465: Chapter 400: Graduation Approaching, the Divine Kingdom Lays the Foundation for a New Journey

The cyan-gold light within the Void Rift finally stabilized three months after Lin Zhou returned.

The dormancy period of the ark of civilization core had only passed by one-quarter, but the integrity of Lin Zhou's divinity had already recovered from 45% to 90%. The Fire of Civilization at the core of the rift nourished his divine Origin day and night, and those cracks were slowly healing. He had fully integrated the memories of The Transcendent, and the power of three thousand legacies gathered within his body into an invisible river, rushing forward ceaselessly.

[Lin Zhou · Status (After Three Months of Seclusion)]

- Divinity Rank: LV6500 (Stable)

- Divinity Integrity: 90%

- river of civilization Water Level: 5000%

- Heavenly Pillar Height: 11 million kilometers

- Divine Power Reserve: 5 million (Remotely supplied by the New Universe Super Furnace)

He opened his eyes and stood up from beside the Fire of Civilization. A deep blue ship silhouette appeared in the rift, carrying him toward the New Universe. Today was the first graduation ceremony of Xinghai University since its reconstruction in the New Universe. He had promised Qin Qing that he would attend no matter what.

New Universe, new campus of Xinghai University.

The campus was built on a hill not far from the Human Race town, backed by green mountains and facing a plain. The school gate was rebuilt based on the original Xinghai University in the Old Universe; the four large characters "Xinghai University" were inscribed on the bluestone archway, written by the principal himself. On both sides of the gate stood two stone statues—not Shushan Sword Cultivators, nor Yindu guards, but Lin Zhou and Pan Qian. This was a decision by the school construction committee to recognize the contributions of the two All-Universe Academy Championship champions to civilization and Order.

Lin Zhou descended from the void, his Civilization Armor transforming into a graduation gown. He wore a deep blue robe with a golden sash, and the Xinghai University emblem was embroidered on his chest—stars and oceans surrounding the Fire of Civilization. He walked through the gate and headed toward the auditorium along the bluestone path. On both sides of the road, young students stopped one after another, their eyes filled with reverence. Some were orphans rescued during the evacuation from the Old Universe, and others were the new generation born in the New Universe. To them, Lin Zhou was not a Mortal, but a legend.

"Hello, Senior!" a young girl called out timidly.

Lin Zhou smiled: "Hello."

He continued forward and walked to the entrance of the auditorium. Qin Qing was waiting for him there, wearing the same graduation gown, with an "Outstanding Graduate" medal on her sash. Her eyes were slightly red, clearly having cried.

"Captain, you're here."

"I promised you."

They walked into the auditorium.

The auditorium was packed—a thousand graduates, hundreds of teachers, and guests who had rushed over from every Star Domain of the Human Race. On the rostrum, the white-haired old principal sat in the center, flanked by several vice-principals and college deans. Zhao Hao sat in the first row of the graduate section, wearing a graduation gown, fiddling with his sash in boredom. Li Mo's projection sat next to him, looking more solid than before. Wang Meng sat in the second row, his epaulettes showing he had been awarded the Rank of reserve major. General Rex sat in the guest section; although his divine kingdom had shattered and his divinity had fallen to LV500, his back remained as straight as ever.

Chen Xuan sat in a corner, holding an ancient book of the School of Names, but his gaze was searching for something in the crowd.

Lin Zhou walked to the first row of the graduate section and sat down beside Zhao Hao.

"Captain, you're late," Zhao Hao said in a low voice.

"I had something to take care of on the way."

"What happened?"

"There was some fluctuation in the Abyss, so I reinforced the Seal."

Zhao Hao rolled his eyes: "You can't even rest during graduation."

Lin Zhou smiled without explaining.

The old principal stood up, and the whole hall went silent.

"Students, teachers, guests, today is the first graduation ceremony of Xinghai University since its reconstruction in the New Universe. We have endured great hardships, evacuated from the Old Universe, and taken root in the New Universe. We lost our home, but we won our future."

He looked toward the graduate section.

"This graduating class is the most special one. They enrolled in the Old Universe and graduated in the New Universe. They experienced the trials of the Chaos Star Domain, the threat of Guixu, and the pursuit of the Abyss. Some of them sacrificed themselves, some were injured, and some are still sleeping."

"But, they all persisted."

His gaze fell on Lin Zhou.

"Lin Zhou, come up here."

Lin Zhou stood up and walked onto the rostrum.

The old principal took out a dark gold medal from the tray beside him and held it in his palm. The medal was engraved with a pattern of the river of civilization surrounding the Hundred Schools Temple, and the edge bore the school motto of Xinghai University—"Bright Virtue, Investigation of Things, Extension of Knowledge, Sincere Practice."

[Civilization Pioneer Medal · Data]

- Recipient: Lin Zhou

- Reason for award: Pioneering the Way of Civilization, leading the Human Race in a new direction, winning the All-Universe Championship for Xinghai University, discovering the entrance to the New Universe, sealing the Void Rift

- History: First time awarded in over three thousand years since the founding of Xinghai University

- Medal effect: Wearer's overall attributes +10%, Civilization Affinity +50%

"The highest honor of Xinghai University—the Civilization Pioneer Medal, is awarded to student Lin Zhou."

The old principal pinned the medal to Lin Zhou's chest.

Thunderous applause broke out below the stage.

Lin Zhou looked at the medal on his chest and was silent for a moment. He remembered himself when he first enrolled as a freshman—his divinity was only LV150, his divine domain was only thirty square kilometers, and his followers were only a few hundred Forest Elves. Others mocked his "Way of Civilization" as a fantasy, but he had never given up.

Four years.

He had ascended from Lesser Divinity to great divine power. From a tiny divine domain to the Hundred Schools Divine Kingdom of today. From an "heretic" who was mocked, to the guardian of the Human Race.

"Four years, it's a long time, and also a short time," Lin Zhou began, his voice calm, "Four years ago, I stood in front of the gate of Xinghai University, not knowing how far I could go. Four years later, I stand here, with a hundred billion humans behind me, with ten thousand races, with the New Universe."

"In these four years, I lost some people. Teacher Elwin sacrificed himself in the instance dungeon of the Academy Championship. There are also many comrades who fell in the Chaos Star Domain, the Abyss, and the edge of Guixu. Their names are carved on the Heavenly Pillar."

"But, I did not lose the Way of Civilization."

"Because, the Dao is in everyone's heart."

He turned to face the graduates.

"You are the future of the Way of Civilization."

"Wherever you go—the military, research institutes, the private sector, or every corner of the New Universe, please remember: the Way of Civilization is people-oriented. As long as you are alive, loving, and striving, civilization will not perish."

He bowed.

Thunderous applause rang out again below the stage.

Many people cried.

Lin Zhou walked down from the rostrum and returned to his seat.

Qin Qing held his hand without speaking.

The principal continued to speak, awarding graduation certificates, Outstanding Graduate medals, and various other awards.

After the graduation ceremony ended, Lin Zhou walked to the back hill of the campus alone.

There was a stone tablet on the back hill, engraved with the names of all those who had contributed to civilization since the founding of Xinghai University. Lin Zhou's name was already at the very top—not carved by himself, but decided by the school committee.

He stood in front of the tablet, looking at his own name, and was silent for a long time.

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

"Wondering if I deserve this name."

"You do," Qin Qing said, "No one deserves it more than you."

Lin Zhou turned and looked at her.

"Qin Qing, thank you."

"Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for always being by my side."

Qin Qing's eyes reddened.

"Captain, when did you become so good with words?"

"It's not being good with words, it's the truth."

He looked toward the distance of the New Universe.

"Next, I'm going to report to the military department."

"The Civilization Guardian Legion is still waiting for me."

"The defense system of the New Universe still needs to be perfected."

"The Seal of Guixu also needs regular maintenance."

"And there is Yue Yao, she is still sleeping. I have to wait for her to wake up."

Qin Qing nodded.

"Go ahead. I will guard Xinghai University and guard the Way of Civilization."

Lin Zhou smiled.

"Good."

He turned and walked down the back hill.

At the school gate, Zhao Hao, Li Mo, Wang Meng, General Rex, and Chen Xuan were all waiting for him.

"Captain, take care," Zhao Hao reached out his hand.

Lin Zhou shook it: "Take care."

Li Mo's projection flickered: "The research on the space teleportation array has made preliminary progress. Wait for my good news."

Wang Meng punched Lin Zhou in the chest: "Captain, see you at the military headquarters!"

General Rex saluted: "Brigadier General, the defense of the New Universe is up to you."

Chen Xuan smiled: "I have passed on the techniques of the School of Names to the next generation. The seeds of civilization will take root and sprout."

Lin Zhou nodded, transformed into a cyan-gold light, and disappeared into the horizon.

The four-year university career thus came to an end.

Void Rift, core.

Lin Zhou sat cross-legged beside the Fire of Civilization, his consciousness sinking into the Divine Kingdom Core.

[Hundred Schools Divine Kingdom · Final Data (End of the Fourth Year)]

- Divine Kingdom Area: 500 square kilometers

- Rule Integrity: 95%

- Eroded/Controlled Astral Realms: 3

- Total Card Fusion: 50

- Core Followers: Literary Heart Elves, Tiangong Dwarves, Law Fishmen, Civilization Sword Cultivators

- Divinity Rank: LV6500

- Divine Office: [Education] [Law] (Stable)

- Divine Kingdom Rating: Heaven-Grade

In the Divine Kingdom, the sound of reading echoed in Jixia Academy, the light of Order from the Temple of Law shone everywhere, smoke rose from the chimneys of the Tiangong Workshop, and the Flying Swords in the Sword Tomb hummed. The river of civilization rushed in the temple, the Heavenly Pillar pierced straight into the clouds, and the names on the pillar were too numerous to count.

He opened his eyes.

"Graduated."

He stood up and walked into the depths of the rift.

There, more secrets awaited him—the true nature of Guixu, the boundaries of the New Universe, and the distant places that even The Transcendent had not reached.

The Way of Civilization continued.

The deep blue ship silhouette carried him into the void.

Behind him, the cyan-gold light trail of the New Universe was like an inextinguishable lighthouse.

Illuminating the way home, and also illuminating the road ahead.