Another day passed.
Xia Chuan sat before his computer, scrolling through the latest news. The world seemed to grow increasingly chaotic, and reports of unusual phenomena were becoming harder for governments to conceal.
"Three humanoid beings, each three meters tall and suspected to be the result of biochemical experiments, escaped from a laboratory in North America. Armed with wooden sticks, they stormed into the city of Constantine, committing arson, murder, and looting. Thousands were left dead or injured. Heavy weaponry was eventually deployed to eliminate them. Protests erupted across North America, with people demanding transparency and an explanation from the government."
"Breaking news from South America: a thousand-meter-long python has been sighted rampaging through the Amazon River. Entire tribes of primitive people have reportedly been swallowed whole. The creature has since retreated into the depths of the rainforest and remains unaccounted for."
"In the Pacific Ocean, sightings of what is believed to be an ancient Kunpeng have emerged. This mythical beast has destroyed over a dozen ocean-going vessels, including three American aircraft carriers and numerous frigates, causing devastating losses."
"Government officials urge caution, warning citizens to stay away from beaches due to the frequent appearance of unidentified and dangerous marine creatures."
These headlines, and more like them, dominated the internet, sparking widespread fear and speculation.
"It seems Xuanhuangxing is facing not only the threat of alien invaders but also the rapid evolution and mutation of its native creatures due to the recovery of spiritual energy," Xia Chuan mused, narrowing his eyes.
He could feel it in his bones: an era of profound transformation was dawning. The first signs were evident in the oceanic world. After all, the seas held the greatest concentration and diversity of life, thriving beyond the reach of human interference.
The deep sea, vast and uncharted, was now a breeding ground for accelerated evolution. Creatures of immense power would continue to emerge, hidden from human eyes for now but destined to surface eventually.
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Xia Chuan leaned back in his chair, a shadow of apprehension flickering across his face. "The tides are shifting. These creatures will not remain in the depths forever."
In addition to the creatures lurking in the deep sea, other remote and untamed places, such as virgin forests, could also harbor animals undergoing unknown evolutions and mutations.
What was even more alarming was the possibility that Xuanhuangxing had established some form of connection to otherworldly realms. Creatures from those worlds could breach into Xuanhuangxing, causing unparalleled destruction.
The so-called "biochemical men" reported in North America were likely alien savages rather than human creations.
Xia Chuan's thoughts turned grim as he recalled the last incident when a passage to another world briefly opened. If not for his personal intervention, the tens of thousands of alien savages that poured into a sealed city would have wreaked untold havoc, claiming countless lives.
"Huh? What kind of aura is this?"
Suddenly, Xia Chuan's senses sharpened. A dark, malevolent energy surged across the land, spreading like a shroud over hundreds of miles. The sky grew thick with oppressive black clouds, blotting out all sunlight and plunging the world into an eerie, eternal night.
The wind howled through the land, carrying with it a bone-chilling cold. The temperature plummeted by dozens of degrees in mere moments, transforming a once-vibrant day into a desolate, frostbitten wasteland.
People trembled uncontrollably, their bodies quivering against a cold that seemed to pierce the marrow of their bones. Even the thickest clothing offered no reprieve from this unearthly chill.
"Master, if my assessment is correct, this aura belongs to ghosts," came the calm voice of the Book of Wisdom.
"The aura of ghosts?" Xia Chuan's eyes narrowed. "You mean the ghosts of legend?"
"Precisely," the Book of Wisdom replied. "All living beings have souls. When most creatures die, their souls dissipate, merging back into the world to become one with it.
"However, under rare circumstances, some souls linger. Intense resentment, combined with the revival of spiritual energy and other unique factors, can give rise to terrifying entities known as ghosts.
"These spirits are incorporeal and formed entirely from energy. They are immensely dangerous, preying upon the life force and flesh of the living, using it as nourishment to grow stronger.
"In a spiritless world, such as Xuanhuangxing once was, these beings could never exist. But now, with the resurgence of spiritual energy, they have begun to manifest."
"So these ghosts have emerged due to Xuanhuangxing's revival of spiritual energy?" Xia Chuan asked, his tone serious.
"Partially correct," the Book of Wisdom said. "While it's natural for ghosts to form as spiritual energy resurges, the sheer power and number of these particular ghosts are unnatural. I suspect they may have originated from another world."
"Otherworldly ghosts?" Xia Chuan's frown deepened. "First, we had alien savages, and now we're dealing with otherworldly ghosts. Is Xuanhuangxing a sieve, letting in all kinds of interdimensional riff-raff?"
"Master, Xuanhuangxing is no ordinary planet," the Book of Wisdom replied gravely. "It must possess some unique properties that make it an intersection for various realms. Otherwise, such occurrences would be impossible."
"A special world?" Xia Chuan stroked his chin thoughtfully. He had always considered Xuanhuangxing to be an ordinary planet, but recent events suggested otherwise.
"Master, there's one more thing," the Book of Wisdom said, its tone suddenly excited. "These ghosts are not just threats. They are also incredible resources. Their energy is pure and of a soul-based nature. If I can absorb and refine them, my power will increase exponentially."
"Is that so?" Xia Chuan clenched his fists, a steely resolve forming in his eyes. "Then we have no choice. These evil spirits must be captured."