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

boom!

Firepower positions several kilometers away erupted instantly.

Several missiles, trailing plumes of fire, tore through the night sky and hurtled toward the snow-capped mountains.

The tiger king of Changbai Mountain stood there.

It only turned around abruptly just as the missile was about to hit the ground.

Its enormous body rushed into the forest at a speed completely out of proportion to its size.

Rumble!

Missiles struck, snow-capped mountains collapsed, large swaths of snow were blasted into the sky, and terrifying shockwaves swept around.

Inside the command center, everyone stared intently at the screen.

"Hit area, target signal disappeared!"

Someone couldn't help but reveal a look of joy: "It worked?"

Lei Zhenyue didn't speak; instead, his expression grew increasingly grim because things had gone too smoothly.

If this tiger king were so easy to lock down, it wouldn't have been able to grow to where it is today.

Sure enough, the next second, a hurried voice came from the communicator.

"Report! The third transport team has been attacked!"

"The target isn't over there on the snow-capped mountains; it's to the west!"

The expressions on everyone's faces in the meeting room changed drastically. The figure on the snow-capped mountain had just been a decoy.

Lei Zhenyue clenched his fist tightly: "Damn it!"

On the west side of Changbai Mountain, several military transport vehicles have been overturned along a transport route.

The ground was covered in blood, and a giant tiger, its body pure white with blood-red stripes, stood atop the wreckage of the vehicle.

It was carrying the corpse of a third-tier awakened being in its mouth.

Crack! Its bones shattered, and blood dripped from its fangs. It raised its head and gazed at the snow-capped mountains in the distance, where flames soared into the sky.

A hint of human-like mockery appeared in the tiger's eyes, as if it were laughing at human stupidity.

The next moment, it swallowed the corpse of the awakened one.

boom!

An even more violent aura emanated from its body.

It is at the fourth tier, not at the peak of the third tier at all, but has already stepped into the fourth tier, and is only one step away from the middle of the fourth tier.

at the same time.

All over Kyushu.

The wave of awakening continues to spread.

Linjiang City, Third People's Hospital.

In just one day, the Reiki Adaptation Department has admitted over a hundred patients.

Some people had persistent high fevers, some had muscle swelling, and some lost control and injured their family members after regaining consciousness.

Some people fell into a coma, muttering strange, unintelligible language.

In the hospital corridor, a doctor looked at the latest medical records and said with a grim expression, "How can there be so many?"

A nurse nearby whispered, "Director, it's not just our hospital; other hospitals are also overflowing."

"The Ninth Bureau says that Reiki adaptations are increasing nationwide."

The doctor remained silent for a long time before finally sighing, "This world has truly changed."

At the same time, the Academy of Sciences' Psionic Research Institute.

Mr. Ye stood in front of the huge data screen, his brows furrowed.

On the screen were statistical charts showing the concentration of spiritual energy, the number of awakened individuals, and the growth rate of exotic beasts across the country.

A young researcher's voice trembled: "Professor Ye, the data is wrong."

Old Ye turned his head: "What's wrong?"

The researcher pointed to the screen and said, "At the current rate of increase in the concentration of spiritual energy in the world, it is theoretically impossible to support the simultaneous evolution of so many alien beasts and awakened beings."

"Especially the major restricted areas, Qinling Mountains, Changbai Mountains, Shennongjia, Kunlun Mountains, East China Sea, and Heilong Mountain."

"The rate of biological evolution in these places is significantly ten times or even dozens of times faster than in the outside world."

Elder Ye's expression turned serious as he spoke, "You mean, these forbidden zones don't simply absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth?"

The researcher nodded, and said nervously, "I suspect that beneath every large restricted area lies some kind of source of spiritual energy, perhaps even an ancient spiritual vein."

"Or something deeper."

The meeting room fell silent.

Old Ye looked at the restricted areas marked in red on the screen, and after a long while, he finally spoke: "Pull up all the data on the underground structures of the restricted areas."

"Highlight Heilongshan."

The young researcher was taken aback: "Black Dragon Mountain?"

Old Master Ye's eyes were deep: "Yes, I always felt that the green lotus could grow so fast."

"It's definitely not just because of the resurgence of spiritual energy; there must be something hidden beneath Black Dragon Mountain."

The young researcher was shocked when he heard this.

Black Dragon Mountain, Qinglian Forbidden Zone.

These words now represent the highest level of the unknown within the entire Ninth Bureau and the Academy of Sciences.

The existence of this forbidden zone is different from other forbidden zones. Other forbidden zones are inhabited by animals and strange beasts, but this forbidden zone is inhabited by a mutated "demon lotus".

The ancients often praised the lotus. In Zhou Dunyi's "On the Love of Lotus" from the Song Dynasty, it is written: "The lotus emerges from the mud yet remains unstained, washed by clear ripples yet not seductive, hollow inside yet straight outside, without creeping or branching, its fragrance grows more pure as it spreads, standing tall and clean, it can be admired from afar but not touched."

The lotus is considered the noble of flowers. Perhaps because of its nature, this forbidden zone has maintained a neutral stance since the revival of spiritual energy.

However, this being also has the greatest uncertainty, as it is currently the only known beast in the world to have reached the fifth tier.

Old Ye stared at the screen, his expression grave, and said, "Retrieve all the geological data around Black Dragon Mountain."

"Including earthquake records from the past fifty years, groundwater data, mineral vein distribution, and karst cave structure."

"Also, contact the Lingnan branch."

"We need to establish observation points around Heilong Mountain."

The young researcher's expression changed slightly: "Elder Ye, Director Zhou previously gave an order that no one is allowed to enter the Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone on their own initiative."

Old Ye nodded: "I know, so instead of entering the restricted area, we will choose to establish an observation point a hundred miles outside the restricted area."

"In addition, all equipment must be non-invasive, without drilling, probe deployment, or creating psionic stimuli; we will only observe."

At this point, Elder Ye said seriously, "At least we must figure out one thing now: what exactly is supporting the growth of that green lotus beneath Black Dragon Mountain?"

Soon, the application was sent to the headquarters of the Ninth Bureau. After reading it, Zhou Zhenshan did not approve it immediately.

He sat in his office, silent. On the table in front of him were two documents, one of which was the battle report of the Changbai Mountain Hunting King Project.

The first night of the King Hunting Plan failed.

The Tiger King's true strength has been reassessed to be between the early and mid-stages of the fourth tier, and it possesses advanced hunting intelligence.

The other document is an application from the Chinese Academy of Sciences regarding the source of underground spiritual energy in Heilong Mountain.

Zhou Zhenshan rubbed his temples. Changbai Mountain was already troublesome enough, but Heilong Mountain couldn't be completely ignored either.

Because that lotus plant grew too fast, so fast that it completely defied existing patterns.

Just then, the office door opened, and Wang Jun walked in. He said, "Director Zhou, has the application from the Academy of Sciences been approved?"

Zhou Zhenshan handed over the document.

After reading it, Wang Jun's expression also turned serious: "Old Ye and the others want to explore the underground of Black Dragon Mountain?"