Martial Artist Numbers Skyrocket!

"Of course."

"We're not doing nothing, either."

"Look at those pinned official announcements."

Zhao Dingbang pointed to a corner of the screen.

Lin Yuan followed the direction of his finger.

No matter the platform, several eye-catching official notices were always pinned at the very top.

[Dragon Country Emergency Notice: If you discover that a pet has abnormally increased in size or become violent, immediately call the special hotline. Do not approach it on your own!]

[Preliminary Explanation and Safety Guidelines Regarding Recent "Changes in Air Composition."]

[Military and civilians across the nation stand united to overcome this difficult time. All citizens are advised to remain at home and lock their doors and windows.]

The authorities had not used provocative terms like "Spiritual Energy Revival" or "Ferocious Beasts."

Instead, they were guiding the public to accept the fact that the world was changing with an approach that was gentle yet forceful.

"Brilliant."

Lin Yuan silently marveled.

First, they used the excuse of a drill to stabilize the situation.

Then, they let the public gradually vent their fear online.

At the same time, the authorities stepped in to provide the most basic safety guidance.

It was like boiling a frog in warm water, rapidly transforming ordinary people's psychological resilience.

Those netizens frantically venting online were actually building up their mental defenses.

Once they had cursed themselves out and finished debating.

They would unconsciously come to accept reality.

"Commander!"

"The Imperial Capital's central command has sent an order of the highest priority."

The adjutant spoke again, interrupting Lin Yuan's thoughts.

His expression became exceptionally grave, and he stood ramrod straight.

Everyone in the command room, including Wang Lie and the other eight elite soldiers, instantly held their breath.

"Read it!"

Zhao Dingbang gave the order in a low voice.

"Central command order!"

"The Spiritual Energy Tide has passed its peak. All military regions are to immediately compile data from the entire force."

"First, count the number of soldiers who sensed spiritual energy during the tide and successfully drew it into their bodies."

"Second, count the number of soldiers who successfully broke through the limits of the human body and entered the realm of First-Tier Early-Stage Martial Artist."

"Detailed data must be reported to central command within three hours!"

After reading the order, the adjutant handed the document to Zhao Dingbang with both hands.

Zhao Dingbang took the document, skimmed it rapidly, then turned around with decisive efficiency.

"Attention, all units!"

"Immediately activate the Psionic Energy Detectors across the entire military!"

"Have every grassroots company organize tests for their soldiers at once!"

"Move!"

"I want the final results within two hours!"

With that order issued.

The entire Southwest Military Region began operating madly like a massive, precision machine.

Lin Yuan stepped aside and silently watched it all unfold.

He knew exactly what this data meant.

The Basic Breathing Technique Su Qingxue had provided had long since been distributed throughout the military.

Although most soldiers had been unable to cultivate before the Spiritual Energy Revival.

The circulation routes of that Breathing Method had already been etched into their muscle memory.

That one-hour Spiritual Energy Tide just now had been a massive awakening ceremony for the entire military.

How much hidden strength Dragon Country could unleash depended on this data.

Time passed second by second.

The atmosphere in the command room was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Telephone rings and keyboard clatter intertwined.

Wang Lie and the other eight martial artists stood in the corner, their palms sweating with nervousness.

They were geniuses, but they hoped Dragon Country would have countless more geniuses.

Lin Yuan closed his eyes and waited there as well.

Two hours later.

The adjutant approached the sand table with a freshly printed report in hand, both hands trembling slightly.

"Commander... the results are in."

The adjutant's voice was dry, carrying even a tremor of disbelief.

"Read it."

Zhao Dingbang pressed both hands against the sand table, his knuckles faintly whitening.

"During this Spiritual Energy Tide."

"Soldiers who successfully sensed spiritual energy and condensed a Qi Vortex..."

"Totaled two hundred and three!"

The moment that number was announced.

A wave of sharp intakes of breath sounded through the command room.

One had to know.

Half a year before the Spiritual Energy Revival.

Dragon Country had already begun training martial artists in the Northwest Military Region.

Yet over the entire half-year.

The Northwest Military Region had only trained a little over a hundred martial artists.

But now.

On the very day of the Spiritual Energy Revival.

The Southwest Military Region alone had gained another two hundred and three martial artists.

"Additionally."

"Soldiers who successfully sensed spiritual energy and experienced a major increase in physical fitness..."

"Totaled twelve thousand, three hundred and fifty!"

At that moment.

The adjutant's voice rang out again.

"Good!"

"Excellent!"

"With these twelve thousand promising recruits, the southwestern defense line will be as solid as a fortress!"

Zhao Dingbang slammed his palm against the sand table, his eyes gleaming.

Twelve thousand people!

And this was only one military region in the southwest!

Across the entire country, that would mean hundreds of thousands of reserve martial artists with cultivation potential!

"Encrypt the data and report it immediately."

A moment later.

Zhao Dingbang calmed down and instructed the adjutant.

"Yes!"

The adjutant turned and ran toward the cipher machine.

"Wang Lie!"

Zhao Dingbang called out in a deep voice.

"Here!"

The eight elite soldiers immediately straightened their chests in unison.

"You eight!"

"Immediately take the newly issued alloy combat blades."

"Split into four action teams and station yourselves in the city centers of four megacities, including Jincheng and Yuzhou."

"Remember your mission."

"Coordinate with the local garrisons and eliminate all mutated creatures showing aggressive tendencies."

"Whether it's a mutated rat or a mutated Tibetan mastiff."

"As long as it bares its teeth at civilians, kill without mercy!"

"Understood!"

The eight accepted the order and turned to leave the command room.

The same blood that craved battle flowed through their veins.

The command room became slightly quieter.

"Commander!"

"What about my mission?"

Lin Yuan stepped forward and asked with a solemn expression.

He was also a member of the Southwest Military Region, so naturally, he wanted to do something.

"Lin Yuan."

"You will continue cultivating."

"I've reviewed all of your files."

"Your actual combat ability is no weaker than Instructor Su, that reincarnator."

"Clearing out these First-Order mutated animals would only waste your time."

"Your true battlefield is the Beast Tide one week from now!"

"Before then."

"You must remain at Peak Stage at all times!"

"..."

Zhao Dingbang understood this clearly.

The mutated animals appearing now were merely scattered sparks.

One week later.

The massive creatures hidden deep within the mountains and forests would be the raging inferno capable of destroying human civilization.

Meanwhile.

In the Imperial Capital, thousands of miles away.

Four elderly men sat around a long table, studying the data compiled by the major military regions.

"Military regions across the country have produced a total of one thousand, eight hundred and forty-two First-Tier Early-Stage Martial Artists."

"That number is much higher than we expected!"

Elder Long looked at the report in his hand, a smile appearing on his face.

"One thousand eight hundred First-Order Martial Artists."

"With our mechs and heavy artillery, that'll be enough to give those beasts a hard time!"

Elder Zhan snorted coldly, exuding an aura of iron-blooded resolve.

"Everyone, take a look at this encrypted message sent separately by the Southwest Military Region."

Elder Yu adjusted his glasses and turned to the final page of the report.

He pointed at the name printed in bold red letters.

"Lin Yuan."

"Peak Second-Order Martial Artist."

In an instant.

The breathing of all four elderly men grew heavier.

"That girl Su Qingxue wasn't wrong."

"This Lin Yuan truly is the nation-defending sword heaven has bestowed upon Dragon Country."

"Tell Zhao Dingbang that no matter the cost."

"He must pin down that Peak Second-Order Stage Beast King about to appear near Shu Capital!"

"Lin Yuan is the key to breaking this deadlock!"