207: The long river displays its power, its ability to reconcile and repel is truly remarkable.

Within the god domain, the laws trembled like a bowstring pulled tight to the point of snapping.

Lin Zhou's consciousness was like a high-precision probe, moving through the front lines of the Fusion where red and blue light intertwined and clashed violently. He carefully manipulated his Divine Power, attempting to 'peel away' the 'relatively gentle' 40% area of blue light specks that had already begun to take on the aura of the god domain from the intense confrontation.

This process was like trying to fish a specific, half-melted sugar cube out of a boiling pot of oil; it required extreme patience and precision. Every tug of Divine Power could disturb the fragile balance and trigger a more violent chain reaction.

First, at the edge of the conflict zone, he used Divine Power to construct an extremely thin temporary membrane of rules with faint 'soothing' and 'isolating' properties—inspired by the Concept of 'Quietude and Non-Action' from the Daoists, it was designed to temporarily reduce the rule activity and sensitivity to external stimuli in this area.

The membrane slowly took shape, covering the outer perimeter of the blue light speck cluster. The frequency of the intense 'electric sparks' at the conflict front seemed to truly decrease slightly. Seizing this fleeting moment of respite, Lin Zhou immediately mobilized his Divine Thought, slicing into the 'weak connection' between the 40% fused area and the remaining 60% area of intense conflict like a skillful surgical scalpel.

[Peeling Operation Attempt...]

Target: Separate the 40% fused Water Elemental rule fragments.

Operation Difficulty: Extremely High (Rules are tightly intertwined, influenced by the conflict environment).

Divine Power Consumption: Refined operation, additional consumption of approximately 5 units per minute.

Progress: 1%... 3%... Peeling line initially established.

The peeling line was forming slowly but steadily, and the 40% of blue light specks began to slightly separate from the main body, their glow appearing a bit more 'tame' than the rest. Lin Zhou felt slightly more at ease and prepared to guide this portion to the buffer zone at the edge of the god domain for temporary storage.

However, just as the peeling line reached about 8% and everything seemed to be going smoothly—

Another change occurred!

The remaining 60% of the blue light speck main body, where the conflict was most intense, seemed to sense the 'betrayal' and 'separation' of its 'companions.' The stubborn residue of 'elemental autonomous consciousness' within it (which, though purified, remained weak to the point of having almost no logic, only instinct) suddenly erupted with a strong sense of resistance, unwilling to be 'divided and dismantled'!

This surge of emotion stirred the already extremely unstable rule structure, triggering a chain collapse!

Crack!

A clear, crisp sound like shattering glass exploded directly within Lin Zhou's Divine Soul perception!

The cobweb-like cracks inside the 60% blue light main body suddenly expanded and connected! Large swaths of blue light specks no longer maintained an orderly structure; instead, they disintegrated and dissipated, turning into a violent, chaotic turbulence of blue energy! This turbulence lost the original softness and purity of the 'Water Elemental Core' card, instead taking on an 'infuriated' and destructive chaotic aura. They were no longer just contending with Lin Zhou's god domain rules but began to indiscriminately crash into and erode all surrounding rule structures, attempting to perish together!

[Alert Escalation!]

Peeling Operation: Interrupted! The peeled portion (8%) shows signs of backflow instability.

Card Status: Main body disintegration in progress! The remaining 52% of the rule structure continues to shatter, transforming into high-activity, high-conflict disordered Water Elemental turbulence!

Rule Conflict Index: 4.2! (Deep Red Alert! Severe Danger!)

God Domain Impact: Rules surrounding the conflict zone show signs of 'pollution' (manifesting as distorted rule lines and mottled colors); small-scale god domain environmental stability is decreasing (the edge pond has completely evaporated, the ground shows salinization, and several spiritual plants have rapidly withered).

Emergency: Disordered turbulence is beginning to attempt a reverse erosion of the god domain core rule network! If not contained, it may cause permanent damage to local rules and leave behind a 'rule pollution source' that is difficult to clear!

Recommendation (System can no longer provide an effective solution): ...Immediately suppress with full force or... abandon this area?

"Damn it!" Lin Zhou's heart sank. The situation was worse than he had anticipated! Not only was the card on the verge of destruction, but the chaotic energy produced by its disintegration actually showed signs of taking over and polluting the god domain! This was likely the deepest 'elemental wildness' that had not been completely erased during the teaching network's purification, exploding in a desperate situation!

Conventional 'guided discharge' or 'purification and refinement' plans were no longer effective against this violent, actively aggressive disordered turbulence. Forced suppression? Setting aside the massive amount of Divine Power it would consume, with his current godhood Rank and understanding of Water Elemental rules, he likely wouldn't be able to completely 'purify' this chaos; instead, he might spread the pollution to a wider area.

Abandon this area? That would mean he'd have to actively cut off a portion of the rule structure at the edge of the god domain, which was equivalent to damaging his own Foundation, and the pollution in that area might still remain as a hidden danger.

Both options carried a heavy price!

At this critical moment, within the god domain core, the Temple of Chinese Civilization, which had been standing quietly and emitting an aura of ancient vicissitudes, suddenly vibrated!

It wasn't the slight tremor or wave of approval from before, but a deep and majestic vibration, as if it had been 'offended' or 'provoked'! On the surface of the Sacred Hall, the engraved phantoms of the Hundred Schools' classics, the stone carvings of ancient sages, and the scrolls of civilization all lit up with a hazy and vast light!

An indescribable 'meaning' that transcended simple Order or power levels awakened from deep within the Sacred Hall. It was a heavy inclusiveness that embraced all things, a wisdom that had weathered countless ages, a magnanimity that accepted all rivers into the sea, a... majestic power that incorporated all heterogeneities, all conflicts, and all chaos into its own river of civilization's evolution, washing, settling, transforming, and sublimating them!

The river of civilization!

Although Lin Zhou's godhood Rank was far from sufficient to truly manifest or drive this supreme existence that represented the essence of Huaxia civilization, at the emergency moment when the god domain core was threatened by 'alien rule pollution,' the Sacred Hall spontaneously and limitedly invoked a trace of the river of civilization's... 'aura' or 'conceptual projection'!

"Buzz————————"

A low and magnificent chime, as if coming from the depths of time, resounded throughout the entire god domain! It wasn't a sound, but a resonance that acted directly on all rules and the Souls of all subjects!

Lin Zhou had a sudden flash of inspiration. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately cast all of his Divine Thought and all available Divine Power (reserving only the basic maintenance portion) toward the Temple of Civilization, fully cooperating with and guiding this awakened, vast power!

"In the name of civilization, embrace all rivers and calm the waves!"

He let out a silent cry.

In the next moment, above the god domain, the 'sky' that was originally clear (at the rule level) suddenly became hazy! A phantom of a 'river' whose color, breadth, and source were impossible to describe appeared out of thin air! It was not a physical entity, but more like an 'imaginary river' composed of countless flowing ancient characters, fragmented epic chapters, flickering specks of wisdom, and unnameable rhythms of civilization!

The river water flowed silently, yet seemed to contain infinite power—the power of creation, the passing of the torch, and the breaking of the old for the new. As soon as it appeared, all the rules within the god domain that were agitated by the conflict—be it the Righteous Qi of the Confucians, the decrees of the Legalists, the logic of the Mohists, or the natural rhythms of the Daoists—instantly calmed down, as if they had found their pillar of support, spontaneously surrounding and guarding this illusory long river.

And that violent blue disordered turbulence that was rampaging and trying to pollute the god domain, the moment the phantom of the river of civilization appeared, it was like snow under a scorching sun, making 'hissing' sounds as it was rapidly 'melted' and 'soothed'!

The phantom of the long river separated an extremely fine, almost invisible wisp of 'water vapor' (the manifestation of the Breath of Civilization) and gently 'brushed' over the conflict zone.

There was no earth-shattering collision, no arrogant and crude crushing.

There was only a higher level of natural 'inclusiveness' and 'dissolution.'

[The river of civilization (Conceptual Projection · Minute Power) intervenes!]

Intervention Method: Conceptual coverage, civilization assimilation.

Target: Disordered Water Elemental turbulence and remaining Water Elemental Core rule fragments.

Process Description:

Step 1 · Definition: As the aura of the long river brushes past, the chaotic blue turbulence is 'defined' as 'natural wild water that has not been civilized and is still in the ignorant stage.'

Step 2 · Inclusiveness: The phantom of the long river displays boundless inclusiveness, viewing it as a part of the 'natural stage' that once existed in the river of civilization and was successfully absorbed and transformed, rather than a 'heresy' that needs to be destroyed.

Step 3: Washing and Transformation: The 'current' (phantom) of the river, which contained the endless wisdom of civilization and the accumulation of time, gently washed over the blue turbulence. The violent, chaotic, and polluting parts of the turbulence (the residual wildness of the original elements and hostility toward Order) were 'washed away' and 'precipitated' like silt, turning into harmless 'Rule Dust' at the bottom of the river. Meanwhile, the purest and most fundamental essence of the rules—the 'moistening of water,' 'flow of water,' and 'transformation of water'—was 'cleansed' out. It was naturally 'saturated' with the brand of civilization by the river's aura—no longer mere 'natural water,' but water that possessed the attributes of 'water as perceived by civilization' and 'water usable by civilization.'

Step 4: Fusion: After washing and transformation, the Water Rule essence, now gentle, pure, and imbued with faint civilization attributes, no longer resisted the God Domain's original rules. Instead, as if finding its home, it actively and smoothly integrated into the God Domain's rule network. It resonated and combined particularly well with rule areas that already possessed positive perceptions of 'water' (such as areas containing the Daoist Concept of 'Supreme Goodness is Like Water' and the Confucian Concept of 'The Wise Delight in Water,' as well as the Order waters where the Law Fishmen resided).

Data Changes (Real-time):

Rule Conflict Index: 4.2 → 3.0 (Plummeting!) → 2.0 → 1.2 → 0.8! (Dropped below the green safety zone!)

Fusion Progress: 40.2% (Stagnant) → 45% → 60% → 75% → 85%! (Steadily rising!)

Card Status: Disintegration halted! Disordered turbulence transformed! Remaining rule structures are rapidly stabilizing and fusing!

Divine Power Consumption: Lin Zhou actively guided and cooperated with the river phantom, causing consumption to surge! Instantly consumed about 300 units of Divine Power (mainly for communication, guidance, and enduring the burden of the river's aura diffusion)! Total consumption (including previous) is approaching 400 units.

God Domain Impact: Signs of pollution in the conflict zone are rapidly receding! The withered spiritual plants have stopped deteriorating, and the salinized land has returned to calm. As the river phantom swept past, the entire rule network of the God Domain seemed to undergo a gentle 'massage' and 'reinforcement,' becoming more solid and stable, with a slight increase in compatibility.

The entire process seemed long, but it actually took place within a mere ten-odd seconds.

As the grand and illusory shadow of the river of civilization slowly faded and finally dissipated into the God Domain's 'sky,' the red and blue conflict zone that had previously resembled a toxic ulcer had completely vanished.

In its place, soft and coordinated pale blue glows emerged in several spots within the God Domain's rule network. Especially in several large water sources (such as the Fishmen lake and spiritual plant irrigation canals), the water quality became exceptionally clear, with faint spiritual light shimmering within, coexisting harmoniously with the surrounding environment. A refreshing and perfectly balanced moistness also appeared in the God Domain's air, no longer possessing the abruptness of 'foreign matter' from before.

[Fusion Complete!]

Final Fusion Degree: 93% (Some of the most conflicting and untransformable primitive wild rules were 'washed away' and discarded by the river).

Total Divine Power Consumption: Approximately 420 units (far exceeding estimates, mainly consumed in handling the crisis after its outbreak and guiding the river phantom).

God Domain Status: Stable, rule network slightly strengthened, compatibility slightly increased.

New Rule Traits/Effects:

Trait [Element Affinity (Water)]: The God Domain's overall tolerance for Water Elemental rules has increased, and its adaptability to water environments has been enhanced. Specific manifestations include:

Water Resistance +10%: Units within the God Domain (including buildings and subordinates) gain a 10% increase in resistance when subjected to water-attribute attacks or negative effects.

Water Body Spirituality +5%: The vitality and energy contained in natural water bodies (lakes, rivers, wells, and springs) within the God Domain are slightly increased, which can slightly accelerate the growth of aquatic subordinates or the generation of water-attribute Materials.

Rule Coordination: Reduced some of the rejection risks caused by 'purely natural' attributes when fusing water-attribute-related rules in the future.

Regional Reinforcement: The water quality of the 'Order Lake' where the [Law Fishmen] reside has improved, slightly enhancing the Fishmen's control over water bodies (skill effect +2%–3%). The efficiency of several spiritual plant irrigation Systems has slightly improved.

Potential Unlocks: In the God Domain rule library, the unlock difficulty for 'water'-related research options (such as water conservancy engineering, water-attribute rune applications, etc.) has been slightly reduced.

civilization points Reward (Hidden): Successfully resolved a high-intensity civilization rejection crisis and used one's own civilization to embrace and transform alien rules. The Temple of Chinese Civilization has recorded this event. Reward: a small amount of civilization points (check later).

The Fusion... was a success!

Although the process was incredibly perilous and the cost was not small (consuming a large amount of Divine Power, and the card failed to achieve 100% perfect Fusion), it was a success after all! Moreover, the [Element Affinity (Water)] trait obtained was even better than the initially estimated 'Weak Water Elemental Affinity,' especially the 'Water Resistance +10%' and 'Reduced future rejection risk,' which were very practical buffs.

Lin Zhou's consciousness projection slowly solidified within the God Domain. He looked at the pale blue rule veins that had harmoniously integrated and felt the calmed, even more stable and orderly rule fluctuations within the God Domain, letting out a long sigh of relief. A strong sense of fatigue washed over his mind, a side effect of high-intensity and high-pressure Divine Thought manipulation and enduring the washing of the river of civilization's aura.

But within the fatigue, there was more shock and enlightenment.

“Is this... the power of the river of civilization?” Lin Zhou's heart surged. Although it was only an extremely faint sliver of a projection, the 'superior' and 'inclusive transformation' characteristics it displayed far exceeded any single ideological power he currently possessed. It was not forced suppression or simple reconciliation, but a redefinition, washing, and transformation of alien rules from the more fundamental level of 'civilizational perception,' making them part of his own civilization System.

“The sea welcomes all rivers, its greatness coming from its capacity... So that's how it is.” He gained a deeper understanding of this saying. The Hundred Schools of Thought were not just combat tools or development guidelines, but a living civilizational carrier that could continuously absorb and digest external nutrients to strengthen itself! And the river of civilization was the most fundamental manifestation of this carrier.

This crisis, though dangerous, had opened a new door for him. It allowed him to see firsthand what it looked like when the power of civilization itself was invoked. It also made his future path clearer—to continuously improve himself, deepen his understanding of the Hundred Schools of Thought, and grow the Fire of Civilization. One day, perhaps he could truly command this vast river and achieve the true 'Convergence of Ten Thousand Streams.'

He looked toward the Temple of Civilization at the god domain core, which had returned to calm but appeared even more profound, his gaze filled with awe and expectation.

After a brief rest, he exited the deep link state, and his consciousness returned to the dormitory's quiet room. A slight sense of weakness came from his body; his Divine Power reserves had dropped to around 6,600 units and needed time to recover. However, his mind was exceptionally clear.

He brought up his personal terminal to check the detailed data report of the God Domain after the Fusion and confirmed the specific effects of the [Element Affinity (Water)] trait. Then, he opened the interface of the Temple of Civilization.

Sure enough, a new entry had been added to the Sanctuary's records:

[Event Record: First Successful Reconciliation and Transformation of Moderate Civilization Rejection]

Brief Description: Attempted to fuse the alien element rule card [Water Elemental Core (Blue)] within the God Domain and encountered strong rejection. At the critical moment, the power of the river of civilization (phantom) was invoked, successfully washing and transforming the alien rules, incorporating them into the God Domain System, and obtaining positive traits.

Significance: Initially verified the feasibility of the path of civilizational inclusivity and deepened the understanding of 'Civilizational Assimilation.'

Reward: civilization points +150.

Current Total civilization points: 1820 (Can be used to unlock deeper classics or summon more powerful Heroic Souls).

150 points! The reward for a successful crisis management was actually this generous! It was much more than the rewards for winning battles or developing the God Domain! This once again confirmed that what the Temple of Civilization encouraged was the growth, collision, inclusivity, and sublimation of 'civilization' itself.

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Zhou's eyes. These points came at just the right time. With the establishment of the Hundred Schools Society, the increase in combat methods, and the beginning of contact with real rule erosion and civilization rejection issues, he needed stronger theoretical support and practical guidance.

It was time to unlock some deeper classics, or... try his first 'Heroic Soul Summoning.'

However, before that, he needed to fully recover his state and properly digest the insights brought by this Fusion and the manifestation of the river's power.

His first direct confrontation with 'civilization rejection' had ended in a thrilling success. But Lin Zhou knew this was only the beginning. On the road ahead, there would be more and more complex alien civilization rules waiting for him to face, understand, fuse, or oppose. And the inspiration given to him by the river of civilization would be his most precious treasure and guide.

He closed his eyes and began to meditate for recovery. In his mind, that grand and endless river phantom, which embraced all things, seemed to still be quietly flowing.