Extraterrestrial demons invaded; I laid the groundwork eight years in advance.

Shuguang Group headquarters, first floor lobby.

Reporters began gathering at dawn. Some carried cameras, some held recorders, and some broadcast live into their phones, crowding the entire hall.

As one of the world's top ten companies, Shuguang Group is usually under the spotlight, but today's atmosphere is unusually different—all media outlets have been notified that there is a "major event" to be announced, but the content remains shrouded in secrecy.

"What do you think this is about? Shuguang Group has never held a global press conference like this before," a bespectacled male reporter asked his colleague in a low voice.

"I don't know. But it's definitely something big. I heard that hundreds of media outlets from around the world have come, including several major international media outlets."

"Is it related to what the Bureau announced yesterday?" A young female reporter leaned over, her phone still live-streaming, with comments scrolling rapidly. "Yesterday, the Extraordinary Bureau officially stepped into the limelight and announced the resurgence of spiritual energy and the invasion of demons. The entire internet exploded."

"It's definitely related. The Administration has announced a strategic partnership with Dawn Group—when have you ever seen the term 'strategic partnership' used by an official and a private company? Moreover, at yesterday's founding ceremony, Li Zhou personally admitted that the Dawn organization, which fights against monsters, was funded by Dawn behind the scenes."

"Shh—" someone made a shushing gesture, "It's about to start."

The lights in the hall suddenly dimmed, and the logo of the Dawn Group gleamed brightly on the stage in front. The large screen in the background displayed a simple blue and white image with only seven words: "Global Press Conference".

Second floor, lounge.

Li Zhou stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down through the one-way glass at the dense crowd below. Hundreds of reporters, hundreds of cameras, and even more mobile phone lenses broadcasting live. The eyes of the entire world were on this scene.

He lightly rubbed his fingers against his trousers. His palms were slightly sweaty.

He was a little nervous, but not because of stage fright; he had weathered far too many storms. The moment eight years ago, when his business failed and he stood on the Suzhou River bridge, terminally ill, was the moment of true despair. Since then, Shen Bai had given him a second life, provided him with the template of an apostle, and placed him in the position of chairman of the Dawn Group. What kind of situation hadn't he seen over the years?

  

But today is different.

What he is about to do will change the course of all human civilization.

Yesterday, the Extraordinary Management Bureau officially stepped into the limelight.

At the press conference, Director Chen Zhengping revealed the truth behind the spiritual energy revival and the monster invasion—the red light was not due to atmospheric anomalies, and the "monsters" were not just rumors. The Administration also released a report on the first large-scale invasion: thousands of rifts and tens of thousands of monsters.

The news caused an uproar online. Some panicked, some questioned, some were angry, but most chose to believe. Because there was so much evidence: the videos from the scene, the eyewitness testimonies, and the gradually awakening ordinary people all pointed to the same fact—the world has truly changed.

Today, Shuguang Group wants to give this foundation another push.

Li Zhou turned around and looked at himself in the mirror. He was wearing a dark gray suit, a white shirt, and a blue tie. His hair was neatly combed, and his face was thin but energetic. At thirty-one years old, he looked much more mature than his actual age.

He recalled what Shen Bai had told him last night: "Tomorrow, when you stand on that stage, every word you say will be heard by the whole world. Don't be sentimental, don't play the victim, just state the facts. Humanity's destiny is in the hands of each and every one of us; we are merely handing over the key."

Li Zhou took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the lounge.

It was exactly 10:00 AM.

Li Zhou walked onto the stage. The lights shone on him, and hundreds of cameras were simultaneously pointed at him. The hall fell silent, with only the sound of camera shutters and the low hum of the live streaming equipment.

He stood in the center of the podium, his hands resting naturally on the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"Good morning, fellow journalists and viewers around the world watching this press conference via live stream. I am Li Zhou, Chairman of Shuguang Group."

His voice wasn't loud, but it traveled through the microphone throughout the hall and onto hundreds of millions of screens around the world.

"Yesterday, the Extraordinary Affairs Bureau released a basic overview of the spiritual energy resurgence and the demonic invasion. As a strategic partner of the Bureau, Dawn Group is holding this press conference today to address the public's most pressing concerns—what can ordinary people do? How can they protect themselves and their families?"

He paused for a moment, his gaze becoming even calmer.

The answer is: cultivation.

The large screen switched to a different format. The names and descriptions of three exercises appeared on the screen: Basic Body Strengthening, Basic Breathing, and Basic Meditation. The key points of each exercise were concisely explained below.

"Starting today, Dawn Group will release three basic cultivation methods to the world free of charge. Anyone can learn them; no qualifications or special conditions are required. These three cultivation methods are sufficient to support an ordinary person to reach the peak of the ninth level of the Apprentice Realm—meaning they will have basic self-defense capabilities during a demonic invasion."

A commotion broke out in the hall. Reporters whispered among themselves, and comments scrolled rapidly across the screen.

Li Zhou raised his hand, signaling for silence.

"I know you have many questions. I will answer them one by one. But before that, I would like to say three things."

He raised the first finger.

"First, these three cultivation techniques were not created by the Dawn Group. The creator is someone else, who does not wish to reveal his identity, and I respect his wishes. But I must tell you that for a long time in the past, it was this person who foresaw the revival of spiritual energy and the invasion of demons, and made long-term preparations for it. The establishment and operation of the Dawn Group, the Dawn Organization, and the Extraordinary Administration Bureau are all inseparable from his efforts."

The hall fell silent.

"Secondly," Li Zhou held up his second finger, "the Dawn Group and the Extraordinary Management Bureau have established a comprehensive cooperation mechanism. The accompanying guidance materials for the cultivation method, frequently asked questions, and cultivation precautions will be simultaneously launched on the Dawn Group's official website and the Bureau's official website. Anyone who encounters problems in cultivation can get help through these channels."

"Third," he held up his third finger, his voice slightly low, "cultivation is not a game. It requires daily perseverance, the courage to face fear, and the responsibility to protect others. When you truly stand before that door, you will understand—every drop of sweat you shed will become someone's reason to live."

He remained silent for three seconds.

"I hope that everyone who begins their training will remember this: every time you train, you are preparing for a possible battle. It's not about becoming a hero, but about having the ability to protect what you believe is worth protecting when monsters appear before you. That's all."

After Li Zhou finished speaking, the audience fell silent for a moment. It wasn't an awkward silence, but rather that his words had resonated with everyone, requiring a little time to process.

"Next, I will answer your questions."

The silence in the hall was broken by the sound of camera shutters. Countless hands were raised, like a small forest.