403: Chapter 338: The Rules of Time, the River of Civilization Proves Immortality

Twenty-four hours passed like a fleeting white horse in the midst of intense preparations.

The moment the countdown hit zero, the atmosphere in Xinghai University's preparation space reached a peak of solemnity. Everyone knew that they were about to face the monster ranked second in this competition, surpassed only by the Honghuang Academy main team—the Eternal Divine Court.

[Xinghai University Team vs. Eternal Divine Court Main Team—Match Start!]

[Battlefield generating... Battlefield Type: Void Star Domain (No terrain advantage, neutral rules)]

[Both Divine Domains expanding, distance: 500 kilometers.]

With a flash of light, Lin Zhou's consciousness descended onto the battlefield along with the projection of his Divine Kingdom.

Before him lay a deep void, starless and moonless, without cloud or wind. Only in the distance, the shadow of a colossal Divine Kingdom, so towering it was suffocating, slowly revealed its silhouette like an ancient beast coiled in the depths of the Universe.

That was the [Eternal Divine Kingdom].

The boundary of the Divine Kingdom was not an ordinary energy barrier, but a constantly flowing, mercury-like silver-white light membrane. On the surface of the membrane, time seemed frozen—floating dust remained motionless, flowing energy ripples were like ice, and even the divine light occasionally escaping from the edge of the Divine Kingdom diffused outward in visible "slow motion."

Five hundred kilometers away, in the core area of the Eternal Divine Kingdom, the shadow of a throne condensed from pure time and Order hovered in the center. The throne was entirely silver-white, emitting a cold and majestic light. Upon the throne sat a handsome but expressionless young man dressed in a white robe, sitting quietly.

His golden pupils were like two eternally burning suns, yet they possessed no warmth.

Elios St. Eternal.

“Xinghai University, Lin Zhou,” Elios's voice came from five hundred kilometers away, yet it was as clear as a whisper in the ear. “I have studied your ‘Way of Civilization.’ Using thought as a weapon and Legacy as power is indeed ingenious. But, before ‘Eternity,’ all change is futile.”

Lin Zhou did not respond immediately. His gaze swept over every detail of the [Eternal Divine Kingdom], rapidly analyzing the opponent's layout.

[Eternal Divine Kingdom · Battlefield Data]

- Divine Kingdom Area: Approx. 5,000 square kilometers.

- Time Deceleration Domain: Activated, covering a diameter of 300 kilometers.

- Domain Core (10km around the throne): Time flow is 1/10 of the outside world.

- Domain Periphery (100 to 300km): Time flow varies from 1/2 to 1/3 of the outside world.

- Domain Consumption: Approx. 1,200 Divine Power per minute (Estimated Elios Divine Power reserves above 500,000).

- Current Domain Coverage: Has extended to approximately 200 kilometers in front of the Star Sea Divine Kingdom projection.

“He's waiting for us to enter the Domain,” Qin Qing's voice rang out in the command link, heavy with gravity. “If we don't go in, he won't initiate an attack either. He's forcing us to choose—either enter the Time Deceleration Domain and fight at a disadvantage, or defend passively and be slowly worn down by him.”

“Then we go in,” Lin Zhou said calmly.

“What?” Wang Meng was startled. “Captain, that's his home turf!”

“I know,” a sharp glint flashed in Lin Zhou's eyes. “But his Time Deceleration Domain consumes 1,200 Divine Power per minute. If we just waste time outside, he can lower the Domain's power to save Divine Power. Only by entering the Domain and forcing him to turn the power to maximum can we accelerate his consumption.”

“Besides,” he added, “I want to see just how long this so-called ‘Eternity’ can hold up against ‘Civilization.’”

He took a deep breath and gave a low command:

“Star Sea members—advance! Target: Eternal Divine Kingdom!”

The five-colored halos of the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] began to move forward, not fast, but exceptionally steady.

500 kilometers... 400 kilometers... 300 kilometers...

When the edge of the Star Sea Divine Kingdom projection touched the periphery of the [Eternal Divine Kingdom]’s Time Deceleration Domain—

Buzz—!!!

An invisible force, like an unseen tide, instantly enveloped the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array]!

Lin Zhou felt his perception, his thoughts, and even the flow of his Divine Power experience an extremely subtle "lag." It wasn't being blocked, but rather "stretched"—an operation that originally took one second now required a second and a half or even two.

[Time Deceleration Domain · Impact (Periphery)]

- Movement Speed: -15% (Actual test value, slightly lower than estimate).

- Attack Speed: -12%.

- Casting Speed: -10%.

- Cooldown Skill Cooldowns: +20%.

- Duration Skill Durations: -15%.

- Mental Perception: Range -20%, Clarity -15%.

“As expected, we've been debuffed,” Wang Meng gritted his teeth. “This is only the periphery. If we enter the core area, won't we be unable to move at all?”

“No,” Lin Zhou said calmly. “Time deceleration only ‘stretches’ our perception and actions; it doesn't truly ‘freeze’ them. As long as our will is firm enough, we can adapt to this ‘stretching.’”

He looked up at the eternal throne three hundred kilometers away: “Continue advancing.”

The [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] continued to push forward.

300 kilometers... 250 kilometers... 200 kilometers...

The influence of the Time Deceleration Domain grew stronger and stronger.

When the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] advanced to about two hundred kilometers from the eternal throne, the flow of time had already dropped to 1/2 of the outside world. Lin Zhou could feel that every movement he made was like walking through water, meeting immense resistance.

[Time Deceleration Domain · Impact (Middle Ring)]

- Movement Speed: -35%.

- Attack Speed: -28%.

- Casting Speed: -25%.

- Cooldown Skill Cooldowns: +40%.

- Duration Skill Durations: -30%.

“We can't go any further,” Qin Qing said urgently. “Any further, into the 100-kilometer range, and the time flow will drop to 1/3 or even lower. Our combat power will be suppressed to only fifty percent!”

Lin Zhou was silent for a moment, then made a decision that surprised everyone:

“Stop here. Expand the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array]—full defense!”

“Defense?” Wang Meng blanked. “We're not attacking?”

“We'll attack, but there's no rush,” Lin Zhou's gaze locked onto the distant eternal throne. “Elios is waiting for us to enter his optimal attack range. We simply won't. We'll wear him down right here.”

He analyzed quickly: “His Time Deceleration Domain covers three hundred kilometers. Our current position is about two hundred kilometers from the throne, in the middle ring of the Domain. At this distance, while his ‘Time Deceleration’ effect is strong, the consumption for ‘Time Retrogression’ (resurrecting Heroic Spirits) is even greater—because the further the distance, the more Divine Power is required to resurrect them.”

“In other words, at this distance, his advantage is weakened, and our disadvantage is kept within an acceptable range.”

Qin Qing's eyes lit up: “You want to force him to take the initiative and attack?”

“Yes,” Lin Zhou nodded. “If he doesn't come out, we'll just stall. His Domain consumes 1,200 Divine Power per minute, which is 72,000 an hour. Even if he has 500,000 Divine Power in reserve, he won't last seven hours. Meanwhile, we have the river of civilization continuously providing faith conversion, so we can last longer.”

“So, this is a war of attrition,” Li Mo's electronic voice sounded. “Let's see who breaks first.”

“Exactly,” the corners of Lin Zhou's mouth curled up slightly. “Besides, we have a trump card.”

He didn't say it explicitly, but everyone knew what that trump card was—the [river of civilization].

Time ticked away minute by minute in the stalemate.

Ten minutes... twenty minutes... thirty minutes...

Elios finally lost his patience.

“Lin Zhou, do you think you can win by stalling like this?” His voice came from the throne, still cold, but with an added hint of impatience. “In that case, let me show you the true power of ‘Eternity’!”

He stood up from the throne, his right hand raised slightly, fingers spread.

“Eternal Stillness!”

Buzz—!!!

The eternal throne erupted with a blinding silver-white light, which spread out like a tide in all directions! Everywhere it passed, the flow of time plummeted!

[Eternal Divine Kingdom Ultimate Skill—Eternal Stillness!]

- Effect: Forcibly reduces the time flow within the Divine Kingdom to 1/100 of the outside world!

- Coverage: Radius of 100 kilometers centered on the eternal throne!

- Duration: Maximum 10 minutes (Extreme consumption, 5,000 Divine Power per minute).

- Side Effect: After the skill ends, Elios will enter a "Time Backlash" state, where all time-related skill cooldowns are doubled for one hour.

“1/100?!” Wang Meng's face changed drastically. “Doesn't that mean... if we move once inside, a hundred times that time has passed outside?”

“More than that,” Li Mo's electronic voice held a rare urgency. “Under a 1/100 time flow, our reaction speed, attack speed, casting speed... everything will be suppressed to almost zero! Meanwhile, Elios's Heroic Spirit Legion is unaffected (because they have already adapted to the Eternal Divine Kingdom's time rules)!”

“In other words, during these ten minutes, we're just sitting ducks!” Qin Qing's face was ashen.

The silver-white time tide spread out in all directions from the eternal throne!

150 kilometers... 120 kilometers... 100 kilometers...

The tide looked like it was about to reach the position of the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] (about 200 kilometers from the throne), but it stopped at 100 kilometers.

“Phew, we're safe outside the 100-kilometer mark...” Wang Meng had just breathed a sigh of relief when he saw a cold smirk tug at the corner of Elios's mouth.

“You think you're safe outside of 100 kilometers?” He pressed his right hand down. “Eternal Stillness · Diffusion!”

The silver-white tide jolted violently, then diffused outward at an even faster speed!

120 kilometers... 150 kilometers... 200 kilometers...

“Is he crazy?!” Zhao Hao exclaimed. “Diffusing to 200 kilometers will at least double the consumption!”

“He's gambling, betting that we can't survive these ten minutes!” Lin Zhou gritted his teeth. “Everyone, full defense! [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array], maximum power!”

The five-colored rings spun rapidly, the array's light more dazzling than ever before!

But when the silver-white time tide truly enveloped the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array], Lin Zhou truly experienced the horror of "Time Stillness."

His thoughts were still functioning, but his body could hardly move. Every movement was like struggling within solidified amber, requiring a hundred times the strength and will.

[Eternal Stillness · Impact (Enveloped Area)]

- Movement Speed: -99% (Almost unable to move)

- Attack Speed: -98%

- Casting Speed: -97%

- Cooldown-type Skill Cooldown: +500%

- Duration-type Skill Duration: -80%

- Spiritual Perception: Range -90%, Clarity -95%

"How... do we fight this..." Wang Meng's voice was intermittent, like a skipping recording.

Lin Zhou also felt unprecedented pressure. His Divine Fire burned wildly, attempting to use Divine Power to resist the solidification of time, but the effect was negligible.

Divine Power Consumption: Approximately 3,000 points per minute (used to resist time stop).

Current Divine Power: 68,000/200,000.

Ten minutes, 3,000 per minute, that's 30,000 Divine Power. He could hold out.

But Elios's Heroic Spirit Legion was closing in on him under the cover of the time stop!

Tens of thousands of immortal heroic spirits gushed out from the Eternal Divine Kingdom. Their speed was unaffected by the time stop, and like a silver-white torrent, they pounced toward the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array]!

"Captain, we can't move, how do we fight?" Zhao Hao asked anxiously.

Lin Zhou did not answer. He closed his eyes.

His consciousness sank into the core of his Divine Kingdom, into the Temple of Civilization, and into that ceaselessly rushing river of civilization.

In the river, countless fragments of civilization flowed—from the ancient ancestors drilling wood for fire to the casting of bronze in the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties; from the Hundred Schools of Thought Contending to the unification of the Qin and Han Empires; from the poetry and songs of the Tang and Song to the budding technology of the Ming and Qing; from the struggles and revival of modern times to the exploration and Legacy of the Star Sea era...

Every segment of civilization had left its mark in the long river of time.

Every segment of civilization had experienced "stagnation" and "crisis."

But they had never truly been "static."

Because the core of civilization is "Legacy."

Legacy does not end because of time.

Civilization does not perish because of stillness.

"Time can solidify all things, but it cannot solidify 'Legacy'."

"Time can stop everything, but it cannot stop 'Civilization'."

Lin Zhou suddenly opened his eyes, which were burning with the brilliant white Fire of Civilization!

"river of civilization—surge for me!"

BOOM—!!!

Behind him, the phantom of the river condensed from countless epics of civilization suddenly erupted with unprecedented light! The river water was no longer an illusory shadow of light but had transformed into a substantial, rushing, and roaring torrent!

Wherever the torrent passed, the silver-white tides of time, as if meeting their nemesis, actually began to retreat and dissolve!

[river of civilization · Trait Activated — Immortal Legacy!]

- Effect: Wherever the river of civilization passes, "Time Stop" type rules are forcibly weakened.

- Weakening Magnitude: Time deceleration effect -50% (for 1/100 stillness, reduced to 1/50).

- Coverage Area: Centered on Lin Zhou, a radius of fifty kilometers (expands as the river grows).

- Consumption: 2,000 Divine Power per minute (to maintain the manifestation of the river).

"I moved! I can move!" Wang Meng discovered with pleasant surprise that his arm could be slowly raised.

Although the speed was still very slow (only 1/50 of normal), at least he was no longer "completely unable to move"!

"Everyone, contract the Formation, center on Lin Zhou!" Qin Qing quickly ordered. "Within the coverage of the river, the time suppression has weakened by half!"

The five-colored halo of the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] began to contract, compressing from a diameter of one hundred kilometers to fifty kilometers, all shrouded under the protection of the river of civilization.

At this time, the vanguard of the immortal heroic spirits had already charged to the front of the Formation!

"Mohism—Non-Aggression Barrier!" Li Mo gritted his teeth and activated the Formation.

A translucent white light shield rose around the perimeter of the Formation, resisting the first wave of the heroic spirits' impact. However, under the suppression of the time stop, the strength of the Non-Aggression Barrier was only 30% of its normal state.

[Non-Aggression Barrier · Durability: 100%... 87%... 72%...]

"It won't hold for long!" Li Mo's electronic voice carried a sense of urgency. "Three minutes at most!"

"Three minutes is enough." Lin Zhou's gaze was like a torch, staring at Elios on the distant eternal throne. "He activates [Eternal Stasis], consuming 5,000 Divine Power per minute. Ten minutes is 50,000. Plus the base consumption to maintain the Domain (1,200 per minute), the total is 6,200 per minute. Ten minutes is 62,000."

"Even if his Divine Power reserves are 500,000, he can't afford to squander it like this."

"Moreover," he added, "after [Eternal Stasis] ends, he will fall into 'Time Backlash,' and the cooldown of all time-type skills will double. That will be our chance to counterattack!"

"So, what we need to do is—endure these ten minutes!"

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

Time passed second by second amidst the consumption of blood and fire.

One minute... two minutes... three minutes...

The Heroic Spirit Legion impacted the defensive line of the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] like a tide, with each impact taking the lives of many mechanical beasts and Behemoth Warriors. However, under the protection of the river of civilization, the killed heroic spirits could not be resurrected by "Time Retrogression" (because the river interfered with the rules of time), and the consumption of the Eternal Divine Kingdom grew larger and larger.

Elios's expression finally lost its calm.

"Your river of civilization... can actually resist the rules of time?" His voice carried a hint of disbelief.

"Time can solidify all things, but it cannot solidify 'Legacy'," Lin Zhou said calmly. "The core of civilization is the 'Passing of the Torch'. As long as there is still one person who remembers, learns, and passes it on, civilization will not end. Time cannot erase it either."

He raised the [Sword of Civilization] in his hand, the tip pointing at Elios:

"Your 'eternity' is an eternity of 'stasis'. But my 'civilization' is an eternity of 'flow'. The eternity of stasis will eventually be replaced by the eternity of flow!"

"Because civilization is always moving forward!"

Following his words, in the river of civilization, countless fragments of civilization lit up in sequence—

The light of ancient ancestors drilling wood for fire,

The fire of casting bronze in the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties,

The light of the Hundred Schools of Thought Contending in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods,

The flame of unification of the Qin and Han Empires,

The cultural brilliance of Tang and Song poetry,

The unyielding fire of modern struggle,

The pioneering stars of the Star Sea era...

Every segment of civilization left an indelible mark in the long river of time.

Every segment of civilization resisted "stasis" and "stagnation."

These marks, these lights, gathered into an unstoppable torrent, washing over the time rules of the [Eternal Divine Kingdom]!

[river of civilization · Resonance — Civilization is Immortal!]

- Effect: The civilization fragments in the river resonate with Lin Zhou's conviction, producing a "Civilization Shockwave."

- Shockwave Effect: Causes continuous erosion to "Time Stop" and "Eternity" type rules.

- Erosion Speed: Weakens the time deceleration effect by 1% every ten seconds.

"Impossible!" Elios's face changed drastically. He could feel that the effect of [Eternal Stasis] was weakening at a rate visible to the naked eye!

1/100... 1/90... 1/80...

"Continue! Don't stop!" Lin Zhou shouted low. The Fire of Civilization burned wildly within him, and his Godhead made a slight cracking sound under the extreme load, but he was completely oblivious to it.

Time continued to pass in the stalemate.

Four minutes... five minutes... six minutes...

The effect of [Eternal Stasis] had been weakened to 1/40!

And Elios's Divine Power was also being rapidly consumed!

Elios · Divine Power Reserve Estimate: Dropped from 500,000 to 420,000, and it is still falling rapidly.

"Captain, he's almost at his limit!" Wang Meng said excitedly.

"Don't relax," Lin Zhou said in a deep voice. "He still has trump cards."

Sure enough, a look of ruthlessness flashed in Elios's eyes.

"Since 'stasis' cannot trap you, then—'Retrogression'!"

He formed seals with both hands, and the eternal throne erupted with an even more dazzling silver-white light!

[Eternal Divine Kingdom · Forbidden Skill — Time Retrogression!]

- Effect: Reverses time within the Divine Kingdom to thirty seconds ago!

- Coverage Area: Centered on the eternal throne, a radius of fifty kilometers!

- Consumption: 100,000 Divine Power!

- Side Effect: After the skill ends, Elios will fall into a "Time Disorder" state, and all time-type skills will be disabled for one hour.

"He's going to reverse time!" Qin Qing's face changed greatly. "If the retrogression succeeds, our efforts over these six minutes will be in vain!"

"I won't let him succeed." A look of resolve flashed in Lin Zhou's eyes.

He raised the [Sword of Civilization]. On the blade, the phantom of the river of civilization condensed into a brilliant blade of light.

"Civilization—Sever Karma!"

He slashed out with his sword, not at Elios, but at the [Time Retrogression] rule that was currently operating!

As the sword light passed, countless fragments of civilization within the river of civilization moved with it, like chains wrapping around the "Karma Lines" of the rules of time!

"The core of civilization is 'Karma'. Past choices determine the present state; present efforts determine future results," Lin Zhou's voice was calm yet firm. "If you want to reverse time, you must sever 'Karma'. But is the 'Karma' of civilization so easily severed?"

The sword light fell, and the rule of Time Retrogression was forcibly "stuck"!

The retrogression only proceeded for five seconds before it stopped!

[Time Retrogression · Failed!]

- Reason: The river of civilization interfered with the "Karma Lines," causing the retrogression to be unable to complete.

- Consumption: 100,000 Divine Power has been paid, but the effect only lasted for five seconds (expected thirty seconds).

- Elios Status: Fallen into "Time Disorder" (all time-type skills disabled for one hour).

Pfft—!

Elios suddenly spat out a mouthful of golden divine blood, his face instantly turning deathly pale. His Divine Fire flickered violently, and the light of the [eternal throne] also dimmed by more than half.

"You... you actually..." He looked at Lin Zhou in disbelief.

"I said, time cannot solidify 'Legacy'," Lin Zhou said calmly. "Similarly, time cannot sever 'Karma'. Every step of civilization is paved with the lives and wisdom of countless predecessors. You want to reverse time and erase our efforts? Impossible."

He raised the [Sword of Civilization], the tip pointing at Elios:

"Now, it's our turn to counterattack!"

"All forces—attack!"