I fabricated myths to guide the revival of spiritual energy.

The moonlight finally pierced through the dark clouds, casting a cool glow on the devastated square.

Although the downpour had stopped, the water on the ground was still ankle-deep, mixed with dark red bloodstains and scattered bullet casings, gleaming eerily in the moonlight.

The once arrogant and domineering monster, which disregarded human firearms, was now reduced to two piles of rotten flesh and a huge skeleton. The nauseating stench of blood still lingered in the air, but the suffocating sense of despair that had weighed on everyone's hearts vanished completely as the lightning in the sky dissipated.

"hiss……"

Wang Jie leaned against the ruins, looking at his left arm that Zhao Feng had just reattached, and couldn't help but gasp.

It wasn't pain, but rather an indescribable tingling and itching sensation.

He watched as the twisted joints automatically reset in the blue light, the shattered bone fragments seemingly coming back to life and fusing together again. This scene, which only existed in science fiction movies, was happening to him right now.

"Is that... all done?" Wang Jie tried to move his fingers. Although they were still a little sore, he could move them now.

Zhao Feng patted the remaining spiritual light on his hands, a tired but gentle smile appearing on his weathered face: "The bones are set, but the meridians aren't fully unblocked yet. Old Wang, you need to rest for a few days when you get back, don't push yourself."

"Why wouldn't I show off!"

Wang Jie gave Zhao Feng a wry smile and punched him in the chest, but it felt like hitting a granite block, making his hand sting. "Compared to you guys, we're like kids with firewood. Old Zhao, tell me honestly... is that school still hiring security guards?"

Zhao Feng was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled and said, "I'll ask the principal for you when I have the chance."

Just as the two were catching up, a commotion came from the subway roller shutter behind them.

"There's no sound outside?"

"Did we win?"

"Mom, I want to go home..."

With a sickening metallic scraping sound, the battered and dented roller shutter door was carefully pushed open from the inside.

Countless pairs of terrified and uneasy eyes peered out by the moonlight.

When they saw the scattered pieces of flesh and the enormous tiger bones, a suppressed gasp erupted from the crowd. But then, their gazes were immediately fixed on the three figures standing in the center of the square.

Especially the burly man carrying the giant hammer, who was squatting on the ground, plucking the mutated tiger's fangs one by one like pulling out radishes, muttering, "These are good materials for forging weapons. I'll take them back to my dad to make a pig-slaughtering knife..."

This scene was both terrifying and strangely reassuring.

"We're out! Everyone come out quickly! We're safe!!"

Someone shouted, and thousands of citizens, who had been holding back for nearly an hour, surged out of the subway entrance like a tidal wave. Some wept with joy, some collapsed to the ground, and many more held their phones, their hands trembling as they aimed them at the three figures who seemed like saviors.

Flashes of light went off one after another, like countless stars twinkling on the ground.

"Stop filming! Everyone stop filming!!"

The adjutant realized what was happening and immediately led the remaining SWAT officers to try and maintain order. "This is classified! Put your phones down!"

However, in this era of live streaming for everyone, such obstruction seems pale and powerless. On the internet, the topic of "Sword Immortal Slaying Demons Appears in Chengdu" has already soared to the top of the trending searches within just a few minutes, followed by three dark red "hot" characters.

Chu Tian frowned slightly.

He wasn't used to being watched like this, like a monkey in a zoo.

"Senior brother, there are too many people, what should we do?" Wang Tiechui stuffed the bloodstained tiger tooth into his storage bag, scratching his head somewhat helplessly. "I haven't even figured out how to greet so many people yet."

No need to greet me.

Chu Tian said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the frenzied crowd, a hint of detachment in his eyes, "Our mission is complete. The rest is up to the authorities."

After saying that, he looked at Zhao Feng, who was talking to Wang Jie, and said, "Junior Brother Zhao, we can catch up later. It's time to go."

Zhao Feng nodded, his expression somewhat complicated.

He turned around, looked at Wang Jie, took out a small, crystal-clear jade bottle from his pocket, and put it in Wang Jie's hand.

"What is this?" Wang Jie was taken aback.

"Rejuvenation Pills," Zhao Feng said in a low voice. "There are three pills inside. Our brothers suffered heavy casualties in this battle. Even if they only have a breath left, as long as their heart meridian is intact, this medicine can save their lives. Consider this my way of showing my gratitude on behalf of Kunlun."

Wang Jie's hand trembled slightly.

He's a discerning person. That casual wisp of green light just now could instantly set bones; that specially refined elixir is probably worth more than a city could afford!

"Old Zhao, this is too valuable, I can't..."

"Take it!" Zhao Feng was unusually firm for once. He patted Wang Jie on the shoulder, his eyes slightly red. "For me... offer incense to our fallen brothers."

After saying that, Zhao Feng no longer hesitated.

He took a step back, and red and blue light suddenly shone from his body.

"rise!"

With a soft shout, a cloud of energy condensed beneath his feet, and he slowly rose into the air, returning to Chu Tian and Wang Tiechui's side.

"Walk."

Chu Tian didn't waste any more words.

With a single hand gesture, he opened the Azure Sword Box on his back with a bang, and a dazzling azure sword light shot into the sky, instantly expanding to several meters wide.

The three stepped onto the sword light.

"Until we meet again, everyone."

Chu Tian left behind his last words, and then his sword light, like a dragon, carrying rolling thunder, transformed into a streak of light that instantly pierced the night sky and disappeared into the vast sea of ​​clouds.

All that remained were a group of dumbfounded mortals, and Wang Jie, who was clutching the jade bottle and unable to recover for a long time.

……

Five minutes later.

Several camouflage-painted armed helicopters roared to the scene.

One by one, people dressed in black trench coats and with solemn expressions rappelled down from the plane. Leading them was Deputy Director Chen of the Southwest Branch of Bureau 749.

As soon as he stepped off the ground, his face turned deathly pale at the sight of the horrific scene before him and the enormous skeleton.

"Seal off the scene! Collect all biological samples, including the blood and sludge on the ground!" Deputy Director Chen's voice trembled. "Also, that bottle in Wang Jie's hand... as top secret, send it to headquarters immediately!"

He knew that the day had changed.

At the same time, thousands of miles away.

Kunlun Mountain.

On a small red clay stove, a teapot was bubbling away, releasing a fragrant aroma of tea.

Gu Qing sat calmly at the tea table, his slender fingers gently lifting the teapot and pouring two cups of tea.

Sitting opposite him was Li Guozhong, the director of Bureau 749, who had just arrived in Kunlun.

At this moment, Li Guozhong had completely lost his former dignity and composure.

He was holding a military-grade tablet computer, on which was playing live footage of Chengdu Tianfu Square – taken by a high-altitude drone with extremely high resolution.

The scene freezes on the moment Chu Tian and his two companions depart on their swords.

Li Guozhong's hands were trembling slightly, and even though he tried his best to control them, the water in the teacup still rippled.

"this……"

Li Guozhong put down his tablet, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty, and looked up at the person opposite him.

"Principal Gu, is this... cultivating immortality?"

His voice was somewhat hoarse.

Although he had been listening to reports and looking at data about how amazing Kunlun University was, the shock of witnessing firsthand the thunderous sword strike that seemed like divine punishment, the physical strength that crushed a tiger's head with a single hand, and the ice wall that appeared out of nowhere, was a worldview-shattering experience that no amount of data could replace.

That's a qualitative difference.

It's the difference between an ant and an elephant.

"This is only the foundation-building stage."

Gu Qing took a sip of tea, her tone as calm as if she were asking what she had for dinner, "By the standards of the cultivation world, they have only just transcended the mortal realm, so they can be considered... beginners."

"Entering...the beginner stage?"

Li Guozhong's hand trembled, and a few drops of scalding tea spilled out, burning the back of his hand, but he was completely unaware.

This power, capable of overwhelming modern special forces and ignoring heavy weaponry, is merely at the entry level?!

What would it be like at the so-called Golden Core stage or Nascent Soul stage? Would a nuclear bomb still be able to destroy them?

A deep sense of powerlessness welled up inside me, but what followed was an unprecedented fervor.

"Principal Gu."

Li Guozhong took a deep breath, sat up straight, and stared intently at Gu Qing. "The nation needs this kind of power. Not for domination, but for... survival. You've seen it yourself, these mutated monsters are becoming more and more frequent. We can't keep up with our soldiers risking their lives."

He pointed to the image on the screen showing Wang Jie's face covered in blood, his voice choked with emotion: "Those were my soldiers. If we had that kind of power, so many of them wouldn't have died tonight."

Gu Qing put down her teacup.

He looked at the elderly man with graying temples, and the indifference in his eyes faded slightly. He knew that Li Guozhong was a true soldier, genuinely devoted to the country.

"That's why I started this university."

Gu Qing said calmly, tapping her fingers lightly on the table, the sound of which was particularly clear in the quiet room.

"Director Li, tonight's events are just the beginning. The process of spiritual energy recovery is accelerating, and those tigers in Chengdu are merely appetizers."

"I know what you're worried about. 'Martial arts can be used to break the law,' and you're afraid that these students will get out of control and become above the law once they gain power."

Li Guozhong, whose thoughts had been exposed, did not refute, but simply nodded silently.

"You can rest assured about that."

Gu Qing stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the vast snow-covered Kunlun Mountains outside.

"Kunlun has its own rules. They come down from the mountain to slay demons and monsters, not to fight for power and profit. As long as the authorities don't provoke them or cross the line, they are the strongest sword protecting this land."

At this point, Gu Qing turned around, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips.

"Moreover, instead of worrying about them getting out of control, let's think about how to deal with the 'trouble' that's coming next."

"Trouble?" Li Guozhong was taken aback. "What kind of trouble?"

Gu Qing pointed to the calendar on the wall.

"The Chinese New Year is almost here."

"This group of students also needs to go home."

Gu Qing looked at the calendar on the wall and said softly:

"More than two thousand 'students' who have mastered extraordinary powers are scattered throughout the country. Their parents, relatives, classmates... will have their first close encounter with 'cultivation'."

"Director Li, how big of a storm do you think this will cause?"

Li Guozhong's pupils suddenly contracted.

He thought of the bottle of "rejuvenation pills" in Wang Jie's hand, the viral video, and how countless people would go crazy because of these students' return home.

That will be more than just a media storm.

That will be an era of change that will sweep across the country and even the world.

"Looks like I'm going to be busy." Li Guozhong stood up with a wry smile, gave Gu Qing a solemn military salute, and said, "Principal Gu, thank you for the tea. And thank you... Kunlun for your help tonight."

Gu Qing nodded slightly in return.

Watching Li Guozhong's hurried departure, Gu Qing sat back down at the tea table and poured herself a cup of tea.

The aroma of tea wafts through the air.

Gu Qing looked up at the sky and murmured to himself:

"What follows is the truly spectacular battle of the ages."