125: League Championship: A New Chapter in Yuncheng's History (Part 1)

His consciousness seemed to have drifted in the boundless darkness for a long time.

Lin Zhou felt like a small boat that had finally sailed into a calm but fog-shrouded harbor after enduring stormy waves. Extreme exhaustion was like heavy shackles, binding every thread of his thoughts; every attempt to gather his consciousness felt like struggling in a thick swamp.

After an unknown amount of time, a faint light, like the morning star in the night sky, lit up in the depths of his consciousness. It was the mark of the Temple of Civilization, and though dim, it stubbornly radiated a warm glow, guiding his way back.

Gradually, his senses returned like the tide.

The first thing he felt was a rich, gentle, and pure life energy, like a mother's embrace, continuously nourishing his nearly withered divine body and Soul. Mixed within this energy was a trace of the cool and familiar moonlight Aura, like a protective veil, gently covering his spiritual platform and soothing the stinging pain and disorder caused by his excessive overexertion.

Environment Perception: Top-tier Recovery Chamber

Energy Concentration: Life Spirit Liquid Purity AX, Soul Soothing Magnetic Field continuously active.

Recovery Effects:

Divine Body Repair: Damaged Meridians and cells are being efficiently repaired at a rate of 0.5% per minute.

Divine Power Recovery: The Divine Power pool is being passively replenished at a rate of 50 points per second (limited by the state of the divine fire, actual absorption efficiency is approximately 80%).

Soul Nourishment: Soothing mental trauma and repairing minor cracks caused by forcibly bearing the Will of Civilization.

Divine Fire Stabilization: Continuous injection of external energy to help stabilize the flickering Fire of Civilization.

Additional Effect: Moonlight Divinity Mark (Su Yueyao), providing extra mental protection and a tranquility effect.

Next, the blurred sounds from the outside world gradually became clear.

"...Vital signs are stable, divine fire fluctuations are trending toward calm, Soul damage repair progress has reached 71%... It is estimated that another 12 standard hours are needed to recover basic consciousness..."

"That's great! Principal, Student Lin Zhou, he..."

"Shh... keep your voice down, let him rest well. This time was truly... too perilous."

They were unfamiliar voices, seemingly reporting on his condition, their tones carrying relief and a hint of awe.

Lin Zhou tried and finally managed to open his eyes with great difficulty.

What met his eyes was a soft yet bright light coming from a dome that simulated natural light. He was submerged in a warm, emerald-green liquid that emitted a faint fragrance. Every pore on his body seemed to be breathing joyfully, greedily absorbing the boundless vitality contained within. Through the specialized transparent chamber wall, he could see that this was a pristine white room filled with futuristic technology. Various precision instruments he couldn't fully understand were running quietly, with data streams flowing like waterfalls across their screens.

And beside the recovery chamber, a slender silhouette sat quietly.

Su Yueyao.

She seemed to have undergone some meditation as well; her face was no longer as pale as paper and had regained some color, though a hint of undeniable exhaustion still lingered between her brows. She wore clean, moon-white casual clothes, her black hair falling like a waterfall smoothly over her shoulders. At that moment, her head was tilted slightly as if she were napping, her long eyelashes drooping like butterfly wings and casting faint shadows on her eyelids. Her hands were folded over her knees, her posture still maintaining its inherent coldness and elegance, but that unguarded protective stance caused a small ripple to stir in Lin Zhou's cold heart.

As if sensing Lin Zhou's gaze, Su Yueyao's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes. When those cool eyes met Lin Zhou's conscious gaze, a flash of astonishment crossed them, quickly replaced by a surge of relieved joy.

"You're awake?" Her voice was still clear and melodious, but it was much softer than usual, carrying a hint of imperceptible concern.

Lin Zhou opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but found his throat was terribly parched, and he could only make a raspy sound.

Su Yueyao immediately understood his condition, stood up, and operated the instruments on the side. The emerald-green liquid in the recovery chamber rippled slightly, and a more pure and gentle energy surged into Lin Zhou's body, quickly moisturizing his parched vocal cords and body.

"How do you feel?" Su Yueyao sat back by the bed and asked softly.

"...I'm okay, it's just... I have no strength throughout my body." Lin Zhou's voice was still raspy, but he could finally speak in full sentences. He tried to inspect his internal state.

Lin Zhou's Self-Status Inspection (Early Awakening Stage)

Divine Rank: Demigod (LV 99 - Realm barrier loosening, but temporarily unable to Breakthrough due to severe overexertion)

Divine Fire: Fire of Civilization (Status: Burning steadily, but flame scale reduced to 30% of its Peak, color slightly dim)

Divine Power Reserves: 8,500 / 150,000 (Recovering rapidly)

Divine Realm: Hundred Schools Temple (Has returned to the main body, in deep repair mode, area stable at 50 square kilometers, rules slowly self-adjusting)

Core Sub-Race Status (Remote Perception):

Literary Heart Elves: Population recovered to 580/650, average level LV 29. Hero Elven (LV 35) is in a closed-door meditation state due to overexertion while guiding the Righteous Qi Domain; Intellect attribute permanently +1 (Potential triggered).

Tiangong Dwarves: Population recovered to 480/550, average level LV 27. Hero Bronzebeard (LV 33) has recovered from minor injuries; Strength attribute permanently +1 (Breakthrough during battle). The Tian Gong Institute is working at full capacity to repair damaged mechanisms; research efficiency +50% (War stimulation).

Law Fishmen: Population recovered to 420/500, average level LV 26. Hero Snik (LV 31) has basically recovered from mental backlash; Spirit attribute permanently +2 (Comprehension of Law Command resistance). The Law system is further refined.

Physical Condition: Divine body damage 85% repaired, Soul stability at 90%, deep exhaustion.

The situation was better than he had expected. Although the overexertion was severe, his Foundation was undamaged. Instead, because of this extreme pressure and the brief manifestation of the river of civilization, the rules of his Divine Realm had become more condensed, the potential of his sub-races had been triggered, and even several hero units had gained permanent attribute increases as a blessing in disguise. Although the Temple of Civilization had consumed a massive amount of energy, it seemed to have absorbed some kind of nourishment during this battle, becoming more... profound.

"Did we... win?" Lin Zhou looked at Su Yueyao and asked the most critical question. His last memory stopped at the phantom of the river of civilization washing over everything, the Lich Monarch being annihilated, and then endless darkness.

"Yes." Su Yueyao nodded gently, a faint smile that could melt ice and snow appearing on her cool face. "We won. In the finals, we defeated Haotian. The undead attack that happened afterward was also... resolved by you."

She paused and looked at Lin Zhou, her eyes complex, filled with wonder and a hint of inquiry: "Lin Zhou, that river you summoned at the end... what exactly was it?"

Lin Zhou was silent for a moment. The existence of the river of civilization was one of his greatest secrets. But Su Yueyao had fought side by side with him through life and death, and she had been his most steadfast protector while he was unconscious.

"That was... the river of civilization," he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. "It is a manifestation of the path I walk. It gathers the wisdom of a hundred schools and carries the Legacy of civilization."

He didn't go into much detail, but Su Yueyao already understood. She was extremely intelligent and had caught a glimpse of it from the previous Contention of a Hundred Schools; now that it was confirmed, her heart was even more shaken. That was definitely not a simple manifestation of Divine Power, but a manifestation of rules close to the Origin of the Universe!

"I understand." She didn't ask further, only nodding slightly, burying this secret and her shock deep in her heart. She looked at Lin Zhou with a hint of lingering fear in her tone: "You were unconscious for three whole days. The tournament used the highest specification 'Source of Life' recovery chamber to pull you back from the brink of Origin overexertion. Zhao Hao, Lei Huang, and Yan Li were also seriously injured and are receiving treatment, but none are in life-threatening danger."

Three days... Lin Zhou felt a slight chill in his heart; this overexertion was indeed severe.

Lin Zhou was stunned for a moment.

Just then, the door to the room was pushed open gently.

The Principal of Yuncheng High School, a hale and hearty elder with wise eyes, walked in, accompanied by several school leaders and an imposing middle-aged man wearing a Federal Military uniform. The Principal's face overflowed with uncontrollable excitement and pride; the gaze he directed at Lin Zhou was full of gratification and... a hint of indescribable complexity.

"Student Lin Zhou, you're finally awake!" The Principal walked quickly to the recovery chamber, his voice trembling with excitement. "Good! Excellent! You are the greatest pride of Yuncheng High School since its founding!"

The military man beside him, with a general's star shining on his shoulder straps, had an Aura as imposing and steady as a mountain. His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, and he now looked at Lin Zhou with undisguised admiration.

"Student Lin Zhou, I am Qin Wu, the Commander of the Seventh Legion of the Star Domain Defense Force." The military man's voice was steady, carrying an inherent iron-blooded Aura. "On behalf of the Star Domain military, I thank you for your outstanding contribution to protecting the participants and stabilizing the situation during this sudden incident! The strength and will you displayed are truly astonishing!"

Even a high-ranking military official was alerted? Lin Zhou's heart stirred, realizing that the impact of this incident was likely far greater than he had imagined.

"Principal, General Qin." Lin Zhou nodded slightly in the recovery liquid, his voice still somewhat weak. "It was what I should have done."

"There's no need to be modest!" General Qin Wu waved his hand, his tone firm and decisive. "The Federation will not forget your achievements! Regarding the source of that undead attack, we are currently investigating with all our might. Our preliminary judgment is that it may be related to certain lurking alien races or cult organizations. They have likely targeted you, or rather, the path of 'Civilization' you represent. In the future, you must be extra careful."

The warning in his words was self-evident.

The Principal took over the conversation, the excitement on his face growing even stronger: "Lin Zhou, I have good news for you! Because Xingyao Attached High School withdrew from the competition, the organizing committee, after emergency discussions and considering your indisputable performance in the semifinals and against the undead attack, has officially ruled—"

He took a deep breath and announced resonantly with all his might:

"The overall champion of this year's Star Domain High School League belongs to us—Yuncheng High School! It belongs to you, Lin Zhou, and Student Su Yueyao!"

Even though he had already learned the result from Su Yueyao, hearing this official announcement from the Principal's mouth still made Lin Zhou's heart surge with emotion.

Champion!

Overall champion of the Star Domain High School League!

The first Star Domain-level overall championship in the history of Yuncheng High School!

This glory was heavy. It didn't just belong to him; it also belonged to Su Yueyao, to Zhao Hao, Lei Huang, and Yan Li, to Elwin, Bronzebeard, and Snik, and to every Yuncheng student who had fought with all their might on the field!

"We... are the champions." Lin Zhou looked at Su Yueyao and saw the same bright light shining in her cool eyes.

The Principal rubbed his hands excitedly and continued: "The champion's rewards include a massive amount of Federal Credits, rare Resource Cards, high-level Cultivation Technique Legacy access, and... most importantly, the chance to enter the 'Star Domain Vault' to select a treasure! All of these will be distributed uniformly by the organizing committee later!"

The Star Domain Vault! Lin Zhou's eyes narrowed; that was a place that gathered the essence of the entire Star Domain. It was said that even Mythical-grade cards and Materials existed there!

However, General Qin Wu's next words made both Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao truly realize the profound impact of this championship, especially the power he had displayed at the end.

"Student Lin Zhou." General Qin Wu's expression was serious. "In addition to the regular rewards for the league champion, given the immense potential and special Aptitude you displayed in this incident, as well as the strategic significance the unique path you've opened may have for the Federation, I hereby represent the Federal Supreme Academy of Sciences and the Human Race Expeditionary Force Command to issue you a special recruitment invitation!"

"Special recruitment?" Lin Zhou was startled.

"That's right!" General Qin Wu's eyes were burning. "No need to take the College Entrance Exam; you will be guaranteed admission directly into the Federation's highest institution—'Star Sea Divine Realm University'—and be granted 'Hidden Dragon'-level cultivation access! You will enjoy the highest specification of resource tilting, mentor assignment, and... a certain degree of access to confidential information and participation in special missions!"

Star Sea Divine Realm University! Hidden Dragon-level access!

Even with Lin Zhou's firm will, he couldn't help but feel his mind shake at this moment! This was the ultimate academy and top-tier cultivation sequence that countless Genius deities dreamed of! What it represented far exceeded what a Star Domain League championship could offer! It meant that he had truly entered the vision of the Human Race's upper echelons and stepped onto a shortcut to the Peak!

The room fell into silence as everyone looked at Lin Zhou, waiting for his response.

Would he accept this honor and shortcut that was unimaginable to ordinary people, or... follow the routine and walk the crowded single-log bridge of the College Entrance Exam taken by billions of students?