433: Chapter 368: Establishing Outposts, the Divine Kingdom Deploys Fortified Positions

With 32,000 chaos crystals in storage, the warehouse of the Iron Wall Fortress was packed to the brim.

Wen Yuan had been so excited that he hadn't slept for three days, leading the rune craftsmen of the Research Hall to work day and night, integrating the crystals into the rune armor and defensive Formations.

The surface of the upgraded armor now possessed a layer of pale golden luster; this was the "Chaos Resistance Coating" created after the Fusion of Order essence and chaos crystal.

[rune armor · Upgraded Version]

- Defense: +50% → +80%

- Chaos Resistance: +80% → +120%

- Mental Pollution Resistance: +90% → +150%

- Weight: Unchanged

- Cost: 30 chaos crystals per set

Three days later, all 5,000 soldiers of the Civilization Guardian Legion had swapped into their new armor.

On the drill ground, 5,000 sets of pale golden armor shimmered in the grayish-white light, resembling a golden ocean. The soldiers stood tall, their eyes burning with Battle Intent.

Lin Zhou stood on the review platform, his gaze sweeping over the legion he had personally forged, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

"Brothers, three days ago, we achieved our first victory in the Chaos Star Domain. 32,000 chaos crystals and three Chaos Beast Kings—these were things we exchanged with our lives."

"But, this is only the beginning."

He pointed toward the Chaos Rift in the distance.

"Over there, there are more mineral veins, more ruins, and more secrets. We are going to establish an outpost there and plant the banner of the Way of Civilization on the land of the Chaos Star Domain!"

"Civilization Guardian Legion—set out!"

5,000 people, in a mighty procession, stepped into the Chaos Rift.

This time, Lin Zhou brought all his assets—the Kingdom Projection, the river of civilization, the Heavenly Pillar, the qiankun tripod, and 5,000 fully armed soldiers.

[Chaos Star Domain · March]

- Personnel: 5,000

- Equipment: rune armor · Upgraded Version

- Supplies: Enough to last one month

- Goal: Establish a permanent outpost within the Chaos Star Domain

The [Order] runes around him illuminated the grayish-white fog as he floated at the front of the team. Shou followed by Lin Zhou's side, its massive body acting like a mobile fortress.

The team advanced about two hundred kilometers until they arrived at a relatively flat basin. The basin was surrounded by low hills, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. In the center of the basin was a small chaos crystal mineral vein with reserves of about 5,000, which could serve as resource support for the outpost.

"Right here," Lin Zhou stopped and said, "Deploy the Kingdom Projection!"

He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the core of his kingdom.

In the Temple of Civilization, the river of civilization surged, and the Heavenly Pillar held up the sky. The qiankun tripod floated in the center of the sanctuary, its Hundred Schools inscriptions slowly circulating amidst seven-colored light.

"Kingdom Projection—deploy!"

Hum—!!!

Pale golden light surged from Lin Zhou's body, spreading outward like a tide. Wherever the light passed, the grayish-white Chaos energy was pushed aside, revealing a "pure land" with a diameter of ten kilometers.

[Kingdom Projection · Deployed]

- Coverage: 10 km diameter

- Rule Stability: 85% (slightly lower than the outside due to Chaos energy erosion)

- Cost: 500 Divine Power per minute

- Duration: Can be maintained long-term (needs regular Divine Power replenishment)

Inside the Kingdom Projection, the ground was no longer grayish-white Chaos dust, but solid, pale golden earth. In the sky, the phantom of the river of civilization flowed, casting down warm light. The soldiers stood within the projection, feeling the load on their divine sparks instantly reduced by more than half.

[Soldier Status · Kingdom Protection]

- Divine Spark Load: 125% → 95%

- Mental Pollution Index: 41% → 15%

- Combat Power Recovery: +30%

"Good!" Wang Meng said excitedly, "Fighting here is much more comfortable!"

"It's not just for fighting," Lin Zhou said, "This is our base of operations."

He turned and looked at Wen Yuan: "Wen Yuan, set up the defensive Formation."

"Yes!"

Wen Yuan led the rune craftsmen of the Research Hall to begin setting up the [Iron Wall Defensive Formation · Improved Version] at the edge of the Kingdom Projection.

[Iron Wall Defensive Formation · Improved Version]

- Coverage: 10 km diameter (overlaps with Kingdom Projection)

- Effects:

1. Ally Defense +50%

2. Enemy Attack -30%

3. Chaos Energy Erosion Resistance +80%

4. Formation Core Stability: 90%

- Cost: 1,000 Divine Power per minute (provided by Kingdom Projection)

- Setup Progress: 10%... 20%... 30%...

Tie Xiong led the War Hall Battalion to construct defensive fortifications at the edge of the Formation—city walls, arrow towers, and trenches, all fully equipped.

[Defensive Fortifications · Data]

- Wall Height: 10 meters

- Wall Thickness: 5 meters

- Material: chaos crystal + Star Alloy

- Durability: 100,000 points

- Attack Tolerance: One full-strength strike from a Mid-Tier Divine Power (Mid-Stage)

Qin Shuang led the Law Enforcement Team to patrol within the Kingdom Projection to maintain Order. Wang Meng led the Vanguard Battalion to scout outside the projection, alert for the movements of Chaos Beasts.

Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

Lin Zhou walked to the edge of the Kingdom Projection and looked at the grayish-white fog outside.

His kingdom was "confronting" the Chaos Star Domain.

Chaos energy surged like a tide, constantly battering the boundaries of the Kingdom Projection. The pale golden light at the edge of the projection flickered slightly but did not retreat.

[Kingdom Projection · Boundary Confrontation]

- Chaos Energy Erosion Speed: 0.5% per minute

- Kingdom Projection Self-Repair Speed: 0.3% per minute

- Net Loss: 0.2% per minute

- Expected Maintenance Duration: About three days (needs Divine Power replenishment)

"The consumption is too high." Lin Zhou frowned.

He thought for a moment and decided to utilize the civilization furnace.

The civilization furnace was a miraculous building he had constructed in the core of his kingdom during his junior year. Its purpose was to convert faith into Divine Power and also serve as a Divine Power reserve pool. However, Lin Zhou had never tried to use it to "refine" Chaos energy.

[civilization furnace · Data]

- Location: Kingdom Core

- Function: Faith → Divine Power conversion

- Conversion Efficiency: 10,000 Faith = 1 Divine Power

- Reserve Capacity: 100,000 Divine Power

- Special Function: Can attempt to refine other energy sources (requires debugging)

"Wen Yuan, come here for a second," Lin Zhou called out.

Wen Yuan ran over from the Formation core: "Commander, what is it?"

"Can the civilization furnace refine Chaos energy?"

Wen Yuan was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up: "Theoretically, yes! The essence of Chaos energy is 'Chaos,' while the core of the civilization furnace is 'Order.' If we use the Fire of Civilization as a catalyst, we should be able to convert Chaos energy into a new, controllable form of energy."

"How long will it take?"

"Give me a day," Wen Yuan said, "I need to study the structure of Chaos energy."

"Alright."

One day later.

Wen Yuan brought a modification plan to find Lin Zhou.

[civilization furnace · Modification Plan]

- New Function: Chaos Energy Refining

- Principle: Use the Fire of Civilization as a catalyst to strip away the "Chaos rules" in Chaos energy and convert it into "Order energy"

- Conversion Efficiency: 100 units of Chaos energy → 1 unit of Order essence

- Byproduct: Chaos Spiritual Qi (can be used to strengthen dependents)

- Cost: 1,000 Divine Power per minute (to maintain the Fire of Civilization)

- Risk: If the concentration of Chaos energy is too high, it may cause the furnace to overload.

"Chaos Spiritual Qi?" Lin Zhou asked.

Wen Yuan nodded: "Chaos Spiritual Qi is the product of Chaos energy being 'straightened out.' It doesn't have the corrosive nature of Chaos energy; instead, it can enhance the dependents' resistance to rule-based attacks. However, long-term contact may have side effects, so it needs to be used with caution."

Lin Zhou pondered for a moment.

"Modify the furnace."

Wen Yuan led the rune craftsmen of the Research Hall to begin modifying the civilization furnace.

[civilization furnace · Modification Progress]

- 10%... 20%... 30%...

- Estimated Completion Time: About six hours

Six hours later.

The civilization furnace was brand new.

Dozens of Chaos resistance runes were added to the surface of the furnace, and a ball of the Fire of Civilization floated at the furnace opening as a catalyst. Inside the furnace, the original faith conversion array had been modified into a "Chaos Energy Refining Array."

[civilization furnace · Modification Complete]

- New Function: Chaos Energy Refining

- Refining Speed: Can process 1,000 units of Chaos energy per hour

- Output: 10 units of Order essence + 100 units of Chaos Spiritual Qi

- Cost: 1,000 Divine Power per minute

- Maximum Load: Can process Chaos energy with a concentration 200 times that of the outside

"Start refining," Lin Zhou ordered.

Wen Yuan activated the furnace.

The Fire of Civilization at the furnace opening burned fiercely, "sucking" the Chaos energy at the edge of the Kingdom Projection into the furnace.

[Chaos Energy · Refining]

- Intake Speed: 1,000 units per hour

- Order essence Output: 10 units/hour

- Chaos Spiritual Qi Output: 100 units/hour

- Furnace Temperature: Stable

- Fire of Civilization Status: Normal

As the Chaos energy was refined, the erosion speed at the edge of the Kingdom Projection dropped significantly.

[Kingdom Projection · Boundary Confrontation (After Refining)]

- Chaos Energy Erosion Speed: 0.5% → 0.3% per minute

- Kingdom Projection Self-Repair Speed: 0.3% → 0.4% per minute

- Net Gain: +0.1% per minute

- Kingdom Projection Stability: Started to rise slowly

"It works!" Wen Yuan said excitedly.

Lin Zhou also breathed a sigh of relief.

He walked to the Spiritual Qi outlet of the furnace, where a wisp of pale gray gas was slowly drifting out.

That was Chaos Spiritual Qi.

[Chaos Spiritual Qi · Data]

- Source: Product of Chaos energy being "straightened out"

- Nature: Between Order and Chaos

- Effects:

1. Enhance dependents' resistance to rule-based attacks (+10%)

2. Enhance dependents' adaptability to Chaos energy (+20%)

3. Long-term contact may lead to "rule sensitivity" (side effect, needs monitoring)

- Recommended Usage: Use for dependent training after dilution

Lin Zhou summoned a soldier and asked him to stand at the Spiritual Qi outlet.

After the soldier inhaled the Chaos Spiritual Qi, his divine spark trembled slightly and then returned to normal.

[Soldier · Chaos Spiritual Qi Adaptation Test]

- Divine Spark Integrity: 100%

- Rule Resistance: +10% (temporary)

- Mental State: Normal

- Side Effects: None (short-term)

"How do you feel?" Lin Zhou asked.

The soldier thought about it: "I feel... my divine spark is more 'flexible.' Some rules that were difficult to understand before, now I seem to be able to perceive them."

Lin Zhou nodded.

The effect of Chaos Spiritual Qi was better than expected.

"Wen Yuan, dilute the Chaos Spiritual Qi and use it for the training of the entire army. No more than ten minutes per person per day."

"Yes!"

Wen Yuan went to carry out the Order.

Lin Zhou stood at the edge of the Kingdom Projection, looking at the grayish-white Chaos fog outside, and a strange feeling welled up in his heart.

His kingdom was "devouring" the Chaos Star Domain.

Not physically, but on the level of rules—the Order of the river of civilization was slowly penetrating Chaos, "straightening out" the Chaos, and "lighting up" the void.

[Kingdom Projection · Status (One Day Later)]

- Coverage: 10 km → 12 km diameter (slowly expanding)

- Rule Stability: 85% → 88%

- Chaos Spiritual Qi Reserve: About 1,000 units

- Order essence Reserve: About 100 units

"Commander, what are you thinking about?" Qin Qing walked over.

"I was thinking that this land will be ours in the future," Lin Zhou pointed to the Chaos fog outside the Kingdom Projection, "Maybe one day, the entire Chaos Star Domain will be illuminated by the river of civilization."

Qin Qing was silent for a moment, then said softly: "That day won't be too far away."

Lin Zhou nodded.

He turned and walked toward the center of the Kingdom Projection.

A new building was being constructed there—the Outpost Command Tower.

[Outpost Command Tower · Data]

- Height: 50 meters

- Floors: 10 stories

- Material: chaos crystal + Star Alloy + tempered by Fire of Civilization

- Functions:

1. Command Center: Can monitor Chaos energy fluctuations within 500 kilometers

2. Communication Hub: Can communicate with the Iron Wall Fortress in real-time (requires relay)

3. Defense Core: Can mobilize the defensive power of the Kingdom Projection

4. Civilization Lighthouse: The top of the tower is equipped with the Fire of Civilization, which can illuminate 100 kilometers

- Construction Progress: 60%

At the top of the command tower, the Fire of Civilization was burning.

The flame was not large, but it was warm and firm.

Its light pierced through the grayish-white fog and illuminated the land within a 100-kilometer radius.

[Fire of Civilization · Lighthouse Effect]

- Coverage: 100 km diameter

- Effects:

1. Ally All Attributes +10% within range

2. Enemy Chaos Resistance -20% within range

3. Chaos Energy Concentration -30% within range

4. Rule Stability +20% within range

In this place illuminated by the Fire of Civilization, the soldiers felt an unprecedented sense of peace.

They were no longer "defenders" who defended passively, but "pioneers" who explored actively.

Lin Zhou climbed to the top floor of the command tower and overlooked the entire outpost.

5,000 soldiers were busy—some were setting up Formations, some were building fortifications, some were training, and some were patrolling. Their faces were full of fatigue, but their eyes were burning with hope.

"Commander." Qin Qing walked to his side, "What is the name of the outpost?"

Lin Zhou thought for a moment.

"Let's call it 'Xinhuo' (Beacon)."

"Xinhuo?"

"Yes." Lin Zhou pointed to the Fire of Civilization at the top of the tower, "The beacon of passing the torch."

Qin Qing was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"Good name."

She turned and said to Wen Yuan: "The name of the outpost is 'Xinhuo'."

Wen Yuan nodded and entered the name into the Formation core.

[Outpost · Xinhuo]

- Location: Chaos Star Domain, about 200 km from the entrance

- Commander: Lin Zhou

- Garrison: Civilization Guardian Legion (5,000 people)

- Facilities: Command Tower, Barracks, Warehouse, Furnace, Formation Core

- Resources: About 5,000 chaos crystals (mineral vein), about 1,000 units of Chaos Spiritual Qi

- Status: Stable

Xinhuo Outpost was officially established.

That evening, Lin Zhou stood at the top of the command tower, looking at the Chaos fog in the distance.

In the fog, the figures of Chaos Beasts occasionally flashed, but they dared not approach.

Because the Fire of Civilization was burning.

Because Order was shining.

"Commander, still not sleeping?" Qin Qing walked to the top of the tower.

"Can't sleep." Lin Zhou shook his head, "I was wondering if The Transcendent had built such an outpost back then."

"Maybe," Qin Qing said, "But he failed. And we won't."

"Why?"

"Because he was not one person."

Lin Zhou was silent for a moment, then smiled.

"You are right."

He turned and walked down the tower.

"Tomorrow, continue exploring."

Behind him, the Fire of Civilization was burning.

It illuminated the road ahead and also illuminated people's hearts.