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

Chapter 15 Spirit Crystal
Lin Yi watched the last Corrosive Abyss Wolf disappear around the corner before he finally relaxed a little.

Don't underestimate this thing just because it's only the lowest-level cannon fodder of the abyss beasts; it's actually quite cunning.

As for the wolf howling coming from downstairs, Lin Yi knew very well what it wanted to do.

He realized that the thing had its eye on him, and it was currently crouching downstairs, calling for backup.

Corruption Abyss Wolves usually operate in groups of three. If one escapes, they will likely summon three more groups.

In other words, the next wave should consist of 10 Corruption Abyss Wolves.

However, we are currently in the "first stage" of the Abyss Beast's Nest. The Beast Nest will first clear out most of the visible life forms within its territory before concentrating its forces on dealing with the hiding and tough nuts to crack.

Therefore, there is at least a half-day of safety. For the time being, the Corrosive Abyss Wolf downstairs is just a stalker and there is no need to worry too much.

In fact, this is a good thing.

Because of that wolf howl, the other Corruption Abyss Wolves knew there was a threat here and wouldn't even come in.

Seeing the terrifying monster retreat, Zhou Mengmeng, who had been hiding to the side for fear of causing trouble, rushed forward with a sob in her voice, her little hands trembling as she tried to touch the horrible claw marks.

"Brother! You're hurt!"

"It's okay, Xiaomeng."

Lin Yi's voice was hoarse as he forced a reassuring smile, "With the armor protecting you, there's no broken skin. Look, it's just a few scratches."

He deliberately moved his left arm to show that he could move freely.

Then, he turned his gaze to the Radiant Crystal, deliberately feigning the curiosity of a young man, and muttered under his breath, "Huh? What is this thing?" before bending down to pick it up.

"Don't touch it!"

A slightly hoarse female voice rang out from the crowd.

Lin Yi paused, then turned to look.

It's that female office worker.

Her hair was disheveled, her makeup ruined, and the fear in her eyes remained, but the hysteria of before was gone, replaced by a clarity that came from the brink of death.

It seems that her brush with death has actually made her more clear-headed.

"That thing was left behind by a monster, right?"

Watching Lin Yi's actions, she couldn't help but remind him, "Who knows if the stuff left by those corrosive monsters is poisonous? It's best not to touch it directly."

"That's true."

Lin Yi nodded. He never hesitated to accept other people's kindness.

"This monster turned to ash instantly, which is pretty eerie, but I still want to see what it was. Just in case it gives me any clues?"

He paused, his gaze falling on a dusty silk scarf around the female office worker's neck.

"Um, could I borrow your scarf? It should be fine to use it through the fabric."

The female office worker paused for a moment, then subconsciously untied the light purple silk scarf and handed it over.

Be careful...

"Thank you."

Lin Yi took the silk scarf and carefully wrapped the two lowest-grade Spirit Crystals.

"Let's go, hurry back to Fujin Hall! That wolf howl just now didn't sound like a good omen."

Having obtained what he wanted, Lin Yi didn't linger. He called out, pulled Xiao Meng along, and gestured for the waiter and the female office worker to follow.

The five people quickly left the death zone near the restroom and retreated along a messy corridor towards Fujin Hall.

As Lin Yi passed by a banquet hall with a sign that read "Fuxiu Hall," he keenly noticed a dull "thump-thump" sound coming from inside, along with the sound of heavy objects being dragged and scraped against the floor. Inside, someone was desperately reinforcing the door.

Lin Yi did not stop walking.

He couldn't worry about that now. The Corrosive Abyss Wolves wouldn't attack again anytime soon. His primary task was to lead the four people behind him back to the relatively safe Fujin Hall.

Soon, Fujin Hall came into view.

The front door was tightly closed, and there were also sounds of heavy objects being moved from the back, indicating that someone was blocking the door with heavy objects.

Lin Yi went around to the side door, knocked a few times, and called out in a low voice, "Uncle, open the door! It's me, I've brought Xiaomeng back!"

There was a few seconds of silence inside the door, followed by the sound of tables and chairs being moved around hurriedly.

With a heavy scraping sound, the side door was pushed open a crack just wide enough for one person to pass through, and Zhou Jianjun's tense face appeared behind the door.

"Quick, come in! There are lots of monsters on the street outside!" Zhou Jianjun shouted urgently. Lin Yi immediately pushed Zhou Mengmeng inside, followed by two waitresses, then a female office worker, and finally slipped in himself, quickly closing the door behind him.

Seeing everyone come in, Zhou Jianjun and his uncle Lin Ruiheng immediately worked together to push the heavy tables and chairs back behind the door.

"It's completely blocked, almost completely blocked!"

Zhou Jianjun, panting heavily, wiped away his sweat.

Back in the relatively safe fortress, Lin Yi was about to catch his breath when he immediately sensed something amiss.

wrong.

The atmosphere in the hall was off.

The air was stagnant, as if solid, filled with a heavy, suffocating stillness.

Most people slumped to the ground, staring blankly ahead or intently at their phone screens, while suppressed, intermittent sobs could be heard from the corners.

"Xiao Yi!"

The deathly silence was broken by the mother Zhou Jinghua's tearful cry.

She and her father, Lin Ruiming, rushed through the crowd. Zhou Jinghua's face turned deathly pale. When her eyes fell on the hideous claw marks and lingering bloodstains on Lin Yi's armor, she swayed and almost lost her balance.

Lin Ruiming steadied his wife, his gaze fixed on Lin Yi, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion: "Xiao Yi! Where are you hurt? How badly?"

"Dad! Mom! I'm okay."

Lin Yi quickly reassured them, trying to sound relaxed, "Really! They're all superficial wounds. They look scary, but this armor is very sturdy! Look, your arms and legs are all fine!"

He deliberately moved his hands and feet to prove that he was alright.

At this moment, my uncle and aunt squeezed in as well.

The aunt had already hugged her daughter Zhou Mengmeng tightly, sobbing uncontrollably as she checked her over.

The uncle rushed to Lin Yi's side, his bloodshot eyes filled with lingering fear and gratitude.

He patted Lin Yi hard, his voice almost choked with emotion, "Xiao Yi! Good boy! Uncle thanks you! Thank you for bringing Mengmeng back!"

His hands were trembling slightly, clearly indicating that he was overwhelmed with emotion.

"Uncle, it's only right. Mengmeng is my sister."

Lin Yi shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the worried faces of his uncle, aunt, and parents, a warmth spreading through his heart.

However, he noticed that while his uncle Zhou Jianjun was excited and grateful, there seemed to be a hint of indescribable anxiety hidden deep in his eyes.

"Brother is amazing!"

Nestled in her mother's arms, Zhou Mengmeng looked up, her little face filled with the excitement of surviving a close call and a hint of admiration, and said in a clear, crisp voice:

"My brother killed two big monsters, green wolves! He just used that stick, bang bang, twice! And then, he scared the other one away!"

Upon hearing Zhou Mengmeng's words, Zhou Jianjun's expression, which had been full of concern and gratitude, changed slightly. He subconsciously glanced at the blocked doorway and frowned deeply.

Lin Yi took in his uncle's subtle changes and a thought crossed his mind.

"My uncle is a veteran of many years; his intuition about crisis is truly different from that of ordinary people."

He was about to say something when a trembling voice interrupted.

"Brother Yi Yi"

Lin Yi knew it was Chen Yu as soon as he heard the voice.

He turned around and saw Chen Yu clutching his phone tightly, his eyes filled with fear.

"Do you think the end of the world is really coming?"

Chen Yu seemed eager to share the last straw that broke the camel's back, or perhaps he was completely overwhelmed by the information.

Lin Yi immediately understood what was going on when he saw his behavior.

It seems that the source of the despair permeating this banquet hall lies here.

It's highly likely that the internet is still working, and everyone has seen a lot of information from the outside world.

However, he didn't show anything, but asked with doubt and unease:
"Ayu? What's wrong? I haven't even had a chance to thank you for the armor you gave me, why is everyone acting like this?"

Chen Yu didn't speak, but tremblingly held his phone screen up to Lin Yi's eyes.

(End of this chapter)