421: Chapter 356: The match is terminated, and the referee intervenes to tie the game.

The afterglow of the Temple of Civilization slowly dissipated in the Void Realm.

The towering "Hall of Humanity" had faded away, but the traces it left behind—that warm, gentle, and all-encompassing light—still lingered over the battlefield, like an unsetting sun, illuminating everyone's faces.

Within the light, the names of countless ordinary people were still flickering; though blurred, they were still discernible.

Pan Qian stood in the Void Realm, watching those fading names, silent for a long time.

There were still tear tracks on his face.

It was the first time he had shed tears in hundreds of years—not out of sadness, but out of relief.

He had found home, found the family members he had forgotten through countless Reincarnation cycles.

They were all in the sanctuary, all in the light, all waiting for him.

"So, I was not alone." He murmured.

Lin Zhou hovered beside the Civilization Pillar, watching Pan Qian's back without speaking.

He knew that at this moment, Pan Qian did not need comfort, only time.

Time passed, second by second.

The light on the battlefield grew dimmer and dimmer.

Those names of ordinary people, like receding tides, slowly faded from the Void Realm.

But they did not disappear; they simply returned to where they belonged—the Temple of Civilization, the Hall of Humanity.

[ Temple of Civilization · Status ] - Manifestation: Ended - Entity Location: Returned to nothingness (between existence and non-existence) - Residual Influence: Battlefield rules are still slowly recovering - Estimated Full Recovery Time: Approximately ten minutes

Just then—

"Match suspended!"

The voice of the referee panel came from the Void Realm, majestic and unquestionable.

Seven golden pillars of light descended from the sky, shrouding the entire battlefield.

Within the pillars, the figures of seven referees slowly emerged—they were the strongest arbiters appointed by the Universe Council, each an existence beyond the Peak of Divine Power.

The leader was an elderly man with white hair, his Divinity Rank unfathomable, with the aura of time and Order circulating around him.

He was the Chief Referee—Arbiter · Maitreya.

[ Referee Panel · Intervention ] - Reason: Uncontrollable factors appeared during the match (manifestation of the Temple of Civilization entity) - Scope of Influence: Entire battlefield (rules chaotic, energy fluctuations abnormal) - Intervention Method: Forced suspension of the match to conduct a status assessment - Chief Referee: Maitreya (Peak of Divine Power, LV4800)

Maitreya's gaze swept across the battlefield, landing on Lin Zhou and Pan Qian.

His eyes were calm yet carried an unquestionable majesty.

"Both team captains, please report your status."

Pan Qian took a deep breath, composed his emotions, and turned to the referee panel.

His voice was hoarse but steady: "Honghuang Academy Main Team captain, Pan Qian. Divinity Rank LV580, Divine Power reserves less than ten thousand, Dao Heart stability 75%, Mount Buzhou projection has collapsed. Current status: Able to fight, but unable to exert full strength."

Maitreya nodded and turned his gaze to Lin Zhou.

Lin Zhou hovered beside the Civilization Pillar, his face still pale, but his eyes were calm: "Xinghai University Team captain, Lin Zhou. Divinity Rank LV600, Divine Power reserves twelve thousand, Dao Heart stability 95%, Civilization Pillar damaged, river of civilization water level 35%. Current status: Able to fight, but unable to sustain it."

Maitreya was silent for a moment, then looked at the other referees.

Seven Divine Thoughts communicated silently in the Void Realm, analyzing the data of both sides, the battlefield records, and the rule impact brought by the manifestation of the Temple of Civilization.

[ Referee Panel · Data Analysis ] - Lin Zhou: Divinity integrity 55%, river of civilization water level 35%, Civilization Pillar stability 72% - Pan Qian: Divinity integrity 70%, Dao Heart stability 75%, Mount Buzhou projection 0% - Battlefield Rules: Chaos degree 43% (continuously decreasing) - Temple of Civilization Residual Influence: Still present (will dissipate in about 7 minutes) - Comprehensive Assessment: Both sides are in a "non-Peak" state; continuing the battle may cause irreversible damage.

Maitreya's brows furrowed slightly.

"According to Article 17 of the competition rules, when uncontrollable factors appear in a match and both sides are not in a suitable state to continue fighting, the referee panel has the right to terminate the match and make a corresponding ruling."

He looked at Lin Zhou and Pan Qian: "Both captains, do you agree to terminate the match?"

Pan Qian did not hesitate: "Agreed."

Lin Zhou also nodded: "Agreed."

Maitreya's brows smoothed a little, but then furrowed again: "After terminating the match, how should the victory or defeat be determined?"

This was the key question.

Conventionally, if one side had a clear advantage, the referee panel could declare them the winner.

But today's situation was special—neither side had a clear advantage.

Lin Zhou had a higher Divinity Rank, but Pan Qian had richer experience; Lin Zhou's Civilization Pillar was still standing, but Pan Qian's Mount Buzhou was destroyed; Lin Zhou's Dao Heart was stable, but Pan Qian had just experienced a Dao Heart restoration.

More importantly, the manifestation of the Temple of Civilization had caused this match to exceed the scope of "competition."

It had turned into a "seeking of the Dao."

The referee panel's Divine Thoughts communicated again, and this time, the exchange lasted longer.

Pan Qian looked at Lin Zhou, his eyes complex.

"Lin Zhou, if the referee panel declares you the winner, I will have no objections."

Lin Zhou shook his head: "No, it should be a draw."

"A draw?"

"Yes." Lin Zhou pointed to his own Divine Kingdom, "My injuries have not healed, and your Dao Heart has just been restored. Fighting further is meaningless. And..." He looked at the dissipating afterglow of the sanctuary in the Void Realm, "This place is not suitable for fighting."

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

"Fine. A draw."

Their gazes met in the Void Realm.

There was no hostility, no unwillingness, only—respect.

The referee panel's Divine Thought exchange finally ended.

Maitreya cleared his throat, and his voice spread across the entire battlefield: "The referee panel's final ruling is as follows—"

[ Referee Panel · Final Ruling ] - Result: Honghuang Academy Main Team vs. Xinghai University Team — Draw - Reason: 1. Both sides are not in a suitable state to continue fighting (Divinity damaged, Divine Power exhausted, Dao Heart shaken) 2. Uncontrollable factors appeared on the battlefield (manifestation of the Temple of Civilization entity), rules are chaotic, and fair competition cannot be guaranteed 3. Both team captains agreed to a draw, which aligns with the competition's tenet of "exchange first, victory second" - Follow-up: Both sides are co-champions and share the honor - Note: This is the first draw in the grand finals in the history of the All-Universe Academy Championship

The match notification echoed in the Void Realm, lingering for a long time.

"Co-champions..." Wang Meng murmured, "We and the Honghuang Academy are both champions?"

"Yes." Qin Qing nodded, "This is the best outcome."

"But, we clearly could have won..." Zhao Hao was somewhat unwilling.

"We didn't win." Qin Qing shook her head, "The captain is right, continuing to fight would only result in mutual destruction. A draw is good for both sides."

She looked at Lin Zhou, her eyes full of admiration.

"Captain, you have changed a lot."

"Changed?" Lin Zhou smiled.

"Changed. Before, you only wanted to win. Now, you know when to stop."

Lin Zhou was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"Perhaps."

He looked at Pan Qian.

Pan Qian was also looking at him.

"Lin Zhou, until we meet again." Pan Qian said.

"Until we meet again." Lin Zhou nodded.

Pan Qian turned and led the Honghuang Academy members, preparing to leave.

"Captain Pan Qian." Lin Zhou called out to him.

Pan Qian turned back.

"Your Mount Buzhou, although it has collapsed, you can build a new one."

"A new one?"

"Yes." Lin Zhou raised his hand and pointed to his own chest, "Build it here."

Pan Qian was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

"Perhaps you are right."

He disappeared into the Void Realm.

[ Honghuang Academy Main Team — All members evacuated. ]

Lin Zhou hovered in the Void Realm, watching the direction Pan Qian disappeared, silent for a long time.

"Captain, we should go back too." Qin Qing floated over.

"Hmm."

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

Inside the preparation space, the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

Won? Tied? Co-champions?

Wang Meng scratched his head, looking conflicted: "So, do we count as having won or not?"

"Count as won." Li Mo's projection called up the data, "According to the competition rules, in a draw, both sides have the same points and the same ranking. But because we previously defeated the Eternal Divine Court, the Holy Light Hall, and other strong teams, our comprehensive score is slightly higher than the Honghuang Academy, so in the official ranking, we are ranked first."

"First?" Wang Meng's eyes lit up.

"Yes." Li Mo nodded, "Official ranking: Xinghai University first, Honghuang Academy second."

"Then that settles it!" Wang Meng slapped his thigh, "We are still first!"

Qin Qing shook her head: "The ranking is not important. What is important is that we proved ourselves."

She looked at Lin Zhou: "Captain, don't you think so?"

Lin Zhou did not answer.

He leaned against the head of the medical pod, holding the mount buzhou core fragment in his hand, his gaze falling on the ceiling.

On the ceiling, a light screen was looping the highlights of the battle just now—the manifestation of the Temple of Civilization, the opening of the Hall of Humanity, Pan Qian shedding tears, the two shaking hands...

"Captain, what are you thinking about?" Qin Qing walked over and sat by the medical pod.

"Thinking about that last sentence Pan Qian said." Lin Zhou replied.

"Which one?"

"'Perhaps you are right.'"

Qin Qing was stunned for a moment: "He acknowledged you?"

"Not acknowledged." Lin Zhou shook his head, "It's... he found a new direction."

"A new direction?"

"Yes." Lin Zhou sat up and put the fragment into his Divine Kingdom core, "His Mount Buzhou has collapsed, but his Dao has not. He just needs to change the way, to integrate the purity of the 'Innate' into the tolerance of the 'Acquired'."

"Do you think he can do it?"

"Yes." Lin Zhou nodded, "Because he has the blood of 'human' flowing in him."

Qin Qing was silent for a moment, then smiled.

"Captain, when did you become so eloquent?"

"It's not being eloquent." Lin Zhou shook his head, "It's... I saw it."

"Saw what?"

"Saw—everyone is looking for their own 'root'."

He raised his hand, and a wisp of transparent Fire of Civilization appeared in his palm.

"Pan Qian is looking, Elios is looking, Raphael is looking... Everyone is looking."

"And my mission is to tell them—the root is here."

The flame burned in his palm, warm and firm.

Qin Qing looked at that wisp of flame, and an indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.

"Captain, you are becoming more and more like a 'leader'."

"Leader?" Lin Zhou shook his head, "I am just an ordinary person."

"Ordinary people can also hold up the sky."

Qin Qing was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"Yes, ordinary people can also hold up the sky."

The next day.

The award ceremony for the All-Universe Academy Championship was held in the Void Realm.

Billions of viewers watched via live broadcast, and countless media outlets scrambled to report it.

This was the first draw in the grand finals in the history of the competition, and the first time two teams shared the honor of champion.

Lin Zhou stood on the podium, with Pan Qian beside him.

In their hands, each held a golden trophy.

On the trophy, two words were engraved—Champion.

"Co-champions, the first time in the history of the competition." The host's voice resounded through the Void Realm, "Xinghai University Team, Honghuang Academy Main Team, share this honor!"

Thunderous applause erupted.

Lin Zhou looked into the audience; Qin Qing, Wang Meng, Zhao Hao, Li Mo, and Su Yueyao were all watching him, their eyes full of pride.

He looked at Pan Qian.

Pan Qian was also looking at him.

"Lin Zhou, I will continue to study your Way of Civilization." Pan Qian said.

"My door is always open for you." Lin Zhou smiled.

The two shook hands.

Below the stage, flashes of light were everywhere.

[ All-Universe Academy Championship — Concluded successfully! ] - Champion: Xinghai University (Milky Way Galaxy), Honghuang Academy (Honghuang Galaxy) - MVP: Lin Zhou (Xinghai University) - Best Team: Lin Zhou, Pan Qian, Elios, Raphael, Norn - Special Award: Light of Civilization (Lin Zhou)

Lin Zhou stood on the podium, holding the trophy in his hand, but his heart did not have too many waves.

Because he knew, this was just the beginning.

The real challenge was still ahead.

But, at this moment, he could rest for a while.

He looked into the depths of the Void Realm, where stars were flickering.

Every star was a civilization.

Every civilization needed someone to protect it.

"I will." He said softly.

Then, he turned and walked off the podium.

Behind him, the applause continued.

In front of him, was a new journey.

After the award ceremony ended, Lin Zhou returned to the preparation space alone.

He sat at the head of the medical pod, holding that mount buzhou core fragment in his hand.

The fragment was no longer dark gold, nor transparent, but—colorless.

Because it had been assimilated by the power of "human".

[ mount buzhou core fragment · Status Update ] - Color: Colorless (Original dark gold → transparent → colorless) - Implied Rules: Innate "holding up the sky" Dao + Acquired "passing the torch" Dao + Origin of "human" - New Attribute: [ Hall of Humanity ] — Can be integrated into the Civilization Pillar, allowing it to gain the ability to "record every human"

Lin Zhou integrated the fragment into the Civilization Pillar.

The pillar shook, and on the pillar body, countless names began to emerge.

Not the names of heroes, not the names of sages, but—everyone's names.

Farmers, craftsmen, soldiers, mothers, children...

Every name represented a person who had once lived, loved, and strived.

Every name was glowing.

[ Civilization Pillar · Status Update ] - Height: 50,000 kilometers - Pillar Body: Countless names appearing (continuously increasing) - New Characteristic: [ Record of Humanity ] — The pillar will record the existence of every "human", whether remembered or not - Current Recorded Count: Approximately one billion (continuously growing)