128: Returning in glory, the whole city rejoices at the hero's return (Part 1)

Half a month later.

Cloud City Starport was under exceptionally tight security today. The passage leading to the central berth had long been cleared, replaced by a bright red carpet stretching to the edge of sight. On both sides of the carpet stood an honor guard of spirited City Defense Force soldiers in crisp uniforms. Above the starport dome, massive holographic screens looped highlights of the Star Domain High School League finals. Every time footage played of Lin Zhou fighting the Golden Behemoth, Su Yueyao freezing a thousand miles, or the final galaxy-shaking civilization anthem and the long river phantom, the gathered crowd below erupted in mountain-toppling, sea-surging cheers.

A sea of people was an understatement for the grand occasion outside the starport. Almost everyone in Cloud City who was free had gathered here, waiting expectantly. Parents brought their children, pointing at the figures on the screens and telling stories of heroes. Young students waved homemade flags and banners with slogans like "Welcome Home, Heroes," "Cloud City's Pride, Lin Zhou," and "Hundred Schools Temple Eternal." Major media outlets had their equipment set up long ago, and reporters were excitedly broadcasting live to their cameras.

The air was thick with a festive Frenzy and pride. The Star Domain High School League championship was a glory Cloud City had never seen in its history! And the ones who brought this glory were two teenagers only eighteen years old!

"They're here! They're here!" someone shouted, and the crowd instantly became restless.

Deep within the starport, a streamlined, small luxury passenger starship branded with the Star Domain League logo was led by a pilot ship. It slowly entered the central berth and docked smoothly.

The hatch slid open silently.

First to walk out were the principal of Yuncheng High School and several accompanying leaders. Their faces beamed with irrepressible smiles as they waved continuously to the crowd below, drawing a round of warm applause.

Immediately after, two figures appeared at the hatch.

On the left was Su Yueyao. She had changed into a moon-white knee-length dress with a light-colored trench coat. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, simply tied behind her head. Her exceptionally beautiful face bore its usual coldness, but seeing the surging crowd and the sky-shaking cheers, a slight ripple inevitably appeared in those ice-lake-like eyes. She nodded slightly as a greeting to the crowd.

And everyone's gaze, almost instantly, locked firmly onto the figure on the right—

Lin Zhou!

He wore a well-fitted black casual suit. He had a tall, straight build, black hair, and black eyes. His face wasn't extremely handsome, but it had sharp lines and a steadiness and restraint that far exceeded his peers. His gaze was calm and deep, as if it contained the sea of stars, and as if he had seen through the shifting world. Having experienced successive life-and-death battles and the crowning glory of the championship, he naturally exuded a captivating temperament.

He didn't wave excitedly like the principal. He just stood there quietly, his gaze sweeping over the jubilant ocean below, over the faces excited and proud because of him. The corners of his mouth curled into a gentle arc.

This simple appearance and calm posture seemed to ignite the final fuse!

"Lin Zhou—!!!"

"Su Yueyao—!!!"

"Heroes! Heroes!"

"Long live Cloud City! Long live the champions!"

The frantic cheers, screams, and applause erupted like a tsunami, instantly drowning the entire starport! Countless arms waved, and streamers and petals drifted down from the dome. The atmosphere reached its peak!

The media's camera flashes lit up the area as they scrambled to record this historic moment.

Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao walked side by side down the red carpet. The principal and others deliberately lagged half a step behind, leaving all the glory to these two true heroes.

On both sides of the red carpet, the honor guard soldiers saluted in unison with a sharp snap, their eyes filled with respect. These soldiers, who had been baptized by the battlefield, knew better than ordinary people what the strength and responsibility Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao showed in the league—especially in the final fight against the undead—meant. It wasn't just the glory of a championship; it was the future hope of the Human Race!

Walking on the red carpet and feeling the frantic faith and love that almost seemed tangible, Lin Zhou's state of mind was unusually calm. This glory was a proof of strength and a reward for hard work, but it was also a responsibility. He represented not just himself, but also Cloud City, and even the path of "Civilization" he had opened up.

He could feel that what permeated the air was not just sound waves, but also countless subtle, heartfelt thoughts of gratitude, worship, and blessing. These thoughts converged to form a massive, positive mental force. Like a spring breeze turning into rain, it nourished his Divine Domain, causing his not-yet-fully-recovered Divine Fire to brighten slightly. This was the power of fame and faith.

Environmental Perception: Convergence of Myriad Beliefs

Nature: Positive Mental Energy field, condensed pan-faith.

Effects:

Divine Domain Nourishment: Slightly accelerates the repair of Divine Domain rules and the mental recovery of followers.

Divine Fire Warming: Provides pure Mental Energy, assisting in stabilizing and strengthening the Divine Fire.

Luck Blessing: Weakly increases regional Luck connection, bringing potential convenience and opportunities.

Range: Covers the entire core area of Cloud City, with the starport being the most intense.

Walking beside Lin Zhou, Su Yueyao could also feel this majestic torrent of thoughts. Her moonlight divinity leaned toward coldness and tranquility, making her somewhat uncomfortable with this fiery collective emotion, but she could also draw pure mental power from it to accelerate the recovery of her final injuries. She glanced slightly at Lin Zhou, who remained calm beside her, thinking to herself: To be able to handle such glory with such composure at this age, his Heart-Nature is indeed extraordinary.

After walking across the long red carpet, they were greeted by a grand welcome ceremony held by the Cloud City City Hall. The mayor personally delivered a speech, highly praising the supreme glory Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao brought to Cloud City. He announced on the spot that they would be awarded the "Honorary Citizen of Cloud City" supreme medal, enjoy treatment equivalent to city councilors, and their immediate Family members would receive special stipends and protection from the City Hall.

Following that was a donation ceremony from major Cloud City chambers of commerce and enterprise representatives. To honor the heroes and invest in the future, these forces opened their purses generously, either donating huge amounts of Federal Credits, promising to provide precious Cultivation resources, or directly gifting properties located in the core areas of Cloud City.

Cloud City Official and Private Rewards (Partial):

"Honorary Citizen of Cloud City" Supreme Medal: Enjoys partial decision-making information rights for the city, top-level security, and priority use of public resources.

Municipal Special Stipend (Family): 10 million credits per month, lasting for ten years.

Chamber of Commerce Joint Donation:

Credits: 2 billion (shared by the three major chambers of commerce)

Cultivation Resources: [Thousand-Year Blood Ginseng] x1 (nourishes Qi and blood), [Mind-Concentrating Fragrant Wood] x100 kg (assists meditation), [Star Sand] x50 units (rare forging Materials)... Real Estate: 3 shops located in the central business district of Cloud City (estimated annual rental income exceeding 50 million credits).

These rewards were not just icing on the cake. They meant that Lin Zhou and his Family's social status and resource acquisition capabilities in Cloud City would undergo a heaven-toppling change. From an ordinary Genius student, he had leaped to become an important figure capable of influencing the city's landscape.

After the welcome ceremony, there was a float parade around the main urban area of Cloud City.

Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao stood on an open-top floating float decorated with flowers and streamers. Under the escort and pathfinding of elite mechs from the City Defense Force, they slowly traveled along the main roads of Cloud City.

Both sides of the road were already packed with a surging crowd. The cheers, applause, and shouts of "Lin Zhou," "Su Yueyao," and "Champion" never stopped. Countless arms reached out from the crowd, trying to get a little closer. Countless flowers and colored paper were thrown from the windows of high-rise buildings on both sides.

Children sat on their fathers' shoulders, looking at the figures on the float with worshiping eyes. Young people waved flags excitedly, as if they were the ones who had won the championship. The elderly sighed that Cloud City had finally produced a true Dragon, and the future was promising.

The entire Cloud City was plunged into an unprecedented carnival feast!

Standing on the float, Lin Zhou looked at these excited, proud, and hopeful faces, and at the vibrant life this city that raised him showed because of him. The sense of responsibility regarding "Civilization" became clearer and heavier in his heart. Protecting these smiles and letting this hope continue was perhaps also a part of his path.

The parade finally arrived at Yuncheng High School.

By this time, Yuncheng High School was decorated with lanterns and streamers, just like a festival. All teachers and students were already lined up at the school gate to welcome them. When the float stopped and Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao stepped down, the deafening cheers almost blew the roof off the sky.

"Senior! Senior!"

"Welcome home!"

"Yuncheng High must win! Civilization eternal!"

The students shouted at the top of their lungs, their eyes filled with Frenzy and worship. Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao had already become the idols and goals of all Yuncheng students.

Standing on the high steps, the principal looked at the returning heroes and the boiling campus, moved to tears. He picked up a megaphone, his voice loud and trembling:

"Students! Teachers! Today is the most glorious day since the founding of Yuncheng High School!"

"We welcome our heroes, the Star Domain champions—Lin Zhou! Su Yueyao!"

"They have used their strength and will to prove to us that as long as we have faith and the courage to fight, miracles will surely be born in our hands!"

"From today on, the history of Yuncheng High School will be rewritten because of them! Our future will be brighter because of them!"

"I announce that the school will establish the 'Lin Zhou-Su Yueyao' Scholarship, investing 100 million credits annually to reward students who are excellent in both character and learning and who are brave enough to innovate!"

"At the same time, the school's resource library will be completely open to students Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao! All their reasonable needs will be fully met by the school!"

Yuncheng High School Tilted Resources (Partial):

"Lin Zhou-Su Yueyao" Scholarship: Annual total of 100 million credits.

Full Access to School Resource Library: Can utilize all Cultivation Techniques, Materials, cards, and research data accumulated by the school (subject to regulations).

Exclusive Cultivation Room: A top-tier quiet room equipped with the highest-grade Spirit Gathering Array and time dilation adjustment (1:1.5), with permanent usage rights.

Mentor Team: Formation of an advisory group led by the principal and composed of top teachers from various disciplines to provide Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao with all-around Cultivation guidance and support (although Lin Zhou's path already requires self-exploration, basic theories and federal laws are still needed).

This meant that Yuncheng High School had bet a portion of its development focus and resources for the next ten years on Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao! It was a sign of trust and, even more so, an investment.

Faced with their alma mater's deep affection, both Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao solemnly expressed their gratitude.

The welcome ceremony lasted until evening. Grand fireworks bloomed in the night sky of Cloud City, outlining the championship trophy and the portraits of Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao, pushing the city-wide celebration to its highest climax.

When all the bustle gradually faded, Lin Zhou returned to the villa in the core area provided by the military.

Standing on the rooftop terrace of the villa, overlooking Cloud City, which was still brightly lit and immersed in the joy of victory, Lin Zhou took a deep breath.

Glory bestowed, resources tilted, and all eyes upon him.

All of this was earned by his own strength.

But it also meant the burden on his shoulders was heavier, and there were more eyes on the road ahead.

He spread his palm, and with a slight thought, a faint but incredibly condensed flame, showing a chaotic color with countless tiny runes flickering within, danced on his fingertips.

The Fire of Civilization.

Compared to half a month ago, it had grown considerably, recovering to about seventy percent of its scale. Its light was stable, and the resilience originating from the [embers of the undying fire] also seemed to be slowly manifesting.