214: The Confucian orthodox path, a teacher of civilization, debating the origins of civilization.

Xinghai University, a quiet corner of the campus, "Emerald Whisper Tea Pavilion."

This was a leisure spot specifically opened for students who possessed God Domains with natural affinity or preferred quiet environments. The building was naturally grown from living ancient wood, with vines serving as curtains and flowers dotting the space. A babbling stream flowed through the hall, and the air was filled with the refreshing scent of vegetation and a faint tea aroma.

Lin Zhou sat by a natural tea table formed by a massive buttress root. Opposite him was the opponent he had just defeated on the field—Elvis Star-Chaser.

Unlike the light and agile jungle hunting gear he wore during the match, Elvis had changed into a dark green traditional elf robe embroidered with silver star patterns. His pale gold long hair draped over his shoulders, and his handsome face had lost some of its wartime sharpness, gaining more of the calm and elegance belonging to a descendant of an ancient Bloodline. However, deep within those emerald eyes, there remained a trace of complex emotions that hadn't fully dissipated—the unwillingness of defeat, the frustration of his tactics being countered, and... intense curiosity and inquiry.

After a waiter (a flower elf with a gentle smile) served two cups of clear tea, she quietly withdrew. The tea was emerald green, the leaves unfurled like orchids, and the steam rose in a misty haze, carrying a heart-refreshing aura of tranquility.

After a brief silence, Elvis was the first to speak. His voice was as clear and pleasant as the man himself, yet it went straight to the core: "Lin Zhou, was the 'Dao discussion' on the field your tactic, or... your true 'Dao'?"

He didn't dwell on the insidiousness of the traps or the precision of the ambushes; instead, he asked about the part that seemed the most "useless" and "pedantic."

Lin Zhou picked up his teacup, lightly inhaled the tea's fragrance, and said calmly, "To me, tactics and Dao are one. Tactics are the application, and Dao is the essence. Every word spoken on the field came from the bottom of my heart, and they were also strategies to defeat the enemy."

"From the bottom of your heart..." Elvis repeated the phrase, his emerald eyes staring at Lin Zhou. "Those principles of yours about 'benevolence,' 'harmony,' and 'harvesting at the proper time' are not without similar admonitions in my race's ancient heritage. But those are more like the wisdom taught by the Druid Elders on how to interact with nature and maintain balance; they are guidelines for survival and protection. No one has ever... linked them with combat, with conquest, and no one has ever been able to turn these principles into a... power that can shake a warrior's resolve or even trigger a Bloodline resonance."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying an undisguised thirst for knowledge: "Tell me, how did you do it? Those white lights (Vast Righteous Qi), that peculiar sense of 'Order,' are completely different from our natural magic, yet they can strangely resonate with the forest's vitality? My warriors, even Verdant... at 그 moment, truly felt some kind of... calling higher than mere power and slaughter."

Lin Zhou set down his teacup, his gaze drifting toward the lush trees outside the pavilion, and said slowly, "My Dao originates from 'Civilization.' The beginning of civilization lies in observing the heavens and the earth, and understanding principles and righteousness. The Confucian sages observed the flourishing and withering of plants and the change of the four seasons, realizing that 'the continuous production of life is called Change' and that 'the benevolent man loves others, extending his care from himself to other things.' This is not a product of imagination, but a summary and sublimation of the 'principles' governing the operation of all things in heaven and earth, a description of the higher Order of 'harmonious coexistence.'"

"Your Forest Elves, carrying an ancient Bloodline, are close to nature and guard balance; this inherently aligns with the principle of 'harmony.' Your strength comes from a deep understanding and utilization of natural power. However, if this power is used only for conquest and destruction, or to stubbornly guard one corner, it deviates from the original intent of 'life' and 'harmony' contained within the source of that power."

"By using the Literary Heart Elves to draw upon Vast Righteous Qi, what I expounded was not a negation of natural power, but a clarification of the more fundamental 'principles' behind that power—namely 'Benevolence' and 'Righteousness,' the 'Great Dao' where all things grow together without harming one another. When your warriors hear these principles that point directly to the heart on the battlefield and feel the respect for 'life' and the pursuit of 'harmony' contained within that Righteous Qi, the ancient memories and identification with 'wisdom' and 'virtue' dormant in their Bloodlines, dating back to the era of the Ancient Elf Kings, will be awakened."

Lin Zhou looked at Elvis, his gaze clear and powerful. "What they hesitated about was not the battle itself, but rather, in that moment, they had a momentary reflection on 'why they fight' and 'how to use their power.' When the 'destructive' attribute of combat conflicts with the essence of 'harmony' we debated, a crack appears in the soul, and power becomes difficult to harmonize."

Elvis listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously stroking the warm wooden tabletop. Lin Zhou's words were like stones thrown into a deep pool, stirring up layers of ripples in his heart. He recalled that strange scene on the battlefield—

At that time, facing the sudden 'Dao discussion' from the Wenxin Elf Scholars and the gentle soaking of the Vast Righteous Qi, his elven army had indeed experienced a brief collective stagnation. That feeling wasn't fear, but a deeper confusion and self-reflection from the depths of their Bloodline and culture.

Especially his core hero units:

Hero Unit: Verdant · Root (Ancient Wood Guardian, LV39)

Status: Fully channeling [Ancient Tree Guardian Summoning].

Process of Influence:

Initial: Dismissive of the Literary Heart Elves' "pedantic remarks," focused on the Spell.

Middle Stage: Vast Righteous Qi permeated the area, forming a wonderful resonance with the surrounding forest vitality. Yan Hui (Pseudo)'s exposition on "entering the mountains and forests with axes at the proper time" and "all things growing together" faintly overlapped with some core precepts in his Druid heritage, yet seemed to summarize them from a higher, more "civilized" perspective. He unconsciously compared the "Tree Guardian Summoning" he was performing—which consumed a large amount of natural life force and could damage the ley lines—with the "way of long-term harmony" the opponent spoke of.

Key Wavering: When he tried to condense the most critical step of extracting energy from the ley line core, the opponent's questioning of "How can destroying life force be a long-term way?" inexplicably flashed through his mind. Deep in his heart, the Druid instinct to protect nature came into sharp conflict with the act of potentially over-extracting natural power just to win a match.

Skill Backlash: This "internal conflict" caused a trace of unstable turbulence in the natural energy he was condensing! The originally smooth Spell model developed a tiny logical gap due to the momentary wavering of the caster's own conviction (for Druids, conviction and Spells are one). The System feedback record showed: [Skill channeling encountered unknown mental interference, energy stability decreased by 15%, casting focus -20%.]

External Manifestation: The light of the thorn staff in his hand flickered improperly, and a syllable of the ancient elven incantation he was chanting underwent a slight distorted pitch change. This was precisely the perfect moment Lin Zhou captured and immediately ordered the trap to be triggered! If not for this momentary wavering, the effect of the Ley Line Turbulence Trap might not have been so perfect in interrupting him.

Hero Unit: Starwing · Wind Chaser (Elf Ranger General, LV37, direct Bloodline of Elvis)

Status: Commanding the frontline ranger units, preparing for a covering volley of arrows.

Process of Influence:

Initial: Believed the opponent was bluffing, ordered the troops to maintain vigilance and be ready to shoot at any time.

Middle Stage: The posture and words of the Wenxin Elf Scholars, as well as that pure white and upright light, reminded him of the most respected wise Elders in his tribe (not Druids, but scholars responsible for passing down history, etiquette, and poetry). The terms "Junzi" and "Righteousness" from the opponent's mouth faintly echoed with some vague fragments of glorious legends about the "education through rites and music" and "subduing others with virtue" from the Ancient Elf Court in his Bloodline.

Key Wavering: When he raised his hand, preparing to give the "release arrows" command, targeting those unarmed (relatively speaking) Wenxin Elf Scholars who were merely standing solemnly and chanting, an extremely faint but real "sense of discomfort" swept across his heart. It was as if aiming a bow and arrow at a group of scholars discussing the ultimate principles of heaven and earth was an act... lacking in glory, or even crude? This emotion stemmed from the ancient reverence for "wisdom" and "virtue" deep within his Bloodline.

Command Stagnation: His command hesitated in his throat for half a second. It was this half-second that caused a microscopic desynchronization in the shooting rhythm of the frontline Elf Rangers, and the Killing Intent of the array faltered. This gave the Law Fishmen assault team a more perfect timing to cut in.

Ordinary Elf Units (Mages/Rangers)

Collective Performance: Moral fluctuations of varying degrees appeared (not a decrease, but a complication). The desire to attack showed a subtle divergence; some young elves showed reflection in their eyes, while some older ones looked solemn. The "sharpness" of the overall array was softened and dispersed by the invisible "principles." When Iron Face led the team in a surprise attack, their coordination and decisiveness in reacting were significantly lower than normal levels.

Elvis saw these details even more clearly during the post-match review. It wasn't simple mind control or the application of fear, but a more sophisticated "ideological interference" or "cognitive implantation" that touched the roots of civilization and morality. It amplified certain traits already present in the elven Bloodline (the identification with wisdom, virtue, and harmony) and, in specific contexts (battlefield slaughter vs. harmonious reasoning), caused them to produce doubt and contradiction regarding their own actions.

"Internal conflict..." Elvis muttered to himself, finally understanding the source of his heroes' unbelievable skill fluctuations and command stagnation. He looked at Lin Zhou with a complex gaze. "So, from the very beginning, your target wasn't our bodies, but our 'hearts,' our 'Dao'?"

"You could say that," Lin Zhou admitted frankly. "The Dao of Confucianism prioritizes education and Enlightenment, followed by conquest. The merit of Enlightenment lies in clarifying principles and rectifying the heart. When the heart is upright, the Qi flows smoothly; when the Qi flows smoothly, power is coordinated. Conversely, when the heart is in doubt, the Qi falters; when the Qi falters, power is dispersed. On the battlefield, a single trace of hesitation in the mind can be the turning point between victory and defeat."

"What a 'clarifying principles and rectifying the heart'!" Elvis let out a long breath and leaned back against the chair, a bitter smile appearing on his face, yet mixed with a sense of relief. "My loss was not in vain. Your power... is very peculiar and terrifying. It isn't flamboyant, yet it points straight to the essence. I even feel that it doesn't exist merely to defeat an opponent."

Lin Zhou nodded slightly. "The The Way of the Hundred Schools aims to explore the combination of civilizational development and power enhancement. Victory is a means, not the ultimate goal. Through this encounter, I have also seen the profound heritage and natural inclination toward 'harmony' contained within the ancient elven Bloodline. Perhaps our 'Daos' are not entirely mutually exclusive; on some levels, they might even be complementary."

Elvis's eyes lit up slightly. This was precisely the deeper reason he had taken the initiative to suggest an exchange after the match. The path Lin Zhou demonstrated—subduing others with 'principles' and transforming power with 'virtue'—had a strong impact and provided inspiration for his inherent elven development model, which emphasized natural power and individual prowess. He vaguely felt that this might be a shortcut that could allow his ancient Bloodline to glow with new light or even go further.

"Complementary..." Elvis mused. "You mean my natural power and your 'principles of civilization'?"

"Nature is the cradle and foundation of civilization. Civilization is the recognition, summary, and sublimation of the laws of nature. The two are essentially two sides of the same coin," Lin Zhou said slowly. "Your elves are skilled at communicating with nature and utilizing its power. And Confucianism (and the other Hundred Schools) might provide a more systematic and universal framework to help you understand the 'principles' behind natural power and combine them with a grander 'Order,' 'Ethics,' and 'Development.' It would no longer be limited to mere protection or destruction but would involve building a more harmonious and vibrant 'civilizational ecosystem.'"

This vision was quite grand, even a bit ahead of its time. But Elvis was deeply attracted to it. He thought of some vague guidance in the ancient prophecies of his tribe regarding the future of the elven race, which seemed to relate to "new wisdom" and an "Order transcending nature."

The two of them talked deeply for a long time about the relationship between "nature" and "civilization," and "power" and "principles." Elvis showed a keen interest in Confucian thought, and Lin Zhou was happy to share some basic concepts. After two rounds of tea, the atmosphere became increasingly harmonious.

Finally, Elvis solemnly extended his hand to Lin Zhou (a human etiquette): "Lin Zhou, I have benefited greatly from this match. I am truly convinced of my defeat. I wonder if I am qualified to visit your 'Hundred Schools Society' as a 'visitor' or 'collaborator' for some learning and exchange? Of course, I will pay a corresponding price or make a contribution."

Lin Zhou shook his hand and smiled. "The Hundred Schools Society is as inclusive as the sea. We welcome any fellow traveler interested in exploring the way of truth and power. I look forward to your arrival."

Leaving the Emerald Whisper Tea Pavilion, Lin Zhou strolled along the campus path, feeling quite refreshed. The battle with Elvis had not only won him advancement but had also unexpectedly opened a window for exchange with the ancient elven Bloodline. This was undoubtedly significant for his efforts to spread the Hundred Schools of Thought and explore the path of civilizational Fusion.

More importantly, through this actual combat, he had gained a deeper understanding of the application of the Confucian power of "Enlightenment." It wasn't just a support or interference method; under specific conditions, it could even become a "strategic weapon" to dismantle the enemy's fighting will and trigger internal conflicts. This was especially true when facing opponents with deep cultural heritage or specific moral concepts, where the effect could be surprisingly successful.

Back in the dormitory, Lin Zhou's consciousness sank into his God Domain. The Temple of Civilization sent a gentle vibration, seemingly commending his "way of victory" this time.

[Temple of Civilization Feedback]:

Event Record: Successfully used the Confucian concept of "Enlightenment" as the core, combined with tactics, to defeat an opponent with a deep natural civilization heritage (Ancient Elf King Bloodline) in actual combat, triggering their resonance and reflection.

Significance Assessment: Verified the potential of the 'principles' of civilization to inspire and influence individuals of alien civilizations, expanding the practical application boundaries of the concept of "Enlightenment."

civilization points Reward: +300 (Due to the involvement of ideological collision and potential civilizational exchange guidance, the reward is higher than a conventional combat victory).

Current Total civilization points: 2120.

Additional Tip: In the Sanctuary, the light in the area representing Confucian thought has strengthened, and it has developed a faint connection intent with the rule areas representing "nature" and "life" (influenced by [Element Affinity (Water)] and this event). You can attempt to invest civilization points to conduct in-depth research in a specific direction or unlock related classics.

"2120 points..." Lin Zhou looked at the increasing civilization points, and he had more plans in his mind. The exchange with Elvis might be more than just a beginning. As the competition deepened, he would inevitably encounter more diverse and powerful opponents, and the inclusiveness and adaptability of the Hundred Schools of Thought would be his greatest reliance.

The round of sixteen was just around the corner; the opponents would be stronger, and the battles would be more brutal. But in Lin Zhou's heart, there wasn't much anxiety; instead, it was filled with anticipation for exploration and verification. His path was a path of civilization, and also a path of conquest. And in the next battle, no matter who the opponent was, he would write his own legend in the name of the Hundred Schools.

The Fire of Civilization had gradually grown into a prairie fire.