229: The academy has grown and its core team has finally taken shape.

After the second immersion in the [Spring of Time Echoes], Lin Zhou's Divine Spark hidden danger was completely eliminated, and his state returned to the Peak. He even benefited from the misfortune, as the resilience of his Divine Spark, his perception of rules, and the refinement level of his Fire of Civilization all improved slightly compared to before the battle. Within his Divine Domain, the [Spirit Spring] nourished all things, and the domestication work at [Gryphon Cliff] was also steadily progressing under the joint efforts of the Literary Heart Elves Druids (a newly converted branch) and the Tiangong Dwarves Beast Tamers. The first batch of five relatively docile adult Gryphons had preliminarily accepted the elven riders and begun basic coordinated flight training.

When his consciousness returned and he stepped out of his personal meditation room, preparing to head to the Hundred Schools Society headquarters to check the situation, his personal terminal was instantly flooded with massive amounts of information notifications. A quick glance showed that the vast majority were emails and private messages applying to join the Hundred Schools Society, as well as invitations for various collaborations, consultations, and even challenges. The sheer quantity and high frequency far surpassed that before his fight with the Chief Student.

"It seems the principal's words had an even greater effect than expected." Lin Zhou rubbed his brow, turned off most notifications, keeping only the core communication channels, and then, with a flash of his figure, he used a designated teleportation array on campus to arrive directly at the Hundred Schools Society headquarters, located in the "School of Literature and Law - Student Association Comprehensive Zone."

Just as he stepped out of the teleportation array, the sight before him made Lin Zhou slightly stunned.

The Society headquarters in his memory was still the small, remote, and old activity room he had applied for when he first founded it, covering no more than two hundred square meters. Although it had improved after he defeated Wang Meng and performed excellently in the Freshman Cup, moving to a slightly larger venue, it was by no means spacious.

But now, what met his eyes was an independent three-story building!

The building's style was ancient and imposing, yet it carried a strange, harmonious sense of inclusivity. The main structure of blue bricks and black tiles featured intricate rune circuits faintly visible between the flying eaves and brackets (Mohist style); the plaque hanging above the main entrance bore the four gilded characters "Hundred Schools Society," written with vigorous strokes, subtly circulating Vast Righteous Qi (School of Confucianism flavor); in the small plaza in front of the building stood several stone sculptures of various shapes: a debater holding a ruler (School of Names), a scholar holding a scroll (School of Confucianism), a warrior wielding a spear (School of Military), and an artisan holding a compass (Mohist)... Although slightly rough, they were full of meaning.

Even more striking was the popularity surrounding the building. Although it was not a scheduled activity time, dozens of students wearing various departmental uniforms were still gathered in the small plaza in front of the building, discussing something in low voices in small groups, their eyes occasionally casting eager glances toward the Society building. The ground floor entrance of the building was open, and figures could be vaguely seen inside, suggesting it was even livelier.

As soon as Lin Zhou approached, he was immediately spotted by sharp-eyed students.

"It's Society Head Lin!"

"Senior Student Lin Zhou is back!"

"Hello, Society Head!"

The crowd instantly surged, and countless gazes—whether worshipful, curious, or excited—focused on him. Many tried to step forward to speak to him and hand over their prepared application forms.

Lin Zhou slightly released a trace of the gentle pressure contained within his Divine Domain, which had been tempered by the Fire of Civilization (Faint Divinity Peak, and extremely high quality), while maintaining a peaceful yet undeniable smile: "Fellow students, thank you for your support. Please submit applications according to the process to the Society's External Liaison Office. I have internal Society matters to attend to today and cannot stay long, please forgive me."

His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, and the gentle yet inviolable pressure calmed the overly excited crowd. The students then remembered that the person before them was not only a freshman dark horse who had created a miracle but also a true powerhouse capable of directly confronting the Chief Student for over ten minutes without collapsing! Instantly, the noise lessened significantly, and everyone consciously made way for him, though the eagerness in their eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

Lin Zhou stepped into the Society building. The first floor was a spacious reception hall and public activity area. Currently, several rows of tables and chairs were set up, and more than a dozen staff members wearing the Society badge (a simplified black and white emblem incorporating elements like scrolls, rulers, and swords) were busy receiving visitors and processing mountains of application forms. A massive light screen was hung on the side wall of the hall, displaying real-time Society announcements, recent activity schedules, and indexes for some basic learning Materials (mostly excerpts from Lin Zhou's previously public analyses of the Hundred Schools of Thought).

Seeing Lin Zhou enter, the Society members in the hall stopped their work and excitedly saluted and greeted him: "Society Head!"

Lin Zhou nodded in response and, without stopping, walked straight up the stairs to the second floor. The second floor housed the core member offices, conference area, and several small seminar rooms. It was much quieter here, but through some half-closed doors, one could see intense yet orderly debates or project research taking place inside.

The third floor contained the Society Head's office and the core archive area. Lin Zhou pushed the door open and entered.

Inside the room, Zhao Hao, Li Mo, and Wang Meng were already waiting. Besides them, there was another person who slightly surprised Lin Zhou but was also expected—Qin Qing. She was sitting by the window, reading a physical book (a rarity in the highly digitalized Xinghai University), the cover bearing the three ancient seal script characters for "Han Feizi."

"Old Lin! You're finally out!" Zhao Hao was the first to jump up, his face full of excitement. "While you were in seclusion these past few days, our Society completely blew up! Applicants nearly wore out the doorstep!"

Wang Meng also grinned and said, "Now our Society is the undisputed number one freshman association! No, many sophomore and junior senior students are also coming to inquire about joining!"

Li Mo adjusted his glasses, the lenses reflecting the light of data streams. His tone was still calm but carried an undeniable sense of accomplishment: "According to incomplete statistics, in the past week, the number of freshmen who formally submitted applications and passed the preliminary screening (assessment of basic strength and ideological compatibility) reached four hundred and seventy-two. Considering capacity and development quality, we have currently only selectively accepted one hundred and eighty people. Including existing members, the Society's total membership has surpassed three hundred. Furthermore, we received twenty-seven cross-grade cooperation proposals, including three from senior students in their fourth year."

Qin Qing also closed her book at this moment, her cool eyes looking at Lin Zhou as she slightly nodded: "Your place is now busier than my Enforcement Department. The effect of the principal's personal praise is indeed extraordinary." She paused. "Additionally, this independent building and the accompanying basic resources were specially approved by the Dean of the School of Literature and Law, counting as support from the College for you and the Society. The right to use it is tentatively set for three years, covering an area of about fifteen hundred square meters, with two additional floors of expansion space underground. The accompanying basic resource package has been inventoried, including a fixed monthly supply of faith crystals, a quota of general research Materials, and access to a standard small-scale virtual combat platform port."

After listening, Lin Zhou was filled with emotion. An independent, fully functional three-story building, plus a stable supply of basic resources—this was absolutely top-tier treatment among the fiercely competitive student associations at Xinghai University. This was not just material support; it was a symbol of official recognition.

"Thank you for your hard work, everyone." Lin Zhou walked to the main seat and sat down, his gaze sweeping over the four people before him. Zhao Hao, Li Mo, and Wang Meng were the brothers who followed him earliest, while Qin Qing was a powerful ally who actively drew closer after fighting alongside him and engaging in ideological exchanges. These four would undoubtedly become the core pillars of the Hundred Schools Society's future development.

"With the rapid expansion of the Society, we can no longer manage it loosely as before." Lin Zhou got straight to the point. "We need to clearly define roles and establish a structure so that we can consolidate this strength and truly get on the right track."

He looked at Zhao Hao: "Zhao Hao, you are straightforward and daring, and your Dragon Divine Domain has strong offensive capabilities. My intention is for you to serve as the Head of the 'War Hall'. You will be responsible for organizing the daily combat training, tactical deduction, and practical exercises for Society members, and coordinating the Society's standing defense forces and external campaigns (when involving future Society missions or resource competition). You need to integrate the School of Military's philosophy to formulate training outlines and battle formation coordination suitable for different Divine Domain types."

Zhao Hao's eyes lit up, and he slapped his chest hard: "No problem! Leave it to me! I guarantee I'll temper our Society's fighting strength until they're roaring!"

Next, he looked at Li Mo: "Li Mo, you are meticulous and adept at research. Your precise Mechanical Divine Domain naturally aligns with Mohist thought. The Head of the 'Research Hall' is none other than you. You will be responsible for organizing academic research, technological development, and ideological deepening. Underneath it, establish multiple research groups: Mohist Mechanisms Group, School of Legalism Law Group, School of Daoism Nature Group, School of Military Strategy Group, and so on, to explore the combined application of the Hundred Schools of Thought with different Divine Domain Systems, and to develop new technologies, new tactics, and even new blueprints for Divine Domain buildings or equipment. The Society's resource allocation will be prioritized toward the Research Hall."

Li Mo's eyes behind his lenses shone with fanatic light, and he nodded heavily: "Understood! I already have many ideas, and I just need personnel and resources to realize them! Mohist Mechanical Arts combined with modern energy theory will definitely produce great things!"

Then, he looked at Wang Meng: "Wang Meng, you are generous and righteous, with rich practical experience, and your Behemoth Divine Domain excels at tough battles. The 'Combat Hall' will be under your command. You will primarily be responsible for internal Society sparring, ranking assessments, resolving disputes among members (non-serious violations), and serving as the 'whetstone' for the War Hall, regularly organizing simulated confrontations to test the War Hall's training results and the Research Hall's new equipment and tactics. At the same time, the Combat Hall must also be responsible for discovering talented combat personnel."

Wang Meng laughed heartily and rubbed his hands together: "This is great! I love sparring with people! I guarantee I'll make the Combat Hall flourish, ensuring everyone has a chance to fight and show off their skills!"

Finally, Lin Zhou's gaze fell upon Qin Qing, and he pondered slightly.

Qin Qing seemed to know what he wanted to say and proactively spoke: "I am currently still the Head of the Enforcement Department of the Student Union, and my duties are numerous, making it unsuitable for me to hold a permanent position in the Society." She changed her tone. "However, I can serve as the Society's 'Consultant,' concurrently leading the 'Legal and Ethical Oversight Group.' I will be responsible for reviewing whether the new theories and technologies produced by the Research Hall comply with basic Order and ethical norms, assisting in formulating internal Society regulations, and handling complex incidents involving rule conflicts or serious violations. Furthermore, my Judgment Angel Divine Domain and the School of Legalism thought are indeed complementary. I, along with some interested subordinates, can participate in the Research Hall's 'School of Legalism Law Group' research and serve as the 'Order side' training partners for the War Hall and Combat Hall."

This arrangement was very clever; it respected Qin Qing's status while substantially integrating her and her power into the Society's structure, especially in terms of rule-making and Order maintenance, where she could play an irreplaceable role.

Lin Zhou readily agreed: "That is excellent. Thank you, Senior Student Qin... Consultant Qin Qing."

The core structure was thus finalized:

Society Head: Lin Zhou (Oversees the overall situation, determines the direction of development, provides core ideological output).

Head of the War Hall: Zhao Hao (Combat training, external campaigns).

Head of the Research Hall: Li Mo (Academic research, technological development).

Head of the Combat Hall: Wang Meng (Internal sparring, talent discovery).

Consultant and Leader of the Legal and Ethical Oversight Group: Qin Qing (Rule review, Order maintenance, liaison for School of Legalism research).

"Besides the structure, daily operations also require manpower," Lin Zhou continued. "We will establish the 'Standing Affairs Department,' responsible for member management, resource allocation, logistics, external liaison, and other miscellaneous tasks, with leaders selected from existing reliable members. Additionally, we will establish the 'Forum Department' to regularly host the 'Hundred Schools Forum,' where I, or the Research Hall group leaders, or even invited professors and senior students from relevant fields within the university, will systematically teach the essence and application of the Hundred Schools of Thought. This is our Foundation and must be consistently executed well."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Alright, the framework is set; next is filling in the substance." Lin Zhou stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the still-lively small plaza below, and the magnificent campus scenery of Xinghai University further away.

"Zhao Hao, quickly produce the War Hall's first phase training plan, starting perhaps with simple School of Military formation coordination. Li Mo, the Research Hall's various research groups must be established quickly. The first key project can focus on 'how to more efficiently domesticate the Gryphons and integrate them into the existing tactical System,' and 'utilizing the Spirit Spring to develop new auxiliary medicinal agents or Cultivation environments.' Wang Meng, the Combat Hall's ranking and challenge System can be implemented first to stimulate everyone's competitive spirit. Consultant Qin Qing, I entrust the draft of the Society's internal regulations to you."

"Furthermore," Lin Zhou turned around, his eyes bright, "send out a notice: three days from now, the first 'Hundred Schools Forum' will be held in the Society's Grand Lecture Hall, with me as the main speaker. The tentative topic is—'From Vertical and Horizontal Alliances to Hundred Schools Sounding Together: A Brief Discussion on the Multi-dimensional Application of Ideological Power in Divine Wars.' A portion of the audit seats will be open to the entire university."

He intended to systematically refine and share the practical experience gained during the Freshman Cup and the challenge match, further expanding the influence of the Hundred Schools of Thought and attracting more truly like-minded talents to the Society.

As clear instructions were issued one after another, the Hundred Schools Society, this machine that had rapidly expanded due to Lin Zhou's personal prestige, began to acquire a defined structure and operational direction. Zhao Hao, Li Mo, Wang Meng, and Qin Qing also formally established their core status and responsibilities within the Society.

A core team, led by Lin Zhou and integrating combat, research, competition, and Order, was thus formed.

The Society membership surpassed three hundred, possessing an independent venue and stable resources.

The core structure was defined, with everyone fulfilling their respective duties.

Ideological dissemination was about to become systematic and normalized.

The Hundred Schools Society, a student association once regarded as a "novel toy," having been tempered by repeated fierce battles and blessed by the principal's affirmation, finally truly grew into an emerging force that could not be ignored on the Xinghai University campus, possessing a clear development blueprint and a solid core framework.

Lin Zhou knew that this was only the beginning. The future of the Society would inevitably be more closely linked to the development of his Divine Domain, the dissemination of the Hundred Schools of Thought, and the destiny of the Human Race in the starry sky.

But at this moment, standing on the top floor of the Society building and gazing out at the endless starry sky, his heart was filled with unprecedented confidence and anticipation.

The Foundation is laid; the great edifice is about to rise.