369: Chapter 304: The Farmer's Breakthrough, The Experiment of Returning to the Innate from the Acquired

The time it took for a single incense stick to burn felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible palm within the tense atmosphere, passing exceptionally quickly.

Inside Xinghai University's disguised vessel, the atmosphere was as heavy as iron. The thirty-two members of the combat squad (including the three hero units: Su Yueyao, Bronzebeard, and Wen Yuan) had already assembled. They were currently at the edge of the vessel, inside an "Adaptation Chamber" Li Mo had temporarily constructed to simulate a partial Innate Spiritual Qi environment based on newly scanned data, making final adjustments and adaptations.

But the effect... was negligible.

A rare look of worry surfaced between Su Yueyao's cold brows. Standing at the edge of the simulated environment, her Moonlight Power flowed like water as she attempted to dispel the omnipresent sense of "sluggishness" and "high-status pressure," but with little success. She could feel that although the essence of her Moonlight Power was high, it was ultimately a "different Dao" from this Innate Spiritual Qi. Forcibly deploying it on the opponent's home turf caused consumption to skyrocket while its power was greatly discounted. She estimated that once they truly entered the core area covered by that pale purple mist, being able to exert seventy percent of her actual combat strength would be the limit.

Bronzebeard gripped his massive warhammer engraved with Titan runes. The dark gold light of the Texture of Force flickered unsteadily on his body, unable to become as solid and heavy as it was in his own Divine Kingdom. He said in a muffled voice, "This damn Qi... it makes my hammer feel thirty percent lighter! Fighting will definitely be unsatisfying!" Power-type units were even more dependent on the environment.

Wen Yuan held a book, with Vast Righteous Qi circulating around him as he tried to use the Confucian "Principles" to understand and adapt to these alien rules, but progress was slow. "There are fundamental differences at the rule level that cannot be merged in a short time. Forcibly activating Spells will likely increase consumption by more than fifty percent." He provided a calm but pessimistic assessment.

The thirty elite subjects were even worse off. The agile movement and sharp Sword Qi that the Elf Sword Cultivators took pride in appeared much more clumsy in the simulated environment. The Tiangong Dwarves armor-piercers felt a lack of flow between their tools and their own strength. The Law Fishmen enforcers' range for sensing Order was severely compressed. The overall combat power assessment of the entire squad under the suppression of Innate Spiritual Qi was, at most, sixty-eight percent! And that was an optimistic estimate.

In contrast, although they couldn't peer into the details of the Jade Flying Boat opposite them, the aura of harmony, activity, and resonance with heaven and earth became increasingly obvious. Qing Weizi and the other two didn't even show their faces again, as if this small-scale spar was a trivial matter to them.

"Preliminary data analysis is complete." Li Mo's voice rang out on the bridge, carrying a trace of irrepressible shock and gravity. "Innate Spiritual Qi... its energy structure stability is 8-10 times that of standard Spiritual Qi. Its energy activity and rule affinity are 300%-350% of standard Spiritual Qi. Furthermore, it carries a unique 'high-status information' that exerts a universal, rule-level 'rejection' and 'suppression' effect on all non-Primordial systems or unapproved Acquired rules. The degree of suppression depends on the difference between the individual and the Primordial system; our average suppression intensity is approximately 28%-32%."

"What's more troublesome," Li Mo pulled up another complex spectral analysis chart, "is that this Innate Spiritual Qi doesn't exist in isolation. It seems able to form a 'resonance field' with the surrounding environment, including those floating islands of light, further strengthening its home-field advantage. Within this field, units of the Primordial system receive all-around buffs, while our debuffs become more pronounced. With one side waxing and the other waning, the gap is even larger than estimated!"

Su Yueyao returned to the bridge and looked at Lin Zhou, who had been standing silently in front of the porthole. "Lin Zhou, the situation is worse than expected. Our chances of winning... are probably less than thirty percent. Should we consider..." She didn't finish, but the meaning was clear—should they consider giving up the fight for seventy percent of the crystals and just claim thirty percent to preserve their strength?

Li Mo also looked at Lin Zhou, waiting for Orders. He had already prepared several backup plans for a "dignified admission of defeat and safe withdrawal."

Lin Zhou did not answer immediately. His gaze seemed to penetrate the ship's hull, locking onto the area shrouded in pale purple Qi and the Eternal Light Crystals emitting an alluring glow deeper within. In his mind, countless thoughts collided and simulated at high speed.

Fight head-on? The cost was too high, and the chances of winning were slim.

Admit defeat directly? He was unwilling, and it would be detrimental to morale and their mindset when facing the Primordial world in the future.

So... was there a third path?

What the Primordial world relied on was the "quality" and "rule home-field" of the Innate Spiritual Qi. This was an advantage of energy level. The core of his own Way of Civilization lay in "inclusivity," "evolution," and "wisdom." Could wisdom be used to compensate for or even bridge this energy level gap? Even if only temporarily and locally?

Innate Spiritual Qi... Acquired Spiritual Qi...

One was the "primordial" energy born when the Universe first opened and the Great Dao manifested; the other was the "secondary" energy formed after the Universe evolved and all things grew. There was a fundamental "generational gap" between the two. But was it truly completely insurmountable?

Lin Zhou's thoughts suddenly landed on a certain branch of Way of Civilization—the School of Agriculture!

The ideology of the School of Agriculture emphasized "adapting to local conditions," "fertile soil and rich fields," and "turning barren land into good soil." Its core lay in changing the environment to make it more suitable for one's own development! If Innate Spiritual Qi was viewed as a "higher-level soil environment," then could the principles of the School of Agriculture be used to improve their own "soil," making it closer to "Innate," thereby weakening the suppression or even gaining partial buffs?

As soon as this thought arose, it was like a prairie fire, instantly igniting Lin Zhou's train of thought!

He turned abruptly to look at Li Mo and Su Yueyao, his eyes as sharp as lightning. "No, we aren't giving up! There's one more method we can try!"

"What method?" the two asked in unison.

"Use the techniques of the School of Agriculture to improve the environment and attempt to 'return the Acquired to the Innate'!" Lin Zhou's speaking speed quickened, carrying an unquestionable determination. "The Primordial world has Innate Spiritual Qi; that is their home field. Then we, in this away field, will temporarily open up a small 'pseudo-Innate' Domain for ourselves!"

"Is this... theoretically feasible?" Although Li Mo was prepared for Lin Zhou's imaginative ideas, he was still shocked. "Innate Spiritual Qi involves the Origin rules of the Universe. Although the techniques of the School of Agriculture are wonderful, the level..."

"We don't need to perfectly replicate Innate Spiritual Qi; that's unrealistic," Lin Zhou interrupted him. "We only need to achieve two things: First, purify and refine the ordinary Spiritual Qi and energy around us, making it have fewer 'Impurities' and higher 'activity,' with its quality infinitely approaching the Innate. Second, and more importantly, let our own rule aura resonate deeply with the environment-improved 'high-quality Spiritual Qi,' simulating an effect similar to a 'home field,' thereby resisting or even offsetting part of the rule suppression from the Innate Spiritual Qi!"

His eyes shone brightly. "Our advantage is that we aren't trying to fight the entire Innate Spiritual Qi environment, but merely constructing a small-scale 'optimized Domain' in the core area where our squad operates. The range is small, the goal is clear, and we have... the enlightenment tea tree as the core medium!"

"The enlightenment tea tree?!" Su Yueyao's beautiful eyes lit up.

"Yes!" Lin Zhou nodded. "The enlightenment tea tree is naturally close to the Great Dao. It can absorb, refine, and transform various types of energy and rule information, helping people comprehend the Dao. It inherently possesses the characteristics of 'optimizing the environment' and 'improving the quality of Spiritual Qi'! Using it as the 'formation eye,' with the School of Agriculture's 'Fertile Soil Technique' and 'adapting to local conditions' as the Foundation, combined with the Legalist 'rule stability' and Mohist 'energy guidance,' we will attempt to 'upgrade' the Spiritual Qi environment around us in a short time!"

The plan was bold, but logically it seemed feasible! Moreover, it was the only way that might turn the situation around!

"Time is tight, experiment immediately!" Lin Zhou no longer hesitated. "Li Mo, cooperate fully to calculate the optimal energy ratio and rule interference nodes! Yue Yao, you are responsible for stabilizing the state of the squad members and preparing to assist the tea tree with Moonlight Power. Moonlight and Innate Spiritual Qi seem to have a subtle connection; perhaps it can be used as a bridge!"

"Understood!"

Lin Zhou's consciousness instantly sank into his Divine Kingdom, communicating with the enlightenment tea tree located in the tea garden at the core of the Divine Kingdom.

This Spiritual Root, obtained from the academy's Secret Realm and nurtured day and night by the Fire of Civilization, was now over a person's height. Its branches and leaves were lush, its entire body emerald green, circulating with a faint, clear light of Dao charm. It steadily produced three tea leaves containing the power of enlightenment every day, which were treasures for Lin Zhou to improve his insights and deduce divine arts.

"Old partner, I'll have to rely on you this time." Lin Zhou's Divine Thought gently brushed over the tea tree. The tea tree seemed to sense it; its branches and leaves moved without wind, making a soft rustling sound, and an emotion of closeness and eagerness to try was transmitted back.

With a thought, Lin Zhou first triggered the power of the School of Agriculture!

Within the Divine Kingdom, the tributary representing "Agricultural Abundance" lit up slightly. A pale green energy full of vitality, nourishment, and transformative meaning followed the connection between Lin Zhou and the Divine Kingdom, projecting across the vast space into the vessel outside. Using Lin Zhou as a medium, it began to act upon... the floor of the simulated environment inside the vessel and the ground beneath the feet of the combat squad members!

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

This is not real soil, but a conceptual manifestation of energy and rules.

The essence of the School of Agriculture's "Fertile Soil Technique" lies in altering the material Foundation, making it more vibrant and better capable of bearing and converting energy.

At this moment, driven by Lin Zhou's Divine Power, the pale green power of the School of Agriculture, like the finest spring rain, quietly permeated the ship's deck (conceptually, the "soil") and the surrounding small-scale Spiritual Qi environment.

Magical changes began to occur.

The originally somewhat chaotic Spiritual Qi, filled with the Impurities of the Star Dust Mist Sea, began to become "docile" and "pure" under the combing and nourishment of the School of Agriculture's power.

The Impurities were slowly pushed aside or "digested," and the activity of the Spiritual Qi particles themselves had a slight increase (about 5%).

More importantly, this small area began to emit a unique rule-based charm of being "vibrant" and "suitable for growth," countering the "rejection" brought about by the external Innate Spiritual Qi.

But this was not enough; it was still far from an "Upgrade."

"enlightenment tea tree, resonate!" Lin Zhou whispered in his heart, urging the main body of the tea tree at the core of his Divine Kingdom!

Hum!

A stream of clearer, purer Qi, closer to the "Dao," permeated out from the distant Divine Kingdom of Lin Zhou, crossing spatial barriers through his close connection with the tea tree, and merged with the School of Agriculture-improved area around Lin Zhou!

As soon as this clear, Spiritual Qi appeared, it immediately produced a miraculous chemical reaction with the Spiritual Qi that had been initially combed by the School of Agriculture!

Like a spark falling into oil, the clear, Spiritual Qi acted as an "initiator" and "catalyst," actively adsorbing and purifying the surrounding Spiritual Qi particles!

Under the guidance of the clear, Spiritual Qi, the structure of that Spiritual Qi seemed to be undergoing subtle adjustments and reorganizations, discarding the dross and selecting the essential, and its quality improved at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Li Mo's monitoring instruments sounded a frantic alarm: "Spiritual Qi purity is rising rapidly! Activity index is climbing! It is approaching... no, it is exceeding the standard Spiritual Qi upper limit! Moving toward unknown quality! The rejection at the rule level is weakening! The suppression coefficient is starting to drop: 31%... 29%... 27%..."

It works! Lin Zhou's spirits were greatly lifted! But he also knew that it was not yet stable, and the range was too small.

"Legalist Edicts, set sequence! Mohist Mechanisms, guide!" He continued to urge the power of the Hundred Schools.

Pale golden phantoms of the Legalist Chains of Order emerged, like a frame, firmly "fixing" this Spiritual Qi area that was in the process of "upgrading," preventing its structure from becoming unstable or energy from dissipating.

At the same time, subtle Mohist energy channels made of light were outlined in the Void Realm, like the most precise diversion canals, guiding and infusing the purified, high-quality Spiritual Qi more efficiently around the body of every member of the combat squad, forming individual, miniature "personal optimization environments"!

Su Yueyao also acted at the right time; the cold Moonlight Power acted like a lubricant and harmonizer, merging into this "Pseudo-Innate Domain" that was taking shape.

The high status and inclusivity of the Moonlight Power seemed to genuinely share something in common with Innate Spiritual Qi; her participation caused the stability and "quality upper limit" of the entire Domain to increase by another small notch!

Everyone's eyes were fixed tightly on that area enveloped by the interwoven light of pale green, pale gold, clear spiritual, and moon white, as well as the thirty-two combat team members at the center of the area.

Bronzebeard was the first to roar out: "Satisfying! This Qi... it feels great! I feel my strength returning!" The dark golden light on his body became solid again.

The scroll in Wen Yuan's hand moved without wind, and the Vast Righteous Qi flowed perfectly: "The Spiritual Qi is clear, my mind is at peace, and the sluggishness in casting Spells has been greatly reduced!"

Those Elf Sword Cultivators, Tiangong Dwarves, and Law Fishmen also showed expressions of surprise, their movements clearly became smoother, and their auras became high-spirited.

Li Mo's voice carried irrepressible excitement: "The suppression coefficient continues to drop! 25%... 22%... 20%! It has stabilized at around 20%! The squad's comprehensive combat power is estimated to have recovered to 84%! The Spiritual Qi quality... cannot be completely compared to Innate, but it already possesses some 'high activity,' 'high affinity,' and 'low rejection' characteristics, tentatively named [Pseudo-Innate Spiritual Qi]! Effective range: a spherical area with a diameter of about fifty meters, which can move limitedly with the core members!"

Success! Although the suppression still exists (20%), compared to the initial nearly 30%, it is already a huge improvement! A considerable portion of combat power has been restored! More importantly, this idea of "creating an optimized environment yourself" has been verified as feasible! This is not just for the battle at hand; it has strategic significance for any future confrontation with the Primordial system!

Just as everyone was rejoicing, an unexpected change occurred again!

It could be seen that the enlightenment tea tree at the core of Lin Zhou's Divine Kingdom, which served as the "array eye" to remotely provide the core clear, Spiritual Qi, seemed to have undergone some mysterious change itself, perhaps due to over-outputting and deeply participating in this "Acquired turning into Innate" experiment!

Its branches and leaves trembled slightly, and on the originally emerald green leaves, especially on the edges of the few newly grown tender leaves, a circle of extremely subtle, yet clearly visible, pale golden mysterious patterns began to emerge! The patterns were ancient and natural, as if they contained the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, and they were somewhat similar to the Innate Spiritual Qi Dao charm permeating around the Primordial cyan Jade Flying Boat!

[enlightenment tea tree Status Update]: Due to deep participation in the "Acquired turning into Innate" rule experiment, it has absorbed and analyzed partial Innate Spiritual Qi characteristic information. A benign mutation has occurred: [Innate Dao Patterns (Weak)] have naturally generated on the edges of the new tea leaves. Effect: The enlightenment effect of the new tea leaves is increased by 20%, and it comes with a weak "Rule Affinity" and "Spiritual Qi Purification" passive aura. The tea tree's own resistance to "Innate" type rules has improved, and it can be used as a stable medium for deeper related experiments in the future.

This unexpected joy made Lin Zhou stunned for a moment, and then greater excitement surged in his heart. This Spiritual Root truly has infinite potential! This experiment not only alleviated the immediate crisis but also allowed the enlightenment tea tree to grow!

The time of one incense stick had just ended.

On the cyan Jade Flying Boat, the figures of Qing Weizi and the other two appeared again. His gaze swept indifferently over the Xinghai University ship, and when he saw that "Pseudo-Innate Domain" which was not large in range but exuded a charm completely different from ordinary Spiritual Qi, a trace of extremely faint surprise finally flashed deep in his indifferent eyes.

"Oh? Interesting." Qing Weizi whispered to himself, "To be able to create a 'Domain near the Dao' in such a short time, using a method not of the Primordial? Although rough and immature, far from the wonder of the Innate, this adaptability and attainment... are worthy of the name."

The crimson-clad girl beside him had even brighter eyes and licked her lips: "It seems to have become a bit stronger? Fighting should be even more interesting!"

The woman in the blue shirt nodded slightly, a trace of appreciation flashing in her eyes.

"Time is up." Qing Weizi did not say more and said loudly, "Fellow Daoist Lin, please."

"Please." Lin Zhou's voice came from the ship.

The next moment, the hatch of the Xinghai University ship opened. Led by Su Yueyao, with Bronzebeard and Wen Yuan assisting, and thirty elite dependents following closely behind, they were enveloped in the [Pseudo-Innate Domain] with a diameter of about fifty meters, flowing with pale green, pale gold, and clear spiritual halos, like a unique star, slowly flying toward the core area of the Light Floating Island group.

Opposite, a squad also flew out from the cyan Jade Flying Boat. The number of people was also about thirty, but the composition of the members made Lin Zhou and the others' eyes narrow.

Leading them was a Wu Race warrior wearing ancient leather armor, holding a bronze long spear, with a barbaric and fierce aura (estimated LV55), whose blood and Qi soared to the sky, as if he were a humanoid Vicious Beast.

Beside him was a Daoist child (estimated LV53) wearing a Daoist robe, holding a whisk, with an immortal and transcendent air, his body surrounded by dense Spiritual Qi.

There were also several warriors with obvious Yao Race characteristics (tiger heads, eagle wings, etc., average LV50), as well as some Yellow Turban Warriors (average LV48) that seemed to be made of jade.

This squad was also enveloped in rich Innate Spiritual Qi, their auras perfectly integrated and resonating with the surrounding environment, with obvious amplification.

Honghuang Academy, indeed, has extraordinary heritage, and the dependent system is not single, but a Fusion of Wu, Yao, Dao, and even some ancient creations!

The two squads, under the curious (or intimidated) "gaze" of countless light elemental creatures, faced each other from afar above the crystal cluster forest of the core floating island, which radiated the crystal of eternal light.

On one side, there were the Primordial elites, who had the advantage of the home field, the blessing of Innate Spiritual Qi, and an ancient and diverse system.

On the other side, there was the battle-hardened army of Xinghai University, which had broken through on the spot, created the "Pseudo-Innate Domain" with wisdom, and recovered more than 80% of their combat power.

The small-scale sparring has officially begun! The outcome and resource allocation are about to be revealed above this floating island enveloped in light and strange Spiritual Qi!