161: Confucian education fosters the emergence of geniuses and increases potential.

The grayish-black embers from the first wave of Void erosion drifted slowly outside the simple fortifications at the edge of the territory. The twisted remains of aberrations emitted a nauseating stench of burning and nothingness, gradually being decomposed and absorbed by the underlying rules of the simulated Divine Domain. The tension and bloody scent in the air had not yet fully dissipated, but within the territory, the exhilaration of surviving a disaster was intertwined with anxiety about the future.

Members of the guard team leaned against wood and stone watchtowers, gasping for breath, their supply of crude arrows nearly exhausted. Ten newly formed 'Puppet Team One' psionic-driven Puppets stood silently at the forefront of the defense line. Their bodies, composed of wood and scrap iron, were covered in scratches and corrosion marks. The energy core indicator lights on several units flickered with an unstable red glow—the high-intensity interception had consumed a massive amount of energy, and they were in urgent need of maintenance and 'furious spirit coal' replenishment.

Inside the Lord's Hall, the atmosphere was solemn.

Lin Zhou's consciousness projection sat upon a crude stone throne, his Divine Thought covering the entire territory like an invisible net. Repelling the first wave of erosion was only the beginning; the thirty-day buffer period had ended, meaning the intensity and frequency of subsequent 'Void Erosions' would likely increase. Relying solely on ten Puppets and crude arrow towers would definitely be insufficient to handle the challenges ahead.

"Li Mo, how long will it take for Puppet maintenance and a new round of manufacturing? What is the progress of the 'Spiritual Qi Furnace' research?" Lin Zhou asked through the reinforced communication formation.

Li Mo's voice carried the hoarseness and excitement of staying up late: "The damage to the Puppets is lighter than expected; the core buffer structure worked! Maintenance and charcoal replenishment will take about three days (simulated time). Meanwhile, the workshop can start manufacturing the second batch, another ten units. But Materials, especially scrap iron and a stable supply of spiritual charcoal, are the keys! The 'Spiritual Qi Furnace' is... a bit troublesome. The energy of the furious spirit coal is too unstable; using it directly as furnace fuel makes it prone to exploding. The Mechanical Goblins and I are trying to use a simplified version of that 'Multiple Energy Buffer and Guidance Array' you gave me from the Mohist Arts, paired with thicker furnace walls. It should work, but it needs at least ten days to build and debug! Brother Lin, can you allocate another batch of refined scrap iron and spiritual charcoal from your end? The higher the purity, the better!"

"Refining scrap iron takes time, and the efficiency of spiritual charcoal mining and purification is also limited," Lin Zhou mused. "I will prioritize the workshop's needs, but our resources are not abundant. We must find a way to improve overall efficiency; we cannot rely solely on the workshop."

He cut off the communication, his gaze sweeping over several tired and fearful faces in the hall—these were several small leaders of the trailblazers he had temporarily designated to be in charge of different tasks. They possessed attributes slightly above average (Strength or Physique might reach 12 points), but their eyes lacked true confidence and the light of wisdom, showing more of a reverence for the deity and fear of unknown threats.

Relying on such grassroots managers to efficiently execute increasingly complex resource allocation, production organization, personnel management, and even future tactical command was clearly unfeasible. The Mohist Arts improved the manufacturing efficiency of 'objects,' but the potential of 'people'—especially wisdom, organizational power, and creativity—was the true core driver of civilizational development.

And enhancing the potential of 'people' was precisely the specialty of Confucian thought!

'Teacher for All Generations' enhances wisdom and comprehension; 'Rites, Music, and Expeditions' unifies hearts, increasing loyalty and efficiency; 'Educating All Living Beings' enlightens the ignorant and cultivates talent; 'Vast Righteous Qi' forges the Heart-Nature to resist external evils (including the Mental Pollution brought by Void erosion).

Previously in the simulated Divine Domain, due to extreme resource scarcity, Lin Zhou had devoted all his energy to the School of Agriculture to solve the problem of food and warmth, only briefly mentioning Confucianism. Now that the territory was initially settled, external threats were clear, and internal efficient organization was needed, it was the perfect time to systematically introduce Confucian enlightenment, solidify the development Foundation, and tap into internal potential!

Furthermore, Lin Zhou's Godhead had been repaired by Rule Essence, and his state had stabilized significantly. He could now support the expansion of the Civilization: Education divine office authority for a longer duration and at a deeper level, as well as a clearer projection of the phantom of the Jixia Academy!

"Pass down the order: From this day forward, every dawn and dusk, all subjects not performing emergency duties must gather at the square in front of the Lord's Hall. I will personally lecture on the fundamentals of 'Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trustworthiness,' and teach the principles of self-cultivation, family management, and governance." Lin Zhou's voice carried an unquestionable majesty, spreading throughout the territory via the Lord's Hall's amplification formation.

"Establish the 'Primary Learning Hall.' Select thirty intelligent children under the age of ten, to be temporarily led by... Stone Root (a former backbone of the agriculture team, whose loyalty reached 85 due to consuming Dragon Blood Fruit and having good comprehension). During the day they shall labor, and in the evening, they shall study basic literacy, arithmetic, and the principles I lecture on at the Primary Learning Hall."

"Form the 'Records Office.' It will be temporarily managed by 'Mu Ji' (a former small leader of the resource team, known for meticulous work), who was responsible for material statistics. Start attempting to formulate simple regulations for household registration, material inflow and outflow, and contribution records, ensuring that every matter is recorded and every item has a destination."

"Promulgate the 'Order to Encourage Learning' and the 'Order to Recommend the Worthy.' Anyone who is diligent in learning, possesses exquisite skills, or shows outstanding performance in resisting erosion and developing the territory, regardless of their background, can be recorded, given extra ration rewards, and have the opportunity to receive deeper instruction and more important responsibilities."

These three orders initially built the framework of Confucian enlightenment: universal enlightenment (improving overall quality), the budding of basic education (reserving future talent), and the prototype of Systems and talent selection incentives (establishing order and upward mobility).

When the orders were issued, there was a brief period of commotion and confusion within the territory. Many trailblazers, accustomed to working with their heads down and believing only in strength, found 'listening to principles' and 'learning to write' unfamiliar or even repelling. However, Lin Zhou's majesty and the series of achievements he had led them to (reclamation, house building, repelling monsters) made them choose to obey.

The first day of lecturing was somewhat chaotic. Lin Zhou did not speak of profound theories but instead used the simplest language to explain them in the context of the territory's current situation:

"What is 'Benevolence'? It is being in the same boat. In this dangerous place, we can only survive by helping each other."

"What is 'Righteousness'? It is each fulfilling their responsibility. Those who farm should farm well, those who smith should smith well, and those who patrol should guard their posts well—that is righteousness."

"What is 'Propriety'? It is rules and order. Lining up for rations and following allocations is the simplest form of propriety."

"What is 'Wisdom'? It is doing things with heart and constantly improving. How to make an axe more labor-saving? How to make a wall sturdier? This is the pursuit of wisdom."

"What is 'Trustworthiness'? It is being as good as one's word. I promised to lead you and will do my utmost. You promised to complete your labor and must do so with all your heart and responsibility."

During the lecture, Lin Zhou fully expanded the Civilization: Education divine office authority and projected the phantom of the Jixia Academy as clearly as possible over the square. That towering academy, the sound of chanting books (simulated by thought), and the gentle light of enlightenment made the dry principles seem to carry a power that went straight to the heart.

The effect was not immediate, but Lin Zhou could feel that the numb light in the eyes of some subjects began to show a flicker of thought. Especially the children selected for the Primary Learning Hall; though ignorant, under the clumsy but earnest teaching of Stone Root (who was also required to listen to the lectures and teach what he just learned), they began to draw the simplest symbols on the ground with twigs, their eyes filled with novelty.

The fifth day (simulated time, since the start of Confucian enlightenment).

Changes began to manifest.

First was order. As the 'Records Office' began operating (even if only for the simplest records), the collection and distribution of Materials became significantly smoother, reducing arguments and waste. The rotation and handover of the patrol team also had rough regulations, no longer being chaotic.

Next was work efficiency. In his lectures and daily Divine Thought guidance, Lin Zhou constantly emphasized 'intent,' 'observation,' and 'improvement.' Some craftsmen began to subconsciously ponder angles and force when forging tools; farmers would notice differences in soil quality across different plots when tilling; even the craftsmen responsible for Puppet maintenance (trained in basics by Li Mo's Mechanical Goblins) would try to record the energy output stability of different batches of spiritual charcoal when replacing it.

The most obvious change was in research-related fields. Lin Zhou combined some introductory principles of Mohist Mechanical Arts with the Confucian concepts of 'Investigating Things to Extend Knowledge' and 'Applying Knowledge to Practice,' conducting small-scale, in-depth teaching within the workshop and groups responsible for resource exploration and processing.

For example, regarding the problem of unstable purification of 'furious spirit coal,' Lin Zhou did not give the answer directly. Instead, he guided several craftsmen in charge (one of whom was named 'Fire Hammer,' a former blacksmith apprentice): "Do you know why the energy of this spiritual charcoal is violent? Just as a person's temperament is irritable, it may be due to obstructed Qi and blood, or intrusion by external evils. Observe the differences in its color, weight, and fracture patterns; feel the subtle differences in its energy surges; try calcining at different temperatures and adsorbing with different mineral powders... This is 'Investigating Things.' Record the results of each attempt and analyze the reasons for success or failure; this is 'Extending Knowledge.' Finally finding a method for stable purification is 'Applying Knowledge to Practice.'"

Under the continuous radiance of the Civilization: Education halo and this guided teaching, the wisdom attributes of these craftsmen began to show a slow but steady increase! From an average of 7-8 points, they gradually moved toward 9-10 points! They were no longer mechanically executing orders but began to actively think, record, and experiment!

The tenth day.

Surprises came one after another!

First was the 'Fire Hammer' group. After dozens of failed attempts at 'Investigating Things,' and combining some of the energy buffer array knowledge previously sent by Li Mo, they actually figured out a 'Three-Stage Progressive Calcination and Cold Iron Slag Adsorption Method'! Although the process was complex and time-consuming, it could increase the purification rate of 'furious spirit coal' by 15% and energy output stability by 20%! This greatly eased the pressure on spiritual charcoal supply and provided a more reliable fuel Foundation for the research and development of the 'Spiritual Qi Furnace'!

Next was the Primary Learning Hall. Among the thirty children, five showed astonishing memory and logical understanding. One of them, an eight-year-old boy named Wen Shu, not only quickly learned the characters and arithmetic taught by Stone Root but could even pose his own questions—childish yet from novel perspectives—regarding some of the simple principles Lin Zhou preached! Lin Zhou's divinity clearly detected that these five children's wisdom attributes started at over 10 points and were growing rapidly as they continued to receive education!

Finally, there was the overall atmosphere. As the education deepened, simple regulations were established, and several outstanding performers (such as Fire Hammer) under the 'Order to Recommend the Worthy' received tangible rewards and respect, the territory's cohesion significantly strengthened. Complaints and laziness decreased, while proactive thinking and collaboration increased. The overall loyalty steadily rose from 75 to 78, and there was a perceptible growth in faith output.

The fifteenth day.

Quantitative change triggered a qualitative change!

Under the influence of continuous high-intensity education, the deep immersion of the [Civilization: Education] divine authority, and the rule resonance of the Jixia Academy's phantom, the first batch of 'talent sprouts' began to stand out!

Besides the five child prodigies in the Primary Learning Hall and technical backbones like Fire Hammer, individuals with wisdom or mental attributes significantly higher than average began to appear among grassroots managers, scout squad leaders, and even ordinary farmers. They might not be physically strong, but they learned fast, had strong comprehension, could better execute complex instructions, and could even propose optimization suggestions for existing work.

Based on their characteristics, Lin Zhou began to conduct more targeted guidance and grouped training. He taught different chapters of Confucian classics (simplified versions projected from his consciousness) regarding governance, economy, military, and etiquette to sprouts with different inclinations, and allowed them to participate in simple management tasks combined with the territory's actual needs.

The twentieth day.

A Breakthrough moment arrived!

The territory's 'talent pool' finally reached a critical point. Under the continuous power of education and Lin Zhou's conscious guidance and catalysis, an essential transformation occurred simultaneously in the twelve most potential 'sprouts'!

These twelve people ranged in age from ten to thirty-five and came from various backgrounds. There was the child prodigy Wen Shu from the Primary Learning Hall, the craftsman Fire Hammer, the former scout squad leader 'Rock Shield' (who had rich combat experience and a deep understanding of the 'Righteousness' and 'Bravery' preached by Lin Zhou), a young woman named 'Silk' who showed meticulousness and fairness in household registration statistics, and several other subjects who performed excellently in different fields.

At this moment, they were gathered in the newly built 'Lecture Hall' (a building mimicking some functions of the Jixia Academy) next to the Lord's Hall, which was more formal than the Primary Learning Hall. They were listening to Lin Zhou combine chapters from the analects and Mencius to deeply elaborate on the 'Way of the Gentleman' and 'People-oriented Thought'.

Lin Zhou's preaching was no longer limited to survival skills; it began to touch upon reflections on personal cultivation, social responsibility, and ideal pursuits. He spoke of how 'A scholar must be resolute and broad-minded, for his burden is heavy and his road is long,' how 'When poor, one should focus on their own character; when successful, one should benefit the whole world,' and how 'The people are the most important, the state comes next, and the ruler is the least important'... As he spoke, the power of the [Civilization: Education] divine office was pushed to its limit, and the phantom of the Jixia Academy above the Lecture Hall became more solid than ever before, as if the thoughts of countless ancient sages were resonating! Though the Fire of Civilization was faint, it burned quietly in Lin Zhou's consciousness, merging that persistence and belief in the Legacy of civilization into every word.

Suddenly—

Buzz!

Twelve faint but clear spiritual glows lit up from these twelve people almost simultaneously! That was not an explosion of energy, but the sign that the sparks of wisdom had been thoroughly ignited, the mental barriers broken, and latent talents and traits awakened and sublimated under the light of civilization!

[Territory Announcement (Simulated God Domain Rule Prompt): Detection of essential leap in follower units... Unit potential assessment significantly increased... Meets 'Hero Unit (Preliminary)' conversion criteria... Converting...]

The glow lasted for about ten breaths before slowly pulling inward.

The twelve people opened their eyes, and their temperaments were already different. The light in their eyes was clearer and more determined, and their bodies exuded a faint but definitely present 'aura.' That was not a pressure of power, but a sense of presence formed by the condensation of wisdom, belief, or certain traits.

Lin Zhou's divinity immediately received detailed data feedback:

[Territory added 'Hero Unit (Preliminary/Pseudo)' x 12]

*(Note: Due to being in the Simulated God Domain and Lin Zhou's divinity not being fully recovered, a true 'Hero Ascension' ceremony cannot be performed. This is a preliminary state where the unit's potential has reached the hero threshold and has initially condensed 'Heroic Traits.' Their attributes and abilities are approximately 60%-80% of a true hero unit of the same Rank. A true ceremony is required for stabilization after leaving the Simulated God Domain.)*

Common changes for all newly promoted preliminary heroes:

Average Rank: Jumped from approximately LV2-LV4 to LV8-LV10 (a leapfrog improvement)!

Core Wisdom or Spirit attributes: Average increase of over 5 points (e.g., Wen Shu's Wisdom from 12→18, Fire Hammer's Intelligence from 10→16, Rock Shield's Spirit from 9→14).

Comprehension, learning speed, and skill mastery speed have received permanent significant increases.

Initially condensed a 'Hero Aura (Faint)' or 'Special Talent' related to personal traits.

Among them, the most representative case—Wen Shu (now renamed: Pseudo-Hero Spirit/Pseudo):

[Hero (Preliminary) · Pseudo-Hero Spirit (Pseudo)]

Rank: LV10

Age: 8 years old (Mind far exceeds peers due to Awakening and education)

Core Attributes: Strength 7, Agility 9, Physique 11, Intelligence 20!, Spirit 18, Charisma 15.

Talents:

[Hear One, Know Ten (Golden Potential)]: Possesses incredible comprehension and deduction abilities. The speed of learning any knowledge or skill is over 500% that of an ordinary person, and he can connect different fields, draw inferences, and even deduce deeper laws from limited information. (Currently in Elementary stage, effect is approximately 30% of the complete form)

[Contentment in Poverty and Joy in the Dao (Heart-Nature)]: Extremely high mental resistance, not easily affected by external temptations, fear, despair, or other negative emotions. In harsh environments, he can still maintain focus, optimism, and a desire for knowledge, and can faintly influence the morale of surrounding companions.

[Seed of Enlightenment]: Naturally possesses the charisma and ability to impart knowledge and inspire wisdom; his explanations are more easily understood and accepted by others.

Skills:

[Rapid Learning LV3]: Can quickly master various knowledge-based skills.

[Deep Thinking LV2]: Enters a state of deep thought, significantly improving problem analysis and solving abilities.

[Subtle Enlightenment LV1]: Through short and philosophical words, slightly improves the comprehension or morale of a designated target.

Hero Aura (Faint) - [Eager to Learn and Fond of Thinking]: Within a fifty-meter radius, the efficiency of learning, research, and thinking activities for friendly units is +10%.

Current Status: Extremely thirsty for knowledge, showing a fascination and profound insight beyond his years for the Confucian classics and other subjects taught by Lin Zhou.

Besides Pseudo-Hero Spirit (Pseudo), the other eleven also had their own characteristics:

Fire Hammer (Preliminary Hero): Condensed the [Ingenuity] talent, improving the effects of mechanism manufacturing and mineral processing related skills by +25%, and increasing the probability of research inspiration appearing.

Rock Shield (Preliminary Hero): Condensed the [Resolute Guardian] talent, improving the effects of defensive skills and slightly increasing the discipline and defensive will of the team he leads.

Silk (Preliminary Hero): Condensed the [Keen Observation] talent, significantly improving the efficiency and accuracy of information processing, statistics, and scouting tasks... The birth of the twelve preliminary heroes was like throwing twelve giant boulders into the dull air of the territory, stirring up massive waves! All the subjects felt the change in their temperaments and saw with their own eyes the true 'transformation' brought about by the deity's education! This was more persuasive than any words!

Fanatical worship, heartfelt awe, and an unprecedented desire for 'knowledge' and 'education' spread through the territory like wildfire! Loyalty instantly broke the 85 mark! Faith levels began to convert in batches from pan-believers to true believers!

Lin Zhou stood before the Lecture Hall, looking at the twelve people below who had distinct temperaments yet all had burning gazes, his heart filled with gratification and pride. Confucian education had finally borne its first batch of fruits! This was not just twelve more powerful units, but the planting of the most precious 'seeds of wisdom' and 'management Foundations' for the territory's future development!

“Since you have all seen your true natures and caught a glimpse of the threshold, you should constantly reflect on yourselves and study diligently without ceasing.” Lin Zhou's voice carried encouragement. “Wen Shu... no, Pseudo-Hero Spirit. Since you have the talent to ‘Hear One and Know Ten,’ from this day forward, you may stay by my side to study the classics, assist with documents, and help with the education at the Primary Learning Hall.”

“Fire Hammer, Rock Shield, Silk... each of you shall take up new posts according to your strengths and shoulder more responsibilities. I hope you will use what you have learned to serve the territory, protect your compatriots, and live up to this Awakening.”

“We follow the divine oracle!” the twelve responded in unison, their voices firm, their eyes burning with infinite longing for the future and loyalty.

Almost at the same time, Li Mo's voice, excited to the point of changing pitch, came through the communication formation: “Brother Lin! It’s done! The ‘Spiritual Qi Furnace (Experimental Type)’ has been successfully ignited! The energy output stability has reached 75%! The efficiency is three times that of burning Spirit Charcoal directly! We can try using it to power Puppets, or even... drive larger mechanisms! Also, I’ve fixed the automatic spanning mechanism for the ballistae!”

Confucian education, the emergence of talents, and a surge in potential.

Mohist craftsmanship, the initial completion of the furnace, and an upgrade in military power.

Cultivating virtue internally, preparing weapons externally.

Under the shadow of the void erosion, Lin Zhou's territory was making solid strides toward the prototype of a true civilization at an unprecedented speed.

However, at this moment of flourishing development, the warning formation at the edge of the territory sent out alarms that were sharper and more frequent than any time before!

The grayish-black erosion mist surged from outside the barrier once again, and this time, the distorted shrieks and energy fluctuations coming from the mist far exceeded the previous wave!

The second wave of erosion had arrived early! And it was coming with a vengeance!