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

Chapter 387 What does it mean to have a little talent?

After exchanging pleasantries with his senior brothers and sisters, Lin Yi followed the guide and arrived at his residence, which was located deep within the crystal branches.

This is a private space designed purely for cultivation and preparation for battle. Its interior is composed of unique biological crystals of the Spirit Race, and the walls are filled with a gentle aura of life energy that can effectively soothe restless souls and accelerate recovery.

The next forty standard days flew by amidst intense final adjustments and necessary social interactions.

Inside the fortress, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Powerful figures and prodigies from countless races within the Pan-Spirit Alliance gathered here, filling the already magnificent crystal tree with powerful energy fluctuations and an invisible sense of mental pressure.

Lin Yi attended several small gatherings from different circles.

Sometimes it's an internal meeting among the elites of the list, where they exchange scattered information about "Secret Realm No. 1" gathered from their respective channels; other times it's a brief reunion with old members of the Star Origin Society. Edith, Aoba, and others have also arrived one after another, talking about their past experiences in the myriad secret realms, and they all have mixed feelings about the new journey that is about to begin.

More often, he meets with the gods who fought alongside him on the bloody front lines or who were helped by his fearless war god avatar in perilous situations.

At a gathering jointly organized by several deities, Lin Yi received news that was both unexpected and yet perfectly logical.

The gathering place is a semi-open viewing platform inside the fortress. Through the crystal curtain wall, one can clearly see the mysterious vortex against the backdrop of the distant starry sky, as well as the Abyss Bone Fortress and the Eclipse Creature Nest standing opposite each other.

"Lin Yi, there's something you need to be aware of." The speaker was the human god Aihen.

Lin Yi held a cup of Spirit Clan specialty Source Crystal Dew, which shimmered like stardust, and looked at him calmly.

“It seems you’ve received the news as well.” Another Holy Radiance Clan deity, Radiant Feather, chimed in, then said to Lin Yi, “Lin Yi, according to what I’ve heard, after the ceasefire agreement was signed, the Abyss Clan and the Eclipse Clan simultaneously updated a bounty list targeting our Pan-Spirit Alliance.”

"The list is divided into different realms, listing the targets they consider the most threatening and most worthy of priority elimination. As long as you can expel the people on the list from the secret realm—whether by killing them or forcing them to leave the secret realm voluntarily—you will receive a huge bounty of the corresponding level, as long as you consume a secret realm attempt."

"Oh?" Lin Yi's eyebrows twitched slightly. This kind of tactic was not uncommon in war. "I'm on the list?"

A cold light flashed across the diamond-shaped main crystal on Jingli's forehead. "The list is divided into a list of powerhouses at the god level and a list of geniuses below the god level, and you are at the top of the list of geniuses."

The atmosphere instantly became more tense.

Being listed as the number one target by two hostile races means that after Lin Yi's whereabouts are exposed in the secret realm, he is likely to become the target of everyone's attacks and be besieged by all sides.

Lin Yi merely swirled the cup in his hand slightly, watching the stardust slowly sink within, and said calmly, "As expected. Thank you all for informing me."

His reaction was remarkably calm, as if the discussion wasn't about his life-or-death bounty, but rather a military briefing unrelated to him.

This composure earned the silent approval of the several war-hardened deities present.

Several days later, the third senior sister, Qianhuan, also arrived at the Source Crystal Ancient Tree Fortress.

She went directly to Lin Yi.

Qianhuan, abandoning her usual lazy and playful demeanor, displayed an unusual seriousness on her exquisite face: "Junior Brother, have you heard about the bounty?"

"I've heard, Senior Sister." Lin Yi nodded.

“I know you are determined and may not care.” Qianhuan stared into his eyes. “But I must remind you that the danger you face will not only come from the secret realm itself.”

"I understand, Senior Sister." Lin Yi's voice remained steady, but it carried a chilling coldness. "It's just that the battlefield has been changed from the open to the secret realm."

Qianhuan gazed into Lin Yi's deep eyes and knew that this junior brother was no longer the star core-level genius who needed her to give him personal instructions.

"It's good that you know what's going on." Qianhuan finally sighed softly, her tone softening. "By the way, Senior Brother Zhenyu has also arrived, but he was invited by several high-ranking gods to discuss matters related to cooperation after the opening of the secret realm. He will contact you later."

"Yes, thank you, senior sister."

Forty standard days pass in the blink of an eye.

On this day, an instruction bearing the mark of the Pan-Spirit Alliance Supreme Command was sent to the personal terminals of all those who had obtained access qualifications.

[All those granted access to the first secret realm, please proceed to the assembly plaza within three standard hours.]

Lin Yi broke free from his cultivation state, and the subtle spatial ripples surrounding his body slowly receded into his body.

The assembly plaza is located in the core area of ​​the fortress. When Lin Yi passed through a giant archway that flowed with seven-colored energy and resembled a water curtain, the scene before him made his gaze slightly narrow.

The space inside the plaza has clearly been expanded by the technology of spatial laws, and as far as the eye can see, it is almost endless, like a vast continent suspended inside the fortress.

The entire plaza is arranged in an extremely regular stepped shape, divided into five distinct huge platforms. Each platform is separated by a semi-transparent energy barrier, on which light shimmers and complex law runes flow.

The bottom floor, which is also the most vast floor, is now densely packed with countless figures.

They are all at the star core level.

Even from a distance, the invisible sound waves created by human voices could be faintly felt. As the geniuses of various races gathered, their tense, excited, and apprehensive emotions spread like a tangible mist.

Lin Yi's soul power swept over like a gentle breeze, instantly capturing several familiar auras.

Chen Yu, Zhou Yuxuan, and others were among them, straining to look around the crowd, seemingly trying to find familiar faces.

The number of people on the second-tier platform has decreased by more than 90%, but it is still considerable.

Those who can stand here are all outstanding individuals, not only at the Star Swirl level but also among the few at the Star Core level. Their auras are refined, and their energy fluctuations are stable and powerful.

Once you reach the third level, you'll basically be at the star domain level.

Lin Yi's gaze fell upon a certain spot, where it met a calm gaze.

Irelia stood on that floor, quietly watching him.

Lin Yi smiled at her and nodded slightly.

Irelia nodded in response, her eyes filled with complex emotions—concern, encouragement, and a hint of deep-seated resentment.

The difference in strength prevented her from fighting on the same level as Lin Yi.

The fourth layer is the derivative-level region.

Lin Yi saw many familiar faces, including his Ninth Senior Brother Cangming and Senior Brother Xuan Shu, who were chatting with several other Realm-level experts from other races. Sensing Lin Yi's gaze, Cangming looked up, grinned at him, and made a "be careful" gesture.

The fifth floor, which is also the highest floor.

The guiding beam landed precisely on Lin Yi, indicating that he should go to the fifth floor.

He gave Irelia one last reassuring look, then transformed into a pale blue streak of light, passing straight through the invisible barrier and landing steadily on the crystal platform on the fifth level.

The view here is excellent, offering a panoramic view of the vast crowds on the four levels below, as well as the distant vortex of the secret realm. At the same time, it allows for a clearer sense of the silent yet tense standoff between the three races' fortresses.

"Brother Lin Yi!" A familiar voice called out with a smile.

Lin Yi turned his head and saw Ming Luo waving at him, with the aloof Yue Ming and the composed Lan standing beside her.

A smile appeared on his face, and he moved swiftly to appear nearby.

"You've finally arrived," Mingluo said with a smile. "We were wondering if some lord had kept you behind to give you a private mission."

Yue Ming was still dressed in a moon-white battle robe, exuding an otherworldly aura. At this moment, a smile appeared on his usually cold face: "I heard that you haven't been idle during the time we've been apart. I've even heard of that Xingyuan Society."

Lin Yi replied with a smile, "It's just to provide a platform for everyone to communicate and collaborate."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Yueming and Lan, and he could clearly feel that their auras were more solid and substantial than when they last parted, indicating a significant improvement.

“Sigh, let’s not talk about that.” Minglu patted Lan beside him. “We’re finally going in. According to the information about the floor levels that have been circulating, I’ll most likely be assigned to the 41st floor. Lan, you should be in a similar situation to me? If we can be assigned to the same floor, we can look out for each other.”

Lan nodded. "Yeah, I guess it's the 41st floor too."

Mingluo then looked at Yueming, her eyes asking, "Yueming, what about you? 43rd floor or 44th floor? Maybe you'll run into Lin Yi."

Lin Yi also looked at Yue Ming.

根据泛灵盟官方给的消息，神灵级进入秘境后的初始层数大致对应实力：普通神灵通常在40、41层；强大神灵在42、43层；高等神灵在44、45层；上位神灵则是46、47层。

As for the higher 48th and 49th floors, it seems that no one has yet been able to initially enter these floors. Opinions vary, but the general guess is that it may require a "limited god" who is infinitely close to the level of a lord to be able to reach them.

Upon hearing this, Yueming replied directly, "I should be on the 43rd floor. Although the resources I obtained from the last mission have boosted my strength, I still have a long way to go before I can reach the level of a high-level god."

After saying that, she looked at Lin Yi and said, "Lin Yi, you have been to the Sacred Tree Secret Realm. Given how much your human race values ​​you, the resource subsidies should be quite generous. Reaching the 43rd floor shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Her tone was speculative, but her eyes suggested that she believed Lin Yi had likely reached the top level among powerful deities, perhaps even reaching the upper limit of the 43rd floor.

Upon hearing this, Mingluo, who was standing to the side, had a strange expression on his face. He knew very well what an astonishing five million clan merits subsidy Lin Yi had received; it was by no means "not a small amount."

Mingluo believes that with so many resources to help him, Lin Yi should be able to reach level 44 with his talent!
So what he actually meant was that if Yueming could reach the 44th floor and become a high-level deity, there would be hope that he could be on the same floor as Lin Yi.

Lin Yi naturally saw Mingluo's reaction and understood that Yueming's speculation was based on conventional knowledge.

He never intended to hide the initial level; this information would quickly circulate within the same faction once it entered the secret realm.

So, meeting Yueming's probing gaze, he calmly said, "I've made some progress during this time, and my initial floor level will probably be around 45."

"45 floors?!"

Although Mingluo was mentally prepared, she still couldn't help but gasp when she heard Lin Yi say the number in such a calm tone.

The sound was quite clear on the relatively quiet fifth-level platform, where only deities whispered or communicated through telepathy, immediately attracting the attention of many surrounding deities.

45层！
This number immediately stirred up a wave of emotions among the nearby deities.

That represents the realm of higher deities, and is undoubtedly the best among them, a sign that they have already stood at the top of the divine pyramid!
Yueming's clear, cold eyes suddenly widened slightly as she stared at Lin Yi in astonishment.

Lan's breath hitched slightly, her eyes filled with surprise.

The gazes from those around him were incredibly complex, a mixture of surprise, scrutiny, and a wide range of emotions.

This human prodigy, whose cultivation period was far shorter than theirs, had quietly reached this point.
Lin Yi stood calmly in place, as if he were simply stating a perfectly ordinary fact.

A moment later, three figures with composed demeanor approached from a distance.

A Li Clan deity clad in dark gold scale armor spoke first, "Lin Yi, I am Tanna of the Li Clan. I just heard you estimate the initial entry level to be 45?" Lin Yi nodded, "Yes."

Another tall female deity with a single, crystalline horn on her forehead nodded slightly and said in a clear voice, "45th floor. It seems we might meet in the secret realm."

Her words were very direct, clearly indicating that she positioned herself on the 45th floor.

The last one was a deity of the Holy Radiance Clan. His holy light was restrained, and his face was gentle. He smiled and said, "I am Yao Chen. Lord Lin Yi, the situation after the secret realm is unpredictable. Let's exchange contact marks. If we meet, we may be able to communicate and look after each other."

Lin Yi naturally had no reason to refuse these three high-ranking deities who had taken the initiative to show goodwill and express their willingness to cooperate.

As the other party said, although the virtual network of the Pan-Spirit Alliance is isolated within the secret realm, making it impossible to conduct real-time communication over long distances, the powerful individuals from each race basically bring their own intelligent life forms or specialized detection and communication auxiliary equipment before entering.

These devices, within the secret realm, can enable communication and information exchange within a certain distance.

"It is my honor to exchange marks with you all." Lin Yi said calmly, and quickly exchanged marks using their respective intelligent auxiliary devices.

Mingluo, Yueming, and Lan watched from the sidelines, their hearts filled with even deeper emotions.

Soon, just as the powerful figures of various races were exchanging whispers and waiting in the square, a vast and boundless will quietly descended.

The previously noisy assembly square fell completely silent in an instant.

All the deities in the fifth-level divine area, including Lin Yi and Yao Chen who had just exchanged their marks, felt their souls sink slightly. They involuntarily restrained all their outward auras and solemnly looked at the void at the front of the plaza.

There, a figure slowly appeared.

That was the ruler of the Spirit Race.

Its figure seemed to be formed from the purest light, hazy yet noble, its face indistinct, only a pair of eyes that seemed to contain the birth and death of endless stars, calmly looking down at the almost endless geniuses and powerful figures of the Pan-Spirit Alliance below.

Its very existence is like the core of a universe, inspiring awe and making one dare not look directly at it.

Behind this Spirit Race ruler, dozens of figures appeared in the void one after another, each with an aura as deep as the sea, clearly the Venerable-level beings from various races who came to oversee the situation.

The Spirit Race ruler's gaze swept across the entire arena, and his will was clearly transmitted to the depths of the souls of everyone present, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"Secret Realm Number One is about to open."

His voice was calm, yet it instilled a sense of awe in everyone.

"Before entering, reiterate the two ironclad rules jointly agreed upon by the Pan-Spirit Alliance Supreme Command and all races."

"First, within the secret realm, all members of the Pan-Spirit Alliance are strictly prohibited from attacking, plundering, or killing each other without cause. Violators, regardless of their identity or background, will be severely punished once verified, and their respective clans will also bear joint responsibility."

This rule is intended to prevent internal friction as much as possible in the brutal competitive environment within the secret realm where points can be "grabbed".

As soon as the ruler finished speaking, many powerful individuals, especially those who were relatively weak or came from small or medium-sized clans, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This means that if they encounter a malicious attack from a powerful member of their own faction, they can forcibly leave the secret realm.

Although quitting in this way would result in significant losses according to the rules, as long as the recording device you carry can preserve the evidence, you can appeal to the Pan-Spirit Alliance after you leave to hold the attackers accountable, and the losses will naturally be recovered.

While this rule cannot completely eliminate all unethical practices, it at least creates a deterrent effect and prevents internal friction to the greatest extent possible.

"Secondly," the Sovereign's voice paused slightly, and the atmosphere in the square became even more solemn, "all specific information about what we see, hear, and obtain inside the No. 1 Secret Realm must not be disclosed to the outside world without authorization. The authority to organize, analyze, and publish all information rests solely with the Supreme Command of the Pan-Spirit Alliance."

These words immediately sparked a subdued murmur of discussion in the square.

"really."

"All information can only be released by the supreme command?"

"No wonder there is almost no specific information about the interior of Secret Realm No. 1 on the virtual network. It is all peripheral information and speculation passed down by word of mouth among acquaintances."

Lin Yi understood as well.

He had found it strange before. Logically, such an important secret realm should have its basic rules and early exploration information circulated only among high-level officials or specific circles, even if it was for the sake of secrecy.

But the truth is, apart from the most basic framework such as the hierarchical correspondences relayed by Senior Brother Zhenyu, and the "50 layers" implied by Venerable Xuanyan, the specific details are almost entirely vague.

So that's where the root of the problem lies.

All information outlets were strictly controlled by the supreme command.

This undoubtedly deepened the mystery of the No. 1 Secret Realm, and also made all those who entered more vigilant and suspicious.

The fact that the Overlord himself emphasized this rule means that the secrets hidden inside the secret realm may be far more astonishing than the currently circulating description of a "99-layer composite high-level secret realm," and may even involve certain taboos that cannot be disseminated.

Lin Yi forcibly suppressed the surging curiosity in his heart.

In any case, the answer will soon be revealed.

He is about to step into it himself, and all his doubts will be answered within the secret realm.

The Spirit Race Overlord said no more. After announcing the two ironclad rules, his hazy figure and the dozens of Venerable Lords behind him simultaneously raised their hands and pointed to the center of the square.

In an instant, a seven-colored energy rainbow bridge spanning the void was established between the entire gathering plaza and the enormous vortex of the secret realm entrance in the outside world.

The other end of the rainbow bridge plunged directly into the center of the slowly rotating vortex, which was filled with chaotic law fluctuations.

"All those granted entry, proceed in turn!"

As soon as the order was given, the assembly square erupted in activity.

Following the order of hierarchy from lowest to highest, the most powerful and vast Star Core level geniuses first transformed into streaks of light, flying towards the Rainbow Bridge like rivers flowing into the sea, and plunging into the bottomless vortex.

Next comes the second level, the Star Swirl level, and the third level, the Star Domain level.
Lin Yi saw Irelia fly up with the flow of people on the third floor. Before entering the Rainbow Bridge, she looked back at him one last time, her emerald green eyes shining with determination.

Lin Yi nodded slightly to her.

The fourth-level experts at the Transcendent Realm level also set off one after another.

Before taking off, Senior Brother Cangming made a hand gesture to Lin Yi from afar, and then his figure disappeared into the Rainbow Bridge.

Finally, it was the turn of the fifth level, the god-level.

“We should go too.” Mingluo took a deep breath and said to Lin Yi, Yueming and Lan, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.

Yueming and Lan nodded solemnly.

"See you in the secret realm," Lin Yi said, and his figure rose into the air.

He flew towards the seven-colored rainbow bridge with the divine-level team.

The moment you approach the Rainbow Bridge, you can feel the mixed and powerful suction coming from the depths of the vortex, as if it wants to pull your soul in.

Without hesitation, Lin Yi stepped into the seven-colored light.

The world spun around.

He felt as if he had passed through a long tunnel made up of countless fragmented spaces and inverted rules. His five senses and six consciousnesses lost their meaning in an instant, leaving only his soul falling continuously under an indescribable pull.

A moment later, all senses returned abruptly.

Lin Yi found himself standing in a pure white world.

Everything was pure white, both above and below, in all directions, front and back, left and right.

Lin Yi understood.

This must be the "special void space" that Senior Brother Zhenyu mentioned. It's not a real secret realm, but rather a transit station for detection and allocation.

In the center of this pure white void, a ball of light, roughly the size of a human head and equally pure white, floats silently.

The sphere of light exuded a gentle yet strange aura, as if it were the core of the entire void.

Lin Yi could sense that all the items he brought with him when he entered, including the Fearless War God metal figure in his storage bracelet and the smart device that Xuanji was attached to, were intact, but they were temporarily isolated from the outside world by an invisible force and were in a silent state.

Just then, an invisible wave emanated from the pure white sphere of light, gently yet irresistibly sweeping across Lin Yi's entire body.

The investigation lasted only a brief moment.

Immediately, a soft light screen appeared out of thin air in the pure white void before Lin Yi, upon which lines of clear text appeared:
[Realm Assessment: Star Origin Realm, Rank 3]

[Comprehension Assessment: Fifth Rank of Star Origin Realm]

[Talent Assessment: Somewhat talented]

[Entry level of the Beginning Tower: 38]

[Reminder: You can choose to bring equipment to increase your initial entry level. Once the initial entry level is determined, it will not decrease on subsequent entries. Currently, based on the equipment you are carrying, your initial entry level in the Tower of Origin is 45.]

Lin Yi was completely stunned the moment he saw this information.

What the heck?!

Fifth level of Star Origin Realm? Third level of Star Origin Realm?
What kind of realm is this "Star Origin Realm"?
Aren't the terms commonly used in the main universe stardust, star core, star vortex, star field, derivative realm, god, lord, and ruler?

And what is the "Primordial Tower"? Does it refer to this 99-story "Secret Realm Number One"?

Besides this information, what made Lin Yi's eyes twitch was the last item: "Talent Assessment: Somewhat talented."

Some talent?

Lin Yi couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

What does it mean to have a little talent?

(End of this chapter)