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

The office fell silent again. This problem was even more troublesome than Changbai Mountain.

The Tiger King of Changbai Mountain has gone out of control and can be classified as an enemy of humanity, but the Qinglian Forbidden Zone is different.

That being has not yet actively invaded human cities.

Even Bai Shanjun's suppression of the abandoned well crack in Linjiang City and Hei Huwang's sealing of the Blackwood Snake Valley's broken monument area, in a sense, helped humanity prevent the spread of pollution.

This is the most troublesome part.

Wang Jun couldn't help but say, "Director Zhou, although the Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone is not out of control, it is expanding."

"Blackwood Snake Valley has been occupied by Black Dragon Mountain, and the abandoned well in Linjiang City is now guarded by Lord White Mountain."

"If this continues, those sacred lands around Lingnan will eventually fall under their control."

Zhou Zhenshan announced, "Starting today, the restricted areas across the country will be reclassified."

Old Ye and Wang Jun were shocked.

Zhou Zhenshan continued, "The first type is the observable contact restricted area, represented by the Qinglian Restricted Area of ​​Heilong Mountain."

"These restricted areas have a clear sense of territory, highly intelligent rulers, rules, and do not actively attack human cities."

"In principle, we should not provoke such restricted areas, nor should we venture into the core area without authorization. We should maintain a minimum level of observation."

Wang Jun nodded and quickly took notes.

Zhou Zhenshan's voice continued: "The second category is high-risk expansion-type restricted areas, represented by the Qinling Mountains, Shennongjia, and Kunlun Mountains."

"These restricted areas are gaining power, becoming organized, and pose a risk of future expansion."

"For these restricted areas, establish isolation zones, evacuate the surrounding population in advance, and strictly prohibit awakened civilians from entering."

Zhou Zhenshan paused for a moment at this point.

His gaze fell on the battle report of Changbai Mountain, and his voice turned cold: "Category III, Uncontrolled Pollution-Type Restricted Area."

"Representative, Changbai Mountain."

"These types of restricted areas lack stable order and are characterized by killing, devouring, and the spread of pollution."

"Highest level of danger."

"Strategic firepower can be used if necessary."

Wang Jun's heart sank.

He knew that from this moment on, Changbai Mountain had been completely pushed to the opposite side of humanity.

Elder Ye remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Should we continue transmitting intelligence from the Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone?"

Zhou Zhenshan thought for a moment and said, "There is no need to actively transmit the battle report from Changbai Mountain."

"That Lord of the Azure Lotus may not care about human casualties; rashly passing on the message would seem like a sign of weakness."

Wang Jun asked, "So we're not going to do anything?"

Zhou Zhenshan shook his head: "Let Lu Cang continue to be in charge of sealing off the abandoned wells in Linjiang City."

"Tell him that the status quo should be maintained, and that he can maintain a minimum level of information exchange with Lord Hakusan, but he must not provoke him."

"Also, keep a close eye on Lin Qingxue."

Elder Ye's eyes flickered: "You suspect that her connection with the Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone is deepening?"

Zhou Zhenshan nodded: "The second spiritual energy tide is about to arrive. Her ability to safely emerge from the Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone may not be unrelated to it."

The room fell silent.

Everyone knows that the next seven days will be the most dangerous period for the entire world.

……

at the same time.

Linjiang City, the outskirts of an abandoned village.

A 30-mile-long firebreak has been established.

Numerous military searchlights illuminated the mountains and forests, armored vehicles were parked along the outer roads, and layers of cordon lines blocked the area.

Lu Cang stood in front of the temporary command post, looking towards the abandoned well in the distance, his face somewhat grim.

The white tiger lay prone beside the abandoned well. Its massive body was like a mountain, and even from a distance, Lu Cang could still feel the oppressive aura of a demon king.

A team member walked over and whispered, "Team Leader Lu, the orders from headquarters have arrived."

Lu Cang took the document, and after reading it, his expression became even more complicated. When he reached the end, he couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

What kind of situation is this? I was just chasing after the White Tiger King not long ago.

Now, things have gotten even worse; he's actually going to have to maintain an information exchange with this demon king who once devoured humans.

No matter how frustrated he felt, he understood that headquarters' judgment was correct; this contaminated crack did indeed need Bai Shanjun to guard it.

Lu Cang remained silent for a moment, picked up a simplified pollution detection report, and walked towards the abandoned well.

100 meters away.

He stopped in his tracks.

Lord Baishan didn't open his eyes, but coldly said, "Human, what are you doing here again?"

Lu Cang said expressionlessly, "Here's a pollution test report for you."

Lord Baishan didn't even lift his eyelids: "This king is illiterate."

Lu Cang's forehead vein throbbed. He took a deep breath and suppressed the urge to strike: "Then I'll read it to you."

Lord Baishan then opened one eye, his tiger-like pupils carrying a hint of mockery: "I dislike noise."

Lu Cang's face darkened further. If it weren't for instructions from headquarters, he wouldn't have bothered with any more words and simply and clearly explained the contents of the test report to Bai Shanjun.

After listening, Bai Shanjun remained silent for a moment, then said coldly, "What's below the crack hasn't actually come out; what has come out are just scum attracted by the pollution."

Lu Cang frowned: "You mean the source of the pollution is deeper inside?"

Lord Baishan scoffed, "If you humans want to go down and see, I won't stop you."

Lu Cang said coldly, "And then they all died down there?"

Bai Shanjun scoffed, "You're not stupid after all."

Lu Cang almost laughed out of anger. This white tiger king really had a sharp tongue, but what was frustrating was that he really couldn't do anything about it.

Lord Baishan closed his eyes again and said in a low voice, "Tell your people that the second tide is coming soon."

"This crack will be ten times more dangerous than it is now. If you want to survive, retreat another ten miles from the outer perimeter."

Lu Cang's heart skipped a beat: "Are you sure?"

Baishanjun did not answer; it simply looked up at the night sky.

At this moment, a faint purple halo has appeared around the edge of the moon in the sky.

Lu Cang followed its gaze, and his expression changed.

……

Lingnan Awakeners Academy.

Inside the medical room.

Lin Qingxue sat by the hospital bed, her face somewhat pale.

She had expended too much energy during the day, and her spiritual power was almost completely depleted.

But after nightfall, the wisp of blue light in her palm began to regenerate on its own.

It's even purer than before.

Su Wan stood to the side, holding a testing instrument in her hand, her brows furrowed: "Your spiritual energy fluctuations have become stronger again."

Lin Qingxue looked down at her hands, where a blue light was gathering.

A moment later, it transformed into a tiny lotus flower phantom.

The lotus flower was only the size of a fingernail.

The moment it appeared, the air in the entire medical room seemed to become a little fresher.

Su Wan's pupils suddenly contracted: "What is this?"

Lin Qingxue herself was stunned.

She could sense that this small, illusory blue lotus was not the power she had awakened.

Rather, it was the lingering special aura within her body that changed on its own after being stimulated by the moonlight.

Su Wan immediately said, "Don't tell anyone else about this for now."

Lin Qingxue looked up at her, and Su Wan said with a serious expression: "The Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone is too special now."

"If this power within you were to spread, someone would use you as a tool to communicate with the Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone."

"Some people will also see you as a threat."

Lin Qingxue was silent for a moment, then quickly nodded: "I understand."

She looked down at the illusory blue lotus in her palm.

The illusory blue lotus was exactly the same as the giant blue lotus she had seen in the documents before.

Lin Qingxue couldn't recall how she had become connected with that special being; it was as if her memory was missing.

And indeed, this was the case. The more powerful Lin Qingxue became, the greater the influence of the green lotus aura that Chu Zhou left in her body would be on her spirit.

It was like a seed that took root deep in Lin Qingxue's soul, and in the end, Lin Qingxue would be completely replaced by the spiritual imprint and become Chu Zhou's companion.

……

At the same time.

In eastern Lingnan, there is the Bajiquan Martial Arts School.

Chen Wuji stood in the center of the courtyard, the moonlight falling on him.

His body was surging with energy, like a furnace awakening.

Chen Xueli and Chen Ziyang stood not far away, looking nervous.

Just now, they received news that the Changbai Mountain Hunting Operation had failed.

Even with Qin Zhenyuan, a fourth-tier expert, personally taking action, he still failed to kill the Tiger King.

This news has had a huge impact on the entire community of martial arts practitioners.

Chen Ziyang couldn't help but say, "Grandpa, even the Ninth Inning couldn't stop those restricted areas, what are we martial artists going to do in the future?"

Chen Wuji did not answer.

He was just looking at the moon in the sky.

After a long silence, he finally spoke: "Therefore, martial artists can no longer roam freely."

Chen Xueli's expression shifted: "What does Grandpa mean?"

Chen Wuji let out a breath: "Notify all the martial arts schools in Lingnan."

"Baji, Xingyi, Bagua, Tongbei, Taiji."

"Come to the Chen family in three days to hold the Lingnan Martial Arts Conference."

Chen Ziyang's eyes lit up: "Grandpa, you're going to establish a Martial Alliance?"

Chen Wuji did not deny it: "When chaos comes, if everyone fights on their own, martial artists in the civilian world will be eliminated sooner or later."

As he said this, he looked toward Black Dragon Mountain, a deep sense of apprehension appearing in his eyes.

"Moreover, there will be more and more strong people in this world going forward. If humanity doesn't band together, it will really be waiting to die."