367: Chapter 302: Ranking Leap Forward

Time flowed quietly amidst repairs and vigilance.

One day (external time) had passed since the defeat of Titan Domain Academy and the devouring of its Law fragments. Under efficient repair work, the floating islands had restored most of their functions. Although the outer barrier was not yet fully rebuilt, the temporarily constructed energy deflection force fields and early warning barriers, combined with the mostly repaired defensive tower groups in the middle layer, had re-formed a solid defensive system. Damaged ground facilities were patched, underground networks were cleared, and resource collection and conversion had returned to a normal rhythm.

Most gratifying was the recovery of the kin. Under the full operation of the Moonlit Healing Domain led by Su Yueyao, and the nourishment of the divine kingdom's own [School of Medicine Vitality] Law and [School of Agriculture Abundance] characteristic, the severely wounded were gradually out of danger, and the lightly wounded had basically recovered their combat effectiveness. The vacancies left by the fallen were filled by the new generation naturally bred within the divine kingdom and some outstanding reserve units from the affiliated races. Although the overall population had not yet returned to pre-war levels, morale was high, and after being baptized by blood and fire, their spirit was more refined. With the implicit bonus of combat experience and [Texture of Force], their average Rank even showed signs of a slight increase.

Lin Zhou sat cross-legged in the newly repaired quiet room of the Star Gazing Platform, his aura calm and steady as he focused on full recovery. The battle with Octavius, especially the final use of [Scroll of Civilization] and the subsequent "devouring" of the Titan Law fragments, had consumed a massive amount of energy. Even with Su Yueyao's moonlit assistance and the divine kingdom's reserves, it could not be fully replenished in a short time.

He looked inward to inspect his current state:

Divine Rank: LV480 (Stable; due to the devouring of fragments and insights from the great battle, the experience bar had grown significantly, approaching LV481).

Divine Power reserves: 178,000 / 200,000 (continuously recovering; natural recovery speed had slightly increased due to the strengthening of the divine kingdom's Foundation).

Divine Fire/Divine Rank: Within the pure golden core, there was a faint trace of dark gold grain—the result of digesting the tributary of [Titan Strength], bringing a more solid and heavy texture.

Divine Kingdom status:

Area: 355 square kilometers (slight growth, feedback from the strengthening of the Law Foundation).

Characteristics: [Texture of Force] (Physical Attack +15%) had been stably integrated, coexisting with the original characteristics [Civilization Enlightenment], [Law · Order], etc., making the Law network more complex and resilient.

river of civilization: The main trunk was becoming wider and more steady, with the newly born dark gold [Titan Strength] tributary flowing stably, forming a complement to other ideological tributaries. The river of civilization's overall ability to parse, carry, and convert foreign Laws had improved.

Core Kin status:

Literary Heart Elves: Average Rank LV43 → LV44 (some elites LV49). Three more masters of the new characteristic [Words as Law (Weakened)] appeared. The Sword Cultivator seedlings were progressing rapidly under the dual influence of the Shushan Sword Technique and [Texture of Force].

Tiangong Dwarves: Average Rank LV44 → LV45 (hero unit Bronzebeard LV58 → LV59). [Texture of Force] significantly improved the power transmission efficiency for forging and mechanism driving; some craftsmen began trying to simplify and deconstruct Titan runes to integrate them into new mechanism designs.

Law Fishmen: Average Rank LV43 → LV44. Efficiency in Law enforcement and maintaining Order improved due to the stability of the divine kingdom's Laws.

Current points: 3035.8 (temporarily unchanged, no new battles).

Point ranking: 99th (stable).

"The Foundation is more solid now, especially since the shortcomings in terms of strength have been partially filled," Lin Zhou slowly opened his eyes, his gaze radiant, the fatigue mostly gone. "I have also figured out the bottom line for the consumption of [Scroll of Civilization]; I need to be more cautious next time. However, this battle is enough to deter some petty people."

He stood up and walked out of the quiet room to the main hall of the Star Gazing Platform. Su Yueyao, Li Mo, Qin Qing, Zhao Hao, and others were already waiting there, summarizing various information.

"Lin Zhou, how are you recovering?" Su Yueyao asked with concern, her clear, cold eyes filled with softness.

"No major issues; I can fully recover in another day." Lin Zhou nodded to her and looked at Li Mo. "Any new movements outside?"

Li Mo brought up several light screens, his expression slightly grave. "There are changes in the leaderboard. We are still 99th, but the landscape of the top 10 has shifted subtly. Honghuang Academy remains firmly in first place, with points exceeding 15,000; Eternal Divine Court follows closely with 14,820 points; Abyss Contractor Academy is third with 14,550 points. It is worth noting that the 'Elemental Court Academy,' originally ranked 7th, has fallen out of the top 10, replaced by the 'Trickery and Deception Academy.' It seems that as the knockout tournament enters its middle and Late Stages, competition is becoming increasingly fierce, and collisions between strong teams have already begun."

"Additionally," Li Mo switched the screen to show a star map with many flashing dots, "According to the feedback from the wide-area Law detection network set up by Qin Qing, and some fragmented information Chen Hai obtained through special channels from outside the tournament, we can confirm: the news of us defeating Titan Domain Academy and leaping into the top 100 has spread within a certain range. Currently, we have detected that at least over thirty teams ranked in the top 500 or even top 100 have their movement trajectories or reconnaissance ranges intentionally or unintentionally covering or approaching the Southeast Star Dust Sea area where we are located. Among them, the movement directions of five teams are clearly pointed at us!"

Zhao Hao snorted coldly. "A bunch of hyenas that smelled blood! Want to pick up scraps? They shouldn't be surprised if they break their teeth!"

Qin Qing analyzed calmly. "Not all of them want to pick up scraps. Some may be pure curiosity and reconnaissance, some may be assessing threats, and others... perhaps they are wary and want to observe from a distance. But regardless, we have changed from 'anonymous people keeping to themselves' to a 'highly watched dark horse in the top 100'."

Su Yueyao said softly, "The tree wants to be quiet, but the wind does not stop. It probably won't be so easy for us to continue 'building high walls and storing grain.' Other teams will not sit idly by and watch us develop steadily, especially those with close rankings and direct competitive relationships."

Lin Zhou had anticipated this. Stepping into the top 100 meant entering the true "expert zone" of the knockout tournament; low-key lurking was no longer possible. He pondered, "Strengthen vigilance and perfect anti-reconnaissance measures. Our stronghold has been operated for a long time, the defenses are perfect, and we have the maze array as a trump card; ordinary teams will not dare to invade easily. But we must guard against multiple parties joining forces, or teams with special abilities infiltrating and sabotaging. Li Mo, we can appropriately shrink our active reconnaissance range, but the passive monitoring network must be encrypted and strengthened, especially for detecting spatial fluctuations and hidden Laws."

"Understood." Li Mo nodded.

Just then, Qin Qing suddenly frowned, her Law sword trembling imperceptibly. She suddenly looked up at the Void Realm to the northwest and said coldly, "High-level reconnaissance! The intensity... is very high! More than one! They are trying to penetrate our outer early warning and camouflage barriers, aiming directly at the core Law fluctuations of the divine kingdom!"

Almost simultaneously, Lin Zhou also sensed it!

This was not ordinary energy detection or Divine Thought scanning, but a more sophisticated, more obscure "peeping" that acted directly at the Law level! It was as if several pairs of cold, high-and-mighty "eyes" were crossing the distant sea of stars, using some profound Law as a medium, trying to "see" clearly this floating island group and the reality inside his divine kingdom!

One probe carried a majestic and upright, yet cold and detached meaning, like the high-hanging sun and moon, illuminating all things, examining everything without emotion. Its Law essence contained an indescribable "ancient" and "Innate" flavor.

Another probe was full of pure, scorching, and unquestionable holy brilliance, like the purest light, attempting to illuminate and "purify" all hidden darkness. Its will was firm and exclusive, with a strong tendency toward Order.

And there was another... even more secretive and hard to detect, carrying a profound, treacherous, and void-like feeling that seemed to swallow all light, like a poisonous snake hidden in the deepest shadows, swimming and testing silently.

The "quality" and "technique" of any of these three probes far exceeded any opponent encountered before! The pressure it brought to Lin Zhou was no less than the feeling of facing Octavius's full-force charge! And this was just long-distance Law peeping!

"It's them..." Lin Zhou's eyes instantly became extremely sharp. "Those at the very top of the rankings... they have finally cast their gaze over."

Honghuang Academy! Eternal Divine Court! Abyss Contractor Academy! Or at least, core members among them who possessed the corresponding authority and abilities!

These probes did not attack directly; they were more like an "assessment" and "marking." But the feeling of being stripped layer by layer of disguise and having one's essence looked at directly was still extremely uncomfortable and full of offense.

The people of Xinghai University instantly entered the highest state of alert. The defensive tower groups slightly adjusted their angles, and energy circulation accelerated; Qin Qing's Net of Law contracted layer by layer, turning into the densest Law protection; Su Yueyao's moonlit radiance poured out like mercury, covering the core area and isolating all non-benevolent peeping and infiltration.

Lin Zhou did not choose passive defense or simple shielding. In the face of this level of peeping, hiding blindly would only make him look guilty.

With a thought, the phantom of the river of civilization appeared behind him silently, but this time it did not surge or gallop; instead, it was like the deepest ancient pool, calm and waveless, yet bottomless. The river flowed slowly, presenting itself and the Law fluctuations of the entire divine kingdom core area in a more introverted, thicker way, while also carrying a unique "civilization rhythm."

He did not fully reveal his trump cards but selectively "showed" a part—the tenacious defensive will (the heaviness after fusing with [Texture of Force]), the orderly internal Laws (Law), the vigorous vitality and wisdom (Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, etc.), and that hidden, yet heart-palpitating potential of "inclusion and evolution" (the essence of the river of civilization).

At the same time, he did something the other party might not have expected—reverse tracing and recording!

One of the characteristics of the river of civilization is "carrying" and "recording." When these high-level Law probes touched the divine kingdom Domain covered by the river, the river itself acted like the most precise "Law recorder," automatically capturing, analyzing, and attempting to "reverse-deduce" the Law characteristics, energy properties, and even the "path" tendencies represented behind these probes!

That "ancient Innate" flavor was marked in the river as [Tracing Archive · A1]. Its Law structure was exquisite, containing some higher-level energy application principles (Innate Spiritual Qi?), but it seemed to have subtle differences from the current Universe's mainstream Laws, carrying a sense of "aloofness from the world."

That "holy Order" brilliance was marked as [Tracing Archive · A2]. Its Laws were extremely pure and exclusive, having an instinctive disgust and suppression tendency toward concepts such as "heresy," "chaos," and "filth," with a stable structure that lacked flexibility.

That "profound void" peeping was marked as [Tracing Archive · A3]. Its Laws were treacherous and changeable, full of erosion and conversion characteristics, as if it could swallow everything to turn it into its own nutrients, but it had a certain "dislike" or "inadaptability" toward positive Laws such as "Order," "Light," and "Life."

This information was not complete, just a glimpse of a profile, but for Lin Zhou to understand these potential future strongest opponents, it undoubtedly had extremely high reference value. More importantly, this silent confrontation of "you peep at me, and I observe you" reflected the unyielding and daring essence of Lin Zhou and his Way of Civilization.

The three probes seemed to have sensed Lin Zhou's "reverse observation" and that unfathomable "civilization Foundation," and they did not entangle too much, nor did they show obvious hostility (perhaps disdain, perhaps caution), and they retreated silently just as they had come, disappearing without a trace.

But Lin Zhou knew that he and the Xinghai University he represented had officially entered the "observation list" of these top Universe academic forces. From this moment on, he was no longer a "dark horse" that could be ignored or crushed at will, but a "competitor" that needed to be taken seriously and evaluated for threat level.

Inside the Star Gazing Platform, the atmosphere remained heavy.

"Gone?" Zhao Hao breathed a sigh of relief, but his brows were tightly locked. "These guys... they feel even more troublesome than that barbarian Octavius. Just looking at them makes one's heart hair-raising."

"That is natural. The existence of the top three in the rankings has Foundations and means far exceeding Titan Domain," Li Mo pushed his glasses, but his eyes flashed with excited research light. "However, we are not without gains. Lin Zhou, were you just..."

"Yes, I recorded some characteristics." Lin Zhou nodded and briefly shared the information from the [Tracing Archive] fed back by the river of civilization. "It has reference value for our potential future confrontations with them. At least, we know the general Law tendencies and possible power characteristics."

Su Yueyao was thoughtful. "Primordial is ancient, Eternal is holy, Abyss is treacherous... It seems that on the stage of this Universe competition, the real challenge has just begun."

Qin Qing gripped her sword hilt. "We must accelerate recovery and improvement. Being targeted by them, the next time they come, I am afraid it won't be just to 'take a look'."

Lin Zhou looked at the leaderboard; the name of Xinghai University remained firmly in 99th place. But in the short confrontation just now, the list had changed again—their ranking had silently risen by one, becoming 98th. And the original 98th place had their points reduced by hundreds, and their ranking dropped. Clearly, another team had been eliminated or severely damaged.

Competition is everywhere, and it is becoming increasingly cruel.

"The ranking has risen again; it's 98 now," Lin Zhou said calmly. "There will be more eyes on us. Pass the Order down: repair work enters the final closing stage, and all units enter Level 2 combat readiness. In addition, launch the second phase of the 'Silent Development' plan—on the premise of ensuring basic defense, send out elite squads to explore deeper into the mist sea, looking for high-value, low-risk resource points or 'isolated' targets, steadily increasing points, while continuing to temper the team and digest the fruits of battle."

He scanned everyone, his tone firm. "Top 100 is not the end, but a new starting point. The gaze of top teams is pressure, but also motivation. Let them watch carefully; how far can we, Xinghai University, and this Way of Civilization go!"

"Yes!"

Everyone responded in unison, their eyes burning with fighting spirit. The self-confidence of defeating a strong enemy, the joy of acquiring new abilities, and the tension and expectation of facing higher-level challenges were intertwined, turning into a more determined force to move forward.

The floating islands floated quietly in the Star Dust Sea, like a gem that, after being polished, began to truly emit an introverted light. From all directions, invisible gazes and undercurrents had already gathered.

Ranking 98, Xinghai University.

The Fire of Civilization, amidst the gaze, rose quietly.