338: Chapter 273: The Final Battle, the River of Civilization Devours the Divine Court

The ecstatic aftershocks of Xinghai University's championship victory had not yet fully subsided in the Pantheon Arena. The oppressive low pressure at the Galactic Royal Academy's platform, combined with the shocking interlude of the three angels questioning 'Supreme Goodness' after the battle, formed a highly tense picture. Michael St. Augustus, the royal descendant who had always presented an image of nobility, calm, and sacred inviolability, now had a face as gloomy as the sky before a storm. Deep within his golden eyes burned humiliation, anger, and a cold killing intent triggered by the touching of his deepest taboos.

He did not look in the direction where the three 'rebellious' angels had disappeared, nor did he even look at the celebrating crowd from Xinghai University. His gaze, like two holy swords tempered in ten-thousand-year-old ice, was fixed deathly on Lin Zhou—this 'heretic' who had defeated him three consecutive times on the level of rules and ideals, even shaking the Foundation of his Divine Kingdom!

"The winner has been decided. Please, both teams, exit the field in an orderly manner." The host's voice rang out, attempting to guide the process.

However, Michael took a step forward. His voice was not loud, but it contained an unquestionable decisiveness. Through the power of rules, it spread clearly throughout the entire arena: "Wait."

The entire venue fell silent.

"Your Highness Michael, the match has already ended," the host reminded him, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible caution.

"I know," Michael's voice was ice-cold. "Xinghai University won the match and obtained the exploration rights to the Ancient Battlefield. This, we acknowledge." He changed the subject, the chill in his golden eyes almost overflowing. "But, the match's outcome is a result within the rules. Whereas this scoundrel—" He raised his hand and pointed directly at Lin Zhou, "used sophistry and evil arts to bewitch the minds of my angels, shaking the sacred Foundation, and even causing my loyal warriors to lose their way after the battle! This is not a failure of combat, but a public desecration and invasion of our sacred path, the Galactic Royal Academy, and even the ancient sacred Legacy!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a near-obsessive fanaticism and a sense of judgment: "Such behavior can no longer be contained within a mere arena competition! If the most thorough sacred purification is not carried out, my Dao Heart will find no peace, and the sacred will be tarnished!"

"Michael, what do you think you're doing?" Vice Dean Wang Zhenyue's face darkened as he took a step forward, the pressure of Mid-Tier Divine Power faintly radiating from him. "A match has its rules. The win and loss are decided; you cannot act recklessly!"

"Rest assured, Your Excellency Vice Dean." A cold arc curled at the corner of Michael's mouth. "I am not a person who breaks his word or the rules. The slots for the Ancient Battlefield still belong to Xinghai University. But—"

He looked at Lin Zhou again, emphasizing every word: "I, Michael St. Augustus, in my capacity as an individual and a sacred successor, hereby issue a [Sacred Duel] to you, Lin Zhou! This duel has nothing to do with tournament rankings; it concerns only the righteousness or evil of our ideals, the purity or turbidity of our paths! For the winner, their path shall be manifest; for the loser, their path shall be obscured! Do you dare to accept the challenge?!"

[Sacred Duel]! A traditional method circulated among deities for resolving irreconcilable ideological conflicts or major insults. It usually required the consent of both parties and was conducted under specific rules. It was often more direct, cruel, and allowed for a certain degree of rule manifestation and collision, unlike the many restrictions and protections of a standard match. Michael's move was clearly born of his unwillingness to accept defeat on the field. He wanted to use absolute power on a more direct and unrestricted level to 'purify' Lin Zhou, reclaim his face, and completely stifle the 'civilization heretic' who had shaken the Foundation of his faith!

The entire crowd was in an uproar! No one expected that Michael would suddenly pull such a move after the match had ended! This was equivalent to escalating a personal grudge to the level of an ideological war!

"Michael! You've gone too far!" Even the lead teacher of the Galactic Royal Academy couldn't help but speak up to dissuade him, as this clearly wasn't an official action of the academy.

But Michael turned a deaf ear, staring fixedly at Lin Zhou. The phantom of the Angelic Divine Court reappeared behind him. This time, there was no longer any reservation. Divine Rule unfolded with full force, and that pure, exclusive Holy Light even caused the arena's protective barrier to tremble slightly! He was using practical action to apply pressure!

On Xinghai University's side, everyone was both shocked and angry. Lin Zhou had just undergone a series of fierce battles, his consumption was massive, and his state was extremely poor. How could he accept such a duel that left no room for retreat?

"Lin Zhou, ignore him! A win is a win!" Wang Meng roared.

"He's provoking you, trying to take revenge while you're weak!" Qin Qing said coldly.

Su Yueyao even took a step to block Lin Zhou, her cold moonlight aura spreading out to faintly contend with the pressing Holy Light. Though she didn't speak, her intent to protect was self-evident.

Lin Zhou gently patted Su Yueyao's shoulder, signaling her to remain calm. He looked at Michael, who was almost consumed by anger and obsession, feeling little surprise in his heart. For someone like Michael, born of noble blood and with a faith pure to the extreme, consecutive failures—especially losing in a battle of ideals and having his own followers 'question' him—would inevitably damage his Dao Heart. This so-called [Sacred Duel] was merely his last struggle to reclaim his dignity and stabilize his Dao Heart, or rather... madness.

"Your sacredness is too fragile," Lin Zhou spoke slowly. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a calm that pierced through to the essence, sounding exceptionally clear in the silent arena. "It cannot tolerate a single different voice, nor can it withstand a slight collision of ideals. How is such 'sacredness' any different from imprisonment? How is it any different from tyranny?"

"Shut up! How dare a false practitioner presume to discuss the sacred!" Michael shouted in rage, the Holy Light burning even brighter.

"If you want to fight, then let us fight." Lin Zhou took a step forward, passing Su Yueyao to face the surging pressure of the Holy Light. His face was still pale and his aura remained weak, but his back was straight as a ramrod, and his eyes were clear and firm, like a green pine standing tall in the wind and rain. "It just so happens that I also want to show this vast sea of stars what true inclusion and power are, and what illusory supremacy and narrow-mindedness look like."

"Lin Zhou!" Wang Zhenyue and Su Yueyao spoke simultaneously, filled with worry.

Lin Zhou shook his head slightly at them, his eyes conveying the message "trust me." He wasn't just being stubborn. The three battles with Michael, though exhausting, had allowed his application of Way of Civilization—especially his understanding of "inclusion," "definition," and "transformation"—to reach a new height. More importantly, he felt that after the river of civilization had devoured and transformed part of the Divine Rule (through the "Goodness" golden character and the angels' confusion), it seemed to have undergone some subtle changes, becoming more solid and possessing more potential to "digest" foreign rules. Perhaps this seemingly unequal duel was precisely the opportunity to further temper Way of Civilization and verify its upper limit of inclusion!

"Pantheon Arena, can you provide the venue and notarization for this [Sacred Duel]?" Seeing Lin Zhou accept, Michael immediately turned to the host, or rather, to the rule-will of the arena itself.

After a brief silence, that grand and mechanical voice of rules rang out again: "Detected that both parties have voluntarily initiated a [Sacred Duel], consistent with ancient covenants. The Pantheon Arena hereby notarizes it. Venue: The current final match field will be extended and solidified. Rules: No time limit, until one side's Divine Kingdom core is shattered or they voluntarily surrender. Full manifestation and collision of rules are permitted. Begin."

As the words fell, the scene of the [Valley of Judgment], which had begun to dissipate, rapidly stabilized and extended, becoming more solid as if it were an independent miniature world. The arena's protection was also raised to a higher level.

"Boss! Be careful!" Wang Meng and the others could only retreat anxiously to the viewing area.

Su Yueyao bit her lower lip and quietly infused a wisp of the purest moonlight Origin into Lin Zhou's body, whispering, "I'm here."

Lin Zhou felt a warmth in his heart and nodded to her. He turned to face Michael, whose Holy Light had already turned into a literal ocean.

Without redundant words, the battle broke out the moment the rule notarization was completed!

"Sacred Kingdom · Descend!" Michael roared, holding nothing back! The phantom of the entire Angelic Divine Court became more solid than ever, as if it were crossing from illusion into reality! That sacred throne shone with ten thousand rays of light, the two Archangels' figures swelled, and the chanting of countless angels merged into a holy hymn that drowned out everything! [Divine Rule] was no longer just a Domain, but had become the fundamental Law of this "Kingdom"! The suppression and damage bonus against "heretics" were cranked to the maximum!

And Lin Zhou, facing this sacred pressure more terrifying than any other during the match, did not choose to defend or maneuver. He took a deep breath and channeled the moonlight Origin Su Yueyao had given him, his own remaining Divine Power, and all the power within the river of civilization—the Order of the School of Ru, the regulations of the School of Law, the strategies of the School of Military, the craftsmanship of the School of Mo, the nature of the School of Tao... He threw them all in, not using them separately, but completely detonating and fusing them!

"Hundred Schools as One, river of civilization—Manifest!"

"Rumble—!"

This time, the river of civilization was no longer a phantom, no longer a flowing imagery, but had transformed into a semi-solidified, surging torrent of rules gushing out from behind Lin Zhou! Within the river, the waves were no longer simple light and shadow, but were substantial existences composed of countless minute rule runes, thought maxims, and fragments of civilization epics! Carrying the inclusive will of a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, the undying conviction of passing on the spark, and the grand vision of opening a peaceful era for ten thousand generations, it crashed head-on toward Michael's solidified "Sacred Kingdom"!

This was not a tactic, not a skill, but the final collision between path and path, civilization and faith, inclusion and supremacy!

"BOOM—!!!!!"

An indescribable roar, not of sound, but the terrifying resonance of rules cracking, annihilating, and reconstructing! The entire solidified world of the [Valley of Judgment] trembled violently. Large patches of relief on the rock walls peeled off and shattered! The crystal Eyes of Judgment in the sky exploded one after another!

At the core of the collision, the torrent of the river of civilization and the Holy Light barrier of the Sacred Kingdom were pressed tightly against each other!

Initially, the Holy Light barrier was indestructible, with the Divine Rule tenaciously resisting the washing and erosion of the river. The water of the river slapped against the barrier, kicking up a sky full of "spray" composed of rule fragments.

But soon, Michael discovered to his horror that the "water" of the river was more than just impact force! The endless yet orderly "civilization information" contained within was analyzing, dismantling, and devouring the rule structure of the sacred barrier with an inconceivable speed and efficiency!

Where the waves of the School of Ru washed over, the "uniquely exclusive" will within the Holy Light was neutralized and diluted by the concepts of "harmony without uniformity" and "education for all without discrimination."

Where the waves of the School of Law washed over, the absolute authority of sacred "judgment" was questioned and replaced by the logical justice of "the Law does not favor the noble" and "No Exemption from Punishment."

Where the waves of the School of Tao washed over, the pure and flawless essence of the Holy Light was included and transformed by the grand cognition of "Tao Follows Nature" and "all things as one."

The waves of the School of Military were like sharp knives, the waves of the School of Mo like heavy hammers... The rule waves formed by the thoughts of the Hundred Schools performed their respective duties, frantically disintegrating, absorbing, and transforming the Divine Rule from different angles and in different ways!

Wherever the river water passed, the Holy Light barrier became riddled with holes as if carved by billions of invisible chisels simultaneously! Those sacred runes that composed the barrier were forcibly "translated" into rule information the river of civilization could understand, then devoured and assimilated, becoming new tributaries or nutrients for the river!

"No! This is impossible! My sacredness... is supreme! How could it be by this mixed, foul stream..." Michael discovered with terror that his connection with the Sacred Kingdom was rapidly weakening! He desperately urged his Divine Power, trying to repair and reinforce it, but under the washing of that river of civilization that seemed endless and was specifically designed to counter "exclusive rules," all efforts were like a drop in the bucket!

"Your sacredness is 'dead,' it is closed, and it refuses to grow," Lin Zhou's voice came through the roar of the river, calm and grand. "But my civilization is 'alive,' it is open, and it grows through constant absorption, Fusion, and innovation! To follow the infinite with the finite is but exhaustion!"

"river of civilization—Devour!"

BOOM!!!

The main channel of the river of civilization suddenly expanded, its waves becoming even more turbulent, as if it were an invisible giant mouth, swallowing the already fragmented and dimly lit Sacred Kingdom whole!

Inside the river, the torrent rolled. One could see the towering halls of the Angelic Divine Court rapidly disintegrating and melting in the river water; the light of the sacred throne was wrapped and penetrated by countless civilization maxims; the phantoms of angels struggled in the waves, their wings entangled and covered by golden characters like "Goodness," "Benevolence," "Righteousness," "Propriety," "Wisdom," and "Trust"... Every rule, building, and image belonging to Michael's "sacred" system was being violently dismantled, digested, and reorganized by the river of civilization!

Finally, under the gaze of countless eyes shocked to the point of numbness, that once-arrogant and peerless phantom of the Angelic Divine Court was completely washed into fragments by the torrent of the river of civilization, turning into the most primordial points of light and rule shards, and then... was completely absorbed by the river!

The color of the river seemed to have become a bit more heavy and bright. Within the river water, there was faintly an additional sense of Order, light, and judgment. But that was no longer an exclusive "sacredness," but a "sacredness of civilization" after being included and transformed by civilization—a bright power that guarded the seed of civilization, promoted justice and public truth, and guided people toward goodness!

"Pfft—!" Michael, who was closely connected to the Origin of his Divine Kingdom, felt as if struck by lightning. He violently spat out a large mouthful of blood (divine blood) burning with golden flames. His aura instantly withered to the extreme, the light of his godhead dimmed, and his eyes were filled with unbelievable despair and emptiness. He had lost, lost completely, even his most fundamental rules were devoured and transformed by the opponent!

[Sacred Duel] Over! Winner: Lin Zhou!

The river of civilization slowly retracted into Lin Zhou's body. His figure swayed, almost unable to stand steady, but his eyes were as bright as stars. He felt that through this ultimate devouring and transformation, his Way of Civilization seemed to have touched a certain new threshold. And his understanding of the "sacred" had also deepened by another level.

The Pantheon Arena was dead silent. Everyone was stunned by the brutality of this final decisive battle and the shocking sight of the river of civilization devouring the Divine Court.

Su Yueyao was the first to fly to Lin Zhou's side, supporting him. Feeling his aura, which was weak yet more vast and profound, her eyes were full of heartache and pride.

Lin Zhou looked at Michael, whose face was as ash and whose Dao Heart had almost collapsed, then looked in the direction where the three angels had disappeared, and finally gazed at the boundless Void Realm, whispering to himself, yet also as if making a proclamation:

"The road of civilization is long and obstructed. However, as long as the sparks do not die out, they will eventually become a prairie fire."