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

Chapter 332 A Star-Shaking News That Shook the Star Sea
Five days flew by.

Beyond countless secrets.

The leaders of the Spirit Clan, the Abyss Clan, and the Eclipse Clan floated clearly in the void.

Further ahead of them were three figures whose mere existence seemed to command the submission of the entire starry sky.

The Spirit Clan's Qingyan ruler was still dressed in a simple white robe, his face blurred, only his eyes, which contained the birth and death of the universe, calmly gazed ahead.

The Abyss Clan's dark golden ruler shrunk his enormous beastly body to a size similar to that of the Spirit Clan.

But the savage and domineering aura originating from the bloodline of the "Primordial Beast" was like an invisible tide, crashing against everything around it wave after wave. The space around him collapsed slightly, and the light was strangely bent as it passed through.

The misty body of the Eclipse Clan ruler constantly changed shape, sometimes condensing into a ferocious insect head, and sometimes spreading into a sky-covering mist.

At its core, two ghostly flames coldly swept across the direction of the Spirit Clan, occasionally meeting the gaze of the Abyss Clan's ruler for a fleeting moment.

All the lords remained silent.

Xuan Yan stood slightly to the side behind the Azure Yan Sovereign, his gaze fixed on the void area that was originally the entrance to the secret realm. His expression seemed calm, but his hands, hanging at his sides, were slightly clenched.

Time passed second by second in a suffocating silence.

Finally, the appointed time arrived.

The ripples in that void suddenly intensified, and the remaining aftershocks of the rules seemed to be stirred by an invisible giant hand, beginning to spin wildly. The colors gradually became clearer from chaos, eventually transforming into a vortex passage where light and shadow flowed erratically.

The exit of countless secret realms has been opened.

Almost at the same instant the passage was solidified, the wills of the three sovereigns seemed to fluctuate slightly, and the gazes of all the lords instantly focused on the exit of the passage.

Then, they saw it.

Two figures, one in front of the other, shot out of the passage almost side by side.

A figure, resembling a giant bear covered in thick rock armor.

The other figure was a mantis-shaped Eclipse Clan member, entirely purplish-black in color and covered with sharp bone spurs on its back.

After the two figures emerged, they didn't linger at all, nor even glance at each other, before flying straight towards their respective camps and quickly disappearing into the ranks of the Abyss Clan and the Eclipse Clan's leaders, where they were protected by the energy of their fellow clan leaders.

After that, there was no further news.

The passage continued to rotate steadily, emitting a mesmerizing light and shadow, but the exit was empty, and no third figure flew out.

One second, two seconds, ten seconds, one minute.
Time flowed in the dead silence, each second seemingly stretched into an era.

On the Pan-Spirit Alliance's side, the figure of the Azure Blade Overlord remained blurry, revealing no expression.

However, the expressions of the dozens of Venerable Lords behind him, led by Xuan Yan, Hui Guang, and Huan Guang, became solemn at a visible speed.

Especially Xuan Yan.

He stared intently at the empty exit, his soul power already acting like the most sophisticated scanner, scanning the passage inside and out again and again, trying to capture any trace of the aura of a genius from the Pan-Spirit Alliance.

No.

Nothing at all.

Apart from the traces left by those two figures, the passageway was so clean it sent chills down one's spine.

From the direction of the Abyss Clan and the Eclipse Clan camps, several low energy fluctuations faintly emanated, like suppressed communication or some kind of confirmation.

The two rulers remained as deep and unfathomable as abyss, showing no reaction whatsoever, but their silence was more jarring than any mockery at this moment.

The atmosphere quickly shifted from solemn to oppressive.

A day is but a fleeting moment in the long lives of the venerable ones, but at this moment, it seems to be divided into countless agonizing fragments.

The light and shadow in the passageway began to fade, the rotation speed gradually slowed down, and the vibrant colors began to dim.

Finally, the vortex passage emitted a low hum, like a weary sigh, and slowly collapsed inward, eventually turning into a faint ray of light and disappearing completely into the void.

The passage is closed.

Until the very end, no third figure flew out.

What this means is clear to every venerable one present.

According to the ironclad rule passed down through countless eras, those who fail to leave the myriad secret realms on time are considered to have been captured. This time, however, a full thousand of the Pan-Spirit Alliance's most outstanding Star Core-level geniuses were wiped out.

Xuan Yan slowly closed his eyes, his chest heaving slightly. When he opened them again, his eyes were filled with a frozen rage.

Just then, the ever-silent Qingyan Sovereign finally spoke.

His voice remained gentle, seemingly devoid of any worldly warmth, yet it resonated clearly in this desolate starry sky, penetrating the depths of the consciousness of every being.

"Using this method to seize the source essence." The Azure King's gaze slowly swept over the rulers of the Abyss Clan and the Eclipse Clan. "Aren't you afraid of igniting another war between the three races?"

These words were spoken calmly, but the weight they carried sent a chill down the spines of all the lords.

The war between the three races meant a catastrophe that would sweep across countless starfields, the fall of sovereigns like rain, and a dark age in which the light of civilization would be extinguished in vast swathes.

The horrors and traumas of the last war still leave a deep imprint on the memories of many ancient people.

Upon hearing this, the Abyss Clan Ruler looked at the Azure Blade Ruler and let out a low, sneer.

"Ah"

"Start a war?"

His dark golden beast eyes flashed with undisguised mockery. "Qingyan, stop with your hypocritical tricks. Your Spirit Clan has secretly produced a second Supreme Being, yet you keep it a secret, secretly accumulating power. What are you plotting? Do you really think we don't know?"

The words "the second supreme being" resounded like thunder in the hearts of many lords.

Even among the Spirit Race's lords, except for a very few truly core high-ranking members, such as the Radiant Lord whose eyes flickered slightly, most of the Spirit Race lords and the lords of all allied races instantly showed expressions of shock.

Many of the lords even subconsciously exchanged glances, seeing the horror in each other's eyes.

The Spirit Race has a second Supreme Being?!

When did this happen?

Why is there no celebration and no news at all?

If that were true, wouldn't the entire cosmic order be turned upside down?!
Xuan Yan suddenly looked up at the back of the Qingyan ruler, then quickly looked at the Yuan Clan ruler, his heart churning with shock.

The blurred face of the Azure Blade Sovereign seemed unchanged. He simply looked at the Abyss Clan Sovereign indifferently and said, "Oh? You're making this clear now because you think you've got me cornered?"

The Abyss Clan ruler stopped looking at him, abruptly turned his head, and let out a roar that shook the starry sky in the direction of the Eclipse Clan ruler.

"Do it!"
-
Within countless secret realms.

Blood mist surged, and deathly silence reigned.

More than 700 Pan-Spirit Alliance prodigies, led by Lin Yi and Edith, gathered in the camp.

The blood mist remained that repulsive dark red, the suppression of the rules persisted, and the mobilization of source energy remained sluggish.

More than two standard hours have passed.

The secret realm did not collapse, nor did it show any signs of change.

Nothing has changed.

They remain trapped in this blood-red world.

The group exchanged bewildered glances and finally couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

"Shouldn't the exit from the secret realm have been closed by now? Why is there no sign of it?"

"Then why are we still alive? Didn't the records say that those who fall into the trap will perish when the secret realm closes?"

"Perhaps annihilation isn't instantaneous? Or... is this time different?"

The discussion gradually became heated, but soon reached a stalemate.

Because no matter how they speculate, they cannot verify it, nor can they change the facts before their eyes.

They were trapped; the exit was closed.

Lin Yi stood on a slightly higher crystal in front of everyone. After thinking for a moment, he said in a deep voice, "No matter what happens next, since we are still alive, and since the secret realm has not collapsed immediately or experienced any changes that we cannot cope with, it means that there are still variables, there is still space, and there is still time."

He paused, allowing everyone to process the meaning of his words.

"Blind optimism and fantasizing about miracles are undesirable. But giving up in despair and lying down to wait for death is even more undesirable, and it would be a disservice to all that we've fought our way to this point, and even more so, a disservice to..."

His gaze swept over the calm faces of the dozens of Star-level prodigies, and over Huiyao's reclining figure. "...I'm even more sorry for the price we've already paid."

"The only thing we can do now, the only thing we should do, is to continue according to the plan we set before."

"Does the leader mean to continue hunting mist beasts, collecting source crystal cores, and increasing our strength?" Huiyao asked.

He leaned against a relatively flat crystal, his face still pale from the aftereffects of his injury, but his eyes had regained their former sharpness, and were even more composed than before.

"Not bad." Lin Yi nodded.

"Enhancing our capabilities is the most fundamental and effective way to cope with any situation, at any time."

"If—and I mean if—something unforeseen and incomprehensible happens that allows us to remain in this blood mist layer instead of being immediately annihilated, then greater strength means a greater chance of survival, the ability to explore further, and the ability to deal with more dangerous mist beasts. It might also mean..."

"At some unknown point in the future, we will find other ways to leave this place or establish contact with the outside world."

"The team leader is right."

Liu Yun, who was standing slightly behind the crowd, spoke up.

"If the final outcome is still annihilation that we cannot resist, or eternal imprisonment, then at least, before the end comes, we fought to the last moment, without stopping thinking, without stopping cultivating, and without wasting the power and potential carried by this body and soul."

"This in itself is a form of resistance against fate."

"That's right! No matter what happens outside, no matter whether we live or die in the end, cultivating and becoming stronger is never wrong."

Kenx suddenly stood up and waved his arm. "Maybe if I kill enough Blood Mist Beasts, I might become the Mist Beast King in this godforsaken place!"

His words were somewhat comical, but strangely, they had a slight effect in this oppressive atmosphere.

Several prodigies couldn't help but grin, their tense nerves relaxing slightly. The other prodigies didn't say much, but their actions and eyes spoke volumes.

After the initial shock and confusion, the instinct for survival, the will to never give up, and the pride of being a prodigy resurfaced like rocks, supporting them to stand tall.

Lin Yi's suggestion was approved by everyone.

This is practically the only thing that can be done right now.

Besides, having something to do and a goal to pursue is always better than going crazy waiting idly.

The matter was temporarily settled.

The team was reorganized, with more refined groupings to take into account the potential for a prolonged siege and continuous combat, emphasizing defense, rotation, coordination, and support.

The hunting team continued to explore the controllable area around the camp in a more cautious manner, with the goal of hunting Blood Mist Beasts at the early stage of the Star Domain level and collecting Source Crystal Cores.

Meanwhile, the construction of the camp was given higher priority. Everyone began to use the materials they had collected, crystal core fragments, and their own power of rules to continuously strengthen the defenses, create safer areas for rest and cultivation, and even try to construct small, rudimentary inscriptions to purify the air and stabilize the rules.

Just as everyone was preparing to disperse and carry out their respective missions, a prodigy from the Star Spirit race, who was relatively introverted and quiet, looked at the blood-red sky and suddenly sighed softly.

The sigh was soft, yet it seemed to touch a shared chord.

His tone was somewhat complicated.

"I just don't know how things are outside now."

He turned his head slightly and looked at his silent companions around him.

"In our view, we are just trapped, still struggling, still trying to find a way out. Every day is a battle, a training, a struggle to survive. We know we are still alive."

"But from the outside perspective..."

He paused here, as if he needed to gather his strength before he could say the rest.

"None of the top one thousand Star Core level experts of the Pan-Spirit Alliance, including the team leader and other Law Realm geniuses, showed up after the exit of the Myriad Secret Realms opened."

"completely annihilated."

"Such a big event has probably already spread throughout the entire starry sea."

He shut his mouth and said no more. But everyone understood what he had left unsaid.

It has probably already shaken the entire star system, hasn't it?

The group, who had started to move, stopped again, their expressions instantly becoming incredibly complex.

Yes, they are here thinking about how to survive tomorrow, how to hunt the next mist beast, and how to purify a little more source essence.

But outside, in the vast and boundless sea of ​​stars, in the news of countless races, and in the memories of their families and relatives in their respective hometowns, their names are probably already marked with the cold and eternal label "fallen".

Under the ironclad rules of countless secret realms, failing to leave on time is essentially tantamount to certain death.

Relatives, teachers, close friends, and fellow clansmen.
How heartbroken must those who care about them, have high hopes for them, and are proud of them be at this moment?
How unbelievable!
What utter despair?

Many proud individuals lowered their heads.

Some people had red eyes and were biting their lips tightly.

Some people looked up at the sky, their eyes losing focus, as if piercing through the thick blood mist to see their distant hometown and the faces of their loved ones.

Lin Yi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

He had previously focused all his attention on analyzing the situation and rallying the team, deliberately avoiding this issue.

Now that his thoughts had been directly exposed, the thoughts that had been forcibly suppressed surged out like a flood bursting its banks.

The image of Irelia involuntarily appeared in his mind.

I recalled the worry hidden in her emerald eyes before we parted, and her soft words, "You must come back safely."

She should have received the notification from the Spirit Clan by now, right?

Lin Yi thought of Senior Sister Qianhuan again.

That seemingly cynical but actually thoughtful senior sister.

Will she sigh for her junior brother? Will she regret not giving him more advice?

As for Lord Xuan Yan, seeing that he hasn't left the secret realm, his usually calm face will probably look very ugly.
The human race finally produced such a genius champion, but his rise to the top was abruptly cut short at the height of his glory. This will likely have a significant impact on the morale of the entire human race.

There are also parents, younger siblings, high-ranking officials on Earth, and the Dongfeng Mercenary Group. It may take them some time before they learn of this devastating news through official human channels.

After all, information about the myriad secret realms is generally unknown to ordinary people.

Of course, with such a big incident happening this time, the truth will probably be revealed soon.

What was the scene like then?
He could almost see the news feeds and headlines that exploded and flooded the virtual universe network in an instant:

Shocking news! Thousands of secret realms have closed, and the entire elite force of the Pan-Spirit Alliance has been wiped out!

Lin Yi, the master of the laws of time, has been confirmed dead! The human prodigy Hui Yao is also trapped in a secret realm!

The Eldar grieves the loss of Princess Edith, and the Protoss prince, Starscar, is missing!

He could imagine the countless shocking discussions among the various races, the announcements of their demise, which would become a heavy footnote to this era, a lamentable legend, or something else entirely.
The prelude to an even bigger storm.

Thinking about this, Lin Yi felt an indescribable sense of suffocation.

He wasn't afraid of death; from the moment he embarked on this path, he was prepared to face all sorts of outcomes.

He was unwilling to accept that all those who cared about him and had expectations of him would suffer pain and disappointment in such a humiliating way.

Edith seemed to notice the subtle emotional fluctuation in Lin Yi, and glanced at him sideways.

“Thinking about these things now is pointless,” Edith said after a moment’s hesitation.

Her voice remained cool and aloof, but it lacked its usual distance and carried a hint of comfort.

What happens outside is beyond our control. Sadness and worry cannot change the established facts; they will only drain our energy.

She paused, then said, "Only by surviving can we salvage the situation. Those who die here have no future and no voice."

Lin Yi slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, nodded, and forcibly suppressed the images and emotions churning in his mind, sealing them away again in the deepest part of his heart.

Edith is right.

Now is not the time for sentimentality.

Indulging in fantasies about the outside world and feelings of guilt towards relatives and friends is not helpful and will only weaken one's will to survive.

He stopped thinking about it and turned to walk towards his own relatively secluded training area in the camp.

It was a corner naturally enclosed by several huge blood-red crystals. He needed to understand more deeply the twisted, chaotic, yet self-contained rules and structure here, try to adapt to it, and even seek new insights within the suppression.

Perhaps, this extreme suppression and the vastly different environment can actually forge something different.

Survive, become stronger, find a way out.

This is their only way now.
-
And the outside world at this moment.

A major scandal has indeed occurred.

Moreover, it's a truly groundbreaking news story that will shake the entire universe!

Shortly after the exit of the myriad secret realms was closed, and at the very moment when the Abyss Clan Overlord's earth-shattering cry of "Make your move!" resounded throughout the starry sky where the three parties were facing off.

The combined forces of the Abyss Clan and the Eclipse Clan launched a major attack on the Pan-Spirit Alliance, especially targeting the Spirit Clan.

This is not an escalation of border friction, nor a struggle for local interests, but a long-planned all-out war!
The contradictions that had been concealed by a long period of peace and controlled competition were ignited at this moment, turning into the most intense flames of war.

The cosmic war has been restarted!
The virtual universe network was instantly paralyzed at the very beginning.

It was as if countless intelligent beings throughout the starry sea were stunned by this sudden and enormous change, losing their ability to react.

The intelligent editing systems of major news media outlets also seemed to experience a brief period of logical confusion, unable to process such an explosive and multi-dimensional flood of information in an instant.

But what followed was an unprecedented explosion of information.

The entire Pan-Spirit Alliance was in an uproar!

Undeclared War! The Abyss Clan and the Devouring Clan Launch a Full-Scale Attack on the Pan-Spirit Alliance Simultaneously!

The entire border is in critical condition! The defensive lines of seventeen important subordinate races under the Eldar have suffered devastating blows in the first instance!

"The Fall of Sovereigns! The Pan-Spirit Alliance has confirmed the fall of three Sovereign-level beings!"

The Era of Cosmic Warfare Begins Again! The Supreme Council of the Pan-Spirit Alliance Issues a General Mobilization Order, Entering a State of High Readiness!

The Eclipse Clan's "Dark Erosion Insect Sea" overwhelms the outer defenses of the "Emerald Ring," exposing the Protoss's core star system, "Crystal Radiance," to their overwhelming power!

The Abyss Clan's "Wild Fang" main force launches a surprise attack on the Human Race's "Heavenly Furnace" strategic hub; the "Blazing Forge" Lord's whereabouts are unknown.

The Spirit Race's "Wall of Radiance" defense line was attacked by a combined force of several Abyss Race lords, resulting in a breach.

The Holy Light Clan's "Starfield Defense Line" is under immense pressure; the Eclipse Clan's "Void Predator" fleet has been frequently spotted!

Trade disrupted! Safe shipping lanes attacked! Space logistics crippled!

Resource Star Prices Soar! War Panic Spreads to Financial Markets!

Minor races urgently request aid; the cosmic landscape shifts dramatically in a single day!

Headlines bearing scarlet symbols and constantly flashing "Live Updates" exploded across all news channels, information platforms, intra-ethnic networks, and personal communication devices at an explosive pace.

Public discussion forums in the virtual network were instantly flooded with a massive number of posts, and message overload alarms sounded simultaneously on major platforms.

On this day, the shadow of war loomed over the entire known universe in the most brutal way.

Amidst the raging flames and clamor of war, the news of the "annihilation" of Lin Yi and a thousand other prodigies, though causing a stir of exclamations and regrets, was quickly drowned out by more urgent and tragic battle reports under the shadow of the all-out war sweeping across the entire Pan-Spirit Alliance.

Only those closest to us can bury this grief deep in their hearts and transform it into an even deeper hatred for the enemy.

or.
A stubborn refusal to believe.

(End of this chapter)