Spiritual Energy Revival (2): 

What a good child Zhou Qinghao was! And yet the original owner wanted to harm him!

Gu Juntian felt indignant on behalf of the obedient Zhou Qinghao in those memories, then continued sorting through the original owner’s past.

At first, the original owner truly did care for Zhou Qinghao. But after his injury destroyed his foundation, while Zhou Qinghao grew stronger and more respected, leading the bureau to one glorious victory after another…

He could not restrain his jealousy.

In the course of managing demons, the bureau collected many things.

Dangerous items were sealed away, inaccessible to most, but as director, the original owner could not only access them but also take them.

After deciding to seize Zhou Qinghao’s body, he would occasionally invite him to meals, secretly feeding him drugs that damaged his soul, and even set up soul-separation formations in Zhou’s room.

Over time, Zhou’s soul began showing problems.

Then, the original owner imprisoned him and tried to take his body.

He failed.

Possession was not so easy. In the end, Zhou Qinghao’s soul was destroyed, yet the original owner still did not succeed.

He became a fierce ghost, captured by the bureau when they rushed in. It was then that demons all over the nation began to riot.

As spiritual energy grew denser, demons and monsters multiplied.

Before, because Zhou Qinghao was so strong, many demons had hidden themselves, too afraid to attack humans.

But now Zhou Qinghao was dead!

The bureau was in turmoil, its director having schemed against him… The chaos split the bureau, with even some powerful members leaving.

Demons seized the chance, wreaking havoc everywhere. Led by demon kings and ghost kings, they slaughtered cultivators, enslaved humans, and plunged the world into disorder.

In truth, the demon kings and ghost kings had long existed, but had stayed dormant out of fear of Zhou Qinghao.

They had been plotting to eliminate him—who would have thought he’d be killed by the bureau’s own leader?

Thinking of all that followed, Gu Juntian was grateful he had crossed over before disaster struck.

Right now, the original owner had already begun practicing dark arts using captured demons, and he had already set his sights on Zhou Qinghao, even stealing many harmful items from the bureau’s storage.

Fortunately, he had not yet used the ones that harmed Zhou’s soul.

It was a relief Zhou Qinghao was unharmed.

Well, not completely unharmed—over these seven years, Zhou had repeatedly bled himself to feed the original owner, who had drunk so much of his blood already!

And bleeding, no matter what, harmed Zhou somewhat.

Zhou truly treated him as a father, wholeheartedly. How could the original owner bear to hurt him?

Thank goodness he had arrived—he would treat Zhou Qinghao well!

He also had to find a way to destroy both the demon king and ghost king before they united and turned the world into a living hell.

As for how… Gu Juntian recalled the cultivation methods the original owner had studied.

Before transmigrating, he might have been a powerful cultivator.

Now, he could see how these techniques could be improved.

If the bureau practiced improved methods, they could become even stronger.

As for himself… Gu Juntian used divine sense to inspect his body.

Yes, he had divine sense!

Even Zhou Qinghao did not have it, but he did.

He realized that in terms of soul alone, he was stronger than anyone in this world. If he wanted to seize bodies, it would be effortless.

Of course, he would never do such a thing.

He disdained harming others to extend his life.

Besides, with determination, even a short life could achieve greatness.

And perhaps his life would not be short at all.

His body indeed had problems, but he believed he could find a way to fix it.

He would surely cultivate again!

Yet even if he could, he had no intention of changing his appearance.

The original owner hated looking old, but Gu Juntian was satisfied with it.

An accomplished cultivator should look like this—otherworldly and dignified!

If he let his hair and beard grow longer, he would appear every bit the immortal sage!

That was far better than Zhou Qinghao’s youthful looks.

Lost in thought, he suddenly realized something.

It was morning—he needed to go to work at the bureau.

Glancing at the time, he saw he was nearly late. Skipping breakfast, he hurried off.

Field agents didn’t need to clock in, but headquarters staff did.

As director, the original owner had never been late.

“Good morning, Director!” Along the way, many greeted him.

Most people here looked young—cultivators aged slowly, some even regaining youthful appearances.

He alone appeared elderly, stooped, and wrinkled.

The hidden injuries in his body left him in constant pain.

No wonder the original owner had twisted.

But there were countless others worse off than him. Each year, bureau members died, many with injuries more severe than his, yet none stooped to harming their juniors.

The original owner truly had lost his way.

As for him… Gu Juntian thought being elderly had its charm.

Standing among his much younger peers, he looked like their grandfather—quite amusing!

As director, he ought to embody wisdom and dignity.

The bureau’s building had been built over ten years ago and had taken damage from battles, leaving it patched up and somewhat worn.

Gu Juntian strode to his office and began handling affairs.

The director’s work was to monitor situations nationwide and assign people to eliminate or capture rampaging demons.

Fifteen years ago, ordinary citizens hadn’t known demons existed. Now, it was public knowledge. The state even had ways to test people’s aptitude for cultivation.

The bureau had offices across the country, and most matters were handled locally. Only issues beyond their ability were reported to headquarters.

The original owner had been intelligent, and after awakening his abilities, his memory became extraordinary, letting him work swiftly.

But Gu Juntian was even faster.

After finishing the tasks, he planned to tour the bureau.

He wanted to find a chance to return the contraband items the original owner had stolen.

But before he could, news arrived—Zhou Qinghao had returned.

He recalled that in the original story, Zhou came back on this very day.

That evening, Zhou would bleed himself again to prepare “tonic soup,” while the original owner cooked a meal laced with soul-damaging substances for him.

Gu Juntian decided to meet Zhou Qinghao.

After all, this was his adopted son now!

And Zhou trusted him deeply. Once he refined the cultivation methods, he would let Zhou test them first.

Sure enough, Zhou had returned.

This mission had been relatively easy; only one of his subordinates was slightly injured.

Back at the bureau, the first thing they did was take the injured man to the medical division.

The place was crowded with Zhou’s team.

“Old Liu, can you remove the baleful qi from his wound?”

“Dr. Liu, we’ve been studying it, but can’t figure out how to heal this injury. Do you have a way?”

“Of course Dr. Liu has a way!”

…

Seeing the noisy group, Zhou finally spoke: “Quiet.”

At once, silence fell. No one dared say another word.

Seven years ago, during the fierce ghost riot, the director had led many experts into battle. Though they won, the bureau suffered heavy casualties.

Desperately short on manpower afterward, the fifteen-year-old Zhou began going on missions.

Seven years later, he was the strongest in the bureau, idolized and respected by the younger members.

Outside, demons might not know the bureau’s director Gu Juntian, but they certainly knew Zhou Qinghao.

Dr. Liu chuckled, “Finally some peace. Qinghao, these fellows only listen to you.”

“Uncle Liu, how’s Aneng?” Zhou asked.

“No problem, just a scratch.” Dr. Liu smiled, quickly treating the young man named Aneng.

Zhou saw it was fine, then said, “I’ll go see the director.”

“Go on. You should report this mission anyway,” Dr. Liu replied.

Zhou nodded and was just heading out when the very man he sought entered, smiling warmly at him.

The bureau’s director had his graying hair slicked back. His face was not deeply lined, but when he smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes were clear.

Zhou’s heart ached a little at the sight. “Godfather.”

His godfather looked ever older.

He should not be like this. Zhou remembered their first meeting—how dashing and handsome his godfather had been.

At the word “godfather,” Gu Juntian’s heart trembled.

He had come to see his “son,” but hearing Zhou call him that stirred unexpected feelings.

What was happening to him? He hid his confusion behind a gentle expression, asking with concern, “Qinghao, were you hurt during the mission?”

“Don’t worry, godfather, I wasn’t.” Zhou replied, his gaze lingering on Gu Juntian’s face.

Gu Juntian, too, fixed his gaze on Zhou.

When the original owner was uninjured, the hidden cultivation sects had not yet revealed themselves, so he had never practiced true cultivation.

But Zhou had begun seven years ago.

His progress was rapid—he was already in the Golden Core stage, among the most advanced in the nation.

His appearance had frozen at the Foundation stage, when he was only eighteen.

Thus he still looked like a young man.

Yet though youthful in looks, his eyes were nothing like a boy’s. His aura was like an unsheathed sword—sharp and unyielding.

Gu Juntian’s heart beat faster, his throat dry.

Even his whole body felt strange.

What was happening to him?

After much thought, he suddenly realized—he might have fallen in love with Zhou Qinghao at first sight.