184: Waiting for the results

The process of consciousness returning was like slowly surfacing from the bottom of the deep sea.

Lin Zhou felt as if he were passing through layer after layer of a viscous, shimmering liquid membrane. The sounds in his ears shifted from a blur to clarity—the sounds of the real world: the hum of equipment in the monitoring room, the distant buzz of the examination hall, and the slightly rapid heartbeat and breathing in his own chest.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Before him were the familiar silver-gray pod walls, and beneath him was the comfortable padding of the College Entrance Examination-grade Divine Domain Link Pod. The indicator light on the helmet switched from the deep blue representing a deep connection to the pale green of standby mode, before finally extinguishing completely. Sensing the user’s awakening, the pod cover emitted a slight hydraulic venting sound and slowly slid to one side.

Bright but not blinding white light flooded into his vision.

Lin Zhou took a deep breath. The air in the real world carried the faint scent of disinfectant and the unique smell of electronic equipment, worlds apart from the sweet fragrance of Spiritual Qi in the Divine Domain or the bloody, charred stench of the battlefield. This mundane scent belonging to the "Mortal" world actually made him feel momentarily dazed.

Waves of weakness washed over his body, not the sharp pain and emptiness from a shattered Godhead and drained power in the Divine Domain—that injury had been left within the Divine Domain projection. His physical body in reality was only experiencing the mental fatigue of a prolonged deep connection. But even so, the muscle soreness, mental lethargy, and the grogginess akin to staying up for three consecutive nights clearly reminded him that everything he had just experienced was no illusion.

He raised his hand and looked at his palm. His skin was fair and his knuckles distinct, without any wounds or cracks, a far cry from that body in the Divine Domain which had been covered in golden cracks and nearly shattered. However, the hollow feeling of having his power completely drained seemed branded into the depths of his Soul, impossible to shake off.

Elwin... the last silhouette of that gentle and wise Elwin scholar, the determination as she burned her Divine Soul while reciting "To hear the Dao in the morning and die in the evening is enough," and the image of her dissipating into points of light after her form and spirit were extinguished, flashed repeatedly and uncontrollably in Lin Zhou's mind.

His heart felt as if it were being squeezed hard by an invisible hand, sending a sharp pang of pain through him.

He closed his eyes, forcing himself to steady his breathing. The monitoring System inside the link pod sensed the user's emotional fluctuations and abnormal physiological indicators, emitting a soft prompt: "Examinee Lin Zhou, the College Entrance Examination Abyssal Survival Trial has concluded. High mental fatigue detected, with slight abnormal fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure. It is recommended to lie still and rest for ten minutes before exiting the pod. Do you require medical assistance?"

"No need," Lin Zhou responded, his voice somewhat raspy. He needed a little time to process everything alone.

The soft white light inside the pod automatically adjusted to a dimmer warm tone, and soothing white noise mimicking natural wind and flowing water slowly began to play, helping the user relax.

Lin Zhou opened his eyes again, his gaze falling on the time projection on the pod wall:

[Star Sea Calendar Year 3478, July 15, 14:37]

[College Entrance Examination · Abyssal Survival Trial · Concluded]

[Examinee: Lin Zhou (Exam ID: XC-8745)]

[Link Duration: 72 hours (Real Time)]

[Divine Domain Time Dilation Ratio: 1:36 (Trial Battlefield Special Acceleration)]

[Mental Load Assessment: High (But within safety threshold)]

[Suggested Follow-up: Get plenty of rest, supplement nutrition, wait for results announcement]

Seventy-two hours. Three days in reality.

Yet in the trial battlefield, he had spent the equivalent of two and a half months in real-world time—from first arriving in the "New Realm," to constructing defensive lines, to repelling wave after wave of the Demonic Tide, to the final decisive battle with the Abyssal Lord, Elwin's sacrifice, his own use of [principles of civilization · Judgment], falling into a coma with a shattered Godhead, and then waking up to learn his score and rewards... everything was vivid, terrifyingly clear.

Especially that final settlement screen with 99.8 points, and those three reward messages:

[Epic-grade Wonder Card · Monument of Civilization (Incomplete)]—Can increase the speed of comprehending civilization thoughts by 30%, enhance the stability of Divine Domain rules, and can be completed as understanding deepens. This was a recognition of his path and, more importantly, a Foundation for the future.

[Legendary-grade Resource Card · divinity crystal (Weak) ×10]—Used for repairing the Godhead, increasing Rank, and storing Divine Power; each piece is worth a fortune. These ten units of divinity crystals might be the key to repairing his shattered Godhead.

[Massive civilization points: 1,000,000 points]—A full million! This was enough for him to unlock a large number of deep-level classics from the Hundred Schools, summon even stronger Heroic Spirits of Sages, and exchange for precious primordial items. After absorbing these points, the Temple of Civilization had directly enabled the [Hall of Heroes] function, where Elwin's True Spirit was currently being nurtured... This was perhaps the greatest consolation of this battle.

Lin Zhou instinctively moved his mind, attempting to communicate with the link deep within his Sea of Consciousness that connected to his Divine Domain and the Temple of Civilization.

Buzz—

A faint but definitely present connection came through. It wasn't as clear and robust as an extension of his own limb like before, but rather like damaged circuitry, intermittent and transmitting blurred fragments of information:

[Godhead Status: Severely Damaged (Crack coverage 87.3%), Function Loss 92%]

[Divine Power Reserve: 0/??? (Godhead damaged, unable to measure precisely, approximately exhausted)]

[Fire of Civilization: Extinguished (Nurturing in embers, reignition conditions unknown)]

[Temple of Civilization Status: Basic functions maintained, new module 'Hall of Heroes' activated (Currently nurturing Heroic Spirits: 1)]

[civilization points Balance: 1,002,547 points]

[Warning: The Divine Domain core (Hundred Schools Temple) has entered minimum power maintenance mode due to Godhead damage and Divine Power exhaustion. Some Advanced functions are temporarily closed. Please repair the Godhead and replenish Divine Power as soon as possible.]

As expected.

His physical body in reality was unharmed, but the Foundation of a deity—the Godhead—had brought back those near-fatal wounds. Fortunately, the basic functions of the Sanctuary were still there, the Hall of Heroes had been opened, and his civilization points were more abundant than ever before. As long as the Godhead could be repaired, there was a chance to start everything anew.

And as for repairing the Godhead... those ten units of divinity crystals were where the hope lay.

Lin Zhou slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. The road ahead was long and the injuries were severe, but the direction was clear and the resources were secured. Compared to the countless Examinees who had completely perished in the trial, he was lucky enough.

The ten minutes of rest time quickly passed.

The link pod issued another soft prompt: "Rest time has ended. The pod door is about to open, please be prepared, examinee. Your personal items have been delivered to the exit locker by the examination hall's intelligent System, please remember to collect them."

Pshhh—

The pod cover slid fully open. Lin Zhou supported his still somewhat weak body, sat up, and then stepped out of the link pod.

His feet stepped onto the ground of the real world once more, and that tangible sensation steadied his heart slightly. This was a standard single-person examination link room, about twenty square meters. Aside from the link pod in the center, there were only simple chairs and tables on the side and a monitoring screen on the wall. At this moment, the screen was dark; the trial had ended.

He walked to the simple shower cubicle in the corner of the room and washed his face with cold water. In the mirror, his face was somewhat pale with faint dark circles under his eyes, but in the depths of his gaze, there was an added touch of composure and determination after having experienced the tempering of life and death.

He changed into the ordinary casual clothes he had worn when he arrived—a dark gray hooded sweatshirt and black trousers—and placed the link suit used specifically for the College Entrance Examination into the designated recycling slot. Lin Zhou pushed open the door of the link room and walked out.

Outside was a long, brightly lit corridor. At this moment, the doors of link rooms were constantly opening, and other Examinees were filing out. Most of them appeared listless with poor complexions; many had red eyes, and some even crouched on the ground clutching their heads as soon as they came out, their shoulders shaking, clearly having suffered tragic failures or losses in the trial. The atmosphere in the corridor was oppressive and heavy.

Lin Zhou walked forward along the corridor in silence. His appearance drew some attention—after all, there weren't many Examinees who could persevere until the end of the trial (rather than being forcibly ejected after being eliminated midway). While Lin Zhou's complexion wasn't great either, his steps were relatively steady and his gaze wasn't as vacant or hopeless as the others, making him stand out somewhat among this group of "survivors."

"Look, it's Lin Zhou..."

"He's out too... I wonder how many waves he lasted?"

"I was gone by the sixth wave. My Divine Domain core was almost breached, and over seventy percent of my followers were killed or injured... Damn, this year's College Entrance Examination is too insane!"

"I heard someone saw the final boss? A Demigod Rank Abyssal Lord?"

"For real? How could anyone beat that? It must be a rumor..."

Low whispers drifted from behind him. Lin Zhou did not look back or pay them any mind. His mood was still immersed in the weight of Elwin's sacrifice and the hidden worry over his shattered Godhead; he didn't care about the attention from the outside world.

At the end of the corridor was a spacious assembly hall. At this moment, over a hundred Examinees had already gathered, standing in small groups, most of them silent with solemn expressions. On the high platform at the front of the hall, several personnel in examiner uniforms were talking in low voices, their expressions serious.

Lin Zhou's gaze swept across the hall and saw several familiar figures.

Chen Hai was squatting on a chair in the corner, arms wrapped around his knees and face buried in his elbows, his shoulders trembling slightly. His Divine Domain consisted of Ratmen, who were skilled in intelligence gathering rather than frontal combat; in a head-on survival trial like the Demonic Tide, it must have been extremely difficult. Judging by his appearance, the result was likely not very good.

Not far away, Zhao Hao stood leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, his face incredibly gloomy. Although his Great Dragon Divine Domain was powerful, he had likely suffered greatly when faced with the endless Demonic Tide and various bizarre abilities. Standing beside him were two other Examinees also from wealthy families; the three of them were whispering something, all with unpleasant expressions.

Lin Zhou did not go over to greet them. He wasn't in the mood right now, and his relationship with Zhao Hao was far from a level where they could comfort each other.

He found an empty seat near the edge and sat down, closing his eyes to continue silently sensing the situation of his Divine Domain.

Inside the Divine Domain, the scene remained dismal.

In the core area, the once towering and solemn [Hundred Schools Temple] that radiated the light of civilization was now dim, its surface covered in fine cracks like an ancient building weathered for a thousand years. On the plaza in front of the temple, many of the stone tablets representing the thoughts of various schools were also damaged, especially the one representing Confucianism, which had several eye-catching cracks due to Elwin's sacrifice. The Eye of Judgment within the Temple of Law was also flickering weakly.

Deep within the Sanctuary, the newly opened [Hall of Heroes] emitted a gentle milky-white light. The hall was very empty, with only a very blurred halo, whose outline was vaguely discernible as human, floating in the very center. Inside the halo, there were faint golden characters flowing; these were the Confucian classics and principles Elwin had comprehended in life, which were now nurturing her True Spirit. The condensation of the halo was very low, like a candle in the wind, but it did exist and was absorbing the civilization aura dissipating from the Sanctuary at an extremely slow speed, gradually becoming more solid.

[Heroic Spirit · Elwin (Nurturing)]

[Status: True Spirit remnant (Integrity 12.7%)]

[Nurturing Progress: 0.01%/day (Affected by the concentration of Sanctuary civilization aura and civilization points supplementation)]

[Estimated time for full awakening: Approximately 347 years (Current rate)]

[Possible acceleration methods: Investing civilization points, integrating civilization-related Wonders/Sacred Items, completing specific civilization propagation achievements, etc.]

Three hundred and forty-seven years... Lin Zhou's heart sank slightly. This amount of time might be nothing compared to the long lifespan of a True God, but he couldn't wait that long. He had to find a way to accelerate this process. He could perhaps use a portion of the one million civilization points.

Besides the Sanctuary, other parts of the Divine Domain were even more devastated.

[Jixia Academy] had partially collapsed, with traces of lingering Devilish Qi erosion on the ruins. The gatehouse of the [Temple of Law] was tilted. [Tiangong Workshop] was almost leveled to the ground, with piles of wreckage from a large number of automata. The [Imperial Hospital] was relatively well-preserved, but more than half of the medicine fields were destroyed, and the stock of precious medicinal herbs was almost exhausted from treating the wounded.

In terms of terrain, the originally well-planned farmland, mines, and residential areas were full of craters, scorch marks, and lingering energy turbulence. The spirit plants Lin Zhou had invested heavily in cultivating, including that patch of mutated "Dragon Blood Rice," were mostly destroyed in the fires of war.

The population loss was even more shocking.

At the start of the trial, his Divine Domain's total population (core followers + contracted subordinates) was about twenty-one thousand. At this moment, the number of survivors shown was: ten thousand three hundred and twenty-seven. The casualty rate exceeded 50%! Among them, the Literary Heart Elves, Tiangong Dwarves, and Law Fishmen, who served as the core combat forces, suffered particularly heavy losses. Many faces he was familiar with, who had followed him since his humble beginnings, remained on that battlefield forever.

The only consolation was that after being tempered by blood and fire, the average Rank and individual quality of the survivors had significantly improved. Moreover, because of the "glory" and "conviction" brought by the final victory and the ultra-high score, the loyalty of all surviving followers had reached an unprecedented height, and the quality of faith output had also increased by a tier. However, with the numbers greatly reduced, the overall faith income still plummeted.

[Current Divine Domain Data Overview (Post-War)]:

[Area]: 50 square kilometers (The Rule Stabilization effect from the trial reward prevented the area from shrinking due to the heavy damage)

[Total Population]: 10,327 people

[Core Follower Composition]:

Literary Heart Elves: 2,841 people (Average Rank LV33, survival rate approx. 45%)

Tiangong Dwarves: 3,205 people (Average Rank LV32, survival rate approx. 52%)

Law Fishmen: 2,101 people (Average Rank LV31, survival rate approx. 48%)

Other contracted/subordinate units: 2,180 people (Mainly a small number of surviving Native Water Spirits, Goblin Engineers, etc.)

[Daily Faith Production]: Approx. 82,000 units/day (Due to the large population reduction and Godhead damage, both collection and conversion efficiency have dropped, down approx. 60% compared to before the war)

[Divine Power Reserve]: 0 (Godhead damaged, unable to store)

[Godhead Status]: Severely Damaged (Function Loss 92%)

[Temple of Civilization]: Basic functions maintained, Hall of Heroes opened

[civilization points]: 1,002,547 points

[Number of Fully Fused Cards]: 10 cards (Core cards not destroyed, but some effects are temporarily unachievable due to building damage)

[Special Statuses]: Post-war Weakness (All attribute production -30%, lasts 30 days); Glory of Civilization (Follower loyalty MAX, faith quality +1 Tier, slight increase in comprehension)

A tragic victory.

A truly Pyrrhic victory.

But, in the end, he had won. Moreover, he had won with a score of 99.8, the highest in history. The subsequent influence and potential benefits this brought might far exceed his immediate losses.

Just as Lin Zhou was immersed in inspecting the state of his Divine Domain, a white-haired elder with a majestic expression walked to the microphone on the high platform at the front of the assembly hall. He wore a deep blue examiner's uniform, and his shoulder straps bore three golden stars, representing his Rank as a High Divine Power (Great Divine Power).

The hall instantly fell silent. All the Examinees, regardless of their emotions, looked up at the elder. This was the chief examiner for the Cloud City examination district, a high-ranking official dispatched by the Star Sea Ministry of Education, and a long-renowned Great Deity himself.

“Students,” the elder's voice spread through the hall via the speakers, steady and powerful, carrying a soothing strength. “First, on behalf of the Ministry of Education and all the staff of the Cloud City examination district, I congratulate you on completing the most difficult part of this College Entrance Examination—the Abyss Survival Trial.”

“Regardless of the results you achieved in the trial, and regardless of how great your losses were, being able to persist until the end is proof in itself of your will, your potential, and your sense of responsibility toward your Divine Domain and your followers. This is the Foundation of becoming a qualified deity.”

The elder's gaze slowly swept across the room, pausing slightly on the faces of a few relatively calm Examinees, including Lin Zhou.

“I know many of you are currently immersed in pain, loss, or even despair. The sacrifice of followers, the damage to your Divine Domain, the setbacks on your path... I understand all of these feelings.” The elder's tone softened slightly. “But please remember, the path of a deity is never smooth sailing. Setbacks, losses, and even temporary failures are all inevitable parts of this journey. The key lies in how you face it, and how you stand up again from the ruins.”

“The College Entrance Examination is a selection process and a test, but it is also a precious and real experience. What you have experienced, learned, and realized in this trial is far deeper than any simulation training. These experiences will accompany your future careers as deities and become your valuable assets.”

The hall remained silent, but a faint light rekindled in the eyes of many Examinees.

“Next, you will have three days of rest,” the elder continued. “In three days, on the morning of July 18th at 9:00 AM, the Ministry of Education will officially announce the overall rankings for this year's College Entrance Examination. At that time, you can check your scores, rankings, and university admission eligibility through your personal terminals, city announcement screens, and the Ministry of Education's official website.”

“After the results are announced, top universities will issue official admission letters based on rankings and examinee preferences. Simultaneously, rewards for the College Entrance Examination will be distributed to your bound Divine Domains or designated accounts based on your scores and trial performance.”

“During these three days, I suggest you rest well, adjust your mindset, and properly handle the post-war affairs of your Divine Domains. If there are serious injuries or Divine Domain crises that could affect your Foundation, you can apply for help through the examination center's medical and assistance channels—although resources are limited, the Ministry of Education will not leave any promising seedlings to die.”

The elder's gaze swept across the room again, finally falling in Lin Zhou's direction, seemingly pausing for half a second before moving away.

“Finally, congratulations again on completing the trial. I wish you all ideal results and entry into your desired institutions. You are now dismissed. The exit is in the passage behind you, and your personal belongings are in the lockers at the exit. Goodbye, students.”

As his voice fell, the elder turned and left. The other examiners also left the platform one after another.

The hall was silent for a few seconds, and then noisy sounds gradually rose. Examinees began walking toward the exit in groups of twos and threes, talking in low voices, mostly discussing their encounters in the trial and their possible scores.

Lin Zhou also stood up and followed the flow of people toward the exit passage.

“Lin Zhou!”

A voice came from the side. Chen Hai ran over; his eyes were still a bit red and swollen, but he managed to force a smile onto his face: “Are... are you okay? You don't look too good either.”

Lin Zhou looked at this classmate, the only one he could call a friend during his three years of high school, and nodded: “I'm okay. How about you?”

Chen Hai's smile collapsed, and he said in a low voice: “It was brutal. During the sixth wave, my Ratman nest was targeted by flying monsters, and more than half of them died... My defense afterward relied entirely on hiding and the traps I set earlier. I barely held on until the ninth wave, but my Divine Domain core was almost destroyed. The System judged me as 'on the verge of collapse' and forced a protective exit... I guess my score... sigh.”

He sighed, then perked up again. With curiosity and a hint of awe in his eyes, he lowered his voice and asked: “Lin Zhou, did you... did you hold on until the end? Before I exited, I seemed to vaguely hear... that something incredible happened over at the Abyssal Fissure on the central battlefield. It seemed like a Demigod-level Lord descended? Then it seemed like... it was resolved? It couldn't have had something to do with you, right?”

Lin Zhou was silent for a moment. He saw the expectation and a sense of pride in Chen Hai's eyes. Although this friend was timid and his Divine Domain wasn't strong, he had a good heart and seemed to have always been proud of knowing a 'maverick' classmate like him.

“I was lucky and held on until the end.” Lin Zhou didn't deny it, but he didn't go into detail either. “A Demigod Lord did appear, and the battle was very fierce.”

Chen Hai gasped, his eyes widening: “It really was a Demigod?! My god... then what happened? Who resolved it? It couldn't really be you...?”

“It combined the strength of many people,” Lin Zhou said vaguely. “The sacrifice was great.”

Chen Hai heard the heaviness and reluctance to talk further in Lin Zhou's tone and tactfully didn't press for more details, but the shock and admiration in his eyes grew even stronger. He slapped Lin Zhou hard on the shoulder (even though his height only reached Lin Zhou's shoulder): “Regardless, being able to participate in a battle of that level and persist until the end... Lin Zhou, your score this time definitely won't be bad! Maybe... maybe you can get into the top hundred! No, the top fifty!”

The top fifty? Lin Zhou shook his head slightly in his heart. If Chen Hai knew about that 99.8-point settlement screen, he didn't know what kind of expression he would have.

However, he didn't say much, only saying: “I hope so. Don't be too discouraged either. Your Ratmen's specialty isn't in frontal combat. In the future, if you develop toward intelligence and reconnaissance, you'll certainly have a future.”

Chen Hai nodded vigorously: “Yeah! That's what I was thinking! Although the losses were heavy this time, it also let me see my shortcomings. In the future... how about I follow you? You'll definitely get into a top university. Take me on as a subordinate, and I'll scout information for you!”

Lin Zhou glanced at him. Chen Hai's Divine Domain talent, [Information Theft], indeed had its unique points. Although the person was timid, he was loyal. He had also helped Lin Zhou with small favors several times in high school. If he really wanted to build a faction in the future, such a friend who excelled at intelligence might be useful.

“We'll see. Let's wait for the results first.” Lin Zhou didn't agree, but he didn't refuse either.

While they were talking, they had already reached the exit. The hall exit connected to a spacious circular hall, surrounded by rows of smart lockers. Examinees found their lockers according to their exam numbers, unlocked them with their admission tickets or biological information, and took out their personal belongings.

In Lin Zhou's locker, there was only a simple backpack containing his admission ticket, ID card, some change, and spare clothes. He took out the backpack and put it on. Just as he was about to leave, a somewhat familiar voice carrying complex emotions came from nearby.

“Lin Zhou.”

Lin Zhou turned around; it was Zhao Hao. This scion of a wealthy family had now recovered his usual slightly arrogant appearance, but deep in his eyes, there was an additional, hard-to-detect trace of solemnity and... inquiry.

“Is something the matter?” Lin Zhou asked calmly.

Zhao Hao stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly weighing his words, and finally said: “The commotion at the central battlefield at the end of the trial... you were the one who caused it, right?”

Lin Zhou was noncommittal: “Many people put in effort.”

“Heh.” Zhao Hao curled his lips. “You don't need to be modest. Although I didn't see the specific process, that final... that kind of rule fluctuation that seemed to purify everything, and that kind of pressure that made even my Dragon Bloodline tremble... it's not something an ordinary person could pull off. Among our group in Cloud City, I can't think of a second person who would have the ability besides you.”

He paused, and his voice lowered slightly: “Wang Meng, that guy, although he's reckless, his nose is sharp. Before he exited, he told me he smelled the 'scent of civilization burning' and said something about the 'fragrance of Hundred Schools barbecue'... Although it sounds unpleasant, the implication is clear.”

Lin Zhou didn't respond. Wang Meng's Behemoth Divine Domain was indeed sensitive to scents, so it wasn't surprising that he could detect traces of the Fire of Civilization burning.

Seeing Lin Zhou's tacit admission, Zhao Hao's gaze became even more complex, containing wariness and refusal to submit, but also a trace of hard-to-conceal admiration. He was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly said: “If... if your score this time really hits a high mark and you enter Xinghai University... we can perhaps continue being rivals. On the arena, of course.”

These words sounded like a declaration of war, but the tone had less of the past antagonism and more of a sense of equal competition.

Lin Zhou looked at him and nodded: “Fine.”

Zhao Hao seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, yet also seemed somewhat unwilling. Finally, he waved his hand and left with his two followers.

Chen Hai watched from the side, dumbfounded. After Zhao Hao was far away, he whispered: “Zhao Hao... is he backing down? Or is he issuing a challenge?”

“Both, I suppose,” Lin Zhou said indifferently. “Let's go.”

The two walked out of the examination building.

Outside was the campus square of Cloud City No. 3 Divine Domain High School. It was currently afternoon, the sun was bright, and a large number of waiting parents, media reporters, and lower-grade students watching the excitement had gathered on the square. As the Examinees walked out one after another, the crowd suddenly became restless, with calls, inquiries, crying, and comforting sounds blending together.

As soon as Lin Zhou appeared, several gazes immediately locked onto him.

“Look! It's Lin Zhou!”

“That Lin Zhou whose Divine Domain is rumored to be very special? He's out!”

“He looks like he's doing okay? I wonder how his score is...”

“His scores in previous mock exams and leagues were very good. This time, maybe...”

Several reporters from local media tried to squeeze through to interview him but were stopped by the exam center security. The period between the end of the College Entrance Examination and the announcement of results was a sensitive time, and media were not allowed to excessively interfere with the Examinees.

Lin Zhou didn't stop, walking straight through the crowd. Chen Hai followed beside him, looking around curiously.

Walking out of the school gate, the scene before him made Lin Zhou pause slightly.

The entire street outside Cloud City No. 3 High School was currently decorated with lanterns and streamers, covered in red banners and flags. Many banners had eye-catching slogans written on them:

【Wishing Cloud City students a great victory in the College Entrance Examination!】

【Cloud City's Glory, Setting Sail for the Star Sea!】

The most prominent one was a giant electronic banner hanging directly opposite the school gate, spanning the entire street, with golden text scrolling across it:

【Warmly wishing Student Lin Zhou of our school success in seizing the top spot in the College Entrance Examination and bringing glory to Cloud City!】

Below the banner was a photo of Lin Zhou receiving an award when he won the Star Domain High School League. Although it was a bit blurry, it was recognizable as him.

On both sides of the street, many shops had also spontaneously put up similar small banners or posters, with largely the same content, all wishing Lin Zhou good results. Some pastry shops even put up signs for “top scholar Cake Reservations.”

When some passersby went past, they would look up at the banners and discuss in low voices:

“Lin Zhou? Is that the student with the 'Hundred Schools Divine Domain'?”

“I heard he's very formidable, won the league championship. This time he might really become the top scholar in the College Entrance Examination.”

“Our Cloud City hasn't produced a Star Domain-level top scholar in many years, right? If it really happens, that'll be a big deal!”

“I think it's unlikely. The College Entrance Examination is very deep, and there are too many geniuses from top Star Domains...”

“But the stage is already set. The school and the Education Bureau must have heard some news, right?”

Chen Hai also saw the banners and excitedly tugged at Lin Zhou's arm: “Look! Lin Zhou! The school put up banners for you! It even says 'seizing the top spot'! My god, this means... could the Education Bureau already have internal news? You couldn't really have...”

Looking at the giant banner, Lin Zhou didn't feel much of a stir in his heart. The actions of the school and the Education Bureau were understandable—building momentum in advance. If he really became the top scholar, it would be a huge political achievement and glory; even if he didn't, based on his previous league championship and performance in this trial (the higher-ups might have found out some results through certain channels), admission to a top university was guaranteed, which was equally worth promoting.

It was just that this feeling of being placed under the spotlight and having high expectations placed upon him made him a bit uncomfortable. He preferred to develop quietly and let the results speak for themselves.

“It's just a wish,” Lin Zhou said calmly. “The results haven't been announced yet; anything is possible.”

“That's true...” Chen Hai rubbed his hands, his face full of excitement. “But I feel like it's in the bag this time! Lin Zhou, if you really become the top scholar, don't forget to treat me! I want to eat the most expensive Spirit Beast barbecue!”

Lin Zhou shook his head and didn't respond. He looked up at the sky. On the azure canopy, white clouds drifted leisurely, and several skiffs belonging to the Education Bureau or media outlets slowly passed by, casting moving shadows.

Xinghai University... Su Yueyao's message... the marks left by the seven Observers... and the Godhead that needed repair, the Heroic Spirits that needed nurturing, the Divine Domain that needed rebuilding... the road was still very long.

But at least, he had taken the first step quite solidly.

“Let's go,” Lin Zhou said to Chen Hai. “Go home first. Wait for the results.”

The two merged into the flow of people on the street, walking toward home. Behind them, that giant electronic banner continued to scroll, the golden text shining brightly in the sun, as if foretelling an upcoming piece of news that was destined to shake the city.

But in Lin Zhou's heart, he had already flown toward the more distant starry sky.