284: Chapter 219: Deciphering the Inscription, the Truth of Civilization's Fall is Revealed

The brief joy of cracking the guardian mechanism and obtaining the [Bronze Soldier Figurine Manufacturing Method] design blueprint was quickly replaced by a heavier, deeper quest. The seventy-two massive bronze statues that had returned to silence were like loyal guards, silently flanking the central monument that pierced the heavens, guarding the truth buried by time and calamity concerning the final fate of a glorious civilization.

Li Mo carefully placed the glowing beast-hide blueprint into a specialized protective container. The excitement of gaining knowledge still lingered in his eyes, but his expression had returned to seriousness. He understood that compared to the history carried by this massive monument, the manufacturing technology of the soldier figurines was perhaps just a drop in the ocean.

“President, your face...” Qin Qing noticed that although Lin Zhou had withdrawn his hand, his aura was still somewhat unstable and his complexion was even paler than before. Clearly, the continuous contact with the inscription and enduring the torrent of information just now had been an immense drain.

Lin Zhou waved his hand slightly, indicating he was fine. He sat cross-legged and took out a high-quality faith crystal, holding it in his hand to quickly absorb it and replenish his consumed Divine Power. However, the vast majority of his mind remained immersed in his Sea of Consciousness, focused on the continuous, wave-like analytical feedback from the Temple of Civilization.

The information that had flooded in when he touched the inscription was too complex and chaotic, containing strong emotional imprints and fragments of Laws. It was like an epic Incomplete Manual that had been violently torn apart and mixed with countless layers of noise. The Temple of Civilization was currently sorting, piecing together, and translating it at maximum capacity.

At this moment, as the preliminary analysis progressed, some relatively coherent and clear fragments of key information began to surface like the tip of an iceberg in a dark, deep sea, gradually taking shape in Lin Zhou's consciousness.

He closed his eyes, as if 'seeing' the chaotic light cluster representing the monument's information within the sanctuary's phantom being stripped of its Impurities. It revealed the 'main text' written in an ancient script resembling oracle bone and bronze inscriptions, along with semantic fragments translated simultaneously by the sanctuary that Lin Zhou could understand.

【...By the mandate of the Sovereign Heavens, human culture was initiated, rites and music were established, and the nine cauldrons were set in the Nine Provinces... The stars shone brightly, ten thousand races came to pay homage, the Way of Humanity flourished, and the Heavenly Dao showed favor... This was the peak era of Our Clan (a complex clan name containing multiple concepts like 'Xia', 'Hua', and 'Zhong', temporarily translated by the sanctuary as 'Hua Clan' or 'Huaxia Ancestors')...】

The opening record was of the civilization's glory. The text was filled with pride and reverence for heaven, earth, and nature, depicting a golden age where human civilization thrived under the favor of the 'Heavenly Dao.' Rites and music flourished, the territory was vast (possibly spanning more than one planet), and they even maintained friendly relations with other racial civilizations. This faintly echoed Lin Zhou's imagination of the peak of ancient Huaxia from his previous life, as well as the legends of certain lost golden ages in this world.

【...However, the Heavenly Dao is fickle, and the fortunes of the world face tribulations... At the far end of the sea of stars, the Black Tide surged, Shadows of the Old Days whispered, and the enemies of Order awakened... The... Heavenly... Dao... changed... (The text here is distorted, Laws are in violent conflict, and information is extremely chaotic, mixed with immense terror, confusion, and rage)】

Immediately after, the tone shifted abruptly. The text revealed a sense of immense crisis. The 'Heavenly Dao' seemed to have changed or suffered some kind of erosion or distortion. Threats from the depths of the star sea (vaguely referred to as the 'Black Tide' and 'Shadows of the Old Days') began to manifest. The sanctuary noted that the information here was severely polluted, with many contradictory descriptions and incomprehensible concepts, as if the recorder themselves had fallen into cognitive Chaos.

【...They are not living beings, but a cancer of laws, a poison of concepts... They devour the principles of civilization and usurp the sequence of the Heavenly Dao... Our clan's priests questioned the heavens, but the heavens did not respond; they prayed to the earth, but the earth was silent... The magnificent heavenly Laws were gradually stained with alien colors... (Grief, indignation, and despair almost seeped through the text)】

More detailed descriptions revealed the horror of the enemy. It was not a conventional foreign invasion, but an existence that acted directly on the level of 'Laws' and 'concepts,' like a 'poison' or 'cancer' targeting civilization itself. They eroded the Order of the 'Heavenly Dao' and tampered with basic Laws. The Hua Clan's traditional ways of communicating with heaven and earth (sacrifices and prayers) began to fail, and the 'Heavenly Dao' environment they relied on for survival was becoming alien and hostile.

【...Changes in the heavens are not to be feared, ancestors are not to be blindly followed—humanity can certainly triumph over heaven! ...The entire clan took up arms to fight the Heavenly Dao with the Way of Humanity! Use the Fire of Civilization to incinerate the cancer of laws! ...The Hundred Schools of Thought contend, each showing their Dao: Confucianism holds the Sword of Benevolence to rectify the human heart; Legalism establishes the Cauldron of Punishment to enforce discipline; Mohism casts Non-Aggression to guard the home; Daoism leads with nature to resist tampering; Militarism practices slaughter to defend the land... (The emotion here turned into a tragic determination, and the text seemed to flash with the light of clashing steel and the brilliance of the Hundred Schools)】

Facing this unprecedented crisis that struck at the very Foundation of their civilization, the Hua Clan did not yield. They raised the cry that 'humanity can triumph over heaven' (a concept that shook Lin Zhou's Soul), deciding to use the power of the entire civilization to combat the corrupted 'Heavenly Dao' and the enemies of the Laws. The philosophies of the Hundred Schools of Thought were pushed to their limits during this War of survival, becoming weapons to resist the erosion of Laws and unify the civilization's strength. This was an ultimate War between civilizational ideals and distorted Laws!

【...Blood stained the sea of stars, Souls returned to the thick earth... Ten thousand years of Foundation collapsed in an instant... The firmament wept blood, the nine cauldrons overturned, the mountains and rivers were in turmoil, and the river of civilization... ceased to flow... (Endless sorrow and scenes of destruction rushed forth)】

The brutality of the War exceeded imagination. The written record became extremely brief, but the destruction and despair revealed between the lines were enough to suffocate any reader. The Hua Clan, at the peak of its civilization, ultimately moved toward annihilation in this unequal War concerning the fundamentals of existence. The nine cauldrons overturned, the mountains and rivers were shattered, and the 'river' symbolizing the civilization's Legacy ceased to flow... This was the fall of an entire civilizational tier.

【...However, the sparks are not extinguished, and hope still remains... The sages wept blood, using their remaining strength to tear through time and space, sending sparks to the myriad worlds, beyond the ten thousand cycles of Reincarnation... (The information here is fragmented; the specific form, number, and destination of the 'sparks' are extremely vague) This monument stands here as both a memorial and a warning... Future generations, if you see our writing, know this: The Heavenly Dao... has changed... it is no longer as it was... use... Primal Chaos Power... with caution... (The final few warnings carried immense weight, as if carved with the last of their strength, followed by a long blank space and chaotic noise representing the end)】

The final part was a glimmer of light amidst the destruction. In the last moment before the civilization was completely annihilated, the sages of the Hua Clan used some Heaven-Defying means to forcibly send out the 'sparks' of civilization—possibly core knowledge, Bloodlines, the essence of thought, or something more fundamental—out of this doomed time and space, scattering them to unknown corners of the myriad worlds in the hope that they might be reignited one day in the distant future. And this massive monument was both a tombstone commemorating this catastrophe and a warning left for those who came after.

Especially that final warning—'The Heavenly Dao has changed, use Primal Chaos Power with caution!'—it exploded repeatedly in Lin Zhou's consciousness like a thunderclap!

Primal Chaos Power! This concept, which in Lin Zhou's previous life's myths and legends represented the Origin of the world and the great power that opened the heavens, actually appeared in the final warning of this lost civilization! And it was to be used 'with caution'! What did this mean? Could it be that the 'change in the Heavenly Dao' or the 'cancer of laws' that led to the fall of the Hua Clan civilization was related to 'Primal Chaos'? Or was it that, under the premise that 'the Heavenly Dao has changed,' rashly using 'Primal Chaos Power' would bring about unpredictable disasters?

The impact brought by the torrent of information far exceeded the joy of obtaining the soldier figurine design blueprint. Lin Zhou slowly opened his eyes, which were filled with shock, sorrow, realization, as well as deep confusion and vigilance.

He had previously guessed that this grotto-heaven was related to Huaxia civilization, but he hadn't expected the connection to be so direct and profound! This wasn't just 'related'; this place was very likely one of the final main battlefields where that glorious 'Hua Clan' civilization was destroyed! Or at least, it was a significant fragment of it!

And he, Lin Zhou, a transmigrator whose Soul came from another world but who similarly carried the imprint of Huaxia civilization, had come here by virtue of the Temple of Civilization. Was this merely a coincidence? The sanctuary's violent reaction, its hunger for information from a common Origin... 'sparks scattered across the myriad worlds'... a startling hypothesis sprouted in his heart: Could his own Temple of Civilization be one of those scattered 'sparks'? Or at least have an extremely deep connection to them?

“President?” Seeing Lin Zhou's expression shifting constantly, Zhao Hao couldn't help but ask in a low voice, “What exactly does it say on this big monument? You look... not so good.”

Wang Meng also asked in a muffled voice, “Is it very troublesome?”

Qin Qing and Li Mo also looked at Lin Zhou with concern.

Lin Zhou took a deep breath, trying to calm his churning thoughts. He knew that this information was too shocking and involved his greatest secrets (Transmigration and the source of the sanctuary), so he couldn't reveal it all. However, some key warnings concerning the safety of this exploration had to be shared with his teammates.

He weighed his words and spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of raspiness and heaviness:

“This inscription... records an extremely ancient and glorious civilization that encountered an unimaginable catastrophe here and ultimately... fell.”

He omitted specific titles like 'Hua Clan' or 'Huaxia,' using more general terms.

“The enemy was not the common living beings or deities we know, but some kind of... terrifying existence that distorts Laws and erodes the Foundations of civilization. This civilization called it the 'cancer of laws' or 'poison of concepts.' Some kind of supreme Law or environment they called the 'Heavenly Dao' changed during the War, and might have even turned around to become an accomplice of the enemy.”

“This civilization exhausted all its efforts, fighting with the collective thought and power of its entire civilization, but in the end... they failed. The civilization was almost completely erased.”

“The final part of the inscription warns those who come after: 'The Heavenly Dao has changed,' and... 'use Primal Chaos Power with caution.'”

“The Heavenly Dao has changed? Use Primal Chaos Power with caution?” Li Mo's brow furrowed as he quickly recorded and pondered, “'Heavenly Dao' can be understood as the collection of the Universe's basic rules or some supreme will... 'Has changed' means that the underlying rules we recognize and rely on today might not be 'pure' or 'complete'? Perhaps they even hide 'pathological changes' that we cannot detect? And 'Primal Chaos Power'... refers to the primordial power from the beginning of the Universe's creation? Why would such power need to be used 'with caution'? Could it be that in the context of 'the Heavenly Dao has changed,' using primordial power would trigger uncontrollable mutations, or... attract those 'cancers of Laws'?”

Qin Qing's expression was solemn: “If the inscription's records are true, then the underlying rules of this ruin, and even the entire Universe we are in, may be buried with huge hidden dangers that we do not yet know. The so-called 'Heavenly Dao' might no longer be a benevolent father nurturing all things, but... a double-edged sword that could harm oneself, or even something that has already been polluted. The Divine Power and Laws we normally mobilize, their Origins might...”

She didn't continue, but the meaning was self-evident. This subversive warning sent a chill through the deities who were accustomed to cultivating and fighting under established rules.

Although Zhao Hao and Wang Meng were not very proficient in rule theory, they also understood the gravity of the situation. A threat that could cause such a glorious civilization to perish was unimaginably terrifying. And the warning about the 'Heavenly Dao' and 'Primal Chaos' gave them an instinctive wariness toward the source of their power.

“President, is this warning... credible?” Zhao Hao asked.

“The inscription has endured through endless ages, carrying the final obsession and warning of that civilization; its credibility is very high,” Lin Zhou said deeply. “Moreover, it corresponds with the space-time turbulence we encountered when entering the grotto-heaven, the shattered and oppressive nature of the Laws here, and even the 'guarding' obsession of those guardian soldier figurines. A tragic War affecting the level of Laws truly did happen here.”

He paused and looked toward the towering monument and the depths of the gray mist behind it: “The inscription mentioned that in their final moment, that civilization sent out 'sparks,' scattering them across the myriad worlds. This might mean that not all legacies were completely severed. And one of the goals of our trip might be to find those 'sparks' that may still remain here, or at least to learn more about the truth of that catastrophe and the 'change in the Heavenly Dao,' to provide an early warning for ourselves and... for the civilization behind us.”

“So, we still have to go deeper?” Wang Meng clenched his fists.

“We must go deeper.” Lin Zhou's gaze was firm. “The danger is known, but the opportunity and responsibility are equally great. This inscription is the entrance and a warning, but it is by no means the end. The core ruins of that civilization might be in the depths of this shattered world. We need more information, more concrete evidence, and perhaps... the vital legacies they were unable to take away.”

His words reignited everyone's sense of mission and desire for exploration. Fear certainly existed, but as deities, the quest for the unknown, the pursuit of power, and the responsibility toward civilization were also etched into their bones.

“Li Mo, complete the preliminary analysis of the [Bronze Soldier Figurine Manufacturing Method] as soon as possible to see if we can use existing Materials to manufacture or repair a few simple soldier figurines in a short time to strengthen our exploration force,” Lin Zhou began to deploy. “The rest of you, hurry up and recover. Later, we will use this monument square as our forward base and begin exploring toward the 'shattered palace complex' we caught a glimpse of in the passage, deeper into the gray mist.”

“Yes!” Everyone responded and began to take action.

Lin Zhou looked at the monument again, silently reciting that final warning in his heart.

The Heavenly Dao has changed...

Use Primal Chaos Power with caution...

This was not just a warning for the exploration of this grotto-heaven; perhaps it was also a foreshadowing of his future path. What kind of 'Heavenly Dao' would his 'Way of Civilization' have to face? And what role would the legendary 'Primal Chaos' play in his path?

The answers might just be hidden in the deeper parts of this civilizational graveyard.