98: Merging with the Dragon Vein, the Divine Realm Transforms as Spiritual Energy Surges (Part 1)

The Fusion of the dragon vein fragment and the God Domain Origin was not an instantaneous completion, but rather like streams merging into a river, continuously and profoundly changing every corner of the God Domain. The previous violent roar and eruption of Spiritual Qi were merely the surface manifestations of the Early Stage of the Fusion. The true transformation occurred in the following period, silently progressing like a gentle spring rain.

Lin Zhou hovered at the core of the God Domain, atop the peak of the Dragon Vein Mountain Range, feeling the increasingly majestic and powerful "pulse" coming from the earth beneath his feet. His will was closely connected to the entire God Domain, acting like a massive sensory amplifier that allowed him to take in this great transformation with all his heart.

First was the continuous optimization of the Spiritual Qi environment.

After the God Domain's basic Spiritual Qi concentration stabilized at a peak of 250%, it did not stagnate. The dragon vein fragment acted like an efficient energy converter and amplifier; it not only drew more majestic energy from the Void Realm but also recycled the dissipated, unused energy within the God Domain itself.

The spiritual mist permeating the air was no longer uniformly distributed but began to flow and gather according to some profound Law. Around the main peak of the Dragon Vein Mountain Range, the Spiritual Qi became so dense it wouldn't disperse, forming several [Spiritual Mist Vortexes] of varying sizes. In the centers of these vortexes, spiritual liquid faintly dripped, gathering into small [Spiritual Liquid Pools] in the mountain hollows. These pools contained pure energy, providing immense benefits for the Cultivation of the sub-races and the growth of spirit plants.

The rivers and lakes were also affected. The originally clear river water now shimmered with a faint spiritual light; wherever the water flowed, the growth rate of the plants on the banks significantly accelerated. Lin Zhou could even sense that the eggs of some aquatic creatures were undergoing subtle, positive mutations under the nourishment of the Spiritual Qi.

Changes also appeared in the sky. Very occasionally, in areas where Spiritual Qi was extremely active, small-scale [Spiritual Rain] would spontaneously form due to differences in energy concentration. The drizzling rainwater contained gentle Spiritual Qi, and when it fell upon the land, it accelerated plant growth, purified the environment, and even had a slight effect on improving the Physique of ordinary sub-races.

Detailed Environmental Data:

Average Spiritual Qi Concentration: 250% (Peak areas can reach 350%-400%).

New Special Terrain: Spiritual Mist Vortex x3, Spiritual Liquid Pool x5 (Tiny capacity, requires time to accumulate).

New Environmental Phenomenon: Periodic Spiritual Rain (Small coverage area, short duration, significant effect).

Resource Regeneration Speed: Common resources +150%, Rare resources +50% (Nourished by Spiritual Qi).

Next was the comprehensive evolution of the sub-race groups.

Bathed in such dense Spiritual Qi and Dragon Qi, the improvements for the three core sub-races were all-encompassing, and they began to manifest changes more characteristic of their respective races.

The change in the Literary Heart Elves was the most significant. They were naturally close to nature and principles, so a high-concentration Spiritual Qi environment was like water to a fish for them. Their skin became more translucent, their ear tips seemed longer, and a faint, refreshing Pure Qi naturally swirled around them. Most importantly, their efficiency in condensing and utilizing "Literary Qi" significantly increased.

Race Trait Enhancement: The [Elegant] trait evolved into [Wenxin Wisdom] — Wisdom and Spirit growth rate +15%, skill comprehension speed +25%, and increased resistance to illusions and mental attacks. There is a very small chance to trigger a [Flash of Inspiration] when comprehending skills, directly increasing the skill Rank or producing a mutation.

Hero Unit · Elwin (LV37): She sat cross-legged at the highest point of the Jixia Academy, and what surrounded her were no longer simple golden characters, but faint phantoms of essays carrying profound principles. Her understanding of the "the analects" and "Mencius" became more profound, and she even began to try expounding upon new Subtle Influence based on the current state of the God Domain. She felt as if she had touched the threshold of the next Realm—the prototype of "Words as Heaven's Decree"; though far from reaching Words as Law, she could already influence rules on a small scale.

The Tiangong Dwarves became sturdier and more robust; their beards and hair seemed stained with the color of the earth, carrying a metallic luster. The Dragon Qi seemed particularly compatible with their natural talent for forging and building. When they swung their iron hammers, their arm muscles bulged, accompanied by faint sounds of wind and thunder like a dragon's roar. Their control over fire and metal reached new heights.

Race Trait Enhancement: The [Ingenuity] trait evolved into [Earthfire Craftsmanship] — Strength and Physique growth rate +10%, forging and construction efficiency +35%, and forged equipment has a chance to carry [Sturdy], [Armor-Piercing], or a weak [Dragon Might] effect. The chance for inspiration surges when researching new blueprints or mechanisms.

Hero Unit · Bronzebeard (LV35): He stood before the largest furnace in the Tiangong Workshop. The furnace fire was no longer ordinary fire, but faintly carried the qualities of Earth-Vein Dragon Fire, with higher temperatures and more spirituality. The dragon-patterned battleaxe he had just successfully forged was named [Dragon Roar Battleaxe (Fine)], with attributes far exceeding equipment of the same Rank. He was currently attempting to integrate dragon vein stone materials into the city wall construction to create sturdier defensive fortifications.

The scales of the Law Fishmen became denser and harder, their color deepening like Mystic Iron Black Armor. Their eyes grew sharper, and a sense of unquestionable majesty naturally accompanied their movements. The "Order" buff brought by the dragon vein perfectly complemented their power of Law. When they patrolled, a faint field of order naturally radiated from them, causing units within range to unconsciously follow the rules.

Race Trait Enhancement: The [Lawful] trait evolved into [Iron Law Dragon Scales] — Physique and Spirit growth rate +12%, discipline reaching the extreme, and immunity to confusion and fear effects. When enforcing the Law, they can draw upon a weak dragon vein power to enhance the binding strength of the Net of Law and the damage of the [Judgment] skill.

Hero Unit · Snik (LV34): The Book of Law in his hands became heavier, and new legal articles outlined by dragon patterns automatically appeared on the pages, mainly concerning "Protecting the Earth Vein" and "Revering Dragon Qi." His understanding of the Law was no longer limited to punishment; he began to involve "incentive" and "guidance," attempting to formulate a "Law of Contribution" to encourage the sub-races to work hard in their Cultivation.

Even the ordinary Human Race believers (Old Farmer Barton and others) felt their bodies become light and healthy in such an environment, free from all diseases. Their lifespans were invisibly extended, and their faith in Lin Zhou became increasingly devout and firm.

The overall ecology of the God Domain was also upgrading.

The phantom of the shennong cauldron at the Altar of Shennong became more solid, and the speed of condensing Life Spiritual Liquid increased. Barton discovered that crops irrigated with spiritual liquid not only had shortened growth cycles and increased yields, but also had a certain chance to evolve into [Low-Rank Spirit Plants], such as [Satiety Spirit Grain] and [Heart-Clearing Tea Leaves]. Long-term consumption provided subtle benefits to the sub-races.

The vegetation on the Dragon Vein Mountain Range was lush and green, and some ordinary medicinal herbs began to transform into Spirit Medicine. Lin Zhou even sensed that deep within the mountains, several faint ore veins were slowly forming under the nourishment of Dragon Qi. Although the quality and reserves were unknown, it was undoubtedly an excellent start.

The entire God Domain presented a scene of vibrant vitality, with all things striving to flourish!

However, Lin Zhou was not carried away by this excellent situation. His gaze once again turned toward that death passage, which was Sealed by moonlight but remained a thorn in his side.

The integration of the dragon vein had greatly suppressed the death aura, but the passage itself had not disappeared. Although Su Yueyao's [Moonlight · Lunar Seal] was strong, it was ultimately an external force, and her own consumption was high; she could not maintain it forever. He had to find a way to resolve this hidden danger fundamentally.

"The power of the dragon vein contains infinite vitality and order, naturally countering death energy... Perhaps I can capitalize on this." Lin Zhou fell into deep thought, and a bold idea began to take shape in his mind.

He wasn't going to forcibly destroy the passage, as that might trigger an uncontrollable explosion or spatial collapse. He was going to... "purify" and "transform" it!

Using the majestic vitality and Spiritual Qi of the dragon vein, combined with the principles of creation and order contained within the Fire of Civilization, he would thoroughly wash and repair this death passage—this "wound" of the God Domain—and even... transform it into a part of the God Domain's nourishment!

This idea was extremely risky and required a very high level of control over the God Domain's rules and his own power. But once successful, the rewards would be immense. Not only could he root out the hidden danger, but he might also gain some understanding of the rules of death, and perhaps even... capture a sliver of the essence of the Lich King's Projection's power?

Just as Lin Zhou was planning how to resolve the internal hidden danger, the crisis in the real world was approaching step by step.

Cloud City, downstairs from Lin Zhou's home.

The cleverly disguised monitors had already rotated through several shifts. They were extremely professional, their auras completely restrained and merged with the surrounding environment. Even a passing high-Rank deity would find it difficult to discover their existence without a deliberate search.

Inside that black hovercar, a man in the shadows received a communication.

"Boss, the target has been offline for over twelve hours and has remained at home without any unusual movement. His parents are ordinary low-Rank deities and have gone out to work. The surrounding environment has been scouted; there is no high-Rank protective force."

"Continue monitoring and wait for instructions. 'The goods' are of high value; we must ensure nothing goes wrong," the shadow man said coldly. "Before the Quarter-finals begin is when his vigilance is lowest, and it is also our best opportunity to strike."

A storm was brewing beneath the calm surface.

Lin Zhou remained completely unaware of this. Most of his mind was immersed in the continuous transformation of the God Domain and planning for the future.

The God Domain, having fused with the dragon vein, felt as though it had been injected with infinite vitality. Lin Zhou could feel his connection with the God Domain becoming tighter, and the burning of his Divine Fire becoming more stable and powerful. He even had a vague premonition that if he wished, he could now attempt to guide the God Domain into a deeper level of rule integration, taking a key step toward a true "Divine Kingdom" prototype—for example, establishing a more symbolic and functional Hall of Heroes, or trying to etch a certain ideology deeper into the God Domain's rules.

But for now, the highest priority was still dealing with the time bomb that was the death passage.

He composed his mind, his consciousness sinking into his Sea of Consciousness to communicate with the Temple of Civilization, while simultaneously channeling the majestic power of the Dragon Vein Mountain Range beneath his feet.

"Using the Fire of Civilization as a guide and the dragon vein's Spiritual Qi as a foundation... perhaps I can try to mobilize... the killing aura of the School of Military, and the disease-dispelling vitality of the School of Medicine?"

A purification plan that fused the thoughts of multiple schools gradually became clear in his mind.