62: The trial is over, and the overall score is the highest in the entire competition (Part 1)

Lich Salazar fell, his phylactery turning to ash. The thick death clouds shrouding The Silent Temple and the entire examination astral realm began to slowly dissipate like morning mist scattered by sunlight.

The remaining undead creatures in the temple instantly fell into chaos after losing the Lich's command. Low-level skeletons and walking corpses fell apart into dry bones; the slightly more intelligent Wraith Mages and Death Knights let out desperate wails as their source of power seemed to be cut off, their Soul fires quickly dimming until they too stepped into destruction. The [Annihilation Force Field] composed of negative energy lost its core support and rapidly decayed like a leaking balloon, and the heavy feeling of oppression in the hearts of all living beings vanished.

The coalition warriors erupted in deafening cheers. Many collapsed on the ground from exhaustion but couldn't help laughing out loud, hugging the comrades beside them, whether they knew them before or not. The joy of surviving a disaster and the pride of defeating a powerful enemy filled everyone's hearts.

Zhao Hao commanded his subordinates who could still move to begin clearing the sporadic resistance in the temple and scavenging for spoils of war—the Lich's collection of thousands of years, even if just scraps, was enough to drive any examinee crazy.

Su Yueyao commanded the Moon God Priests and Flower Spirits to do their best to treat the wounded. Without the interference of negative energy, Moonlight Power and natural divine arts showed significant effects; the injuries of the seriously wounded stabilized, and the lightly wounded recovered quickly.

Elwin carefully supported the nearly exhausted Lin Zhou, sitting him down against a relatively intact stone pillar. Lin Zhou's face was as pale as paper, and his breathing was weak. Although the cracks on his Godhead stopped worsening and began to self-repair extremely slowly because of the Lich's death and the manifestation of civilization, recovery was still far off. He had overexerted himself too much by continuously using [Words as Law] and [Hundred Schools Resonance].

"My Lord, how do you feel?" Elwin asked with concern, her hands condensing a faint Vast Righteous Qi, trying to help Lin Zhou smooth out his disordered aura.

"It's nothing... just too much exertion. I just need to rest." Lin Zhou waved his hand, his voice raspy. He forced himself to stay conscious, his gaze sweeping over the messy but life-filled battlefield, his heart full of a sense of accomplishment. This battle, though tragic, was ultimately won. Not only did it solve the plague crisis in Blackstone Territory, but it also secured the final victory of this final exam.

Just then, a grand, cold, and emotionless will, like an invisible net, instantly covered the entire examination astral realm and descended into the consciousness of every examinee in The Silent Temple.

[The final stage of the final exam has ended.]

[Threat source 'Lich Salazar' confirmed eliminated.]

[The Order level of the examination scenario 'Blackstone Astral Realm' has significantly increased.]

[Now beginning the calculation of final scores...]

All surviving examinees, no matter where they were or what they were doing, immediately stopped their actions, held their breath, and waited for the moment that would decide their fate.

[Examinee: Lin Zhou]

[Examination Scenario: Blackstone Astral Realm GH-S-734]

[Calculating score...]

Survival Duration: Full Marks (Survived until the end of the exam and led the termination of the crisis).

Exploration Range: Extraordinary (Explored and mapped high-risk areas such as the core of the Blackrock Mountain Range, Valley of the Dead, and The Silent Temple).

Resource Collection/Integration: Perfect (Successfully controlled Furnace Fortress and its resources, integrated coalition logistics, and developed specialized potions).

Influence/Conquest of Local Forces: Beyond Perfect (Successfully united and civilized the Blackrock Clan and Deep Moss Tribe, established stable rule, spread civilized thoughts, and gained widespread faith).

Defeating Other Examinees: No direct defeat records, but through benevolent rescue and a deterrent of strength, effectively integrated or persuaded most competitors to withdraw, indirectly achieving regional dominance.

Final Crisis Management: Beyond Perfect (Insight into the source of the plague, initiated and successfully commanded the 'Anti-Lich Coalition', and with a body of Faint Divinity, used special Legacy powers to lead the slaying of the LV48 Lich's main body and destroy its phylactery, completely eradicating the astral realm threat).

Comprehensive Strength Demonstration: Extremely Strong (God Domain developed rapidly, followers have huge potential, hero units are excellent, mastered special civilization-type Legacy, possesses the ability for cross-tier combat and large-scale campaign command).

Hidden Bonus Items:

[Fire of Civilization]: Spreading thoughts of the Hundred Schools, saving all living beings, manifesting Order and benevolence, aligning with the values advocated by the Human Race's high-level leadership. +Large number of points.

[Leadership Charisma]: Successfully formed and led a multi-God Domain coalition, demonstrating excellent leadership talent and a big-picture perspective. +Large number of points.

[Rule Comprehension]: Initially demonstrated potential for applying rules at the level of 'Law' and 'Concept'. +Special points.

[Calculating overall assessment...]

[Final Overall Score]: SSS+ (Unprecedented! Beyond Perfect Evaluation!)

[Ranking]: 1st Place (Blackstone Astral Realm examination center, adjusted based on data from all examination centers across the Universe)

SSS+! Unprecedented!

When this score and ranking appeared in Lin Zhou's consciousness, even with his composure, he couldn't help but feel a surge of wild joy! This wasn't just a score; it was the ultimate affirmation of his hard work this semester and the path of civilization he had chosen!

Almost simultaneously, the scores and rankings of other examinees were also announced.

[Examinee: Su Yueyao]

[Overall Score]: SS (Extraordinary!)

[Ranking]: 2nd Place (Blackstone Astral Realm examination center)

Scoring Highlights: Powerful and pure Moonlight Divine Power, crucial healing and purification support, excellent individual strength and tactical execution, made a huge contribution in the final battle.

[Examinee: Zhao Hao]

[Overall Score]: S+ (Excellent!)

[Ranking]: 3rd Place (Blackstone Astral Realm examination center)

Scoring Highlights: Strong frontal assault capability, fearless fighting style, undertook major Breakthrough missions in the coalition, effectively pinning down high-end enemy combat forces.

[Examinee: Chen Hai]

[Overall Score]: A (Good)

[Ranking]: 18th Place (Blackstone Astral Realm examination center)

Scoring Highlights: Crucial intelligence reconnaissance and high-risk material collection, outstanding stealth and special operations capabilities, made an irreplaceable contribution to the coalition's victory.

[Examinee: Li Mo]

[Overall Score]: A- (Good)

[Ranking]: 22nd Place (Blackstone Astral Realm examination center)

Scoring Highlights: Engineering and mechanical support, developed anti-corrosion mech armor and siege engines, provided important technical support for the coalition.

Examinees like Wang Yan, Liu Qian, and Zhang Tao, who actively participated in the coalition and made contributions, all received scores ranging from B+ to A and were ranked highly. Meanwhile, those who were eliminated early, or those who were rescued by Lin Zhou later but did not participate in the coalition (or like Horton who bit the hand that fed him), generally received scores below C.

The announcement of the scores naturally brought joy to some and sorrow to others. But all examinees who participated in the battle to crusade against the Lich were thoroughly convinced by Lin Zhou and even filled with gratitude, regardless of their scores. Without Lin Zhou, let alone getting a good score, it was unknown whether they could have survived the Lich's plague and the undead scourge.

"Hahaha! SSS+! Old Lin, you're freaking amazing!" Zhao Hao was already grinning from ear to ear seeing his own S+ score, and seeing Lin Zhou's SSS+ made him feel even more proud, as if he had earned it himself.

Su Yueyao looked at her SS score, a faint look of satisfaction appearing on her cold face. She looked at Lin Zhou and nodded slightly: "Well-deserved."

Chen Hai and Li Mo were so excited they almost jumped up. Their scores and rankings far exceeded their expectations, and it was all thanks to clinging tightly to Lin Zhou's coattails!

[Distributing rewards...]

[Distributing basic and special rewards based on the final score and ranking...]

Beams of brilliant light began to shine on different examinees; it was the light of the rewards materializing.

As the recipient of the SSS+ evaluation, the rewards Lin Zhou received were undoubtedly the most abundant.

First was the feedback of Power Of Faith like a vast sea! As the core of resolving the astral realm crisis, the restoration of Order in the entire realm and the gratitude of many rescued beings turned into a surging torrent of faith, crossing space and pouring into his God Domain! His Divine Power reserves exploded at an unprecedented speed, instantly breaking through the 5,000-point mark and continuing to soar toward 6,000 and 7,000 points! Under such dense nourishment of faith, the operational efficiency of the ashen furnace and the Imperial Hospital both increased significantly.

Immediately after, several cards emitting dazzling light appeared out of thin air before him.

[Rewards Obtained]:

[divinity crystal (Tiny)] x 3: Contains pure divinity, can be used to ignite Divine Fire (for those who have already ignited it, it can be used to improve the quality of Divine Fire, repair the Godhead, or increase the Godhead Rank). (SSS+ evaluation special reward)

[Epic Building Card: Hall of Heroes (Incomplete)]: Allows for the construction of the Hall of Heroes in the God Domain, attracting the Souls of heroes who died for the God Domain to reside within, transforming them into Heroic Spirits/Heroes, and enhancing the God Domain's foundation and faith cohesion. (SSS+ evaluation special reward, fits the civilization Legacy theme)

[Legendary Resource Card: dragon vein source (micro)]: Can be fused into the God Domain to form a micro dragon vein, continuously producing Spiritual Qi, significantly improving the God Domain environment and follower potential, with a small probability of inducing beneficial mutations in follower Bloodlines. (Fixed reward for SS evaluation and above)

[Epic Equipment Card: Vast Righteousness Bandana (Exclusive to Literary Heart Elves Heroes)]: When equipped by a Literary Heart Elves hero, it significantly enhances the effect and recovery speed of Vast Righteous Qi and allows them to learn the new skill [Song of Righteousness]. (Customized reward based on examinee's performance)

[Advanced Divine Art Card: Fire of Civilization (Seed)]: Records a rule fragment of Lin Zhou invoking the Fire of Civilization to break the [Finger of Death], which can be repeatedly studied to accelerate the understanding and application of the Fire of Civilization. (Special reward based on examinee's unique performance)

Massive amounts of Common, Excellent, and Fine quality resource cards, equipment cards, follower cards... (Basic reward pack)

Abundant! Unprecedentedly abundant!

Especially those three [Divinity Crystals] and the [Hall of Heroes] building card—their value was immeasurable! Divinity is the cornerstone to reaching higher divine positions, and the Hall of Heroes is a miracle building that can greatly enhance the God Domain's war potential and cultural foundation!

Su Yueyao, Zhao Hao, and others also received their respective rewards. Although not as good as Lin Zhou's, they were also overjoyed; these were all excellent items that perfectly fit their development paths.

After the distribution of rewards, that grand will sounded once again:

[The final exam has officially ended.]

[Teleportation is about to begin. All examinees, please be prepared.]

[Ten, nine, eight...]

The countdown began.

The coalition warriors began to bid each other farewell. Although they hadn't spent much time together, the friendship formed through shared life-and-death experiences was incredibly deep.

"Lin Zhou, see you at Xinghai University! We'll team up again then and do something even bigger!" Zhao Hao patted Lin Zhou's shoulder hard (Lin Zhou bared his teeth in pain and endured it).

"Student Lin Zhou, I look forward to interacting with you at the university," Su Yueyao said softly, her moonlight-like figure beginning to blur.

"Brother Zhou! I'm following you from now on!" Chen Hai and Li Mo also shouted.

Elwin, Bronzebeard, and the others also paid their respects to the coalition comrades they had fought alongside.

"Two, one! Teleport!"

Blinding white light enveloped all the examinees and their surviving God Domain followers.

Lin Zhou took one last look at this astral realm that had undergone trials and was reborn, at the pile of the Lich's remains, and at the incredibly rich reward cards in his hand, his heart full of anticipation for the future.

He knew his high school career was about to come to a close, and a broader, more exciting stage—Xinghai University—was waiting for him ahead.

With a flash of light, his consciousness and followers returned to his original God Domain.