290: Chapter 225: Treasures Within the Palace, Three Innate Spiritual Objects Acquired

"Quick! This way!"

Lin Zhou took the lead, galloping through the ruins' passage where violent tremors caused rubble to fall incessantly. Behind him, Zhao Hao and the other three followed closely, each propping up a Divine Power shield to ward off falling stones and permeating dust. The "Rule Bearing" characteristic brought by the semi-materialization of the river of civilization showed its effect now; Lin Zhou's perception of subtle changes in the spatial rules of the ruins became more acute, often allowing him to predict fragile, collapsing areas in advance and lead the group to avoid them by a hair's breadth.

They beat a hasty retreat along the route from their memory, but the entire ruins seemed to be undergoing a total "shutdown" and "collapse." The originally stable spatial structure became chaotic, some passages were blocked by falling boulders, and signs of spatial dislocation even appeared—though they were clearly running forward, it felt as if they were retreating backward.

"It's no use! The conventional route is blocked! Space is folding and twisting!" Li Mo urgently analyzed the data as he ran, "We must find a more stable 'anchor' or directly break through a weak point to rush out!"

"Break through? Where to?" Zhao Hao shattered a falling boulder with a claw, his Dragon pupils scanning everywhere.

Lin Zhou's eyes were sharp as he communicated with the Temple of Civilization inside him that had just finished upgrading. The [Civilization Deduction] (Elementary) function activated instantly! Although it was only Elementary, in this situation where the information was relatively simple (escape), the goal clear (find the safest and fastest exit), and closely related to his own safety, it could still provide extremely valuable guidance!

[Initiating Civilization Deduction: Analyzing the optimal escape path under the current ruins' collapse environment.]

[Consuming civilization points: 150 (Medium environmental complexity, high information mastery).]

[Deducing... Combining Host's spatial perception, ruins' structural memory, and collapse energy flow analysis...]

[Deduction Results (Probability Distribution):]

Option 1: Force a Breakthrough via the original path. Success rate 32%. Estimated to encounter more than three large-scale collapses. Serious injury probability 68%.

Option 2: 37 degrees to the left front, attack the point of abnormally chaotic energy fluctuations (suspected spatial weak node). Success rate 65%. May enter an unknown short-distance spatial jump with high landing uncertainty.

Option 3: Turn back 83 meters to the right rear and enter the side hall previously passed (ID: Bing-Seven). This hall's structure has traces of additional rule reinforcement, possibly containing hidden exits or stable passages. Success rate 78%, but requires bearing the risk of turning back.

[Note: Deduction results are based on existing information; actual Execution may be affected by sudden factors.]

Almost the instant the deduction results appeared, Lin Zhou made his decision: "Turn back! Go to Side Hall Bing-Seven!"

"What? Go back?" Wang Meng was stunned.

"Listen to the Captain!" Qin Qing did not hesitate, her Light of Jurisprudence transforming into a blade of light, slicing through the falling rocks ahead to clear the path for the turn back.

Li Mo and Zhao Hao also turned immediately.

The path back was even more dangerous, nearly being completely sealed off several times, but under Lin Zhou's precise predictions and everyone's cooperation, they forcefully rushed back to a side hall they hadn't explored deeply when passing by before—Side Hall Bing-Seven.

The hall's door had already half-collapsed in the tremors as the group rushed inside. Just as the deduction stated, this seemingly ordinary side hall, though also shaking, had a much smaller magnitude than the outside. Ancient reinforcement runes, faint and nearly extinguished, flickered on the pillars and walls inside the hall.

The space inside the hall was not large, roughly two hundred square meters. The furnishings were simple, with only a few overturned stone tables and several broken pottery jars, covered in a thick layer of dust. It looked like the meditation room or storage chamber of some ancient Cultivator.

"It's relatively stable here, but where's the exit?" Zhao Hao looked around, finding no obvious doorway.

Lin Zhou did not answer but closed his eyes. At his brow, the phantom of the Temple of Civilization flickered slightly. The extraordinary perception of same-source civilization creations brought by the newly awakened Innate Human Race Bloodline mark (1%), combined with the river of civilization's ability to capture the sedimentation of "historical information," allowed him to faintly sense a weak "calling" deep within this hall—one that shared the same Origin as the Ancient Bronze Lamp and the seed of civilization but had a different nature.

He walked to the innermost wall of the Great Hall. The wall was built of bluish-gray boulders and covered in dust, appearing completely normal. Lin Zhou reached out, his palm pressing against the stone wall, as the intent of inclusion and Legacy contained within the Fire of Civilization slowly seeped in.

"Buzz..."

Dust rustled down from the surface of the stone wall, revealing extremely dim traces of formation patterns that were almost about to dissipate. In the center of the formation patterns were three slightly recessed, palm-sized areas arranged in a triangular "Pin" shape.

"Requires... a same-source mark or energy to activate..." A flash of inspiration hit Lin Zhou. He mobilized a strand of the newly obtained, more active Civilization Divinity within him, splitting off a tiny portion and gently tapping the three recessed areas.

The first recess, upon contact with the Civilization Divinity, lit up with a warm, earthy yellow glow.

The second recess lit up with a cold, bluish-white radiance.

The third recess lit up with a brilliant, silver-blue starlight.

"Clack... clack clack..."

The wall slid open silently inward, revealing a narrow hidden compartment just large enough for one person to pass through. There were no Restrictions or traps inside the compartment, only three items lying quietly amidst the accumulated dust, emitting a weak but essentially high-level spiritual light.

Clearly, this was another arrangement left by the ancient sages. Only a successor who had truly fused with the seed of civilization and obtained the recognition of the Legacy could, by relying on the same-source Civilization Divinity, trigger this final gift before the place fell into eternal silence.

The moment the hidden compartment opened, that sense of a same-source calling became clear. The phantom of the river of civilization behind Lin Zhou also flowed over spontaneously, the epic images floating in the river water seemingly producing a slight resonance with these three items.

"This is..." Zhao Hao leaned in, the radiance of the three items reflected in his Dragon pupils. Even with his vision, he could feel that these things were extraordinary.

Lin Zhou took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and carefully took out the three items one by one.

The first item was a handful of seemingly ordinary yellow soil, roughly the size of a fist, constrained into an irregular sphere by an invisible force field. The soil particles were translucent, as if containing starlight within, yet they felt as light as nothing in his hand. Looking closely, the soil seemed to be very slowly and autonomously "wriggling" and "growing"; though imperceptible, it was indeed generating extremely fine new particles.

[Item Name: Breathing Earth (Fragment)]

[Item Rank: Mythic (Gold) / Innate Spiritual Item (Extremely damaged state)]

[Item Description: The legendary Innate Divine Soil that "grows endlessly and can grow on its own," condensed from the essence of the Earth's Origin. This is merely a tiny fragment with greatly damaged spirituality, but its core characteristics still remain.]

[Attribute Effects:]

Endless Growth: Can automatically generate approximately 1 cubic meter of pure high-grade spiritual soil daily (quality equivalent to 3 times that of the Epic-grade resource card [Fertile Soil]). The generated spiritual soil contains pure Earth-attribute Spiritual Qi and a weak life force of creation, which is extremely beneficial for the growth of spiritual plants, the nurturing of Spiritual Veins, and the consolidation of Foundations.

Foundation Strengthening: When integrated into the core of the Divine Kingdom's land, it can slowly improve the overall land quality, stability, and potential limit of the Divine Kingdom. It has an excellent corrective effect on the "shallow Foundation" problem during the expansion of the Divine Kingdom's area.

Foundation of Creation: Can serve as a core auxiliary material or base for cultivating Innate Spiritual Roots, refining high-grade Medicinal Pills, or forging Earth-attribute Divine Artifacts (requires corresponding skills).

Rule Bearing: Due to its "growth" characteristic, it can slightly improve the Divine Kingdom's bearing capacity and comprehension speed of rules related to "growth," "reproduction," and "Earth."

[Integration Suggestion: Recommended to be placed under the core Leyline or important spiritual fields of the Divine Kingdom. Requires slow nurturing and activation of its vitality with the Fire of Civilization or pure Earth-attribute Divine Power. Direct use yields poor results.]

"Breathing Earth! The divine soil used by Yu the Great to control the floods in legends!" Li Mo exclaimed, then added regretfully, "A pity it's only a fragment, and so small..."

"One cubic meter of high-grade spiritual soil every day—it adds up over time, and it's sustainable! This is a long-term investment for the Divine Kingdom's Foundation!" Lin Zhou's eyes sparkled. In the development of a Divine Kingdom, resources were the fundamental basis, especially a foundational resource like land. With the Breathing Earth fragment, it was equivalent to having a never-ending source of high-quality spiritual soil, which would be of great benefit to the development of the School of Agriculture, the cultivation of spiritual plants, and even the future promotion of the Divine Kingdom. He carefully put away this seemingly unremarkable yellow earth, storing it in the Temple of Civilization space for safekeeping.

The second item was a palm-sized, warm, and translucent green Jade Slip. The jade quality was extraordinary, warm to the touch, and seemed to have clouds and mist flowing inside, with occasional glimpses of phantoms of mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, and rare exotic beasts. The surface of the Jade Slip was carved with three ancient bird-and-worm seal script characters, which Lin Zhou recognized as the three words "classic of mountains and seas."

[Item Name: classic of mountains and seas · Incomplete Manual (Jade Slip Legacy)]

[Item Rank: Legendary (Orange) / Special Legacy Item]

[Item Description: A portion of the content and true intent Legacy of the ancient extraordinary book "classic of mountains and seas." It is not a simple written record but contains the "Concept Imprint" and "Rule Information" of the corresponding mountains, rivers, geography, exotic beasts, and myths and legends. This Incomplete Manual focuses on the "Classic of the Seas" and "Classic of the Great Wilderness" portions regarding exotic beasts and geographical descriptions.]

[Attribute Effects:]

Knowledge Legacy: After absorption, one can obtain detailed information (form, habits, abilities, weaknesses, etc.) of the corresponding Mountain and Sea exotic beasts and peculiar geography recorded in the Incomplete Manual; some information may involve ancient secrets.

Concept Insight: One can gain the grand perspective and exploratory spirit of ancient ancestors who 'observed the heavens and earth, and examined all things,' enhancing the observation, insight, and understanding of unknown matters for the host and their kin (especially exploration and research units).

Rule Enlightenment: Some descriptions of exotic beasts and geography within the Incomplete Manual inherently carry rule imagery. Absorption may enlighten related skills or rule comprehension (e.g., insight into the Kunpeng Concept may enhance space-related abilities, while descriptions of the 'Bifang' may deepen understanding of the fire rule).

Civilization Credential: Can serve as a potential credential for further exploration of lost ruins and Secret Realms related to the records of the classic of mountains and seas, or for summoning/communicating with certain ancient existences (requires Opportunity).

【Usage】: Use Divine Thought to probe into the Jade Slip, coordinating with the Fire of Civilization or related insights for absorption and comprehension. The process must be gradual; do not act with undue haste to avoid the Divine Soul being overwhelmed by the massive influx of information.

【Note】: The complete classic of mountains and seas contains the mysteries of the Universe's geography and all things; this Incomplete Manual is merely the tip of the iceberg.

"The classic of mountains and seas!" Lin Zhou's heart rate accelerated slightly. This was not just a book of geography and strange tales; in the era of gods, much of what it recorded likely corresponded to real, powerful exotic beasts, mysterious regions, and even rule Incarnations! Obtaining the knowledge and Concepts within—whether to enrich his own cognitive system, enlighten new power directions, or serve as a 'map' and 'key' for future exploration—was of immeasurable value. He solemnly put away the Jade Slip, preparing to meditate on it after returning to a safe environment.

The third item was a silver scroll, neither paper nor silk, neither metal nor jade. The scroll floated automatically in the air, slowly unfurling a corner to reveal dizzyingly complex 3D structural diagrams and countless fine silver runes. At the core of the diagrams was the phantom of a towering, ancient platform that seemed capable of connecting with the stars of the heavens.

【Item Name: Wonder Building Blueprint · Star Gazing Platform (Complete)】

【Item Rank: Epic (Purple) / Special Construction Blueprint】

【Blueprint Description: Records the complete construction method and core rune array of the top-tier Wonder, the Star Gazing Platform, used by ancient civilizations to observe celestial phenomena, deduce heavenly secrets, channel Star Power, and stabilize spacetime coordinates. Construction difficulty is extremely high, and required Materials are rare.】

【Building Attributes (Estimated after completion)】:

Basic Function: Significantly enhances the observation and understanding of celestial phenomena and spacetime rules within the Divine Kingdom. Star map mapping precision within the Divine Kingdom and surrounding Star Domains (depending on the Star Gazing Platform's Rank) +300%, Spacetime Turbulence Resistance +25%.

Core Function I: Star Power Channeling: Can channel the power of the stars (Lunar, Solar, Ziwei, Big Dipper, etc.) and convert it into pure Star Spiritual Qi to nourish the Divine Kingdom, increasing the concentration and quality of Spiritual Qi (effect depends on the Rank and quantity of channeled stars), with a chance to obtain special star Materials (such as stardust or star core fragments).

Core Function II: Heavenly Secret Deduction: Linked with the Civilization Deduction function, it significantly increases deduction range and precision while reducing consumption. Allows for longer-term, more macroscopic event deductions (such as civilization development trends, the direction of large-scale divine wars, timing for Secret Realm openings, etc.), with a certain probability of obtaining 'Heavenly Revelations' (vague warnings of future fragments).

Core Function III: Coordinate Anchoring: Acts as a powerful spacetime coordinate anchor, greatly enhancing the stability and accuracy of the Divine Kingdom during void navigation, spatial jumps, and cross-realm transmissions, reducing the risk of getting lost.

Strategic Function: Star Barrier (Requires extremely high energy and authority to activate): Can mobilize the channeled Star Power to form a temporary celestial defense barrier covering the Divine Kingdom, providing excellent defense against starry sky Spells, meteor impacts, and some spatial tear attacks.

【Construction Requirements】:

Primary Materials: Astral Fine Gold (at least 1000 units), Void Stone (500 units), Star-Fixing Jade (100 units), Inscription Mithril (large quantity), etc.

Secondary Materials and Energy: Various rare Ores and spiritual woods, as well as a continuous and stable high-level energy source (such as Divine Fire, large-scale Spiritual Veins, civilization furnace, etc.).

Builder Requirements: Must master high-level Runology, Formation Science, and Astronomy, or possess corresponding hero units (such as Tiangong Dwarves Master Craftsmen, Taoist True Cultivators, etc.).

Construction Time: Extremely long (calculated in years, can be accelerated).

【Note】: Once the Wonder building is completed, it will permanently change the Divine Kingdom's environment and rule inclinations, and may attract the attention of related existences or events.

"Star Gazing Platform..." Lin Zhou's gaze became incredibly fervent. This was practically a strategic-level Wonder tailored for him! Not only could it greatly enhance the Divine Kingdom's Foundation and defense, but its 'Heavenly Secret Deduction' function was a perfect match for Civilization Deduction, capable of amplifying his advantage in this area to the extreme! The 'Coordinate Anchoring' function was also crucial for future astral expeditions and Divine Kingdom movement. Although the construction requirements were terrifying and it would take a long time, the benefits it would bring once completed were strategic!

Three Legacy treasures: one to solidify the Foundation (Resting Earth), one to enlighten knowledge and the future (classic of mountains and seas Incomplete Manual), and one to provide strategic-level capabilities and defense (Star Gazing Platform blueprint). Their value might not match the seed of civilization itself, but they were all extremely practical at this stage and crucial supplements for future development!

"We're rich! We're really rich this time!" Zhao Hao rubbed his hands. Although there were some Materials he had never even heard of, it didn't stop him from sensing the weight of these items.

"Resting Earth, the classic of mountains and seas, the Star Gazing Platform... These legendary things actually exist, and we actually got them." Qin Qing also found it hard to hide her shock, her cool eyes shimmering with light.

"The blueprint! Let me see! Astral Fine Gold? Void Stone? The data for these Materials..." Li Mo had already lunged toward the Star Gazing Platform blueprint, his eyes fanatical, wishing he could start researching immediately.

Wang Meng smiled honestly: "I don't really understand it, but it feels very powerful!"

Lin Zhou carefully put away the three Legacy treasures, his heart filled with the joy of the harvest and gratitude toward the ancient sages. This gift was not just resources, but a heavy expectation and responsibility.

Rumble—!!

Right then, the vibration of the entire C-7 Side Hall suddenly intensified! Those originally flickering reinforcement runes completely extinguished, and huge cracks began to appear on the ceiling as large chunks of rock smashed down!

"This place is about to collapse too! Quick, find an exit!" Lin Zhou shouted. Simultaneously, he activated Civilization Deduction again. Combining it with his perception of the new energy flow changes in the hall, he instantly locked onto a wall—where, after the runes died out, a narrow, upward-sloping passage half-buried by rubble was revealed, with faint, weak light from the outside world filtering in!

"There! Charge out!"

The five of them hesitated no longer, each displaying their Divine Abilities to shatter the boulders blocking the way as they rushed into that narrow passage. The passage was steep and winding; they practically crawled and scrambled as they sprinted upward.

Behind them, the sound of collapsing drew closer and closer, as if a giant beast were in pursuit.

After an unknown amount of time, the light ahead grew bright, carrying with it a fresh scent of vegetation—it was the outside world!

"The exit!"

The five of them leaped with all their might and burst out of the passage entrance!

The view suddenly opened up; it was precisely the edge of the gray mist ruins where they had first entered this Grotto-Heaven. Behind them, the mountain shook violently, and the passage entrance they had just rushed out of was quickly buried by falling rocks and disappeared.

Looking back at that towering mountain range ruin that had begun to collapse and sink on a large scale, dust billowed into the sky amidst incessant roaring. This ruin, which had carried the final marks of a lost civilization, finally reached its complete end after fulfilling its mission of passing on the Legacy.

Standing in a safe zone and watching this apocalyptic scene, the five of them felt complex emotions. There was the relief of surviving a disaster, the excitement of gaining immense treasures, and a faint sorrow and respect for that vanished, glorious civilization.

"We finally... made it out." Zhao Hao slumped onto the ground, panting heavily.

Wang Meng also leaned on his battle-axe, his chest heaving.

Li Mo immediately began checking his equipment and recorded data.

Qin Qing gazed at the collapsing ruins, lost in thought.

Lin Zhou calmed his breathing, feeling the three newly acquired Legacy treasures in his arms (within the Sanctuary space), as well as the river of civilization surging within him and the more stable and powerful Sanctuary.

The exploration of the Grotto-Heaven had, at this point, come to a perfect conclusion.

No, perhaps there was one more step.

He looked up toward this Grotto-Heaven space, which was starting to become unstable with fine cracks appearing in the sky due to the collapse of the core ruins.

Next, it was time to try and integrate this entire Grotto-Heaven... into his own Divine Kingdom.