Chapter 4: A Stage for Geniuses, a Sanctuary for Loved Ones
With the broad framework in place, all that remained were the implementation details.
Lin Yi rapidly constructed layers of disguise within his mind.
"The only thing I still retain is that tiny fragment of my soul origin. But it shares the same source as my current self. Besides, based on everything I learned from the virtual network in my previous life, I've never heard of any method capable of directly examining a person's soul origin."
"As for powers beyond Eternal Gods, information about them is scarce even on the virtual network, and no clear conclusions exist. But as far as Eternal Gods are concerned, as long as I don't actively reveal anything unusual, even their normal methods of tracing and observation shouldn't uncover my secret."
"Based on that, if I reference the memoirs of those cosmic prodigies I've read before and create a reasonable explanation for every extraordinary trait I display, that god won't suspect anything abnormal."
"After all, beings who have lived for eternity have seen countless geniuses. As long as I don't stand out like a two-headed ant, who would bother scrutinizing a slightly stronger ant?"
As he tidied up his desk, Lin Yi carefully pondered every detail.
"My combat experience can be disguised as innate battle instinct and an extraordinary ability to learn and improve during real combat."
"My knowledge of Abyss Beasts can be explained as keen observation and a talent for quickly identifying patterns."
"As for my cultivation speed and comprehension of laws, those can be attributed to exceptional talent and an unyielding will."
"That way, every step of my growth will look like a miracle naturally born from a genius under immense pressure."
"As for how much talent I should reveal..."
At that thought, a trace of self-mockery surfaced in his heart.
What exactly counted as a "reasonable" level of talent?
Fortunately, there was already a perfect benchmark.
The answer lay in the Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Tournament, held every five thousand years under the leadership of the Spirit Race and open to all affiliated civilizations at the Star Core level.
The monstrous prodigies who emerged from that competition were the ideal reference.
Lin Yi had experienced two such tournaments after entering the universe.
During the first one, he had only recently stepped into the cosmos and was merely a second-stage Star Core cultivator. Unwilling to waste the registration fee, he chose not to participate.
However, wanting to broaden his horizons, he watched the tournament livestream through the virtual network.
Even then, he had been deeply shocked by the heights Star Core-level cultivators could reach.
Every competitor who made it into the top one thousand finalists had already developed a Domain.
The eventual champion even displayed a Domain containing six layers of fused Laws during the final battle.
What did that mean?
Domains were the hallmark of the Star Region level, representing complete mastery of a specific cosmic Law.
In other words, every prodigy who entered the top one thousand had already reached Star Region-level comprehension of Laws.
The Spirit Race genius who claimed first place possessed Law comprehension comparable to a sixth-stage Star Region cultivator.
Of course, that tournament gathered the most talented individuals from every race within the Pan-Spirit Alliance.
Among the top one thousand, more than six hundred spots were occupied by the Spirit Race, one of the supreme races of the universe.
Humanity managed to secure only a little over forty places, and only two humans entered the top one hundred.
As a result, Lin Yi had merely sighed in admiration after watching the tournament.
The gap was simply too vast.
There was no basis for comparison.
Instead, the champion of the Zijin Star Federation regional qualifiers had inspired him more.
That individual, while only at the ninth stage of Star Core, demonstrated Law comprehension comparable to a fourth-stage Star Vortex cultivator.
That achievement had ignited his aspirations.
So when the second tournament arrived, Lin Yi confidently paid the registration fee and signed up.
By then, he had reached the ninth stage of Star Core.
Under Leilina's guidance, his saber techniques had improved considerably, and he had mastered two killing moves whose power rivaled the Star Vortex level.
Not long before the tournament, he had even defeated two opponents alone during a mission and successfully slain one enemy of the same rank.
Those accomplishments had filled him with confidence.
The final result, however, was only moderately satisfactory.
Although he advanced through the preliminary rounds by placing seventy-ninth in his group, he went only one win and nine losses in the qualifiers.
His tournament journey ended after the second round.
Thinking back on it now, Lin Yi could only shake his head with a bitter smile.
True, the competition had earned back his registration fee and even netted him ten times the original amount.
But it had also made him personally experience the gulf between himself and true geniuses.
The champion of that tournament was once again from the Spirit Race.
Though slightly weaker than the previous champion, that prodigy still possessed Star Core-level Law comprehension comparable to a fifth-stage Star Region cultivator.
Using those genuine monsters as a benchmark, Lin Yi arrived at a relatively reliable standard.
Crossing two major cultivation realms was considered extraordinary but not unbelievable.
Therefore, what he needed most was caution during the early stages.
He had to conceal himself at first and reveal his abilities gradually.
He absolutely couldn't begin by displaying Star Vortex-level Law comprehension while still several realms below that level.
As long as every step of his growth followed a logical progression—
As long as he never exhibited the unsettling aura of someone who could foresee the future—
Then seven days later, when the illusory projection of a divine kingdom descended upon the earth, and when the roars of Abyss Beasts tore apart the illusion of peace, he would be able to embark upon that bloodstained path of trials as a perfectly natural, seemingly innocent genius.
Only then could he withstand the scrutiny of whatever eyes might one day turn toward him.
After pondering deeply for a while, a complete plan for the rise of a genius rapidly took shape.
He carefully reviewed every detail again and again.
Only after ensuring there were no flaws did he finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"I must protect my family and friends, strive for the summit, and at the same time conceal my greatest secret beneath the brightest light."
"The preparations begin now."
With that thought, Lin Yi returned to his bedside, picked up his old cellphone, and opened his contact list.
As he looked at those names—names that gradually merged with distant memories and became vivid once more—a smile finally appeared on his previously serious face.
The summer sun blazed overhead.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves of the parasol trees, casting shifting patches of light across the aging apartment complex's concrete courtyard.
The days following the college entrance examinations seemed to move in slow motion, filled with a sense of laziness and relief.
Lin Yi flawlessly played the role of an ordinary student awaiting university admission, slipping back into this brief and fragile pool of tranquility like a drop of water returning to a pond.
Wearing an apron, he stood beside the sink helping his mother, Zhou Jinghua, wash vegetables.
Water splashed continuously while her familiar voice echoed through the cramped kitchen.
"The cucumbers at the east market are twenty cents cheaper than the supermarket's, though they don't look as nice. Sigh... and egg prices just keep going up. It's enough to make anyone anxious..."
Lin Yi responded with occasional acknowledgments, his attention seemingly focused on rinsing the vegetables as though it were the most important task in the world.
At lunch, steaming stir-fried vegetables sat on the table.
His father, Lin Ruiming, leisurely sipped inexpensive liquor from a small cup.
The atmosphere was warm and peaceful.
After taking a few bites of rice, Lin Yi suddenly looked up as if remembering something.
"Dad... Mom... didn't you mention before that you wanted to hold a university admission banquet?"
His mother immediately put down her chopsticks.
Expectation and cautious hope shone unmistakably on her face.
"That's right, Xiao Yi. Getting into Qingteng University is a tremendous honor for our family!"
"Even though money's tight, your father and I figured we should at least invite our relatives and friends for a meal. Make it lively, let everyone celebrate together, and congratulate you properly."
"Xiao Yi" was Lin Yi's childhood nickname.
Back then, his parents had hoped everything in his life would come easily, so they chose a nickname that sounded like the word for "easy."
His father nodded vigorously beside her.
The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes carried a simple, heartfelt pride.
"That's right, we should hold it! Our family hasn't had such a joyous occasion in years. Besides, it's tradition. Even your cousin held one after getting into an ordinary university."
Lin Yi fell silent for several seconds.
His fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of his bowl, as though engaged in intense internal debate.
In Helu City—and indeed throughout Su Province—admission banquets were generally not occasions where guests gave monetary gifts.
They were pure expenses.
That was why, in the past, Lin Yi had been reluctant to place additional financial burdens on his family.
But after a moment of contemplation, he looked up and smiled as though he had finally reached a decision.
"After thinking about it, I believe you're right, Mom and Dad. This is a happy occasion. It should be celebrated. It'll be nice for everyone to get together."
He paused, appearing to consider the details carefully.
"How about next Saturday at noon? It's the weekend, so everyone should be free."
"As for the venue... I heard the newly opened Hongfu Restaurant outside our neighborhood has a pretty good reputation. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable, the place is clean and bright, and it's close to home. It'll be convenient for everyone."
The date he proposed pointed precisely toward the very moment the apocalypse would descend.
And the location—
Hongfu Restaurant—
was a stage he had meticulously selected after carefully combing through his memories.
(End of Chapter 4)
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