419: Chapter 354: Breakthrough in Dao Heart, Realizing that Civilization is Humanity

The seven-colored light of the Civilization Pillar flows slowly within the Void Realm.

The hollow that pierced through the pillar's body, though only eighty percent repaired, was being filled bit by bit by the light emanating from within—a warm, soft light like the dawn. It wasn't Lin Zhou who was repairing it, but the Civilization Pillar itself "breathing." With every breath, the hollow shrank by an inch; with every heartbeat, a crack healed.

[Civilization Pillar · Self-Healing Progress]

- Through-wound repair: 82%... 84%... 86%...

- Crack coverage: 60%... 55%... 50%...

- Stability: 45%... 48%... 52%...

Lin Zhou hovered beside the Civilization Pillar, his hands pressed lightly against its surface, the flames in his palms already extinguished. His Dao Heart stability had dropped to the 30% danger line, his godhead integrity was down to 28%, and the river of civilization's water level had fallen to 10%. His body trembled slightly, every breath accompanied by the stinging pain of the cracks in his godhead.

But he did not leave.

Because he was "listening."

Listening to the heartbeat of the Civilization Pillar.

Thump... Thump... Thump...

It wasn't a physical sound, but a pulsation on the level of laws. Every heartbeat sent a surge of seven-colored light from the pillar, illuminating the Void Realm. Every heartbeat mended the cracks of the Civilization Pillar just a bit more.

"So, it has its own will," Lin Zhou murmured.

He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the interior of the pillar along with its heartbeat.

There, it was a seven-colored ocean.

Not of water, but of light. The gold of Confucianism, the black of Legalism, the white of Mohism, the azure of Taoism, the red of the School of Military, the green of the School of Agriculture, the blue of the School of Medicine, the purple of the School of Names, the orange of the School of Diplomacy, and the yellow of the School of Miscellaneous... the ten colors of light intertwined, forming a warm, all-encompassing torrent.

Within the torrent, countless phantoms were swimming.

They were not sages or heroes, but ordinary people—farmers, craftsmen, soldiers, mothers, children... Their phantoms were blurrier than before, almost transparent, yet they still emitted light.

"You... are still here." Lin Zhou's voice choked up slightly.

The phantom of a farmer turned his head, looked at him, and smiled.

That smile held no words, yet it surpassed a thousand words.

It was as if saying: We have always been here.

Lin Zhou reached out, wanting to touch the phantom.

But his hand passed through it, touching nothing.

The phantom was only light.

"Are you... no longer here?" Lin Zhou asked in a low voice.

The farmer did not answer.

The craftsman did not answer.

The soldier did not answer.

The mother did not answer.

The child did not answer.

They simply glowed quietly and silently.

Illuminating the Civilization Pillar, illuminating the Void Realm, and illuminating Lin Zhou's Dao Heart.

[Lin Zhou · Dao Heart Status]

- Stability: 30%... 31%... 32%... (Slowly recovering)

- Reason: Being "warmed" by the will of the ordinary people within the Civilization Pillar

- Recovery Speed: +1% per hour

"So, you are protecting me." Lin Zhou's eyes grew moist.

He suddenly understood.

These ordinary people didn't just "once exist"; they were "always here."

Their bodies had vanished, their names were forgotten, and their deeds were smoothed over by time.

But their will remained in the river of civilization.

Remained within the Civilization Pillar.

Remained within the Bloodline of every successor.

"This is... Legacy."

Suddenly, a voice echoed in Lin Zhou's mind.

It didn't come from the outside, but from the depths of his own heart—from the Temple of Civilization.

"Civilization is not buildings, not rules, and not power."

"Civilization is people."

"It is every person who has lived, loved, and strived."

"It is they who, with their ordinary lives, built an extraordinary civilization."

"It is they who, with their silent persistence, propped up a vocal world."

"You, too, are one of them."

Lin Zhou's tears finally fell.

Not out of sadness, but—moved.

Moved by those nameless ordinary people.

Moved by that silent persistence.

Moved by that invisible Legacy.

"I too... am one of them," he murmured.

He thought back to his past.

Before his Transmigration, he was also an ordinary person. Working nine-to-five, dealing with the trivialities of daily life, without great achievements or world-shaking deeds. But he had strived, he had persisted, and he had loved.

After his Transmigration, starting from a Divine Realm on the brink of collapse, he had walked step by step to where he was today. He was no Genius, no hero, just an ordinary person who didn't want to fail the word "Civilization."

"So, I have always been an ordinary person."

"So, ordinary people can also prop up the heavens."

His Dao Heart suddenly jolted!

[Lin Zhou · Dao Heart Status]

- Stability: 32%... 35%... 40%... (Accelerated recovery)

- Reason: Omen of Dao Heart Breakthrough

- Current Realization: Civilization is the Human Race, the Human Race is Civilization

The seven-colored light of the Civilization Pillar suddenly exploded in brilliance!

The cracks on the pillar's body healed at a speed visible to the naked eye! The light in the hollow surged like a dam breaking, rushing to every corner of the Civilization Pillar! The height of the pillar, starting from 45,000 kilometers, began to slowly grow—46,000... 48,000... 50,000...

[Civilization Pillar · Evolving]

- Height: 50,000 kilometers (Continuous growth)

- Stability: 52%... 60%... 70%...

- Crack coverage: 50%... 40%... 30%...

- Carrying Will: 800,000... 900,000... 1,000,000... (New phantoms are being born)

Those newly born phantoms were no longer the ordinary people of the old Universe, but those of the new Universe—students of Xinghai University, members of the Hundred Schools Society, soldiers of the Civilization Guardian Legion, and the various residents of the Canglong Star Abyss...

They, too, were emitting light.

"The Captain is breaking through!" Qin Qing cried out.

Wang Meng, Zhao Hao, Li Mo, and Su Yueyao gathered around, looking at Lin Zhou's status data on the light screen.

[Lin Zhou · Godhead Status]

- Godhead Level: LV500... 510... 520... (Breaking through)

- Godhead Integrity: 28%... 35%... 45%... (Repairing)

- river of civilization Water Level: 10%... 15%... 20%... (Recovering)

- Dao Heart Stability: 40%... 50%... 60%...

"His godhead is leveling up!" Li Mo's electronic voice carried shock. "From the Peak of Lesser Divinity, he's breaking through to Mid-Tier Divine Power!"

"This... how is this possible?" Wang Meng's eyes widened. "His godhead was almost shattered, how can he still level up?"

"Because his Dao Heart has broken through." Qin Qing's voice trembled. "He has found his own 'Dao'."

"What Dao?"

"Civilization is the Human Race, and the Human Race is Civilization."

Qin Qing pointed at Lin Zhou's Dao Heart data on the light screen. "Look, his Dao Heart stability has risen from 30% to 60%, and it's still climbing. This means he no longer doubts his Dao; instead, his conviction has become firm."

"Conviction?"

"Yes. Conviction." Qin Qing nodded. "Before, his Dao was 'Civilization.' But what is 'Civilization'? Is it thoughts? Rules? Power? He has been exploring it."

"Now, he has found the answer."

"Civilization is people."

Inside the Civilization Pillar, within the seven-colored ocean.

Lin Zhou's consciousness was "conversing" with the countless phantoms of ordinary people.

There were no words, only resonance.

With every resonance, his Dao Heart became a bit firmer.

"Who are you?" the phantom of a farmer asked.

"I am Lin Zhou," he answered.

"No, I am asking, who are you?" The farmer shook his head. "Not a name, not an identity, not a godhead. You, the essential you."

Lin Zhou fell silent.

The essential him... what was he?

A Transmigrator? A deity? A carrier of Way of Civilization?

No, none of those were his essence.

His essence was—a person.

A person who could laugh, cry, feel pain, love, fear, and be brave.

"I am... a person," he answered.

The farmer smiled.

"That is enough."

The phantom dissipated.

But it didn't disappear; instead, it—integrated.

Integrated into Lin Zhou's consciousness, into his Dao Heart, and into his godhead.

[Lin Zhou · Dao Heart Fusion]

- Fusion Object: Will of ordinary people (Millions)

- Fusion Method: Resonance

- Fusion Effect: Dao Heart Stability +50%, Godhead Carrying Capacity +100%

The phantom of a craftsman approached.

"What are you persisting for?"

"Persisting for Way of Civilization."

"Why?"

"Because Way of Civilization is right."

"How is it right?"

Lin Zhou thought for a moment and replied, "It is right because it allows more people to live better."

The craftsman smiled.

"That is enough."

The phantom integrated.

The phantom of a soldier approached.

"What are you protecting?"

"Protecting my Divine Kingdom, my teammates, and my civilization."

"Why?"

"Because they are worth it."

The soldier smiled.

"That is enough."

The phantom integrated.

The phantom of a mother approached.

"What do you love?"

"I love... many people. My teammates, my friends, and my civilization."

"Why?"

"Because they love me too."

The mother smiled.

"That is enough."

The phantom integrated.

The phantom of a child approached.

"What are you hoping for?"

"I hope... that civilization can be passed down, generation after generation."

"Why?"

"Because hope itself is civilization."

The child smiled.

"That is enough."

The phantom integrated.

A million phantoms, a million questions, and a million times "That is enough."

Every "That is enough" made Lin Zhou's Dao Heart firmer.

Every "That is enough" made his godhead more stable.

Every "That is enough" made his river of civilization more abundant.

[Lin Zhou · Dao Heart Breakthrough—Complete!]

- Dao Heart Stability: 60%... 70%... 80%... 90%...

- Godhead Level: 520... 540... 560... 580...

- Godhead Integrity: 45%... 55%... 65%... 75%...

- river of civilization Water Level: 20%... 30%... 40%... 50%...

When the final phantom integrated, Lin Zhou's consciousness suddenly jolted!

He "saw" it—the Temple of Civilization.

Not the phantom in his Divine Kingdom, but the original body.

A towering, ancient palace cast from bronze and white jade, floating in the Void Realm. Above the palace's threshold, two Great Dao characters were carved—Huaxia.

The doors slowly opened.

Inside, there was no golden splendor, no Immortal Qi swirling, only—people.

Countless people, people of countless generations, people of countless civilizations.

They stood together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, forming a wall of people.

That wall of people propped up the heavens.

"This is... the original body of the Temple of Civilization," Lin Zhou murmured.

He suddenly understood.

The Temple of Civilization was never just a building.

It was people.

It was every person who had lived, loved, and strived.

It was their will that condensed into this sanctuary.

It was their conviction that supported this sanctuary.

"So, I have always been inside the sanctuary."

He stepped into the sanctuary doors.

The moment his foot touched the ground, the entire Universe vibrated.

[Temple of Civilization · Physical Manifestation—First Time!]

- Location: Deep within the Void Realm (Between existence and non-existence)

- Form: Towering palace, ten thousand zhang high, infinitely wide

- Threshold Characters: Huaxia (Great Dao script, containing the Origin of civilization)

- Manifestation Reason: Lin Zhou's Dao Heart Breakthrough, realizing "Civilization is the Human Race"

- Manifestation Scope: The entire battlefield (Visible to all contestants, spectators, and referees)

Above the battlefield, a massive phantom of a palace appeared out of thin air!

It wasn't a projection or an illusion, but the original body.

Every brick of the palace was a person.

Every pillar of the palace was a segment of history.

Every tile of the palace was a piece of conviction.

The palace radiated a warm, soft, and all-encompassing light.

That light was not blinding or scorching, yet everyone who saw it felt an inexplicable sense of being moved in their hearts.

"What is that?" Wang Meng's eyes widened.

"The original body of... the Temple of Civilization." Qin Qing's voice trembled. "The Captain... actually caused the sanctuary's original body to manifest!"

"This... how is this possible?" Zhao Hao found it hard to believe. "The original body of the sanctuary is said to be perceivable only by existences at or above Great Divinity. The Captain just broke through to Mid-Tier Divine Power..."

"Because he has understood the essence of civilization," Qin Qing interrupted him. "The Temple of Civilization is not a symbol of power, but a symbol of 'people.' Whoever truly understands 'people' can cause the sanctuary to manifest."

"The Captain has done it."

Within the Void Realm, Pan Qian had not yet gone far.

He turned back, looking at the towering palace, his pupils suddenly contracting.

"The original body of... the Temple of Civilization?"

He had Cultivated the Innate Dao for hundreds of years, yet he had never seen the original body of the sanctuary. Because the sanctuary did not belong to the "Innate"; it belonged to the "Acquired"—it belonged to people.

"Lin Zhou... what exactly did you see?"

Inside the palace.

Lin Zhou stood in the center of the hall, looking around.

On the walls of the hall, countless reliefs were carved—not of historical events, but of people.

A mother breastfeeding.

A father tilling the soil.

A child running.

An old man smiling.

There was nothing magnificent or world-shaking.

Only—life.

"This is the essence of civilization," Lin Zhou murmured.

It wasn't War, conquest, or power.

It was life.

It was every person, every day, every moment of living.

"I understand now."

He turned and walked out of the sanctuary doors.

The moment his foot touched the ground, the palace slowly vanished, returning once more to the void.

But Lin Zhou knew it was still there.

In his heart.

In everyone's heart.

[Lin Zhou · Godhead Breakthrough—Complete!]

- Godhead Level: LV600 (Mid-Tier Divine Power)

- Godhead Integrity: 85% (Continuously repairing)

- river of civilization Water Level: 60% (Continuously recovering)

- Dao Heart Stability: 95% (Stable)

- New Abilities:

1. [Temple of Civilization · Summon]: Can briefly summon the phantom of the sanctuary's original body, providing a "Civilization Blessing" to all "Acquired" existences within range (All attributes +50% for 10 minutes). Cost: 10,000 Divine Power. Cooldown: 24 hours.

2. [Human Race Resonance]: Resonate with all "people" within range, sharing each other's strength, conviction, and will. Resonance range: 1,000 kilometers in diameter. Cost: None (Passive).

Lin Zhou opened his eyes.

In his eyes, there was no more fatigue or confusion, only—conviction.

"Captain!" Qin Qing rushed over. "You broke through!"

"Yes." Lin Zhou nodded. "Mid-Tier Divine Power."

"And what else?" Wang Meng asked eagerly. "You just made the sanctuary's original body manifest!"

"That was... an accident." Lin Zhou smiled. "I just figured something out."

"Figured what out?"

"Figured out—Civilization is people."

He looked at the light screen, at the four words "Xinghai University" on the top five list, his gaze calm.

"In the upcoming matches, no matter who the opponent is, we will win."

"Because we are not fighting alone."

Behind him, the seven-colored light of the Civilization Pillar illuminated the entire preparation space.

On the pillar's body, those phantoms of ordinary people were still emitting light.

Warm and firm.