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

A moment of silence fell over the corner of the ward. Lin Jianguo stared wide-eyed at Lin Qingxue: "You really mutated?"

He lowered his voice unconsciously as he said this, and even secretly glanced at the door of the ward.

There's been too much gossip and rumors circulating online lately.

What kind of spiritual energy is being revived, superpowers being awakened, and strange beasts eating people?

He used to think it was just young people talking nonsense, but ever since Heilong Mountain was closed and the video of the helicopter explosion was leaked online...

He was starting to have doubts himself.

Especially lately, as a taxi driver, I've heard quite a few strange things.

Some say that white fog is rising from the mountains in the neighboring county, and those who went in have disappeared.

Some people say they saw a meteor crash into the deep mountains in the middle of the night, and the next day all the animals in the village were restless.

But when these things actually happen to your own daughter...

Lin Jianguo's first reaction was disbelief.

Lin Qingxue was silent for a few seconds, then finally nodded: "I guess so."

Lin Jianguo was completely stunned: "Is that really true?"

He opened his mouth for a long time before finally managing to stammer out, "Wait, our ancestral graves aren't emitting any auspicious smoke, are they?"

Lin Qingxue almost choked: "Dad, keep your voice down!"

He quickly lowered his voice: "I can't say the details right now."

"It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's just that some things involve confidentiality."

She looked at her father earnestly: "But don't worry, it won't do you or Mom any harm. Mom's sudden recovery just now, I suspect it's related to me."

Lin Jianguo's expression shifted several times, showing shock, doubt, and confusion.

In the end, it was forced into the question: "So you're a god now?"

Lin Qingxue shook her head and said, "Not a deity!"

She rubbed her forehead helplessly: "At most, I'm considered a slightly special case."

Lin Jianguo swallowed hard, then couldn't help but steal a glance at his daughter. He suddenly felt a little unfamiliar with her, but quickly shook his head.

No matter how things change, she's still his daughter, the one who cried when she fell down as a child. Thinking of this, his voice softened a bit.

"Alright, just don't go astray. Also, you can't do anything illegal or disorderly, and you can't use your superpowers to rob banks."

Lin Qingxue's lips twitched: "Dad, what are you thinking about?"

Lin Jianguo said in a serious tone: "That's how it's portrayed in TV dramas."

As the two were talking, Lin's mother, lying on the hospital bed, couldn't help but call out, "What are you two whispering about?"

Lin Jianguo glanced back and said, "Wife, let's get discharged."

Lin's mother was stunned: "Oh, didn't the doctor say we still need to observe them?"

Lin Jianguo coughed and said, "What are you observing? You look much better than you did a few days ago."

"If we stay any longer, it'll cost almost a thousand a day. How can our family afford that?"

Upon hearing that it would cost money, Lin's mother immediately hesitated, as she was already reluctant to be hospitalized.

Over the years, the family has almost emptied their pockets to pay for medical treatment.

Lin Qingxue walked over and said softly, "Mom, let's go home first. I'll stay with you. If you're not feeling well, come back right away. Besides, I feel like you're feeling much better already."

After hesitating for a moment, Lin's mother finally nodded.

Twenty minutes later, at the inpatient ward nurses' station.

The doctor on duty frowned as he looked at the family of three in front of him.

"Discharged? Are you kidding me? The patient's vital signs just stabilized today, and the kidney function problem is not completely under control yet. I suggest observing for at least three days."

Lin Jianguo scratched his head, his attitude surprisingly firm: "Doctor, we've made up our minds. We'll go back and rest first."

The doctor's brow furrowed further: "Mr. Lin, medicine is not a game. You, as family members, have a responsibility to the patient. What if problems arise after they return home?"

Lin Jianguo opened his mouth, then said seriously, "Doctor, I know my wife's health. Besides, didn't you just say she's doing quite well?"

The doctor choked, realizing it was true; the patient's condition had been even better during the examination just now than it had been that morning.

But this recovery speed is just too weird.

In his twenty years of medical practice, this was the first time he had seen a kidney patient become so emotionally agitated that he almost caused an accident.

As a result, her complexion improved when she turned around.

"But in principle..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lin's mother, who was by the hospital bed, also spoke up: "Doctor, I asked to be discharged myself. The hospital costs money too quickly. I really feel much more comfortable now."

The doctor looked at the family of three and remained silent for a few seconds.

Finally, he sighed and said, "Okay, but you have to sign a waiver. Also, you need to have a follow-up check-up within a week. If you feel unwell, come back immediately."

Lin Jianguo nodded quickly: "Okay, okay, thank you, doctor."

After signing the papers, the doctor watched the three figures leave, frowning and muttering, "This patient's recovery speed is strange; it seems a bit unscientific."

Meanwhile, Lin Qingxue, who was helping her mother out of the hospital, suddenly stopped.

As the night wind blew by, she subconsciously looked up and gazed in the direction of Black Dragon Mountain.

For some reason, the almost depleted cyan energy in his dantian trembled as if in response to something.

Meanwhile, deep within the Heilong Mountain, inside a grotto at the bottom of a lake.

Milky white spiritual energy continued to surge from the ancient well, and the entire underground temple was shrouded in a dense, almost tangible, spiritual mist.

The surface of the bishi stone statue shimmers with spiritual patterns, and the chains occasionally vibrate gently, emitting a deep echo.

In the center of the lake, a giant blue lotus quietly took root. Hundreds of tendrils clung to the lakebed, like an ancient, sleeping behemoth.

But at this moment, Chu Zhou paused for a moment.

A very subtle yet strangely familiar fluctuation came from a distant direction.

Like some kind of mark, being gently touched.

"Um?"

Chu Zhou's spirit and will stirred.

The sensation was extremely faint; if his mental strength hadn't far surpassed that of ordinary beings, he probably wouldn't have been able to detect it at all.

"This is…"

Chu Zhou subconsciously tried to recall, and after a moment, he suddenly remembered something.

"Lin Qingxue?"

He vaguely remembered that in order to erase the other person's memory, he had casually left a trace of mental fluctuation.

The original intention was just to prevent accidents, but now, that mark has actually been activated?

He extended his mental will slightly, but the distance was too great, and the sensation was intermittent. He could only vaguely sense that the other party's life force seemed to be much stronger than that of an ordinary person.

And there are fluctuations of spiritual energy?

Chu Zhou realized, "Holy crap, did they awaken her?" He thought about it carefully and it seemed like it was really possible.

At that time, the spiritual energy in Heilong Lake was ridiculously strong, and the other party had stayed next to me for quite a while, and was even cleansed by my spiritual power.

An unexpected awakening seems normal?

Thinking of this, Chu Zhou's expression suddenly became somewhat strange: "So, I casually erased someone's memories and gave them superpowers?"

However, he quickly grew tired of thinking about it and decided that awakening was fine, since Black Dragon Mountain had already been completely exposed.

The missiles have already bombarded the area, and the whole country probably knows there's a problem here. Even if there's another Lin Qingxue, it doesn't matter, as long as the other side doesn't do anything reckless and run back.

Moreover, this is the most important thing for me right now.

There is only one way: to become stronger.

Chu Zhou opened the system panel, and a light blue light screen appeared.

[Host: Chu Zhou]

[Race: Azure Lotus (Tier 4)]

[Abilities: Spiritual realm, root control, spiritual energy manipulation, mist realm...]

Evolution Points: 326800/650000

[Next Stage: Tier 5]

……

Chu Zhou fell silent, a slight toothache nausea in his eyes: "Still halfway there, damn it, it gets harder to advance further."

The number of evolution points required to go from fourth to fifth tier almost doubles.

However, thinking of this, Chu Zhou couldn't help but look at the ancient well, his eyes suddenly becoming kind.

No problem, we still have Brother Well, isn't this just a portable power bank?

Just then, deep within the ancient well, the chains trembled violently.

An ancient will, clearly tinged with impatience, suddenly spread.

That's enough.

The deep voice rang out, carrying a suppressed anger.

"I have granted you power, why have you not yet offered your sacrifice?"

The air suddenly turned chilly, and spiritual energy surged. The forbidden being at the bottom of the well was gradually losing patience.

Chu Zhou's heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, the ATM is starting to urge me to meet my targets, deep in the well.

The hoarse voice rang out again, colder than before: "Go, capture the strong, and sacrifice their flesh and souls to me."

"I will grant you true power."

In the end, a terrifying pressure spread, even causing the underground lake water to tremble.

"An extraordinary being among humans, a king among beasts—the stronger you are, the more satisfied I am. Sacrifice ten of them, and I will help you reach the king level."

Chu Zhou was speechless. Good heavens, before it was just sacrificing humans, now it's upgraded the KPI?

They even need to capture the strongest individuals, down to the exact number—ten people. Are you trying to create a task system here?

Chu Zhou remained outwardly calm, but his mental fluctuations deliberately revealed a hint of difficulty: "But I'm too weak. Many people outside want to kill me. They have missiles and superhumans. If I go out, I'll easily die."

There was a distinct silence deep within the ancient well. After a moment, the other party spoke again, already impatient: "Useless trash, I will grant you power once more."

boom!

The next second, the ancient well completely erupted, with spiritual energy ten times more concentrated than before bursting forth.

The milky white spiritual liquid almost transformed into a waterfall, frantically pouring into Chu Zhou's roots, and system notifications flooded the screen again.

[Evolution Point +300]

[Evolution Point +500]

[Evolution Point +800]

……

Chu Zhou almost laughed himself crazy. Holy crap, this guy in the well is really something. He said he'd give you strength, and he really did.

Chu Zhou didn't hold back either, frantically inhaling while continuing to send out worried mental fluctuations: "It's still not enough. Humans are dangerous; they have a lot of missiles."

Although the other party was impatient, they were forced by Chu Zhou's predicament to continue releasing more energy.

Meanwhile, outside of Kyushu, although the Black Dragon Mountain incident was urgently suppressed by the authorities, that short video still managed to seep into the underworld through certain channels.

Dark web forums, international intelligence organizations, private conglomerates, and multinational biological laboratories.

Countless eyes began to turn to Lingnan, China, especially at the end of the video.

The enormous lotus shadow, so blurry yet so overwhelming, loomed over the thick fog.

And an unknown force capable of instantly destroying armed helicopters.

In an instant, keywords such as supernatural life, new energy sources, and spiritual evolution theory spread like wildfire in the global capital market.

And behind all of this.

A multinational biotechnology company called Asta Group took the lead.

On the surface, it is an international giant focused on gene therapy, anti-aging and neuromedicine.

But those who truly understand it know that this company has a long-standing secret partnership with the intelligence agencies of multiple countries.

He even privately funded many taboo experiments.

Tokyo, inside a private estate in Minato Ward.

The meeting room was dimly lit, and the video of the secret filming at Heilong Mountain was playing on a loop on a huge projection screen.

Three armed helicopters crashed, and thick fog billowed.

A huge black shadow swept across the sky, and the man sitting in the main seat slowly took off his gold-rimmed glasses.

He was in his early forties, with slightly curly blond hair, deep-set features, and wearing an expensive suit.

Even when seated, he exudes a dangerous yet elegant sense of oppression.

His name is Edmund Ross, and he is also the CEO of Asta Group's Asia Pacific region. On the group's board of directors, he belongs to the most radical "extraordinary faction." He stared at the screen and suddenly smiled.

"Everyone."

"Don't you think this looks like a key to a new era?"

The meeting room fell silent.

A white researcher whispered, "Mr. Ross, based on our analysis, that unknown life form possesses at least S-level catastrophic destructive capabilities. Direct contact is extremely risky, and China has already sealed off the area. The military and the Ninth Bureau are all involved. If we want to gain a deeper understanding, it won't be that simple."

Upon hearing this, Edmund simply swirled his wine glass slightly: "Risk? If it truly possesses some unknown evolutionary power, then any risk is worthwhile."

He paused, his voice gradually lowering: "If China masters extraordinary technology while other countries do not, the world order will be rewritten in the coming decades."

At this point, he stood up: "Initiate the 'Deep Dive Project.' I need firsthand samples, alive."

……

three days later.

On the outskirts of Linjiang City, a team composed entirely of "outdoor adventure enthusiasts" quietly entered the Lingnan mountain area.

There were seven people in total, and all their identity information was completely clear. They even left traces of their lives in Kyushu six months in advance.

They bypassed the official roads and entered through a mountain road in an abandoned mining area, thus avoiding the Ninth Bureau's external surveillance.

At the very front of the group, a burly, bald man was carrying a huge hiking backpack.

The man's name was Victor.

He is a former mercenary, skilled in mountain warfare and demolition, and always carries a tactical dagger at his waist.

Among the group was a young Chinese man wearing a windbreaker and round-framed glasses. His name was Chen Mo. His ostensible identity was a PhD in folklore, but in reality, he was an intelligence intermediary cultivated by the Asta Group in China for many years.

Specializing in the study of ancient Chinese mysticism.

At this moment, he was holding a yellowed ancient map in his hand, on which the location of an ancient site deep in the Black Dragon Mountain was clearly marked.

The strangest person was the last in the group. He was a monk, about thirty years old, dressed in gray robes, with a calm expression. He carried an old cloth bag on his back, and his Dharma name was Xuanku.

No one knows where he came from; all that is known is that the Asta Group wanted him to come out of retirement.

It cost a full 50 million, because it is said that he entered a suspected paranormal forbidden area when he was young and came out alive.

They have an extremely strong sense of "evil spirits" and ancient ruins.

On the mountain road, Viktor frowned and muttered under his breath, "Damn it, this place is abnormally quiet."

It was too quiet all around; there were no insects chirping, no birds singing, and even the sound of the wind seemed oppressive.

Chen Mo whispered, "The closer we get to the core area, the more dangerous it becomes. According to intelligence, the Ninth Bureau's people only operate on the outer perimeter at most."

"They didn't dare go inside either."