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

Chapter 94 That Glimmer of Light

On the rooftop of the old department store building, Zhang Weidong arrived in a hurry, announced the establishment of the Blue Star Crisis Response Consortium, and then left in a hurry.

The wind swept across the empty concrete ground of the rooftop, bringing with it the faint sounds of noise and construction from the distant settlements.

Lin Yi stood alone, his gaze fixed on the distant, hazy city skyline.

He actually knew about this a long time ago.

Previously, when Nie Chang briefed him on the arrangements for the opening ceremony, the personal attendance of Chief Li Zhenguo, and even the presence of foreign delegations who would attend the ceremony and send representatives to observe and learn, he had mentioned this matter.

But at this moment, when Lin Yi heard Zhang Weidong officially announce this news to all the survivors, he still felt somewhat dazed.

too fast.

In their previous lives, humanity struggled to survive for over a hundred years under the claws of the Abyss Beasts, paying a heavy price in bloodshed and sacrifice. They endured countless internal divisions, frictions, and even civil wars before finally managing to forge a loose "Blue Star Community" under the immense pressure of survival.

The so-called community is more often just a name. The various power zones and shelters still maintain a high degree of independence. The strong are respected, they are not subordinate to each other, and internal strife never stops.

Even within the Xia Kingdom, it was far from a monolithic entity.

He was reborn with the determination to change his fate, but his initial plan was relatively conservative: in the early stages, he would only do his best to protect his relatives and friends, and then quickly improve his own strength to advance to the Star Core level at an absolute speed.

At that time, they will use overwhelming force to forcibly unite all forces, integrate resources, and then launch a counterattack against the Abyss Beast.

He had long been mentally prepared for a long struggle, and even to face numerous internal obstacles alone.

But Lin Yi never expected that the trajectory of his life would be so different in this life.

The efficient operation of the state apparatus, the keen ability to capture information, and the unimaginable decisiveness enabled Xia not only to stabilize the situation in the early stages of the disaster, but also to quickly establish its global leadership position by taking advantage of the victory of "Operation Dawn" and bringing the vast majority of surviving forces into the framework of the alliance.

This top-down, organized, and planned approach is simply superior to the long and bloody chaotic integration process of the previous era.
"awesome."

Lin Yi muttered to himself, a smile creeping onto his lips.

This is not just a golden start for the Xia Kingdom itself.

As far as he knew, due to the early warning information issued by Xia State and the strategy of "retreating to the gap zone" being imitated by many neighboring countries, a considerable number of countries preserved a more complete living force than in the previous life, and the initial population loss was thus greatly reduced.

This means that the overall potential of human civilization is far greater than that of previous eras.

Thinking of all this, the string that had been taut in Lin Yi's heart since his rebirth seemed to loosen slightly, and an indescribable sense of relief quietly filled his heart.

With a slight thought, Lin Yi flipped his wrist, and the dark, dull Rift Spear appeared in his hand.

He didn't use any source energy; he practiced each move purely with his physical strength and understanding of spear techniques.

The movements were not fast, nor were they earth-shattering; there was only the low whistling of the spear cutting through the air and the faint sound of wind stirred up by the footsteps.

This is more like a way to relax, a way to release turbulent emotions through physical movements.

However, as I practiced, a strange feeling quietly emerged.

A flash of inspiration seemed to appear in his mind, concerning some kind of technique for exerting force, or subtle changes brought about by the rules, which faintly echoed what he had just thought and felt.

Then he tried to catch it, but the thought, like a slippery fish, vanished in an instant and he couldn't grasp it.

If it were his previous life, Lin Yi would have felt extremely regretful, and might even have stopped practicing and pondered repeatedly, trying to recapture that feeling.

But at this moment, Lin Yi only paused slightly before resuming the rhythm of the exercise.

"If we didn't catch it, we didn't catch it."

Lin Yi was in a very peaceful state of mind.

"Let nature take its course. If I haven't rediscovered that spark of inspiration after a few days, I'll just go with the flow. I'll wait for the spiritual energy to accumulate for a while longer, then I'll forcefully overcome any skill and achieve sudden enlightenment."

Just as he finished his stance and put his spear back into his flowing cloud belt, footsteps came from the entrance of the rooftop.

Lin Yi sensed that besides Ren Yinuo, who had almost become his full-time secretary and often recorded data there, there was another person.

He glanced at it out of the corner of his eye and saw it was Liu Yuan.

Lin Yi's heart stirred slightly, and he roughly guessed the other party's intentions.

Liu Yuan walked up to the rooftop and saw Lin Yi. His pace quickened noticeably, but his expression was more obviously reserved than when they last met.

This restraint was not out of fear. He had seen the video of "Operation Dawn" and witnessed Lin Yi's miraculous finger strike, which instilled in him an instinctive awe of absolute power and the gap in their levels of understanding.

"Chief Instructor Lin!" Liu Yuan stepped forward, stood at attention, and saluted with meticulous precision.

Lin Yi nodded in return: "Major Liu, is there something you need?"

Liu Yuan took a deep breath and tried to keep his tone steady. "Report, your guidance last time was very effective. I have fully understood and mastered the Basic Source Energy Guiding Technique."

He paused for a moment, then revealed the true purpose of his trip: "I want to start trying to guide source energy into my body and conduct my first real cultivation. I would like to ask you what special precautions I need to take during this process? I'm worried that improper operation might lead to something going wrong."

Lin Yi thought to himself, "Just as I thought."

Liu Yuan's talent was already quite good. In his previous life, he was able to become the first Star Core level powerhouse on Blue Star, which shows that his temperament and comprehension were top-notch.

With his previous guidance, it's not surprising that he was able to master the guiding technique so quickly.

"There aren't many things to note, but they are crucial."

Lin Yi succinctly stated, "First and foremost, it requires patience. The initial infusion of source energy into the body, flushing the meridians and expanding the source sea, will be extremely painful. This pain far surpasses any physical trauma, directly affecting the soul."

Seeing Liu Yuan's face instantly turn serious, he continued, "Secondly, focus. Once you begin to draw source energy into your body, you must maintain a highly concentrated mind to guide the energy along the predetermined path and complete the first cycle. You must not stop in the middle, otherwise the source energy will go out of control, which will result in damage to your meridians at best, and collapse of your source sea at worst, with serious consequences."

"Finally, resources. Do you have any source energy crystals on you? Preferably level 1," Lin Yi added.

He now carries at least level 3 crystals; he no longer carries such low-level items around.

“I brought it!” Liu Yuan nodded quickly, taking out a small metal box from his pocket. Inside, three Level 1 source energy crystals, emitting a faint white light, were neatly embedded. “I applied to the department before coming here, and they approved three for me.” Lin Yi nodded. “Now that everything is clear and the crystals are ready, let’s begin.”

He pointed to the makeshift shed he often used and the mat inside, "It's relatively quiet there. You can borrow the mat. I happen to have some free time, so I can keep an eye on it for you. If anything unexpected happens, I can lend a hand."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuan's face lit up with delight. Having this number one protector was an invaluable safeguard.

With him around, even if something goes wrong during cultivation, at least his life is safe.

"Thank you, Chief Instructor." Liu Yuan stopped being polite; any refusal at this point would be hypocritical.

He solemnly saluted Lin Yi again, then strode towards the shed.

Sitting cross-legged on the mat, Liu Yuan took another deep breath, trying to calm his excited and nervous feelings.

He took out a Level 1 Source Energy Crystal, held it tightly in his palm, and the cool touch and the energy contained within made his heart beat slightly faster.

He closed his eyes and, following the methods of the Basic Energy Guiding Technique, began to concentrate his mind, sense the energy within the crystal, and attempt to guide it out.

At first, everything went smoothly.

He could clearly feel a gentle and pure energy slowly flowing from the Laogong acupoint in his palm into the meridians of his arm, carrying a peculiar warmth.

However, the good times did not last long.

When that source energy truly began to enter the main meridians and flow towards the dantian source sea, the situation suddenly changed drastically.

It was no longer a gentle warm current, but seemed to instantly transform into a red-hot branding iron, or like countless extremely fine and sharp ice needles, frantically advancing, tearing, and scouring along his meridians.

"Well!!"

Liu Yuan groaned, his body trembled violently, and the veins on his forehead bulged instantly.

His face turned deathly pale in an instant, and cold sweat poured out of every pore, almost instantly soaking his combat uniform.

"Pain! It hurts!"

The intense pain surged through his nerves like a tsunami, far exceeding any injury he had ever endured in training or combat.

This pain seems to act directly on the depths of the soul, difficult to shield and impossible to ignore.

An absurd thought even flashed through his mind, which was almost overwhelmed by pain: how could this be so much more painful than the so-called "childbirth pain" he had experienced with his girlfriend before!
The meridians felt as if they were about to burst, or as if they were being ground into pieces little by little in a millstone.

Every step forward for Yuan Neng brought with it a heart-wrenching pain.

Liu Yuan's teeth were clenched so tightly they were grinding together, and all the muscles in his body were tense and spasming from the extreme pain.

"No! I can't give up. If others can do it, I, Liu Yuan, can definitely do it too!"

"Hold on, and don't let the guidance get out of control!"

A fierce determination welled up from the bottom of Liu Yuan's heart.

After all, he was a soldier who had undergone rigorous training and possessed a strong will.

Liu Yuan forcibly restrained his almost scattered spirit, relying on his strong willpower to firmly remember Lin Yi's admonition and strive to maintain the guidance of the source energy flow.

Although that guidance seemed so weak and difficult under intense pain.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly.

Finally, when the first wisp of source energy was successfully injected into the newly formed weak source sea in the dantian, it was as if a dam had burst, and the subsequent energy instantly found an outlet and surged in.

At that very moment, the raging pain receded like a tide, replaced by an indescribable sense of fulfillment and warmth that originated from the very essence of life.

The dried-up Yuanhai Sea was moistened and began to slowly rotate on its own, emitting a faint glow.

Liu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, panting heavily, as if he had just been pulled out of the water. He was soaking wet, and his eyes were filled with the dazed feeling of surviving a disaster and a hint of undisguised ecstasy.

It worked!
Liu Yuan tried to stand up and report to Lin Yi, but as soon as he stood up, his legs went weak and he stumbled forward.

A steady, strong hand caught his arm just in time.

“It’s always like this the first time.” Lin Yi’s voice rang calmly in his ear. “The source energy flushing puts a lot of strain on the body, and it’s normal to be physically and mentally exhausted. Don’t rush to circulate your cultivation technique. Go back and change your clothes, get some rest, and come back when your strength has recovered. Use the crystals to replenish your source sea, and only then will it truly be stable.”

With Lin Yi's help, Liu Yuan steadied himself and felt the faint yet real power within his body. His excitement was beyond words.

He looked at Lin Yi and said with utmost solemnity, "Chief Instructor, thank you so much this time. If it weren't for you..."

Lin Yi waved his hand, interrupting him: "You got through it all on your own."

He paused, then casually mentioned, "By the way, since you know I'm now the head instructor of the 'Dongfeng Training Camp,' I just happen to need an assistant instructor who can keep things under control and help with basic guidance and daily management."

"I think you're a good fit. If you agree, I'll handle the rest. How about it, interested?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuan acted almost without hesitation.

Through this firsthand experience, he realized more clearly than anyone else just how difficult the path of source energy cultivation is.

Being able to follow this person will not only allow you to improve your strength more quickly, but you may even learn something far more valuable than ordinary cultivation methods.

"Have!"

Liu Yuan answered decisively, his voice still weak but exceptionally firm, "Chief Instructor, I'm willing!"

Lin Yi nodded, a faint smile on his face: "Okay. Go back and rest. The transfer order will be here soon."

Watching Liu Yuanqiang, despite his slightly weak body, leave the rooftop with firm steps, Lin Yi's gaze once again turned to the distance.

"The second Source Energy cultivator has been born; the tide has arrived, and presumably, the great tide is coming soon."

(End of this chapter)