15: Three voices resonate, and the illusory image of the long river of civilization appears! (Part 2)

The appearance and disappearance of that phantom of the river of civilization were as fleeting as a hallucination. However, the influence it brought was tangible and profoundly deep!

[System Notification]: Warning! Intense resonance of the core rules of the Divine Domain detected!

[System Notification]: The linkage between Confucian, Legalist, and Mohist thoughts has reached a critical point, triggering the manifestation of the Origin rules of civilization!

[System Notification]: Hidden feature of the Temple of Civilization [river of civilization] partially activated (Phantom Level)!

[System Notification]: All your followers have received the [Civilization Baptism] effect!

[Civilization Baptism]:

Effect:

Potential Stimulation: The potential ceiling of all followers is permanently increased by a small margin. (Manifests as a slight adjustment in experience required for leveling up; attribute growth is higher at the same Rank)

Wisdom Enlightenment: Intelligence and Wisdom attributes permanently +1~3 points (based on individual Aptitude). Skill comprehension speed +20%.

Loyalty Imprint: Sense of identity and belonging to the concept of "Civilization" is greatly enhanced; loyalty to the god Lin Zhou is increased (Loyalty of all followers +10! Literary Heart Elves/Tiangong Dwarves loyalty has reached 100 (MAX), Lightforged Gnomes loyalty increased to 95, Murlocs loyalty increased to 90!).

Rule Affinity: Comprehension and adaptability to rules related to the Hundred Schools of Thought within the Divine Domain are enhanced.

Duration: Permanent (Attribute and Potential increases), Long-term (Loyalty and sense of identity).

In an instant, bursts of exclamations and waves of realization erupted within the Divine Domain!

A Wenxin Elf scribe studying Law in the Jixia Academy suddenly found the previously obscure Legalist texts clear and easy to understand, a light of realization flashing in his eyes.

A dwarf apprentice striking an iron billet in the Tiangong Workshop adjusted his striking force and angle as if inspired by heaven; the quality of the forged iron billet improved significantly.

The three Lightforged Gnomes looked at the complex design drawings in their hands, and many previously stuck nodes suddenly became clear.

Even the Murlocs by Mirror Lake vaguely felt a summons from the depths of their Bloodline, feeling more awe and longing for that invisible "Order." The old Shaman Morgl even felt the Rank Bottleneck he had been stuck at for years begin to loosen!

The most significant impact was on the expeditionary force that had already stepped into Bone Chewer's Divine Domain—the Rotten Mire!

When the power of the phantom of the river of civilization crossed space and swept over their bodies, every warrior felt their spirits lift, as if all fatigue had vanished. Their thinking became clearer, and the weapons and equipment in their hands seemed more natural to use.

[Expeditionary Force Status Update]:

New Status: [Civilization Radiance] (Temporary, originating from the phantom of the river of civilization): All attributes +10%, extra +15% damage to Chaos and Evil alignments, Morale locked to "Elated," immune to fear and confusion effects.

Attribute Increase: All members' Intelligence/Wisdom received permanent increases from [Civilization Baptism].

"This is... my god's power! It's even more vast, even more ancient!" Elwin felt the warm current surging within her and the slight activation of knowledge. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with brilliance, and her faith in Lin Zhou became even more devout. She felt that her [Subtle Influence] and [The Art of Deception] seemed to have new directions for understanding.

"Haha! This feels great! I feel like my strength has grown again!" Bronzebeard Stonehammer swung his battle-axe, feeling it was even more agile and swift. He laughed heartily, "Brothers, God is watching us! Don't lose face for our God!"

The expeditionary force's morale was already high, and now it was almost at a burning point! The light of Order they emitted was like a lighthouse in the darkness within this filthy alien realm, appearing exceptionally dazzling.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhou also received more detailed data feedback:

[river of civilization (Phantom Level)]:

Source: Manifestation of the core rules of the Temple of Civilization.

Activation Condition: Deep linkage of multiple core thoughts reaching a certain degree of resonance. (Activated this time due to high synergy between Confucian, Legalist, and Mohist schools)

Current Effects:

Passive · Fire of Civilization: Resistance of the Divine Domain and its subordinate units to negative rules such as Chaos, Void, and Corruption is permanently increased by 20%.

Passive · Passing the Torch: Follower reproduction potential and cultural inheritance efficiency are slightly increased.

Active · River Baptism: (Requires consumption of a large amount of Faith/Divine Power/civilization points; currently can only be passively triggered as a phantom and cannot be actively controlled).

Growth: Can improve as more thoughts are integrated and civilization develops.

"river of civilization..." Lin Zhou was inexplicably shocked. He hadn't expected that the deep resonance of the three major schools of thought would actually trigger such a primordial power. This was no longer just the blessing of a single thought, but the preliminary manifestation of the entire civilization's foundation!

He could feel that his divine fire seemed to have refined a bit, and his control over the Divine Domain became more meticulous. More importantly, the existence of this [river of civilization] seemed to greatly suppress the nauseating Chaos and Disease rules of the Bone Chewer's Divine Domain!

Just as the expeditionary force's strength surged due to the [Civilization Radiance] status and Lin Zhou's heart pounded at the manifestation of the river of civilization—

"Roar! Who is it?! Who dares to break into my Domain! And carrying... such a nauseating aura of Order!"

A roar full of pain, anger, and fear came from the depths of the Rotten Mire. Immediately after, the ground shook, the swamp churned, and a massive, twisted figure slowly rose amidst the pervasive toxic miasma!

It was none other than the god Bone Chewer!

But compared to the previous perception via Divine Thought, the current Bone Chewer appeared much more disheveled and... weak. Its divine body was in an unstable semi-transparent state; clearly, the Origin damage from the previous failed divine war was far from recovered. Its image resembled a deformed Kobold magnified several times, its body covered in oozing sores and twisted bone spikes, holding a twisted staff formed by countless entangled suffering Souls.

[Hostile Deity]: Bone Chewer (LV 108 - Faint Divinity)

Status: [Damaged Godhead] (All attributes -20%), [Divine Power Depletion] (Divine art effects halved, consumption doubled), [Fear] (Instinctive dread of Lin Zhou and his followers)

Divine Domain Environmental Suppression: Due to the influence of the [river of civilization] phantom, its Domain's rule suppression effect on the expeditionary force is weakened by 60%!

"As expected, it's weak to this extent!" Lin Zhou felt greatly reassured, and his Divine Thought spread to the entire army: "The enemy's main god has appeared. According to its position, execute Combat Plan Number One! Elwin, I hand the command over to you!"

"By your divine oracle!" Wisdom flashed in Elwin's eyes as she instantly entered a state of absolute calm command. She had already run simulations for various possible situations using the data shared by Lin Zhou.

"Clan Chief Bronzebeard! Vanguard units, [Immovable as a Mountain] formation, advance three hundred paces, seize that relatively solid slope ahead, and establish a defensive line!"

"Ranger Teams One and Two, spread to the left and right, [Swift as the Wind] maneuver, suppressive fire, clear out the scattered Kobolds and potential traps in the vicinity!"

"Ballista crew, set up immediately! Target, the enemy deity! [Fierce as Fire] blessing, three rounds of rapid fire!"

"Ranger squad, flank around, watch for possible ambushes or special units!"

One command after another was clearly issued, and the entire expeditionary force, like a precision gear, instantly began to operate with high efficiency.

The dwarf warriors roared, forming a solid battle line and advancing with heavy steps, easily crushing the stray Kobolds trying to crawl out of the swamp. The elves were like agile whirlwinds, their arrows accurately pinning into the eye sockets or throats of every enemy that tried to show its head. Assisted by the Lightforged Gnomes, the three ballistae were set up with amazing speed, their cold-glinting bolts pointed directly at the twisted Bone Chewer!

"No! You can't do this! This is my Divine Domain!" Bone Chewer roared in terror, waving its staff in an attempt to mobilize the Domain's rules for suppression, but under the dual weakening of [Civilization Radiance] and [river of civilization], the effect was negligible. It could only watch helplessly as those three ballistae, emitting a lethal aura, locked onto it!

"Fire!"

Whir—Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Three giant Ballista bolts, trailing the red light of [Fierce as Fire] and the faint glow of purifying evil, tore through the foul air, flying toward Bone Chewer in a triangular formation!

For the first time, the army under Lin Zhou's command launched a proactive, determined attack against a true deity!

The spark of civilization has ignited its first flame of conquest!