410: Chapter 345: The Grand Final Begins, Opponent is the Primordial Team
The birth of the Top 10 caused a massive stir across the entire Universe.
Xinghai University—this "dark horse" from the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy, which almost no one favored before the competition—had actually fought its way through, defeating top teams like the Abyss Contractors, Honghuang Academy Second Team, Eternal Divine Court Main Team, and Holy Light Hall Academy, historically breaking into the Top 10 of the All-Universe Academy Championship, and ranking 2nd overall!
The entire Milky Way Galaxy was in an uproar.
Major media outlets were flooding the airwaves with reports about Lin Zhou and his "Way of Civilization." For the first time, Hundred Schools of Thought entered the mainstream vision of the entire Universe. Countless young gods began studying "the analects," "tao te ching," "Han Feizi"… A "civilization craze" was quietly emerging.
But inside the preparation space of Xinghai University, the atmosphere was exceptionally heavy.
Because the draw results for the Top 10 tournament were already out.
[All-Universe Academy Championship — Top 10 Tournament Draw Results]
Round 1: Honghuang Academy Main Team vs. Xinghai University (Milky Way Galaxy)
Round 2: Void Realm Contractor Academy vs. Element Ring Academy
Round 3: Mechanical Divine Domain Main Team vs. …
"Facing the Honghuang Academy Main Team in the first round?" Wang Meng gasped, "That's just too unlucky!"
"It's not bad luck, it's inevitable," Qin Qing said calmly, "The rule for the Top 10 tournament is 'strong versus strong', Rank 1 against Rank 2, Rank 3 against Rank 4, and so on. Since we are ranked 2nd, our first opponent has to be the 1st ranked Honghuang Academy Main Team."
"Ranked 1st…" Zhao Hao's expression was also not looking good, "That's the number one seed of this tournament, a monster with a perfect record that finishes battles in an average of ten minutes."
Lin Zhou did not speak. His gaze fell upon the information about the Honghuang Academy Main Team on the light screen.
[Honghuang Academy Main Team Core Intelligence]
- Captain: Pan Qian (Innate Human Race Reincarnation from Honghuang, Divine Rank LV650, Mid-Tier Divine Power High Rank)
- Domain: [Mount Buzhou] projection (Epic Wonder Building, movable/deployable, possesses multiple functions of defense, attack, and suppression)
- Domain Characteristics:
1. [Buzhou Pressure]: Enemy units within range have all attributes -30%, and suffer "Gravity Suppression" (Movement Speed -50%, Attack Speed -30%).
2. [Innate Spiritual Qi]: The quality of Spiritual Qi within the Divine Kingdom is "Innate-Grade," granting a +50% bonus to all attributes for Honghuang clansmen.
3. [Qiankun Cauldron · Replica]: A replica of an Innate Supreme Treasure, capable of refining all things, returning them to their Origin.
- Clansman Composition: Primarily [Innate Human Race] (Rank LV60 - LV80, balanced attributes, naturally affinity for Laws), supplemented by [Wu Race Warriors] (Elite Unit, high strength and high Physique) and [Yao Race Sorcerers] (Hero Unit, proficient in various Spells).
- Core Tactics: Use the [Mount Buzhou] projection to suppress opponents, use the [Qiankun Cauldron] replica to refine the enemy's Divine Kingdom, and use the Innate Human Race legion to crush them head-on.
- Record: Perfect record in group stages, perfect record in knockout stages, all matches finished within fifteen minutes, and has never used the [Qiankun Cauldron] replica.
"Never used the [Qiankun Cauldron] replica?" Li Mo's electronic voice carried a hint of gravity, "That means their trump card hasn't been exposed yet."
"No." Lin Zhou shook his head, "Their trump card is the [Qiankun Cauldron] itself. Refining all things, returning them to their Origin—this means any matter, energy, or Law will be 'reduced' to its most primitive Origin in front of the Qiankun Cauldron. Our [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] might be vulnerable before it."
"Then what do we do?" Wang Meng asked anxiously.
Lin Zhou was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "First, we need to understand the specific effects of the [Qiankun Cauldron] replica."
He pulled up the public information of Honghuang Academy and pointed to one line:
[Qiankun Cauldron · Replica (Epic Wonder/War Weapon)]
- Origin: The treasure of Honghuang Academy, modeled after the ancient Innate Supreme Treasure "Qiankun Cauldron."
- Effects:
1. [Refining All Things]: Can throw any matter, energy, or Law into the cauldron to refine it into "Innate Origin." Refining speed depends on the target's volume, energy density, and Law complexity.
2. [Returning to Origin]: Targets being refined will lose all "Acquired" attributes and return to their most primitive "Innate" state. For a Divine Kingdom, this means Divine Kingdom Laws will be stripped away, clansman Bloodlines will be reset, and the god's Divine Rank will be "reduced" to ordinary Divine Fire.
3. [Defense and Counterattack]: The Qiankun Cauldron itself has extremely high defense (can withstand a full-force blow from a Peak Mid-Tier Divine Power) and can reflect some attacks.
4. [Consumption]: Each use consumes a large amount of Divine Power (estimated 5000-10000 per minute), and the replica has a usage limit (about ten times).
- Current Status: Unused (Usage count: 0 / 10).
"Refining the Divine Kingdom…" Qin Qing's face was pale, "If they throw our [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] into the cauldron, our Laws will be 'reduced' to the most primitive Innate Spiritual Qi, and the Formation will collapse."
"Not just that." Lin Zhou added, "Our clansmen, if enveloped by the cauldron light, their Bloodlines will also be 'reduced.' Literary Heart Elves will degenerate into ordinary Forest Elves, Tiangong Dwarves will degenerate into ordinary dwarves, Law Fishmen will degenerate into ordinary fishmen… Everything we have worked so hard to cultivate will be washed away."
"This… this is too ruthless!" Zhao Hao gasped.
"So, we cannot give them the chance to use the Qiankun Cauldron." Lin Zhou's eyes flashed with sharpness, "Or rather, even if they do use it, we must have a way to deal with it."
He looked at Li Mo: "Li Mo, is there any way to interfere with the 'refining' process of the Qiankun Cauldron?"
Li Mo's projection performed rapid calculations, his electronic voice tinged with thought: "The refining of the Qiankun Cauldron relies on 'Innate Laws.' If we can use 'Acquired Laws' to 'pollute' it, the refining speed will drop significantly. Our [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] is essentially a collection of 'Acquired Laws.' If we can put the core of the Formation—the river of civilization—into the cauldron and use the 'Acquired' attributes of the Fire of Civilization to counter the 'Innate' attributes of the Qiankun Cauldron, we might be able to temporarily 'jam' the refining process."
"Put the river of civilization in?" Qin Qing shook her head, "That's too risky. The river of civilization is our Foundation, if it gets refined…"
"It won't be refined." Lin Zhou interrupted her, "The essence of the river of civilization is 'Legacy,' it is 'Change,' it is the ultimate of the 'Acquired.' The Qiankun Cauldron can refine the 'Innate,' but it may not be able to refine the 'Acquired.' Because the 'Acquired' is created by humans, not something that exists 'Innately.' The 'Returning to Origin' of the Qiankun Cauldron can only go back to the 'Innate' state, and the 'Acquired' has no 'Origin' to return to."
He stood up, walked to the light screen, and pulled up the data for the [Mount Buzhou] projection.
"Additionally, the [Mount Buzhou] projection is powerful, but it also has weaknesses. Mount Buzhou is the 'Pillar of Heaven' that supports the world. Its 'Pressure' and 'Gravity' come from the confrontation between 'Heaven' and 'Earth.' If we can break this confrontation, Mount Buzhou will lose its balance."
"How to break it?" Wang Meng asked.
"Using the power of 'People'." Lin Zhou said word by word, "Mount Buzhou is the Pillar of Heaven, and 'People' are the 'Heart of Heaven and Earth.' Confucianism speaks of 'Unity of Heaven and Man,' Taoism speaks of 'Tao Follows Nature,' both are the harmony between 'People' and 'Heaven and Earth.' If we can prove that 'People' can replace 'Heaven' and become a new 'pillar,' the pressure of Mount Buzhou will fail."
He looked at everyone: "This battle is not about power, it's about 'philosophy.' Honghuang Academy represents the 'Innate,' we represent the 'Acquired.' Whoever's philosophy is more in line with the truth of the Universe will win."
Everyone was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Captain, tell us how to fight, and we'll fight exactly that way." Wang Meng patted his chest.
"Good." Lin Zhou took a deep breath, "The tactics are as follows—"
He quickly drew the tactical diagram on the light screen:
[Draft Tactics Against Honghuang Academy Main Team]
Phase 1 (Probing): Focus on defense with the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array], observe the operational patterns of the [Mount Buzhou] projection and the [Qiankun Cauldron]. Do not initiate attacks to avoid being targeted by the Qiankun Cauldron.
Phase 2 (Interference): Use the Legalist "Net of Law" and Taoist "Quietude and Non-Action" to interfere with the "Pressure" and "Gravity" of Mount Buzhou, and look for loopholes in its rules.
Phase 3 (Counter): When the Qiankun Cauldron is activated, use the river of civilization as a "sacrifice," throw it into the cauldron, and use the "Acquired" to counter the "Innate," jamming the refining process. At the same time, Lin Zhou will use the [Sword of Civilization] to attack the "Rule Nodes" of Mount Buzhou to break its balance.
Phase 4 (Decisive Victory): After Mount Buzhou loses its balance, the entire army will launch a full-scale assault, using the Hundred Schools of Thought to "educate" the Innate Human Race legion, causing them to generate "self-doubt," thereby disintegrating their combat power.
"This plan…" Qin Qing scrutinized the tactical diagram, "The risk is very high. Especially in the third phase, throwing the river of civilization into the Qiankun Cauldron, what if it really gets refined…"
"It won't be refined." Lin Zhou repeated, "I believe in the power of the river of civilization."
He looked at Su Yueyao's Moon Essence projection: "Yue Yao, your Moon Essence can 'pierce through falsehoods.' In battle, I need you to use your Moon Essence to lock onto the 'refining trajectory' of the Qiankun Cauldron and find its 'refining nodes.' As long as we cut off those nodes, the refining process will be interrupted."
Su Yueyao nodded slightly: "I will do my best."
"Wang Meng, Zhao Hao, your mission is—in the fourth stage, launch a frontal assault on Mount Buzhou. Once Mount Buzhou loses its balance, its pressure will significantly weaken. You must use the fastest speed and strongest firepower to destroy the 'Foundation' of Mount Buzhou."
"Understood!"
"Li Mo, your mechanical beasts are responsible for pinning down the Innate Human Race legions. Do not fight head-on; focus on attrition."
"Received."
"Qin Qing, you are responsible for the operation of the entire Formation. If I get trapped in the Qiankun Cauldron, you will be the temporary commander."
"Captain..." Qin Qing hesitated, wanting to say more.
"Rest assured, I will be fine," Lin Zhou smiled.
Twenty-four hours later.
[All-Universe Academy Championship—Top Ten Tournament, Round 1]
[Honghuang Academy Main Team vs Xinghai University Team—Match Start!]
[Generating battlefield... Battlefield type: Chaotic Void (No terrain advantage, neutral rules)]
[Both Divine Domains deployed, distance: 500 kilometers.]
A flash of light passed, and Lin Zhou's consciousness descended onto the battlefield along with his Divine Kingdom projection.
Before him was a chaotic void, devoid of stars, moons, clouds, or wind. But in the distance, the phantom of a massive mountain, towering to the point of suffocation, stood in the void like a giant pillar propping up the heavens and earth.
That was the [Mount Buzhou] projection.
The mountain was dark cyan, its surface flowing with countless complex Innate runes. The Peak pierced deep into the void, its summit invisible; the mountain's base was vast and boundless, as if rooted in the Foundation of the Universe. The entire mountain exuded a thick aura of "propping up the sky and earth, unshakable." Merely looking at it from afar made one feel a sense of "insignificance" and "powerlessness."
[Mount Buzhou Projection · Battlefield Data]
- Height: Approx. 100,000 kilometers (phantom)
- Coverage: 3,000 kilometers in diameter
- Pressure Range: 1,000 kilometers radius (Lin Zhou is currently 500 kilometers away, within the pressure range)
- Current Pressure Effects:
- Star Sea kin total attributes -25% (Affected by pressure)
- Movement speed -40%
- Attack speed -20%
- Rule resistance -15%
"Such strong pressure," Qin Qing gritted her teeth, "Even more troublesome than the Eternal Divine Court's time-deceleration Domain."
"Steady," Lin Zhou said in a deep voice, "Deploy [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array]!"
A five-colored halo lit up from the edge of the Divine Kingdom projection. The five colors representing Confucianism, Legalism, Mohism, Daoism, and Military Strategy intertwined to form a massive halo with a diameter of 150 kilometers. Under the shroud of the halo, the pressure effects were weakened by about 30%.
[Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array · Pressure Weakened]
- Current pressure effects: Total attributes -18% (originally -25%), movement speed -28% (originally -40%)
"Not enough," Lin Zhou frowned, "We need to get closer to find Mount Buzhou's Rule nodes."
He ordered: "Advance! Target, Mount Buzhou!"
The [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] moved forward slowly.
500 kilometers... 400 kilometers... 300 kilometers...
The pressure grew stronger and stronger.
When the distance shortened to 300 kilometers, the pressure effect had returned to the original level of "total attributes -25%." Lin Zhou could feel his Divine Spark bearing immense pressure; every step forward required consuming additional Divine Power to maintain the array.
[Lin Zhou · Status]
- Divine Power reserves: 28,000 / 32,000 (consumption accelerated to maintain the array)
- Divine Spark integrity: 82%
- Current load: 85% (normal)
"Captain, we can't go any further," Qin Qing said urgently, "Any closer, and our kin might be crushed by the pressure!"
"100 kilometers further," Lin Zhou gritted his teeth, "After 100 kilometers, if we still can't find the Rule nodes, we will retreat."
"But..."
"Trust me."
The [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] continued to move forward.
300 kilometers... 280 kilometers... 250 kilometers...
When the distance shortened to 250 kilometers, Lin Zhou finally saw it—on the body of Mount Buzhou, those flowing Innate runes were not distributed randomly but were arranged systematically. At regular intervals, there was a particularly bright rune node, like a "node" in a blood vessel, connecting the Rule network of the entire mountain.
"Found them!" A flash of light shone in Lin Zhou's eyes, "Those bright rune nodes are Mount Buzhou's 'Rule nodes.' As long as we shatter them, Mount Buzhou's pressure will weaken!"
"But how do we shatter them? They are on the mountain body, 250 kilometers away from us," Li Mo said.
"Use the [Sword of Civilization] for a long-range attack." Lin Zhou raised his right hand, and five-colored light converged in his palm, condensing into a brilliant phantom of a sword of light.
"Civilization—Slash!"
The sword light cut through the void, traversing 250 kilometers, and struck a rune node with precision!
Crack—!!!
A tiny crack appeared on the surface of the node, but it did not shatter.
[Mount Buzhou · Rule node damaged]
- Node integrity: 97% (decreased by 3%)
- Mount Buzhou pressure: No significant weakening (impact of single node damage is minimal)
"We need to attack the same node multiple times!" Lin Zhou gritted his teeth, "Continue!"
Second sword! Third sword! Fourth sword...
Each time the sword light landed, the node's integrity dropped by a few percentage points. When the integrity dropped to 70%, Mount Buzhou's pressure finally showed a weak fluctuation—the total attribute suppression dropped from 25% to 23%.
"It's effective!" Wang Meng said excitedly.
But just then, a golden light lit up at the summit of Mount Buzhou.
In the light, a young man wearing a cyan Daoist robe, a purple-gold crown, and with a handsome and steady face slowly appeared. Behind him floated the phantom of a massive, three-legged, two-eared bronze cauldron.
The cauldron body was dark gold, its surface flowing with countless Innate runes, and its mouth was slightly tilted, facing the direction of the Star Sea Divine Kingdom projection.
That was a replica of the [Qiankun Cauldron].
And that young man was the captain of the Honghuang Academy Main Team—Pan Qian.
"Xinghai University, Lin Zhou." Pan Qian's voice was calm and clear, yet carried an unquestionable majesty, "I have studied your 'Way of Civilization.' It is very interesting. However, in the face of the 'Innate,' the 'Acquired' is ultimately just a minor path."
He raised his hand and lightly tapped the Qiankun Cauldron behind him.
From the cauldron's mouth, a golden beam of light shot out, shining straight toward the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array]!
Wherever the beam passed, the dust floating in the void, the energy ripples, and even space itself were "refined" into the most primitive Spiritual Qi, dissipating into the void.
[Qiankun Cauldron · Refining Light]
- Effect: Refines all "Acquired" objects into "Innate" Origin.
- Coverage: 100 kilometers in diameter (beam)
- Refining speed: Can refine material/energy equivalent to one hundred LV50 kin per second
- Current target: [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array]
"Dodge!" Lin Zhou ordered.
The five-colored halo of the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] contracted rapidly, narrowly avoiding the shroud of the beam.
But the beam seemed to have a life of its own; it turned and continued to chase the Formation!
"Its beam can track targets!" Qin Qing's expression changed drastically.
"Then we'll take it head-on!" Lin Zhou gritted his teeth, "Li Mo, prepare [Non-Aggression Barrier]! Qin Qing, Net of Law at maximum power! Yue Yao, Moon Essence purification!"
"Yes!"
A translucent white light shield rose and collided with the Refining Light!
Hiss—!!!
The light shield was being "refined" at a speed visible to the naked eye, its durability dropping rapidly!
[Non-Aggression Barrier · Durability: 100%... 80%... 60%...]
"Can't hold for long!" Li Mo's electronic voice carried urgency, "Thirty seconds at most!"
"Thirty seconds is enough." Lin Zhou took a deep breath and looked at Pan Qian in the distance, "Captain Pan Qian, your Qiankun Cauldron is indeed powerful. But, have you ever thought—can 'Acquired' things truly be 'refined'?"
He stepped forward, and the phantom of the river of civilization suddenly appeared behind him!
The river surged, and countless fragments of civilization flowed within it—from drilling wood for fire to the Hundred Schools of Thought Contending, from bronze ware to spacecraft, from oracle bone script to quantum computers...
"Civilization is the pinnacle of the 'Acquired.' It has no 'Innate Origin' to return to, because its 'Origin' is 'Humanity' itself!"
"If you want to refine civilization, then refine me first!"
Lin Zhou leaped, and together with the phantom of the river of civilization, he charged toward the Qiankun Cauldron!
"Captain!" Qin Qing exclaimed.
"Don't come over!" Lin Zhou's voice came from afar, "This is the only way!"
His figure submerged into the mouth of the Qiankun Cauldron.
The golden Refining Light instantly engulfed him.
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