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

As soon as Elder Ye finished speaking, the base fell silent, and everyone's expression became extremely serious.

Without further hesitation, the white-haired researcher turned to the control panel and ordered in a deep voice, "Activate the third psionic furnace."

"Open the first-level energy valve, monitor mental fluctuations, monitor blood and qi, and monitor the spiritual energy of the five internal organs, all simultaneously."

"yes!"

The researchers quickly returned to their seats.

With a click, the heavy alloy isolation door began to close.

Through three layers of protective glass, one could see Zhou Zhenshan, shirtless, sitting cross-legged on a black metal platform in the center of the training room.

Twelve psionic conduits stood around his body.

Each conduit is inlaid with a purified fourth-order spirit crystal.

These spirit crystals were collected by the Ninth Bureau from various spiritual disaster sites and the corpses of strange beasts during this period.

For this experiment, almost half of the headquarters' inventory was emptied.

Wang Jun stared at Zhou Zhenshan in the cultivation room and couldn't help but ask, "What are the chances of success for this breakthrough?"

The white-haired researcher spoke seriously: "Theoretically, the success rate is 60%."

"theory?"

Wang Jun frowned and said angrily, "The theoretical probability is only 60%. Do you know what it means if Director Zhou fails to break through? You will be facing a military court."

The white-haired researcher smiled bitterly and said, "Deputy Director Wang, I am very aware of this situation. Since I decided to serve the country and the people, I have considered the possibility of death. How could I not understand the dangers behind this contribution to scientific research? Besides, no one has ever walked this path before. All the data was deduced based on Director Zhou's previous cultivation state."

"Whether the Martial Arts Furnace Method can truly penetrate the five internal organs, no one can guarantee."

"What if we fail?"

"At best, it will damage the five internal organs and cause a regression in one's cultivation level."

"In severe cases..."

The white-haired researcher did not continue speaking.

But everyone in the meeting room understood.

In severe cases, it can lead to death.

Elder Ye's expression remained unchanged as he looked at Zhou Zhenshan in the cultivation room and said, "He knew the risks, but he asked to try it himself."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jun fell silent. He did not stop them. Indeed, with the resurgence of spiritual energy and the dramatic changes in the world, humanity was in utter despair.

In the center of the training room.

Zhou Zhenshan opened his eyes. He seemed to sense the gazes from outside, looked up at the protective glass, and nodded calmly.

The white-haired researcher took a deep breath and commanded, "Activate the psionic furnace."

boom!

The twelve psionic conduits lit up simultaneously.

Streams of pure spiritual energy gushed out from the conduit and quickly converged around Zhou Zhenshan.

The concentration of psionic energy continues to increase.

Soon, the entire cultivation room was enveloped in a pale white spiritual mist.

Zhou Zhenshan's internal energy and blood began to circulate.

Boom!

A deep heartbeat sounded, and his heart began to beat like a furnace that was being lit.

A large amount of blood and qi flowed through the blood vessels to the limbs and bones.

Immediately afterwards, the liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys also lit up with a dark red light.

Five flames of qi and blood burned within Zhou Zhenshan's body. The white-haired researcher stared intently at the screen: "Very good, the qi and blood acupoints of the five internal organs in Director Zhou's body have been successfully activated. Continue."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jun instinctively clenched his fist.

Zhou Zhenshan had tried this step seven times in the past three months, and each time he failed because of the imbalance of Qi and blood in the five internal organs.

The real danger is yet to come," the white-haired researcher said in a deep voice. "Begin to connect the five internal organs."

Inside the meditation room.

Zhou Zhenshan raised his hands, and as he activated the Martial Furnace Technique, five balls of qi and blood flames began to converge towards the center of his chest.

The first blood and qi channel is formed.

The heart fire and lung fire are interconnected.

Then came the second and third lines; dark red lines gradually appeared on Zhou Zhenshan's skin.

Those patterns resembled a network of blood and qi covering the entire body, interconnected and constantly radiating a fiery aura.

The temperature in the meditation room rose rapidly.

Forty degrees, sixty degrees, eighty degrees.

Less than a minute.

The surface of the metal platform was then heated until it turned bright red.

The white-haired researcher quickly stated, "The five internal organs are connected at 50%, and the external spiritual energy input is stable."

"Mental fluctuations are normal; continue to increase the concentration of psionic energy."

At the control panel, a researcher hesitated and said, "Professor, if we increase it any further, it will exceed the mid-stage tolerance standard for the fifth tier."

The white-haired researcher said in a deep voice, "Director Zhou is not an ordinary fifth-tier expert; his level has increased by ten percent."

boom!

More psionic energy flowed into the training room.

The furnace of qi and blood within Zhou Zhenshan's body burned even more vigorously.

Pain began to show on his face.

Every part of his internal organs felt like it was being scorched by fire; if it were an ordinary person, they would probably have already fainted.

But Zhou Zhenshan remained seated cross-legged, without even swaying his body, as the five channels of qi and blood gradually connected.

The five internal organs are about to be completely connected.

Just then.

A muffled thud suddenly sounded from inside Zhou Zhenshan's body.

boom!

The five flames of qi and blood, which had been running smoothly, began to shake violently at the same time.

The heart fire surged, the lung fire weakened, and the wood-type spiritual energy in the liver node clashed with the fire-type spiritual energy in the heart node.

Zhou Zhenshan suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and dozens of data points on the screen instantly turned red.

"Warning: Imbalance in the flow of Qi and blood; rejection of vital energy in the five internal organs; cracks appearing in the Qi and blood channels of the lungs!"

Wang Jun's expression changed drastically: "Stop!"

The white-haired researcher jumped to his feet: "Shut down the energy valve immediately!"

However, just as the staff were about to press the stop button...

Zhou Zhenshan, who was in the cultivation room, suddenly opened his eyes and shouted, "Don't stop, keep going!"

His voice came through the communicator.

The white-haired researcher said urgently, "Director Zhou, the spiritual energy of your five internal organs is already out of balance. If this continues, your internal organs may be burned through by the Qi and Blood Furnace!"

Zhou Zhenshan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, "If we stop now, all our previous efforts will be in vain."

"But your body..."

"continue."

Zhou Zhenshan's voice wasn't loud, but it left no room for negotiation. Old Ye looked at the figure in the cultivation room, remained silent for a few seconds, and then said, "Listen to him."

Wang Jun's expression changed: "Elder Ye!"

Elder Ye said in a deep voice, "He's not risking his own life; he's paving the way for all the martial artists who will follow."

"If even he can't get through this, then ordinary people will have no chance at all in the future."

The white-haired researcher gritted his teeth: "Maintain energy input, prepare life-saving drugs, and immediately terminate operations if internal organ damage exceeds 30%!"

Inside the cultivation room.

Zhou Zhenshan closed his eyes again.

The vital energy and blood of his five internal organs were circulating wildly within his body.

In the past, martial arts training only focused on qi and blood.

However, after the spiritual energy is restored, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth possesses different attributes.

The heart belongs to fire, the liver to wood, the lungs to metal, the kidneys to water, and the spleen to earth.

Forcibly fusing five different spiritual energies is inherently defying the natural order.

Zhou Zhenshan had been trying to suppress them, but the harder he tried, the more severe the backlash became.

Just then, a sentence spoken by the white-haired researcher flashed through his mind.

Qi and blood are the furnace, spirit is the fire, and spiritual energy is the fuel. Since they are all fuel...

Why demand that they be exactly the same?

Fire can burn wood, water can extinguish fire, and earth can generate metal. The five internal organs are inherently mutually generating and mutually restraining.

What is truly needed is not to force them into a single force, but to allow the five forces to form a complete cycle.

With this in mind, Zhou Zhenshan stopped suppressing the internal conflict and voluntarily released his inner fire.

boom!

The intense heat in the heart surges towards the liver through the channels of Qi and blood.

The liver's wood elemental power was ignited, causing a surge in qi and blood.

Immediately afterwards, the wood and fire elements enter the spleen, and the spleen, being earth, carries qi and blood. Earth generates metal, and the originally weakened metal spirit in the lungs is quickly restored.

Finally, the metal energy sinks into the kidneys, transforms into water essence, and nourishes the liver wood again, thus completing a full cycle.

Boom!

A heartbeat as loud as a bell came from within Zhou Zhenshan's body.

The previously chaotic data began to recover rapidly.

The white-haired researcher's eyes widened: "What's going on?"

One staff member exclaimed excitedly, "The vital energy of the five internal organs has stabilized again!"

"No, it's not just stable; the five streams of spiritual energy are forming a cycle, with a 99% fusion rate!"

boom!

In the center of the training room.

A dark golden beam of blood energy suddenly erupted from Zhou Zhenshan's body.

The entire underground base was shaking violently.

In the void behind him, a majestic mountain faintly appeared.

The mountain soared into the clouds, and at its foot, countless blurry figures seemed to stand.

They included the elderly, children, soldiers, and ordinary people; everyone stood behind the mountain.

Zhou Zhenshan is the mountain blocking the way at the very front.

The white-haired researcher's voice trembled with excitement as he exclaimed, "A Dharma Image! No, it's not a true Dharma Image yet. This is a nascent Dharma Image formed from the condensation of martial will!"

"Director Zhou succeeded! He's reached the late stage of the fifth tier!"

Inside the meeting room, everyone's face was beaming with joy.

Even the usually composed Elder Ye loosened his clenched fist.

This is the first time in human history.

Relying on the cultivation method he developed himself, he entered the late stage of the fifth rank.

This means that the Martial Arts Furnace Method is not a dead end.

As long as it continues to be improved.

Ordinary people also have the opportunity to gradually reach higher levels.

Just when everyone thought the breakthrough was over.

Zhou Zhenshan, who was in the cultivation room, suddenly frowned.

He looked down at his chest.

The furnace of Qi and blood in the five internal organs has been connected, but there is still an invisible barrier between Qi and blood, spiritual energy and spirit.

The phantom of that mountain only appeared for a few seconds.

Then it disappeared completely.

Zhou Zhenshan said in a deep voice, "It's not enough."

Over the communicator, the white-haired researcher hurriedly asked, "Director Zhou, what have you discovered?"

Zhou Zhenshan stood up, stretched, and felt that the pressure of his qi and blood was several times stronger than before.

However, his breathing was not completely stable.

"The Martial Arts Furnace can allow me to reach the late stage of the fifth rank, but it cannot support a sixth-rank Dharma Aspect."

The white-haired researcher's expression hardened.

Why?

Zhou Zhenshan was silent for a moment: "Since the revival of spiritual energy, we all know that the demon race has a demon core and high-level spiritual plants have a life source. However, the power of us martial artists is mostly dispersed in our flesh and spirit."

"We don't have a crystal core like the demon race to hold our life force, so when I try to condense a Dharma form, the immense power has nothing to hold it, and the Dharma form collapses on its own."

Upon hearing this, the previously excited researchers instantly fell silent.

The Martial Arts Furnace Method was indeed successful, but the path to the sixth rank was still not fully opened.

The white-haired researcher stared at the data on the screen, then suddenly seemed to have thought of something and said, "Since martial artists don't have cores, why can't they condense one themselves?"

Old Ye looked at him: "What do you mean?"

The white-haired researcher spoke faster and faster: "The demon core is formed by the condensation of demon bloodline and spiritual energy, while the superpower core is formed by the condensation of awakened abilities and spiritual power."

"Martial artists can also compress their blood, spirit, and spiritual energy, and condense a core of their own in the center of the blood and qi furnace."

Wang Jun asked, "An artificial demon core?"

The white-haired researcher shook his head: "No, that's not a demon core. It doesn't depend on bloodline or innate abilities."

"It belongs only to the martial artist; it is a seed formed from the essence, energy, and spirit of the martial artist."

At this point, he looked up at Zhou Zhenshan and said, "I suggest that it be named the True Seed of Martial Arts."

"With the true seed carrying the Dharma form, as long as the true seed is extinguished, the martial arts will never cease."

Elder Ye's expression shifted slightly. The four words "True Seed of Martial Arts" seem simple, but they may represent a true path of cultivation belonging to humankind.

There is no need for awakening, no need to rely on forbidden zones, and no need to receive any blessings from unknown beings.

As long as one is willing to cultivate, everyone can start with their Qi and blood and forge their own path.

Elder Ye said in a deep voice: "Immediately establish a special research group for the True Seed of Martial Arts, and based on all the data from Director Zhou's breakthrough this time, deduce the method of True Seed condensation."

"yes!"

Just as the white-haired researcher was about to continue speaking, an alarm suddenly sounded again in the base.

This time, however, it wasn't monitoring the spiritual energy fluctuations in the Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone, but rather the highest-level red alert.

The piercing alarm instantly echoed throughout the entire underground base.

Everyone's expression changed.

Wang Jun immediately asked, "Where did the accident happen?"

A communications officer quickly connected to the frontline footage: "The East China Sea port defense line has sent an urgent request for assistance; a large swarm of mutated fish has washed ashore!"

"A high-level energy reaction has been detected on the sea surface; the port's first line of defense has fallen!"

The images on the large screen switched rapidly.

under night.

Huge waves surged outside the port of Donghai.

Countless schools of mutated fish and sea monsters were washed ashore by the waves.

The containers on the dock were overturned by the huge waves.

Human artillery fire relentlessly bombarded the sea, but as soon as the low-level sea beasts fell, even more sea beasts surged in from behind.

Further away, a huge dark shadow was slowly approaching underwater.

Its body is at least over two hundred meters long.

Each time it swims, it creates giant waves tens of meters high on the sea surface.

It was just through satellite imagery.

Everyone present could feel a strong sense of oppression.

The communications officer's voice tightened: "The East China Sea Branch's preliminary assessment is that the other party is a sixth-tier sea beast."

"Code name: Black Tide King".

"Currently, the highest combat strength at Donghai Port consists of only two fourth-tier awakened individuals and one mechanized unit. They cannot hold out for long."

Elder Ye's face instantly darkened: "Where are the nearest fifth-tier combatants?"

Wang Jun quickly checked the dispatch information: "Grandmaster Chen Wuji and Daoist Zhang Xuanling are still guarding Kutuo Temple in Linjiang City."

"The other fifth-tier awakened individuals will need at least three hours to reach the East Sea; it's too late."

The meeting room fell silent once again.

Three hours is enough time for that sixth-tier sea beast to completely breach the port's defenses and even enter the city behind it.

Just then.

The alloy door to the training room opened, and Zhou Zhenshan, dressed in a black combat suit, walked out.

The white-haired researcher's expression changed. He naturally guessed what Zhou Zhenshan was up to and said, "Director Zhou, you have just broken through and your realm is not yet fully stable. You absolutely cannot engage in high-intensity combat now."

As Zhou Zhenshan buttoned up his combat uniform, he calmly asked, "How many people are there at Donghai Port?"

The correspondent immediately replied, "The port area and the rear cities have a resident population of over three million."

Zhou Zhenshan didn't stop walking. As he walked forward, he said, "Prepare the plane."

Wang Jun blocked his way: "Director Zhou, that's a sixth-order sea beast. You've only just entered the late stage of the fifth order, and your realm isn't even stable yet."

Zhou Zhenshan looked up at the towering waves on the screen: "An unstable cultivation level doesn't mean my fists can't kill demons."

Wang Jun gritted his teeth and said, "If you go, you might not come back."

Zhou Zhenshan was silent for a moment: "If I don't go, what will happen to the three million people?"

After he finished speaking, he walked directly past Wang Jun and headed towards the base exit.

Watching his retreating figure, Elder Ye did not stop him, but said in a deep voice, "Initiate the fastest transport and notify the East China Sea front. Director Zhou must arrive within an hour. Until then, hold the port at all costs."