305: Chapter 240: Naturalized Beastmen, Farm Doctors Show Compassion

Lin Zhou woke up again to the sound of a faint, rhythmic "clank... clank..." This time, he felt much better than before. His Divine Power had recovered to 11,257/40,000; although he was still far from his peak, he could at least move without hindrance.

The exhaustion of his Divine Soul was still heavy, but the pain that felt like his Soul was being torn apart had subsided, replaced by a deep lethargy that required time and quiet recuperation to recover from.

What comforted him most was the feedback from the Temple of Civilization, which indicated that the faith of the dependents within his Divine Kingdom had not wavered due to his weakness. Instead, because of the arduous victory and the manifestation of the river of civilization, it had become even firmer and more devout, even showing faint signs of sublimation. This provided him with a stable source of faith, accelerating the recovery of his Divine Power.

He opened his eyes, and sunlight spilled in from the ward's only observation window, which had undergone special treatment, bringing a hint of warmth. The "clank... clank..." sound coming from outside seemed to be the noise of some metal tool striking the hard ground; it was rhythmic, not noisy, but rather had a strange... sense of stability.

The ward door was pushed open gently, and Li Mo poked his head in. Seeing that Lin Zhou had woken up, he immediately slipped inside, holding the tactical recording board that never left his side.

"Awake? How do you feel?" Li Mo pushed up the non-existent glasses on the bridge of his nose (this was just a habitual action when he was highly focused), his eyes flashing with the excitement peculiar to a researcher. "Your vital sign data is much more stable than last night. The Divine Power recovery curve fits a high-Order exponential model, and the chaotic spectral lines remaining from the Soul fluctuations have basically subsided... I have to say, your recovery ability is a bit overpowered."

"I'm fine." Lin Zhou sat up and moved his somewhat stiff arms. "What is that sound outside?"

"Oh, that." Li Mo's face showed an expression mixed with curiosity and oddity. "It's those three hundred or so 'Civilization Aspiring Ones' working."

"'Civilization Aspiring Ones'?" Lin Zhou was slightly stunned.

"Those are the orcs who finally knelt down and asked about Way of Civilization." Li Mo explained, "Qin Qing, following your instructions, separated them from the other captives. Wang Meng and Zhao Hao helped clear an open space near the edge of the base, which was originally a waste material storage area, and designated it as a temporary camp for them. Now, Grom is leading them... um... 'building a home,' while learning 'basic labor skills.'"

He paused and added: "According to Grom's report and my observations, these three hundred and twenty-seven orcs are currently relatively stable in their emotions. Although there is still unease and confusion, the hostility is very light; there is more curiosity and a kind of... longing as if they want to grasp a straw. Their understanding of the specific meaning of 'civilization' is vague, but they are deeply impressed by the 'pictures of a better life' you finally displayed. Grom is using the most straightforward way—letting them participate in construction and planting with their own hands—to convey the concept that 'labor creates life.'"

"Take me to see." Lin Zhou became interested and struggled to get out of bed. He needed to confirm the state of these orcs with his own eyes; this was related to whether his Way of Civilization could truly take root among alien races, and it was also a key experiment for dealing with more alien civilization problems in the future.

"Are you sure? The military medical officer suggested you rest more..."

"It's fine, walking around also helps with recovery." Lin Zhou had already put on the clean combat uniform placed by the bedside. Seeing this, Li Mo stopped trying to persuade him, knowing that things Lin Zhou decided were hard to change.

The two left the medical area and passed through several busy but orderly base corridors. The soldiers they met along the way, whether officers or soldiers, upon recognizing Lin Zhou, all cast looks of respect, curiosity, and even a hint of awe, and some even stood at attention and nodded in greeting. When Lin Zhou entered Xinghai as a top scholar of the College Entrance Examination, it caused a sensation, but that was more of an acknowledgment of "Genius" and "potential." This time, however, it was on the battlefield of blood and fire, using solid achievements—holding the lone tower, repelling a demigod, and disintegrating the enemy with strange means—that he won the respect of these iron-blooded soldiers. This was a completely different weight.

Li Mo muttered in a low voice: "You are a celebrity in the base now. Although the command's battle report was partially blurred, the matter of the 'river of civilization' has spread in a small circle. Many people are asking what that ability of yours actually is."

Lin Zhou's face was calm; he had expected this long ago. Once power is revealed, it will inevitably attract attention, whether good or bad. The key lies in how to deal with and utilize this attention.

They arrived at the outer area of the base. It was originally piled with various scrapped war machines and building Materials, appearing somewhat messy. But at this moment, an area about the size of two football fields had been cleared, enclosed with simple wooden fences and warning runes, forming a temporary "Naturalized Orc Resettlement Area."

Inside the fence, the scene moved Lin Zhou slightly.

About three hundred tall orcs, mostly with green or brown skin, were working in several areas. Most of them were only wearing simple linen shorts or leather skirts, revealing knotted muscles. But unlike the violent and murderous atmosphere on the battlefield, although their faces still bore the rough lines peculiar to orcs, their eyes were much more focused.

Some of the orcs, under the guidance of several Tiangong Dwarves, were using rough but sturdy tools (mainly selected and repaired from scrap) to beat the ground, tamping the soil, and following simple blueprints to build a kind of simple house similar to a semi-subterranean style, with inclined wooden beams and thick thatched roofs on top. The clanking sound came from this. Although these houses were rough, the layout was neat, leaving basic streets and public spaces. The orcs worked very hard, sweat sliding down their strong backs, and from time to time, Tiangong Dwarves would point out structural points in stiff Orcish (perhaps learned temporarily, or perhaps with the help of translation Spells). It was clear that the orcs were full of novelty and a faint sense of accomplishment in this activity of "building a shelter from wind and rain with their own hands." This was completely different from their past of occupying ready-made ruins or casually building shacks after looting.

Another group of orcs, led by several Literary Heart Elves scholars (who were temporarily transferred to serve mainly as "cultural instructors" and "disciplinary supervisors") and Grom, were busy on a piece of reclaimed land. The land had obviously been applied with a basic Fertile Soil Technique (although the effect was far inferior to that cast by the heroes of the School of Agriculture in the Divine Kingdom), and the soil quality had become soft and fertile. The orcs were clumsily using wooden rakes and hoes, learning how to level the land and build ridges. Grom demonstrated personally; his huge body was cautious at the moment, his movements even a bit funny, but his expression was exceptionally serious. He was holding a handful of plump wheat seeds that emitted a faint spiritual light (this was the first generation of [Hard-Shell Spirit Wheat] applied for from the base logistics department, which had been preliminarily optimized by the School of Agriculture, with a short growth cycle and resistance to barrenness), and with a solemn posture, he pressed the seeds into the soil, then covered them with soil and patted them firmly.

"Look! Just like this! Seeds, put them in, cover with soil, water, sun! It will grow food! Lots and lots of food! Enough to eat! No need to rob again, no need to go hungry again!" Grom, in a hoarse voice, loudly and repeatedly instilled this concept, which was almost a fantasy to them, into the surrounding compatriots.

Some orcs imitated the sowing, their faces full of skepticism. For them, food had always been obtained through hunting, gathering, and plundering; "turning" food out of the land with their own hands was "mysterious knowledge" that only shamans and a few old people understood, and the yield was pitifully low. But Grom was adamant, and those gentle and elegant Elf "teachers" also nodded in affirmation, making them have to try to believe.

What caught Lin Zhou's attention most were several simple sheds built in a corner of the resettlement area. Under the sheds, several Law Murloc Inquisitors (also serving as temporary medical officers, because they were sensitive to rules and Order and could cooperate with medical treatment) were, with the assistance of several Medical Apprentices (served by Literary Heart Elves who had a talent for the medical path), conducting physical examinations and basic treatments for the orcs. There were many orcs queuing up, most of them carrying old hidden injuries, new wounds left on the battlefield, or various diseases caused by malnutrition and harsh living environments.

A young orc warrior had an old wound on his arm that was deep enough to see the bone and was festering, giving off a foul smell. He nervously watched a Medical Apprentice (a handsome male Elf) clean the wound with clean water and disinfectant herbal juice, then take out a silver needle shimmering with green life energy, carefully piercing the Acupoints around the wound. Accompanied by the Elf apprentice's gentle chanting (a kind of School of Medicine hemostatic and analgesic incantation), green light flowed, pus and blood were forced out, and the wound stopped bleeding, closed, and grew new tender flesh at a speed visible to the naked eye. The young orc widened his eyes, watching the wound that had tormented him for months improve by more than half in just a few minutes, the pain greatly reduced, and an expression of disbelief and near ecstasy appeared on his face. He clumsily gestured his thanks, making a whimpering sound in his throat.

Next to him, an old orc shaman (low Rank), whose long-term communication with chaotic natural spirits had led to mental lethargy, had turbid eyes. A Law Murloc Inquisitor held a simplified version of the [Order Codex] rubbing, covering his head with a faint, adjusted light of Order, while another Medical Apprentice lit soothing herbs. The old shaman trembled all over, and black filthy blood flowed from his mouth, but a moment later, he let out a long sigh of relief, his turbid eyes actually becoming much clearer. Although he lost part of his ability to communicate with chaotic spirits, the mental burden and crazy whispers disappeared, and the whole person looked much more relaxed. He sat slumped on the ground, looking at the shed roof, muttering to himself, as if re-recognizing this world.

These scenes had no grand words, no forced indoctrination, only the most simple "settling down," "working happily," and "treating illnesses." But it was precisely these tangible benefits that could improve their living conditions, like a trickling stream, washing away the deeply ingrained barbarism and hostility in the orcs' hearts, bit by bit watering the yearning for "another possibility."

"Preliminary data statistics are out." Li Mo whispered from the side, bringing up the information on the recording board, "Total number of voluntarily naturalized orcs: 327. Among them, young and strong warriors account for 65%, low-Rank shamans and craftsmen account for 15%, and the old, weak, women, and children (coerced or originally in the logistics camp) account for 20%. Average Rank LV18 - LV25, generally possessing 'sturdy' and 'tenacious' basic traits, but most have hidden injuries and malnutrition."

"After these three days of preliminary settlement and basic medical intervention, the overall hostility index has decreased by 82%, and the initial trust index toward the settlement area management (that is, us) has reached 45% (for a completely unfamiliar civilization, this is already a leap). Sporadic individuals have begun to show tendencies to learn the language (basic vocabulary of the human common tongue) and imitate civilized etiquette (albeit very clumsily)."

"The most critical thing is..." Li Mo paused, pointing to Grom, who was earnestly teaching his compatriots how to sow seeds on the ridge of the field. "He... is a bit different now. My instruments detected that his Soul fluctuations have undergone significant changes over the past 72 hours, and a certain... resonance wavelength related to 'civilization' is strengthening. He seems to... really be understanding and trying to practice the 'kind heart' you spoke of. Moreover, his strength has not decreased; instead, because his injuries have healed and his mental state is stable, there are faint signs of a Breakthrough."

As if to corroborate Li Mo's words, a commotion suddenly erupted from the fields. It turned out that a particularly burly Orc warrior with a hideous scar on his face (who seemed to be a former small leader) had lost his patience with fiddling with dirt all day. He suddenly threw down the hoe in his hand in a rage and roared at Grom: "Grom! You were once a warrior of 'Hell-Roar'! Now you're playing with mud here like a goblin! This is not at all what an Orc should do! We should be raiders! We are conquerors! Not farmers!"

The surrounding Orcs stopped what they were doing and watched nervously.

Grom turned around to face his former colleague's provocation. His eyes were calm, devoid of the previous violence, but possessed a kind of heavy, condensed power. He did not get angry immediately; instead, he bent down, picked up the discarded hoe, and carefully wiped the mud off it with his palm.

"Baroque," Grom's voice was not loud, but it carried clearly, "You are right, I was 'Hell-Roar' before. I am proud of it because I was strong, I could fight, and I could snatch food and slaves for the tribe. But I also remember how my sister starved to death in winter, how my father howled for three days because his wounds rotted before he breathed his last, and how many of my brothers fell in raid after raid, never to return."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the Orcs listening quietly: "Raiding can snatch things for a moment, but not for a lifetime. Conquering—taking down a place, then what? We don't know how to farm, don't know how to heal, don't know how to build sturdy houses. We only know how to destroy, and then be driven away by stronger forces, or die there. Is this kind of life really what an Orc should live? Is it really 'glory'?"

He raised the hoe in his hand: "Look at this! It cannot kill people directly, but it can make the land grow food! It can keep our children from going hungry! Look over there!" He pointed to the medical shed, "Those Elves and Fishmen, they don't use Spells of slaughter, they use Spells to save people! They can make our pain disappear, can let the elderly live out their twilight years in peace! And look at the houses we built with our own hands! They don't let in wind or rain! Isn't this better than sleeping in cold caves or ruins that could collapse at any time?!"

Baroque was somewhat at a loss for words, but the stubbornness on his face remained: "But... this is too weak! The glory of an Orc lies in battle!"

"Battle?" Grom stepped forward, staring at him, "We just experienced a battle! We lost! Why did we lose? Because that human deity showed power that was not just destruction! He showed... something better! He let us see that besides battle and death, there is another path! A path that can let the tribe continue, and even live better! Baroque, true strength is letting those who follow you live, and live better! Not leading them to inevitable death and calling it 'glory'!"

These words hit many Orcs like a heavy hammer. They recalled the despair on the battlefield, recalled the scenes of peace in the river of civilization, and compared them to the days that were busy but secure, where injuries could be treated, and the future seemed to have promise... The balance in their hearts tilted once again.

Baroque opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but in the end, he lowered his head dejectedly, walked back silently, picked up another tool, and began to clumsily clear the stones on the ridge. Silent protest turned into silent acceptance.

Grom turned around and continued his sowing lesson, his back looking exceptionally firm in the sunlight.

At this very moment, Lin Zhou clearly sensed a faint but real faith link from Grom! This faith was not directed at Lin Zhou as an individual "deity," but at Way of Civilization that Lin Zhou represented, and at the concepts of "kind heart," "creation," and "Order"! At the same time, a prompt came from the Temple of Civilization:

[Detected alien intelligent life (Orc - Grom) deeply identifying with and initially practicing the concepts of civilization (kindness, creation, Order).]

[His Soul has undergone directional sublimation, meeting the conditions for 'Hero Unit' Awakening.]

[Do you wish to consume 5000 civilization points to assist him in completing the Awakening and grant him a 'True Name' and 'Talent' that align with the concepts of civilization?]

Lin Zhou's heart shook, and without any hesitation, he said: "Yes!"

In an instant, in a dimension imperceptible to others, a gentle but magnificent power of civilization crossed the Void Realm and descended upon Grom. He trembled all over, stopped his movements, and looked up at the sky in a daze. In his eyes, countless light and shadows seemed to flow—fields, harvests, the benevolence of healers, building homes, fair judgment... Finally, it fixed on a calm and firm light.

The muscle lines on his body seemed to become smoother, with a little less pure brutality and a little more restrained power. Some primitive patterns on his skin representing chaos and violence quietly faded and disappeared. The most obvious change was his eyes, which had completely shed their confusion and struggle, becoming clear, firm, and full of a determination to protect and create.

He knelt down slowly, not in the direction of Lin Zhou, but toward the land beneath his feet, toward this piece of farmland being reclaimed, and toward those compatriots who were being treated. He spoke in a low, solemn voice, as if it were an oath. This time, he used standard human common tongue (perhaps a result of the infusion of the power of civilization):

"I, Grom... once brought destruction and fear with my roar... Now, enlightened by the light of civilization, I see that a kind heart can benefit all things, and labor can create abundance. I am willing to abandon my old name and path..."

He paused, as if feeling the new power surging into his Soul, and then said clearly, word by word:

"From this day forward, I am—Grom · Kind Heart!"

"I am willing to use this body to protect the land that sustains us! I am willing to use this power to practice the virtue of creation! I am willing to use this heart to spread the path of benevolence!"

[Ding! Hero Unit born!]

[Name: Grom · Kind Heart (Original: Grom · Hell-Roar)]

[Race: Orc (Civilization Naturalization · First Generation)]

[Rank: LV35 (Hero template Awakening, Rank slightly increased)]

[Attribute Tendency: Strength 48, Physique 52, Agility 22, Intelligence 18, Wisdom 25, Will 45]

[Talent:]

Kind Heart Protection (Core Talent): When the guarded target is a "non-combat unit", "production facility", "civilization creation", or "friendly unit that identifies with the concepts of civilization", all attributes are temporarily increased by 20%, and a damage reduction aura is obtained (range 50 meters, 10% reduction in physical and energy damage).

Earth Affinity (Newly Awakened): Has extraordinary perception and affinity for land and crops, can instinctively perceive soil fertility and crop health, and slightly accelerate their growth (effect is about 30% of Elementary [Fertile Soil Technique]).

Toughness Legacy (Retained/Improved): The toughness characteristic of the Orc race is retained, but under the influence of the power of civilization, it is more reflected in enduring suffering, persisting in beliefs, and guarding duties. Extremely strong ability to resist fatigue and pain.

[Skills (partially newly born/converted):]

Roar · Inspiration (Replaces Berserk): Emits a roar containing the belief of civilization, dispelling fear and confusion states of friendly forces within range, and slightly increasing morale and work efficiency.

Heavy Strike · Protection: Concentrates strength on the next attack, dealing extra damage to enemies attempting to destroy the guarded target, and accompanied by a brief "deterrence" effect.

Elementary Agricultural Proficiency (New): Quickly master and effectively execute basic agricultural activities such as plowing, irrigation, and harvesting.

Elementary Battlefield First Aid (New): Master basic first aid knowledge such as wound treatment, hemostasis, and bone setting.

[Faith Tendency: Way of Civilization (Benevolence, Order, Creation), weak connection to Lin Zhou (as the leader of civilization).]

[Current Status**: Loyal (Sprouting), full of sense of mission.]

Grom · Kind Heart stood up. He looked around and saw the awe and expectations in his compatriots' eyes, saw the newly sown seeds in the fields, and saw the simple houses taking shape. He took a deep breath, and the air seemed to carry the fragrance of soil and new plants.

He turned toward the direction outside the fence where Lin Zhou and Li Mo were. Although there was a distance, he seemed to sense something. He placed one hand on his chest and bowed slightly, performing a clumsy but solemn etiquette that combined the Orc chest-patting salute and the human bow.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhou felt that inside the Divine Kingdom, the originally thin and chaotic faith (or Power Of Will) lines provided by the three hundred naturalized Orcs had suddenly become clear and firm! Although the total amount was not large, the quality was high, and the direction was clearly pointed toward "civilization". Roughly estimated, these three hundred naturalized Orcs could provide stable "civilization Power Of Will" (which can be partially converted into civilization points, or directly used as a special energy for the Divine Kingdom) every day, equivalent to the value of 100 units of standard faith crystal! More importantly, they themselves were living seeds of civilization, a precious starting point for assimilating more Orcs and verifying the universality of civilization!

Li Mo opened his mouth wide, the data on the recording board jumping wildly. He muttered: "Qualitative change in Soul wavelength... energy level transition... rule adaptability rewrite... This... is this natural Awakening or... what did you do?"

Lin Zhou did not answer directly, just watching the busy scene full of vitality inside the fence, watching the newborn hero named "Kind Heart", a faint and distant smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.

"The infectious power of civilization does not lie in forced indoctrination, but in showing better possibilities and giving the opportunity to choose," he said softly. "When they touch peace with their own hands, taste the joy of creation, and feel the warmth of being healed... their hearts will naturally make a choice."

The School of Agriculture reveals benevolence, the School of Medicine reveals love. Swords conquer land, thoughts conquer hearts. And where the hearts of the people turn, that is the source of the surging power of the river of civilization.