203: Qin Qing questioned, and the Angel of Judgment investigated heresy.

Xinghai University, Student Union Law Enforcement Department Office.

There was none of the usual bustle of a student organization here, only a near-solemn silence. The walls were a cold silver-gray, engraved with fine and rigorous Order Runes that emitted a faint, mind-tightening binding force. High above the dome hung a massive emblem composed of pure light energy—a pair of scales crossed with a sword, representing 'measurement' and 'judgment'. This was the insignia of the Law Enforcement Department and a miniature projection of Department Head Qin Qing's divine office power.

Qin Qing sat behind a large obsidian desk, her posture as straight as a spear. She wore a well-tailored silver-white Law Enforcement Department uniform with three crossed golden sword emblems on her epaulettes, symbolizing her authority. Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, meticulously tied back to reveal a smooth forehead and a clear jawline. Her appearance was undoubtedly beautiful, but her eyes were like a wintry pool—clear, cold, and devoid of any superfluous emotion, containing only a near-obsessive scrutiny and maintenance of 'Order'.

At this moment, several light screens composed of pure light energy floated in the air before her. Complex data streams, rule fluctuation charts, and processed video clips flowed across the screens.

The most prominent of these was the recording of yesterday's battle between Lin Zhou and Wang Meng, slowed down and analyzed. It highlighted the runic composition of the composite traps, the linkage curves between the Elf Ranger's 'Lingbo Step' and 'Vast Righteous Qi', the special rule ripples produced by the Lawful Merman Enforcement Squad's combined attacks, and finally, the moment where the iron chains trapped the beast as the radiance of the Hundred Schools faintly appeared.

Another light screen displayed a data summary of today's recruitment assessment for the 'Hundred Schools Society': the written exam question 'A Discussion on Three Applications of "The Benevolent Have No Rivals" in Divine Warfare' along with key points from high-scoring answers; a strategic analysis of Zhou Ming's group utilizing terrain, coordinated defense, and requesting aid from the 'Miner Camp' during the practical assessment; an evaluation of the perseverance and sacrifice shown by Sun Xiaorou's group in adversity; and finally, the list of fifty new members along with a preliminary analysis of their Divine Domains.

Around Qin Qing's fingertips wound a strand of extremely fine, almost imperceptible pale golden light. This light was pure and condensed, carrying a high-and-mighty, unquestionable sense of judgment. This was a divinity extension of 'Order Insight' unique to her core followers—the 'Judgment Angel' race. With this strand of divinity, she could perceive 'anomalies' and 'disharmonies' at the rule level more keenly than ordinary deities.

Currently, this light was directed at various pieces of information regarding the Hundred Schools Society, emitting a continuous, subtle vibration and low hum. It wasn't hostility, but rather a reaction mixed with high 'alertness' and 'confusion'.

"Multiple distinct rule fluctuations... forcibly intertwined... not yet a system... potential conflict coefficient above the threshold..." Qin Qing murmured to herself, her voice clear and cold like a jade chime. She pulled up another set of data—an analysis report of faint rule auras collected remotely earlier today from the direction of the Hundred Schools Society's activity room. It was gathered by one of her 'Eye of Judgment' angels, a specialized scouting variant of the Judgment Angel, stationed at the periphery of the School of Literature and Law district.

The charts on the report caused her slender eyebrows to furrow slightly.

The charts showed that at least five or six rule 'flavors' with vastly different properties existed simultaneously in that area:

One was gentle and mellow, emphasizing education, ethics, and internal Order (Confucianism);

One was cold and rigorous, focusing on Laws, punishment, and external constraints (Legalism);

One was agile and ingenious, pursuing logic, creation, and material transformation (Mohism);

One was ethereal and natural, aligning with the Heavenly Dao, Yin and Yang, and Quietude and Non-Action (Taoism);

One was iron-blooded and murderous, skilled in Strategy, conquest, and legion deployment (School of Military);

And another... full of Vitality, concerning land, growth, and the nourishment of all things (School of Agriculture?).

None of these rule auras could be considered 'chaotic' on their own; some even carried clear 'Order' tendencies (like Legalism and Confucianism). The problem was that they appeared simultaneously and mixed within the scope of a tiny, newly-founded society created by a freshman, and attempts were seemingly being made to 'fuse' or 'link' them.

In Qin Qing's understanding and the Judgment Angel's 'Order Insight' talent, this was in itself a sign of 'Chaos'.

【Judgment Angel · Order Insight (Passive Talent)】:

Effect: Judgment Angels and their deities possess a perceptual ability far beyond common sense regarding the 'Order' and 'Chaos' of their environment and targets. Can quantitatively detect 'disharmonious' factors such as rule conflicts, mixed beliefs, alignment shifts, and ideological oppositions.

Detection Range: Expands with the deity's Divine Rank and the Rank of the Angel unit.

Current Feedback (Regarding the Hundred Schools Society's stray fluctuations):

Overall Area Order Evaluation: Moderately Unstable (Yellow Alert).

Number of Heterogeneous Rules Detected: 6+ (Major), unknown secondary fluctuations present.

Rule Compatibility Assessment: Low to moderate conflict risk. Some rule cores are antithetical (e.g., Legalism's 'Harsh Punishments and Strict Laws' vs. Taoism's 'Quietude and Non-Action').

Fusion Attempt Detected: Present. Detected an unstable artificial rule harmonization field (river of civilization aftermath), effect unknown, risk unknown.

Conclusion: A high degree of 'unnatural rule jumbling' exists in this area. Suspected of conducting 'multi-rule system experiments' without sufficient demonstration or safety filing, posing a potential threat to the stability of the surrounding Divine Domain environment and student Divine Domain safety. Intervention and investigation recommended.

Qin Qing's gaze fell on the terms 'unnatural rule jumbling' and 'multi-rule system experiments', and the coldness in her eyes deepened.

Xinghai University encouraged innovation, but all exploration had to be conducted within the framework of the 'Campus Divine Domain Safety Management Regulations' and 'Heterogeneous Rule Research Standards'. In history, there had been cases where students blindly fused incompatible rule powers, leading to Divine Domain collapse, follower mutation, and even small-scale rule pollution. A major responsibility of the Student Union Law Enforcement Department was to monitor and prevent such risks.

And this Lin Zhou, this College Entrance Examination top scholar—the 'Hundred Schools Society' he created was, in Qin Qing's view, testing the dangerous edge. In just a few days, he had gathered dozens of people, spreading these 'thoughts' of unknown origin and mixed systems, and combining them with Divine Domain development, follower cultivation, and even actual combat... This was simply playing with fire!

What concerned Qin Qing even more was that she had reviewed Lin Zhou's basic enrollment files (non-confidential parts) and some public records from his College Entrance Examination. His followers were clearly the 'Forest Elves', a race recognized for low potential and difficult development, supplemented by Dwarves and Mermen—all ordinary races. How had he made these followers demonstrate such peculiar coordination and special abilities in such a short time? What was the source of the trap rune technology, the Elves' auras, and the Mermen's Law power?

"Family heritage?" Qin Qing looked at those two simple words in the file, her eyes full of suspicion. What kind of family heritage could simultaneously cover so many different fields and even 'knowledge' with contradictory ideologies? This looked more like a cover-up.

Perhaps it was a Legacy from some unrecorded ancient civilization ruin? Or... worse, had he come into contact with some hidden 'heretical doctrines' or 'Outer God knowledge' not recognized by the mainstream Order?

Qin Qing recalled news from a recent internal briefing mentioning increased activity of the 'Void Sect' in the fringe Star Domains. Those lunatics preached that 'all Laws return to nothingness' and were skilled at distorting and corrupting various rule powers. Their initial manifestations sometimes looked like these seemingly 'innovative' but actually 'chaotic' multi-rule jumbling experiments!

Although there was no evidence linking Lin Zhou to them, as the Law Enforcement Head, Qin Qing felt it necessary to give a warning and nip the trouble in the bud. She could not sit by and watch a possible risk point expand on campus, especially one that had attracted so many freshmen.

"Lin Zhou..." Qin Qing softly spoke the name, the image on the light screen freezing on a frame of him calmly commanding. "You need a reminder regarding the boundaries of Order."

She closed the light screen, and absolute silence and solemnity returned to the office. The pale golden 'Order Insight' divinity light retracted into her fingertip and merged into her body.

"Michael." Qin Qing spoke indifferently to the empty space beside her.

The light in the corner of the office distorted, and a male angel with four wings on his back, clad in bright silver armor, slowly revealed himself. His wings were not pure white but had a faint metallic luster, with fine runes flowing along the edges. His face was handsome and resolute, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, and he held a longsword burning with a faint golden flame. He bowed slightly, his posture respectful yet naturally exuding a powerful pressure.

【Judgment Angel Hero Unit: Michael (Direct Subordinate of Qin Qing)】

Rank: LV 58 (Limited by Qin Qing's Divine Rank, currently at the elite hero cap supported by a Lesser Divinity)

Tier: Four-Winged Virtue (One of the advanced forms of Judgment Angel)

Core Attributes:

Strength: 42 (Skilled in melee judgment and Evil Breaking strikes)

Agility: 38 (Four wings provide excellent mobility)

Physique: 45 (Holy body, extremely high resistance to darkness and Chaos)

Intelligence: 35 (Proficient in holy Laws and judgment rituals)

Spirit: 50 (Firm faith in Order, stable mental defense)

Will: 55 (Core attribute, represents the degree of adherence to 'Order', affects judgment skill effects and interference resistance)

Charisma: 40 (Holy majesty, natural leadership over Order alignment units)

Talents:

Order Insight (Enhanced): Inherits and strengthens the deity's talent, allowing for more precise localization of 'Chaos Sources'. Displays the target's 'Order/Chaos' offset percentage in the field of vision.

Holy Flame: Attacks carry a purification attribute, dealing an extra 50% holy damage to chaotic evil units like undead, demons, and Chaos, and continuously burning their energy.

Judgment Brand: After successfully hitting a target, leaves a 'Judgment Brand', increasing the damage the target takes from Judgment Angel attacks by 15% and making them easier to lock onto with 'Verdict' type skills.

Core Skills:

Sword of Verdict (LV5): Condenses Order Divine Power into the blade to launch a lethal judgment strike on a single target. Damage based on (Strength + Will) * Skill Level, with an additional 30% damage increase against targets with 'Chaos' over 30%. Cooldown: 45 seconds.

Order Barrier (LV4): Deploys a holy barrier centered on self with a 10-meter radius. All damage taken by friendly units within the barrier is reduced by 25%, and a continuous purification effect is applied to 'Chaos' attribute attacks/units attempting to enter (taking minor holy damage every 2 seconds). Lasts 15 seconds, Cooldown: 90 seconds.

Detect Evil (Aura, LV3 Passive): Within a 50-meter radius of Michael, hidden units with malicious or high Chaos attributes will be marked with a faint red outline (stealth effect reduced), and Michael and the Judgment Angels he commands gain a 0.5-second warning intuition when they launch an attack.

Equipment:

Standard Issue Judgment Silver Armor (Blue): Defense +15, Holy Resistance +10%, provides some resistance to mental attacks.

Blazing Judgment Sword (Blue): Attack Power +18, carries 'Holy Burn' effect (deals a small amount of holy damage per second for 5 seconds, stacks up to 3 times).

Current Mission: Escort, execute Department Head's will, investigate potential Order threats.

"Department Head." Michael's voice was like clashing metal, steady and without a ripple.

"Prepare yourself to accompany me to the 'Hundred Schools Society' activity room." Qin Qing stood up, her silver-white uniform without a single wrinkle. "Under the name of a routine inspection by the Student Union Law Enforcement Department. Pay attention to collecting rule fluctuation data on-site, especially the source and intensity of those 'mixed' auras."

"Understood." Michael's four wings retracted slightly, and the golden fire in his eyes flickered—a sign of 'Order Insight' activating. "Target area marked. Rule jumbling index: Moderate. Unknown harmonization field reaction present. Recommended alert level: B-Rank."

Qin Qing nodded slightly and said no more, leading the way out of the office. Michael silently followed a step behind her, like a most loyal shadow and sword.

Meanwhile, at the Hundred Schools Society activity room.

The afternoon's group sessions and charter studies had ended. Most new members left with excitement and anticipation to digest what they had learned or to begin looking at the first batch of 'Introductory Guides' Lin Zhou had distributed through the society's internal network (mainly basic conceptual introductions to the various schools of thought and some simple principles that could be tried out in Divine Domain management).

Only Lin Zhou, Zhao Hao, Li Mo, and Zhou Ming and Ye Wan—who had actively stayed behind to help organize Materials, their eyes still shining—remained in the activity room.

"...President, what do you think of this outline for 'Preliminary Comparison between Mohist Mechanical Arts and Goblin Engineering'? I think I can give a report during the next study group activity; perhaps it can inspire some new ideas." Li Mo handed a light board covered in dense formulas and sketches to Lin Zhou.

Lin Zhou took it and scanned it quickly, a flash of approval in his eyes. "It's good. Focus on highlighting the commonalities of 'logic' and 'creation', as well as the application differences under different Materials and energy systems. Aim for integration and reference, rather than simple replacement."

"Understood!" Li Mo nodded vigorously.

Zhao Hao was boredly fiddling with a training metal ingot as he complained, "President, when's our next practical combat exercise? Just listening to lectures and doing research is making my dragon claws rust. That kid Wang Meng didn't show up today; otherwise, I could've gotten some practice in."

Lin Zhou was about to speak when his brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

Within his Divine Realm's core, a faint, obscure throb emanated from the Temple of Civilization. It wasn't a danger warning, but rather... a sensation of being 'scanned' or 'marked' by a highly ordered, scrutinizing power. Simultaneously, his own Godhead's perception of the surrounding rules captured a rapidly approaching wave of pure, powerful 'Order,' laced with a sharp sense of 'Judgment.'

This fluctuation... was strong! The Godhead Rank was at least LV250 or higher, and it belonged to an existence specializing in the Domains of Order and Judgment.

Lin Zhou looked up, his gaze seemingly piercing through the walls of the activity room to look at the hallway outside.

Almost the very next second.

Knock, knock, knock.

Three rhythmic, measured knocks sounded, interrupting the conversation inside.

Zhou Ming and Ye Wan exchanged confused glances. Who would be coming at this time?

Zhao Hao shouted gruffly, "Who is it? Come in!"

The door was pushed open.

The first thing to enter their sight was that meticulous silver-white Enforcement Department uniform, a symbol of power and discipline. Then came Qin Qing's cold, frost-like beauty and those eyes, deep as cold pools, that seemed capable of seeing through all discord. Her posture was erect; just by standing there, she brought an invisible pressure that seemed to make the air in the activity room stagnate.

A half-step behind her, the Four-Winged Virtue Michael stood silently like a guardian deity. His wings weren't fully unfurled, but their metallic luster, the faint flow of holy runes, and the longsword burning with pale golden flames in his hand all proclaimed his immense power and pure Order attribute. His gaze was like a scanner, quickly and precisely sweeping over everyone in the room before finally settling mostly on Lin Zhou. In his vision, enhanced by 'Order Insight,' the rule-based aura swirling around Lin Zhou was the most 'complex' and 'conspicuous.'

Zhou Ming and Ye Wan's breath hitched instantly, their expressions shifting. Student Council Enforcement Minister Qin Qing! She was a true heavyweight on campus, in charge of discipline with immense power, and rumored to be Iron Faced and selfless with unfathomable strength! Why would she suddenly come here?

Zhao Hao also reined in his casual posture, his brow furrowing with a look of vigilance. Li Mo subconsciously pushed up his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses rapidly analyzing the data characteristics of Qin Qing and Michael (though he could only see the surface).

Lin Zhou slowly stood up, his face remaining calm as if Qin Qing's arrival wasn't unexpected. Meeting her scrutinizing gaze, he nodded slightly. "Minister Qin, a rare guest. May I ask what the Enforcement Department has to instruct us on?"

Qin Qing's gaze lingered on Lin Zhou's face for two seconds, as if trying to see something in his eyes, but she saw only a deep calm. Her gaze then swept over the activity room—the simple layout, the tables piled with data and drafts, the recently posted society regulations and group lists on the wall with wet ink, and the lingering resonance of multiple clashing thoughts in the air (which she perceived as a jumble of rule after-effects).

"Student Union Law Enforcement Department, routine inspection," Qin Qing spoke, her voice cold and devoid of warmth. "According to Article 7 of the 'Supplementary Regulations for Campus Club Activity Management,' newly established clubs must undergo regular supervision and compliance checks by the Enforcement Department in their Early Stage to ensure their activity content meets campus safety standards, does not spread dangerous, extremist, or unverified heterodox theories, and does not affect normal teaching Order or the Divine Realm safety of others."

Her words were clear and organized, her citation of regulations accurate, delivered with the indifference of official business.

"The Hundred Schools Society has been established for less than a week, and its membership has rapidly expanded to over fifty people. Its activities involve the 'dissemination of non-traditional Divine Realm concepts' and 'practical exploration of multi-rule systems.'" Qin Qing's gaze locked onto Lin Zhou again. "Our department has received relevant information and detected unconventional, composite rule fluctuations in this area. The Order stability assessment value is at a yellow alert. Therefore, I have come in accordance with my authority to conduct a preliminary investigation and inquiry."

She raised her hand slightly, and Michael understood, stepping forward half a pace. He made no extra movements, but the runes flowing on his four wings glowed faintly. An invisible force field, carrying the sense of holy purification and Order combing, silently spread out from him, enveloping the entire activity room.

[Skill Effect: Order Field Scan (Michael's Passive Trigger)]

Effect: Mildly releases Divine Power of Order to 'comb' and 'visualize' rule residues in the environment, making 'chaotic,' 'conflicting,' or 'abnormal' rule fluctuations easier to detect and record. Simultaneously, applies a slight mental calming and Order-leaning influence on units within range.

Current Scan Feedback (Michael → Qin Qing):

Environmental Rule Residue Confirmation: Detected at least six major types of foreign rule auras, varying in intensity with a high degree of mixing.

Core Source: Target Locked—Lin Zhou (Highest rule complexity, presence of an unknown harmonizing source).

Other Personnel: Zhao Hao (Dragon rules, slightly influenced by unknown Order concepts), Li Mo (Mechanical Goblins rules, intertwined with foreign 'Skilled Craft' rules), Zhou Ming (Gargoyle rules, slightly tainted with 'Strategy' aura), Ye Wan (Natural Deer Spirit rules, tainted with 'Benevolence' and 'Vitality' auras).

No immediate, high-intensity rule conflicts or signs of pollution discovered.

Detected a faint but continuous 'artificial harmonization' reaction; source unknown, nature pending analysis.

Qin Qing received Michael's real-time feedback and felt more certain. The situation was indeed as she expected; this was an 'experimental field' for various rule powers, and Lin Zhou was the core. Although no direct harm had been found yet, the risks of such an attempt could not be ignored.

"Student Lin Zhou," Qin Qing looked at him, her tone becoming more serious, "as the founder and president of this society, you have an obligation to explain the following to the Enforcement Department: First, what is the specific source of the so-called 'Hundred Schools of Thought' you are spreading? Is there a complete, reliable theoretical system supporting it? Second, how do you guarantee safety during the Fusion and practice of these different concepts? Have they undergone authoritative verification or risk assessment? Third, could the society's activities cause uncontrollable effects or potential harm to members and their Divine Realms?"

Her questioning was direct and sharp, each point hitting the core. Zhou Ming and Ye Wan felt their hearts tighten and looked at Lin Zhou with worry. Zhao Hao clenched his fists, feeling indignant, but didn't dare to speak up in the face of Qin Qing and Michael's presence.

Li Mo was quickly recording Qin Qing's questions, his mind racing as he thought about how to argue from a 'technical compliance' perspective.

Lin Zhou listened quietly, showing no sign of being offended or flustered. He took two steps forward, getting closer to Qin Qing, and calmly met her scrutinizing gaze.

"Minister Qin's questions are fair and reasonable," Lin Zhou spoke slowly, his voice steady. "Regarding the source of the thought, it can be traced back to the crystallized wisdom of ancient Huaxia civilization, passed down through my family Legacy. It aims to explore the path of combining civilization development with the Divine Realm. The system might differ from the current mainstream, but it possesses its own internal logic and completeness."

He paused before continuing, "As for safety, what the society currently spreads are only basic concepts and principles, emphasizing Adaptation to Local Conditions and gradual Fusion rather than crude stacking of power. All practices are conducted within controllable ranges, and members are encouraged to provide timely feedback on any discomfort. The society also has preliminary mutual aid and risk assessment mechanisms."

"Finally," Lin Zhou's gaze shifted slightly toward Michael, seemingly sensing the 'Order Field' scan, "one of the cores of the Hundred Schools of Thought is 'Order.' Confucianism emphasizes ritual Order, Legalism emphasizes legal Order, Mohism emphasizes logical Order... What we are exploring is how to construct a more harmonious, efficient, and resilient Divine Realm Order, not to create Chaos. Minister Qin's Judgment Angel has keen perception; perhaps he can try to discern whether the 'complexity' here differs from true 'Chaos.'"

As he spoke, Lin Zhou's mind moved slightly. Within his Divine Realm, the [Legalism · Temple of Law] resonated faintly. A wisp of pure, cold Order aura, representing 'legality' and 'rules,' was deliberately guided by him to seep out and blend into the surrounding air.

This aura was pure and rigorous, and surprisingly, it shared a degree of resonance with the Judgment Angel's 'Order' attribute!

Michael's 'Order Insight' instantly captured this change. In the data stream fed back to Qin Qing, a brief 'synergistic fluctuation' prompt appeared.

A very subtle flicker passed through Qin Qing's cold eyes. She naturally felt that wisp of Legalist Order aura; its purity and strictness were not inferior even to some of the legal concepts upheld by the Judgment Angel. This caused a tiny wobble in her judgment.

But it was only a tiny wobble.

"Verbal defense cannot hide the jumbled nature at the rule level," Qin Qing's voice remained cold. "Whether it's ancient civilization Legacy or family heritage, spreading unverified theories on a large scale and putting them into practice is inherently irresponsible to the members. The Enforcement Department has the right to demand you suspend collective activities that may involve high-risk rule Fusion and submit a detailed explanation of your theoretical system, safety plans, and practical data reports. We will decide whether to allow the continuation of related activities after an audit and assessment."

Her meaning was clear: what the Hundred Schools Society was doing was, in her view, of unknown risk and had to be stopped for review.

The atmosphere in the activity room instantly dropped to the freezing point.

Zhao Hao's face turned red as he wanted to argue, but Li Mo quietly pulled him back. Zhou Ming and Ye Wan were so nervous their palms were sweating.

Lin Zhou looked at Qin Qing quietly, their gazes meeting in the air as if invisible rules were clashing.

A few seconds later, Lin Zhou spoke slowly, his tone still calm but with an added layer of undeniable firmness. "Minister Qin is performing her duties according to the Law, so I will naturally cooperate. The theoretical explanation and activity reports can be submitted to the Enforcement Department within three days."

He changed the subject: "However, society activities are a matter of freedom in academic exchange and exploration. As long as they do not violate school rules or harm others, they have value in existing. The path of the 'Hundred Schools' is just beginning to flourish; I fear a single report cannot fully describe it. Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. Whether it is safe and what the results are—we might as well wait and see."

He didn't resist directly, stating he would submit the reports and cooperate with the inspection as required. But at the same time, he clearly expressed his stance that the society would continue to exist and indirectly responded to Qin Qing's doubts with 'testing through practice,' implying that an audit should not become a reason to stifle exploration.

Qin Qing took a deep look at Lin Zhou. This freshman was calmer and more assertive than she had imagined. His attitude was neither humble nor arrogant; he followed the rules while refusing to yield an inch in defending his 'Dao.'

"Before the report is submitted, activities involving core rule Fusion and high-risk practices must be suspended." Qin Qing finally made a concession, but her bottom line remained clear. "The Enforcement Department will continue to monitor this. I hope you conduct yourself well; do not go astray, and certainly do not lead others into danger."

The warning was self-evident.

With that, she said no more and turned around, the hem of her silver-white uniform tracing a sharp arc. Michael retracted the field and gave Lin Zhou a slight nod (whether out of courtesy or some form of confirmation) before his four wings flickered. In a blur of light and shadow, he vanished out the door with Qin Qing.

The activity room fell into silence.

After several seconds, Zhao Hao finally let out a long breath and cursed, "Damn! Scared the hell out of me! That woman... Minister Qin's aura is too strong! And that birdman, he feels even harder to deal with than Wang Meng's Behemoth!"

Li Mo was worried. "President, submitting the report is fine, but 'suspending core activities'... our study plan has only just begun."

Zhou Ming and Ye Wan also looked at Lin Zhou expectantly.

Lin Zhou walked back to the window, watching Qin Qing and Michael's figures disappear at the end of the hallway, his gaze far-reaching.

"Write the report as planned. For the activities... we can just adjust the format," Lin Zhou said slowly. "Theoretical discussions, basic training, and internal Divine Realm optimization—these don't involve direct external rule conflict and Fusion, so they can continue. As for Minister Qin..."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at everyone in the room, a very faint, slightly challenging curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"She believes in absolute Order. But we of the Hundred Schools seek a dynamic, inclusive, and developing Order. Our Daos are different, but that doesn't mean they can't validate each other. Perhaps one day, she will discover that the Order she maintains and the civilization we pursue can have a point of intersection."

"And before then," Lin Zhou's tone became steady and powerful again, "do our own work well. Use facts and results to respond to all doubts."