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

Two days later.

North of Lingnan.

Mist billows among the mountains.

The Green-backed Ape King smashed a huge boulder blocking its path and, leading two adult mountain apes, passed through the last dense forest.

They carried no weapons on their backs.

There were only spirit peaches, ancestral spirit stones, and a few pieces of dark green mountain stone taken from around the Taibai Zhenyue Stele.

The outline of Black Dragon Mountain finally appeared at the end of the clouds.

The entire mountain range was covered by a faint bluish-silver spiritual light.

A huge monument stands outside the mountain.

[The Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone is closed to all travel within a hundred miles.]

Beside the giant stele, a new mountain path has been opened, and above the path hangs a black and gold lotus pattern.

All beasts flock to this path, following its lead.

The Blue-backed Ape King stopped in front of the mountain path.

It gazes into the depths of Heilong Mountain.

A golden bird silhouette could be faintly seen flitting across the sky through the clouds.

Little Jinbao hovered high in the sky, and the Golden Feather Sky Patrol was activated.

It spotted the Blue-backed Ape King at a glance.

"Master, that giant ape from the Qinling Mountains is here!"

In Heilong Lake.

Chu Zhoulian swayed gently: "Let it in."

Little Jinbao swooped down and said, "Blue-backed Ape King, Master grants you permission to enter the mountain!"

The Blue-backed Ape King raised his palm and bowed to Little Golden Treasure: "Thank you for your trouble."

It led the mountain ape up the mountain path.

Along the way, strange beasts, which had been entrenched on the outskirts of Black Dragon Mountain, lay quietly in the forest.

There are tigers, giant wolves, and huge mountain bears.

They did not stop it, but watched the sixth-tier ape king from the Qinling Mountains with awe and vigilance.

The Green-Backed Ape King remained calm until it walked to the outer edge of Black Dragon Lake and saw the nine floating islands of blue-silver light on the lake's surface, and the nine-petaled blue lotus in the center of the islands. At that moment, its ape eyes narrowed.

The spiritual energy here is several times richer than that of the Qinling Peach Valley.

At the bottom of the lake, there was an oppressive aura that instilled a sense of awe in its very blood.

The Blue-backed Ape King walked to the shore of the lake.

It put down the spirit peach and the ancestral spirit stone on its back.

He then clasped his fists together in front of his chest and bowed towards the center of the lake: "Qinling, the lineage of the Mountain-Moving Ape, Qingbei, pays respects to the Lord of the Azure Lotus."

Chu Zhou looked at it and asked, "Is the Taibai Ancestral Vein still safe?"

The Green-Backed Ape King nodded: "The Mountain-Suppressing Stele is still standing, and Spirit Peach Valley has regained its vitality. The mountain markings on the young apes are even stronger than before."

Chu Zhou said, "That's good then."

The Green-Backed Ape King raised his head: "I have come here today for two reasons: first, to repay a debt of gratitude, and second, to hear what the Lord of the Azure Lotus has to say about the Way of Mountains and Rivers."

Chu Zhou did not correct its self-address, and said, "Entering the Dao Platform."

The Green-backed Ape King, accompanied by two mountain apes, stepped onto the outermost floating island, and Lord White Mountain glanced at it.

The Blue-backed Ape King also looked at Lord White Mountain.

The two late-stage sixth-tier beast kings stared at each other from a distance, both sensing the heavy aura emanating from the other.

After a moment, Lord Baishan spoke first: "White Tiger Ridge, Lord Baishan."

The Blue-backed Ape King responded, "Qinling Mountains, Blue-backed."

The two beast kings merely nodded slightly, then each took their place in their respective areas.

They all knew very well that this was Black Dragon Lake, and anyone who dared to cause trouble in front of the Lord of the Azure Lotus's sermon was provoking the Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone.

……

Noon that day.

A cold wind suddenly blew in from outside Heilong Lake.

The wind and snow traveled thousands of miles from the north and fell on the mountains of Lingnan.

Hundreds of snow wolves walked along the mountain path.

They were pure white, and their wolf claws left no trace on the soil.

The leading snowfield wolf king was nearly ten meters tall at the shoulder, with an ice-blue crescent pattern between its brows.

Behind it followed a spirit deer, a snow rabbit, and dozens of white-feathered crows.

The strange beasts on the outskirts of Black Dragon Mountain stirred.

Wolves and tigers have never lived in peace.

But Lord Baishan merely raised his claw slightly.

The herd of beasts at White Tiger Ridge then quieted down.

The Snowfield Wolf King also made the wolf pack stop in place.

It was looking towards Heilong Lake.

"The wolf pack of the northern snowfields has come to keep their promise to Qinglian."

The Black Tiger King emerged from the shadows on the south side.

Its shadow patrolled the area, spreading across the mountains and forests, and the Black Tiger King did not allow it to pass directly.

"Report where you came from."

The Snowfield Wolf King said in a deep voice, "In the northern border of Changbai Mountain, the wolf pack originally numbered 372. We passed through six safe zones and three villages and towns without harming a single person or losing a single animal."

"Encountered forty-three Black Tide Beasts on the way, and slaughtered them all."

The Black Tiger King looked behind it.

Among the snow wolf pack, more than ten wolves were wounded.

The wounds bore the marks of Black Tide Beast bites, yet not a single snow wolf retreated.

Black Tiger King said, "Enter the mountain."

The Snowfield Wolf King lowered his head and said, "Thank you."

With the arrival of the first batch of Beastmasters.

More and more strange beasts are appearing outside Black Dragon Lake.

The Yunnan Green-scaled Python King, dragging its hundreds-of-meters-long body, swam along the valley without its herd.

They only brought three sixth-tier spirit vines that grew deep in the rainforest.

The Sichuan Ironback Bear King arrived in the evening.

Its size was even larger than that of the Green-backed Ape King, its shoulders and back were like iron mountains, and as soon as its pressure at the early stage of the seventh rank appeared, a large number of strange beasts lay prostrate on the ground around Black Dragon Mountain.

Little Jinbao hovered high in the sky; it did not fall.

The Iron-Backed Bear King walked to the mountain gate and looked up at the golden-feathered spirit bird: "I came to listen to the Dao, not to cause trouble."

Little Jinbao snorted: "Whether there was trouble or not is not for you to decide. Master said to find out the situation first."

The Ironback Bear King looked towards Black Dragon Lake, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Alright."

That night, nearly ten thousand strange beasts gathered outside Black Dragon Mountain, including more than one hundred fifth-tier beasts.

Six sixth-tier beast kings.

With the addition of Bai Shan Jun, Hei Hu Wang, and Qing Bei Yuan Wang, the aura of high-level exotic beasts gathered around Hei Long Lake caused the entire Lingnan branch of the Ninth Bureau to enter the highest combat readiness.

Outside the mountains, the psionic artillery array was not aimed at the beast horde, but it remained charged.

Zhou Zhenshan stood in front of the temporary command vehicle, looking at the monitor screen, and slowly said, "Notify all regions that as long as the beasts heading to Lingnan do not cross the safety line and do not attack humans, the troops along the way must not open fire first."

"Make sure the transport convoy avoids the migration route; have the Ninth Bureau keep an eye on it."

Wang Jun nodded: "Understood."

……

The next day.

Above Heilong Lake.

The Zhenyuan Emperor's Seal rotates.

Chu Zhou's voice echoed throughout the entire mountain range: "Those who enter Black Dragon Lake today, first examine your hearts. Your hearts may be chaotic, your spirits may be mixed, and the mistakes you have made in the past may not be irreversible."

"But if someone is tainted by the black tide without realizing it, and comes with malicious intent, attempting to destroy my land and rivers."

"Black Dragon Lake, no more."

boom!

Above the imperial seal, countless drops of azure and silver spiritual rain fell.

The rain fell into the mountains and forests.

Various colored lights appeared on the bodies of the strange beasts.

An icy blue aura rose from the Snowfield Wolf King's body.

The light, though cold, was crystal clear.

The Green-backed Ape King's body was covered with earth-yellow mountain-like patterns, as heavy and imposing as a mountain.

The rain fell on its back.

The mountain patterns flowed slowly, as if there was an invisible ancestral vein extending from the Qinling Mountains to Heilong Lake.

Chu Zhou observed for a moment and then said, "Mountain Moving Bloodline, not bad."

The Green-Backed Ape King clasped his fists together and said, "Thank you, Lord of the Green Lotus."

On the other side, the ice-blue moon pattern gently flowed around the Snowfield Wolf King's body.

The pack of snow wolves behind it were also bathed in the spiritual rain.

Some snow wolves had chaotic spiritual energy, with blood and evil mixed in their fur; but after the icy blue light fell, those impurities were not forcibly wiped away, but were gradually combed out.

The Snowfield Wolf King lowered his head.

It could sense that Chu Zhou's power was not simply a suppression.

Instead, it is stabilizing their spiritual cores and protecting their intelligence.

The Yunnan Green-scaled Python King dwells in the valley.

The azure silver rain fell onto its scales, and wisps of scarlet malevolent energy rose from between the scales.

Many of the strange beasts immediately showed signs of vigilance, but the Azure Scale Python King did not offer any explanation.

It merely flicked its tongue, its voice hoarse: "I have killed people. Fifteen years ago, humans dug up my snake nest in the rainforest and took my eggs. I killed thirteen of them."

The area around Heilong Lake has quieted down.

Many beast kings are awaiting the response from the Lord of the Azure Lotus.

Chu Zhou said calmly, "They broke into your nest and killed your eggs. You did nothing wrong by killing them."

The Azure Scale Python King's enormous pupils contracted.

Chu Zhou continued, "But if you leave the mountain without cause and feed on ordinary humans, I will kill you just the same. Black Dragon Lake doesn't care who you've killed in the past."

"I only ask you whether you are willing to hold this line from today onwards."

The Azure-Scaled Python King remained silent for a long time, then lowered its head: "I am willing to guard Azure-Scaled Python Valley."

hum!

Azure silver rain fell.

The crimson aura between its scales dissipated, leaving only a clear, azure light.

The Ironback Bear King stood outside the mountain gate.

Its body was as large as a mountain, and its oppressive aura at the early stage of the seventh rank made the surrounding beasts unable to raise their heads.

The rain fell on its shoulders and back.

A strong bloodlust immediately surged from within the Ironback Bear King's body.

The blood demon almost solidified into a tangible form.

Those were the traces left by it after fighting for decades in the deep mountains of Sichuan, killing countless strange beasts and black tide beasts.

Many low-level beasts trembled with fear.

The Ironback Bear King did not suppress it; it simply stood still, letting the spiritual rain fall upon it.

A moment later, a faint black aura emerged from the crack in its shoulder and back.

Before the black mist could escape far, a silver-green root burst forth from the ground, pinning it in mid-air.

The black mist twisted and turned wildly, transforming into a blurry human face.

"Ironback, you think you can escape by hiding in Lingnan..."

boom!

Chu Zhou's roots tightened, the black energy instantly dissipated, and the Iron-Backed Bear King's body trembled.

It finally understood that the whispers it had been hearing so often these days were not inner demons, but rather the lingering resentment of the Black Tide hidden deep within the Blood Fiend.

If it weren't for coming to Heilong Lake.

When the fourth spiritual tide arrives, the lingering remnant of the black tide will take advantage of its breakthrough to devour its spiritual core.

The Ironback Bear King looked towards the center of the lake.

After a long while, it said in a deep voice, "Lord of the Azure Lotus, I owe you one."

Chu Zhou said, "If you want to hear the teachings, then you can hear them; there's no need to owe anything."

The Ironback Bear King shook his head and said, "I don't like owing anyone anything."

"If the Black Tide invades Sichuan in the future, I will defend Sichuan. If anyone dares to invade Black Dragon Lake, I will come too."

Chu Zhoulianye swayed gently: "You are permitted to enter the stage."

The Ironback Bear King took a step forward.

With each step it took, the mountain path trembled slightly.

But when it reached the edge of the floating island, it withdrew its overwhelming aura and sat quietly on the outermost platform.

At that moment, as more and more strange beasts appeared around Black Dragon Lake, he completely let down his guard.

Chu Zhou did not treat them as servants, nor did he consider them enemies simply because they had killed people.

As long as you can guard your own mountain gate and not become a lackey of the Black Tide, you are qualified to stand here.

……

But at that very moment...

A red-backed giant wolf at the late stage of the fifth rank suddenly rushed out from the pack of beasts.

Its fur stood on end, its eyes were bloodshot, and it roared furiously toward the center of the lake.

"Why? Why can they hear the Dao, but I cannot!"

The giant wolf had only charged a few dozen meters.

The azure silver rain fell upon it.

hum!

A large black tide suddenly surged from its body.

The black tide spread along the hair and flesh, instantly turning half of its body black.

The surrounding beasts scattered with a roar.

The red-backed giant wolf roared in pain.

It struggled frantically, yet it uttered chilling sounds that were not its own.

"Lord Qinglian, you can stop one, but how many can you stop?"

The Black Tiger King emerged from the shadows.

Its shadow patrol had already sensed something was wrong.

However, this giant wolf was mixed in with thousands of strange beasts and deliberately used bloodlust to conceal its aura, making it difficult to identify.

Until the rain of the soul falls.

The black tide within its body was finally exposed.

The Black Tiger King roared, "Anyone who dares to bring the Black Tide into Black Dragon Lake will be killed!"

boom!

The Black Tiger Guards pounced out from the mountains and forests.

Dozens of dark figures swept across, blocking all escape routes for the red-backed giant wolf.

The red-backed giant wolf still wanted to charge at the pack of beasts.

A huge black tiger claw emerged from the shadow beneath its feet.

boom!

The red-backed giant wolf was pressed into the mud.

The black tide within its body surged wildly, trying to break free.

Chu Zhou did not kill it immediately.

A ray of lotus light fell.

The black tide was gradually forced out of the giant wolf's body.

The red-backed giant wolf regained consciousness for a moment, its eyes filled with terror and pleading.

"Lord of the Azure Lotus... I didn't do it on purpose. I swallowed a black stone in the Northwest mines, and that's why I'm like this..."

Chu Zhou remained silent for a moment.

The black tide has invaded the depths of its spiritual core.

Even purification cannot restore its original intelligence.

more importantly.

The origin of that black stone is clearly not simple.