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

In Heilong Lake.

Chu Zhou's consciousness instantly crossed the water veins and descended upon the Azure Stone Water Mansion.

In his perception, the parasitic core sealed inside the metal box resembled a constantly shrinking black heart.

Strands of extremely subtle spiritual fluctuations seeped outward from the cracks in the spirit-sealing box.

Those unaware of the situation might think this thing was trying to break free of the seal, but under Chu Zhou's consciousness, this little thing that parasitized the core still couldn't escape his senses.

This thing is observing the surrounding situation, the direction of the water veins, the concentration of spiritual energy, the number of Zhenhai troops, and even the aura emitted by the Azure Lotus is being collected little by little.

A system notification then sounded.

[Homologous life form detected in the mother nest.]

[Target: Reconnoiter of the brood mound's parasitic nucleus.]

[Rank: Peak of Tier 3]

[Abilities: Parasitism, recording, location tracking, and telepathic communication.]

Chu Zhou's expression instantly turned cold, and he sneered inwardly, "What's the difference between this thing and a spy?"

He wasn't in a hurry to deal with the parasitic core, since it couldn't cause any trouble within his own domain.

On the west bank of the Qing Shi Water Mansion, the convoy had just stopped when Fa Kong opened his eyes.

The spirit-sealing box placed beside him was vibrating continuously, and the spirit patterns on the surface of the box lit up one after another.

The two mentally awakened individuals on guard turned pale.

"Master Fakong, this thing's mental fluctuations have suddenly intensified."

Mingjue looked at the slightly deformed box lid, couldn't help but take half a step back, and said in a trembling voice, "Is it going to come out?"

Fakong raised his hand and placed it on the sealing box. Golden Buddhist light quickly covered the box, and the metal box, which had been shaking violently, calmed down slightly.

However, his expression did not relax. Ever since entering the area of ​​Qingshi Reservoir, the parasitic core seemed to have been stimulated in some way.

A ripple suddenly spread across the lake's surface.

The massive body of the Xuanjia armored creature rose from the water.

The pitch-black tortoise shell resembled a moving island, its massive shadow completely enveloping the vehicles on the shore.

The water monsters of Zhenhai also appeared from all directions.

Ferocious heads floated on the water's surface, only their cold eyes visible.

The Ninth Bureau personnel accompanying them instinctively gripped their weapons.

Fakong raised his hand to stop the crowd. He put his palms together and looked at Xuanjia: "This humble monk is Fakong, from Chaoyin Temple in the South Sea. I have come here to seek an audience with the Lord of the Azure Lotus."

Xuanjia's voice was deep and rumbling like thunder: "What is it?"

Fakong gestured to the people behind him to bring out the spirit-sealing box: "This item comes from the body of a land-based sea beast. It can create parasites that pollute flesh and blood and erode the spirit."

"The Ninth Bureau suspects that it is homologous to the brood eggs found in the Qingshi Reservoir."

Xuanjia did not answer immediately.

Having received Chu Zhou's order, its massive body blocked the reservoir and the convoy, showing no intention of moving aside.

A member of the Ninth Bureau stepped forward and said, "We hope that the Lord of the Azure Lotus can assist in the testing to confirm the function of this type of parasitic core and whether there is a purification method."

The voice just fell.

The blue lotus in the center of the lake is in full bloom.

Pale blue streaks of light spread outwards along the surface of the lake.

All the water sprites lowered their heads at the same time.

A calm voice then rang out: "Put the box down."

Fakong looked up at the center of the lake and asked, "The Lord of the Azure Lotus?"

Chu Zhou did not answer the question, but said directly, "In ten breaths, this thing will transmit the situation of the Azure Stone Water Mansion back to the East Sea."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the people on the shore changed drastically.

The ninth bureau's mental awakener immediately looked down to check the equipment.

The previously chaotic mental fluctuations on the screen now exhibited extremely regular pulses.

The interval between each pulse was shortening, and the sealing box had not completely severed its connection with the outside world.

The staff of the Ninth Bureau's expression changed instantly; the situation was more serious than they had imagined.

A golden light flashed in Fakong's eyes, and he pressed both palms onto the box simultaneously: "Why did you have to reveal this now of all times? Was this thing deliberately meant for me to capture?"

Chu Zhou said calmly, "It may not know that you would bring it here, but it will use any life form to search for high-level spiritual veins."

"Whether it's humans or alien beasts, in the eyes of the Mother Nest, they are all just tools for its movement."

The parasitic core inside the spirit-sealing box seemed to realize that it had been exposed.

The box suddenly bulged outward.

A black, fleshy spike pierced through the spirit pattern and suddenly emerged from the side of the box.

The nearby members of the Ninth Bureau quickly retreated.

Fakong brought his five fingers together, and golden Buddhist light transformed into a palm print, which he used to grab the black fleshy spike.

The fleshy barbs twisted violently, and a ring of dense mouthparts grew on their surface.

at the same time.

Beneath the blue lotus, a glistening root breaks through the water.

The roots did not touch the sealing box; they merely made a light swipe in mid-air.

The surrounding water vapor condensed instantly.

An invisible barrier completely isolates the spirit-sealing box from the outside world.

The normally fluctuating mental fluctuations inside the box abruptly ceased.

The parasitic core seemed to have lost its way.

After struggling violently for a moment, it finally calmed down again.

Fakong looked at the lotus in the center of the lake, a solemn expression appearing in his eyes.

He had been suppressing it along the way using Buddhist secret methods, but he never discovered that this thing had been recording information from the outside world.

The Lord of the Azure Lotus saw through the true function of a single lotus seed at a glance.

This understanding of the pollution of life far surpasses his and the Ninth Intend's.

The head of the Ninth Bureau asked in a deep voice, "Lord of the Azure Lotus, can this parasitic core be purified?"

"Can."

Chu Zhou answered calmly.

Everyone was overjoyed, but before they could finish celebrating, Chu Zhou said, "However, why should I purify this parasitic core?"

The shore suddenly fell silent.

Several members of the Ninth Bureau had a slight change in expression. Fa Kong did not get angry. He put his hands together and looked at the center of the lake: "Since the Lord of the Azure Lotus has already ordered the Zhenhai Army to search the water veins, he must also know that this kind of thing does not only parasitize humans."

Chu Zhou said, "Therefore, I will clean up the pollution that enters the restricted area, but I have no obligation to purify the entire coastline for you."

Fakong nodded and said, "That's not wrong."

A young team member nearby couldn't help but say, "The Mother Nest is the enemy of all life. Shouldn't we all work together to deal with it...?"

He hadn't finished speaking.

Xuanjia's cold gaze had already fallen on him.

The terrifying water pressure instantly enveloped the shore.

The young player's breath hitched, and he swallowed the rest of his words.

Chu Zhou's voice rang out again: "Working together to deal with this does not mean that I will risk my life for humanity. I can purify, but it will also come at a price."

The head of the Ninth Bureau immediately asked, "What resources do you need? Crystal cores, elixirs, or research data from the Mother Nest?"

Chu Zhou did not answer. The lotus leaves in the lake swayed. He said, "You can't make the decision. Let Zhou Zhenshan come to me himself."

The head of the Ninth Bureau's face darkened.

Although he was only an operations leader in the South China Sea branch, he represented the Ninth Bureau after all.

Now, being told by Chu Zhou in front of so many people that he had no right to make the decision, he naturally felt somewhat uncomfortable.

However, he did not refute it, as the Lord of the Azure Lotus was already a late-stage sixth-order forbidden zone lord.

Judging from the strength displayed by Donghai Port, the opponent's true combat power is likely even stronger.

The issue involves the entire Lingnan coastal area and the purification of the mother nest pollution, which is indeed not something he can decide on his own.

Fakong, however, remained calm.

He looked at the lotus in the center of the lake, clasped his hands together, and said, "Director Zhou is already on his way to Lingnan. Before he arrives, what should we do with this parasitic core?"

Chu Zhou said, "Leave the things behind."

The head of the Ninth Bureau immediately frowned: "No way."

As soon as he said that, the surrounding lake surface instantly became quiet.

The blue lotus, which had been swaying gently with the water, suddenly stopped moving.

Hundreds of water monsters around them raised their heads at the same time.

A pair of cold eyes were fixed on the shore.

Xuanjia swam forward half a step.

The immense water pressure from the reservoir's massive size caused waves to surge continuously at its edge.

Several team members behind the Ninth Bureau leader instinctively gripped their weapons, but Fakong raised his hand to stop them, saying, "Put them down."

One technician couldn't help but say, "Master, this parasitic core is currently the only complete living sample. If we were to hand it over to the Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone..."

Fakong countered, "Can you guarantee that it won't reveal the location of the South China Sea branch when it's taken back?"

The technicians opened their mouths, then fell silent. They had initially thought the sealing box was safe enough, but the situation just now had proven that this kind of sealing was not as reliable as they had imagined in the face of the Mother Nest parasitic core.

Fakong continued, "The Lord of the Azure Lotus can sever its connection with the Mother Nest, so staying here temporarily is actually the safest option."

After a long silence, the head of the Ninth Bureau could only nod: "They can stay for the time being, but before Director Zhou arrives, the personnel of the Ninth Bureau must remain outside the Qing Shi Water Mansion to guard it."

Chu Zhou said calmly, "Whatever you say."

The other party was also worried about the parasitic core being leaked, fearing that the human world would fall, which was understandable, and Chu Zhou was too lazy to pay attention to it.

His next goal was to have Zhou Zhenshan come to him so he could make an outrageous demand that all the waters of the Lingnan Mountains be placed under the jurisdiction of the Qinglian Forbidden Zone.

Thinking of this, Chu Zhou didn't dwell on it too much, and several glistening roots emerged from the lake water.

The roots entangled the spirit-sealing box, dragging it into the water.

Fakong released his hand from the box, and the parasitic core inside violently pounded against the water the instant the sealing box was submerged.

The surface of the box bulges outward.

A blurry human face emerged from the metal surface, its mouth opening and closing as if emitting a silent roar.

Mingjue felt a chill run down his spine: "Why does this thing act like it knows it's about to be in trouble?"

Fakong glanced at him: "It's not stupid."

The next moment, the light emitted by the Azure Lotus completely covered the Spirit Sealing Box.

The parasitic core, which had been struggling frantically, fell silent instantly.

Chu Zhou completely severed all its connections with the outside world.

The system notification sounded again.

The homing parasitic nucleus has been isolated.

[Direct purification is an option.]

[You can choose to retain the activity level and modify the mental information.]

Chu Zhou's heart stirred slightly; the mental information modification was indeed somewhat interesting.

Since this parasitic core can record the coordinates of the spiritual veins and then transmit the information back to the superior mother nest.

He could easily insert a false message into it.

For example, an island rich in spiritual energy, but without any human cities, and not belonging to the Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone.

If the mother hive does send off the eggs, he can lay an ambush beforehand and devour them all.

Chu Zhou did not act immediately; the most important thing now was to complete the next evolution.

He has accumulated almost all the evolution points, and the Pure Sea Source Crystal has been purified.

The last condition missing between the sixth and seventh tiers is the complete fusion of one's own domain with the external water veins.

After the Qing Shi Water Mansion was built, the three water areas of Heilong Lake, the underground river, and the Qing Shi Reservoir were connected by Zi Lian.

The entire water system of Lingnan gradually came into his perception range.

The time is ripe for a breakthrough.

……

Meanwhile, the personnel from the French Air Force and the Ninth Bureau were temporarily stationed on the west bank of the reservoir.

Xuanjia did not allow them to enter the core lotus area; the two sides remained on guard, separated by a lake.

Mingjue looked at the blue lotus in the center of the lake and asked softly, "Master, isn't this Lord of the Blue Lotus a bit too cold-hearted?"

Fakong sat cross-legged on a rock: "Where is it inhumane? His actions are perfectly normal. When you risk your life for someone else, do you not negotiate?"

Mingjue paused for a moment: "But isn't the Mother Nest the common enemy of all life?"

"A common enemy doesn't mean others owe you anything."

Fakong looked at the calm lake surface: "The Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone is not under the jurisdiction of the Ninth Bureau. If it is willing to cooperate, it is out of kindness; if it is not willing to cooperate, no one has the right to force it."

Mingjue nodded thoughtfully.

Fakong added, "However, the price of this Azure Lotus Master is estimated to be quite high."

Mingjue asked, "What do you think he will want, Master?"

Fakong looked at the distant mountain range: "Territory, or rather, water veins."

Mingjue's expression changed slightly: "The entire Lingnan region?"

Fakong did not answer him, but he had already vaguely guessed what was going on in his mind.

The Lord of Qinglian established the Zhenhai Army and planted seed lotuses in Qingshi Reservoir, clearly indicating that he did not only want to guard Heilong Lake.

What it truly desires is to connect the entire Lingnan water region into a unified whole through underground rivers and natural water systems.

If the Ninth Intendant wants it to help clean up the pollution, then it must pay a sufficiently high price.

……

An hour later.

A military special plane landed at the temporary base of the Ninth Bureau of Lingnan.

After arriving at the temporary base, Zhou Zhenshan did not stay there for long. He simply listened to a brief report on the situation along the South China Sea coast and the Qing Shi Water Mansion, and then took Lu Cang, Su Wan, and several headquarters personnel directly to Heilong Mountain.

After receiving the news, Fakong also left the Qing Shi Water Mansion, leaving the parasitic core temporarily in the Zi Lian Domain.

With Chu Zhou personally suppressing it, that thing was actually safer than if it had been placed in the Ninth Bureau's laboratory.

It was evening.

The two convoys met on the outskirts of Heilong Mountain, and Zhou Zhenshan got out of the car.

He was dressed in a black combat suit and did not release any sixth-level pressure.

However, with his appearance, the air around him seemed to become much heavier.

Lu Cang stood behind him, looking towards the mountain pass ahead.

A black stone monument, tens of meters high, stands tall in the thick fog.

The stele is inscribed with four large blue characters.

Qinglian Forbidden Zone.

Behind the stone tablet, the original road leading into the mountains has completely disappeared.

Thick vines coiled around the ground.

Towering ancient trees block out the sky.

Thick fog drifted through the forest, and the low breathing of strange beasts could be faintly heard.

Zhou Zhenshan stepped over the stone tablet.

The moment he stepped into the restricted area, his expression subtly changed.

The sixth-order spiritual power spread outwards, but just a hundred meters away from the body, it felt like falling into a boundless body of water.

The mountain streams, the roots of plants, and the moisture in the air all interfered with his mental perception, gradually dispersing and engulfing his mental energy.

Zhou Zhenshan withdrew his senses, his heart trembling. He murmured, "What a complete domain."