118: Confucian integrity, a model for all ages, breaks the tyranny of beasts (Part 2)

"The commander of a great army may be captured, but the will of a common man cannot be taken away!"

Lin Zhou's voice seemed no longer his alone, but a confluence of Elwin and the Literary Heart Elves' clear tones, Bronzebeard and the dwarves' rough shouts, Snik and the fishmen's solemnity, Su Yueyao's coldness, Zhao Hao and the others' unwillingness... it was the resonance of the indomitable will of all surviving forces of the Cloud City Team!

At first, this voice was not loud, but it carried a peculiar penetrative power, like a sharp sword slicing through grease, easily piercing the heavy, viscous Ancient Beast Might, clearly reaching every corner of the battlefield, and entering the ears and hearts of every spectator!

The moment the words fell, the blurry phantom of the Confucian Sage behind Lin Zhou seemed to be infused with a Soul, becoming a touch more solid! His wide sleeves seemed to move without wind, and a majestic, upright, heaven-and-earth-filling Vast Righteous Qi erupted from Lin Zhou and the phantom, surging out in all directions like a white tide!

This Vast Righteous Qi was not a destructive energy impact, but a Domain-like power of spirit and Law! Wherever it passed, the suffocating barbaric beast might, like ice and snow meeting the morning sun, began to rapidly melt and dissipate!

Divine Art/Domain Expansion: Teacher of Ten Thousand Generations · Righteous Qi Domain (Temporary)

Dominator: Lin Zhou (as core and catalyst)

Source of Power: Converged allied beliefs + True meaning of Confucianism from the Temple of Civilization + Lin Zhou's own Comprehension Ability of Confucian thought.

Domain Nature: Spiritual Protection/Rule Confrontation/Group Buff.

Domain Effect:

Repel Evil Might (Core Effect): Greatly weakens or even dispels enemy spiritual pressure, Fear auras, and Soul impact effects. Strongly counters the Ancient Beast Might Domain, reducing its effect by 60% and halting its expansion.

Fortify Will and Guard Heart (Defensive Effect): All allied units within the Domain are immune to negative mental states such as Fear and Trembling, and their Willpower checks receive a significant bonus.

Unity of Purpose (Buff Effect): All allied units within the Domain receive a temporary 10% increase to all attributes (including Strength, Agility, Physique, Intelligence, Mental Energy, Willpower) due to belief resonance.

Righteous Qi Blessing (Special Effect): Allied units' energy attacks carry a faint "Evil-Breaking" and "Deterring" effect.

Domain Range: Centered on Lin Zhou, with a radius of 300 meters (just covering the remaining area of the Cloud City Team).

Sustain Cost: Continuously consumes Lin Zhou's Mental Energy and guided belief power; cannot be maintained for a long time.

The white Vast Righteous Qi and the invisible Ancient Beast Might fiercely collided and annihilated in the Void Realm, making a "sizzle" sound, like cold water dripping into hot oil! The Cloud City Team members, who had been gasping for breath under the beast might, suddenly felt a lightness on their bodies!

The sense of Fear originating from their life-level receded like a tide, their stiff bodies regained flexibility, their stagnant Divine Power and energy flowed smoothly again, and even their fatigue seemed to be greatly dispelled! In its place, a warm current of Righteous Qi filled their hearts, invigorating their spirits and boosting their fighting will!

"My Strength... it's back! And it's stronger!" a Tiangong Dwarf exclaimed in surprise, looking at his hands, which were once again full of power.

"The Fear is gone! I feel like I can shoot through that beast's eye!" a Wenxin Elf pulled back his longbow, his gaze firm.

"Order will surely triumph over barbarism!" The Law Fishmen straightened their backs again, and the Order Forcefield stabilized once more.

Hero units Elwin, Bronzebeard, and Snik were greatly invigorated; they could clearly feel the comprehensive improvement of their attributes and the subtle boost to their own power from the Righteous Qi surrounding them!

"This... what kind of Domain is this? It can actually dispel the Golden Behemoth's Ancient Beast Might?"

"It's Lin Zhou! He's created another miracle!"

"It's the power of Confucianism! That's Vast Righteous Qi! I've seen descriptions of it in ancient texts!"

"He can actually guide everyone's beliefs to form such a powerful Righteous Qi Domain! What terrifying Comprehension Ability and leadership!"

"The Cloud City Team's morale is completely back! And even stronger!"

Inside and outside the virtual battlefield, everyone was once again shocked by this reversal! Lin Zhou's methods repeatedly exceeded their cognitive limits! From the School of Military's cunning Dao, to the Legalist School's Judgment, and now to the Confucian School's Righteous Qi... he seemed omnipotent, always able to find a way to defeat the enemy in seemingly desperate battlefields!

Su Yueyao stood beside Lin Zhou, feeling the warm and upright Vast Righteous Qi dispelling the chill and discomfort in her heart. Looking at Lin Zhou's side profile, which, though weak, seemed to glow, her clear, cold eyes sparkled with brilliance. She finally understood that the "Civilization" path Lin Zhou walked contained unimaginable potential and profound depth.

On the opposite side, Haotian's expression could no longer be described as ugly; it was a desperate ferocity and incomprehension! He watched helplessly as the Ancient Beast Might, awakened by the Golden Behemoth's near-death state and capable of turning the tide of battle, was forcibly suppressed and dispelled by Lin Zhou in such an inconceivable way! It even turned around and strengthened the opponent!

"No! Impossible! This is the might of an Ancient Behemoth! The pinnacle of Bloodline! How could you..." Haotian roared in exasperation, frantically urging his Divine Power to help the Golden Behemoth maintain its beast might, even forcibly stimulating its last potential.

However, the Golden Behemoth Royal Lineage, kneeling on the ground, was already at the end of its rope. The collapse of its energy core was irreversible, and the Awakening of its ancient Bloodline was more like a final burst of vitality. Under the continuous scouring of the Vast Righteous Qi Domain, the blurry phantom behind it let out an unwilling, silent roar and was the first to dissipate. The pervasive Ancient Beast Might, like a punctured balloon, rapidly declined, no longer able to effectively suppress the Cloud City Team.

"Ooh..."

The Golden Behemoth Royal Lineage let out a faint, unwilling whimper. The bloody light completely faded from its eyes, and its massive body swayed, finally losing all Strength and crashing to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Its life force, like a candle in the wind, was extremely weak, having completely lost its combat capability.

Victory and defeat were, at this moment, clear!

On the Cloud City Team's side, deafening cheers erupted! All the Family, whether elves, dwarves, or fishmen, excitedly waved their weapons, venting the joy of surviving a catastrophe and the excitement of victory! Their gazes towards Lin Zhou were filled with Frenzy worship and faith! It was my god who led them to defeat the seemingly unbeatable formidable enemy!

Overall Statistics (Cloud City Team vs. Haotian Team - Core Battle)

Golden Behemoth Royal Lineage: Near death, lost combat capability.

Storm Giants: 5 remaining, poor condition, low morale.

Silver Pegasus Knight/Spirit Dragons: Less than 10 units remaining, dispersed, unable to pose an effective threat.

Haotian (Deity): Massive Divine Power consumption, core Family severely wounded, Divine Domain Projection dim.

Lin Zhou (Deity): Divine Power depleted, Divine Fire unstable, but Righteous Qi Domain still present, Family morale high.

Su Yueyao (Deity): Severely injured, Divine Power overdrawn, in extremely poor condition.

Cloud City Team Family: Heavy losses, but remaining units under Righteous Qi Domain, all attributes +10%, morale MAX.

Lin Zhou looked at the fallen Golden Behemoth, at the cheering Family, and at Su Yueyao beside him, who, though weak, had a smile in her eyes. His tightly strung mind finally relaxed. With this relaxation, an boundless sense of weakness engulfed him like a tsunami. His body went limp, and he fell backward.

"Lin Zhou!" Su Yueyao exclaimed, quickly stepping forward to support him.

Lin Zhou leaned on Su Yueyao, feeling the cool moonlight and faint fragrance emanating from her. He managed a smile, his voice so weak it was almost inaudible: "We... won..."

After speaking, he could no longer hold on, and his consciousness plunged into darkness. The phantom of the Confucian Sage behind him and the Vast Righteous Qi Domain also slowly dissipated, having lost their dominator.

But victory was already firmly in the hands of the Cloud City Team.

On the high platform, the referee took a deep breath, and his booming voice echoed throughout the venue:

"The Golden Behemoth Royal Lineage has lost combat capability! The Haotian Team's core fighting Strength is gone! The winner of this semi-final match is—Cloud City Advanced High School, Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao's team!"

Cheers, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami, instantly swept over everything!