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

"Of course, we can't let them grow up to be like a rock, all they can do is be stubborn and nothing else."

The strange stone stiffened, then roared, "Lotus Demon, I am the spirit of Zhenyuan Ancient City! How could I stoop to the level of those mere child demons?"

Chu Zhou's roots slowly emerged and entwined around a broken brick from an ancient city: "Oh? What was my beloved concubine laughing about just now?"

The crimson patterns on the surface of the strange rock suddenly lit up: "Who laughed? I just think that little wild boar is ridiculously stupid."

Chu Zhou said, "It used spirit rice to save the newly arrived young demon, and then led a group of lesser demons to dig up the Moon Essence Stone. Is that stupid?"

The strange rock remained silent for a moment, and after a long while, it snorted coldly, "It has some redeeming qualities, if not more."

Chu Zhou Lianye unfolded: "My beloved concubine is indeed hypocritical; she clearly thinks it's done quite well too."

Just as the strange rock was about to erupt, the golden chains wrapped around its surface suddenly lit up with runes.

hum!

An invisible pressure descended.

The scarlet stone patterns on the surface of the strange rock have dimmed somewhat.

He did not utter a sound, yet the entire ancient city of Zhenyuan trembled slightly.

Chu Zhou's roots stopped. Just a moment ago, he sensed a very faint emotion from the depths of the strange stone's soul, but it was not anger.

Rather, it is a kind of almost numb loneliness that has lasted for a long time.

Chu Zhou stopped teasing and the Ten Leaves Town Lotus Domain slowly unfolded.

A wisp of light, interwoven with silvery blue and moonlight, fell from Black Dragon Lake into the ancient city underground.

A spiritual light entwined around the golden chains.

The runes on the chains are still there.

But that cold, suppressive intent was gradually soothed by the Lotus Domain.

The strange rock trembled slightly: "Lotus Demon, what are you doing?"

Chu Zhou's voice was calm: "Although I cannot sever these chains now, I can still alleviate some of my beloved concubine's pain."

The ancient city fell silent for a moment.

The strange stone stopped cursing.

He looked up at the ancient city.

Through layers of mountains and lakes, He seemed to see the group of little demons whose intelligence was just beginning to awaken in front of the Hundred Demon Academy.

I saw the little fox teaching the wolf cubs to read, the old tortoise slowly tapping on the wooden board, and the little wild boar with the wooden sign that read "Spirit Field Patrol Team Leader" hanging on it, strutting around the spirit field.

After a long while, the strange stone slowly spoke: "In that ancient great war, those who lost their protection first were often these little guys."

"They don't understand what the outer rift is, or what the shattering of mountains and rivers is. They only know to follow the herd forward, and those who run slowly are left behind."

"I have seen too many such scenes: young beasts dying on mountain paths, young demons dying in the spiritual tide. I have also seen many human children hiding in ruins, waiting for their elders to return."

"Therefore, your school is very good."

Chu Zhou's roots gently wrapped around the edge of the strange rock: "If you like it, take a look at it more often in the future."

The strange stone trembled: "I am locked in the Ancient City of Zhenyuan. How do I get out?"

Chu Zhou said, "I will take you out to Black Dragon Mountain, Changbai Mountain, Tokyo Bay, and even further places than the Ancestral Realm."

"When I am stronger, I will personally sever these chains."

The strange rock remained silent for a long time.

On the golden chain, the scarlet stone patterns flowed slightly.

He suddenly sneered: "You're only at the early stage of the ninth rank, yet you dare to spout such nonsense."

Chu Zhou, with lotus leaves swaying, said, "My beloved consort, just wait. I keep my word."

The strange rock did not respond.

Before the ancient city's stone steps, a spiritual herb sprouted from a crack in the rock, quietly unfurling two tender leaves.

In the moonlight, the herb quietly unfurled its two tender leaves.

The strange rock remained silent.

The lake water above the ancient city flows slowly.

As the morning light filters through the layers of mountain rocks, it falls on the crumbling stone walls of Zhenyuan Ancient City, adding a touch of life to this ancient city that has been silent for millennia.

Chu Zhou's roots twitched slightly.

Above the ancient underground city, a bluish-silver water mirror emerged.

In the water mirror.

In front of the Hundred Demon Academy, the little wild boar was patrolling while wearing the wooden sign.

It takes three steps, then looks down at itself.

He took five steps, then looked down again.

They were afraid that the words "Spirit Field Patrol Team Leader" would disappear from the wooden sign.

The little fox sat in front of the stone steps, teaching the new little demon how to read.

The old tortoise lay beside the wooden plank, slowly teaching them the rules of Black Dragon Mountain.

The strange rock stared at the water mirror without saying a word.

Chu Zhou said, "I have just comprehended the Myriad Miles of Azure Lotus Realm. Within Black Dragon Mountain, wherever the lotus domain covers, wherever my beloved consort wishes to see, I can make sure you can see it."

The strange stone's texture trembled slightly: "Who said I wanted to see it?"

Chu Zhou, his lotus leaves swaying, asked, "Then I'll accept it?"

"You dare!"

The strange stone blurted out.

After he finished speaking, he fell silent.

Chu Zhou's roots curved slightly: "My beloved concubine truly likes it."

The crimson patterns on the strange rock's surface shimmered wildly: "Lotus Demon, if you call me 'beloved concubine' one more time, I will turn this ancient city upside down!"

Chu Zhou chuckled: "Alright, Consort Shi."

boom!

The ancient city of Zhenyuan trembled.

The strange stone was so angry that its golden chains lit up, but Chu Zhou didn't tease it any further this time.

He mobilized the Lotus Domain of Ten Leaves Town, letting a wisp of gentle moonlight fall on the stone steps of the ancient city.

The newly sprouted spiritual herb grew another tender leaf in the moonlight.

The strange stone stared at the spiritual herb for a long time before whispering, "Lotus Demon, I once thought that there would never be a place like this in the Ancestral Realm again."

Chu Zhou asked, "Where?"

The strange stone didn't look at him: "There are young demons studying, and spiritual fields growing. There are exotic beasts that you don't have to worry about being killed at any moment, and there are also humans who are willing to stand on the same defensive line as the exotic beasts."

Chu Zhoulian gently unfurled her lotus leaf: "If we didn't have it before, then we'll start having it now."

The strange rock remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "If you can truly do it, then I will acknowledge that you, as the Abyss Suppressor, are barely qualified."

Chu Zhou asked, "Just barely?"

The strange stone sneered: "Early stage of the ninth rank, don't be arrogant. There are even stronger things beyond the heavens. If you die, I won't collect your corpse."

Chu Zhou's roots entwined around the edge of the strange rock: "Don't worry, I still want to take my beloved concubine out to see the mountains and rivers."

The anger that the strange stone had just suppressed surged up again.

"roll!"

Four Nine Cities.

Ninth Bureau Headquarters.

The huge conference room was brightly lit.

The psionic map hangs in mid-air.

The five Qingyin nodes—Heilonghu Lake, Changbai Mountain, Dongjing Bay, Zhenhai Relics Island, and Fuyue Stone Ridge—remain lit up.

And above the five nodes.

A phantom image of a ten-petaled blue lotus slowly rotates.

Zhou Zhenshan stood in front of the map.

The projections of Elder Ye, Lei Zhenyue, and Qin Zhenyuan, as well as the heads of various military regions, were all present.

The meeting room was quiet.

Everyone knows.

Today's discussion is not only about the fourth wave, but also about a newly born ninth-tier king.

"The Azure Lotus Lord's breakthrough to the ninth rank is a good thing for the Dragon Kingdom." Elder Ye spoke first: "The ley line reactions in Black Dragon Mountain, Changbai Mountain, and the East Sea are all decreasing."

"Based on data from various regions, the Lotus Domain of Shiye Town has stabilized at least one-third of the spiritual energy fluctuations in the Dragon Kingdom."

A military official frowned: "But the Lord of the Azure Lotus is too powerful, a ninth-tier king. If He changes His mind one day, who can restrain Him?"

Inside the meeting room, many people fell silent; this was a question that no one could avoid.

Lei Zhenyue sat to the side and said in a deep voice, "If the Lord of the Azure Lotus really wants to take action against the human race, He has countless opportunities, from Black Dragon Lake to Linjiang City, from Changbai Mountain to Tokyo Bay."

"But He did not. On the contrary, He suppressed the blood sacrifice, sealed the Moon Abyss, guarded the East Sea, and sheltered countless young demons with newly awakened intelligence in Black Dragon Mountain."

"If humanity doubts Him simply because He is powerful, then what difference is there between us and those who incite conflict between humans and beasts?"

Zhou Zhenshan looked at Lei Zhenyue.

Lei Zhenyue continued, "The human race needs its own strong individuals, its own army, its own academies, and its own defenses."

"But this does not mean that we should push those who truly protect our land to the opposite side."

Qin Zhenyuan's projection spoke: "The Lord of the Azure Lotus is neither a weapon of the human race nor its master. He is the guardian of the ancestral realm, and we humans should become those who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Him."

Zhou Zhenshan remained silent for a long time before finally raising his hand: "The Ninth Bureau's Supreme Council has approved the new Night Watchman plan."

On the large screen, lines of text appeared.

[The Fourth Tide: The Night Watchers of Kyushu Project.]

[First, all Ninth Bureaus across the region have entered maximum alert status.]

Second, all psionic academies should be organized in advance to establish city watch teams.

Third, ancient wells, mineral veins, ancestral mountains, and abandoned urban areas are designated as the highest-level monitoring areas.

Fourth, strong human warriors will be stationed in designated areas; no city may place its hopes for survival on a single strong warrior.

Fifth, establish an equal communication and mutual assistance mechanism with the Qinglian Forbidden Zone.

Zhou Zhenshan looked at everyone and said, "Notify the Linjiang City liaison point that the Ninth Bureau should extend a royal congratulatory gift to the Lord of Qinglian."

"Also, tell Su Wan that from today onwards, she is the Qinglian Liaison Officer of the Ninth Bureau."

Linjiang City.

A contact point outside the Qinglian restricted area.

When Su Wan received the appointment, her fingers paused. Before she could speak, a silver lotus leaf drifted in from the distant mountains.

Lotus leaves fell in front of the liaison point.

There were no earth-shattering phenomena, nor any imposing aura of a king.

It simply remained quietly on the stone steps.

Su Wan walked out the door.

She gazed at the lotus leaf and said softly, "Lord of the Azure Lotus, congratulations on reaching the King Realm in the Ninth Round."

The lotus leaves swayed gently, and a tender thought entered her mind.

"Human affairs are for humanity to guard itself. If it cannot guard them, I will take action."

Su Wan felt a slight tremor in her heart. She raised her head and saw that Black Dragon Mountain was shrouded in clouds and mist in the distance, with the phantom of a ten-petaled green lotus hidden on the mountain peak.

Su Wan gripped the communicator tightly and said, "Please rest assured, senior, the Ninth Bureau will not let the nation down."