287: Chapter 222: The Mystery of Opening the Door, The Final Test of Civilization's Inheritance

Inside the circular hall, there was total silence.

The mental questioning emitted by the chaotic light sphere floating at the top of the nine-layered jade platform was like three heavy hammers. They not only struck the hearts of Lin Zhou and his four companions but also faintly shook this stable space constructed by ancient rules. The originally mild and peaceful Spiritual Qi in the air also seemed to ripple because of this ultimate question, taking on a hint of solemnity and weight.

"What is 'Opening'?"

"What do you seek to open?"

"After opening, where will you go?"

Zhao Hao subconsciously clenched his fists. The intuition brought by his dragon-type followers made him feel that the level of power contained in this light sphere was extremely high, definitely not something they could forcibly break through at their current stage. Wang Meng's brow was even more furrowed; the thinking of a Behemoth was straightforward, and this kind of philosophical questioning made him feel more of a headache than facing a thousand-strong army. Data streams flashed rapidly in Li Mo's eyes as he tried to analyze some kind of "answering logic" from the shifting rainbow light of the sphere and the runic structure of the surrounding jade platform, but he soon gave up—this test pointed directly at one's "Dao Heart" and "perception," rather than being a technical or logical puzzle. The light of jurisprudence circulated around Qin Qing as she tried to understand the core of the question with her Judgment Angel's "Order Insight" talent, but she only felt a vast and blurry "ocean of Concepts," leaving her with no way to start.

Everyone's gaze finally focused on Lin Zhou.

At this moment, Lin Zhou stared at the chaotic light sphere, yet his gaze seemed to penetrate it, looking toward a more distant place. The Fire of Civilization around him was no longer blazing outward; instead, it was restrained and quiet, like a warm current surging beneath the deep sea, or like the deepest darkness before dawn, nurturing the light of daybreak.

He did not answer immediately.

He first "inspected" himself.

【God Panel (Simplified)】

Name: Lin Zhou

Godhood Level: LV150 (Faint Divinity high-tier, advancing towards the Lesser Divinity threshold)

divine office: 【Education (Embryonic)】, 【Law (Embryonic)】

Divinity: 1.2 units of 【Civilization】 (obtained from the College Entrance Examination and subsequent refinement and transformation, pure quality)

Divine Power Reserves: 8421/15000 (limit increases with godhood)

Godfire Status: Burning steadily, civilization characteristics manifesting, transformation efficiency: 10,000 Faith / 1 Divine Power (Standard True God efficiency)

Temple of Civilization Status: Activated, functions upgraded after fusing with 【Lost Civilization Spark (Incomplete)】, unlocking 【Civilization Deduction】 (Elementary).

civilization points: 8,500 points (mainly from spreading thoughts, grotto-heaven exploration, and inscription deciphering)

God Kingdom Overview: Area 150 square kilometers (after merging with the ancient grotto-heaven), rule completeness 68%, Rating: Medium God Kingdom (Initial Stage). Core Followers: Literary Heart Elves (average LV35), Tiangong Dwarves (average LV32), Law Fishmen (average LV33), population approximately 35,000.

Core Heroes:

Elena (Literary Heart Elves High Priestess, LV48, talent 【Wenxin Diaolong】, newly comprehended skill 【Shennong Tasting Herbs Map】)

Grum (Tiangong Dwarves Grandmaster, LV45, talent 【Supernatural Craftsmanship】, mastered Bronze Soldier Figurine Manufacturing Method)

Siren (Law Fishmen Chief Justice, LV44, talent 【Law Shows No Mercy】, skill 【The Net of Heaven】)

Data flowed through his heart, not just as a quantification of power, but as the footprints of his journey. From a weak demigod Forest Elf to binding with the Temple of Civilization and enlightening his divine domain with the Hundred Schools of Thought; from being the top scholar of the College Entrance Examination and igniting his godfire to entering Xinghai University and establishing a society; from showing his talent in the Freshman Cup to winning the Academy Championship; from his first exploration of a grotto-heaven to obtain the spark completion, and now deep into these lost ruins, breaking through seven trials in a row...

Every choice, every growth, and every deeper understanding and application of the Hundred Schools of Thought were like trickling streams merging into the "river of civilization" in his heart.

He recalled the tragic heroism and the sense of Legacy when Elwin sacrificed himself;

He recalled the palpitation and the sense of finding a soulmate when Su Yueyao's Moonlight Divine Power resonated with the Fire of Civilization;

He recalled the transformation of Zhao Hao and Wang Meng from rivals to comrades-in-arms;

He recalled Li Mo's obsession with Mohist thought and its creative Fusion;

He recalled Qin Qing's transition from questioning to studying Legalist classics;

And the intelligence support silently provided by Chen Hai in the shadows...

These people and events, the struggles and faith of his followers, and the collision and Fusion of thoughts together formed the practical Foundation of his "Way of Civilization."

"Open..." Lin Zhou slowly exhaled, his eyes shining with divine light. He did not answer the light sphere directly but turned to look at his four teammates behind him, who had gone through the trials and looked solemn.

"Zhao Hao, your giant dragon followers are traditionally powerful, but why did you ultimately choose to join the Hundred Schools Society and even have the giant dragons start learning fragments of 'the analects'?" Lin Zhou asked.

Zhao Hao was taken aback, scratched his head, and thought seriously: "At first, I wasn't convinced, but later I was beaten into submission... However, the real reason I stayed is that I feel your path, Boss, seems to make my giant dragons... more than just lumps of muscle. After they learned a bit of 'Benevolence and Righteousness' and 'Valiance and Discipline,' they became smarter in fights, sometimes even bluffing those brainless monsters. I think... it's got potential."

Lin Zhou nodded and then asked Wang Meng: "Wang Meng, your Behemoth's strength is unrivaled, but did you often feel like you had strength with nowhere to use it, or fell into encirclements in previous battles?"

Wang Meng replied in a booming voice: "Yes! Before, I only knew how to charge and was often toyed with like a dog on a leash. Since hanging out with you guys, I've learned a bit of the Art of War's 'Swift as the Wind' and 'Immovable as a Mountain,' as well as that 'The Brave are Fearless, the Cautious are Strategic' you taught, Boss. Now I know how to look at formations and find opportunities when fighting. It's satisfying!"

"Li Mo," Lin Zhou looked at his tech-geek roommate, "your Mechanical Goblins prioritize logic above all else. Why are you so fascinated by the Mohist thoughts of 'The Exploitation of the Works of Nature' and 'Non-Aggression'?"

Li Mo pushed his non-existent glasses, his eyes shining: "Because of efficiency! The Mohist logical system is rigorous, and their mechanism techniques push the combination of logic and creativity to the extreme. 'Non-Aggression' isn't about not making weapons, but about creating the most efficient defensive weapons to stop War. This logic is too beautiful! Moreover, Boss, your civilization system seems able to encompass and even optimize my mechanical logic, giving my creations... a possibility of a bit more 'spirituality'."

Finally, Lin Zhou looked at Qin Qing. Qin Qing met his gaze, a hint of complexity flashing across her cold face before turning into determination: "Order should not be a rigid dogma. The Legalist 'No Exemption from Punishment' and 'Law Shows No Mercy' pursue the most essential, dynamic justice and Order. Your path... seems able to provide Order with a deeper Foundation and broader boundaries. After my Judgment Angel studied the Classic of Law, judgment is no longer just cold punishment; it has taken on a sense of 'Enlightenment' and 'Guidance'."

After hearing the four people's answers, a faint smile appeared on Lin Zhou's face. He turned back to the chaotic light sphere and walked toward the nine-layered jade platform with steady steps. With every step he took up the jade stairs, the Aura on his body grew heavier, and the restrained Fire of Civilization began to spread outward. It wasn't scorchingly aggressive but rather a warm, firm, vast, and orderly "field."

When he stood at the peak of the jade platform, level with the chaotic light sphere, the entire hall seemed to become his background. Qin Qing and the other three behind him instinctively stepped back a few paces to leave space for him, seemingly infected by this invisible "Aura," their minds involuntarily immersed in it.

"Now, I will answer you."

Lin Zhou's voice was not loud, but it echoed clearly in every corner of the hall, carrying a strange penetrating power that reached the core of the chaotic light sphere and settled in the heart of everyone present.

"First question: What is 'Opening'?"

"In my view, 'Opening' is not simply 'opening a door' or 'activating a mechanism'."

"'Opening' is breaking through ignorance, enlightening wisdom, embracing change, and creating possibilities."

"It stems from dissatisfaction with the status quo, curiosity about the unknown, and a longing for beauty. It is the first spark of fire at the birth of civilization, the first flash of thought breaking through shackles, and the critical leap of technology breaking through a Bottleneck. 'Opening' is an action, but even more so a mindset; it is a result, but even more so a process."

"The 'Opening' of an individual lies in learning and growth; the 'Opening' of a race lies in Legacy and evolution; the 'Opening' of a civilization lies in exchange and Fusion, in constant self-renewal and the expansion of boundaries."

Following his explanation, the Fire of Civilization around him began to evolve, turning into scenes of miniature dynamic images: primitive humans drilling wood to make fire (opening light and cooked food), Cangjie creating characters (opening recording and Legacy), Great Yu channeling floods (opening the understanding and utilization of nature), Confucius opening a forum for lectures (opening commoner Education and the spread of thought)... Although they were only phantoms manifested by Divine Power, they contained a clear Concept of "Opening."

The chaotic light sphere fluctuated slightly, and the flow of the rainbow light seemed to slow down a little.

"Second question: What do you seek to open?"

Lin Zhou's gaze became deeper, as if penetrating through time.

"What I seek to open is not a specific treasure, nor is it simply powerful strength."

"What I seek to open is, first, the sealed truths and wisdom. For instance, the cause of the fall of the Ancient Huaxia Civilization carried by these ruins—what exactly was that catastrophe of the 'Invasion of the Heavenly Dao,' what price did the sages pay, and what warnings and legacies did they leave behind? Only by knowing history can one understand the present and enlighten the future."

"Secondly, what I seek to open are broader cognitive boundaries and possibilities. Although the Hundred Schools of Thought are wonderful, they are by no means the end. The Universe is vast, and civilizations are like stars, each with its own brilliance. I am willing to use the Hundred Schools as a Foundation, being inclusive of all things, to understand, learn from, reference, and even fuse the essence of other civilizations to see what ultimate height the final form of civilization can reach."

"Finally, and most importantly, what I seek to open is a new era, a new possibility."

Lin Zhou's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable conviction:

"In this era where gods stand like trees in a forest, ten thousand races vie for supremacy, and power is paramount, what I see is too much conquest, plunder, oppression, and the simplification, rigidity, and even regression of civilization! The strong stay strong, while the weak become faith slaves or face extinction. The traditional paths of magic, giant dragons, and Titans are certainly powerful, but they have also fallen into a certain rut."

"What I bring is Way of Civilization development centered on 'thought', 'wisdom', 'Order', 'benevolence', and 'creation'!"

"I do not seek for my Dao to be the only one, but I seek to open a door, proving that this path is not only feasible but can go higher and further! Let more beings see that strength is not just about destruction and conquest, but can also be about construction, Enlightenment, and win-win results; let the Fire of Civilization illuminate more corners and connect more hearts in the cold darkness of the Universe!"

"What I seek to open is the prelude to a new era where a Hundred Schools of Thought contend, civilizations prosper together, and the light of wisdom shines upon all worlds!"

"Boom—!"

The moment Lin Zhou's words fell, the Temple of Civilization within him vibrated violently! The accumulated 8,500 civilization points burned and transformed like a floodgate opening! They were not exchanged for specific items but turned into the purest 'civilization insights' and 'Dao Rhyme,' pouring into his explanation!

Behind him, the river of civilization, which was originally just a phantom, suddenly erupted with brilliant light! The phantom rapidly solidified, and a pale-golden river of civilization, several zhang wide, with no known origin or end, seemed to gallop out from the depths of history, spanning across the hall! Within the river, as the waves surged, they were no longer blurred images but clearly emerged epic chapters of Huaxia Civilization and even what he had witnessed and created along the way:

The Light of Confucianism: Phantoms of Confucius traveling through various states and his three thousand Disciples appeared. Golden characters like "The benevolent love others" and "Do Not Do to Others What You Would Not Have Them Do to You" danced on the crests of the waves, radiating the brilliance of Order and Enlightenment.

The Blade of Legalism: Scenes of Shang Yang establishing the pole and Han Fei writing books appeared. Silver characters like "The Law Does Not Favor the Noble" and "No Exemption from Punishment for high officials" condensed like blades, exuding a cold and just sharpness.

The Skill of Mohism: Mechanism City rose from the ground, the bronze Vermilion Bird soared, and bronze-colored patterns of "Universal Love and Non-Aggression" and "The Exploitation of the Works of Nature" intertwined, embodying the beauty of logic and creation.

The Mystery of Taoism: Laozi rode a green ox out of the pass, the Yin and Yang fish diagram rotated endlessly, and the green Dao rhyme of "Tao Follows Nature" and "Supreme Good Is Like Water" permeated, explaining the principles of nature and transcendence.

The Aura of the School of Military: Sun Wu performed formations, flags were like a forest, and the red Battle Intent of "Swift as the Wind, Fierce as Fire" rose, manifesting the power of strategy and conquest.

The Foundation of the School of Agriculture: Shennong tasted herbs, fertile fields stretched for thousands of miles, and the earthy-yellow vitality of "People Regard Food as Their Heaven" flowed, representing Foundation and abundance.

The Benevolence of the School of Medicine: Bian Que observed, listened, questioned, and felt pulses, acupuncture charts flickered, and the emerald green life energy of "Healing the Sick and Saving Lives" and "Harmony of Yin and Yang" rippled.

The Debate of the School of Names: Gongsun Long discussed the white horse, the phantom of the debate platform appeared, and purple logical threads of "Holding Names Responsible for Reality" and "Conjoining Differences" shuttled through.

The Momentum of the School of Diplomacy: Su Qin wore the seals of the prime minister of six states, and Zhang Yi broke the vertical alliance with the horizontal alliance. The invisible momentum of "Befriending Distant States While Attacking Nearby Ones" and "War of Words" permeated.

The Fusion of School of Miscellaneous: Lü Buwei compiled the "Lüshi Chunqiu," drawing on the strengths of many, and a Chaos-colored vortex of "All Rivers Run into the Sea" ebbed and flowed.

The brilliance of the Hundred Schools was not isolated but, carried by the river of civilization, blended and complemented each other, together forming a grand, harmonious, and infinitely vibrant scroll of civilization!

This was not Lin Zhou's intentional control, but a natural manifestation under the resonance of his Dao Heart and the Temple of Civilization, catalyzed by the burning of civilization points! It was the 'external scene' presented after his understanding of his own path reached a certain level!

"The third question, and also the final question: After opening it, where will you go?"

Lin Zhou's Aura climbed to the peak, and his voice was like a great bell, resonating with the surging river of civilization:

"After opening it, it is by no means the end, but a new starting point, an eternal journey!"

"If I obtain the Legacy after this door, I shall use it as a new cornerstone, rather than a shackle that binds my hands and feet."

"I will continue to deepen the Hundred Schools of Thought, promoting their integration with the times and the civilizations of all worlds, constantly innovating and developing."

"I will take the Divine Kingdom as a ship and the river of civilization as a sail, sailing toward the vaster sea of stars, bringing the Fire of Civilization and wisdom to more worthy beings and races. Not forced conversion, but showing possibilities and attracting fellow travelers."

"I will explore the ultimate mystery of the 'Heavenly Dao', respond to the potential 'Guixu' threat, and find a true path of transcendence and eternity for my Human Race and all civilizations that yearn for light and Order!"

"The road ahead is long and arduous, but I will seek it up and down."

"This is the 'where' I am going—a... civilization journey that, in eternal exploration and creation, constantly transcends itself, illuminates others, resists the void, and pursues the ultimate!"

"Explanation complete!"

As the last two words were uttered, Lin Zhou felt his spirit, Divine Power, and even that sliver of precious civilization divinity undergo a thorough washing and tempering. A subtle 'crack' came from the depths of his godhead, as if some Bottleneck had quietly loosened. The civilization points were burned out, but the light of the Temple of Civilization became more stable, and the [Civilization Deduction] function seemed to become clearer.

And in the hall, a sudden anomaly occurred!

"Buzz—!!!"

The Chaos light sphere that had been silently changing suddenly erupted with an unprecedentedly strong light the moment Lin Zhou finished his explanation! The multicolored brilliance retracted, turning into a pure, warm golden color! On the surface of the sphere, countless fine runes emerged, sharing the same origin as the text on the giant monument but even more profound. These runes seemed to come alive, rapidly rotating and reorganizing around the sphere!

Immediately after, the jade walls around the hall, the ground beneath their feet, and the dome above all lit up simultaneously! Countless ancient runes, murals, and star maps appeared one after another, as if the entire ruins, which had slept for ages, were awakened and resonated at this moment!

Even more shocking was that around the river of civilization manifested by Lin Zhou, phantoms emitting a vast and ancient Aura began to appear on the jade walls and in the void!

These phantoms had various forms; some wore high hats and wide belts, some wore plain clothes and hemp shoes, some held scrolls, some wore long swords at their waists, some held plows, and some held compasses... Although their faces were blurred, the noble spirit and brilliance of wisdom they radiated—"To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to establish a life for the people, to carry on the lost teachings of the past sages, and to open up peace for all generations"—were so real and tangible!

They were the traces of the will of the ancient Huaxia sages! They were the last marks of the true masters of these ruins remaining in the world!

At this moment, these phantoms of sages either nodded, contemplated, or smiled, their gazes seemingly piercing through eternal time and space, falling upon Lin Zhou atop the jade platform, and upon that endlessly surging river of civilization!

They were listening! They were witnessing!

"Good."

"Very good."

"Latecomer... your Dao, though immature, has a commendable heart, an encouraging will, and its path... is passable."

"Inclusiveness, keeping pace with the times, people-oriented... using civilization as a boat to cross oneself and others... opening a new path for all generations..."

"My Dao... is not alone."

"The Spark... is given to you."

"I hope you... be cautious... strive..."

Intermittent fragments of thought, seemingly from the end of distant time and space, mixed with relief, expectation, warning, and blessing, echoed softly in everyone's hearts. It was unclear which specific phantom sent them, yet it seemed like the collective echo of all the sages' wills.

"Boom—!"

The nine-layered jade platform began to vibrate, and the pure golden light sphere slowly sank, merging into a groove at the top of the platform. Then, the entire jade platform, along with the ground below, slid open silently to both sides like a precision mechanism being activated!

A staircase passage extending downward, emitting an even more ancient and profound Aura, appeared before everyone. From the depths of the passage, a faint light came, warm and steady, like a lighthouse in the dark night.

At the same time, in Lin Zhou's mind, the Temple of Civilization sent a clear prompt:

[Detected 'Dao Heart Explanation' that meets the core Legacy conditions...]

[Obtained recognition from the will of the ancient sages...]

[Final Trial passed!]

[Reward settlement in progress...]

[Obtained: civilization points +10,000 (Legacy Gift)]

[Obtained: Divine insight baptism, Godhead stability greatly improved, success rate for breaking through Lesser Divinity Bottleneck increased by 30%.]

[Obtained: Blessing of Ancient Sages (Temporary); for the next 24 hours, Comprehension Ability +200%, rule insight ability +150%.]

[Core Legacy Secret Chamber has been opened...]

The phantom of the river of civilization behind Lin Zhou slowly retracted, but the feeling of materialization did not completely fade. Clearly, the benefits of this manifestation were far more than just panel data. He took a long breath, feeling his heart more transparent and firm than ever. Looking back at his teammates, the faces of Zhao Hao and the other three were filled with shock, excitement, and heartfelt admiration.

"Boss... you're awesome!" Zhao Hao held it in for a long time before only spitting out these two simplest words, but the respect in his eyes was genuine.

Wang Meng nodded vigorously. His Behemoth intuition made him feel that the Lin Zhou just now seemed to radiate a "sovereign Aura" even more impressive than a Dragon Lord—not the overbearing nature of power, but the grandeur of the path.

Li Mo was so excited his hands were shaking: "Recorded! The rune wave of partial resonance and the energy characteristics of the sages' phantoms have all been recorded! This data is too precious!"

Qin Qing looked deeply at Lin Zhou, her cold eyes flickering with complex light, which eventually turned into a soft sigh and a firmer recognition: "Your Dao... I see the direction. Legalism is willing to be the 'bone' of this Dao."

Lin Zhou nodded to everyone without saying much. Everything was understood without words.

He took the first step, walking toward the downward-extending staircase.

"Let's go and see what kind of 'Spark' the sages have left for us later generations."

The passage went down, guided by the faint light. After experiencing the trials of the eight gates, the questioning of the Dao Heart, the final answer to the civilization Legacy lay just ahead.