129: Returning in glory, the whole city celebrates the heroes' return (Part 2)

As the night deepened, the clamor on the streets of Cloud City had not completely subsided. There were still scattered celebrations and crowds of people who hadn't had their fill of discussion about the day's grand events. However, the military villa located in the core area felt as if it were in the eye of a storm, completely peaceful.

Lin Zhou did not immerse himself in the joy of his triumphant return; he knew well that the Foundation of all this lay in strength. After pausing briefly on the terrace to feel the city's surging "momentum," he returned to the underground quiet room.

The heavy alloy door closed once more, isolating everything from the outside world.

He did not immediately begin deep cultivation. Instead, he first used the God Domain link to carefully examine the changes in the God Domain over the past half-month after the championship rewards had been fully integrated.

As his consciousness sank in, he nodded slightly at the sight before him.

God Domain Comprehensive Assessment (Current Status):

Area: 60 square kilometers (Stable). The borders are solidified by God Domain Expansion Source Crystals, making the spatial structure more stable and sufficient to withstand power fluctuations at the True God level.

Environment:

Spiritual Qi Concentration: Upper-middle (The [Seed of the Ancient Tree of Life] has sprouted, slowly releasing Life Spiritual Qi; the dragon vein nodes and the [elemental fusion furnace] have formed a virtuous cycle).

Topographical Diversity: Plains, hills, forests, lakes, and small mountain ranges are all present, with a reasonable distribution of resources.

Rule Perfection: 91% (Continuing to increase slightly). The rules of the Hundred Schools are interwoven into a net, with orderly discipline and enhanced rejection of foreign energy.

Core Buildings/Wonders:

Hundred Schools Temple: Located at the absolute center of the God Domain, it is majestic and solemn, radiating the light of civilization. It serves as the rule hub and the core of faith. After fusing with the [seed of civilization (Weak)], the temple's effect on educating and enlightening the followers has increased by 15%.

library of wisdom (Golden Legend): Located next to the temple, it has become a Holy Land for the Literary Heart Elves. The books in the library contain the essence of the Hundred Schools and various types of knowledge. The elves' research efficiency is +100%, and their skill comprehension speed is +20%. A small number of elves have triggered the [Inspiration Burst] state while reading and have begun trying to combine Vast Righteous Qi with Mohist runes to develop new types of spell arrows.

Hall of Heroes (Golden Legend): Built atop the Holy Mountain, it is solemn and dignified. Some heroic spirits of fallen followers have already been received and settled here. They exist in spiritual form, responsible for maintaining the operation of some of the God Domain's formations or serving as "instructors" to guide the new generation of followers. Effect: Morale of all followers +15, Loyalty MAX, fear of death significantly reduced. Hero units Elwin, Bronzebeard, and Snik occasionally come here to communicate with Senior heroic spirits and benefit greatly.

elemental fusion furnace (Purple Epic): Deeply integrated with the dragon vein nodes, it provides stable and surging energy for the entire God Domain. The Tian Gong Institute used this to optimize the mechanical power systems; the charging time for large defensive Ballistas has been shortened by 30%, and they have begun developing the prototype for the [Elemental Powered Armor].

Original buildings such as the Jixia Academy, Temple of Law, and Tiangong Workshop have all seen their functions improved to varying degrees due to the injection of Advanced resources and the perfection of rules.

Core Follower Status (Detailed):

Literary Heart Elves (Quantity: 598/650):

Average Rank: LV29 (Close to the edge of a Breakthrough).

Status: Full of spirit, high research enthusiasm. Influenced by the [library of wisdom] and the temple's radiance, their average intelligence attribute has increased by 1-2 points.

Hero Unit - Elwin (LV 35): Overexertion has fully recovered. Having experienced the great war and the accumulation of reading, she has a deeper understanding of the Confucian Concept "Benevolence is Invincible." The effect of the skill [Subtle Influence] has improved, and a new passive effect [Enlightenment Aura] (slightly increases the willpower of surrounding friendly units) has been added.

Tiangong Dwarves (Quantity: 520/550):

Average Rank: LV28.

Status: High morale, fully committed to reconstruction and R&D. The [orichalcum vein] and [elemental fusion furnace] have greatly satisfied their forging needs.

Hero Unit - Bronzebeard Stonehammer (LV 33): Injuries healed, Strength attribute permanently +1 due to a battlefield Breakthrough. He led the dwarven craftsmen to successfully restore and improve the [Heavy Armor-Piercing Ballista] and has begun studying the design blueprints for the [Floating Bombardment Platform] combined with [Floating Stone Fragments].

Law Fishmen (Quantity: 458/500):

Average Rank: LV27.

Status: Strict discipline, meticulous. The existence of the [Hall of Heroes] has given them a deeper identification with Order and sacrifice.

Hero Unit - Snik (LV 31): Mental backlash basically eliminated, Spirit attribute permanently +2. Understanding of the Legalist Concept [No Exemption from Punishment] has deepened. Although the range of the [Net of Law] has not fully recovered, its strength and precision have improved, and a new effect [Guilt Mark] (enemy units enveloped by the Net of Law will have their crimes magnified and suffer extra mental pressure) has been added.

Resource Reserves:

faith crystal: Approximately 53,500 units (Continuous and stable production).

Various Minerals/Spiritual Plants: With the support of the [Eternal Vein Core] and resource cards, reserves are abundant and can continuously support the rapid development of the God Domain.

Special Materials: [Star Sand], [Dragon Blood Thorns], etc., are stored in an orderly manner and allocated as needed.

Looking at the scene of prosperity and burgeoning potential within the God Domain, Lin Zhou's heart was filled with gratification. This was his Foundation, his capital for traversing the sea of stars in the future. After the tempering of the league and the irrigation of championship resources, his God Domain's heritage had already surpassed the vast majority of Senior demigods and was even comparable to some newly ascended True Gods!

The growth of the followers also surprised him. The attribute increases and new ability Awakenings of the hero units meant they had immense potential and a bright future. Especially the Literary Heart Elves starting to attempt the Fusion of different thoughts, which perfectly aligned with his philosophy of letting a hundred schools of thought contend and being inclusive of all.

After examining the God Domain, Lin Zhou began to process his personal gains.

He didn't need to worry too much about the credits, resources, and industries donated by the Cloud City government and the public for the time being. He entrusted a federal government-designated asset management team to handle them, ensuring their value was preserved and increased, and that they could continue to support his cultivation needs. Those cultivation resources, such as [Millennium Blood Ginseng], were added to his personal storehouse to be used as needed.

The most important things were still those ten units of divinity crystals and the [embers of the undying fire].

The divinity crystals were still being nurtured in the core of the Temple of Civilization, in perfect condition.

The [embers of the undying fire] were taken out of the isolation device by Lin Zhou and placed in the center of the quiet room. He sat cross-legged opposite them, not rushing to fuse them, but instead released his own mostly-recovered Fire of Civilization, carefully approaching and attempting preliminary contact and "communication."

Those embers looked dead, but when the Fire of Civilization approached, the sparks on the surface lit up slightly, emitting a desolate, ancient Concept that seemed to have seen through Reincarnation. The two fires did not immediately merge but instead were like two ancient sages engaged in a silent exchange. The Fire of Civilization was all-encompassing, containing the drive for exploration and Legacy; the undying embers were calm and restrained, representing a persistence that remained unextinguished despite passing through many tribulations.

Lin Zhou could feel that perfectly fusing this wisp of embers would be no easy task. It required his own Divine Fire to be strong enough and pure enough, and his own will also needed to be able to understand and bear that weight of "immortality." This required the slow work of time and could not be rushed.

He put away the Fire of Civilization and the embers, his mind becoming clearer about the subsequent adjustment plan. The primary task was to let the Fire of Civilization fully recover and even surpass its peak, while continuously perceiving the essence of the Hundred Schools and deepening his understanding of Concepts such as civilization, Legacy, and immortality, to make the most thorough preparations for finally fusing the embers and igniting his Divine Fire.

Just as he was planning his subsequent cultivation, his personal communicator chimed with a notification; it was Su Yueyao.

After connecting, Su Yueyao's cool and elegant face appeared on the light screen.

"Lin Zhou, how are you resting?"

"Fairly well. Is there something, Classmate Su?"

"Yes." Su Yueyao nodded. "Regarding the Gaokao, there is some information I want to sync with you. Also, Zhao Hao, Lei Huang, and Yan Li's injuries are no longer a major issue, and they hope to get together once to thank you in person."

Lin Zhou pondered for a moment and then agreed: "Sure. You can decide the time and place."

Information about the Gaokao was very important; he needed to know the latest developments. And a gathering with Zhao Hao and the others was indeed necessary; after this battle, these few could be considered trustworthy partners.

"Good, then I'll arrange it." Su Yueyao finished speaking and ended the communication.

After dealing with these trivial matters, Lin Zhou once again calmed his mind.

He recalled the scene of the masses cheering during the day, the high expectations and resources given by everyone in Cloud City, and the expectant gazes of the followers in the God Domain... All of this turned into an invisible driving force.

Honor was in the past, and resources were already in hand.

The next goal was clear and definite—

Adjust his state, solidify his Foundation, and then... condense his Divinity, ignite his Divine Fire, and promote to a True God!

Only by becoming a True God could he occupy an absolute advantage in the upcoming Gaokao, which would gather the elites of the entire Human Race!

Only by becoming a True God could he truly begin to spread the thoughts of the Hundred Schools to a wider world!

Only by becoming a True God could he live up to all these expectations and kindness!

Lin Zhou closed his eyes, and the aura around him gradually returned to silence, like a dormant dragon beginning to accumulate the final and most powerful force for that world-shaking leap.

The night of celebration in Cloud City gradually drew to a close, while the path to godhood belonging to Lin Zhou had just entered its most critical sprint phase.