314: Chapter 249: Intelligence Value, Military High-Ranking Officials Personally Receive Him

Consciousness felt like it was submerged at the bottom of an endless deep sea—cold, dark, and with constant, agonizing undercurrents surging from the wound on his back, trying to drag him into a deeper Void Realm.

Yet, there was always a gentle and tenacious force, like the light of an eternal lighthouse, piercing through layers of darkness, guiding him and warming his nearly frozen Divine Soul.

That was the Fire of Civilization.

Even when his consciousness was blurred and his divine body was on the verge of collapse, that spark of civilization Origin, which originated from the Temple of Civilization and was connected to his Divine Soul, was still burning tenaciously.

It silently resisted the erosion of the destructive energy left by the Beast God while slowly absorbing the Power Of Faith (albeit weak) from the Void Realm, keeping his most basic life force from extinguishing.

Time passed—perhaps hours, perhaps days. The light of the lighthouse grew brighter and warmer.

It seemed that more majestic and pure energy was being injected from the outside, nourishing his dried-up Divine Power Meridians and damaged Soul like sweet rain.

Under the suppression of some powerful Order force, the burning pain and tearing sensation in the wound on his back gradually became numb and then began to slowly subside.

Finally, Lin Zhou's eyelashes fluttered a few times, and his heavy eyelids were pushed open by a force.

The first thing that came into view was an arc-shaped cabin wall emitting a faint green light of life.

He was soaking in a warm, viscous, high-level healing fluid filled with pure life energy and Order rule factors.

The liquid completely enveloped him, continuously delivering the nutrients needed for repair through his skin and mouth/nose (gods do not need to breathe, but energy exchange still occurs), while gently washing and purifying the destructive energy remaining in the wound.

"Am I... in the base's highest-level medical pod?" Lin Zhou's consciousness quickly became clear, and he began to perceive his own state.

[Lin Zhou · Status Panel (Perception Partially Restored)]: Divine Rank: LV300 (Stable, no drop, but there are subtle rule scratches on the surface of the divinity, requiring nourishment).

Divine Power Pool: 8500/60000 (Slowly recovering, current recovery rate is about 500/hour, receiving bonuses from the Advanced medical environment).

Divine Body Status: Seriously injured (repairing). The wound on the back is about 15 cm deep and 40 cm long, and the residual [Destruction · Blood Sacrifice] rule erosion has decreased from 78% to 35%, and has been temporarily sealed by an Advanced Order force field.

Bones, Meridians, and energy circuits are severely damaged; it is estimated that full repair will take 7-10 days (under current medical conditions).

Soul Status: Moderately damaged (repairing). Due to rule impact and Soul tearing, thinking speed and rule perception sensitivity have dropped by about 30% and are recovering.

Core Damage: [Temple of Law (Miracle Building)] has structural cracks (moderate). This has caused the effect of the divine office [Law] to weaken by 20% and the range of the Net of Law to shrink by 30%. Repair requirements: 3 million units of Power Of Faith + 3 days of rule nourishment (or equivalent force/Materials substitution).

Temple of Civilization: Stable. The Fire of Civilization has been slightly consumed due to resisting destruction energy and guiding the space-breaking talisman, but the Origin is undamaged and is slowly recovering from the Power Of Will of the believers in the divine kingdom and the surrendered orcs.

civilization points balance: 37340 (5000 were previously consumed for the manifestation of the Long River).

Others: Trace amounts of Advanced healing potions and Order purification force fields detected in the body, which are working efficiently.

Although he was still seriously injured and weak, at least his life was not in danger, and he was in an excellent recovery environment. Lin Zhou felt relieved and tried to move his fingers; a slight tingling and stiffness came, but at least he could move.

He looked out through the observation window of the healing pod. This was an independent, well-equipped medical room.

Besides the cylindrical healing pod he was in, which was clearly of the highest specification, there were several smaller pods nearby. Inside them, the figures of Zhao Hao, Wang Meng, Li Mo, and Qin Qing were vaguely visible, also soaking in healing fluid, their vital signs stable.

This made him completely relax—his teammates were all still alive.

The medical room was very quiet, with only the slight running sounds of various life-support and repair equipment. There were fully armed guards at the door, their auras condensed and steady, clearly elite troops.

Just then, the door of the medical room slid open silently. A female officer in a crisp white military medical uniform with the Rank of lieutenant colonel walked in, followed by two medical officers holding data pads.

The female officer looked to be in her thirties, with a serious face and eyes as sharp as a scalpel. A faint but pure Divine Power of life and Order radiated from her, clearly a god specialized in healing.

She walked straight to Lin Zhou's healing pod, glanced at the data display inside, and then looked at Lin Zhou through the observation window. She nodded, picked up a small loudspeaker Magical Artifact that looked like a communicator, and her voice went directly into the healing fluid: "Second Lieutenant Lin Zhou, is your consciousness clear? How do you feel?"

"I'm okay, thank you for the treatment." Lin Zhou's voice came out through the internal speaker of the healing pod, a bit weak but clear, "My teammates..."

"They are all out of life danger and woke up slightly earlier than you, but their injuries are also not light and they need continued treatment." The female military doctor's tone was crisp, "I am Elena Vester, Director of the Seventh Legion's Direct Medical Center (the coincidence of having the same name as Lin Zhou's elf hero is purely accidental)."

"Your situation is very special, especially the wound on your back. The residual rule erosion is very tricky. It was the Legion Commander Your Excellency who personally ordered the use of the stock [Order Source Crystal] combined with top-level life stock solution to temporarily suppress it. To completely eradicate it, it will take time and your own rule resistance."

The Commander personally asked? Lin Zhou's heart stirred.

"The intelligence you brought back," Director Elena continued, with a hint of undetectable solemnity in her tone, "has been decrypted and verified by the intelligence department with the highest priority. The preliminary analysis results... are true and of immeasurable value. The Legion Command is holding an emergency strategic meeting overnight. The Commander Your Excellency has ordered that as soon as you recover basic mobility, you must go to the Command to see him."

She paused and added: "Given that your injuries have not healed, you are specially permitted to receive the inquiry here. The Commander Your Excellency will personally project here. Be prepared, in about half an hour."

After speaking, she said no more, took the medical officers, and turned to leave to check on the condition of the others.

The Commander wants to project and meet in person? Lin Zhou lay in the healing fluid, his heart surging. This meant that the intelligence they risked their lives to bring back might be far more important than expected!

blood sacrifice star gate, a total attack in twenty days, two hundred thousand elites, five Lesser Divinity Warlords... any one of these was enough to shake the front line.

Half an hour passed quickly. The liquid in the healing pod fluctuated slightly, and the output of gentle life energy temporarily increased, making Lin Zhou feel a bit better mentally, at least enough to maintain a clear conversation.

The light in the medical room suddenly became bright and solemn, and the space rippled like water. A tall, majestic phantom, seemingly composed of pure light and Order rules, slowly condensed in the center of the medical room.

The phantom was not a physical entity, but it radiated a suffocating, invisible pressure—that was the unique majesty of a powerful Divine Power far exceeding Lesser Divinity and transcending ordinary rules! Just the presence of the projection made all the equipment in the medical room seem to run more stably and orderly.

Lin Zhou could even feel that the stubborn residual destruction blood light on the wound on his back seemed to be suppressed by some higher-level rules the moment this phantom appeared, becoming increasingly withered.

The face of the phantom was somewhat blurred, as if shrouded in light. Only the general outline and a pair of eyes that seemed to be able to see through everything and contained endless wisdom and decisiveness could be seen.

He was wearing the uniform of a Human Race military general, and the star emblem on his epaulets represented his lofty status—the Commander of the Seventh Legion, one of the giants guarding the Star Domain of the Human Race.

"Second Lieutenant Lin Zhou." The phantom spoke, his voice peaceful but carrying undeniable weight, resonating directly in the Soul level of everyone in the medical room, rather than spreading through the air, "I am the Commander of the Seventh Legion, Yang Zhenjiang."

"Commander Your Excellency!" Lin Zhou could not salute in the healing fluid, but his Divine Thought was full of respect. The healing pods of Zhao Hao and others also lit up, clearly they were also awakened and listened together.

"No need for formalities. Your situation, Director Elena has reported to me in detail." The phantom of Commander Yang Zhenjiang scanned the five healing pods, "I already know about your performance in the 'Red Rock Eye' mission and the intelligence you finally brought back."

He paused, his voice carrying a hint of approval: "As Lesser Divinity early or middle-stage, you penetrated deep into the orc hinterland, conducted close-range reconnaissance on the S-level target [blood sacrifice star gate], obtained a full set of strategic intelligence including its precise coordinates, guard strength, construction progress, connection point coordinates, access permissions, and even the enemy's total attack plan, and successfully evacuated under the pursuit of an LV480 Beast God... Regardless of mission completion, intelligence value, or the courage, wisdom, and sacrificial spirit during the operation, you have exceeded the expectations of the 'Fledgling Eagle Project' and even completed tasks that many veteran reconnaissance units would find difficult."

"The intelligence department has conducted cross-verification and emergency deduction." Commander Yang Zhenjiang's tone turned serious, "The data you brought back highly matches the sporadic information from our other channels and fills the most critical gaps. The orcs are indeed planning an unprecedented large-scale raid."

"Twenty days... no, now it should be nineteen days later, if the star gate starts as scheduled, on the fifth day, two hundred thousand orc elites will pass through the star gate and appear directly on the periphery of the 'Rock Star Domain' in the hinterland of our defense line, which is where our logistics hub and several important resource stars are located!"

"If it weren't for your intelligence, we might have been misled by their initial feints and small-scale conflicts, gathering our main force in the wrong direction. Once the star gate opens and the enemy descends, the consequences would be unimaginable." The phantom of the Commander raised his hand slightly, and a star map made of light unfolded in the medical room, clearly marking the location of the blood sacrifice star gate, the predicted orc attack route, and the original weak points of the Human Race defense line.

"Based on your intelligence, the Legion Command has launched the highest combat readiness response, codenamed 'Gate Breaker'. Strategic deployment is being fully adjusted:"

"1. Secretly mobilize three main divine kingdom fleets, cooperate with special forces good at space interference and strong attacks, and attempt limited destruction or interference before the star gate is fully activated, at least to delay its start time and disrupt the orc attack rhythm."

"2. Preset a battlefield on the periphery of the 'Rock Star Domain', secretly build multiple defense lines and traps, gather superior forces, and prepare to meet the orc vanguard troops passing through the star gate with a head-on blow."

"3. Initiate diplomatic procedures to request support and early warning from neighboring Star Domains and the Human Race high-level."

"4. Strengthen monitoring of orc activities in other directions to prevent them from feinting in the east and attacking in the west."

"The intelligence you brought back has won a precious nineteen days of preparation time for all of this! Its value is immeasurable!"

The Commander's voice echoed in the medical room. Although Zhao Hao, Wang Meng, and others were still in the healing fluid, their eyes erupted with excitement and pride. The things they risked their lives to bring back could really change the war situation!

"Therefore," Commander Yang Zhenjiang looked at Lin Zhou, "Based on the resolution of the Command and approved by higher authorities, the 'Fledgling Eagle Project' Third Squad is hereby awarded the collective 'Second-Class Combat Hero Medal' (physical medals and corresponding treatment will be issued later), and a collective special merit is recorded once!"

"Squad members Zhao Hao, Wang Meng, Li Mo, and Qin Qing, each promoted by one military Rank (Zhao Hao and Wang Meng promoted to First Lieutenant, Li Mo and Qin Qing promoted to Second Lieutenant), personal first-class merit recorded, and enjoy corresponding resource inclination and authority promotion."

"Captain Lin Zhou," the Commander's gaze fell on Lin Zhou, "Your performance is particularly outstanding. You commanded decisively, led the charge, opened a path to survival in a desperate situation, and brought back the most valuable core intelligence. You are specially promoted to Captain! Awarded the personal 'Second-Class Combat Medal'! Personal special merit recorded! The contribution of the 'Hundred Schools Society' under your command in the rear (surrendering orcs, dissemination of civilization concepts, etc.) is also recorded and commended!"

A series of rewards were announced, making everyone's heart surge. Promotions in military Rank, medals of merit, special merit... these were all tangible honors and capital for future development! Especially Lin Zhou, from Second Lieutenant (jumping directly to Captain from temporary Second Lieutenant!), Second-Class Combat Medal, special merit... This was almost an incredible achievement for a god of his age and Divine Rank!

"In addition," the phantom of Commander Yang Zhenjiang raised his hand, and a transparent crystal, as bright as a star with countless rule threads flowing and condensing inside, appeared out of thin air in the medical room, slowly floated towards the healing pod where Lin Zhou was, penetrated the cabin wall, and hovered in front of Lin Zhou.

"This item is called [Rule Repair Crystal (Epic)]." The Commander said, "It contains pure Order and space rule Origin, which can quickly repair damage to the core buildings of the divine kingdom, cracks in the rule Foundation, or surface trauma to the divinity caused by rule conflicts or high-level power impacts. For your damaged [Temple of Law], this item is just the right medicine. After use, it is expected to be repaired within one day, and there is a certain chance that the building rules will be more stable after repair. This is my personal extra gift for your outstanding contribution this time, hoping you will recover soon and make new contributions."

[Item: Rule Repair Crystal (Epic)] Type: Special Rule Artifact / Repair Material. Quality: Gold (Mythical) edge, quasi-mythical level. Source: Condensed by extracting pure rule Origin from powerful Divine Power, extremely rare. Effects: Rapid Repair: Can rapidly repair rule-based damage (non-physical destruction) to divine kingdom miracle buildings, rule cores, and divinity surfaces. Repair speed is dozens to hundreds of times that of conventional Power Of Faith nourishment. Rule Strengthening: During the repair process, there is a chance (about 30%) to make the damaged part's rules tempered and strengthened to a certain extent, improving its stability and load-bearing capacity. Pure Energy: Can also be used as a one-time high-purity rule energy to drive certain special Divine Artifacts or perform high-risk rule operations (not recommended, wasteful). Usage: Place it at the divine kingdom core or damaged building/divinity, and use Divine Power or Divine Thought to guide the rule Origin inside to flow to the damaged area.

Looking at the precious Rule Repair Crystal in front of him, a warm current surged in Lin Zhou's heart. This was not only a reward but also timely help! The cracks in the Temple of Law were the problem that gave him the most headache at present, directly affecting his strength and the performance of his divine office. The Commander's gift was just right, and its value far exceeded ordinary merit rewards.

"Thank you, Commander Your Excellency!" Lin Zhou responded solemnly.

"This is what you deserve." The phantom of Commander Yang Zhenjiang nodded slightly, "Rest well. The 'Gate Breaker' operation is about to launch, and the front line needs every loyal and brave warrior. When your injuries recover, there will be other important tasks. The Human Race will not forget your achievements."

After speaking, the phantom gradually faded and finally dissipated in the medical room. The suffocatingly powerful Divine Power pressure also receded.

The medical room returned to quiet, but the atmosphere was already different. Although the five people were still soaking in the healing fluid, covered in scars, their eyes were burning with fiery light. Honors, rewards, recognition... More importantly, the intelligence they risked their lives to exchange could really protect the countless Human Race territories and living beings behind them.

Lin Zhou looked at the [Rule Repair Crystal] floating in front of him, and he had already begun to plan the next step after his injuries recovered.

The value of the intelligence had already been cashed in. And the journey that belonged to them was far from over.