213: The top 32 encounter the bloodline of the Elf King.

The Xinghai University Freshman Cup had reached the Top 32, and the hype was like boiling lava, sweeping across the entire campus. Every match drew countless eyes, and the analysis, predictions, and even betting odds on the forums became exceptionally active. Every freshman who could reach this stage was a true elite, each possessing trump cards and pride sufficient to command attention.

Lin Zhou's name, accompanied by his stunning performance with the 'Radiant Virtue Domain' that defeated Shadowsong and his previous Legalist Edicts, had already become one of the most-watched dark horses of this tournament. The term 'Hundred Schools Divine Domain,' which was previously somewhat unfamiliar or even questioned, now carried significant weight and was repeatedly mentioned, analyzed, and debated.

However, after the Top 32 draw results were announced, those following Lin Zhou, whether supporters or bystanders, couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for him.

His opponent was Elvis Starseeker from the College of Life and Nature, a successor with the direct Bloodline of the Ancient Elf King, currently ranked 5th.

"Ancient Elf King Bloodline... the pinnacle of Forest Elves..." Lin Zhou sat in the tactical research room, watching public clips of Elvis's previous matches on the light screen before him. In the footage, those Forest Elves were as agile as cheetahs and as elegant as dancers, their arrows terrifyingly precise, and the nature magic they cast was both majestic and full of spirituality. Compared to the Literary Heart Elves in Lin Zhou's god domain core, whose temperament leaned towards refined wisdom through Confucian Teaching, Elvis's elf tribe seemed more like the children of nature from ancient legends—wild, powerful, and one with the forest.

Li Mo pushed up his glasses, his tone solemn: "President, based on available data analysis, Elvis's Forest Elf tribe has average attributes far exceeding the standard elf template. It's estimated that their core Elf Ranger/Warrior units have an average Rank of around LV35, possibly even higher. Comparing key attributes—"

He pulled up a comparison chart:

[Tribe Base Attribute Comparison (Estimated Average)]:

Lin Zhou · Literary Heart Elves (Ranger/Scholar):

Rank: LV 32-33

Strength: 24-26

Agility: 38-40 (Advantage, but the gap is small)

Physique: 22-24

Intelligence: 30-32 (Relatively high, influenced by teaching)

Spirit: 28-30

Core Talents: Confucian Righteousness (Aura/Mental Protection/Minor Healing), Precision Shot, Formation Synergy.

Elvis · Forest Elves (Ancient Blood Ranger/Mage):

Rank: LV 35-36

Strength: 30-32 (Significantly higher)

Agility: 40-42 (Slightly superior)

Physique: 28-30 (Significantly higher)

Intelligence: 28-30 (Natural wisdom)

Spirit: 32-34 (Boosted by ancient Bloodline, natural affinity)

Core Talents: Ancient Elf King Bloodline Bonus (All attributes +10%? Nature magic power +30%?), High-level Nature Magic (Vine Bind, Root Entangle, Summon Treant, Life Heal, etc.), Transcendent Archery (Infused with nature power, possibly with sniping or tracking effects), Woodland Adaptation (Attributes further increased in forest environments).

Preliminary Conclusion: In terms of base attributes, Elvis's Forest Elves almost completely suppress Lin Zhou's Literary Heart Elves, especially in Strength and Physique—the two attributes that directly impact close-quarters combat and survival. Their nature magic system is complete and powerful, posing a massive threat to Lin Zhou's tribe, which relies on formations and auras.

"Furthermore," Zhou Ming added, pointing to another video clip, "Elvis's elf hero units have performed exceptionally well. He has at least one hero-grade 'Ancient Wood Guardian' (suspected to be an advancement of an ancient treant or druid), and an elf prince/princess hero who is likely a direct descendant of the 'Starseeker' Bloodline. In the last battle, facing an opponent's Rock Giant charge, that Ancient Wood Guardian hero summoned an... 'Ancient Tree Warden.'"

The screen froze and zoomed in. In a lush woodland, a tall elf clad in ancient bark armor and holding a thorn staff (Ancient Wood Guardian, LV38?) slammed the staff heavily onto the ground. The earth shook violently, and countless thick, emerald-glowing roots burst from the soil, frantically intertwining, growing, and shaping themselves. In an instant, they condensed into a fifteen-meter-tall Behemoth composed entirely of living ancient wood and hard rock!

The giant creature had a humanoid silhouette, but its body was made entirely of gnarled ancient trunks covered in blue-gray rock armor. Its head had two hollows burning with ghostly green soul-fire, its arms were massive wooden mallet-like structures large enough to embrace a city gate, and its root-composed feet were buried deep into the earth.

[Enemy Hero Unit Ability Speculation: Ancient Tree Warden Summoning]

Caster: Ancient Wood Guardian Hero (Under Elvis).

Summoned Unit: Ancient Tree Warden (Temporary Summoned Creature/Natural Creation).

Estimated Rank/Attributes (Based on video analysis and energy reactions):

Rank: LV 40 (Summoned creature, duration may be limited).

Strength: 85+ (Enough to shake hills and shatter boulders)

Agility: 18 (Extremely slow, difficult to turn)

Physique: 88+ (Core advantage! Composed of living ancient wood and natural rock armor, extremely high resistance to physical attacks)

Intelligence: 10 (Simple consciousness, follows the summoner's commands)

Spirit: 25 (Protected by natural will, some resistance to mental attacks)

Defense (Key Point): Estimated physical defense equivalent to 80 points! Magic resistance (especially Nature and Earth) is extremely high. May have weaknesses to Fire and Metal (logging, rock-breaking), but is closely protected.

Estimated Abilities:

Root Entangle: Area control, movement restriction.

Great Wood Smash: Ultra-high single-target physical damage.

Earth Connection: While stationary, can draw energy from the earth to slowly recover or gain damage reduction.

Nature's Protection: Provides a protective aura for surrounding friendly elf units.

Tactical Role: A mobile super-bulwark and battering ram. Can easily tear through most defensive lines, attract and absorb massive amounts of damage, and create a perfect output environment for the Elf Rangers and Mages in the rear. Its defense of up to 80 points means Lin Zhou's current primary output methods (Law Fishmen combined strikes, elf arrows, dwarf ballistae) will find it difficult to pose an effective threat in a short time.

Looking at the Ancient Tree Warden on the light screen, which radiated an ancient, heavy, and oppressive aura, a brief silence fell over the tactical research room.

Zhao Hao grinned: "This big guy... feels even tougher than a Titan! If I spray my Dragon Breath on it, I'm afraid I'll just be giving it a scratch and starting a fire to lighten the mood."

Wang Meng's expression was grim: "My Behemoths have enough strength, but fighting this thing... feels like punching an iron mountain. The recoil alone could injure them."

Li Mo calculated rapidly: "With our current conventional attack methods, breaking through this Tree Warden's defense would require high-intensity concentrated fire over a long period, or... finding its core weakness for a fatal blow. But the opponent won't give us that chance; the elves' ranged firepower will take that opportunity to inflict massive casualties on us."

The pressure was unprecedentedly immense. Attributes were suppressed, and the opponent had such a strategic-level summoned unit. This was almost the match with the widest disparity in paper strength since Lin Zhou started the tournament.

"We can't fight force with force," Lin Zhou finally spoke, his voice calm, not at all intimidated by that terrifying Tree Warden. "The attribute disadvantage and their powerful summoned unit are the opponent's 'Force.' Our advantage lies in 'Change' and 'Reason.'"

He stood up and walked to the central simulation sand table: "Elvis's tactical core will likely revolve around the 'Ancient Tree Warden.' The Warden crushes from the front, while the main elf force pours out ranged fire from the rear, coordinated with nature magic to control the battlefield. This is a nearly perfect 'Heavy Infantry Push + Ranged Coverage' system, extremely difficult to break head-on."

"Then how do we fight?" Zhou Ming asked.

"Divide and conquer, and attack the heart first," Lin Zhou's eyes sparkled with the light of wisdom. "First, we can't let him successfully deploy this system. We must disrupt their rhythm before the Tree Warden fully forms and establishes effective coordination with the main elf force."

"Tian Gong Institute," he looked at the projections of Li Mo and Copper Hammer, "how is the completion of the 'Leyline Disorder Trap' and 'Super Gravity Rune Array' prototypes designed for giant, high-defense, slow-moving units?"

Li Mo immediately replied: "Three sets of the 'Leyline Disorder Trap (One-time Experimental Type)' are complete! The principle uses high-purity 'Void Dust' and 'Mountain-Sinking Iron' to trigger brief but intense local rule chaos, interfering with the target's energy connections and power structure. It's especially effective against units that rely on Earth Connection or rule stability! It's estimated to reduce the defense of units like the Tree Warden by 20-30% for 10-15 seconds, severely hindering movement and attacks, and potentially even severing their link with the summoner! However, each set is extremely expensive, has a limited trigger range, and must be pre-buried and triggered precisely."

"That's enough," Lin Zhou nodded. "Three sets, placed on key paths. We don't need to completely disable the Tree Warden; we just need to buy critical time for interference."

"Secondly," Lin Zhou looked at everyone, "Elvis's elf tribe is powerful, but not without flaws. They rely on ancient Bloodlines and the Dao of nature. They are proud and may hold complex attitudes toward 'Order' and 'Teaching'—they might reject them, but deep down, they may also harbor a longing for a higher 'Harmonious Order.' This is the 'Heart' we can exploit."

"President, you mean... using Confucian thought?" Ye Wan asked, seemingly realizing something.

"Exactly," Lin Zhou's gaze was profound. "Last time, we used Moonlight Righteous Qi to combat nothingness. This time, we will use pure 'Teaching' and the 'Kingly Way' to touch upon the potential resonance within those ancient Bloodlines regarding the ultimate harmony between 'Civilization' and 'Nature.' What is the battlefield environment?"

"It's been announced as 'Emerald Woodland,' a large forest map with significant bonuses for elves," Zhou Ming pulled up the map information.

"A forest... where Wood Virtue is flourishing and life is vibrant. It's a natural arena for promoting 'Benevolence,' 'Teaching,' and 'Rites and Music'," Lin Zhou seemed to have a plan. "We won't compete with them in attributes, nor will we rely solely on traps. We will 'Discuss the Dao' with them on the battlefield!"

This idea was somewhat bold, even sounding a bit mystical. But everyone present had witnessed the wonder of the power of thought and didn't immediately question it.

"Specifically, what do we do?" Zhao Hao scratched his head.

"We need a 'performance'," Lin Zhou said slowly. "A performance led by the Literary Heart Elves, with a Confucian hall as the background and Vast Righteous Qi as the ink, to write a chapter on the harmony between civilization and nature in this Emerald Woodland. The goal isn't direct lethality, but to shake their resolve, weaken their Battle Intent, and even... trigger contradictions and reflection within their Bloodlines."

"At the same time," Lin Zhou's tone turned cold, "the Lawful Merman Enforcement Squad and the Tiangong Dwarves' Ballista units will act as hidden blades. Once the opponent shows hesitation, division, or a loose formation due to the 'Discussing the Dao,' it will be time for a lightning strike. The traps will handle the Tree Warden, and the elites will be responsible for decapitating key heroes or elf mage clusters."

An extremely risky tactic, but one that—if successful—would have an effect far exceeding brute force, gradually became clear through Lin Zhou's explanation. This required precise timing, superb performance (or rather, 'persuasion') skills, and a deep understanding and application of Confucian thought.

Over the next two days, Lin Zhou devoted almost all his energy to communicating and rehearsing with the Wenxin Elf Scholars, repeatedly refining every detail of the "performance" and every possible psychological reaction it might trigger in the elves. Meanwhile, the Tian Gong Institute worked overtime to optimize the trap deployment plan, and the combat readiness group repeatedly practiced their coordination for launching a fatal surprise attack amidst the chaos.

Finally, the match day arrived.

Virtual battle network, [Emerald Woodland] map.

Towering ancient trees blotted out the sky, and sunlight could only filter through the layers of foliage, casting mottled and shifting spots of light. The air was thick with the rich fragrance of vegetation and vigorous life energy. Vines hung like curtains, ferns grew in abundance, and occasionally, the silhouette of a startled small beast flashed by.

Lin Zhou's god domain core projection unfolded in a relatively open forest clearing. He did not immediately deploy defenses or summon a large army as he usually did. Instead, he only summoned fifty Wenxin Elf Scholars and a few Elf Rangers for protection. Furthermore, he consumed Divine Power to temporarily construct a miniature, illusory building on the clearing that radiated a strong scholarly aura and a peaceful white light—the [Jixia Academy (Projection)]!

Although the academy projection was illusory, the conceptual imagery of "Education," "Ethics," and "Order" it represented merged clearly into the atmosphere of this primeval forest, forming a peculiar contrast and fusion.

Opposite him, Elvis's god domain core projection unfolded beside an exceptionally massive ancient oak tree. Densely packed, well-equipped, and powerful Forest Elves poured out like a tide, quickly occupying advantageous terrain. Arrows were notched, staves lit up, and a murderous aura filled the air. That Ancient Wood Guardian hero (named Verdant Roots, LV39) stood at the front of the formation, already waving his staff as rich natural energy gathered and the ground rumbled, clearly preparing to summon Ancient Tree Wardens!

However, just as the outlines of the Ancient Tree Wardens were about to rise from the churning roots and soil, the fifty Wenxin Elf Scholars on Lin Zhou's side, led by an exceptionally elegant and wise old scholar (Hero unit, Pseudo-Hero Spirit (Pseudo · Hero Spirit Influence), LV36), spoke in unison.

They did not chant attack incantations, nor did they activate a Righteous Qi Domain for defensive confrontation.

What they recited were the analects and Mencius, Confucian classics that expounded on "the benevolent love others," "treating others as one would be treated," and "entering the mountains with axes only at the proper time"! Their voices were clear and peaceful, yet they carried a strange power that went straight to the heart. Vast Righteous Qi spread with them, but it was not sharp; instead, it was like a spring breeze and nourishing rain, silently resonating with the vitality of the surrounding forest.

Pseudo-Hero Spirit (Pseudo) stepped forward from the crowd, bowed toward the direction of Elvis's elven army, and spoke in a gentle voice that carried across the battlefield: "Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar? Though this is a field of competition, the trees are flourishing and all things are growing together, showing the Benevolence of Heaven and Earth. We study the Way of the Former Kings and understand the meaning of Benevolence and Virtue, knowing well that 'felling trees and hunting animals must be done in their proper seasons' to ensure the path of long-term harmony. Seeing your army now, beloved by nature and possessing ancient legacies, you are truly the spiritual essence of Heaven and Earth. Why then face us with blades, destroying the vitality and peace of this place with slaughter? Have you not heard, 'A gentleman, in his dealings with the world, has no preferences for or against any one; he follows what is right'?"

These words were pedantic, yet they clearly conveyed two core messages: 1. We advocate Benevolence and harmony and respect nature (which potentially resonates with your philosophy). 2. As the darlings of nature, by committing acts of slaughter and destruction here, are you not violating a higher 'Righteousness'?

Verdant Roots' spellcasting stalled slightly. Among the Forest Elves' army, a subtle, almost imperceptible flicker of emotion crossed the eyes of many. They were the proud children of nature, viewing battle as a means of protection or survival, but deep in their hearts, there was indeed a profound identification with "balance" and "harmony." This sudden, "reason-filled" action from the opponent was completely different from the direct confrontation they had expected, instead touching upon ancient, blurry memories in their Bloodline regarding "sages" and "virtuous ones."

Elvis's Divine Thought came through, carrying both vigilance and doubt: "Lin Zhou? What tricks are you playing? Do you think you can shake my warriors with these empty platitudes?"

Lin Zhou's voice responded calmly: "It is not to shake them, but to discuss the Dao. Civilization is more than conquest, and power is more than destruction. Your Excellency possesses a noble Bloodline; do you know that true 'strength' lies in allowing all things to find their place, rather than bullying the weak and crushing vitality?"

During the dialogue, Pseudo-Hero Spirit (Pseudo) led the Wenxin Elf Scholars in using Vast Righteous Qi to guide the surrounding natural energy, not to attack, but to perform a kind of "channeling" and "soothing." Several plants that had withered under the army's trampling actually regained some vitality under the nourishment of the Righteous Qi; a wood element node that had been inadvertently disturbed and thrown into chaos by elven magic also stabilized under the harmony of the Qi.

This display of "goodwill" and "harmonizing ability" further intensified the inner turmoil of the Forest Elves. They could feel that although the nature of the opponent's power was different from their natural magic, it was not hostile—it even had a strange sense of complementarity and enhancement. The "Benevolence" and "Harmony" the opponent spoke of did not seem to be empty words.

In particular, a few senior elven mages and druids with keen perception began to show complex expressions. The ancient fragments of knowledge inherited in their blood seemed to be faintly stirred by these words.

"Absurd! On the battlefield, there is only victory or defeat!" Elvis barked coldly, urging Verdant Roots to speed up the summoning. More than half of the Ancient Tree Warden's massive body had already risen from the ground, and a terrifying pressure began to spread.

However, at that moment, a sharp light flashed in Lin Zhou's eyes. He seized that instant of Divided Soul and delay caused by the "discussion of the Dao," as well as the moment when the Tree Warden was not yet fully formed and its connection to the earth was at its weakest!

"Now! Trigger the traps! Target—the Ancient Tree Warden's Foundation!"

Three sets of "Leyline Disorder Traps," which had been quietly pre-buried near the Tree Warden's summoning point using Mohist Mechanical Arts and Goblin Micro-excavation Technology, were activated simultaneously by Li Mo from a distance!

Buzz! Boom—!

There was no dazzling explosion, only three invisible but violent waves of rule-twisting turbulence that erupted from underground! Centered on the Tree Warden's forming feet, the ground within a thirty-meter radius instantly began to churn and twist like boiling water! The chaotic field generated by the Mountain-Sinking Iron and Void Dust severely interfered with the stable transmission of leyline energy and also destroyed the natural summoning formation Verdant Roots had meticulously constructed!

"Ugh!" Verdant Roots let out a muffled groan, the light on his staff flickering violently as his connection with the Tree Warden became extremely unstable.

That Ancient Tree Warden, which had already condensed most of its body and stood over ten meters tall, let out a low rumble like the sound of ancient wood snapping, and its massive body began to shake violently! Tiny cracks appeared on its stony outer shell, the emerald wood-grain luster dimmed sharply, and its terrifying defensive field visibly became thin and chaotic!

[Leyline Disorder Trap Activated!]

Target: Ancient Tree Warden (Summoning in progress).

Effects:

Defense Decreased: Estimated to have plummeted from 80 points to 55-60 points (continuing to decay)!

Movement Severely Impaired: Unstable connection between roots and earth, movement speed reduced by 70%, attack actions slowed.

Energy Siphoning Interrupted: Unable to obtain recovery or bonuses from the earth.

Duration: Estimated effective interference time is 12 seconds!

Additional Effect: The caster, Verdant Roots, has suffered a backlash; casting focus has decreased, making it difficult to effectively command the Tree Warden or cast other high-level natural magic for a short period.

"The chance!" Lin Zhou's Divine Thought was like lightning.

Iron Face, who had been lying in wait in the shadows of the flank, suddenly charged out leading eighty elites of the Lawful Merman Enforcement Squad! Their target was not the temporarily crippled Tree Warden, but the cluster of elven mages and the hero unit Verdant Roots at the rear of the elven formation—who were unsettled by the "discussion of the Dao" and were currently providing magical support for the Tree Warden or preparing a long-range volley!

"Net of Law — Anti-Magic Zone!" A pale green Domain instantly enveloped the target area, further suppressing the elven mages' spellcasting.

"Judgment — Casting Disturbance!" Several mental shocks were accurately fired at the key elven mage leaders and Verdant Roots.

"Execution — Decapitation!" The Law Fishmen were like deep blue lightning as they cut into the elven formation, which was slightly chaotic due to the events at the front and the ongoing influence of the "discussion of the Dao"!

At the same time, the chanting of the Wenxin Elf Scholars suddenly rose in pitch. The Vast Righteous Qi was no longer gentle but transformed into streaks of pure white "Order Shackles," which, coordinated with the Net of Law, bound the Elf Rangers who were trying to intercept or counterattack.

Elvis was both shocked and enraged; he hadn't expected the opponent's methods to be so bizarre and intricately linked! From the seemingly ridiculous "discussion of the Dao" to draw attention, to the insidious traps destroying his core tactics, and finally to the precise surprise attack aimed straight at his vitals! Although his elven army had strong attributes, they found it difficult to organize an effective counterattack immediately after the successive psychological interference, the destruction of their core tactics, and the assault on their formation.

Verdant Roots, in particular, was given special attention. Under the surprise attack of the Law Fishmen and the continuous interference of Judgment, he could not pull himself together in a short time. That "crippled" Ancient Tree Warden became an expensive ornament, instead blocking some of the pathways.

The scales of battle tipped shockingly within just two or three minutes of the start.

When Iron Face successfully heavily wounded Verdant Roots (forcing him to withdraw from the battle) and, in coordination with several experimental "Armor-Piercing Ballista Carts" personally operated by Copper Hammer, finally completely shattered the weakened Ancient Tree Warden into a pile of scattered rotten wood and broken stones, Elvis knew the situation was lost.

His elven warriors were still brave, but they had lost their core tactical pivot, their morale was affected by the "discussion of the Dao," and their formation had been torn open; defeat was certain.

"...Stop." Elvis's voice sounded, weary and complex. He looked toward Lin Zhou's god domain core, at those Wenxin Elf Scholars who still stood solemnly with Righteous Qi swirling around them. The initial arrogance and hostility were gone from his eyes, replaced by a deep scrutiny and a hint of... respect?

"You won, Lin Zhou," Elvis's Divine Thought came through. "It wasn't a victory of strength, but a victory of... the 'Dao'? Very interesting, your 'Dao.' It reminds me of some things almost forgotten in my Bloodline. Can we... chat after the match?"

[Round of 32 · Lin Zhou Wins! Advanced to the Top 16!]

His consciousness returning, Lin Zhou breathed a long sigh of relief. This victory was hard-won, a perfect combination of wisdom and tactics. And Elvis's final reaction moved him even more. It seemed that the Hundred Schools of Thought held a special attraction for these inheritors of ancient Bloodlines.

He opened his contact list and found Elvis's name. Perhaps this was not just a victory, but also an unexpected... opportunity?