Reborn as a lotus, she initially refuses to hand it over to the state.

The words fell.

Deep underground at Kuto Temple, tiny lotus roots silently began to glow.

These roots did not touch that section of the golden-black Buddha bone.

Chu Zhou knew very well that the Buddha's bone was connected to the Ghost Gate rift. Touching the main body now would not be devouring it, but rather courting death.

But the pollution that leaks out is a different story.

Since they dare to expose themselves, they are like food delivered right to one's lips.

boom!

The gray chains that gushed out from the cracks in the main hall were immediately entangled by countless green lotus roots as soon as they broke through the ground.

The chains struggled frantically, and the corrupting will behind the faceless Buddha statue roared, "Insolence!"

Chu Zhou sneered: "You're the one who's being presumptuous, showing off so much in front of me. Who gave you the guts?"

The next moment, the blue light surged.

One gray chain after another was forcibly dragged underground, and system notification sounds blared incessantly.

"Ding, successfully purified by absorbing the polluted incense, evolution points +12000."

"Ding, devoured the residual mental pollution, purification successful, evolution points +9000."

"bite....."

A series of prompts kept popping up, but Chu Zhou was too lazy to even read them one by one.

Because it was so fast, the entire system interface was almost completely overwhelmed.

In the underground ancient city, the strange rocks remained silent for a long time.

Finally, it couldn't help but curse, "You madman, you really treat the pollution of the Ghost Gate like food!"

Chu Zhou said calmly, "It's a waste not to eat something that's been brought to your lips."

Strange Rock: "..."

Inside the main hall of Kudo Monastery.

Zhang Xuanling, Chen Wuji, Su Wan, and the others soon discovered that the gray chains that had been attacking relentlessly were beginning to decrease rapidly.

The chains weren't broken by them, but rather forcibly removed by some underground force.

Zhang Xuanling was shocked: "The Lord of the Azure Lotus is actually plundering the source of pollution?"

Su Wan fell silent. Of course, she understood that the Lord of the Azure Lotus might not have done this to save people.

But precisely because He was devouring the pollution, these people survived.

Chen Wuji snorted coldly: "Whatever His purpose is, at least this piece of rotten bone is now suppressed."

Lin Qingxue stood at the back, looking at the faint blue light appearing and disappearing beneath the ground, her feelings becoming increasingly complicated.

She now finally understood that she was not the master of the Azure Lotus Power, nor even a user of it.

She was merely a pawn left behind in the human world by the Lord of the Azure Lotus.

The corrupting will behind the faceless Buddha statue erupted in utter fury, roaring, "Outer demons, you who steal my incense and offerings deserve to be punished!"

The golden-black finger bone underground trembled once more.

More gray pollution is about to erupt.

But just as it crossed the crack, it was once again entangled by the roots of the blue lotus.

Devour, purify, then devour again.

Chu Zhou's voice was indifferent: "Continue. I want to see if you leak faster or I can finish faster."

The next moment, the entire Kudo Temple suddenly fell silent, and the sound of the wooden fish stopped.

The gray chains stopped, and even the ash swirling in the cracks gradually receded.

Zhang Xuanling's expression did not relax; instead, it became even more solemn: "The source of pollution has receded."

Su Wan was taken aback: "You cancelled it?"

Zhang Xuanling stared at the crack in the center of the hall and said in a deep voice, "It wasn't driven back by us. It realized that if it continued to release pollution, it would only be devoured by the Lord of the Azure Lotus, so it took the initiative to withdraw."

Chen Wuji sneered: "Not stupid at all."

Lin Qingxue looked at the faceless Buddha statue.

The Buddha statue turned its back to the crowd again, remaining motionless, as if nothing had happened.

But the half-strand of black prayer beads in its palm was still emitting a faint gray light.

Zhang Xuanling said, "These stone Buddhas at the entrance have developed cracks, and the section of Buddha bone below has been contaminated for too long. Without a new person to guard the bone, it can only delay things at most. Of course, the most important thing now is to seal off Kutuo Temple and prevent ordinary people from getting close."

"In addition, anyone who dreams of an ancient temple, hears the sound of a wooden fish drum, or sees incense ash at their door should be immediately quarantined for observation."

Su Wan immediately ordered: "The area within a 10-kilometer radius of Kutuo Temple is to be completely sealed off. All personnel are to be divided into groups to patrol and report any incense ash or unusual dreams immediately."

"yes!"

The members of the Ninth Bureau immediately sprang into action.

……

In the center of Heilong Lake.

Chu Zhou sensed the pollution shrinking over the Kuto Temple, and the seven lotus leaves swayed gently.

"Given up?"

In the underground ancient city, the strange rock sneered: "It's not that I'm cowardly, it's that I don't want to continue to benefit you."

Chu Zhou said calmly, "That's a pity."

The strange stone was speechless for a moment.

"Lotus Demon, you really want it to continue?"

Chu Zhou said, "Otherwise what?"

"Who wouldn't want more evolution points delivered to their door?"

The strange rock remained silent for a moment, then finally managed to utter only, "Madman."

Chu Zhou ignored it and looked at the system panel instead.

That last wave of devouring was quite profitable.

While it's not enough for him to break through again, he's clearly one step closer to the next stage.

Chu Zhou was in a fairly good mood.

"The situation at Kudo Temple is stable for now. Next, we'll see how the humans handle it."

At the same time.

The headquarters of the Ninth Bureau in Beijing.

Old Master Ye stood at the front of the conference room, where a large screen displayed several urgent reports on the following: Kutuo Temple in Linjiang City, the ice fog of Changbai Mountain, the beast tide at Donghai Port, and the disappearance of the snake demon in Chixia Ridge.

The atmosphere inside the meeting room was oppressive.

Wang Jun said in a deep voice, "Elder Ye, the seal on Linjiang City has been temporarily stabilized."

"However, according to the report of Celestial Master Zhang Xuanling, the pollution of Kutuo Temple is spiritual pollution, which ordinary people have almost no resistance to."

Elder Ye nodded: "That's why I announced the martial arts training plan ahead of time."

After he finished speaking, he looked at the head of the psychic energy research lab next to him: "How's the 'Basic Martial Arts Furnace Trial Training Method' coming along?"

The person in charge immediately stood up: "Elder Ye, the first version has been completed. It includes basic standing meditation, breathing techniques, qi and blood circulation, and the simplest visualization of guarding the spirit."

"But at present, we can only guarantee safe entry, not that everyone can break through."

Elder Ye said in a deep voice, "That's enough. What we need now is not to turn everyone into a strong person immediately."

"Instead, it's about enabling ordinary people to endure for a few more seconds when they hear the sound of the wooden fish, see pollution hallucinations, or experience mental shock."

The room fell silent.

Holding on for a few more seconds may seem insignificant, but in a spiritual disaster, those few seconds could be the difference between life and death.

Elder Ye continued, "Please release it."

Wang Jun's expression changed drastically: "Now?"

Elder Ye nodded: "Right now. Announce this jointly in the name of the Ninth Bureau, the Psionic Research Lab, and the Martial Arts Association."

"Tell the people of the whole country that from today onwards, ordinary people also have a path of cultivation."

"Awakened ones guard the front lines, warriors guard themselves; our Dragon Kingdom cannot survive on just a few people."

Wang Jun stood up straight: "Yes!"

Soon, an official announcement went viral across the entire internet.

[The Ninth Bureau, in conjunction with the Psionic Research Lab, officially released the "Basic Martial Arts Furnace Trial Training Method"]

[Ordinary citizens can practice basic standing meditation, breathing techniques, and focused visualization under official guidance.]

[WARNING: Do not practice any unknown cultivation methods circulating online without authorization, and do not participate in any unregistered cultivation classes.]

The announcement was made in less than ten minutes.

The entire internet is buzzing.

"Ordinary people can cultivate now?"

"Holy crap, it's finally our turn!"

"I've only been practicing standing meditation for a minute, and my legs have already started shaking. Am I useless?"

"Bro, you're not a loser, you're a normal person."

"The Ninth Bureau has even released the cultivation method, so it seems things are really serious lately."

"Stop joking around. My dad just cleared out the living room and said that the whole family will stand guard for half an hour every day from now on."

at the same time.

The major short video platforms were completely thrown into chaos.

A fitness blogger with millions of followers started a live stream immediately.

"Brothers, today I'm going to lead you through the official basic stance test."

Ten minutes later.

His legs were shaking like a sieve.

The screen was instantly flooded with comments.

"I didn't even get the martial arts furnace set, my knees melted first."

"Host, you're not standing still, you're planting rice seedlings."

"I hereby declare that the anchor has stepped onto the first floor."

the other side.

A metaphysical blogger also started a live stream, with an incense burner and a peach wood sword on the table.

"Family members, the official version is just the basic version. For true pollution prevention, you have to rely on my family's traditional beliefs."

He hadn't finished speaking.

The live stream was immediately shut down.

A line of text popped up on the screen.

[This involves false propaganda about spiritual practice and has been handled by the Ninth Bureau's Internet Patrol Team.]

Netizens burst into laughter instantly.

"Ninth inning: Is this a family heirloom? Did I register it?"

"Hilarious, he got caught just as he was about to pull a fast one."

"These days, you need qualifications to scam money."

In reality, communities, schools, and factories quickly received the notification.

In the square, the elderly men and women who used to dance in the square have started practicing standing meditation by following official videos.

On the school playground, students have added a basic breathing exercise to their routine during breaks.

The factory's loudspeaker was broadcasting the incantation for guarding the gods, released in the ninth round.

"If you hear an unusual sound, stand still."

"Breathe down."

"I will not see, I will not believe, I will not follow."

"Waiting for rescue."

Within Linjiang City, this phrase spread the fastest because the Kutuo Temple incident had made everyone feel the danger.

At the same time.

In order to gain traffic, a local internet celebrity secretly bypassed the blockade and went to the western suburbs to start a live broadcast.

"Brothers, I'm currently on the outskirts of the legendary Kudo Temple. I've heard there's been a spiritual disaster here, so today I'll take you to find out if it's true or not."