I fabricated myths to guide the revival of spiritual energy.

[Linjiang City, Morning News Live Broadcast]

[Time: 07:00 AM]

On the television screen, a well-dressed presenter, wearing a professional smile, is broadcasting an urgent news report.

"...Regarding the 'loud noise' and 'red light' phenomena that occurred in the Huishui Bay area last night, a joint investigation by the Municipal Geological Bureau and the Meteorological Bureau has confirmed that they were caused by a small geological explosion triggered by the accumulation of underground methane gas. The so-called 'dragon shadow' was an optical illusion created by the refraction of smoke under searchlights..."

"Temporary traffic control measures have been implemented in the relevant waters. We urge the public not to believe or spread rumors, and to trust science..."

Meanwhile, at the dining tables of countless households, numerous citizens looked at the blurry photos on their phones that had been deleted in seconds, then glanced at the serious-looking TV presenter, their eyes filled with suspicion.

The more rumors are dispelled, the muddier the water becomes.

……

[Linjiang Central Hospital, Intensive Care Unit (ICU)]

[Time: 07:30 AM]

Unlike the "silence" that paints a rosy picture of peace and tranquility outside, the hospital's rooftop is currently gripped by an almost frantic atmosphere of tension.

The entire floor has been completely emptied.

There were no nurses or doctors in the corridor; instead, there were guards in black, stationed every few steps. They wore no rank insignia or armbands, but the Type 95 assault rifles they gripped tightly and their menacing, wolf-like aura told everyone that this place had been taken over by the highest level of law enforcement.

The elevator doors opened with a ding.

A group of people dressed in gray Zhongshan suits walked out hurriedly.

The leader was a man around fifty years old, with a buzz cut, graying temples, and sharp, eagle-like eyes. He wore an inconspicuous badge on his chest, which had no words on it, only a strange geometric pattern made up of the three numbers "7, 4, and 9".

Special Operations Bureau, Bureau 749, Ministry of State Security.

Current Director of Operations: Zhao Jianguo.

"How's the situation?" Zhao Jianguo asked in a deep voice as he walked.

The captain in charge of the guard immediately saluted: "Director Zhao, the situation is very serious. Of the four divers, only Captain Lei Zhan is barely conscious; the other three have all fallen into a severe state of hysteria. The sedatives have been administered at the edge of a lethal dose, but they are not working at all."

"Take me to see it."

……

【Special Care Ward No. 01】

Through the one-way bulletproof glass, Zhao Jianguo could see what was inside.

The elite frogman codenamed "Stone" was currently being tightly bound to the hospital bed by five leather straps, each about the thickness of a thumb.

His eyes bulged out, his eyeballs were covered with spiderweb-like blood vessels, and his mouth was stuffed with a bite-proof ball, yet he was still emitting indistinct, beast-like roars.

"Ugh!! Ugh!! (It's looking at me! Its eyes! Red eyes!)"

Although you can't hear what he's saying, the fear that comes from the depths of your soul sends chills down your spine even through the glass.

"What about the vital signs data?" Zhao Jianguo asked.

A person in a white coat next to him—not a doctor, but a researcher accompanying the team—quickly handed him a tablet computer.

"That's the most incredible part, Director."

The researcher's fingers were trembling. "Look at the electroencephalogram (EEG)."

Zhao Jianguo took the tablet.

On the screen, the brainwaves that should have been fluctuating regularly had turned into a chaotic and sharp jumble of garbled code. But hidden within this jumble of garbled code was an extremely regular, low-frequency peak.

dong... dong... dong...

"What is this?" Zhao Jianguo frowned.

"It's resonance."

The researcher swallowed hard, his voice dry. "The brainwaves of these four people, though chaotic, are all resonating at the underlying logic. It's like... like some extremely powerful spiritual source has left an 'imprint' on their minds."

"The moment they close their eyes, that 'mark' appears. No matter how many tranquilizers they are given, that thing is still there."

Zhao Jianguo fell silent.

He had never seen such domineering and direct spiritual pollution.

"Take 'that' out," Zhao Jianguo suddenly ordered.

"Director? That's a test machine; it's still unstable..."

"Take it out!"

Soon, a silver-white metal briefcase was brought up.

Upon opening the box, one finds a strangely shaped instrument covered with complex transistors and induction coils.

【Psionic Wave Detector (Prototype)】

This is the first generation of "ghost detector" secretly developed by Bureau 749 based on research findings from the Qigong craze decades ago, combined with modern quantum physics technology.

"Power on the device and aim it at the ward."

The instrument starts up, emitting a low humming sound.

A thin probe was pointed at the stone on the hospital bed.

Beep...beep...beep beep beep!

The hands on the dial instantly hit the red zone, and the alarm blared sharply!

"The readings have exploded!"

Researchers cried out in alarm, "High-intensity 'residual biomagnetic field' detected! The value is... 3000? No, 4000! And it's still rising!"

Zhao Jianguo stared intently at that number.

An ordinary person's biomagnetic field is only around 10, and even so-called "Qigong masters" have a field of only 50.

And the residual "imprint" left in that soldier's mind had a lingering power of 4000.

Then who is the owner of this mark?

"It seems... what's underneath Linjiang is real."

Zhao Jianguo took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes. "Raise the lockdown level to 'Top Secret.' Turn this place into a military restricted area."

"Also, inform Academician Yang Dingbang that his 'X-particle' theory may be correct. We... may have really encountered mythical beings."

……

[Shaded areas of ventilation ducts]

While everyone was drawn to the alarm of the equipment, no one noticed that in the corner of the ceiling, a black paper figure as thin as a cicada's wing was quietly pasted on the gap of the blinds.

It has no eyes, yet it seems to see through everything.

It has no ears, yet it captured every single word of the keywords "Bureau 749," "psychic detector," and "mythical creature."

……

[The Gu Family Old House, Study]

Gu Qing remained standing by the window, gently playing with a wisp of purple electricity between her fingertips.

At that moment, the image and sound of the paper doll returning synchronously appeared in his mind.

"Bureau 749... Zhao Jianguo..."

Gu Qing's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

"They've arrived as expected."

"And they even brought one of those little toys that can detect 'spiritual pressure.' It seems the country's knowledge of the occult is deeper than I imagined."

This was fantastic news for him.

If the official authorities are a blank slate, knowing nothing, then Gu Qing would still need to rack his brains to popularize and explain what spiritual energy and pressure are.

But now, the authorities have their own theoretical system, and even instruments.

Gu Qing only needs to demonstrate the "miracle," and the officials will use their equipment to "fill in the gaps" and "verify" it.

"Since you're so professional..."

Gu Qing turned around and looked at the more complex paper-cutting pattern that had just been cut out on the desk.

"Then I'll add some more juicy stuff for you."

"Having victims alone is not enough."

"A truly captivating drama wouldn't be complete without... the 'protagonist,' besides the victims and the mastermind behind it all?"

Gu Qing tapped her fingers lightly on the table.

"System, I want to create a new 'alias'."

"A cultivator who walks among mortals, specializing in 'slaying demons and eliminating evil,' and is able to contact the authorities..."

[Command confirmed.]

[Retrieving resources...]

[Avatar (Advanced Version) is ready.]

Gu Qing's eyes gleamed with the excitement a director feels when they see the climax of the script.

"Director Zhao, I hope you are ready."

"Because what you are about to meet is a true... sword immortal."