136: Network changes

By this point, the transformation of the Giant Crocodile had also concluded.

The Giant Crocodile awakened, respectfully prostrating itself on the riverbed, its gaze filled with fanaticism and piety towards Su Yuan, even more fervent than the most devout zealot.

“Congratulations, Host, you have gained a Families. Please name the race of your Families.”

The System's prompt also sounded at this moment.

“A race name, huh? It's entirely black, with terrifying eyes all over its body. Let's call it the Thousand-Eyed Demon Crocodile.”

Su Yuan pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Congratulations, Host, you have gained a new Families, the Thousand-Eyed Demon Crocodile!”

“Hahaha! My four Great Heavenly Kings are finally assembled!”

Su Yuan laughed heartily, his laughter shaking the Yangtze River as bubbles surged upward.

Su Yuan checked his system panel.

“evolution points: 180058 / 140000 (Increasing through devouring psionic energy) (Evolvable)”

“I've traveled so far, and my evolution points have already exceeded forty thousand. So, let's evolve!”

“It's too far to run back to the Underground Dark River. With the Giant Crocodile by my side, I'll just evolve here.”

“From now on, my evolution will also have someone—no, it will have subordinates to protect me.”

Su Yuan muttered to himself, then commanded the Giant Crocodile through Mind Whisper to act as his Protector, and began his next evolution.

Su Yuan submerged into the riverbed mud, activated his disguise, and began to evolve.

The Giant Crocodile, under his command, also hid at the bottom of the water, concealed within the riverbed mud. If it couldn't hold its breath and needed air, it had to be extra careful of humans and try to find water plants on the river surface to breathe through.

After all, the Thousand-Eyed Demon Crocodile could not breathe underwater, at least not yet.

In the distance, on the road along the riverbank, a group of Armed Security Officers and people from the Wildlife and Plant Administration Bureau watched the motionless river surface with furrowed brows.

“Could it be that this Giant Crocodile has already been blown up and killed?”

Just then, an Armed Security Officer spoke softly.

“That's probably a possibility, right? Given the size of this Giant Crocodile, even if it were blown up and killed, it wouldn't likely float to the surface in a short time.”

An Armed Security Officer echoed.

“It's not that simple. You saw how high its defense was just now. Let alone ordinary rifle bullets, even anti-materiel sniper rifles couldn't break through its defense.”

“Although we threw several barrels of gasoline just now, the explosion damage is unlikely to kill it; at most, it would injure it.”

“With the revival of the god particle and the intensification of biological mutations, the intelligence of some Mutated Creatures is also getting higher and higher.”

“This Giant Crocodile is very likely injured, so it doesn't dare to show its head and is hiding to recover.”

“This is a good opportunity. We must find it and kill it as soon as possible!”

“The situation in Shangqing City is very serious; the higher-ups have already instructed us to rush there as soon as possible to participate in the lockdown!”

A person from the Wildlife and Plant Administration Bureau shook his head and said.

“Injured? But if the Giant Crocodile is hiding in the water, how do we find it? That's too dangerous!”

The group of Armed Security Officers frowned.

Just now, they had used the terrain advantage, which barely prevented the Giant Crocodile from charging ashore.

If they were in the water, they would undoubtedly die.

“Giant Crocodiles are not fish and cannot breathe underwater. After a long time, they will inevitably surface.”

“However, the larger the crocodile, the longer it can lurk underwater. Normal saltwater crocodiles and Nile crocodiles can lurk underwater for five or six hours.”

“Our Giant Crocodile might be able to lurk underwater for more than ten hours; it's not impossible.”

“We will send underwater robots to explore, and a patrol boat with a speed of over one hundred kilometers per hour will also be dispatched. Given the size of this Giant Crocodile, its speed definitely won't be very fast. Searching with a patrol boat can ensure a certain level of safety. Our Bureau is currently dispatching armed helicopters.”

“Once found, we will use armed helicopters to launch air-to-ground missiles to completely eliminate it!”

The person from the Wildlife and Plant Administration Bureau said.

Although the Giant Crocodile could withstand anti-materiel sniper rifle fire, it would definitely not be able to defend against air-to-ground missiles.

The explosive power of air-to-ground missiles cannot be compared to the explosion of a few barrels of gasoline.

In front of such a war machine, no creature can survive!

Even in the current era of great biological mutation!

“Alright, we'll do as you say.”

The captain of the Armed Security Team nodded and said.

Time passed, and soon, more than a dozen underwater robots appeared in the Yangtze River. On the surface, a very fast patrol boat was searching everywhere.

However, all of this was like searching for a needle in the vast Yangtze River.

Gradually, the red sun set in the west, the jade rabbit ascended into the sky, and the cold moonlight shone down, as a thin mist rose over the river surface.

The once bustling banks of the Yangtze River were now completely under martial law, with lights blazing along the shore and huge searchlights shining directly onto the river.

This incident had long since spread online. The continuous gunfire and the astonishing giant beast were not censored this time.

Thus, it was uploaded by many citizens and Streamers to various short video platforms, causing a huge stir online.

“No way, is this real?”

“Is this really not a new Ultraman movie from Japan?”

“I see this video being spread everywhere online. Is it true or false?”

“I am a Sanhan City citizen, and I guarantee that all of this is true!”

...Because there were no reports from authoritative institutions yet, only spontaneous uploads by netizens, many people were skeptical.

But soon, everyone discovered that more and more similar videos were appearing online.

Many videos, even some from several days ago, could not be found at all now.

Many Streamers who were keen on exploring this aspect were pleasantly surprised to find that their live streams were no longer being warned or blocked by the platform.

In particular, a series of videos previously posted by Brother Niu caused a significant reaction, as many of his fans left comments below the videos.

“Speaking of which, ever since Brother Niu live-streamed at the Shangqing City Wildlife and Plant Administration Bureau last time, he hasn't live-streamed again. I've been missing him a bit these past few days.”

“Yeah, even if he doesn't go out to live-stream, he could still do a live stream. He's really not a qualified 'ox-horse' (workaholic).”

“I don't know if you've noticed, but something seems to have happened in Shangqing City. I have a relative there, and I can't reach him.”

One person commented.

Soon, several others also commented, stating that their family members, friends, loved ones, classmates, etc., in Shangqing City had lost contact.

“No way, with Brother Niu's Physique, it can't be true that problems arise wherever he goes, right?”

Several of Brother Niu's fans commented with a laugh.

But soon, they were shocked to discover that all previous comments about Shangqing City had disappeared!

“No way?”

For a moment, some of Brother Niu's loyal fans sensed a bad feeling.

Especially those who happened to have friends, family, or relatives in Shangqing City immediately tried to contact them.

But without exception, calls couldn't go through, social media accounts couldn't be reached, and messages went unanswered.

Later, people discovered that tickets for all transportation methods going to Shangqing City had been removed from sale.

Furthermore, someone revealed that all roads leading to Shangqing City had been blocked, and passage was not allowed.

In Brother Niu's fan group, some fans who believed in Brother Niu were using code words to refer to Shangqing City and continue to exchange information.

“Brother Niu is really in big trouble this time. The entire city is locked down. Enough said, I'll light an incense stick for Brother Niu.”

“Brothers, I've already sold my old house at the foot of the mountain and moved to the city. Everyone, stay safe and stay away from the wild.”

“It's not just domestic, brothers. I don't know if you've noticed, but the frequency and prices of sea shipping are quite astonishing now.”

“Prices have been rising during this period. If something happens to sea shipping, then phones, computers, cars, and other things will all see their prices soar!”

“Brothers, everyone make plans early!”

...At the calm bottom of the river, a group of not-so-small Tilapia were foraging for food.

Suddenly, grotesque tentacles stretched out from the riverbed mud. The terrifying suckers and Claws frightened all the Tilapia, sending them fleeing for their lives.

A colossal and terrifying figure crawled out from the riverbed mud.

A terrifying body, eight grotesque tentacles like prehistoric giant pythons, a pair of huge eyes radiating terrifying light, and a pair of enormous black wings, spread open like tattered bat wings!

“This evolution has brought a significant improvement, and most importantly…”

Su Yuan muttered, his gaze sweeping towards the huge wings behind him.

Now, his appearance was even more akin to cthulhu.

The mud churned, and the Thousand-Eyed Demon Crocodile also crawled out from the riverbed mud, prostrating itself beside Su Yuan with fanaticism and reverence.