I fabricated myths to guide the revival of spiritual energy.

The next day, early morning.

When the first rays of sunlight pierced the clouds over the East China Sea and illuminated the Bund of Shanghai, where traces of battle still lingered, the entire land of China was abuzz with excitement.

For ordinary people, this night was one in which their worldview was completely shattered and then reshaped.

Prior to this, "cultivation" was already quite familiar, but the dangers of the resurgence of spiritual energy remained at the level of isolation and control, maintaining a safe and distant distance from the daily lives of ordinary people.

But last night was different.

That was a real battle that took place downstairs in your building, in the park you frequent, and at the subway entrance on your way home.

The online world was completely paralyzed and then restarted.

Weibo, Douyin, Bilibili... all the top ten trending topics were dominated by the same keyword: #Kunlun#.

Videos shot by passersby with their phones, though shaky and blurry, are incredibly moving and are going viral, garnering hundreds of millions of views.

On the banks of the Huangpu River, there was a young man in a blue robe named Li Zixuan. His sword was as cold as frost across fourteen provinces, and he could kill water monsters as easily as taking something out of a bag.

In the snowy forest, a shirtless, burly man tore apart a mutated black bear with his bare hands. After finishing, he innocently asked the forest ranger if the bear paw was a contraband.

In the night sky of the mountain city, a lightning array composed of drones illuminated the Jialing River, a perfect dance of technology and talismans;

In the urban village, a girl wearing glasses concocted an antidote in a rice cooker, casually saving the lives of an entire street of poisoned residents...

There is no official refutation, because it's simply impossible to deny.

There is no expert explanation, because science cannot explain it.

In the comments section, the tide turned. The previous teasing and skepticism gave way to an almost fanatical adoration, and a hint of... awe.

"Did you guys notice? After Li Zixuan killed the monster, he didn't even glance at the people around him. That look in his eyes... it was so cold, like he was looking at a stone."

"Nonsense, they're cultivators, how can they be like us? They're gods!"

"I want to go to Kunlun! I want to cultivate immortality too! I'm not afraid of hardship, even if it's just being a menial servant!"

……

The Peninsula Hotel in Shanghai.

Li Zixuan did not return to Kunlun, nor did he go home immediately.

He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the riverbank cordoned off by police tape, and at the media reporters frantically trying to rush into the hotel to interview him.

"bite--"

My phone rang. It was a WeChat message from my father, Li Guodong.

[Son, a celebration banquet has been arranged at home. Your grandfather and uncle are coming... Also, several city leaders would like to meet you. When are you coming back?]

Looking at the message, Li Zixuan didn't feel annoyed or happy as usual. He just felt...bored.

The feeling was like that of a veteran who had just returned from the battlefield, watching a group of children playing house.

Is this what the mortal world is like?

Li Zixuan touched the sword sheath on his back and muttered to himself, "It's right here, but it feels so far away."

He replied with two words: "Afternoon."

Then, he turned and left, his figure disappearing into the room in a blurry flash of light, leaving behind only a neat bed that he hadn't had time to sleep on.

It wasn't just him.

More than two thousand Kunlun disciples scattered across the country did the same thing after that night's fierce battle: pack their bags and head home.

However, their mindset was completely different from when they came down the mountain.

When they came down the mountain, they were children who missed their parents.

Now, they are "immortals" who have just tasted the power and are worshipped by the world.

This shift in mindset will tear a huge rift in this mortal society during the upcoming Spring Festival.

……

Kunlun Mountain, at its summit.

Gu Qing stood with his hands behind his back, the sea of ​​clouds beneath his feet churning, as if enacting the joys and sorrows of the world.

[Ding! The phase quest "Young Eagle Trial" has been completed.]

Casualty rate: 0.

[Task Completion: Perfect]

This signifies the complete success of the first phase of Gu Qing's "God-Making Project." These students have successfully driven the concept of "cultivating immortality" into human civilization like a nail.

But he didn't laugh.

His gaze pierced through the sky, looking towards the void.

On the system's red alert screen, a countdown is silently ticking.

[Warning! Spatial folding fluctuations detected at the edge of the solar system.]

The void detection unit "Eye Demon" has locked onto Earth's coordinates.

The first wave of tentative contact is about to arrive.

Time flies so fast!

"Chief."

Gu Qing took out a red mobile phone that connected directly to the highest level of Bureau 749.

Gu Qing's voice was eerily calm, like a bucket of ice water extinguishing Lu Zhiming's enthusiasm.

"Director Lu, tell your men not to leave."

"What?"

"I said, don't remove those fortifications from last night. Don't stop any heavy industrial production lines. Keep the air defense system on high alert." Gu Qing looked at the sun in the sky, which still seemed warm to mortals, with a cold gaze.

"But...wasn't the crisis over? And the New Year is almost here..."

"For students, it's like the Lunar New Year. For the Earth, it's a countdown."

Gu Qing said calmly, "Let them have a good New Year. This may be the last peaceful Spring Festival for all mankind."

Lu Zhiming fell silent. He sensed a chilling glint in Gu Qing's voice.

"Principal Gu, what exactly... do you want to come?"

Gu Qing didn't answer and hung up the phone directly.

He reached out and opened the app backend for all teachers and students in the school.

He wanted to issue a "return to the team immediately" order, but after a long while, he finally put his finger down.

"never mind."

Gu Qing sighed.

These children have only just learned to fly.

It would be too cruel to drag them back to the cold battlefield before they have had a chance to show off to their parents or enjoy the glory.

Moreover, only by letting them experience the mortal world and deeply feel their incompatibility with ordinary people will they understand that Kunlun is their only destination.

Gu Qing edited a new announcement and clicked send.

[School-wide Announcement]

[Content: Last night's performance was acceptable; he did not tarnish Kunlun's reputation.]

Go home, spend time with your parents, and have a family reunion dinner.

But while enjoying your holiday, remember: never let your sword leave your side, and never let your heart be clouded.

When the Lantern Festival arrives and the snow melts, I want to see you all even stronger.

After sending the message, Gu Qing turned and walked deeper into the main hall.

The doors of the main hall slammed shut.

"System, consume all your faith points. I want to create the first layer of... a true celestial canopy for Earth before the void arrives."

Down the mountain, the world is bustling with life, filled with joy and celebration—a testament to the prosperity of a golden age.

On the mountain, secluded and isolated from the world, lies the compassion of the gods looking down upon all living beings.

The fledgling eagle has taken flight, but chaos is knocking at the door.