After the internet was disconnected, I connected to the magic world.

Half an hour later, in the small conference room of the Special Affairs Department.

Smoke swirled around.

Seven or eight people sat around the conference table, each with a report in front of them, and none of them looked too happy.

"That's the situation," Chen Feng said, tapping the table to break the silence.

"The preliminary test results from the North City show that the strength increase is more than twice that of an ordinary person, and it has the ability to communicate across regions without a medium. The medium is an ordinary peach wood plaque."

Nationwide, 42 holders have been identified so far, and the number is still rising, with an average of five to seven new people added every day.

Let's all share our thoughts.

As soon as he finished speaking, the old professor sitting on the left pushed up his glasses and spoke first.

He is Zhang Bingwen, the chief technical advisor of the Special Investigations Bureau. He is a physics researcher who has spent his entire life dealing with various anomalies.

"Director Chen, let me start with the technical aspects," Zhang Bingwen said in a hoarse voice.

"Based on the spectrum data transmitted back from the North City, this token has no known energy fluctuations and no electronic components."

If the communication function is real, then it uses a technological system that we have absolutely no understanding of.

"Either it's alien technology far superior to ours, or... it really is, as that person said, extraordinary power."

When it comes to the phrase "extraordinary power," Zhang Bingwen himself finds it somewhat absurd.

But the facts were undeniable, leaving him no choice but to believe them.

"Extraordinary? Old Zhang, are you getting worse as you get older?"

The man in military uniform on the right frowned. He was Zhao Jianguo, a liaison officer sent by the military, a typical pragmatist.

"What internal energy and what other world? I think it's more like a new type of mind control method."

"It might be the work of some foreign force, using drugs and hypnosis to implant false memories and then secretly modifying their bodies, all with the aim of disrupting our social order."

"Old Zhao, can mind control double a person's strength? Can it allow dozens of people to chat simultaneously across different regions?"

Zhang Bingwen countered, "What kind of hypnosis can achieve this level? Our own technology can't even reach that level, yet foreign forces can?"

If they really had that technology, would they need to do this secretly?

Zhao Jianguo was speechless for a moment.

Indeed, if it were truly foreign-made black technology, its level would already be far ahead, and there would be no need to use such roundabout methods.

"But we can't just jump to the level of the extraordinary." Zhao Jianguo was still unconvinced. "That's too idealistic."

"Whether it's idealism or not, we have to look at the facts," Zhang Bingwen said in a deep voice.

"The fact is, we can't explain this with our current science. Instead of deceiving ourselves, we should assume it's true first and then take appropriate action."

While the two were arguing, Chen Feng remained silent, only flipping through the interrogation records in his hand.

Wang Hu's explanation was very detailed, describing the geography, power structures, cultivation system, and even the NPC dialogue patterns of the Nine Provinces world in great detail.

Dozens of people simultaneously having the same dream with the same theme? And they can even interact in real time?

It couldn't be hypnosis.

It's even less likely to be a coincidence.

"Alright," Chen Feng interrupted the two.

"Arguing about this is pointless. Whether it's cutting-edge technology or genuine supernatural abilities, it's all the same to us."

Unknown, uncontrolled, spreading widely, and possessing the potential to alter social structures.

He looked around and said solemnly, "I have already reported to my superiors, and the leadership instructed: attach great importance to this, conduct a secret investigation, find out the truth, and deal with it prudently."

"From today onwards, the Kyushu Special Task Force is officially established. I will serve as the team leader, and everyone here will be a team member."

All resources will be prioritized and allocated, and all departments will fully cooperate.

The people in the room sat up straight.

The project has been officially approved.

This means that the matter has escalated to the national level.

"We'll proceed in several directions next," Chen Feng said clearly, beginning to assign tasks.

First, information control.

Professor Zhang, you should take the lead and work with the Cyberspace Administration of China to control all information related to Kyushu, Peach Wood Brand, and Internal Force.

Forums, short videos, and social media platforms will all be subject to traffic restrictions and deletion to avoid causing widespread panic and to prevent the information from spreading overseas.

"Second, personnel screening. Lao Zhao, coordinate with local public security bureaus and special investigation departments to continue expanding the scope of the screening and try to find all holders within three days."

Mark the locations, don't touch them. First, figure out the total number of people, their composition, and their distribution areas.

"Third, conduct in-depth verification. Zhou Yang's side continues to interrogate Wang Hu, digging out every detail thoroughly."

Additionally, find a few trustworthy individuals with strong mental fortitude to proactively contact other token holders, try to obtain the tokens, and see if our people can use them and enter that Nine Provinces world as well.

Fourth, risk assessment. Organize experts in sociology, psychology, and national security to develop simulation models.

If supernatural powers become widespread, what impact will they have on social order, the legal system, and national security? We need to prepare contingency plans in advance.

Each of the four instructions hit the key points precisely.

Neither reckless nor conservative, but steady and methodical, figuring out the cards before considering anything else.

Everyone nodded in agreement, with no objections.

"And one more thing," Chen Feng added.

"All operations are strictly confidential and classified as top secret."

Before understanding the other party's purpose, it is absolutely crucial not to disclose it publicly, nor to engage in conflict with the holder, to avoid provoking the unknown entities behind it.

After the meeting, everyone immediately got to work.

The entire Special Affairs Department was operating at full speed, sending out instructions to all parts of the country.

Monitoring and screening, information control, and personnel investigation were all carried out quietly.

The outside world remained calm, and no one knew that a storm that could change the times was quietly brewing beneath the surface.

North City, temporary detention point.

Wang Hu has been transferred from the police station to this quiet little courtyard, where he is provided with food and lodging. No one beats or scolds him, but he is not allowed to go out.

He sat in the chair, clutching the peach wood plaque in his hand, his heart pounding with anxiety.

In just one morning, several groups of people came to ask him questions, ranging from the geography of Kyushu to the rules of the sect, from cultivation techniques and formulas to the effects of pills. They asked about everything, even the name of the village chief in the beginner village.

Wang Hu told everything he knew, and dared not make up anything he didn't know; he told the truth honestly.

He finally understood that this matter had blown up and the country was watching.

"I wonder if they'll capture me and dissect me for research..." he muttered to himself, his hand unconsciously swiping through the name panel and opening the world channel.

This discovery caused quite a stir; the channel was already in an uproar.

[Anonymous Player]: Guys, watch out! I just went out and felt someone following me! I turned around and saw two men staring at my neck!

[Anonymous Player]: Oh my god, me too! I was just chatting on the interface at work, and the security guard kept staring at me with weird looks!

[Anonymous Player]: Could it be that the police are watching us? I heard that one of our brothers in the north of the city was taken away, is that true?

[Anonymous Player]: Really? Why was he taken away? Did he give himself away?

[Anonymous Player]: Who knows! I told you long ago not to show off, not to show off. You had to hang the token outside and point at the air. Doesn't that just make people suspicious?

[Anonymous Player]: Oh no, what if they arrest us all? Where am I supposed to hide my token?

Wang Hu felt even more panicked as he watched the discussions on the channel.

So it's not just him who's being targeted; it's started all over the country?

He hesitated for a long time, but still didn't dare to speak on the channel.

What if we get caught on camera and our crimes are compounded?

He sighed and tucked the token inside his clothes, hiding it close to his skin.

If I had known this would happen, I would never have pretended to be something I'm not.

Wouldn't it be better to just stay home and secretly cultivate?

Meanwhile, high above the demi-plane world of Kyushu.

Lin Ze stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing through layers of dimensional barriers, landing on the data feedback in the real world.

Zero's voice echoed in the mind: "Main body, in the past twelve hours, the player's real-world activity level has decreased by 47%."

Publicly wearing of tokens decreased by 82%, and the frequency of keywords such as "police," "being followed," and "exposed" appeared significantly higher in the world chat.

"The authorities have already begun taking action."

Lin Ze nodded slightly, his expression calm, showing no surprise whatsoever.

Dozens of people were wandering around with tokens, behaving abnormally. It would be strange if they didn't attract the attention of the authorities.

This day was bound to come sooner or later, it just came a little earlier than he expected.

"Panic?" Lin Ze's lips curled slightly.

Panic is the right thing to do.

The more panicked players are, the lower their sense of security in reality becomes, and the more they will rely on the Nine Provinces world as a safe haven.

Moreover, official intervention is not entirely a bad thing.

The mobilization capacity of the state apparatus is far beyond what individual players can match.

If we could guide the government to participate and promote cultivation on a large scale, the rate at which spiritual energy is produced would be dozens or even hundreds of times faster than it is now.

Of course, now is not the time.

You have to reveal your hand little by little, and keep the rhythm in your own hands.

"Zero," Lin Ze said slowly, "adjust the token distribution schedule. For the next three days, temporarily suspend the distribution of new tokens."

"Yes, the true form."