Who is in Chapter 304?

The top-secret observation team, led by Commander Qi and Zhou Jue, began its first meeting.

Commander Qi stood up and walked to the electronic sand table behind him. On the sand table, hundreds of red dots within the map of China were flashing.

"These are all the abnormal energy points detected in the country, provided by Xiao Jue."

"We can't wait until they are fully 'awakened' before asking whether they are friend or foe."

Commander Qi turned around, his eyes sharp: "Our observation team is the 'pathfinder'."

"The group is composed of five parts: a core assault team composed of comrades who have achieved mastery of cultivation, responsible for dealing with possible supernatural threats; a research team composed of top biologists, physicists and geologists, responsible for on-site analysis; a security team composed of elites drawn from the Cheetah Commando, responsible for perimeter security; and engineers and logistics personnel, responsible for rapidly establishing an advance base."

She paused, then spoke with a firm and resonant voice.

"Our first principle: inside first, outside later. We need to understand the situation at home first, establish a replicable 'exploration path', and then expand to the whole world."

“The first target,” she pointed to the brightest spot on the sand table: “Mount Tai.”

...

Three hours later.

A transport helicopter slowly landed in a secluded valley on the back of Mount Tai.

A temporary camp, quickly assembled from shipping containers, has already sprung up.

Zhou Jue stepped off the plane, took a deep breath, and felt an indescribable freshness in the air.

"Major General Zhou, take a look at this."

A scientist in a white coat with gray hair walked over quickly. His name was Li Zhen, and he was the leader of the research team for this operation.

He pointed to an ancient pine tree not far away that required two people to hug.

“We analyzed a sample of it half an hour ago. Its cell activity is 30% higher than that of similar trees outside the mountain. And look…”

He pointed down to the tree.

A glossy-furred squirrel was holding a pine cone, curiously observing them with its tiny, black-bean-like eyes, showing no fear whatsoever.

Several unidentified mountain birds even landed on top of the containers in the camp, tilting their heads and emitting clear chirps.

"The animals here are much less aggressive, but their vital signs are unusually active. They seem to really enjoy being here," Li Zhen said, his voice filled with surprise.

Commander Qi walked over to Zhou Jue and lowered his voice: "What did you sense?"

“Yes.” Zhou Jue closed his eyes and carefully sensed it: “It’s very thin, like mist, omnipresent. It’s nourishing everything here, but it hasn’t undergone a qualitative change yet.”

Is there any danger?

"Not at the moment, it gives me a very peaceful feeling." Zhou Jue opened his eyes.

Commander Qi nodded and ordered into the communicator: "The security team expands the perimeter, and the engineering team sets up the second isolation observation zone."

"yes!"

The command was executed swiftly.

Zhou Jue found a secluded corner where no one would notice him, and with a thought, his consciousness sank into the Starry Secret Box.

Inside the space, it remained that familiar paradise.

She simultaneously opened up her perception of the outside world to the old tree and the Listening Sea Beast.

"Seniors, can you feel it?"

The enormous ancient tree rustled its branches and leaves, like a long sigh: "I feel it... this is the breath of heaven and earth..."

The old tree's voice rang out, carrying an ancient and weathered quality: "It is finally... about to wake up."

"I wonder how many of our old comrades can hold on until today..."

On the other side, in the azure pool, the enormous body of the Listening Sea Beast stirred the water as it surfaced and stared at Zhou Jue.

"I could feel it too. The atmosphere on this land is still very faint, like a newly sprouted seed."

"but……"

The voice of the Sea Beast changed.

“In a very far place, at the two poles of the world, and in the deepest trenches, a few very faint yet powerful auras were revealed in that instant.”

"They seem to have sensed the change and are awakening."

Zhou Jue's heart sank.

Are those things good or evil? Can we judge?

The old tree's branches swayed gently: "Xiao Jue, too much time has passed, long enough to erase everything. We can only judge whether the other party is of the same origin as us or whether we are familiar with them by their aura."

"But in some places the energy is very chaotic and mixed, full of primal hunger and madness."

The old tree's voice turned serious: "That kind of being has no good or evil, only instinct."

"You need to investigate them yourself."

Just as Zhou Jue was about to press further, the voice of the Listening Sea Beast suddenly became urgent, carrying a hint of wariness.

"etc!"

The deep roar echoed throughout the space.

"What's wrong?" Zhou Jue immediately became nervous.

The sea monster swam restlessly in the ocean, stirring up huge waves.

“Those chaotic auras… one of them is very close to you!”

Zhou Jue's pupils contracted instantly: "Very close? Is it right in Mount Tai?"

"No!"

This time, it was the old tree's voice, carrying an unprecedented solemnity.

"Not on Mount Tai."

"It's right beside you."

Zhou Jue froze, a chill running down his spine and to the top of his head.

"By my side? What do you mean?"

The sound of the sea monster struck her heart like a heavy hammer.

That's not a place.

"That aura was attached to a person."

“On someone… who is very close to you right now.” Zhou Jue’s consciousness was suddenly pulled out of the Starry Sky Box.

The wind in the valley, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees, blew against her face, yet it sent a chill down her spine.

one person……

Someone right next to her.

Her gaze instantly sharpened, silently dissecting everyone in her field of vision.

In the distance, Commander Qi was issuing orders into the communicator, her expression serious and her aura calm and steady as a mountain. She possessed only the iron-blooded and fierce aura of a soldier, pure and clean.

It wasn't her.

Li Zhen, the research team leader, was squatting in front of a strange purple plant, wearing gloves and carefully taking a sample with tweezers. His face was filled with the ecstatic joy of discovering a new continent, and he was obsessed and focused.

He looked like a typical, harmless scholar.

Further away, the Cheetah Commando members spread out in a fan shape, responsible for perimeter security. They stood tall and moved with perfect precision, each one like a textbook model, vigilantly observing their surroundings.

Zhou Jue's gaze swept over them one by one.

Which one is it?

Is it the sentry standing ramrod straight with sharp eyes? Or the veteran checking his equipment with practiced ease?

Everyone looked so normal.

In her perception after being reminded, everyone's aura was so... ordinary.

Could it be that the old tree and the Listening Sea Beast were mistaken?

After all, they've been in space for too long; wouldn't their perception of the outside world be distorted?

"Xiao Jue".

A gentle voice sounded behind her.