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

Chu Zhou did not continue to restore their demonic power.

The wounds can be healed, but the depleted demonic power must be replenished by the demons themselves.

Once you actually reach the East Sea, it's impossible to receive his blessing immediately every time you get injured.

Xuanjia did not allow the Zhenhai Army to continue to hold on. It separated the more seriously injured water demons and sent them to the area with the most abundant spiritual energy at the bottom of the lake, while the other water demons rejoined the team according to the three groups.

The training session for the day has now concluded.

The next three days.

The Xuanjia no longer relied solely on the tides to subdue them, but instead combined undercurrents, water arrows, ambushes, and long-distance marches.

The more than three hundred water demons, who were initially easily defeated, were gradually able to regroup within a dozen breaths.

Although it is still far from being a true elite force, it at least already resembles an army.

On the morning of the fourth day.

A sliver of white light had just appeared in the sky above Heilong Lake.

Xuanjia then led the three water demons to the bottom of the lake, preparing for their first long-distance waterway march.

Just then, the communicator in Chen Mo's hand suddenly started vibrating continuously.

He was still sorting through the publicly available information after the East China Sea beast tide, but after seeing the content on the screen, his expression quickly became serious.

"Master, something has happened in eastern Lingnan."

Chu Zhou focused his consciousness on the communicator.

The screen displays a blurry video that has been forwarded multiple times.

The filming location is in eastern Lingnan, at a large reservoir that has been abandoned for many years.

In the footage, a large number of dead fish are floating on the shore of the reservoir, and the originally clear water has become turbid and black.

Occasionally, bubbles rise from the bottom of the water, bursting and releasing a visible gray gas.

The person filming the video clearly didn't dare get too close.

The camera was two or three hundred meters away, and could only vaguely see ripples spreading out from the center of the reservoir from time to time.

The next moment, the previously calm water surface suddenly swelled up.

A gray-black tentacle emerged from the water and wrapped around a mutated yellow cow that was drinking water on the shore.

Before the ox could even let out a scream, its massive body was dragged into the water.

The water churned violently a few times before quickly returning to calm.

The video abruptly ended at that moment. Chen Mo quickly checked the follow-up messages and reported to his supervisor: "The video was originally uploaded by a nearby villager, but the original account became unreachable less than five minutes after it was posted."

"Some local activists have gone to investigate, but there has been no news yet."

Chu Zhou did not speak immediately; his consciousness followed the location marked by Chen Mo and quickly landed on the water system map.

The reservoir, named Qingshi Reservoir, is located among the mountains in eastern Lingnan, 370 kilometers away from Heilong Mountain in a straight line.

There is a natural underground river beneath the reservoir, which connects to the coastal water system to the east.

Continuing forward, one reaches the estuary where Chu Zhou plans to establish his first coastal outpost.

In other words, the group occupying the reservoir is blocking the only way for the Zhenhai Navy to reach the East China Sea.

Chen Mo continued, "According to publicly available hydrological data, the Qingshi Reservoir originally had a large water storage capacity."

"After the spiritual energy recovered, villagers in the vicinity disappeared one after another, so the authorities abandoned the reservoir. Although there were mutated water beasts there in the past, the strongest of them only reached the second tier."

"The creature that has suddenly appeared, capable of easily dragging away a third-tier mutated yellow ox, is probably a high-level sea beast that has traveled inland from the East China Sea."

The Xuanjia emerged from the water, its back adorned with faint blue patterns on the sea map. It didn't ask whether to continue training, but instead looked directly at Chu Zhou.

"Master, I volunteer for battle."

Chu Zhou did not agree immediately. He did not know how many sea beasts were in the Qing Shi Reservoir, or what level the strongest one had reached.

The Zhenhai Army has just completed its reorganization.

If they encounter a fifth-tier sea beast in their first battle, the more than three hundred water demons are likely to be wiped out.

However, this does not mean we need to continue waiting.

Chu Zhou's mind stirred.

The roots, which spread throughout the water veins of the southern part of Heilong Mountain, also emitted a faint blue light.

The divine consciousness spread outwards along the underground river.

One hundred kilometers, two hundred kilometers, three hundred kilometers, until Chu Zhou finally stopped, nearing the current limit of the root network coverage.

The Qingshi Reservoir is less than 100 kilometers away from the outermost edge of the root network.

As long as Zhenhai Navy can bring the lotus seed of the main body over, he can use the water vein to briefly project his power, so even if he encounters a fifth-order sea beast, he will not be without a way out.

Chu Zhou quickly made a decision: "Training is canceled; the Zhenhai Navy will depart today."

The massive, armored figure lowered its head respectfully and said, "Yes!"

More than three hundred water monsters in the lake began to stir at the same time.

They had just been preparing for a long march, but their first real expedition came so suddenly.

Some water demons showed excitement in their eyes, while some lower-level water demons instinctively felt fear.

However, when they saw the massive figure of Xuanjia blocking the front of the group, their agitation quickly subsided.

Beneath the blue lotus mark.

They could clearly sense the calm aura emanating from the Xuanjia armor; this was not a suicide mission undertaken without preparation.

Rather, it was the first battle in which the Zhenhai Army truly stepped out of Heilong Lake.

Chu Zhou's mind stirred.

A lotus seed, entirely blue-green, rises from the center of the lake.

The lotus seed was no bigger than a fist, but its surface was covered with seven extremely fine silver water patterns.

Each time a ripple lights up, the nearby lake water undulates accordingly.

This was the first lotus seed that Chu Zhou nurtured using his own life essence and the Black Tide King's water-elemental demon core.

As long as the lotus can take root in the Qingshi Reservoir.

Chu Zhou could then use the water veins to extend his domain outwards.

The blue lotus seed flew towards the black armor.

Several roots emerged from the bottom of the lotus seed, winding around the center of the tortoise shell on the back of the black armor, landing just above the pattern on the sea map.

"Black Armor".

"Your subordinate is here."

"Your mission is not to fight to the death with the sea monsters in the reservoir. First, find out the situation. If the strongest one is no more than the fourth level, then take back the reservoir."

"If a fifth-order life form appears, immediately activate the lotus seed, and I will descend along the water vein."

Xuanjia bowed his head in agreement, and Chu Zhou then turned his gaze to Xiao Jinbao.

Little Jinbao was already quite impatient.

It has just earned the title of Head Coach of the Flying Feathers and is now looking for an opportunity to show off.

"As for Little Jinbao, you will lead twenty of the fastest birds to scout along the southern water system, focusing on the terrain around the Qing Shi Reservoir and whether there are any human troops there."

"Remember, your only responsibility is reconnaissance. If you discover any life forms of the fifth rank or higher, you must not engage them without authorization. Report back immediately."

Little Jinbao, who had been standing tall with his chest puffed out, suddenly became somewhat unconvinced upon hearing the last sentence.

"Master, I am now at the mid-stage of the fourth rank. Even a typical fourth rank might not be able to do anything to me."

Chu Zhou said calmly, "Precisely because you are at the mid-stage of the fourth rank, you cannot easily perish in a reservoir."

Little Jinbao opened his mouth.

It wanted to argue a bit more, but when its gaze fell on the more than three hundred water monsters in the lake that had just completed their reorganization, it swallowed its words.

These water spirits are going into battle for the first time today.

If this chief instructor in charge of reconnaissance, in an attempt to show off, prematurely alerts the high-level sea beasts in the reservoir, causing the Zhenhai Navy to be ambushed, then it would truly become a joke.

Little Jinbao put away his usual playful smile and said seriously, "Don't worry, Master, I'll only scout, I won't make any rash moves."