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

As soon as Su Wan finished speaking, the communicator in the contact point suddenly sounded an urgent alarm.

"Captain Su!"

A team member rushed out of the monitoring room, his face pale: "A high-level spiritual plant has mutated at Linjiang No. 1 Middle School! The spiritual pressure within the school grounds has exceeded the fifth level!"

Su Wan's expression changed slightly: "Casualties?"

"No casualties have been confirmed yet, but the entire school is sealed off by the root system, and all three teaching buildings, the gymnasium, and the underground shelter are out of contact."

"According to preliminary statistics, there are more than 1,300 students, as well as teachers and night watch trainees."

"The most troublesome thing is that the spiritual pressure doesn't have the Abyss Corrosion reaction."

Without the Abyss Erosion, it means that it cannot be directly suppressed like it was against the Black Tide.

Su Wan strode into the monitoring room.

on the screen.

A dense, cyan-gold aura floated above the location of Linjiang No. 1 Middle School.

In the center of the light, a giant ginkgo tree rose from the ground.

The century-old tree, which was originally only about 20 meters tall, now has a canopy that covers half of the campus.

Countless silvery-white roots broke through the playground, cement road and teaching building walls, intertwining to form a huge root cage.

The roots didn't hurt anyone, but they blocked all the exits. Behind the windows of the teaching building, one could vaguely see panicked faces.

Su Wan stared at the screen, her voice turning serious: "Notify Chen Xueli, Lin Qingxue, and Du Feng to take the first squad of the Linjiang City Night Watch Team over there."

"In addition, three streets surrounding the school were sealed off, the crowd was evacuated, and all the soul-purifying lamps were transferred to the First Middle School."

The teammate was taken aback: "Captain Su, aren't we going to request backup from the Qinglian penalty area?"

Su Wan looked towards the door.

The silver lotus leaf remained quietly on the stone steps.

She recalled Chu Zhou's gentle yet clear thought.

Humanity's affairs are its own responsibility.

If I cannot hold on, I will take action myself.

Su Wan withdrew her gaze: "Let's defend first. If we can't hold on, then we'll ask the senior to take action."

"yes!"

……

Twenty minutes later.

Outside Linjiang No.1 Middle School.

Before night had fully fallen, specks of bluish-gold light already shone through the leaves of the ginkgo trees above the campus.

Looking from afar.

Like a galaxy hanging upside down above the city.

The area outside the school.

Dozens of vehicles belonging to the Ninth Bureau were parked on both sides of the street.

Purifying lamps, psychic barriers, and rescue stretchers were all unloaded from the vehicle.

Chen Xueli arrived first.

She looked up at the ginkgo tree that almost covered the entire campus.

There wasn't a trace of black mist among the tree canopy.

The leaves and branches are an astonishingly lush green.

Each leaf exudes a rich, spiritual energy, making it all the more unnerving.

"Condition."

A member of the duty team immediately came forward: "The anomaly occurred forty minutes ago. At first, it was just that the old ginkgo tree by the playground was absorbing spiritual energy and its canopy was growing larger. The students thought it was just an ordinary spiritual plant awakening."

"But ten minutes later, roots suddenly burst out of the ground and surrounded the entire school."

"It doesn't attack people, but everyone who gets close to the roots will have some of their spiritual energy drained."

Chen Xueli frowned: "What's the student's condition?"

"Some students were just startled, but the closer they got to the tree trunk, the faster their psionic energy was lost. In the underground shelter, thirty-seven low-level awakened students fell into a coma."

Du Feng gripped the psionic gun tightly and said in a deep voice, "We can't delay any longer."

Lin Qingxue stood outside the school gate.

The blue lotus mark on her chest shimmered faintly.

Through layers of roots.

She could sense the thoughts emanating from within the ginkgo tree.

That wasn't murderous intent.

It was a chaotic fear, as if something was desperately trying to hide everyone: "It's protecting humanity."

Lin Qingxue spoke softly.

Du Feng was taken aback: "Trapping over a thousand people inside, you call that protection?"

Lin Qingxue did not refute.

She simply stared at the spiritual patterns on the ginkgo tree trunk, which pulsated like veins.

"It has just developed sentience, and the fourth tide caused it to absorb too much spiritual energy. It cannot distinguish between danger and safety."

"It only knows that none of its students can leave its root system."

After a moment's thought, Chen Xueli quickly said, "First team, set up a psionic isolation array to sever the spiritual veins surrounding the school."

"Second team, break through the west wall to evacuate students near the edge first."

"Du Feng, take your men to the underground shelter."

"Lin Qingxue, come with me to find the tree heart."

Du Feng looked up: "It's too dangerous for the two of you to go in."

Chen Xueli glanced at him: "Isn't the first lesson for the night watch team that when danger comes, someone always has to go in first?"

Du Feng opened his mouth, but in the end he just nodded: "Then let's all stay alive. Whoever dies, I'll curse them for the rest of my life."

boom!

Outside the west wall.

Three heavy-duty psionic vehicles started up simultaneously.

A silvery-white aura condensed into a sharp cone, blasting towards the thick tree roots that were coiled outside the wall.

The tree roots trembled violently, and as soon as the psionic spike pierced half an inch, the entire root system simultaneously emitted a bluish-gold light.

The tree root simply quickly curled up a section of the collapsed wall next to it, blocking the entrance to the school.

It's like they don't want outsiders to come in, nor do they want insiders to come out.

"Its defensive instincts are too strong."

Chen Xueli raised the crimson token: "Don't break it head-on. Shift the landing point of the array flag three meters to the left to give the root system room to release pressure."

The dozen or so team members immediately adjusted their formation flags.

hum!

Silver-white patterns spread out along the ground.

The roots, which had been extending outwards continuously, finally came to a stop.

Chen Xueli led Lin Qingxue into the campus.

I just stepped into the school gate.

The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly.

Several tree roots, each as thick as an arm, emerged from the soil and blocked their way.

Chen Xueli gripped the token.

Lin Qingxue raised her hand first.

A faint blue lotus light emanated from her palm and settled on the roots.

The roots remained frozen in place, and after a moment, they slowly retreated.

Chen Xueli looked at her: "Does it recognize your mark?"

Lin Qingxue shook her head: "It's probably because it sensed the presence of its own kind and was naturally drawn to Dad."

The two walked towards the center of the playground, and the further they went, the denser the spiritual pressure in the air became.

Outside the teaching building, dense ginkgo roots entwine the walls.

Inside a classroom.

A dozen or so students crowded around the window, looking nervous.

Upon seeing Chen Xueli and Lin Qingxue, they all banged on the windows.

"Teacher! We're here!"

Is anyone outside?

Chen Xueli stopped in her tracks, her voice carrying throughout the campus through the psionic loudspeaker.

"All students, listen up! Don't panic, stay away from the root system, and don't leave the classroom alone."

"The Ninth Inning Night Watch has entered the school."

"We will take you out."

The students' previously pale faces finally regained some composure.

Someone whispered, "Teacher, will that tree eat people?"

Chen Xueli looked towards the center of the playground.

The ginkgo tree trunks soar into the clouds.

The bark cracked open, and a rich spiritual light flowed slowly through the cracks.

She wasn't lying: "Don't worry, it's just sick, we'll cure it."

……

Underground shelter.

Du Feng kicked open the alloy door that was sealed off by roots.

The door panel crashed down.

A gasp came from inside.

More than 30 students huddled in a corner.

Several of them were pale, with tiny roots wrapped around their wrists and ankles.

The roots did not pierce the skin.

However, it continuously draws the newly awakened spiritual energy from their bodies.

A female teacher stood in front of the students.

She was holding a broken iron bar, and her arms were covered in scrapes.

Upon seeing Du Feng and the others, the female teacher nearly collapsed to the ground.

"You've finally arrived."

Du Feng walked over and said, "Those who can still move, take those who can't and walk them out."

"Don't touch the roots."

One student gritted his teeth and said, "But they've got Xiaoyu and the others hooked up with them."

Du Feng squatted down.

He looked at those few tiny roots.

The psionic gun was raised and then slowly lowered.

He thought of the ancient ferry crossing.

The red-horned roe deer, dragging its wounded body, shielded the patrol team from the boulder, recalling the battle spirits controlled by the black chains.

Some enemies may not truly want to harm people, and some forces cannot be destroyed by guns alone.

Du Feng raised his hand, palm against the roots: "I know you're scared, but they don't want to leave you, they just need to breathe."

The roots trembled slightly.

A sharp pain suddenly shot through Du Feng's old wound on his arm.

Those were the remaining scars left by the Moon Crossing the Black Water.

A wisp of extremely faint black energy emerged from the wound.

The surrounding roots tightened suddenly as if stimulated.

The student who was entangled immediately cried out in pain.

Du Feng's forehead was beaded with cold sweat: "Brother Du!"

The team members behind him hurriedly raised the Soul Cleansing Lamp.

Du Feng gritted his teeth and shouted, "Don't shine the light on the roots, shine it on me!"

The silvery light fell.

The black energy was gradually forced to reveal the wound.

Du Feng's face grew paler and paler, but his hand, which was pressed against the roots, never loosened: "Look carefully, the thing we should really be afraid of is this, not them."

hum!

Those few tiny roots slowly loosened.

The children fell to the ground.

A little boy covered his reddened wrist and looked up at Du Feng.

"Uncle, you're injured."

Du Feng grinned: "It's okay, Uncle has thick skin."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and said, "Take the students and evacuate. Don't leave a single one behind."

In the center of the playground.

Lin Qingxue and Chen Xueli finally arrived under the ginkgo tree.

The base of the tree trunk.

A ball of cyan-gold spiritual light slowly pulsed.

It was a newly formed spiritual tree heart.

The heartwood is surrounded by a dense network of roots.

Inside the heartwood.

Lin Qingxue saw many messy scenes.

Heavy rain, screams, and crowds scattered by the beast tide.

Children hiding in the shade of trees, and long ago.

A little girl with a schoolbag on her back hugs a ginkgo tree trunk and whispers a wish.

"Grandpa Ginkgo, I have an exam tomorrow. Tell me not to be nervous."

The screen kept flickering.

Children from different generations stand under the tree reading, playing, and taking graduation photos.

And all those laughs, cries, and wishes were remembered by this tree.

When the fourth tide arrives.

It finally developed intelligence.

It saw the spiritual tide, saw the alarms lighting up all over the city, saw the waning moon in the sky, and sensed the dangerous aura in the distance.

So it became afraid.

It didn't know how to protect these children.

It can only extend its roots to every corner.

It confines all students to what it considers the safest place.

"I see…"

Lin Qingxue spoke softly, and Chen Xueli looked at her: "Can we communicate?"

Lin Qingxue did not answer; she walked step by step toward the heart of the tree.

The roots, sensing her approach, stood up, and Chen Xueli stepped in front of her to block her way.

"I'll go with you."

Lin Qingxue shook her head: "The tree's heart holds its memories. If there are too many people, it will be even more afraid."

Chen Xueli held the crimson token and remained silent for several breaths.

Finally, she raised her hand and pressed on Lin Qingxue's shoulder.

"If it dares to hurt you while I'm out here, I'll burn it all down to the ground."

Lin Qingxue smiled and said, "Don't rush to burn it. It needs to stay here and continue to protect the child."

She stepped into the azure-gold spiritual light emanating from the heart of the tree.

The next moment, a jumble of chaotic thoughts rushed into her consciousness.

Don't go, it's dangerous outside. Don't leave the tree. Stay, all of you stay.

Lin Qingxue felt as if she were standing in an endless ginkgo forest.

Children were running all around, some of them wearing old school uniforms.

Some were wearing the current Psionic Academy uniforms.

But everyone was running away into the distance.

The ginkgo tree's branches and leaves stretched out as far as they could.

I wanted to stop them.

Lin Qingxue stood under the tree. She did not immediately disperse the branches, but looked up at the sky full of ginkgo leaves.

"You remember them, don't you?"

The ginkgo forest trembled slightly.

"They grew up under your tree. Some cried here when they didn't do well on their exams, and some said goodbye here on their graduation day."

"You want to protect them, but if you leave them here, they won't be able to grow up."

Countless ginkgo leaves hovered in mid-air.

Lin Qingxue's voice was very soft: "True protection is not about keeping everyone by your side, but about giving them the courage to go out."

hum!

In the ginkgo forest.

A gentle breeze blew by.

Leaves fell softly from the sky.

Lin Qingxue saw a little girl with a schoolbag standing under the tree waving at her: "Grandpa Ginkgo said it knows."

The image gradually faded away.

In reality, the lapis lazuli patterns on the ginkgo tree trunk began to gradually smooth out.

But just then, a piercing electrical sound suddenly came from the direction of the school's broadcasting station.

It's sizzling!

Immediately afterwards, a young but nervous voice echoed throughout the entire campus.

"Can the teacher hear me?"

Chen Xueli looked up.

On the loudspeaker, a student trapped on the top floor of the teaching building held an old microphone, his voice trembling.

"I am Lu Xiaochuan from Class 7 of Senior Three."

"Don't be afraid, everyone. Our teacher said that in case of danger, the younger students should go first."

"Grandpa Tree isn't a bad person; he just wants to protect us."

"Let's line up and go out one by one. Don't push or cry. Someone is coming to pick us up."

The broadcast paused briefly, and then the voices of students gradually filled the teaching building.

"I'm supporting my younger brother, who's in first grade."

"The people in the underground shelter have come out!"

"Teacher, we can walk here too!"

"Grandpa Ginkgo, thank you."

Emergency lights lit up behind the window; they weren't the Soul Cleansing Lights of the Ninth Bureau, but rather the spiritual energy lights lit by the students and teachers themselves.

Warm lights streamed through the teaching building.

It landed on the roots of the ginkgo tree.

The enormous ginkgo tree swayed its branches and leaves slowly.

Between the tree canopy.

Countless cyan-gold specks of light drifted down.

The roots no longer entangled the wall.

One by one, they retreated back into the ground.

The first passageway in front of the school gate slowly opened.

Chen Xueli stood under the tree and picked up her communicator: "Attention all teams, the root system is beginning to break free of blockade. Immediately organize the students to evacuate. Remember, do not disturb the ginkgo tree; it is the guardian spirit plant of this school."

An hour later, the last student was led out of the campus.

On the streets outside the No. 1 Middle School, many parents were holding their children, crying so hard they couldn't speak.

Some students looked back at the campus, where the century-old ginkgo tree still stood in the center of the playground.

It just no longer spreads its canopy to block out the sky.

Countless branches and leaves closed up, the roots quietly disappeared into the soil, and a faint lapis lazuli pattern appeared on the trunk.

Like a gentle, protective mark.

When Su Wan arrived at the scene, Chen Xueli was standing in front of the school gate, directing the team members to put away the battle flags.

Du Feng leaned against an armored vehicle, his arm wrapped in Soul Cleansing Bandages again. Lin Qingxue's face was somewhat pale, but she still stood under the ginkgo tree.

She reached out her hand, and a ginkgo leaf slowly drifted down and landed in her palm.

The edges of the leaves gleamed with a faint moon-white light.

Su Wan approached and asked, "Is it resolved?"

Chen Xueli nodded: "Students and teachers, 1,426 people, all evacuated."

"Twenty-three people were slightly injured, forty-seven people were overdrawn on their spiritual energy, and no one died."

Su Wan breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at the ginkgo tree.

"What about it?"

Lin Qingxue said softly, "It is willing to stay, and it will not trap the students again. But if the Black Tide enters Linjiang again, it will block the school first."

Du Feng looked at the tree and suddenly said, "Let's put up a sign for it."

Chen Xueli looked at him.

Du Feng scratched his head: "We can't just let it guard the school without even having an identity."

Su Wan thought for a moment, then took out her tablet and entered a line of information into the Linjiang City Archives of the Ninth Bureau.

[Number: Linjiang-001]

【Name: Learning Ginkgo】

[Category: City Guardian Plant]

[Area under protection: Linjiang No.1 Middle School and surrounding school district.]

[Note: This is not a hostile situation; unauthorized harm is prohibited.]

The moment the data entry is completed.

The branches and leaves of the ginkgo tree swayed gently.

Ginkgo leaves fell onto the playground, as if in response.

Su Wan looked at the newly created file on the screen and then looked up towards the direction of Black Dragon Mountain.

There, shrouded in mist, the ethereal image of the ten-petaled blue lotus has vanished into the depths of the mountains and rivers.