64: Rewards settled, epic cards acquired (Part 1)

As his consciousness fully returned to the heights of his God Domain, Lin Zhou slowly opened his eyes. Below him was the Hundred Schools Temple God Domain he had built with his own hands. Unlike the dead and oppressive environment of the Final Exam's Astral Realm, this place was filled with vigorous vitality and orderly Order.

In the core area, the tree of life, standing over twenty meters tall, was lush and green. The natural Spiritual Qi it emitted intertwined with the dense purple mist produced by the recently fused dragon vein source (micro), bringing the Spiritual Qi concentration in the core area of the God Domain to the "Enriched" level. Literary Heart Elves sat cross-legged under the tree or in the corridors of the Jixia Academy, reciting the analects and Mencius. Their bodies were enveloped in pale gold Vast Righteous Qi. Their average Rank had already risen to LV16, with Wisdom attributes generally exceeding 22 points. The hero unit Elwin had even reached LV22, with a Wisdom attribute as high as 32, and her understanding of Confucian classics grew deeper by the day.

From the direction of the Tiangong Workshop came the rhythmic and powerful sounds of forging and the meshing of mechanical gears. Tiangong Dwarves and some Mechanical Goblinss who had come for exchange and study (inspired by Li Mo) worked together. Under the guidance of the Mohist thought of The Exploitation of the Works of Nature, their research and development efficiency increased by 200%. The new ashen furnace, like a giant steel heart, emitted a low roar, steadily producing 80 units of Refined Iron Ingots and 5 units of Fire-Patterned Steel daily, providing a solid Foundation for the God Domain's equipment updates and mechanical manufacturing. The dwarf hero Bronzebeard was LV20, with a Strength attribute of 35 and a Physique attribute of 38. He mastered the skills Divine Craftsmanship (forging quality +1 Rank) and Heart of the Furnace (+50% Fire resistance; all attributes +10% when fighting near the furnace).

The Law Fishmen patrol team marched with absolute uniformity, patrolling the borders of the God Domain, which had expanded to over twenty square kilometers. Their eyes were sharp and their discipline strict. Their average Rank was LV14, with a Will attribute as high as 20, making them immune to mental control effects from those at or below their Rank. The hero judge Snik was LV18, with an Intelligence attribute of 28 and a Spirit attribute of 26. He became increasingly proficient in using his skills Judgment (double damage to evil units) and Execution (100% increase in Law enforcement efficiency within the Law Domain).

A faint medicinal fragrance wafted from the newly established Imperial Hospital. Medical Apprenticess, under the guidance of the hero physician Barrend (Barrend, LV17, Intelligence 26, Wisdom 23, skills Spiritual Qi Acupuncture and Pathological Analysis), cared for the warriors who returned wounded from the exam and studied the undead moss samples brought back from the Valley of the Undead, attempting to refine a new type of antidote.

After the Fusion of the dragon vein source, the environment of the God Domain underwent a qualitative leap:

Area: 22 square kilometers (stable).

Spiritual Qi Concentration: Medium (Enriched in the core area). Cultivate speed of followers +50%, skill comprehension speed +20%.

Resource Regeneration: +100% (thanks to the nourishment of the dragon vein and the Fertile Soil Technique of the School of Agriculture).

Rule Stability: +10% (supported by the Origin rules inherent in the dragon vein).

Core Follower Potential: Literary Heart Elves (Wisdom growth +), Tiangong Dwarves (Strength/Physique growth +), Law Fishmen (Will/Discipline growth +).

Miracle Buildings: Jixia Academy (education efficiency +100%), Tiangong Workshop (R&D/construction speed +200%), Temple of Law (100% Order), ashen furnace (Fire-type follower growth +50%, Advanced metal production), Imperial Hospital (wounded soldier recovery speed +50%, disease resistance +30%), Altar of Shennong (food production +300%).

"I'm home..." Lin Zhou breathed a long sigh of relief, a sense of indescribable peace and achievement welling up in his heart. Every blade of grass, every tree, every brick, and every tile here embodied his hard work and was the Foundation of his path of civilization. This grade 12 first-semester final exam was undoubtedly a glorious victory for him.

He first sensed his own state. In the center of his Sea of Consciousness, the diamond-shaped crystal representing his divine core—the Godhead—was still covered in fine cracks, like porcelain that had been barely glued back together after being shattered. The repair process was extremely slow; at a natural rate, it would likely take several months of real-world time. His Divine Power reserves, however, had reached approximately 5,800 points due to the feedback from the exam rewards! This already far exceeded a typical Peak Demigod, demonstrating his profound accumulation.

But he knew very well that as long as the Godhead remained unrepaired, it was a huge hidden danger for future development. If the Foundation is unstable, how can one build a high tower?

He turned his gaze toward the followers below. The elites who participated in the exam had all returned safely. Although most were wounded, their spirits were refreshed and their auras more condensed. Elwin, Bronzebeard, Snik, Barrend, and the ratman hero Mipo, who had performed great deeds in scouting and mechanics (LV16, Agility 32, skills Stealth Master and Lockpicking Expert)... having gone through the tempering of blood and fire, they had become indispensable pillars of the God Domain.

"You all worked hard during this foreign expedition," Lin Zhou's divine oracle resounded in the hearts of every follower like a gentle spring rain. "I have witnessed your courage, wisdom, and sacrifice. The covenant with the Blackstone Territory has been established. The Fire of Civilization of our people has been lit in a foreign land, saving all living things from calamity. This is supreme glory!"

"We are willing to die for our Lord! May the Fire of Civilization be passed down for all eternity!" All the followers, whether they had personally been on the battlefield or not, felt the same way and shouted in unison. The threads of faith became thicker and more solid, and the Power Of Faith they provided became much purer.

After comforting his followers, Lin Zhou took a deep breath, sank his consciousness into the core of the God Domain, and began to take stock of the most tangible gains from this trip—the rewards from the first-semester final exam!

Several cards emitting energy fluctuations of varying intensities were floating in the core space, their light flowing and enticing the Soul.

He first picked up the three Divinity Crystals (Tiny). The crystals were only the size of a grain of rice, but they felt heavy in his hand, as if he were holding three mountains. Liquid gold-like energy flowed slowly inside them, emitting the most primal aura of rules. Just being near them caused his damaged Godhead to throb with a longing tremor.

Divinity Crystal (Tiny)

Type: Special Resource / Rule Creation

Quality: Epic (Contains fragments of the Universe's Origin rules)

Effects:

Core spark for igniting Divine Fire (requires 10 units).

Improves the quality and intensity of existing Divine Fire.

Repairs Godhead damage (effect depends on the degree of damage and method of use).

Increases Godhead Rank (requires a large amount).

Value: Cannot be measured by ordinary Power Of Faith; it is priceless and rare.

"Finally got them..." Lin Zhou was excited. Divinity was the pass to the realm of a True God! Countless Demigods were stuck at the Peak, unable to gather the Divinity needed to ignite Divine Fire in their entire lives. And he had obtained three units from a single final exam! This was not counting his previous scattered accumulation (he already had 1 unit). Now, the total had reached 4 units, a solid step toward the 10 units required to ignite Divine Fire!

He did not use them immediately. Repairing the Godhead was delicate work and required choosing the best moment. He carefully put the three crystals away.

Next, his gaze fell upon the Epic Building Card: Hall of Heroes (Incomplete), which emitted a vast, ancient, and solemn aura.

The card's image showed the phantom of a hall as towering as a mountain. Its style was ancient and heavy, blending the flying eaves and bracket sets of Huaxia architecture with a sense of holiness that transcended the mundane. The interior of the hall was deep, and one could vaguely see countless heroic Souls clad in armor and holding weapons, either sleeping, practicing martial arts, or praying devoutly. Their figures were slightly transparent, yet they emitted a powerful aura that could not be ignored.

Building Card: Hall of Heroes (Incomplete)

Type: Miracle Building / Special

Quality: Epic

Effects:

Resting Place of Heroes: Automatically attracts the Souls of hero units within the God Domain who died in battle for their faith, have reached the level of 'Fanatic,' and have outstanding contribution points (currently limited to hero units), preventing their Souls from dissipating into the world due to lack of support.

Heroic Spirit Transformation: By consuming Power Of Faith and time, the Souls of resident heroes can be gradually transformed into a more powerful 'Heroic Spirit' form. Heroic Spirits retain most of their memories, combat experience, and core skills from their past lives. Their potential is increased, their loyalty to the deity is permanently solidified, and they can exist for a long time without a physical body (their form of existence depends on the Hall of Heroes and the supply of faith).

Heroic Spirit Summoning: A large amount of Divine Power can be consumed to temporarily summon Heroic Spirits to the real world to fight (the duration of existence and strength are affected by the deity's strength, Divine Power input, and the Heroic Spirit's own strength), or to create a temporary spiritual body for them to engage in longer activities.

Faith Amplification: The Hall of Heroes itself is a monument to faith and sacrifice. It can slightly increase the overall faith production efficiency (+10%) and faith cohesion within the God Domain (the probability of followers betraying drops to almost zero).

Incomplete State:

Can only accommodate and transform the Souls of hero units.

There is a time limit for Heroic Spirit summoning, and they cannot stray too far from the God Domain or the deity's physical body.

Lacks full version functions such as 'Heroic Spirit Legion Battle Array' and 'Heroic Spirit Divine Artifact Forging.'

Construction Requirements:

God Domain Rank reaches 'Prosperous.'

800 units of soul-calming wood (a rare material that can be purchased in the market or produced in specific ruins).

300 units of faith crystal (highly condensed from 600,000 points of Power Of Faith; condensation requires time and skill).

3,000 points of Divine Power.

"Perfect!" A dazzling light erupted in Lin Zhou's eyes. This Hall of Heroes was practically tailor-made for a civilization God Domain like his, which emphasized Legacy and did not fear sacrifice! It not only solved the greatest regret of hero units potentially falling but also prepared a trump card force that was incredibly loyal and unafraid of life and death! Its value was immeasurable for the even more brutal divine wars that might be faced in the future!

"Immediately start collecting information on soul-calming wood, and at the same time, accelerate the condensation of faith crystals! The Hall of Heroes must be established as soon as possible!" Lin Zhou issued a divine oracle. Although the resource requirements were not small, this priority was raised to the highest level.

Then, he looked at the Legendary Resource Card that made the entire God Domain tremble: dragon vein source (micro).

On the card, a miniature five-clawed dragon, cast entirely like gold and emitting dense purple mist, was slowly swimming. It was lifelike, and every flick of its tail stirred the surrounding energy ripples.

Resource Card: dragon vein source (micro)

Type: Terrain / Resource

Quality: Legendary

Effects:

Spiritual Qi Tide: After Fusion, the Spiritual Qi concentration in the area where the dragon vein is located increases by 300%, and it drives a steady increase in the Spiritual Qi level of the entire God Domain.

Leyline Nourishment: Greatly accelerates the growth of all plants, the regeneration of ore veins, and the resource refresh rate within the God Domain (+100%).

Bloodline Enlightenment: Long-term nourishment by the dragon vein's Spiritual Qi gives all followers an extremely low probability (initially about 0.1%) of Awakening dragon-blood-related subspecies Bloodlines or traits (Strength, Physique, and elemental affinity receive permanent increases).

Rule Stabilization: The dragon vein carries a trace of the world's Origin rules. After merging, it can directly improve the spatial stability of the God Domain and its resistance to external rule erosion (+10%).

Fusion Requirements:

God Domain area reaches 20 square kilometers.

Possess at least one stable existing leyline node (such as a Spiritual Spring, ore vein core, tree of life root system, etc.).

"Legendary... a treasure sufficient to serve as the cornerstone of a future divine kingdom!" Lin Zhou's breathing quickened slightly. The improvement this card brought to the God Domain was comprehensive and fundamental! His God Domain area had just reached the standard, and the Spiritual Spring and ashen furnace in the core area had both formed stable leyline nodes. The conditions were perfectly met!

"Now is the time. Fuse the dragon vein source!"

He chose to deeply fuse this Legendary card with the leyline node of the Spiritual Spring next to the tree of life in the core area of the God Domain.

The card turned into an incomparably brilliant and noble golden stream of light, like the Nine Heavens' Milky Way falling, and plunged straight into the earth of the God Domain.

Rumble—!!!

The entire God Domain underwent a vibration more violent than the Fusion of any previous card! The ground in the core area rose amidst the roaring sound, eventually forming the prototype of a miniature mountain range about eighty meters long, winding and undulating. This mountain range was pale gold throughout, its surface covered in stone scales as delicate as jade. Purple Spiritual Qi, so dense it almost became liquid, swirled over it like mist, emitting a majestic vitality and majesty that made one's heart and mind feel refreshed.

Ang—!

A faint dragon roar that reached deep into the Soul sounded from the depths of the leyline, announcing the formal formation of the dragon vein!

In an instant, a purer and more active wave of Spiritual Qi spread out from the dragon vein to the entire God Domain. All the followers within the God Domain felt a jolt throughout their bodies, sensing their Cultivate Bottlenecks faintly loosening. The experience points on their attribute panels began to slowly and steadily tick upward! The tree of life, the wenxin tea tree, and the crops in the spiritual fields cultivated by the School of Agriculture became more lush and green at a speed visible to the naked eye.

God Domain Environment Update:

Spiritual Qi Concentration: Medium → High (reaches 'Ultimate' level near the dragon vein in the core area).

Average Follower Growth Speed: +50% → +80% (follower bonus in the dragon vein core area can reach 100%).

Resource Regeneration Speed: +100% → +150%.

New Special Effect: Dragon Might Domain (Weak): Produces a slight deterrent effect on invading hostile units, reducing all their attributes by 5%.

New Potential: Bloodline Awakening (Unlocked): Follower descendants have a tiny probability of giving birth to stronger individuals.

Fusion successful! The God Domain's Foundation has welcomed a qualitative leap!

Lin Zhou felt the changes in the God Domain with satisfaction, then bestowed the Righteousness Turban upon the Hero Elven. It was a seemingly simple white turban, but its edges were embroidered with pale gold profound patterns. Elwin respectfully received it and tied it around her forehead. She immediately felt a sense of clarity in her mind; her speed of comprehending Confucian classics increased, the Vast Righteous Qi around her became more condensed and pure, and her recovery speed also significantly improved.

Equipment Card: Righteousness Turban

Type: Head Equipment / Hero Exclusive (Wenxin Elf)

Quality: Epic

Attributes: Spirit +5, Wisdom +5

Special Effects:

Righteous Qi Suffusion: Vast Righteous Qi effect increased by 20%, recovery speed increased by 50%.

Clarity of Mind: Skill comprehension speed +15%, increased resistance to illusions and mental confusion.

Subtle Influence (Active): When activated, the effect of the next verbal skill (such as Education or Rebuke) is doubled. Long cooldown time.

Feeling the coolness from her forehead and the power surging through her body, Elwin bowed deeply toward the sky: "Thank you, my Lord, for your generous gift! Elwin will certainly not fail this turban. I will use a righteous heart to clarify the Dao and protect our civilization!"

As for the Advanced Divine Skill Card: Fire of Civilization (Seed), which recorded the critical moment he triggered the Fire of Civilization to break the lich's Finger of Death, as well as the massive amount of basic rewards like Common, Excellent, and Fine quality resource and equipment cards, Lin Zhou put them away for the time being, leaving them for careful study or to reward meritorious officials in the future.

After handling the main rewards, Lin Zhou began to plan his next steps. The glorious victory of the final exam brought the first semester of grade 12 to a successful conclusion. Next was a short break, followed by the crucial second semester of grade 12 and the final college entrance exam that would decide his fate.

The Godhead damage must be repaired as soon as possible..." Lin Zhou stroked his Godhead, which still emitted a dull pain, with a determined gaze. The rewards from this final exam far exceeded expectations, providing him with powerful resources, but the key was how to efficiently use these resources to repair his Foundation.

Just as he was thinking, his personal communicator rang. It was Zhao Hao.