Forty years old, awakening attribute panel

Chapter 266

As night fell, the starry sky shone brightly, and the hustle and bustle of the city gradually died down, with only the occasional sound of a whistle breaking the silence. Jiang Sheng stood on the balcony of his apartment, staring into the distance, holding tightly in his hand a yellowed photo - the only photo he had taken with his father, who disappeared during a special mission and whose whereabouts remain unknown. On the back of the photo, it was written in scribbled handwriting: "Protect this sky until the last moment."

Tonight, Jiang Sheng's heart always felt an inexplicable throbbing, as if something was about to happen. At this moment, an extremely dazzling light flashed across the sky, and a huge meteorite streaked across the night sky, dragging a long tail, and crashed on the edge of the city. At that moment, the whole city seemed to be lit up, and then quickly fell into darkness, accompanied by a slight tremor.

The news channel interrupted the broadcast urgently, and the world's attention was instantly focused on this mysterious meteorite. Scientists initially speculated that it might be a celestial body containing unknown elements, while various speculations and rumors circulated among the people, ranging from the messenger of alien civilization to the fulfillment of ancient prophecies.

Jiang Sheng, a National Security Agency agent, immediately realized the seriousness of this incident after receiving an urgent call from his superiors. He hurriedly packed his things, curious about the unknown and alert to potential crises. Before leaving, he looked at the photo again and secretly vowed that no matter what the meteorite brought, he would follow his father's will and protect the world.

Arriving at the crash site, Jiang Sheng found that the scene had been Jiang Sheng approached a temporary command tent. Inside the tent, several experts were gathered around an analytical instrument and discussing fiercely. An old man with gray hair, wearing a white protective suit, saw Jiang Sheng coming in and immediately came up to him.

The old man was Professor Li, a famous astronomer. He held Jiang Sheng's hand tightly, his eyes flashing with urgency: "Agent Jiang, you're here just in time. We just detected an abnormal energy wave released from the crater. It seems to contain some kind of activation mechanism that is changing the surrounding environment. We must understand the secret behind this as soon as possible."

"Professor Li, please tell me, does this energy pose a threat?" Jiang Sheng's voice was calm and firm.

"We can't be sure yet, but it obviously doesn't belong to any substance known on Earth." Professor Li frowned, "We need to collect samples and conduct in-depth research."

As they were talking, there was a sudden commotion outside the tent, followed by a cry of surprise: "Something is coming out!"

Jiang Sheng and Professor Li quickly rushed out of the tent and saw a huge creature slowly rising in the center of the crater. Its body was covered with strange metal scales, and its eyes were like burning fireballs, emitting indescribable power. The surrounding plants withered and died the moment it appeared, and the air seemed to be drained and became heavy.

"Everyone on alert!" Jiang Sheng ordered loudly and pulled out his special pistol, which was a weapon designed specifically for dealing with supernatural phenomena.

The creature let out a low roar, and the ground shook. A soldier pulled the trigger in panic, and the bullet hit the creature's scales, but it was like hitting steel, making a crisp sound and causing no damage.

"Don't attack blindly!" Jiang Sheng shouted, "We need to find its weakness."

At this tense moment, Professor Li suddenly remembered something and said anxiously, "I remember that ancient documents record that some alien creatures carry guardian beasts, and only sound waves of a specific frequency can calm them down."

Jiang Sheng quickly contacted the headquarters and requested support, and arranged for technicians to prepare experimental sonic transmitters. Time was running out, and they had to find a solution before the creatures fully awakened.

After some intense preparation, the sound wave transmitter was finally debugged. Jiang Sheng took a deep breath and pressed the start button. Suddenly, an invisible wave spread to the creature, and a wonderful thing happened: the creature's body trembled, the flames in its eyes gradually extinguished, and finally it slowly knelt on the ground, as if hypnotized.

The crisis was temporarily resolved, Jiang Sheng and Professor Li smiled at each other. This sudden battle made them more determined to explore the mystery of the meteorite.

"This is just the beginning," Jiang Sheng said softly, "We may be facing a completely new world."

As the creatures calmed down, the atmosphere at the scene changed from tense to a quiet mixed with curiosity and awe. The scientific research team quickly began to work around the creatures, collecting samples and recording data, while Jiang Sheng was responsible for maintaining order at the scene and ensuring that all actions were carried out in an orderly manner.

"Professor Li, where do you think this creature came from? What is the connection between it and the meteorite?" Jiang Sheng asked Professor Li while observing the situation on the scene.

Professor Li took off his glasses, rubbed his tired eyes, and said, "Preliminary judgment is that this creature may be a life form guarding the meteorite. Its existence proves that the meteorite was not formed naturally. As for their planet, civilization, and even purpose, we can only guess now. But what is certain is that this meteorite and the creatures it carries will completely change our world."

At this time, a technician came running to report: "Agent Jiang, the effect of the sonic transmitter is beginning to weaken, and the creature is showing signs of waking up!"

Jiang Sheng made a decision immediately: "Everyone prepare to evacuate and ensure that all equipment is safely recovered. Professor Li, we will take some samples back for further research."

The evacuation was swift and orderly. Just as the team was about to leave the crater, the creature suddenly opened its eyes and let out a deafening roar, as if warning the intruders. Jiang Sheng looked back and thought to himself: This is just the beginning, the real challenge is still to come.

Back at the base, the laboratory was brightly lit, and researchers were analyzing samples collected from meteorites and organisms day and night. Jiang Sheng did not rest, but went directly to the conference room to participate in an emergency high-level meeting.

"According to preliminary analysis, meteorites contain a new element we call 'psionic energy', which has a strong stimulating effect on organisms and can cause genetic mutations." A scientist in a white coat displayed a complex chart on a large screen.

"In other words, this psionic energy not only awakens unknown creatures underground, but may also have an impact on humans?" Jiang Sheng keenly grasped the crux of the problem.

"That's right," Professor Li continued, "We need to guard against possible unknown dangers, and at the same time explore the positive applications of psionic energy, such as improving human martial arts."

After the meeting, Jiang Sheng returned to his residence alone, unable to calm down for a long time. He took out the old photo, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart. At this moment, he felt a strange energy surge in his body, and a sense of power he had never felt before arose spontaneously.

"Psionic energy..." He murmured in a low voice, trying to concentrate and guide this energy. Suddenly, the objects in the room floated up gently and surrounded him, as if controlled by an invisible hand. Jiang Sheng was surprised, but more excited - he, Jiang Sheng, awakened.

The next day, Jiang Sheng reported his awakening to a specific department and was immediately assigned to a secret team that specialized in studying the relationship between psionic energy and the awakening of human martial arts, as well as how to use this power to fight against potential threats from alien beasts.

A new era, accompanied by the unknown and hope, quietly kicked off. Jiang Sheng knew that the burden on his shoulders was heavier, but his belief in his heart was also stronger - to protect this sky until the last moment.

In a hidden corner of the base, the door of a secret room slowly opened. Jiang Sheng walked in and found that Professor Li and another middle-aged man in military uniform were waiting for him. The room was softly lit, with a transparent psionic crystal in the center, emitting a faint blue light, making the entire space mysterious.

"Jiang Sheng, this is Captain Zhao from the special operations team. He will be responsible for your upcoming training and tasks." Professor Li introduced, with a hint of seriousness in his words.

Captain Zhao stood up and shook his hand vigorously, his voice steady: "Welcome to the Psionic Task Force, Jiang Sheng. As far as I know, you are the first human to successfully channel and control psionic energy, which means you will be our key."

Jiang Sheng nodded, his eyes firm: "I am very clear about my responsibilities. However, we still know too little about psionic energy."

Professor Li took out a small device from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Sheng: "This is our latest psionic monitor. It can display the flow of psionic energy in your body in real time and help you better control it. We believe that through continuous training, you can unlock more potential."

Jiang Sheng took the device, and a fighting spirit ignited in his heart: "I will do my best."

"Very good," Captain Zhao continued, "Now, we are not only facing the threat of alien beasts, but also the global changes that psionic energy may bring. We need to establish a global information network to monitor abnormal phenomena in various places. At the same time, we must also prepare for the possible awakening of 'Wu Mai'."

"A martial vein person?" Jiang Sheng was somewhat puzzled.

Professor Li explained: "Yes, we believe that under the influence of psionic energy, not only animals, but also humans may awaken special martial arts abilities. We call such people 'Martial Veins'. You are the first example."

"So, how do we find and train these martial vein people?" Jiang Sheng asked the key question.

Captain Zhao replied: "We will set up a covert line to keep a close eye on unusual events around the world. At the same time, we will use the education system and social media to low-key propaganda to attract potential martial vein users to self-identify. Once confirmed, we will immediately arrange for access to our system."

"This is a silent war," Professor Li added. "We need to build an invisible line of defense to protect ordinary people who have not yet awakened, while also preparing to fight against possible hostile forces."

"I understand." Jiang Sheng's eyes became more resolute, "Then, from today on, I will be a part of this invisible line of defense."

The three of them smiled at each other, and a tacit understanding flowed in the air. Although the road ahead is long and difficult, they believe that as long as humans unite, there will be no difficulties that cannot be overcome. The era of psionic energy is both a challenge and an opportunity, and Jiang Sheng is ready to meet it all.

As the weeks passed, the work of the Psionic Task Force gradually got on track. Jiang Sheng not only made significant progress in psionic control, but also began to guide the newly joined Wumai practitioners to help them adapt to the new power in their bodies. One day, Jiang Sheng and Captain Zhao were in the monitoring room, reviewing the real-time report of global anomalies.

Captain Zhao pointed to a hot spot on the screen and said worriedly, "There have been frequent small earthquakes and abnormal climate here recently. In addition, we have received several reports of eyewitnesses saying that they have spotted figures similar to strange beasts."

Jiang Sheng frowned: "It seems that we need to send someone to investigate on the spot and confirm the situation. I am willing to lead the team."

Captain Zhao nodded in agreement: "Okay, I will arrange a team to go with you. But, Jiang Sheng, remember, we know very little about these strange beasts, safety comes first."

"Understood." Jiang Sheng responded briefly, but he had already planned the itinerary in his mind.

"In terms of equipment and perception of the surrounding environment. "Jiang Sheng commented approvingly, with a hint of envy in his eyes. Unlike Lin Hao's direct control of the force field, Jiang Sheng is good at releasing fine vibration waves through his short blade. These waves can accurately cut objects and even interfere with the weak current in the body to achieve the purpose of non-lethal control. But this ability is more limited in open areas or when facing electronic machinery.

Lin Hao wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a smile: "And your 'Shockwave Slash' can kill with one strike at the critical moment. Our abilities complement each other. If we can combine them, perhaps we can develop new tactics."

"Indeed," Jiang Sheng pondered, "For example, when dealing with those strange beasts with hard shells, you can use the electromagnetic field to soften their defenses first, and then I will use the shock wave to penetrate their weaknesses. We need to find an opportunity to practice in actual combat."

Just as they were discussing tactics, an alarm suddenly sounded, interrupting their conversation. The screen at the command center showed an emergency: a group of unknown beasts were approaching an important energy facility of mankind.

"Get ready immediately, all team members assemble!" The captain's order spread throughout the base through the communicator. Jiang Sheng and Lin Hao quickly changed into combat equipment and boarded the special transport plane with other team members. The transport plane flew low over the barren land and sped towards the target area. Through the window, you can vaguely see that the sky in the distance is covered by an ominous dark red cloud, which is the sign of the strange beast group.

"The goal this time is not just to repel the alien beasts," the captain briefly arranged the tasks in the cabin, "the core components of the energy facilities must not be damaged. Once they fall into the hands of the enemy, the consequences will be disastrous."

Jiang Sheng and Lin Hao exchanged a firm look. They knew that this mission would not only test their combat skills, but also their trust in each other and their ability to work as a team.

Arriving at the destination, the task force quickly dispersed and took their positions. Jiang Sheng and Lin Hao were assigned to the most critical position - protecting the energy core. This place is full of intricate lines and glowing equipment, and is the heart of the entire facility.

With the first wave of alien beasts attacking, the battle broke out instantly. Jiang Sheng and Lin Hao stood back to back, resisting the fierce attacks of the alien beasts while carefully avoiding damaging the surrounding precision instruments.

Lin Hao waved his hands, and the electromagnetic field formed a series of blue halos around him, forcing any beasts that approached to be repelled, and their metal scales screamed shrilly under the effect of the magnetic field. Jiang Sheng used this short control time to throw the short blade accurately, and each strike hit the vital points of the beasts, effectively slowing down their offensive.

The battle entered a white-hot stage, and a huge alien beast leader broke through the outer defense line and rushed straight to the energy core. Its skin seemed to be immune to electromagnetic fields, and Lin Hao's control effect was minimal.

"I'll attract it!" Jiang Sheng shouted, and rushed forward, deliberately exposing his position. The leader of the alien beasts really changed his target and pounced on him.

At the critical moment, Jiang Sheng activated his short blade, releasing an unprecedented powerful force, forming a vibration wave wall that was almost invisible to the naked eye. This invisible wall bounced the alien beast leader away at the moment he was about to touch him, causing huge damage.

Lin Hao seized this opportunity and increased the strength of the electromagnetic field to the limit, forming a powerful suction force that firmly fixed the unbalanced alien beast leader in mid-air. Jiang Sheng took the opportunity to go around behind it and accurately cut the weak point of the alien beast with a decisive blow.

As the leader of the alien beasts fell to the ground, the other alien beasts seemed to lose their fighting spirit and began to flee in all directions. The task force members took advantage of the victory and pursued them, eliminating the remaining threats one by one.

After the battle, Jiang Sheng and Lin Hao stood in front of the well-protected energy core, looking at the sky that was gradually returning to calm. They knew that this was just one of countless battles, and the challenges ahead would only be more arduous.

"Today, we have proved the power of cooperation." Jiang Sheng patted Lin Hao on the shoulder, his eyes shining with hope for the future. "As long as we can unite as one, there is nothing we can't overcome."

Lin Hao nodded, his heart filled with the same belief: "That's right, no matter what kind of strange beast it is, it can't shake the human desire for survival and progress."

Under the setting sun, the two walked back home side by side, their figures were elongated, like the silhouettes of two guardians, foreshadowing that in this broken land, the light of hope will never be extinguished.

With the threat of the alien beasts temporarily lifted, the human camp has ushered in a rare peace. However, under this peace, a sense of uneasiness has quietly spread. The intelligence department recently intercepted a series of mysterious signals, the source of which is unknown and the content cannot be fully deciphered, but it is enough to make the top leaders worried.

Lin Hao and Jiang Sheng were secretly summoned to a conference room deep underground, which was heavily guarded and only a few senior military officers and scientific researchers knew of its existence. The screen showed the waveforms of those mysterious signals, which were like the most elusive stars in the night sky, hiding unknown intentions.

"We suspect," an elderly general spoke slowly, his voice heavy, "that these signals may be related to some forces that have yet to show up, and may be more dangerous than the known monsters."

Lin Hao frowned, and a bad feeling rose in his heart: "You mean, there is an intelligent life form behind all this?"

"We can't be sure yet, but we must prepare for the worst." The general's eyes swept across everyone present, finally landing on Lin Hao and Jiang Sheng. "Your abilities have shown extraordinary value in fighting against alien beasts. Now we need you to carry out a special mission - tracking down the source of these signals."

Jiang Sheng nodded, his expression solemn: "We will do our best, but what kind of support and equipment do you need?"

"All necessary resources will be allocated to you." The head of the scientific research department stood up and displayed a portable signal tracking device. "This is the latest research result. It can accurately locate the source of the signal. It is also equipped with covert communication and self-defense systems."

After several days of preparation, Lin Hao and Jiang Sheng boarded an advanced aircraft disguised as an ordinary reconnaissance aircraft and followed the guidance of the signal tracker to go deep into an uninhabited area. The sky here was covered by heavy dark clouds, and the ground was covered with endless abandoned city ruins, which looked particularly gloomy.

"The signal is getting stronger and stronger. It seems that we are getting closer to the target." Lin Hao stared at the dashboard and tapped the console lightly with his fingers.

Suddenly, the aircraft encountered strong electromagnetic interference, the indicator lights on the dashboard flashed wildly, and the plane began to shake violently.

"What's going on?" Jiang Sheng held the handrail tightly with a sharp look.

"Unknown electromagnetic pulse! We have been discovered!" Lin Hao tried hard to stabilize the aircraft and tried to find a safe landing point.

Finally, they made an emergency landing in a seemingly abandoned factory area. When they stepped out of the aircraft, the silence around them was depressing, and only the occasional roar of strange beasts in the distance broke the silence.

Lin Hao and Jiang Sheng carefully shuttled through the ruins, tracking the final direction of the signal. They found a secret entrance hidden behind the ruins, and behind the door was a deep passage leading to the underground.

At the end of the passage is a huge laboratory full of futuristic technology. Various unknown equipment emits faint blue light. On the central platform, a strange device is sending those mysterious signals.

"This...what is this?" Jiang Sheng looked around in disbelief.

Just as they were about to explore further, a cold voice echoed in the empty space: "Welcome to the core of the 'Origin Project', warriors of mankind."

A man in a lab coat walked out from the shadows. His face was haggard, but his eyes were shining with madness. "I am the person in charge of this project, Dr. Davis. The strange beasts you are fighting are actually biological weapons we created to adapt to the changes in the earth's environment."

Lin Hao and Jiang Sheng were shocked, but even more angry: "You are betraying all of humanity!"

Davis sneered: "Betrayal? No, this is for the evolution of mankind, for finding a new way to survive on this planet. Unfortunately, you are too late."

Facing Davis's coldness and arrogance, Lin Hao and Jiang Sheng did not hesitate at all. They knew that everything before them concerned the fate of mankind and they must not let such a plan continue.

Jiang Sheng quickly activated his short blade, releasing a series of high-frequency vibration waves that destroyed key equipment in the laboratory, while Lin Hao built a powerful electromagnetic field to prevent Davis and his team from seeking help.

"Stop me? You are destroying the future of mankind!" Davis roared, trying to activate the backup system.

"The real future should be created by human beings themselves, not through such despicable means!" Lin Hao retorted firmly.

A melee ensued. Although they were outnumbered, Lin Hao and Jiang Sheng gradually gained the upper hand with their extraordinary abilities and tacit cooperation. In the end, Davis activated the self-destruction program in despair, and the laboratory began to collapse in chaos.

Amid the roar of the explosion, Lin Hao and Jiang Sheng rushed to the exit with all their might. Although the aircraft was seriously damaged, with their joint efforts, they managed to take off and escape from the underground laboratory that was about to collapse.

Rising into the air and looking back, I saw the ruins gradually disappearing in the fire, symbolizing the end of a dark history.

"Did we succeed?" Jiang Sheng asked, panting, with both fatigue and relief in his eyes.

"At least we have prevented the worst from happening." Lin Hao replied with a firm tone, "But there are more challenges waiting for us in the future. We must keep moving forward."

The aircraft flew across the sky and returned to the human camp. They knew that revealing the truth of the "Origin Project" was only the first step, and the road ahead was still long and unknown, but they were ready to move forward fearlessly for the future of mankind.

Back at the camp, Lin Hao and Jiang Sheng were immediately taken to an emergency high-level meeting. They reported in detail the discovery of the "Origin Project" and the confrontation with Davis. The meeting room was filled with shock and uneasiness, and everyone was digesting this subversive information.

The general cleared his throat and broke the silence: "Although the exposure of the 'Origin Project' brought shock, it also reminded us of the importance of internal supervision. We must learn lessons from this incident and prevent any individual or group from putting all of humanity in such danger again."

The head of the scientific research department looked solemn and promised to conduct a comprehensive internal review and increase education on scientific and technological ethics to ensure that research always serves the well-being of mankind rather than becoming a tool for destruction.

The pressure of fighting and revealing the truth also took a huge toll on Lin Hao and Jiang Sheng. The camp's psychological counseling team provided them with professional psychological support to help them deal with the complex emotions after witnessing the dark side of human nature.

At night, the two sat at the edge of the camp, looking at the starry sky, and sharing their inner struggles and thoughts with each other. "We prevented a disaster, but the motivation behind this is fear and despair of the future," Lin Hao said in a deep voice.

Jiang Sheng patted his shoulder and responded, "Yes, but fear should not be an excuse to hurt others. We saw the dark side of human nature, but we also witnessed the power of light - those who are willing to sacrifice for others and fight for justice."

As time went by, the camp gradually returned to its former order. Lin Hao and Jiang Sheng became heroes in the eyes of everyone, but they preferred to be seen as ordinary people, part of the common struggle of mankind.

They began to participate in the reconstruction work, not only to repair the physical damage, but more importantly, to rebuild the trust in people's hearts and the moral foundation of society. Under their initiative, the camp set up a "Hope School" to educate the next generation about the importance of courage, responsibility and peaceful coexistence.

(End of this chapter)