117: Confucian integrity, a model for all ages, breaks the tyranny of beasts (Part 1)

The cheers of victory had not yet fully resounded before they were abruptly cut off by a sudden, Soul-Shuddering aura of terror!

Within the crater area, the wind seemed to stop flowing, and sound seemed to be completely swallowed. That vast pressure originating from the dying body of the Golden Behemoth Royal Lineage was like an invisible tide, slowly but unstoppably spreading, enveloping the entire battlefield and even beginning to penetrate toward the distant spectator stands!

This pressure was completely different from the previous tyranny and destruction when the Golden Behemoth went Berserk. It was more ancient, deeper, carrying a savage dominance that looked down on all living things and trampled upon all creation, as if it were an absolute command from the source of the Bloodline, making all lower life forms instinctively feel awe, fear, and even... the urge to kneel!

"Buzz—"

In the void, a huge, blurry phantom flashed briefly behind the Golden Behemoth Royal Lineage. That phantom stood tall between heaven and earth, its roar shaking down stars and tearing continents—the ultimate Incarnation of power! Although it was only a fleeting glimpse, the shock branded onto the Soul made everyone, including the gods, feel a pang of palpitations!

Environmental Anomaly: Ancient Beast Might (Domain Prototype)

Source: Golden Behemoth Royal Lineage (Dying Awakening)

Nature: Bloodline Origin Pressure, Rule-level Mental/Soul Suppression.

Effects:

Fear Awe: All enemy units within range must undergo a Will Check; failure results in the [Shuddering] state (Attack/Casting speed reduced by 25%, with a chance to trigger [Fleeing] behavior).

Attribute Suppression: All attributes temporarily reduced by 5%-15% (Determined based on Bloodline Rank and Willpower).

Domain Growth: This pressure is absorbing the dissipating life and energy of the Golden Behemoth, slowly forming a physical Domain.

Range of Influence: Centered on the Golden Behemoth with a radius of 500 meters, continuously and slowly expanding.

"Ugh..."

"This... what is this?"

"Such... such a terrifying feeling! Even my Divine Power circulation has become sluggish!"

"My followers are afraid! They are trembling!"

The remaining followers of the Cloud City Team bore the brunt of it! The Literary Heart Elves turned pale, their hands holding longbows trembling slightly, and the Vast Righteous Qi surrounding them flickered unsteadily. The Tiangong Dwarves felt their muscles stiffen as if bearing an invisible heavy burden, making it difficult even to lift their war hammers. The Law Fishmen's strict discipline began to waver in the face of fear originating from the level of life itself, their Order force fields fluctuating violently. Even the three hero units—Elwin, Bronzebeard, and Snik—showed solemn expressions, their bodies involuntarily tensing as they resisted this terrifying pressure.

Su Yueyao let out a muffled groan, an abnormal flush rising on her cheeks which were pale from overdrawing her divine blood. She felt her Moonlight divinity flicker like a candle in the wind before this savage, domineering beast might, and the Moonlight Power protecting Lin Zhou became extremely unstable. "Lin Zhou... this pressure... something's wrong!" Her voice carried a hint of uncontrollable trembling.

Lin Zhou, enveloped by this pressure, felt it even more clearly! His Divine Power was already exhausted and his Divine Fire was dim; now, struck by this domineering will from an ancient Bloodline, the Fire of Civilization in his Sea of Consciousness shook violently, as if it might extinguish at any moment! A sense of fear and insignificance originating from life instinct coiled around his heart like a cold venomous snake, attempting to dismantle his will and make him kneel in submission!

Lin Zhou (God) - Status (Critical)

Divine Rank: Demigod (LV 99 - Realm unstable, on the verge of falling)

Divine Fire: Fire of Civilization (Status: Extremely dim, flickering, energy output efficiency reduced to below 30%)

Divine Power Reserves: 1,200 / 150,000 (Exhausted)

Status: [Divine Power Depletion], [Unstable Divine Fire], [Soul Pressure (Moderate)] - All attributes temporarily reduced by 10%, divine spell failure rate significantly increased.

Divine Domain: Hundred Schools Temple (Projection status extremely unstable, area reduced to 8 square kilometers, rules in disorder)

"Ancient... Bloodline Awakening?" Lin Zhou endured the Soul-level discomfort and physical weakness, staring fixedly at the Golden Behemoth that was kneeling on the ground yet emitting an even more dangerous aura. He could feel that while the opponent's core was collapsing, some deeper, more essential power was being triggered by the crisis of death and extreme rage! "This isn't Berserk... this is... Atavism?!"

He instantly understood Zhao Hao's final trump card—or perhaps, the ultimate power hidden within the Golden Behemoth Bloodline that even Zhao Hao himself might not be able to fully control! This was no longer a simple increase in strength, but a temporary... leap in the level of life! What it brought was pressure on the level of rules!

"I must stop it! Once this beast might Domain fully forms, everyone—including Su Yueyao—will have their will completely suppressed, and we won't even be able to have a thought of resisting!" Alarm bells rang in Lin Zhou's heart. The physical heavy damage had been dealt, but now, the battle had ascended to a confrontation of spirit, will, and rules!

His gaze instantly turned toward the thought light sphere in the Temple of Civilization that represented "Confucianism," emitting a gentle yet upright light.

Confucianism nurtures Vast Righteous Qi to repel all evils! It emphasizes a correct heart and sincere intent, and being unyielding before might! It was exactly the nemesis of this savage beast might and domineering will!

However, in his current state, even maintaining his Divine Fire was barely possible. How could he still channel the true meaning of Confucianism to counter this rising Ancient Beast Might? He needed power, he needed a spark, he needed... a medium that could carry and amplify the "Righteous Qi" of Confucianism!

His gaze fell upon the pale Su Yueyao beside him, who was still trying hard to maintain a sliver of Moonlight Guardian; it fell upon the Literary Heart Elves, Tiangong Dwarves, and Law Fishmen ahead who, despite their fear, still gripped their weapons with eyes full of questioning and reliance; it fell toward the positions of Zhao Hao, Lei Huang, and Yan Li in the distance, whose wills had not yet completely dissipated despite their silence... One person's Righteous Qi might be limited, but what if the convictions of everyone were gathered?

One person's will might be crushed, but what if the Fire of Civilization is passed down and everyone is of one mind?

An unprecedented thought flashed like lightning through Lin Zhou's nearly exhausted Sea of Consciousness—he could not cast a powerful Confucian Domain alone, but he could act as a "spark," a "guide," leading all allied units who still possessed Battle Intent and held Order in their hearts to gather their unyielding conviction and their hearts for protecting civilization into a river, together chanting the voice of the sages from the Huaxia source, using the hearts of the masses to nurture the Righteous Qi of heaven and earth!

"Elwin!" Lin Zhou's voice was hoarse, yet it carried an unquestionable decisiveness, resounding directly in the Wenxin Elf hero's mind through the spiritual link, "Lead all your kin who can still speak to recite 'the analects'! Connect your Vast Righteous Qi and your unyielding will to me!"

Hearing this, Elwin's spirit jolted! She felt my god's Fire of Civilization, which had not been extinguished even in this desperate situation! She endured the Soul-level discomfort, straightened her spine which had been slightly bent by fear, and called out loudly: "I obey the divine oracle!"

Immediately, she faced all the remaining Literary Heart Elves, her voice carrying a strange penetrating power that drowned out the low beast might: "Sisters! my god needs our strength! Pick up your convictions and forget your fears! Follow me—recite the books of the sages, and nurture our Vast Righteous Qi!"

Following that, Lin Zhou's consciousness spread out like invisible ripples, struggling to link with Bronzebeard and Snik, linking with every Tiangong Dwarf and Law Fishman, and even linking with the extremely weak remaining wills of Zhao Hao and the other two: "Bronzebeard! Snik! Zhao Hao! Lei Huang! Yan Li! and all warriors still fighting! I need your strength! Not Divine Power, but conviction! The conviction to protect Order and not fear violence! Lend your wills to me!"

He was taking a risk, dancing on the edge of a blade! In his current state, forcibly conducting such a large-scale spiritual link and conviction guidance could, if anything went wrong, lead to a backlash that would completely collapse his Divine Fire! But he had no choice!

Bronzebeard was stunned for a moment, then roared: "Dwarves never yield to beasts! Lads, give your will that hammers steel to the kid Lin Zhou!" He was the first to release a sliver of his mind's defense.

Snik said solemnly: "Under the Law, all beings are equal. How can we allow beasts to be supreme? Order shall not be trampled!" He also guided the Law Fishmen to contribute their firm conviction to maintain Order.

Even Zhao Hao, whose consciousness was almost silent, gave a weak response: "Do... it..."

Threads and wisps of weak but Tenacity-filled conviction power came from all over the battlefield, crossing the boundaries of race and status, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, struggling to penetrate the increasingly strong Ancient Beast Might and gathering toward Lin Zhou!

Su Yueyao looked at Lin Zhou beside her, whose eyes were closed and whose face showed pain yet a resolute perseverance. Feeling the tragic and unyielding spirit in him as he tried to gather the faint light, she did not hesitate to blend her own cold and firm Moonlight will unreservedly into the gathering torrent of conviction. "I will stay with you," she said softly, her voice weak but incredibly firm.

Obtaining the support of this gathered conviction, Lin Zhou's spirit jolted. The flickering Fire of Civilization in his Sea of Consciousness seemed to have new fuel injected; although still weak, it stabilized slightly! He did not dare to delay and immediately guided this power, which gathered everyone's conviction, to be fully injected into the Confucian light sphere within the Temple of Civilization!

"Buzz—"

The Confucian light sphere suddenly brightened, emitting an unprecedentedly gentle and upright light! That light radiated out through Lin Zhou's body, and behind him, a blurry phantom wearing wide Confucian robes and a Confucian crown, whose face could not be seen but who emitted the aura of an Eternal Teacher educating all living beings, slowly condensed!

Although this phantom was countless times fainter than the ancient phantom behind the Golden Behemoth, appearing as if it would disperse with a gust of wind, the moment it appeared, a balanced, peaceful, and awe-inspiringly inviolable Vast Righteous Qi, like spring rain or an unsheathed sword, began to spread outward with Lin Zhou as the center, standing its ground against that savage beast might!

"Now is the time!" Lin Zhou suddenly opened his eyes, where white flames of Righteous Qi seemed to be burning. Using the phantom of the Confucian sage behind him and the gathered conviction of everyone, he spoke loudly, every word like a great bronze bell striking deep into everyone's Soul:

"The Master said—"

"The commander of three armies may be captured, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken!"