Yes!"

Similar scenes are playing out in various parts of the Star Sea.

(End of this chapter)