542: Chapter 477: The Barrier is Initially Formed, Successfully Blocking the Breath of Return to the Void

Three days after the barrier of the Civilization Principle Defense Line was woven, the first wisp of guixu energy drifted from the edge of the Chaos Star Domain. It wasn't an outpouring from the Void Realm, but the final aftermath left behind after the Guixu Rift closed—a grey-white mist. Its concentration was only five times that of the outside, but it was enough to test the barrier's effectiveness.

Lin Zhou stood on the Wall of Heroes, watching that wisp of mist drift toward the New Universe. Its path happened to pass through a section of the Civilization Principle Defense Line—located at the junction of the Seventh War Zone and the Chaos Star Domain, node number 1873. The guardian was a veteran selected from the Civilization Guardian Legion, with a Godhead Rank of LV550 and a mature seed of civilization. The moment the mist touched the barrier, the grey-white color suddenly turned into a pale gold. It didn't dissipate; it transformed. The runes on the surface of the barrier glowed, stripping away the "void" attribute from the guixu energy. The remaining "existence" attribute was ignited by the Fire of Civilization, turning into a wisp of pure energy that flowed along the silk threads of the barrier toward the nearest node.

[Civilization Principle Defense Line · Initial Blocking Test] - Test Target: Residual guixu energy (concentration 5 times that of the outside) - Barrier Thickness: 3 meters - Barrier Height: 3,000 kilometers - Node Number: 1873 - Guardian: Civilization Veteran (LV550) - Test Result: Successfully blocked, guixu energy converted into pure energy - Conversion Efficiency: 90% (10% loss used to maintain barrier operation) - Pure Energy Output: Approx. 1 unit of Divine Power per wisp

Lin Zhou's pupils contracted slightly. guixu energy could be converted into pure energy; this meant the Civilization Principle Defense Line was not just a shield, but also a power station. If the conversion efficiency could be raised to 100%, the defense line could even be self-sufficient, requiring no external power supply.

"Li Mo, can the conversion efficiency be improved?"

Li Mo's projection floated on the Wall of Heroes, his fingers sweeping across the Void Realm, and data streams brushed past like a waterfall. "Theoretically, yes. The runes on the surface of the barrier can be optimized, reducing the loss from ten percent to five percent. The brightness of the node guardian's Fire of Civilization can also be increased, raising the conversion efficiency from ninety percent to ninety-five percent. But it takes time."

"How long?"

"Three months. After the defense line is woven, it still needs debugging. This is a normal engineering cycle."

Lin Zhou nodded. Three months—he could afford to wait.

He flew toward that node. The node was a high platform, about a hundred meters high and fifty meters in diameter, built from the essence of order. A seed of civilization hovered at the top of the platform, its light illuminating the Void Realm for tens of thousands of kilometers. The guardian stood on the high platform, holding a Flying Sword in his hand, the Fire of Civilization on the sword resonating with the seed of civilization on the platform.

[Node 1873 · Data] - Location: Junction of the Seventh War Zone and the Chaos Star Domain - High Platform Height: 100 meters - seed of civilization Intensity: LV550 - Guardian: Civilization Veteran (8 years of service) - Status: Standby

The guardian saw Lin Zhou and knelt on one knee. "Legion Commander!"

Lin Zhou helped him up. "No need to kneel. The barrier test was successful; you did well."

The guardian's eyes were slightly red. "Legion Commander, the brightness of my seed of civilization is not enough. The conversion efficiency is only ninety percent, with a ten percent loss."

"Ninety percent is enough. After the debugging is complete, it will be higher." Lin Zhou patted his shoulder and flew to the next node.

One month later, Li Mo completed the optimization of the barrier runes. The loss dropped from ten percent to five percent, and the conversion efficiency rose from ninety percent to ninety-five percent. Meanwhile, under the high-intensity training in Bingge Cave, the average brightness of the three thousand node guardians' seeds of civilization increased from LV550 to LV600.

[Civilization Principle Defense Line · Debugging Data (One Month Later)] - Loss: 10% → 5% - Conversion Efficiency: 90% → 95% - Average Node seed of civilization Intensity: LV550 → LV600 - Pure Energy Daily Output: Approx. 10,000 units of Divine Power (Entire Defense Line)

The test scope of the barrier expanded from a single node to the entire defense line. Three thousand nodes were activated simultaneously, and the runes on the surface of the barrier glowed in unison, a cyan-gold light film shrouding the entire New Universe. The residual guixu energy drifting from the edge of the Chaos Star Domain was converted the moment it touched the barrier. The grey-white mist condensed into a pale gold cloud outside the barrier—that was the crystallization of pure energy.

[Civilization Principle Defense Line · Full Defense Line Test] - Test Target: Residual guixu energy (concentration 5-10 times that of the outside) - Coverage: Entire defense line, 100 million kilometers - Test Result: Successfully blocked, conversion efficiency 95% - Pure Energy Daily Output: Approx. 100,000 units of Divine Power - Barrier Stability: 98%

Lin Zhou stood on the Wall of Heroes, watching that pale gold cloud. Golden Scale flew out from the Divine Kingdom, spraying Dragon Breath to ignite the cloud. The cloud turned into countless points of light, sprinkling down onto the one hundred thousand towns of the New Universe. Each point of light was a wisp of pure energy, which could be absorbed directly by the Fire of Civilization. The Fire of Civilization in the towns became brighter under the nourishment of the light points, and new runes emerged within the flames—not inscriptions of the Hundred Schools, but the "existence" marks left behind after the guixu energy was converted.

[New Universe · Fire of Civilization Strengthening] - Pure Energy Absorption: 100,000 towns absorbing simultaneously - Fire of Civilization Intensity: Average +10% - New Runes: Existence Mark (Can resist Guixu erosion)

Acting Marshal Qian Weiguo walked out of the teleportation array and came to Lin Zhou's side. "General Lin, the Command Headquarters has decided to add three backup defense lines based on the Civilization Principle Defense Line."

"Backup? Three of them?"

"The first backup defense line is one hundred kilometers inside the defense line, deployed by each war zone itself. The second backup defense line is at the edge of the New Universe core area, managed by the Cosmic Council. The third backup defense line is around the Expeditionary Force headquarters, guarded by troops directly under the Command Headquarters."

Lin Zhou was silent for a moment. "Three backup defense lines—how many resources will they need?"

"Three million units of essence of order, three thousand seeds of civilization, and three hundred thousand personnel."

"We don't have that much."

"Therefore, the backup defense lines are just a plan. When to build them depends on the situation." Acting Marshal Qian Weiguo looked at the pale gold cloud. "If the Gate of Guixu descends again and the main defense line cannot hold, the backup defense lines will be the last hope."

Lin Zhou nodded. "I understand."

He returned to the camp and sat at the table, with the Star Map of the New Universe spread out in front of him. In three years, the Gate of Guixu would descend again. The Void Realm sea would flood into the New Universe. The Civilization Principle Defense Line was the first barrier, but it would not be the last. He needed more preparations.

Su Yueyao walked out of the medical pod. Her hair had returned to black, and her Moon God Origin had recovered by fifty percent. The Moonlight Elves flew around her, their laughter crisp.

"Captain, was the barrier test successful?"

"It was. guixu energy can be converted into pure energy. The defense line can not only block the Guixu but also provide energy for the New Universe."

Su Yueyao walked to his side and looked at the Star Map. "In three years, the Gate of Guixu will descend again. The concentration of the Void Realm sea will be ten thousand times that of the current residue. Can the barrier still convert it?"

"It can. But the conversion efficiency will drop. It requires the node guardians' seeds of civilization to have higher brightness."

"How high?"

"At least LV1000."

Su Yueyao was silent. LV1000—that was the threshold for the Peak of Mid-Tier Divine Power. Three thousand node guardians, and the current average level was only LV600. Improving four hundred levels in three years was almost impossible.

"Therefore, we cannot rely on them alone." Lin Zhou pointed to the three thousand nodes on the Star Map. "Each node needs at least one God King-level powerhouse to hold it down."

"God King-level? The New Universe has fewer than one hundred God Kings."

"It's not enough. So, we need to cultivate new God Kings."

Lin Zhou stood up and walked to the window. Outside the window, the Firewood Sword on the Wall of Heroes was burning, and Golden Scale was coiled on the city wall, its dragon head lowered. Fifty thousand soldiers were training under the city, and fifty thousand Flying Swords were weaving into a cyan-gold net in the Void Realm.

"Three years, cultivating three thousand God Kings is impossible. But cultivating three thousand guardians below the God King level but above LV800 is possible."

Su Yueyao walked to his side and took his hand. "Captain, I'll be with you."

Lin Zhou looked at her and was silent for a moment. "Okay."

The two stood side by side in front of the window, watching the pale gold cloud. The Civilization Principle Defense Line had initially formed, and the erosion of the Guixu had been blocked. But the real test was in three years. When the Gate of Guixu descended again, the Void Realm sea would flood into the New Universe. At that time, the Civilization Principle Defense Line would face its final inspection.

"Captain, what are you thinking about?" Su Yueyao asked.

"Thinking about where I will stand three years from now."

"Standing in front of the Gate of Guixu."

Lin Zhou shook his head. "No. Standing by your side."

Su Yueyao's eyes turned red. "Captain, when did you become so good with words?"

"It's not being good with words; it's the truth." Lin Zhou turned and walked out of the camp.

Golden Scale flew down from the city wall and coiled beside him. Its dragon head lowered, and its golden pupils gazed at him.

"Golden Scale, in three years, the Gate of Guixu will descend again. Are you afraid?"

"Not afraid. Master, my Dragon Breath can purify guixu energy."

"Good."

Lin Zhou flew toward the Wall of Heroes and stood before the Marshal's statue. The statue's gaze looked toward the direction of the New Universe, the corners of its mouth slightly raised.

"Marshal, the defense line has been initially formed. The remnants of the Guixu have been blocked. Three years from now, when the Gate of Guixu descends again, we will hold it."

The statue did not answer, but the Fire of Civilization at the statue's feet flickered.

Lin Zhou turned to face the fifty thousand soldiers. "Brothers, the Civilization Principle Defense Line has been initially formed. The remnants of the Guixu have been blocked. But in three years, the Gate of Guixu will descend again, and the Void Realm sea will flood into the New Universe. At that time, we will need stronger power."

"From today on, the Civilization Guardian Legion enters the second phase of war preparation. The goal—within three years, raise the godhead integrity of the three thousand node guardians to above LV800. Raise the average level of the entire army to LV600."

"Can you do it?"

"Yes!" Fifty thousand people roared in unison.

Lin Zhou nodded. "Good. Begin training."

Fifty thousand soldiers flooded into Bingge Cave. The level cap of the war spirits had been raised from LV1000 to LV2000, enough for them to train. Wang Meng was the first to rush in, battling a LV1500 war spirit. He was knocked down ten times, and on the eleventh time, he finally hit the war spirit's chest.

[Wang Meng · Bingge Cave Training] - Battling War Spirit: LV1500 - Wins: 1 - Godhead Rank: LV660 → LV665

Qin Qing, Lei Zhan, and Iron Face also entered Bingge Cave one after another. Fifty thousand people fought fiercely in the cave heaven, war spirits wandered in the Void Realm, and fragments of battle rules floated about. Every day, soldiers broke through their Bottleneck, and their godhead integrity improved.

Lin Zhou did not enter Bingge Cave. He sat cross-legged on the Wall of Heroes, the riverbed of the river of civilization glowing. One hundred kinds of God King-level rule patterns flowed on the riverbed, and the recovery speed of the river water was accelerating.

[river of civilization · Recovery Speed] - Current Water Level: 0.1% → 0.2% → 0.3% ... (Daily growth of 0.1%) - Estimated Recovery to 100%: Approx. 3 years (Just in time for the Gate of Guixu to descend again)

Three years, one thousand and ninety-five days. Every day, the water level of the river of civilization grew slowly. Every day, the godhead integrity of the fifty thousand soldiers slowly improved. Every day, the barrier of the Civilization Principle Defense Line was slowly reinforced.

Lin Zhou closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the Divine Kingdom Core. On the dome of the Temple of Civilization, the rule marks of the hundred God Kings were glowing. His godhead integrity had recovered from ten percent to twenty percent. His Godhead Rank increased from LV900 to LV920.

[Lin Zhou · Status] - Godhead Rank: LV900 → LV920 - godhead integrity: 20% - river of civilization Water Level: 0.3% - Heavenly Pillar Height: 2.5 million kilometers

He opened his eyes and looked at that pale gold cloud. The cloud floated outside the barrier, ignited by Golden Scale's Dragon Breath, turning into points of light that sprinkled down. The Civilization Principle Defense Line had initially formed, and the remnants of the Guixu had been blocked. In three years, the Gate of Guixu would descend again, and the Void Realm sea would flood into the New Universe. But the New Universe would not fall. Because they were there. The Fire of Civilization was burning, illuminating the road ahead and also illuminating the direction of the Gate of Guixu.