The Evolving Wang Yulan, Martial Arts Department Gathering

Inside the Forbidden Zone No. 5.

“This is the power of the Flower Deity.”

Gu Yan raised his hand, and a flower exuding an eerie aura of death hovered above his palm.

He hadn’t completely absorbed the Flower Deity’s energy from Wang Yulan’s body, as his goal was to conduct a simple experiment.

Could this ancient energy, once separated, be absorbed and utilized by others?

Now, it seemed the answer was not entirely impossible.

Old Gao stood beside Gu Yan, scrutinizing the tainted Flower Deity energy emanating from the young master. “Young Master, this energy is noticeably weaker compared to the Black Tortoise energy.”

Gu Yan chuckled softly and nodded in agreement. “Indeed, it’s only half of it.”

As he spoke, he willed the Flower Deity energy to act. “Of course… in my opinion, the true purpose of this energy isn’t for combat.”

The moment his words fell—

Hum!

A dense cloud of pollen scattered in all directions, spreading to every corner of the forbidden zone.

Through the flowers, Gu Yan could sense the conditions of each area.

While it might not be useful in battle, this form of perception… was undeniably valuable.

Moreover, perhaps because the Peach Blossom Society’s secret techniques shared similarities with the Flower Deity energy, Gu Yan realized that by combining them with the pollen, he might be capable of something even more extraordinary.

The specifics would become clear tomorrow.

“Ah, one more thing.”

Gu Yan seemed to recall something and turned to Tao Ying, his ever-reliable actress. “Remember to feed our new companion with spiritual energy.”

“Tomorrow, every warrior from the sects will become nourishment for that big fellow.”

Tao Ying bowed respectfully. “Understood, my lord!”

With that, Gu Yan strode toward a particular spot.

There, a colossal green plant stood, towering dozens of meters high. At its crown rested a tightly closed flower bud.

“To think such a mutation would occur… Legends say the Flower Deity originated from a peach tree.”

“Could it be… that Wang Yulan is on the verge of becoming the new Flower Deity?”

Gu Yan reached out and touched the stem, feeling the vibrant life force pulsating within.

With a faint smile, he withdrew his hand.

Well then… he would eagerly await tomorrow.

.........

The next morning, as the first light of dawn broke across the horizon, nearly a hundred warriors had already gathered at the Martial Arts Department.

Each wore a uniform black combat suit, crafted from a special reactive black-gold material. These suits were reinforced with both cutting-edge technology and inscribed arrays, granting them resistance to fire, water, electricity, and wind—while also enhancing the wearer’s latent potential.

The sleek, form-fitting suits shimmered faintly with a metallic sheen under the sunlight. At the collar was a specialized device; a single press enabled long-range communication.

Every suit was tailored to its wearer’s physique, designed to maximize mobility and comfort in battle.

Emblazoned on the chest was the emblem of the Martial Arts Department—a golden sword plunged into the earth, wreathed in invisible wind and thunder. Legend had it that this was the weapon of the department’s founder.

Unsurprisingly, Gu Yan was also clad in one of these high-tech suits. He stretched lightly. “So this is the legendary suit that resists the contamination of the forbidden zones?”

“If you had such a treasure, why didn’t you bring it out during regular missions?”

He clenched his fist. Inscribed with arrays, the suit allowed its wearer to unleash strength surpassing their natural limits.

Moreover, without it, an ordinary person venturing into a forbidden zone would quickly lose their sanity to the miasma.

I wonder how the sect warriors plan to deal with the corruption.

At that moment, Bai Jun happened to approach, handing Gu Yan a black blade with a wry smile. “You’re asking too much of us. These black suits are extremely precious.”

“To put it bluntly, they were created solely for expeditions into the forbidden zones.”

“After each mission, they must be returned to the research department for meticulous maintenance.”

“Only the elite warriors of the Martial Arts Department are privileged enough to own custom-fitted suits.”

“With this suit, one can fully unlock their innate potential, often surpassing their normal combat capabilities.”

Gu Yan showed little reaction.

Having read the original work, he already knew.

The true reason the black suits could resist the miasma was simple—their core material was derived from Demon Creatures!

For high-ranking officials like Lin Yinyin, their custom suits were forged from the remains of Demon Generals.

An expert wearing a Demon General-tier suit, amplified several times over, could stand at the pinnacle of the world’s strength—figures like Lin Yinyin were already among the most formidable.

Unfortunately…

They had encountered Leng Qingqiu.

Speaking of his beloved Qingqiu—

Gu Yan warily scanned his surroundings.

Only after confirming Leng Bingning’s absence did he relax.

That was close. If I hadn’t known the Night Organization’s mission today was to eliminate the sect warriors…

I might have really thought Leng Bingning intended to protect me all day, just as she said yesterday.

If she actually stayed by my side, how would I make my exit?

Shangguan Miaoyin and the others were naturally also clad in the black suits.

“Fascinating. A mere piece of clothing can help warriors break through human limitations… Is this the power of the Martial Arts Department’s logistical support?”

Shangguan Miaoyin tested her enhanced physical state, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

How exactly were these suits crafted? It was a question worth investigating.

If the Night Organization could equip every member with one… what kind of scene would that create?

Soon after, everyone was issued specialized anti-demon weapons and wristbands capable of temporarily masking their presence.

Once the distribution was complete, Bai Jun and Lin Yinyin stood before the assembled warriors.

The former’s gaze swept across the crowd as he spoke solemnly. “Everyone, today’s expedition into the forbidden zone is fraught with unknown dangers. Prepare yourselves mentally.”

He paused before continuing. “I won’t offer you comforting words—there is no comfort to be found in the forbidden zones.”

“But I believe that as long as we stand united, no obstacle is insurmountable!”

“Remember, we fight for all of humanity!! History will remember every one of you here today!”

After the rousing speech, Bai Jun gave the order.

“All personnel, board the vehicles and move out!”

“Yes, sir!”

Eight specialized armored vehicles were assigned across the four factions.

Gu Yan followed the crowd onto the Peace Faction’s transport.

Observing the gathered warriors, a faint smirk tugged at his lips.

Enjoy this little trip into the forbidden zone, everyone. I’m sure you’ll find it… quite memorable.