Douluo Dragon King: I'm creating a golden age behind the scenes!

However, to everyone's surprise, just a few days later, the number of infections had reached a terrifying 20,000, and even several cities around Qingling City had seen the same cases.

In an instant, several cities were gripped by fear and panic ensued.

Finally, the severity of the epidemic and its terrifying transmissibility, like a bombshell, drew the attention of the military leadership.

Military leaders were well aware that in a tourist city like Qingling, with its large flow of visitors, there was no guarantee that some of the departing tourists might also be infected.

If the epidemic is not controlled in a timely and effective manner, it will spread rapidly like wildfire, endangering the safety of more than a dozen surrounding cities.

Therefore, they held an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures.

After a heated discussion, they decided to mobilize healing-type soul masters from all over the country to form a powerful rescue team to go to Qingling City for support, and to notify all regions to strictly screen the incoming population to see if they are carrying the virus.

In an instant, healing-type soul masters from all over responded to the call and converged on Qingling City from all directions.

Every Soul Master, with a sincere heart dedicated to saving lives and healing the wounded, embarks on this challenging journey with their unique healing abilities.

Xie Jiayun, who was in the Western Legion, also received orders and rushed to Qingling City.

Qingling City, Quarantine Camp

The makeshift, giant isolation camp was shrouded in the pale light of the soul-guiding lamps, and the air was filled with the heavy smell of disinfectant and an indescribable stench that was a mixture of decay and a metallic odor.

Inside the largest medical tent in the center of the camp, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost stagnant. This place, which should have been the source of hope for resolving the current epidemic, now resembled more of a morgue or laboratory.

In an instant, countless renowned healing-type Soul Masters and experts gathered here. These people formed a circle, each wearing a heavy Soul Guidance Protective Mask. Through the specially made lenses, one could only see pairs of eyes filled with astonishment, and even a hint of fear.

They stared intently at the three gruesome corpses on the hospital bed in the center of the tent.

These masters, who are usually highly respected or have superb skills and are used to all kinds of difficult and complicated diseases, seemed to be frozen in place at this moment, even their breathing was extremely light, as if they were worried about disturbing something.

After the three corpses went berserk at noon, purplish-black patches began to spread rapidly across their bodies, eventually causing their deaths. Their bodies were then subjected to rampant decomposition. During the day, they could still be discerned as human, but by nightfall, they were completely unrecognizable!

The skin and muscle tissue on the corpse at this time showed a state of complete corrosion by strong acid, with large areas of ulceration and liquefaction, exposing the bare white bones, which were also covered with honeycomb-like corrosion holes.

The original purplish-black patches had completely covered the entire body, becoming even darker, almost ink-black, and like some kind of viscous, constantly wriggling substance, slowly "flowing" on the surface of the corpse, emitting a faint, unsettling fluctuation of soul power.

This is an effect that cannot be achieved by natural death or known disease; it is more like some kind of curse from hell, greedily devouring the remains of the dead.

The on-site commander was Major General Yue Jun, who came from the Angel Family of the Southern Legion. This soldier, known for his calmness and iron-bloodedness, also had a solemn expression as if cast in iron.

He was dressed in a crisp general's uniform, the golden angel family crest gleaming under the light, but this imposing presence could not suppress the deathly aura that permeated the tent.

He stood beside Xie Jiayun, his sharp gaze sweeping over the three gruesome corpses before turning to his colleague, who remained relatively calm even in such a dire situation, and asked in a composed voice, "Colonel Xie, what are your thoughts?"

His voice was low, but it was exceptionally clear in the deathly silent tent, and everyone's eyes instantly focused on Xie Jiayun.

Due to the short notice, many healing masters had not yet arrived. At this moment, Xie Jiayun was the healing-type soul master with the highest cultivation and the strongest healing ability in the camp.

Although his military rank was only colonel, his healing abilities were no weaker than those of a titled Douluo of the healing type, and with the experience and reputation he had accumulated in various regions over the past few months, Le Jun and a group of experts were now taking him as their lead and highly valuing his opinions.

Xie Jiayun was silent for a few seconds, as if she was organizing her thoughts, or perhaps recalling the details of the treatment during the day.

He spoke slowly, his voice sounding somewhat muffled through the mask, yet carrying an undeniable gravity: "This plague... is the most terrifying I've seen in over a decade." These words were like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, making the already tense atmosphere even more strained.

"We've already calculated it," he said, pointing to the corpse, "from infection and onset of the disease to becoming like this, it only took three days. Three days..."

He repeated this despairing figure, "This gives us far too little time! The treatment window is practically nonexistent, and once patients show obvious symptoms, the deterioration happens far faster than we imagined. However..."

Le Jun frowned even more deeply. He keenly caught the turning point in Xie Jiayun's words and asked urgently, "But what?"

Everyone's hearts were in their throats, hoping that this powerful healing-type Soul Master could bring a glimmer of hope or a clue.

Xie Jiayun's gaze returned to the corpse flowing with an inky substance.

"However..." He paused, his voice carrying an unprecedented solemnity and doubt, "When I was treating patients, I discovered a strange phenomenon: all the patients who died within three days have one thing in common—they are all Soul Masters."

Logically speaking, regardless of their cultivation level, Soul Masters should have significantly higher physical fitness and immunity than ordinary people. However, they are dying before the other infected individuals, which is extremely strange.

Therefore, I have repeatedly examined their soul power origin and the core of the lesion, and it has long been completely eroded.

The "virus" causing this pandemic is less a virus that arises in nature and more a...extremely potent "toxin"!

"Toxins?!" Le Jun and the experts were stunned. This judgment was completely different from their previous understanding.

"That's right," Xie Jiayun's voice was resolute, "its mode of action, its corrosive effect on the source of soul power, and its stubbornness in ignoring conventional treatments all fit the characteristics of a highly toxic substance. Moreover..."

He emphasized his words, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: "It's unlike any natural toxin we know of!"

He raised his hand and pointed to the dark substance on the surface of the corpse that seemed to writhe like a living thing: "Look at this corrosiveness, look at its abnormal reaction to the fluctuations of soul power."

Even the most potent venom from spirit beasts, natural toxins, have a relatively 'natural' energy form, following certain rules. But this thing…”

Xie Jiayun's fingertips seemed to gather a faint but pure healing soul power, which she carefully approached the surface of the corpse. The dark substance immediately surged violently as if startled, and even tried to erode the soul power.

He quickly withdrew his finger, his voice becoming even lower, carrying a chilling undertone of revealing the truth: "It seems more... more like a toxin that has been processed a second time by a Soul Master!"

Its 'craving' for soul power and life force seems to have been deliberately designed and modified! Like... a meticulously crafted soul-guided weapon!

"Man-made modification?!" Major General Le Jun's expression changed instantly, and a sharp killing intent flashed in his eyes.

A collective gasp filled the air, and the experts' expressions shifted from surprise to horror.

If this is not a natural disaster, but a man-made one... then the meaning and threat behind it will be more terrifying than the plague itself!