37: The Forge Returns to My Heart, Epic Cards Acquired (Part 2)

Holding the [ashen furnace] card, which radiated a dark gold light and contained majestic power, even the calm Elwin could not help but feel her heart surge. She could clearly sense the power within the card, silent like a volcano yet brimming with creativity.

This was not a simple offensive or defensive card, but a miracle building capable of continuously producing resources, improving overall forging levels, and even optimizing the rules of the God Domain! Its value was far above that of a consumable Epic card; it was a strategic-level treasure that could lay a powerful Foundation for a God Domain!

She immediately reported this amazing discovery to Lin Zhou through prayer.

Lin Zhou's consciousness swept over the attributes of the [ashen furnace] card, and his heart was also filled with joy. This card perfectly matched his current development needs. With its blessing, the forging skills of the Dwarves and Gnomes in the Tiangong Workshop would surely advance by leaps and bounds, raising the overall equipment level of the God Domain by a major grade. Moreover, the [Molten Crystal Shards] it produced were energy minerals of a higher level than Leyline Crystals, and were worth a fortune whether used for Cultivation or as an energy source for Advanced mechanisms and Spells.

“This item is of vital importance to the development of my God Domain,” Lin Zhou's divine oracle arrived. “Elwin, keep it safe. Once the final exam ends and we return to the God Domain, choose a suitable location immediately for Fusion.”

“I obey the divine oracle!” Elwin solemnly put the card away. She knew that this card would be another important cornerstone for the future rise of the Hundred Schools Temple.

The conquest and harvest of Furnace Fortress had come to a successful conclusion. Not only had the Alliance destroyed a powerful enemy, obtained massive resources and technology, and stabilized the Alliance, but Lin Zhou had also gained an extremely precious Epic-grade building card.

As Furnace Fortress was brought completely under control, the time for the final exam gradually drew to a close. According to the prompt from the main AI, there was only one day (God Domain time) left until the end of the exam.

Elwin used this final time to make a series of arrangements for Furnace Fortress and the newly acquired forces:

Established the 'Furnace Fortress Interim Management Committee': Elwin served as the chairwoman, with Brook Blackrock, Glick (representing the Underground Gnomes), and a newly promoted Gray Dwarf engineer from the original Furnace Fortress—who had performed well and was willing to cooperate—serving as members. Together, they were responsible for the fortress's daily management, defense, and post-war reconstruction. This ensured a smooth transition of power and a balance of interests among the three parties.

Technology Sharing and R&D: The [Gray Dwarf Runic Forging Encyclopedia] and [Geothermal Energy Core Construction Diagrams] were opened to the Blackrock Clan and Deep Moss Tribe on a limited basis (core secrets were temporarily withheld). Technical personnel from the three parties were encouraged to exchange and learn, jointly establishing the 'Blackrock Mountain Range Joint R&D Group.' The goal was to fuse the dexterity of the Elves, the solidness of the Dwarves, and the ingenuity of the Gnomes to develop more Advanced technologies and products.

Military Integration: Two hundred strong Gray Dwarves with good attitudes were selected from the surrendered forces. They were mixed with some Blackrock Clan Warriors and Gnome Engineers to form the 'Blackrock Mountain Range Guard Legion.' Bronzebeard Stonehammer served concurrently as the instructor, responsible for daily patrols and defense, beginning preliminary integration training.

Faith Guidance: Elwin and the scribes began to spread the basic concepts of the Hundred Schools of Thought within Furnace Fortress on a limited basis, especially the 'Order' and 'Law' of the School of Law (Legalism), and the 'Education' and 'Benevolence' of the School of Confucianism. This subtly changed the views of the original Furnace Fortress residents, laying the Foundation for Lin Zhou to establish a solid base of faith here in the future.

These measures were implemented methodically, and Furnace Fortress, originally a stronghold full of oppression and tyranny, began to radiate new vitality. Although there was still a long way to go before truly 'winning their hearts,' at least a solid first step had been taken.

When the bell for the end of the final day (a mental notification) rang in the minds of all examinees, Lin Zhou knew that this final exam, which had lasted seven days (God Domain time), had finally come to an end.

[Final Exam ended! Calculating scores...]

[Examinee: Lin Zhou]

[Assessment Scenario: Grey Dwarf Star Realm GH-S-734]

[Calculating final score...]

Survival Duration: Full Marks (survived until the end of the exam).

Exploration Range: Excellent (explored and mapped the core area of the Blackrock Mountain Range).

Resource Collection: Extraordinary (obtained all resources of Furnace Fortress, including Epic Materials).

Influence/Conquest of Native Forces: Perfect (successfully conquered the strongest native force, Furnace Fortress, and facilitated a three-party Alliance).

Defeating Other Examinees: None (did not actively attack other examinees, but successfully resisted a potential threat and attracted the attention of top examinees).

Final Comprehensive Strength: Extremely Strong (total Allied troop strength, Hero Rank, and acquired Epic card).

[Comprehensive Evaluation]: S+ (Ultra-Perfect Evaluation!)

[Distributing rewards...]

A brilliant light enveloped Lin Zhou's consciousness and his hundred-man expeditionary force. Their figures began to fade, about to be teleported back to their respective God Domains.

In the final moment before leaving, Lin Zhou took one last 'look' at this land where he had fought for seven days—the towering Furnace Fortress, the busy creatures of various races, and the eternal twilight sun in the distance.

He knew that for him, this exam had yielded far more than just an S+ evaluation. He had verified the power of the Hundred Schools of Thought, gained valuable combat experience, made reliable allies, seized abundant resources, and most importantly, obtained an Epic card, the [ashen furnace], which was enough to change the development trajectory of his God Domain.

And his first indirect contact with Su Yueyao had also opened a new window for him. The true Xinghai University, those favored children of heaven from various Star Domains—their world seemed even broader.

With a flash of light, Lin Zhou's consciousness returned to his body.

In his [Hundred Schools Temple] God Domain, which had already expanded to 15 square kilometers, the Power Of Faith in the core area surged like an ocean. Elwin, Bronzebeard, and the others also returned safely, bringing back a wealth of experience and glory.

Lin Zhou did not rush to celebrate; his consciousness immediately sank into the core of the God Domain to communicate with the [Temple of Civilization]. He wanted to see what changes the harvest from this exam, especially the [ashen furnace] card and the large number of civilization points, could bring to the Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary was still ancient and magnificent, but inside, there seemed to be a few more flickering points of light representing different schools of thought, and the connections between them had become closer and more complex. In particular, the light points representing the 'School of Law' and the 'School of Engineering' (a branch of Mohism) were significantly brighter.

[Temple of Civilization Status Update]:

civilization points: 6,850 points (Absorbed Civilization Shards +5,000, Final Exam Evaluation Reward +1,500, Original balance 350)

Unlocked Thoughts: School of Confucianism (8%), School of Law (8%), School of Mohism (7%), School of Military (6%), School of Diplomacy (5%), School of Agriculture (5%)

Unlockable Thoughts: [School of Medicine] (Requires 500 points), [School of Names] (Requires 600 points), [School of Daoism] (Requires 1,000 points)... Exchangeable items:

[Advanced Forging Knowledge Infusion] (Costs 800 points)

[Basics of Geothermal Energy Application] (Costs 600 points)

[Legalist Edicts · Minor Achievement] (Costs 1,200 points)

[Random Sage Heroic Spirit Summon (Rare)] (Costs 2,000 points)

[Miracle Building Blueprint: Hall of Heroes (Incomplete)] (Costs 5,000 points)

...The dazzling exchange list allowed Lin Zhou to see infinite possibilities. Finally, civilization points were no longer in a tight state.

He first turned his gaze toward the [ashen furnace] card, which radiated a dark gold light. It was time to fuse this Epic-grade miracle into his God Domain!