35: The decisive battle for the throne: Legalist laws decree the execution of the chieftain (Part 2)

The fall of Grak Moltencore was like pressing a pause button. Inside the core furnace room, the terrifying energy that had been roaring and surging, poised to destroy everything, lost its master. Having already undergone interference and internal depletion from [Holding Names Responsible for Reality], although it remained violent, it no longer possessed a clear direction.

Rumble... Having lost its stable structure, the energy began to lash out chaotically against the inner walls of the furnace room, triggering violent tremors and localized small explosions. However, the cataclysmic blast that would have swept through the entire castle was ultimately averted!

"Quick! Everyone evacuate the furnace room! This place is going to collapse!" Bronzebeard shouted, wiping a mixture of magma and blood from his face. Though he was rough and hardy, he knew this was no place to linger.

The group dared not delay, supporting their wounded comrades as they rushed out of the tottering furnace room at top speed. Not long after they left, a deafening sound of collapse echoed behind them. The entire base of the spire was completely destroyed, buried under massive rocks and molten lava.

With Grak's death and the final silencing of the core furnace (not destruction, but a temporary dormancy after the venting of energy), the remaining resistance within Furnace Fortress completely lost its will to fight.

"The Great Clan Chief is dead!"

"We surrender! Don't kill us!"

Grak's die-hard loyalists, who had been putting up a desperate struggle, dropped their weapons one after another and knelt to beg for mercy. The Alliance quickly took control of the castle's key areas, mopping up remnants and processing prisoners.

When Elwin, Brook, Bronzebeard, and the others reunited at the central plaza of Furnace Fortress (formerly in front of the spire), they looked upon the grand fortress they had finally conquered, the dejected prisoners, and the cheering Alliance warriors, feeling as if a lifetime had passed.

This war was finally over. It ended in a complete victory for the Alliance!

[System Notification]: Congratulations! You have successfully captured the Gray Dwarves' core stronghold, [Furnace Fortress]!

[System Notification]: You have defeated the Gray Dwarf Great Clan Chief, Grak Moltencore (LV 35), and gained a large amount of Divinity Experience! Your Rank has increased to LV 35! Your Divine Fire burns more vigorously, and the limit and quality of your Divine Power have significantly improved!

[System Notification]: You have successfully practiced and deepened [Legalist] thought ([Holding Names Responsible for Reality] has received combat validation). Unlock progress has increased to 8%!

[System Notification]: Your hero unit Elwin's Rank has increased to LV 19! Bronzebeard Stonehammer's Rank has increased to LV 27! Brook Blackrock's Rank has increased to LV 25! A large number of participating followers have increased in Rank!

[System Notification]: You have gained ownership of Furnace Fortress, along with its core assets such as the [Large-scale Furnace], [Advanced Blacksmith Workshop], and [Blackrock Mountain Range Main Vein Mining Rights]!

[System Notification]: Your Alliance relationships with the Blackrock Clan and the Deep Moss Tribe have been significantly consolidated due to the shared victory!

A series of System notifications flashed through Lin Zhou's consciousness, marking the over-fulfillment of one of the primary goals of this final exam—conquering a powerful local force. Both his strength and the potential of his Divine Domain had seen a leap-frog growth.

The next task was the tedious but vital post-war processing.

Under Elwin's supervision, the Alliance began to systematically:

Inventory the spoils of war: The wealth, resources, weapons, equipment, and technical data accumulated by Furnace Fortress over centuries were registered one by one. The three pieces of [molten core ore] were safely recovered.

Reorganize the prisoners: Over two hundred Gray Dwarf prisoners were placed under centralized custody. Following through on her previous promise, Elwin began to screen and provide preliminary education to them. Those willing to submit and accept the new Order would receive civilian status, while the die-hards were temporarily detained.

Treat the wounded: The Alliance's own wounded and the innocent bystanders affected (including some Gray Dwarf civilians) were treated. The natural Spells of the Lightforged Gnomes and Elves played a crucial role.

Stabilize Order: The Law Fishmen enforcement squads and some Blackrock Clan Warriors were responsible for maintaining security within the castle, preventing looting and riots. Elwin announced temporary military control regulations to ensure stability during the transition period.

Brook Blackrock looked at the busy scene and said excitedly to Bronzebeard and Elwin, "The Blackrock Clan... has finally regained its freedom and even become one of the masters of this land! The Blackrock Clan will remember Your Excellency Lin Zhou's kindness for all eternity! We shall strictly abide by the covenant!"

Glick also ran over excitedly to report: "We've found several technical archives in Furnace Fortress! They contain a wealth of precious data on geothermal utilization and metal forging! According to our agreement, we can make copies!"

The foundation of the Alliance became even more solid amidst the shared victory and the upcoming distribution of interests.

And just then, the Moonlight Elf hero who had been observing from the outer hills approached Furnace Fortress slowly with two attendants. Her arrival immediately alerted the Alliance.

Elwin personally went out to meet her.

"Esteemed messenger of the Moon God's followers, I am Elwin, commander of the Alliance. May I ask what brings Your Excellency here?" Elwin spoke calmly, but with a hint of scrutiny.

The Moonlight Elf hero performed an elegant Elwin salute, her cool voice flowing like moonlight: "From the Moon God Divine Domain, under Her Highness Su Yueyao, I am Silvana, Captain of the Moonlight Rangers. I have come by Her Highness's Order to observe this battle. Your side defeated the many with the few and won through wisdom—especially that power containing the rules of Order at the end, which was very impressive. Her Highness is quite interested in your leader, Student Lin Zhou, and the 'Way of Civilization' he upholds. She specifically ordered me to come and express her greetings, and she looks forward to an opportunity to exchange insights on the Dao in the future."

Her words were polite yet detached, but they clearly expressed Su Yueyao's attention and a preliminary gesture of goodwill. This was not a military intervention, but a high-level diplomatic probe and an interest in academic (or rather, divine) pursuits.

Elwin understood and responded politely, "We thank Her Highness Su Yueyao for her attention and greetings. My Lord Lin Zhou also holds respect for the Path of the Moon God. Once the affairs here are settled, my Lord will surely communicate with Her Highness Su in person."

After the brief contact, Silvana departed with her attendants as silently as they had arrived.

Su Yueyao's formal attention meant that Lin Zhou and his Hundred Schools Temple had begun to enter the sights of the truly top-tier geniuses on this examination field.

Lin Zhou hovered in the air, feeling the growing power within him. Looking down at the conquered fortress and the sun of eternal twilight (simulated by the Grey Dwarf Star Realm) in the distance, his heart was filled with both pride and reflection.

The conquest of Furnace Fortress was a milestone, but by no means the end. The final exam was still ongoing. The integration of the Blackrock Mountain Range, the deepening of Alliances, the digestion of newly acquired technology and resources, and dealing with potential rivals or friends like Su Yueyao... everything had only just begun.

More importantly, through this battle, he had gained a deeper understanding that the thoughts of the Hundred Schools were not just the foundation for development, but also powerful weapons. The education of Confucianism, the edicts of Legalism, the strategies of the Military, the mechanisms of Mohism, the diplomacy of the School of Diplomacy... the power of civilization they wove together possessed potential far beyond his initial imagination.

"It is time to delve deeper into the mysteries of this Temple of Civilization..." Lin Zhou's consciousness turned toward the [Temple of Civilization] that was connected to the core of his Divine Domain in the unseen realm. He felt that with this victory and the deep application of Legalist thought, the temple seemed to have undergone new changes once again.