226: Chapter 224 The mountain gate is simply called the mountain gate, a grand gathering.

Zhang Mu's pace toward the Municipal Building was not fast; he even intentionally slowed down.

Taking advantage of the time on the road, he used his phone to browse the latest trending news.

As expected, with "Immortal Xu" appearing multiple times and Ying Country's bold move to almost publicly reveal the supernatural, the Special Investigation Bureau could no longer hide the existence of Cultivators.

Although platform regulation was tighter than ever and the internal network firewall showed no signs of loosening, constant defense inevitably leads to a breach—there's no such thing as "guarding against a thief" for a thousand days.

Like a certain heavily alcoholic country that once enforced prohibition, strictly banning the sale of alcohol.

Did people stop drinking in the end?

No, the result was the birth of a black market.

Where there is demand, there is supply; it is an unchanging truth.

The Special Investigation Bureau guarded strictly for half a year, but ultimately lost to the videos on the phones of citizens returning from abroad.

Aerial photos of the giant crater released by Ying Country, Hogwarts documentaries, and live news broadcasts of Dumbledore's multiple appearances.

Chinese citizens went from initial scoffing to hesitation, eventually developing into roughly believing.

Until two months ago, when the magic performance organized by Ying Country was successfully held. Wherever there was an internet signal on Blue Star, basically no one doubted the reality of the supernatural anymore.

If this had happened thirty years ago, global leaders would probably have picked up the phone and engaged in heated discussions.

If it were around 1892, a hundred years ago, people scattered in various places would have used radio to discuss with each other.

Further back, uh, it probably wouldn't have caused much of a splash.

After all, before humans encountered electromagnetic waves, they could only rely on methods like "carrier pigeons" to transmit and spread information, with pitifully low efficiency.

But now it's a new era; humans have the internet.

Consequently, the entire Blue Star was boiling.

Setting aside well-known social media software, almost all other slightly famous information exchange websites with users globally were nearly crashed by the swarming netizens.

It is said that when some company CEOs first learned their website servers were paralyzed, they thought they were under a hacker's network attack.

Things were slightly better on the China side.

Because videos and comments posted by individuals were always quickly deleted, causing poor communication or even complete blockage.

Later, everyone simply focused on content creators who specialized in organizing popular overseas events, such as "Up-zhus," "Bloggers," and so on.

Every day, besides eating and sleeping, they would take out their phones and constantly refresh other people's homepages.

Once there was an update, everyone would immediately gather to "eat melons" before the video was "harmonized."

In this way, the matter of the supernatural completely spread in China as well.

Zhang Mu found it quite interesting and scrolled through comments on overseas events reposted domestically.

People's focus was very diverse.

Some wondered if supernatural beings could have children with ordinary people, fly into outer space, dive into the deepest part of the ocean, etc.

Most ridiculously, someone posted a question asking if supernatural beings needed to expel a certain special gas primarily composed of nitrogen from their bodies.

Of course, what people cared about most and discussed most heatedly were two points that Zhang Mu had expected.

One, is the lifespan of the supernatural hundreds of years, thousands of years, or eternal life?

Two, does our country have supernatural beings?

For the former, due to limited information channels, the public could only make guesses based on literary works and stories passed down through word of mouth.

Both of these cannot escape elements of fantasy and artistic processing, lacking factual basis, so in the end, no one could convince anyone else.

The latter was more interesting.

Citizens of countries with long histories and systematic mythologies all began to show off and educate others about their own myths.

The attitude of these people was: since the supernatural is real, then our definition of the word "myth" is open to debate.

Even if our country's supernatural beings aren't omnipotent like in myths and legends, flying through the sky and tunneling through the earth, living for several hundred years—you can't refute that, can you?

However, opponents gathered in groups.

Their argument was that some countries with long histories have had painful experiences of being slaughtered to extinction and replaced by other races.

If the supernatural really appeared, you'd better consider whether you'd be recognized as a believer or a rebel.

As soon as this comment came out, two countries immediately felt a chill down their spines.

One of them is undoubtedly America.

The other one, Ah San—correct, it is exactly me.

You should know that the descendants of Ancient India are the Dalits under the contemporary Indian caste system, which is... Untouchables.

If their "God" returned, what they would do is hard to say.

To this, citizens of the two countries stubbornly used "God's mercy for believers" as an excuse, stating that as long as they believe, they will be accepted.

Both sides held their own views and argued incessantly.

Zhang Mu watched for a while, felt it wasn't very interesting, and clicked the top left corner.

Instead, he turned his gaze to the Chinese social platforms, where control had already been loosened.

People in the country were quite calm, even having the leisure to eat sunflower seeds while watching the excitement abroad.

The reason was simple.

When the supernatural was confirmed to exist, without exception, they immediately recalled a video that had circulated widely half a year ago.

An Immortal undergoing tribulation.

There were less than two minutes of dynamic footage in total, but it revealed many thought-provoking details.

An Up-zhu made a full two-hour detailed explanation video about this.

Back then, the dense dark clouds and violent thunder in Su City didn't form suddenly; they erupted after brewing for several days.

During the process, the silvery-white lightning snakes connecting heaven and earth had already randomly struck city buildings multiple times.

This showed that the lightning tribulation was not brought by Immortal Xu; he was blocking the lightning in mid-air for the people of Su City.

A B-site user left a comment questioning—I think maybe it was a conspiracy planned by Immortal Xu.

Before the Up-zhu could refute, other B-site users watching the video had already drowned him in comments.

"Whoa, Immortal Xu floated in the air and used a hand-blade to dissipate lightning. You think you're more resilient than lightning, huh? Sports student?"

"Have you seen the sword trench in the deep mountains on the outskirts of Su City?

That was a live broadcast; anyone can see that Immortal Xu just swung his sword casually back then. What if he went all out?"

"Think of Immortal Xu as a humanoid nuclear bomb that moves faster than a fighter jet, cannot be intercepted, and can be repeatedly projected.

Do you still think the tribulation in Su City was a conspiracy? Is it necessary?"

These were relatively friendly and harmonious; there were also some... slightly more blunt comments.

"I think, maybe, add the phrase 'setting aside the facts'."

"If all else fails, hold a giveaway, otherwise it's hard for me to find a group that matches your mental state."

"Dumbass."

Well, how should I put it, the last person's wording was indeed a bit intense.

Zhang Mu scrolled through the comment section and continued watching the video.

The content that followed was not very substantial; like the first half, the Core was to prove that Immortal Xu fit the general perception Chinese people had of their own gods.

For the people.

At the end, the Up-zhu summarized, "What is an Immortal? This is an Immortal."

This Up-zhu's view was basically the mainstream trend of the matter online.

There were some opposing opinions, but they had no market or audience.

After all, there was also the "Bestowal of Immortal Medicine" in the mountains outside Su City as supporting evidence.

Zhang Mu turned off the screen, tucked the phone back into his inventory, and looked at the Municipal Building not far ahead: "Time to get busy."

...

Director's Office.

An altar was set up in the corner. In the center of the table was a sword stand, with the moon bright sword resting on it. On both sides were fruits, chickens, and ducks, along with flickering incense and candles. In front was an incense burner with three sticks of incense emitting faint smoke.

This was set up by Luo Xiling.

Compared to before, not only was it more formal, but the offerings and utensils were more complete, and the materials were not ordinary.

Just the wooden table alone was made of rare Small-leaf red sandalwood, meticulously crafted by national-level artisans.

Luo Xiling stroked the smooth lacquered surface of the table leg with satisfaction: "Old Xu, you've got some skills, you even managed to get me a Small-leaf red sandalwood table."

"Show some respect, call me Director!"

Behind the desk, the busy Director barked back sternly, but Luo Xiling was not afraid at all.

Having spent a few months together, she had long since figured out how to handle this Director of the Special Investigation Bureau.

"Oh my~ Uncle Director!"

The Director felt goosebumps all over: "Stop, stop, stop. If you do that again, move all this stuff to your dorm."

Luo Xiling pouted.

The room was quiet for a while, then he looked up: "I'm asking, is this setup of yours actually useful?"

"Definitely!" Her small face turned serious, "I've read many ancient books. Famous swords have spirits; it can't be wrong!"

Glancing at the altar twice, the Director sighed and shook his head.

They were just small things, let her be. Sigh... Immortal Xu's Mountain Gate is the real trouble.

Ye Ming led a team to search the whole country for several months, and let alone results, they didn't even have a clue.

The last time he met Immortal Xu, he said it would be "soon," but as a result, time slipped by...

The Director's brow suddenly furrowed.

He realized he might have misunderstood some concepts.

To an ordinary person, a few months is not short; after all, how many months are there in a lifetime?

But Immortal Xu is not an ordinary person.

He is someone who sits on a mountain peak watching the world's transformations over ages.

To him, is "soon" a few months? A few years? Decades?

Holy crap!

The Director suddenly sprang up, his hands slamming hard on the desk: "If it's hundreds of years, what am I bothering for?"

"What hundreds of years?" In front of the altar, Luo Xiling, who was piously bowing to the moon bright sword with palms together, heard his exclamation and turned her head in confusion.

Explaining his train of thought, the Director said: "What if it really is..."

"That's impossible." Luo Xiling stood up and sat on the sofa against the wall. "Master isn't a fool; how could he overlook such an important matter?"

"Have you met an Immortal before?" The Director asked with a dark face.

"No."

"Then how do you know Immortals don't forget things?"

"Xu's memory is actually quite decent."

The two froze for a moment and turned toward the door. The white-clad Immortal Xu was slowly walking in with a smile.

Having grown accustomed to his elusive way of appearing, the Director quickly recovered: "I've been looking forward to your arrival!"

"Master!"

Seeing Luo Xiling running over tearfully, almost with two strings of crystal-clear snot hanging from her nose, Zhang Mu almost couldn't hold it together: "Stop!"

Seeing Immortal Xu's flickering gaze, the Director was exceptionally shocked.

He didn't expect that even Immortal Xu would change expression upon seeing this not-so-bright young girl.

Then again, would someone with a normal brain run into the mountains alone and climb a mountain barehanded without any safety measures?

Over here, Immortal Xu put his right hand in a loose fist in front of his mouth: "Ahem... how have you been lately?"

"Good." The two were actually not doing so well, each with their own troubles, but they didn't dare grumble.

"Hehe, I know."

"Uh, Immortal Xu means..."

"I have come down the mountain this time by my Master's order. The Mountain Gate is about to open. Have you all made your plans?"

"We're ready!" They said in unison, their voices pitched high with eagerness.

"Then." Immortal Xu lightly brushed his right hand, and twenty translucent jade pendants lined up, floating in the air before him. "These are the credentials. Remember them well."

Luo Xiling didn't react much; she had already passed this stage.

The Director was very nervous, his eyes bulging like copper bells.

Then his eyes became sore and watery before he realized what to do. He picked up his phone from the desk and went "click—click—".

Turning around to stuff the phone into the safe, he turned back and asked: "Immortal Xu, how should we address your esteemed Mountain Gate?"

"Mountain Gate."

"I know, I mean, the specific name."

"Mountain Gate."

"Oh, it's just called Mountain Gate?"

"Indeed."

Circling around the desk to the front, the Director stared at the floating jade pendants.

Selecting twenty people from across the country... his teeth ached: "Hiss... Immortal Xu, regarding the distribution of the candidates, can you give a hint?"

"Why?"

"Uh, to avoid causing public unrest, we need to gather the jade pendant recipients."

When saying this, the Director's eyes secretly observed Immortal Xu's expression, worried his meaning might be misunderstood.

"When the time comes, there will be a vision."

"What vision?"

"It can be seen."

The Director's teeth ached even more.

In the past, when watching historical dramas about strategy, he always felt that mysterious verbal guidance was very much in the style of a master.

As for the person being guided who was left completely baffled and later irritably tried to guess the deep meaning of the instructions, he had subconsciously ignored them.

Now that it was his turn, he truly empathized—can't you speak plainly?

He wanted to ask further, but Immortal Xu's figure blurred and vanished on the spot.

Rubbing his jaw, the Director muttered softly: "Does Immortal Xu always speak so enigmatically?"

"I think it's okay." Having failed in her attempt to bond with her Master, Luo Xiling was not very happy as she continued to bow to the moon bright sword.

"When I met Master on the mountain peak, he talked quite a bit. The next day he even used internet slang."

You're the disciple he chose; how can it be the same?

The Director had really wanted to ask if he had a chance to try for a jade pendant.

But Immortal Xu left too quickly. He was still deliberating on his wording and how to start the topic when the man was gone.

Leaving Luo Xiling to her own business, he sat back in the wooden chair behind the desk and called Ye Ming, Yue Ruo, and Zhao Qi.

Yue Ruo and Zhao Qi came in, teased Luo Xiling for a few moments, then went to the Director to ask what was up.

"Wait for Ye Ming."

A few minutes later, Ye Ming pushed the door open, walking with a brisk stride: "Director, Brother Zhao, Sister Yue.

Oh, Xiao Luo is still bowing?"

"Don't mind her."

Once everyone arrived, the Director repeated what Immortal Xu had said and remarked: "Right now, I'm just worried about finding the people.

With China being so large, how do we find them in a short time?"

After listening, Ye Ming's fists clenched, his expression a bit excited: "Don't worry.

The intelligence network the Special Investigation Bureau spread for the national census of schools and remote areas hasn't been withdrawn yet; it can be used right now!"

Yue Ruo also advised: "Besides, didn't Immortal Xu say there would be a vision that can be seen?

Furthermore, the domestic situation is very stable, and the public mostly has a positive view of the supernatural. Even if a vision appears in a busy downtown area, it won't cause trouble."

"I hope so."

The Director's position was different from theirs; as the leader coordinating the entire department, he had to consider every aspect.

If he were too reckless or careless, thinking a slight mistake here didn't matter or a small issue there was nothing, it would surely lead to bitter consequences.

Going over it in his mind and confirming there were no omissions and that everything that should be done was done, the Director looked up: "Execute according to the plan we've established."

"Yes!"