I fabricated myths to guide the revival of spiritual energy.

Location: Beijing - China National Space Administration's Highest Monitoring Center

On the huge main screen, a set of high-resolution satellite cloud images of the Kunlun Mountains from last night were being replayed over and over again.

The meeting room was filled with smoke, and the atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

Seated on either side of the long table were not only top meteorologists and physicists, but also high-ranking military officers in uniform with generals on their shoulders, as well as several core leaders of Bureau 749.

"This is absolutely a supernatural phenomenon."

An elderly professor with gray hair pointed at the screen, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement. "Look at the speed at which these clouds gathered—it took less than three minutes for the sky to go from clear blue skies to cumulonimbus clouds covering an area of ​​hundreds of miles! This violates the laws of atmospheric thermodynamics!"

"And here too."

The technician pulled up another infrared thermal image. "At the moment the lightning struck, the thermal response in this area was off the charts. Please note that these six lightning bolts were not randomly scattered, but precisely struck the same coordinate point."

The screen was magnified.

Although the thick clouds obscured the view of people on the ground, the six thick, dragon-like silver lightning pillars still exuded a devastating pressure that could be felt even through the screen.

"The energy reading is out."

A major stood up, pale-faced, and handed over a report: "Based on the electromagnetic pulse intensity in the area at the time... the instantaneous power of each lightning strike was equivalent to detonating a miniature tactical nuclear warhead."

Tactical nuclear weapons.

The moment that word was uttered, the conference room fell into a deathly silence.

What does this mean?

This means that last night, someone (or something) in the heart of China withstood six tactical nuclear strikes, and it seems... they survived.

Li Guozhong, sitting in the main seat, looked solemn.

He held in his hand a top-secret fax that had just been sent back from the command post at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains. The handwriting still smelled of ink, but the content was shockingly brief:

Kunlun has confirmed that this is a "heavenly tribulation."

The so-called Foundation Establishment is defying fate and changing one's destiny. When one's life level leaps forward, it is inevitably suppressed by the rules of heaven and earth. The six students have successfully overcome their tribulations, their physical bodies have been reshaped, and they have officially entered the 'Foundation Establishment' stage.

Li Guozhong stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Foundation Building Stage..."

He chewed on the word.

Gu Qing had previously provided information stating that the Foundation Establishment stage was the true threshold for cultivating immortality. However, he never expected that this "threshold" would be this high.

Is it really necessary to be struck by lightning just for starting out?

And how could someone withstand such a lightning strike and not die?

A general standing nearby said in a deep voice, "Old Li, this report means our defense system needs to be rewritten."

"We used to think that cultivators were just powerful individual soldiers who could be suppressed with heavy machine guns or sniper cannons."

"But now..." the general pointed to the lightning pillar on the screen, "if a body can withstand this kind of lightning, are ordinary guns and cannons still useful? Even small-caliber artillery might just tickle it."

"This is a group of...humanoid mobile natural disasters."

Li Guozhong rubbed his temples: "What's even more frightening is that these are just students. What about the principal and elders? What level have they reached?"

No one can answer that.

Just then, the secretary pushed open the door and entered, looking flustered:

"Sir, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' dedicated line is being bombarded with calls."

"What happened?"

"The energy fluctuations in Kunlun last night were too great. Not only did we see them, but the 'Keyhole' reconnaissance satellites in the United States also captured them. And so did Polar Bear, the European Union…"

The secretary swallowed hard. "The Pentagon sent a direct note questioning whether we had secretly tested a new type of high-energy weapon, or some kind of...weather weapon, in the uninhabited western region."

"They demanded that we provide an immediate explanation and open the relevant areas for international inspection."

After hearing this, Li Guozhong gave a cold laugh.

Explanation?

Verification?

At this point, admitting that you are a cultivator undergoing tribulation will only attract more trouble and covetousness.

"Reply to them."

Li Guozhong stood up, straightened his uniform, and spoke in a forceful tone with a hint of absurdity that only he understood:

"Just say this is a 'localized artificial rainmaking operation' carried out by our country."

"The purpose is to improve the ecological environment in the west by planting trees and creating forests."

"As for energy fluctuations? That's a natural phenomenon during thunderstorms; they're just making a fuss over nothing."

"Artificial...rainfall?" The secretary was stunned. "Will they believe it?"

"Whether they believe it or not, this is the official line."

Li Guozhong walked to the window, gazing at the azure sky with a deep look in his eyes:

"Also, notify Bureau 749 and the General Staff."

"Upgrade the files of all Kunlun trainees."

"From 'high-risk personnel' to... 'strategic deterrent force'."

"Any action involving Kunlun from now on must be directly approved by the highest level."

……

Location: Pentagon, Office of Strategic Services, United States

"Bullshit!"

A blond general slammed the documents on the table. "Artificial rain? Have you ever seen any company that can generate millions of kilowatts of electromagnetic pulse through artificial rain? This is an insult to our intelligence!"

On the screen, several intelligence analysts are frantically typing on their keyboards, trying to decipher the blurry images transmitted from the satellite.

"Sir, although they denied it, our thermal imaging detected vital signs."

An analyst pointed to several red dots on the screen, "After the lightning strike, there were high-intensity heat sources here, here, and here. This means... there are people there."

"Is someone in the eye of the thunderstorm?" The general frowned.

"Yes. And according to the data, the biomagnetic field strength of these people is more than fifty times that of the strongest special forces soldiers we know of."

The meeting room erupted in uproar.

Fifty times.

What does this mean? Even Captain America's serum isn't this potent.

"This is the 'Kunlun'?" The general stared intently at the mist-shrouded mountain peak on the screen. "The CIA previously reported that it was a special school, teaching something like... Taoist philosophy?"

"Yes, sir. But it now appears that the intelligence was seriously flawed."

The intelligence chief wiped his sweat. "This isn't some philosophy school at all; it's a... super soldier incubation base."

The general took a deep breath, a glint of greed and apprehension flashing in his eyes:

"Keep an eye on it. Move all the reconnaissance satellites there and keep an eye on that mountain 24 hours a day."

"I need to know whether they are human or monsters."

"Also, activate 'Blackbird' Project. Send our people infiltrate that 'Seeking the Way' town, even if they're just janitors, find out what they're up to!"

……

Gu Qing put down her teacup.

Although separated by thousands of miles, the feeling of being spied on, which the system was relaying, grew stronger and stronger.

[System notification: The Trust Pool is surging. Source: Fear and Suspicion.]

[Primary sources: High-ranking officials in China, military intelligence agencies of various countries.]

Gu Qing looked at the numbers flashing on the panel and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"Fear is also a kind of power."

He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and looked out the window at the students practicing intensely on the playground.

After last night's ordeal, these students are no longer ordinary college students.

They are seeds.

They are the "new humans" who are about to unleash a storm in this world.

"system."

【exist. 】

"The new course schedule has been released."

Gu Qing's eyes sharpened:

"The foundation is laid, and the body is strong. Now it's time to teach some real killing techniques."

"You can't just get struck by lightning; you have to know how to strike others too."

"Unlocked - [Advanced Sword Control Technique] and [Supernatural Power Course]".