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

Chapter 383 Senior Sister's Request, Clan Subsidy
Two options?

Lin Yi knew that the next step was crucial, so he quickly said seriously, "Please speak, Senior Sister."

"The first option is to owe it to them for now."

Qianhuan said, "Take the things and use them first. I'll keep track of this debt. When you acquire a treasure that you don't need but that I think is valuable in the future, you can return it to me."

"As for the second option, it's to exchange a promise."

"promise?"

Lin Yi immediately understood that this was the key point.

“Yes.” Qianhuan nodded, her gaze becoming somewhat distant. “Junior brother, as you know, I was besieged and attacked before, and was seriously injured and on the verge of death. If it weren’t for senior brother’s timely rescue, I would probably have perished.”

"Moreover, it was because of saving me that time was delayed, which is why Senior Brother was unable to reach Xiao Jiu in time, ultimately leading to Xiao Jiu's death."

Lin Yi remained silent.

He naturally knew these things.

Qianhuan sighed softly: "I told Xiao Jiu before that I would pay for his resurrection and give it to Senior Brother. But Xiao Jiu firmly disagreed."

"Let's put aside our own affairs for now." Qianhuan's tone became calm again, but it carried a cold chill. "Although I have recovered from my injuries, those guys who attacked me back then are still alive and well."

She glanced at Lin Yi, a sharp glint in her eyes, "Right now, because of the ceasefire, there aren't many good ways to deal with them in the main universe. However, we can collect the interest for now."

"Although usually, mastering four laws is required to reach the threshold of a higher god, you have now fully mastered the two higher laws of time and space, plus the higher law of life."

Qianhuan stared intently at Lin Yi, "The strength of your Fearless War God Avatar should already be considered as stepping into the threshold of a high-level god. If you can comprehend the Law of Death, then you will be among the top tier of high-level gods."

"And those who besieged me back then," Qianhuan's voice turned cold, "were all high-ranking deities."

"If you encounter them in the first secret realm, I hope you can help your senior sister collect some interest and clear them out! Try your best to prevent them from improving much through the secret realm's opportunities during this ceasefire period."

"Once the war resumes, I, your senior sister, will settle the score with them myself!"

After saying that, Qianhuan changed the subject, "Well, junior brother? After all, this is about fighting against a high-level god of the same level, so you should think it over carefully."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi fell silent.

Don't be fooled by the way your senior sister spoke through gritted teeth, as if she wanted his help to get revenge.

The No. 1 Secret Realm is said to have an extremely complex internal spatial structure, vast and boundless, and divided into so many layers. In such a huge secret realm, what are the odds of encountering the specific hostile gods who besieged my senior sister back then?
Furthermore, if he had truly perfected the Law of Death and reached the pinnacle of high-level deity power when he entered the secret realm, then even without his senior sister's incident, he would most likely have to fight any hostile deity he encountered in that environment of extremely fierce resource competition and the survival of the fittest.

Therefore, Senior Sister Qianhuan's "promise" seems to be a condition for exchange, but in reality, it overlaps greatly with what she might have originally been doing, and there is not much difference between them.

To put it bluntly, the senior sister still wanted to use this as an excuse to help him maximize his strength before entering the secret realm.

The so-called revenge with interest is more like a "stepping stone" to make him more accepting of this generous gift, or rather, it is a genuine expectation deep in the senior sister's heart, but by no means an equal bargaining chip.

Clearly, his senior sister was taking care of him in various ways, while also considering his pride in not wanting to receive benefits for nothing now that he had god-level combat power.

Seeing that Lin Yi was just staring at her silently, Qian Huan deliberately put on a stern face and said with a hint of anger, "Why are you looking at me? What, don't you want to help your senior sister avenge this?"

Seeing Senior Sister Qianhuan's feigned anger but unfocused gaze, Lin Yi suddenly laughed.

"Senior sister," he said, "don't underestimate me just because I'm young, or you can fool me like a child."

"Ok?"

Lin Yi's smile faded, and he looked directly at Qian Huan: "Senior sister, I will not choose either of these two options."

"Or rather, I'll choose both options."

Qianhuan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh? What do you mean?"

Lin Yi explained, "I won't be hypocritical with you, Senior Sister. I'll owe you the treasure for now and pay you back later."

"As for avenging my senior sister..."

Lin Yi revealed a fierce smile, "No need for Senior Sister to specifically request it, and no need to exchange it. As long as I am in the First Secret Realm, or even in the future when war breaks out again, and I encounter those bastards who besieged you back then on the battlefield..."

He raised his hand and made a throat-slitting gesture, "I'll kill them all I see."

Upon hearing this, Qian Huan stared blankly at Lin Yi for a moment before bursting into laughter.

She reached out, seemingly wanting to pat Lin Yi's head, but withdrew her hand halfway through, only pointing at Lin Yi instead.

"You still say you're not a child? You're a high-level god now, how can you still do such childish things?"

Lin Yi smiled and let his senior sister tease him.

After laughing for a while, Qianhuan gradually calmed down. She looked at Lin Yi and nodded, saying, "Since that's what you think, then let's do it your way."

With a wave of her hand, the four halos enveloping the treasures gently floated towards Lin Yi: "I will send the actual items to you as soon as possible through the Chamber of Commerce's channels."

Lin Yi nodded solemnly.

Qianhuan waved her hand, resuming her languid posture, but the smile in her eyes remained: "Alright, go ahead. Prepare well and get yourself into top condition. In the first secret realm, I'll collect my interest properly."

"Yes, Senior Sister, I'll take my leave!"

Lin Yi bowed and decisively severed the connection with the Star Banquet Platform.

Inside the pavilion, only Qianhuan remained once again.

She gazed at the spot where Lin Yi's figure had disappeared, the smile on her beautiful face gradually fading, replaced by a faint hint of anticipation.

"Junior brother, I don't know if you have the talent to reach that level."

Her voice faded away, and her figure gradually faded, eventually disappearing into nothingness along with the starry pavilion.
-
Origin Star.

Lin Yi opened his eyes, and the familiar scene of the manor's training room came into view.

Without pausing for a moment, he immediately said, "Xuanji."

A phantom figure in palace attire appeared in response: "Master."

"Retrieve the list of treasures we just received in the virtual space, and categorize and analyze their effects." Lin Yi spoke quickly. "At the same time, access the directory resource library and the clan merit treasure library, and filter all death law enlightenment treasures that can stack with the effects of existing treasures, focusing on categories with a single use or an effective period of about two years."

"Understood, Master."

A few seconds later, a light screen unfolded in the training room.

Netherworld Soul Crystal: Originating from a special star region within the Netherworld Clan's territory, it contains pure death and annihilation intent. After refinement, it slowly releases death law fluctuations to aid in comprehension. The effect is amplified by approximately 1.8-2.2 times, lasting for 2.1 standard years. Requires 80 Directory Points to exchange.

Breath of Eternal Slumber (A Wisp): An aura sealed in a special container, originating from the deathly stillness emanating from an ancient being eternally slumbering. Slow absorption can subtly deepen one's understanding of the true meaning of "eternal slumber," with a stable increase of approximately 1.6 times, lasting for 2.5 standard years. Requires: 75 Directory Points.

"I'll exchange one for each of them," Lin Yi decided.

"The exchange application has been submitted and payment has been completed. The treasure will be transferred from the Directory Resource Database via Divine Kingdom transfer and is expected to arrive within ten standard days."

"Very good." Lin Yi continued to instruct, "Next, select cultivation sites on Origin Star that can complement the existing treasures and form a death law cultivation pattern."

Upon hearing this, Xuanji raised her hand and waved it, causing the light screen to switch accordingly.

The Corridor of Rebirth: Filled with a complex mix of death and thoughts of rebirth. The initial entry yields significant benefits, proving remarkably effective for beginners and those seeking early understanding of the laws of death, increasing efficiency by 3-4 times. However, the effect diminishes rapidly as understanding deepens. Duration per use: 1 standard year. Redemption requires: 30 Directory Points per use.

Tomb of Annihilation: A special place transformed from fragments of the divine kingdom of an eternal god who cultivated the Laws of Death after his fall. It retains the annihilating essence of godhood. First-time entry, directly confronting this essence, provides a strong enlightenment to the Laws of Death, amplifying one's understanding by approximately 2.5-3 times. Duration per use: Up to 1.5 standard years. Exchange requires: 50 List Points per use.

Xuanji added, "Master, according to database records and user feedback, apart from the Myriad Phenomena Returning to Origin Platform, other specialized training grounds for the Law of Death also exhibit significant initial effects and rapid decay issues."

Lin Yi wasn't surprised.

This is normal. Just like some stimulating spiritual treasures, the first use is the most effective, but resistance develops afterward.

The same applies to special cultivation sites; once cultivators adapt to or analyze them, the subsequent stimulating effect will be greatly reduced.

"Exchange for one use each of the Corridor of Rebirth and the Tomb of Annihilation," Lin Yi planned. "I'll first use the Corridor of Rebirth to break through the initial stages of the Law of Death, and then use the Tomb of Annihilation to advance to the middle stages."

"confirm."

"Your redemption request has been submitted and payment has been successful. Access has been granted, and you can use it at any time."

"Very good." Lin Yi nodded in satisfaction. "Then select a few more cultivation insights on the Law of Death at the god level with different styles from the resource library."

"Currently filtering. We recommend the following three reviews:"

"The Records of the Underworld" is written by a certain death law deity under the command of the Underworld Lord.

"Notes on Rebirth", by a solitary death spirit known as "The Rebirth Guest".

"The True Explanation of Nirvana", author unknown, possibly left behind by a fallen deity.

The three items total 43 points. Redeem now?

"Exchange it." Lin Yi said without hesitation.

These insights from deities, each with its own unique style, are invaluable resources for broadening one's horizons and avoiding fixed mindsets; this investment is essential.

"Exchange application submitted. Payment successful. You can check the status at any time."

At this point, the initial planning and exchange of cultivation resources have been completed.

Lin Yi let out a long breath and sat down cross-legged: "Xuanji, bring out 'The Record of the Underworld,' 'Notes on Rebirth,' 'The True Explanation of Nirvana,' and the insights on the laws of death given by Senior Brother."

"Yes, Master."

Four streams of information, each containing a different true meaning of death, slowly unfolded in Lin Yi's consciousness.

The four reflections are quite different in style.

The insights gained from the prison are like a cold blade, pointing directly to the essence of the laws of death: "end" and "annihilation." It emphasizes comprehending the true meaning under the extreme pressure of killing and destruction, and the words reveal the bloodshed and desolation of the abyss of sin.

"The Records of the Underworld" focuses on the micro-level of "desolation," "decay," and "material decay," and contains a large number of case analyses combined with practical experience, with a cold and pragmatic style.

"Notes on Rebirth" is full of philosophical speculation, regarding death as the starting point of reincarnation and the destination of the soul. It emphasizes the understanding of the artistic conception of "rebirth" and "silence", and the text is somewhat esoteric.

The most obscure work is "The True Explanation of Nirvana," which at its core elucidates the true meaning of "all things returning to nothingness," emphasizes the two sides of destruction and rebirth, and points directly to the ultimate mystery of the law of death.

Lin Yi immersed himself in it, comparing and referencing it, learning from its strengths and making up for his weaknesses.

He combined his existing knowledge of the laws of life with a reverse derivation of the basic framework of the laws of death.

Life represents “creation,” “prosperity,” and “continuation,” while death represents “end,” “silence,” and “return to nothingness.” Although they seem to be opposites, they are actually from the same source and are both an indispensable part of the cosmic cycle.

He focused his mind, immersing himself in the text, eagerly absorbing the wisdom and experience of those who had come before him. Time slipped away quietly as he concentrated on reading and contemplation.

Ten days later, the treasures redeemed through the directory system arrived on time.

A silver metal box, engraved with intricate spatial runes and divided into multiple independent compartments, was personally escorted to the manor by a god-like being.

Lin Yi inspected the goods and signed for them.

Inside the box, the Netherworld Soul Crystal was a dark gray crystal with a gray mist slowly rotating inside.

The breath of eternal slumber was sealed in a palm-sized transparent crystal ball, within which a wisp of grayish-white energy meandered slowly like a living thing.

Five days later, Senior Sister Qianhuan's treasure was delivered through the Chamber of Commerce.

All the treasures have arrived.

"Xuanji, book the commuter shuttle for the Long Life Corridor before departure." Lin Yi stood up and carefully put away the core treasures such as the Turbid Spring Marrow Heart Jade Box and the Nirvana Crystal Core.

Ten minutes later, Lin Yi boarded the shuttle and flew to the "Palace of Rebirth" deep within the Origin Star cultivation area.

After verifying his permissions, Lin Yi stepped into the corridor filled with a hazy gray mist, where a chaotic mix of thoughts of death and past life rushed towards him like a tidal wave.

Countless illusory faces of wailing appeared and disappeared on the walls on both sides.

Lin Yi sat cross-legged on the "Platform of Rebirth" in the center of the corridor.

He did not rush to use the Turbid Spring Essence, but instead activated the auxiliary effects of the Netherworld Soul Crystal and the Breath of Eternal Sleep, gradually aligning his soul frequency with the Law of Death.

At the same time, he took out the Annihilation Crystal Core and, based on the "Annihilation Guiding Method" recorded in the Prison Suppression Manual, supplemented by his own power of the Time Law, carefully guided the violent destructive and death energy within it, transforming it into relatively gentle ripples of enlightenment.

After making these preparations, Lin Yi's thoughts sank into the purple mist space.

"Spiritual energy, ignite!"

A purple flame of enlightenment suddenly ignited, and his thinking speed, comprehension, and deductive ability instantly soared to their limits.

Lin Yi decided to start with the most basic meaning of silence, contemplating the scene of all things withering, stars dying, and civilization returning to ruins, and experiencing the "absolute stillness" where all activities eventually cease.

Supported by the spiritual energy, his soul operated efficiently, and his understanding of the laws of death started from 0% and steadily climbed upwards.

1% 5% 10%
Three months later, Lin Yi successfully crossed the threshold of the Law of Death and officially entered the field.

He has gained a preliminary understanding of the true meaning of "silence" and can clearly perceive the patterns of laws in the surrounding environment that tend towards "stillness" and "end".

Over the next six months, he continued to delve deeper, beginning to touch upon the true meaning of "end".

Everything has a beginning and an end; death is that end.

He combined cases from "The Book of the Underworld" to deduce the process of material decay, energy dissipation, and information annihilation, and to understand the irreversibility and inevitability of "the end".

When the year was up and he left the Corridor of Rebirth, Lin Yi's comprehension of the Law of Death had reached 28.7%, firmly stepping into the early stage of the Law.

Lin Yi then rushed to the Tomb of Annihilation without stopping.

The environment here is completely different from that of the Corridor of Rebirth.

There were no illusory wails or thoughts of the past, only a suffocating silence.

The sky over this land of death is an eternal dark gray, the earth is cracked, and the exposed rocks are a grayish-white that has been completely drained of life.

The air was filled with the lingering deathly essence of that fallen god, like an invisible mountain, pressing down on the soul of every person who entered.

Lin Yi sat down in front of the "Monument of Annihilation" at the core of the tomb.

The energy fluctuations here are the most intense, and the sense of oppression is also the strongest.

After half a day of adjustment, his spiritual energy ignited once again.

While Lin Yi devoted a portion of his mind to stabilizing his soul fluctuations with the laws of time and resisting the erosion of the "All Things Return to Nothingness" will contained in the surrounding environment, he focused on comprehending "annihilation" and "return to nothingness".

The insights gained from "The True Explanation of Nirvana" played a significant role in this context.

Lin Yi no longer sees death as a simple end, but as a kind of "return"—energy returning to nothingness, matter returning to dust, and information returning to chaos.

Nirvana is not disappearance, but transformation into the most primitive and basic form of existence, waiting for the opportunity of the next round of "creation".

Perception level steadily increased: 30% 33% 38%
However, when his comprehension reached 39.5%, Lin Yi noticed that his comprehension speed had started to slow down significantly.

Lin Yi knew it was time.

He took a deep breath, took out the black jade box, and gently opened it.

A drop of murky, ink-black liquid, exuding the ancient, pure aura of death, floats quietly within it; this is the very essence of the turbid spring.

Lin Yi used his soul power to guide the drop of marrow into his brow.

In an instant, the ancient and vast aura of death's origin spread through his soul.

This aura was incredibly pure, and it also carried an enlightening power that pointed directly to the ultimate mystery of the laws of death.

Lin Yi suddenly had a flash of inspiration and his understanding of the true meaning of "Gui Xu" became clear.

Guixu is not the end of the end, but the "collection" and "destination" of all ending processes, and the "source sea" of the law of death.

After all things perish, their "end" essence will flow into this primordial sea, becoming part of the laws of death.

My comprehension level is starting to soar!
40% 41% 43%
Soon, a standard year had passed.

Lin Yi slowly opened his eyes, a deep, dark glint flashing across them—a sign that the laws of death were permeating his soul.

He carefully contemplated the complex imprint of the law of death deep within his soul.

"53% is slightly faster than expected," Lin Yi muttered to himself, somewhat satisfied.

Although the effects of the Turbid Spring Essence can only last for one standard year, they have indeed exceeded expectations. The remaining two drops should be used with caution.

Although there were still six months left to cultivate in the Tomb of Annihilation, Lin Yi was not in a hurry to continue cultivating.

Now that two years have passed, the selection process for Secret Realm No. 1 should begin, and he needs to see what's going on.

"Xuanji, during my seclusion, did you receive any news regarding the selection process for the No. 1 Secret Realm?" Lin Yi asked.

"Yes, Master. Three standard days ago, His Majesty Mingluo of the Purple Gold Star Alliance sent a virtual visit request, with the message: 'Brother Lin Yi, I have something important to tell you, regarding the number one secret realm quota and clan subsidies.' I replied on your behalf that I am currently in seclusion."

Mingluo?

Lin Yi's heart stirred slightly.

"Send a virtual meeting invitation to Mingluo for me."

Lin Yi gave the instructions.

"Yes, Master. The virtual meeting invitation has been accepted."

Lin Yi nodded, while tidying his appearance.

A moment later, his consciousness connected to the virtual network and appeared in his virtual meeting room.

Almost simultaneously, Mingluo's familiar figure materialized.

"Brother Lin Yi, are you out of seclusion? You must have made some progress." Ming Luo greeted him with a smile as soon as he appeared.

"Not bad, I've gained some insights," Lin Yi replied with a smile. "Any results from the secret realm selection?"

"Haha, I knew you'd care about that." Mingluo didn't mince words and went straight to the point. "That's right, the selection process just ended. I'm here to officially inform you that you've passed the qualification review for Secret Realm Number One and have secured a spot to enter!"

Lin Yi nodded, not surprised at all.

There must be corresponding exemption or priority mechanisms within the ethnic group.

After all, given the strength and talent he has shown, if the human race can even filter him out, then no one in the younger generation will be able to enter.

"I'm sure you're fine, Mingluo," Lin Yi said.

As a veteran eternal god, Mingluo's strength is quite good among ordinary gods. After gaining a large amount of battle merits last time, he will definitely have improved. As long as he wants to enter, he will definitely be able to get a spot.

"Just lucky, just lucky." Mingluo's smile widened, then he rubbed his hands together, his tone becoming somewhat excited. "However, this notification of the quota is only one thing. The more important reason I came here this time is to convey another message."

"As you probably know, the clan provides an extra subsidy to everyone who is able to enter, based on a comprehensive evaluation. It's a form of support from the clan for those of us who represent humanity and enter the secret realm to compete for opportunities."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi's expression turned serious.

This is also a key concern for him, since he can't fully utilize the Death Law just by relying on the list points.

Mingluo noticed the seriousness in Lin Yi's eyes, and he deliberately paused before continuing, "The amount of this subsidy varies from person to person. For old guys like us, our potential is basically set, and the assessment mainly looks at our current combat strength and potential role in the secret realm."

"The amount of subsidy I received was 10 clan honors."

When Mingluo announced the number, a clear look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

10 clan merits is a considerable resource for an eternal god, enough to exchange for many good things.

"Congratulations," Lin Yi said.

"Hey, this is nothing."

Minglu waved her hand, her gaze fixed intently on Lin Yi. "Brother Lin Yi, the point is you. Do you know how much subsidy you received?"

Ok?
Upon hearing this, Lin Yi's heart stirred.

Judging from Mingluo's appearance, the clan's reward for his meritorious service was clearly not a small amount.

While thinking to himself, Lin Yi replied with a smile, "Looks like there's quite a lot?"

Minglu grinned. "More than a lot."

Then, he took a deep breath and slowly said:
"After deliberation by the First Secret Realm Affairs Committee under the Supreme Human Council, and a comprehensive evaluation considering your age, talent, current combat strength, and expected future contributions to humanity, etc."

"You, Lin Yi, what is the amount of clan honorary allowance you received?"

Five million!

(End of this chapter)