418: Chapter 353: Passing on the Torch, the Backbone Remains Unbroken

The collision of wills had already persisted for a quarter of an hour.

The dark gold light of Mount Buzhou and the transparent radiance of the Civilization Pillar intertwined, tore, and clashed in the Void Realm. There were no roars, no explosions, only silent annihilation and Rebirth. Every collision caused space to collapse and expand, rules to break and reforge, and time to stagnate and flow.

Pan Qian stood atop Mount Buzhou, his face as pale as paper. His divine fire flickered like a candle in a gale; his Godhood Rank had plummeted from LV650 to LV580, and his Dao Heart stability had dropped to the dangerous line of 45%. Yet, he did not retreat.

Because behind him was Mount Buzhou—his belief of several hundred years.

“Why... why hasn't it fallen yet?” he murmured, his eyes fixed deathly on the transparent pillar opposite him.

The Civilization Pillar was covered in cracks.

From the base to the top, spiderweb-like fissures crisscrossed; at the widest points, one could even fit a fist inside. The reliefs on the pillar—Yu the Great Taming the Flood, Confucius's travels, Qu Yuan's chanting—were cut into fragments by the cracks, looking as if they might shatter into residue at any moment.

[Civilization Pillar · Status]

- Stability: 35% (Critical Point)

- Crack Coverage: 60%

- Sustained Wills: One Million (Some wills have blurred due to cracks)

- Current Status: Tottering, but has not fallen

“It's about to break,” Pan Qian told himself. “One more time, and I can shatter it.”

He raised his hand, condensing all the remaining power of his Dao Heart.

Dark gold light gathered in his palm, transforming into a three-foot-long small sword forged purely from will. Carved upon the blade were two words—Innate.

“The final strike.”

He swung the sword.

The small sword left his hand, turning into a streak of dark gold light that pierced straight toward the body of the Civilization Pillar!

[Pan Qian's Final Strike — Innate Negation · Zenith]

- Form: Sword of Will

- Target: Core Node of the Civilization Pillar

- Power: Equivalent to 80% of Pan Qian's total Dao Heart Power

- Consumption: After this strike, Pan Qian will fall into a 'Dao Heart Depletion' state, unable to use his will for at least one month

Everywhere the sword light passed, space was torn into a pitch-black wound. At the edges of the wound, rule fragments flew apart, timelines snapped, and Karma chains collapsed. This sword strike negated the rationality of all 'Acquired' existence.

Lin Zhou stood beneath the pillar, watching that sword light, and did not retreat.

His Godhood integrity was down to 35%, his Divine Power reserves were at zero, and the water level of the river of civilization had dropped to 12%. His body was trembling, golden divine blood seeped from his seven orifices, and every inch of his skeleton was groaning.

But his eyes remained resolute.

“Pillar, you are not allowed to fall.”

He raised both hands and pressed them against the body of the pillar.

In his palms, the transparent Fire of Civilization burned fiercely.

The flames followed the cracks, seeping into the interior of the pillar to fill the gaps torn by the will of Mount Buzhou.

[Civilization Pillar · Repair — Fire of Will]

- Effect: Uses Lin Zhou's Dao Heart as fuel to repair the pillar's cracks

- Consumption: For every crack repaired, Lin Zhou's Dao Heart stability -1%

- Current Dao Heart Stability: 78%... 75%... 72%...

One crack healed.

Two, three, four...

But the sword light had arrived.

Boom—!!!

The Sword of Will pierced into the body of the pillar!

It didn't just strike the surface; it went straight through—entering from the front of the pillar and exiting through the back, leaving a transparent hole the size of a bowl that penetrated the entire Civilization Pillar!

[Civilization Pillar · Heavily Damaged!]

- Stability: 35%... 28%... 22%...

- Penetration Injury: A cavity half a meter in diameter has appeared in the pillar

- Crack Coverage: 60%... 75%... 85%...

- Sustained Wills: One Million... 900,000... 800,000...

A trace of a smile finally appeared at the corner of Pan Qian's mouth.

“It's fallen.”

But the pillar did not fall.

It swayed for a moment, then—it stabilized.

Pan Qian's smile froze on his face.

“How is that possible?”

He stared intently at the pillar.

On the body of the pillar, that cavity pierced by the Sword of Will was healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. It wasn't being repaired; it was—self-healing.

At the edges of the cavity, countless tiny, transparent flames were burning. Within the flames, new reliefs emerged—not of sages, not of heroes, but of ordinary people.

A farmer used a hoe to fill the cavity.

An artisan used a hammer to beat the edges of the cavity.

A soldier used a shield to block the dark gold light surging from the hole.

A mother used needle and thread to sew together the cracks of the cavity.

A child used laughter to dispel the deathly silence within the hole.

They were silent and wordless, without complaint or regret.

As if saying: We are still here.

[Civilization Pillar · Self-Healing]

- Self-Healing Speed: Repairs 1% of the penetration injury per second

- Self-Healing Consumption: None (Spontaneously provided by the will of ordinary people)

- Current Progress: 5%... 10%... 15%...

“This... this is impossible...” Pan Qian's eyes widened.

His Sword of Will negated the rationality of 'Acquired' existence. Those ordinary people should have been negated, should have disappeared, should have never existed.

But they were still there.

Because they didn't care about being 'negated'.

They only knew one thing—the pillar must not fall.

If the pillar falls, the sky collapses.

If the sky collapses, their children will have no home.

“So... this is the power of the 'Acquired',” Pan Qian murmured.

He suddenly understood.

Innate Negation negates 'existence'.

But what ordinary people guard is not 'existence', but the 'future'.

Existence can be negated, but the future cannot.

Because the future has not yet arrived.

No one can negate something that has yet to come.

“I have lost,” Pan Qian said softly.

Not to Lin Zhou.

But to those ordinary people.

He withdrew his hand, no longer attacking.

The Sword of Dao Heart was slowly pulled out from the pillar, turning into specks of dark gold light that dissipated into the Void Realm.

[Pan Qian · Dao Heart Status]

- Stability: 45% (Stopped decreasing)

- Sword of Dao Heart: Dissipated

- Current Status: Defeated, but not collapsed

The penetration injury of the pillar was still healing.

But the speed of healing was getting slower and slower.

Because those phantoms of ordinary people were becoming blurred.

Their power came from belief. And belief is something that gets consumed.

A farmer used up his strength, and his phantom dissipated.

An artisan broke his hammer, and his phantom dissipated.

A soldier's shield shattered, and his phantom dissipated.

A mother's needle and thread ran out, and her phantom dissipated.

A child's laughter grew hoarse, and the phantom dissipated.

One by one, they silently vanished.

But the cavity remained.

[Will of Ordinary People · Remaining: 800,000... 700,000... 600,000...]

Lin Zhou watched those dissipating phantoms, his eyes moistening.

“It's enough,” he said softly. “Leave the rest to me.”

He walked to the pillar and pressed both hands against the edges of the cavity.

The Fire of Civilization in his palms suddenly surged!

The flames spread inward along the edges of the cavity. Wherever the fire passed, the cavity was filled—not just repaired, but reforged.

[Civilization Pillar · Reforging — Lin Zhou's Sacrifice]

- Method: Uses Lin Zhou's Dao Heart as fuel to reforge the pillar's core

- Consumption: For every 1% reforged, Lin Zhou's Dao Heart stability -2%

- Current Dao Heart Stability: 72%... 68%... 64%...

“Captain!” Qin Qing cried out in alarm. “You are burning your own Dao Heart!”

“I know,” Lin Zhou's voice was calm. “But the pillar cannot fall.”

“But...”

“There are no buts.”

Lin Zhou interrupted her, continuing to burn his Dao Heart.

His face grew paler, his divine fire grew dimmer, and the cracks on his Godhood increased. Yet, his gaze remained resolute.

Because he knew that behind him was the will of a million ordinary people.

They had offered their own beliefs for the sake of the pillar.

He could not fail them.

[Reforging Progress: 20%... 30%... 40%...]

- Lin Zhou's Dao Heart Stability: 64%... 58%... 52%...

Watching this scene, an indescribable emotion surged within Pan Qian.

“Lin Zhou, you...”

“Don't try to persuade me.” Lin Zhou shook his head. “This is what I should do.”

“But you will...”

“I won't die.” Lin Zhou smiled. “Way of Civilization will not die.”

He continued to burn his Dao Heart.

Reforging Progress: 50%... 60%... 70%...

Dao Heart Stability: 52%... 45%... 38%...

When the reforging progress reached 80%, Lin Zhou's Dao Heart stability had dropped to the dangerous line of 30%.

His consciousness began to blur, and the world before him became distorted and warped. He seemed to see phantoms of countless sages—Confucius, Mencius, Mozi, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Han Fei... They were looking at him, their gazes full of gratification.

“Child, that is enough,” the phantom of Confucius said.

“No, it's not enough yet.” Lin Zhou shook his head. “The pillar hasn't been completely repaired.”

“The pillar doesn't need to be perfect,” the phantom of Laozi said. “What the pillar needs is 'Legacy'.”

“Legacy?”

“Yes.” Laozi nodded. “You don't need to hold up the heavens alone. You only need to let those who come after know that the heavens can be held up.”

Lin Zhou was stunned.

He suddenly understood.

The Civilization Pillar is not held up by a single person.

It is held up by generations of people, passing the task along.

He didn't need to fix the pillar today.

He only needed to ensure the pillar didn't fall.

So that those who come after would have the chance to continue fixing it.

“I understand.” Lin Zhou withdrew his hands.

[Reforging Progress: 80% (Stopped)]

- Lin Zhou's Dao Heart Stability: 30% (Danger Line)

- Pillar Penetration Injury: 80% repaired, 20% cavity remains

- Pillar Stability: 22%... 25%... 28%... (Slowly recovering)

The cavity on the pillar was not completely healed.

But the pillar did not fall.

Because light was shining through the cavity.

It wasn't Lin Zhou's Fire of Civilization, but—a newborn light of civilization.

Those phantoms of ordinary people, though they had vanished, had left their beliefs within the pillar.

The farmer's strength became the Foundation of the pillar.

The artisan's ingenuity became the texture of the pillar.

The soldier's courage became the armor of the pillar.

The mother's love became the temperature of the pillar.

The child's laughter became the hope of the pillar.

These lights shone through the cavity, illuminating the entire Void Realm.

It wasn't golden, nor was it transparent; it was—warm, soft light, like the dawn.

[Civilization Pillar · New Trait — Passing the Torch]

- Effect: When the pillar is damaged, it will automatically absorb 'Legacy Power' for repair

- Source of Legacy Power: All individuals who have ever contributed strength to civilization (whether remembered or not)

- Repair Speed: Proportional to the concentration of Legacy Power

- Current Status: Slowly self-healing (No consumption required from Lin Zhou)

Pan Qian looked at those lights and remained silent for a long time.

“The Acquired Dao... how could it reach this point?” he murmured.

He had Cultivated the Innate Dao for several hundred years, pursuing purity, solidity, and unshakeability. He thought that was the strongest Dao.

But today, he saw another kind of Dao.

Not pure, not solid, even tottering on the edge.

But it would not fall.

Because it had people holding it up.

If one generation couldn't hold it, the next generation would take over.

If the next generation couldn't hold it, the generation after that would take over.

As long as there were still people, the heavens would not collapse.

“So... this is civilization,” Pan Qian said in a low voice.

He drifted down from the mountain peak and landed in front of Lin Zhou.

“Lin Zhou, I admit defeat.”

[Honghuang Academy Main Team — Surrendered!]

[Xinghai University Team — Advanced to the Top Five!]

The tournament announcement sounded for the final time.

Pan Qian reached out his hand.

“I am convinced by your Dao.”

Lin Zhou shook his hand.

“It's not that you're convinced; it's that you understand.”

“Understand what?”

“Understand that—the Innate and the Acquired can coexist.”

Pan Qian was taken aback for a moment, then he laughed.

“Perhaps you are right.”

He turned, preparing to leave.

“Captain Pan Qian,” Lin Zhou called out to him.

Pan Qian looked back.

“Your Mount Buzhou may have fallen, but your Dao has not.”

“It just needs to change its method.”

“What method?”

“Integrate the purity of the 'Innate' into the inclusiveness of the 'Acquired'.”

Pan Qian was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

“I will try that.”

He disappeared into the Void Realm.

This time, it was truly over.

[Honghuang Academy Main Team — All members withdrawn.]

Lin Zhou floated in the Void Realm, looking in the direction where Pan Qian had disappeared, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.

“We won.”

Qin Qing floated over and supported him: “Captain, are you okay?”

“I'm fine,” Lin Zhou shook his head. “Just a bit tired.”

“Then shall we go back and rest?”

“Okay.”

A white light flashed, and all members of the Xinghai University Team were teleported back to the preparation space.

The lights of the medical pod were bright and warm.

Lin Zhou leaned against the head of the bed, holding that core fragment of Mount Buzhou in his hand.

The fragment was no longer dark gold, nor was it transparent; it was—iridescent.

Because it had been infected by the power of 'Passing the Torch'.

[Mount Buzhou Core Fragment · Status Update]

- Color: Iridescent (Original Dark Gold → Transparent → Iridescent)

- Contained Rules: Innate 'Heaven-Propping' Dao + Acquired 'Passing the Torch' Dao

- New Attribute: [Civilization Backbone · Legacy] — Can be integrated into the Civilization Pillar, granting it 'Self-Healing' ability

Lin Zhou integrated the fragment into the pillar.

The pillar shuddered, and the cracks on its body began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It wasn't being repaired; it was—self-healing.

Iridescent light shone from the cracks.

That light was warm and soft, like a mother's embrace.

[Civilization Pillar · Status Update]

- Height: 45,000 kilometers

- Stability: 28%... 35%... 45%... (Continuously rising)

- New Trait: [Passing the Torch · Self-Healing] — After the pillar is damaged, it will automatically absorb Legacy Power for repair

- Current Self-Healing Speed: Recovers 5% stability per hour

Lin Zhou watched the self-healing pillar, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.

“The Civilization Pillar is alive again.”

He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

This time, there was a dream.

In the dream, countless ordinary people were working, living, and laughing beneath the pillar.

There was no fatigue on their faces, only hope.

Because the heavens were still there.

Because the people were still there.

Because civilization was still there.