360: Chapter 295: The Tournament Begins, Schools from Across the Universe Gather

Time flew by like a fleeting shadow.

When the "Chronos Bell" above the main campus of Xinghai University, symbolizing the turn of the academic year, struck its final long chime, the year-long high-intensity special training finally came to a phased conclusion.

For the Hundred Schools Society, for Lin Zhou, and for all the Star Sea students preparing for the "All-Universe Academy Championship," this year was one of being drenched in sweat, of falling and rising countless times, and of constantly breaking through their own limits.

The "Hundred Schools Battle Array" evolved from the basic five-person version into various seven-person and ten-person variations, and they had begun preliminary attempts at "Specialized Formations" targeting different enemies, such as the "Raging Fire Prairie Formation" (School of Military + School of Mohism + School of Agriculture support) for dealing with insect swarms, and the "Disordered Law-Breaking Formation" (School of Names + School of Mohism + School of Legalism interference) for mechanical legions. The core team's coordination reached a level near telepathy, with an average synchronization rate stabilized above 85%, and the battle Formation's total attribute boost steadily maintained in the +28% to +30% range.

The "Multi-Civilization Rule Confrontation" training library grew richer by the day. In addition to the Zerg and mechanical civilizations, the society also simulated combat against various bizarre enemies such as Elemental Lords (countered by the School of Taoism's natural principles and the School of Mohism's Five Elements mechanisms), the Undead Scourge (restrained by the School of Confucianism's Vast Righteous Qi and the School of Medicine's life force), and psionic mental races (interfered with by the School of Names' sophistry and the School of Legalism's willpower protection). The "Rule Arsenal" led by Li Mo had begun to take shape, with [Logic Virus] iterated to version 2.0, its stealth and lethality greatly enhanced; the "Biological Pheromone Interfereant" for the Zerg and the "Energy Frequency Resonance Disintegrator" for elemental life had also entered the field testing phase.

The "Divine Kingdom War Simulation" brought about a complete transformation in the Divine Kingdoms of all reserve members. Movement speed, defensive strength, and internal war mobilization efficiency all saw qualitative leaps. Lin Zhou's own Divine Kingdom had steadily expanded to 350 square kilometers, with a more refined rule network. The [Scroll of Civilization] divine art had become increasingly proficient through multiple small-scale secret tests; although each cast still consumed a terrifying amount (stabilized at 10,000 Divine Power per use), the speed and flexibility of rule writing had significantly improved. The enlightenment tea tree thrived under the daily nourishment of the Fire of Civilization, steadily producing three "Elementary Enlightenment Tea Leaves" every day, becoming a precious resource for Lin Zhou to deepen his insights, optimize tactics, and even occasionally guide core members.

Lin Zhou's Personal Status (Eve of the Tournament):

Divinity Rank: LV480 (Steady improvement, incredibly solid Foundation)

Divine Power Reserve: 200,000/200,000 (Limit increased once again)

Divine Fire/Godhead: Pure gold, stable and efficient, with a mastery of civilization rules that penetrates to the bone.

Core Combat Power: In normal states, he has already surpassed the Peak of ordinary Lesser Divinity. Relying on the uniqueness of Way of Civilization, Divine Kingdom buffs, multiple layers of heritage, and trump cards, he possesses the potential to contend with or even defeat Mid-Tier Divine Power at LV550-LV600 under specific conditions.

Titles/Medals: [civilization warlord], [Special Merit Medal Holder], [Xinghai University Chief Representative].

Xinghai University Representative Team (Final Confirmation):

Captain: Lin Zhou.

Vice-Captain/Core Members: Su Yueyao (LV410), Qin Qing (LV405), Li Mo (LV400), Zhao Hao (LV408).

Main Squad (5 members): Selected from the society's elites, specializing in Heavy Defense (Earth-type Mutant Dwarf Divine Domain, LV385), High-speed Reconnaissance and Assassination (Shadow Elf Divine Domain, LV380), Group Healing and Purification (Ancient Life Tree Divine Domain, LV382), Long-range Area Strike (Elemental Mage Divine Domain, LV388), and Special Rule Interference (Conjuration Divine Domain, LV378).

Reserve Members (3 members): All are Elementary Lesser Divinity with their own specialties.

Team Comprehensive Rating (Xinghai University Internal Assessment): Possesses the strength to break into the top fifty in the Universe; with an outstanding performance and Lin Zhou's unknown trump cards, there is a chance to break into the top twenty or even higher.

On this day, at the Star Sea University Central Plaza, flags fluttered, and the atmosphere was solemn yet enthusiastic.

The entire school's teachers and students gathered to see off the departing representative team. The principal personally delivered a brief and stirring send-off speech, encouraging the members to carry the glory of Star Sea and showcase the heroic spirit of the Human Race on the universal stage.

As captain, Lin Zhou wore a custom-made moon-white tournament robe from Xinghai University, embroidered with the insignia of stars and books. Beside the school badge on his chest, the dark gold [Special Merit Medal] also shone brightly. He stood at the very front of the team, his posture as upright as a pine tree. His calm gaze swept over the crowd of well-wishers, finally meeting the gazes of the principal and professors on the high platform, as well as the countless looks filled with expectation and trust from the direction of the Academy. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

There were no excessive words; everything was understood in silence.

"Board the ship!"

Upon the command, the team members boarded the [Voyager-class] Fast Shuttle docked above the plaza, its streamlined silver hull bearing the Xinghai University insignia. This was an advanced vessel specifically allocated by the academy for this tournament, possessing excellent cross-Star Domain jump and stealth capabilities.

The hatch closed, and the engines emitted a low, powerful hum. The silver ship slowly ascended, breaking through the atmosphere and turning into a streak of light that vanished into the brilliant galaxy.

Their destination was a super neutral Star Domain located near the relative center of the known Universe—the [Intersection of Myriad Worlds · Chronos Ring]. That was the host location and main venue for this "All-Universe Academy Championship."

The shuttle navigated at high speed through the preset star gate network. Inside the cabin, members either rested with their eyes closed, performed a final check of their equipment and Divine Kingdom status, or discussed tactical details in low voices. The atmosphere was serious, tinged with suppressed excitement.

Lin Zhou stood by the bridge's observation window, watching the stars outside recede rapidly and turn into colorful ribbons. Su Yueyao walked silently to his side, the starlight from outside reflected in her cool eyes.

"Are you nervous?" she asked softly.

Lin Zhou shook his head, a faint curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. "More than anything, I'm expectant. Isn't a year of preparation all for this moment?"

"According to the latest intelligence, the total number of registered academies exceeds one million, covering almost every galaxy and race in the known Universe that has developed a high-level civilization." Su Yueyao handed over an encrypted data pad. "This is the preliminary seed ranking just released by the tournament organizing committee. We are... ranked 15th."

Lin Zhou took the data pad, his gaze quickly scanning through it.

[All-Universe Academy Championship · First Round Seed Rankings (Top 20)]:

Honghuang Academy (Representative of the Primordial Major World): A legendary academy founded by primordial Innate beings and descendants of some great human figures. It inherits the most ancient "Immortal Dao," "Witchcraft," and "Demonic Techniques," and masters "Innate Spiritual Qi" and fragments of "Heavenly Dao Authority." Its heritage is unfathomably deep. It is the top favorite to win in every tournament.

Eternal Divine Court Academy (Representative of the Eternal Light Pantheon): Believes in a supreme deity of light. It has a complete divine art system, and its followers are mostly holy units like angels and paladins. It excels in Order purification, holy strikes, and terrifying "Faith Network" linkages. It consistently Ranks in the top three.

Abyss Contractor Academy (Representative of the Boundless Abyss Multi-plane Union): A gathering place for madmen and geniuses who have signed contracts with the abyss will or powerful demon lords. Their power is eerie and ever-changing, specializing in curses, summoning, mental corrosion, and rule distortion. Their fighting methods are unscrupulous and extremely dangerous.

Void Zerg Broodmother Academy (Representative of the Zerg Civilization)

Temple of Ten Thousand Machines Academy (Representative of the Mechanical Logic Pantheon)

Elemental Royal Court Academy (Representative of the Four Elemental Planes)

Undead Overture Academy (Representative of the Kingdom of the Undead)

Psionic Sanctuary Academy (Representative of the Psionic Civilization)

Dragon's Nest Academy (Pan-Dragon Race Union)

Nature's Healing Academy (Representative of the Forest and Life Pantheon)

Peak of the War God Academy (Representative of Battle-Crazed Civilizations like Orcs and Barbarians)

Guile and Deception Academy (Representative of the Shadow and Deception Pantheon)

Titan Scion Academy (Descendants of Ancient Titan Bloodlines)

Star Observer Academy (Specializing in Astrology and Prophecy)

Xinghai University (Representative of Human Race · Milky Way Galaxy)

Galactic Royal Academy (Representative of Human Race · Galactic Empire)

Truth Seeker Academy (Neutral Archaeological and Research Civilization)

Chaos Fighter Academy (Mutant Races Worshipping Chaos and Combat)

Dream Weaver Academy (Nightmare and Illusion Domain)

Symbiote Alliance Academy (Strange Symbiotic Civilization)

"Fifteenth..." Lin Zhou mused. This ranking wasn't low, but it wasn't enough for the truly top-tier powers to view them as equal opponents. It was more of an "observation spot" based on Xinghai University's past battle records, the overall strength assessment of the Milky Way, and the potential Lin Zhou and the others showed in the Ancient Battlefield and the counter-kill incident a year ago. Those ranked ahead of them were all monster academies with long heritages, vast power, or unique and powerful systems.

"Prehistoric, Eternal, Abyss... As expected, it's these three." Lin Zhou's gaze lingered on the top three for a moment. These would be his most likely ultimate opponents in the future.

"Also, the Galactic Royal Academy is ranked one spot behind us, at sixteenth," Su Yueyao added, her tone slightly cold. "It seems that Allen Starlight's incident last time somewhat affected their assessment. But they definitely won't take this lying down."

Lin Zhou nodded and handed the data pad back to her. "Rankings are just for reference. Real strength is decided on the field. Notify everyone to do a final status check; we are about to arrive at 'Chronos'."

After several more ultra-long-distance jumps, the shuttle finally burst out of an exceptionally brilliant star gate with an extremely stable spatial structure.

The sight before them caused all the team members visiting for the first time, including Lin Zhou, to feel a deep sense of shock.

It wasn't a planet, but a super ring structure over ten light-years in diameter—the Chronos Ring! It was composed of countless giant man-made celestial bodies of varying sizes and materials, fragments of natural stars, and even creations of laws, all layered, encircling, and nested in an incredibly profound geometric form.

The entire ring emitted a soft and constant silver-white light, the result of unimaginably vast energy flowing to maintain its existence. On the ring's body, cities, forests, oceans, deserts, and glaciers could be seen as dense as stars... Various ecological environments perfectly coexisted in block formats, as if countless worlds were condensed here. Numerous aircraft of different shapes, energy flows, and even giant creatures moved in an orderly fashion inside and outside the ring.

Even more heart-pounding was that the entire ring area was permeated with a unique aura of the fusion of ten thousand laws and the manifestation of rules. One could simultaneously feel the purest Spiritual Qi, the most blazing holy radiance, the deepest whispers of the abyss, the coldest mechanical logic, the wildest power of nature... Countless distinct and even conflicting rules and energies reached a delicate balance and coexistence here. This was a unique "Neutral Zone" rule field formed after the forces of the Universe's myriad civilizations converged, collided, and negotiated here.

[Arrival: Myriad Worlds Convergence Point · Chronos Ring]

[Super-composite rule environment detected... It is recommended to restrain Divine Kingdom fluctuations and adapt to the local rule balance.]

[Tournament Organizing Committee guidance signal received... Follow the instructions to Reception Port No. 7321, 'Milky Way-Jiachen' Port.]

Following the guidance, the shuttle slowly entered a port specifically prepared for the Milky Way's competing teams. The port's style combined a sense of technology with classical elements, with various ships from other academies or races of the Milky Way docked there.

When they stepped onto the mirror-smooth reception platform made of solidified energy, they immediately felt countless gazes and Divine Thought probes from all directions, both overt and covert.

Among these gazes were curiosity, scrutiny, indifference, disdain, and... undisguised hostility and greed.

Lin Zhou clearly felt at least a dozen probes no weaker than the Peak of Lesser Divinity, some even faintly carrying the aura of Mid-Tier Divine Power. They focused on him and his team members, staying especially long on the Special Merit Medal on his chest and the unique "civilization aura" circulating on Su Yueyao and the others after their special training.

"Hmph!" Zhao Hao snorted unhappily, his Dragon Might instinctively about to burst forth, but he was stopped by a look from Lin Zhou.

"Pay them no mind, focus on yourselves," Lin Zhou sent via transmission. At the same time, his own aura became more restrained and condensed, like a bottomless ancient pool, easily dissolving or isolating those probes.

Guided by the port staff, they passed through the grand reception hall, received their competition identity crystal cards, accommodation area guides, and the preliminary tournament schedule manual. Then, they took an internal rapid rail vehicle to the temporary station assigned to Xinghai University—the "Competitors' Courtyard" area located on a man-made ecological continent in the middle section of the ring.

What they saw along the way was bizarre and motley, a dazzling sight.

There were hundred-meter-tall giants composed entirely of rock walking slowly; strange life forms flowing like liquid mercury, constantly changing shape; angelic races shrouded in holy radiance with wings on their backs flying past in groups; and mysterious beings shrouded in shadows, emitting an unsettling aura, flashing by... This place truly gathered the magnificence and strangeness of the Universe, as well as the prodigies and powerhouses of countless civilizations!

"This is what you call... the Major Thousand Worlds." Li Mo adjusted his glasses, his eyes filled with the excitement of a researcher seeing a new subject.

Qin Qing gripped her sword hilt, her Law Godhead slightly sensing the extremely complex rule environment around her, trying to find the threads of "Order" within it.

Su Yueyao's gaze was cold and clear, her moonlight restrained, but she silently memorized the aura characteristics of the representatives from various races and academies she saw along the way.

Xinghai University's station was a three-story composite building with an Eastern courtyard style. The environment was quiet, the facilities were complete, and it was equipped with basic defensive and privacy barriers.

After settling in, Lin Zhou immediately called a meeting of all team members.

"As you've all felt, heroes are gathered here, and powerhouses are as numerous as clouds," Lin Zhou said straightforwardly. "Being ranked fifteenth as a seed means we will be noticed by some strong teams, but we won't be seen as a primary threat by the top few. This is our advantage and our test."

He brought up the holographic projection of the schedule manual: "According to the manual, the tournament is divided into several stages. The first stage is the 'Ring Trial'—all participating teams (over a million) will be deployed into specially constructed 'trial grounds' inside the Chronos Ring for preliminary screening and elimination. The rules are usually free-for-alls, competing for tokens, or completing specific tasks. The expected elimination rate is over 90%."

"What we need to do is play it steady in the first stage, fully adapt to combat in this super-composite rule environment, and observe potential opponents, especially those top-ranked academies. At the same time, try to hide our core tactics and trump cards."

"Starting tomorrow, everyone is free to move around, but you must stay in groups; no one is to be alone. You can go to the public areas of the ring, such as the library, exchange, or low-level simulation training grounds, to gather intelligence and feel the power systems of other civilizations. However, active provocation is strictly forbidden, and you must also be wary of others' provocations."

"In three days, the 'Ring Trial' will officially begin."

The team members looked serious and nodded one after another. The curtain on the All-Universe Academy Championship had been drawn. They no longer represented just themselves or their societies, but Xinghai University and the Human Race civilization behind it.

After the meeting, Lin Zhou stood alone in the courtyard, looking up at the strange and magnificent "sky" of the ring—a dome composed of countless layers of man-made structures and energy barriers, reflecting brilliance from all parts of the Universe.

The fifteenth seed ranking was like a silent challenge and a starting line.

Ahead was the unfathomable Honghuang Academy, the infinitely glorious Eternal Divine Court, the treacherous and dangerous Abyss Covenanters... and countless dark horses and powerhouses hidden among the million teams.

But in Lin Zhou's heart, there was only a calm and steady burning, like the Fire of Civilization.

"The Way of the Hundred Schools shall first show its edge here on this brilliant star ring."

"The road to the championship... starts from this fifteenth-place starting point."