Spiritual Energy Revival (16): 

When Daoist Guanyun was using his magical tool to divine the whereabouts of Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao, rumors had already spread through the Bureau of Demon Control that Gu Juntian had been recklessly using the rare treasures in the bureau’s warehouse to extend his life, practicing demonic arts, and even plotting to seize Zhou Qinghao’s body.

The people of the bureau were utterly shocked.

“Wasn’t it said that Director Gu was very strong? But wasn’t he gravely injured and near death?”

“Director Gu wants to seize Captain Zhou’s body? Is that real?”

“Could there be a mistake?”

…

They didn’t want to believe it, but since both Master Rongfu and Daoist Guanyun had come personally, it probably wasn’t false.

Most importantly, Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao had disappeared!

How could they just vanish without reason? Maybe it was Director Gu who set a trap and took Zhou Qinghao away.

But Zhou Qinghao was so strong—could Director Gu really succeed in seizing his body?

The people could not make sense of it and could only wait for the truth to be revealed.

The formations on the bureau’s warehouse were personally set up by Zhou Qinghao. As director, Gu Juntian could enter any warehouse easily, but others could only access the ordinary ones. So, for the moment, no one could confirm whether anything had actually gone missing.

Still, when they questioned the guards, those people confirmed that Gu Juntian had indeed entered the high-risk warehouses, and he often went to the one storing demonic cultivation manuals.

Moreover, since the rare treasures were stored in ordinary warehouses, others could check, and they found that Gu Juntian had taken a lot of them before—up to ninety percent of the bureau’s treasures had been used by him.

But recently, he had not taken any for the past two months.

It was clear Gu Juntian cherished his life. For someone like him to suddenly stop using treasures for longevity… without doubt, he had found another method.

The report that he intended to seize Zhou Qinghao’s body must have come from someone with ulterior motives, but it was likely true.

Gu Juntian had contributed greatly to the country, so everyone had trusted him, believing that he, who constantly fought against demons and monsters, was dedicated to the public good.

But now, it seemed hearts could change.

Everyone grew deeply worried. At that moment, Daoist Guanyun pointed north of the bureau and said, “Gu Juntian and Zhou Qinghao are in the north.”

As luck would have it, just as he spoke, a strange phenomenon appeared to the north.

A dark cloud suddenly gathered in the sky, and then lightning struck down into the mountains, blasting off the peak of one mountain.

That cloud was clearly unnatural. Daoist Guanyun and Master Rongfu exchanged a look and said together, “Let’s go take a look.”

The two sped off, with the bureau’s people following close behind.

Once they left the bureau’s formation-protected area, they immediately felt the surrounding spiritual energy rushing toward the place that had been struck by lightning.

Something big was definitely happening there!

The place struck was not far, so they quickly stopped, not daring to get closer.

The cloud and its thunderbolts carried such immense power that fear rose in their hearts.

What on earth was happening?

“Why is there suddenly lightning?”

“Could it be that something Heaven does not permit is happening here?”

“Seizing another’s body is too vicious—did Gu Juntian get struck by heavenly lightning?”

Countless thoughts filled their minds, their anxiety mounting.

With such terrifying lightning, could Zhou Qinghao even survive?

Not far from them, a demon king who had come at the Ghost King’s invitation asked, “What’s going on? Didn’t you say you invited me to watch a good show?”

The Ghost King replied, “Gu Juntian is in that mountain, preparing to seize Zhou Qinghao’s body. The good show I meant is this very scene.”

“But if it’s body seizure, why would there be a lightning tribulation?” The demon king, staring at the thunderbolts, felt something was off.

The Ghost King was also puzzled. “I don’t know either. Let’s watch a bit longer.”

Everyone waited for the tribulation to end.

Inside the cave, Gu Juntian was already charred black from the lightning, his whole body scorched.

At such a moment, seeing Zhou Qinghao beside him completely unharmed made him feel a bit depressed.

Though being struck by lightning had its benefits, why did Zhou Qinghao remain rosy-lipped and beautiful, while he looked so miserable?

His body even gave off the smell of roasted meat!

Too much!

Gu Juntian rubbed his peeling skin onto Zhou Qinghao.

The anxious Zhou Qinghao: “…”

Gu Juntian said, “Don’t get distracted. Quickly circulate your cultivation method and form your Nascent Soul.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qinghao forced himself to calm down, then began circulating his technique, attempting to form his Nascent Soul.

Seeing this, Gu Juntian stopped moving as well, raised his head, and waited for the next bolt of lightning.

This all went back to three days earlier.

Three days ago, right after Zhou Qinghao arrived at his secret base, his heart demon erupted, and he forced Gu Juntian into dual cultivation.

Gu Juntian couldn’t resist, and the two cultivated together for a long time.

Today, Zhou Qinghao finally let him go, healed his injuries, and set up formations.

And after all that, Zhou Qinghao’s tribulation came.

It was Zhou Qinghao’s tribulation, and had nothing to do with Gu Juntian. But perhaps because of their dual cultivation, even when apart from him, lightning still struck Gu Juntian as well.

If the original owner had been here, he likely would have been killed outright. Luckily, Gu Juntian’s divine sense was strong, and the lightning wasn’t enough to kill him.

In fact, he could even use his divine sense to guide the lightning, tempering his body with it.

With this thought, Gu Juntian released his divine sense, preparing for the next bolt.

But just then, he noticed many people gathering near the cave.

The bureau’s people had actually come here!

Now, with lightning still falling, they dared not approach, but once the tribulation ended, they would certainly come closer.

And in their current state…

Their clothes had been shredded by the lightning, his body was covered in marks…

Even though much of his flesh was charred, if not dealt with, the marks would still remain visible.

Most importantly, perhaps because something went wrong in their earlier dual cultivation, he and Zhou Qinghao had formed a Dao-companion contract.

He hadn’t known what that was before, only realizing it after experiencing lightning together with Zhou Qinghao.

Now, their auras were intertwined, and anyone could see something was off.

How embarrassing could this get?

At that moment, another bolt of lightning crashed down into the cave. Just before striking them, it split in two—half hit Zhou Qinghao, half struck Gu Juntian.

Before, Gu Juntian had carefully used the lightning to temper his body, moving with caution.

But now, he couldn’t afford to hold back.

He bound the heavenly lightning with his divine sense, letting it rampage inside his body.

It tore his body apart, but also rebuilt it anew.

A few more bolts like this, and his body would be fully tempered!

Then he would become youthful again, no longer seeming like an old ox preying on tender grass.

With this thought, Gu Juntian cultivated even more seriously.

Still, using lightning to temper his body was incredibly painful…

As Gu Juntian closed his eyes and cultivated silently, Zhou Qinghao opened his.

He gazed at Gu Juntian not far away, his mind dazed.

If not for the searing pain of the lightning, he would have thought he was dreaming.

He had already prepared himself to die—yet unexpectedly, he had advanced into the Nascent Soul stage.