After returning to the male rest area of the military headquarters, Gu Qing’s steps faltered slightly.
The door had barely closed when the aura within his body abruptly fell into chaos. The old injury buried deep within his meridians tore open without warning, and sharp pain surged up into his chest.
His brows knit. He lifted a hand to cover his heart, and a thin line of blood slipped from the corner of his lips. The vivid red stood out starkly against his smooth, jade-like complexion.
“Wah—Gu Qing! Y-you’re coughing up blood?! I thought it was just a routine drill!”
The Heavenly Dao’s little orb shot out of his sea of consciousness as if struck by lightning, spinning frantically in midair. Its voice trembled. “Wasn’t it just testing the waters, releasing a bit of divine sense? You came back and just—pfft—started spitting blood! You never said it would be this serious!”
It was so anxious its voice cracked. Tiny motes of light flickered wildly, on the verge of shedding silvery tears.
“I was over there watching the show…”
“And you were forcing yourself the whole time… You lied to me. You actually lied to me…”
Gu Qing sat down cross-legged and quietly adjusted his breathing. His long fingers formed a sword seal as he guided his aura inward. The turbulent sea of qi gradually receded and was suppressed back into his dantian. His voice was low, yet unusually clear.
“It is not a problem with the spiritual sea itself… There is demonic qi hidden inside it.”
The little orb froze midair. Its voice exploded in disbelief. “W-what?! Demonic qi?! That is the super-evil stuff from the cultivation world! The kind that corrodes the mind, destroys the sea of consciousness, and drives people into qi deviation! How could it exist here?!”
Gu Qing lifted his eyes. Though his black gaze appeared calm, a storm churned beneath the surface.
“Yes… demonic qi. And extremely pure, its source unknown.”
He spoke slowly, each word falling with the weight of a descending blade. “It should not exist in this world.”
The Heavenly Dao’s little orb went blank.
After a brief silence, Gu Qing continued, “The Zerg spiritual seas are now showing signs of merging with it. It can lurk and spread silently. This is no simple case of spiritual instability.”
His fingers tapped lightly against his knee as he murmured, “Is someone manipulating this? Or has the very foundation of this world already begun to crack?”
“No… Unless the spiritual realm is fractured and the Heavenly Dao thrown into chaos, demonic qi could not form on its own. This is not the cultivation world… Then where did it come from?”
“And why is the spiritual sea compatible with it? Is it because of the Zerg’s unique constitution? Could it be that this race has always shared some connection with demonic qi? …Could this be the true root of this world’s impending destruction?”
Speculations turned rapidly in his mind. Gu Qing’s sword-like brows drew tight, his thoughts heavy.
For the first time, he felt an overwhelming sense of crisis.
This world might already be standing on the brink of collapse—while its inhabitants remained utterly unaware.
The little orb was silent for a long while. When it finally spoke, its voice carried disbelief.
“…Gu Qing, then why did you still act? Your spiritual veins are damaged. Your cultivation has fallen from the Tribulation Crossing stage to almost that of an ordinary person. Why save that female?”
Gu Qing closed his eyes and exhaled softly.
“For me, it was merely one session of breathing adjustment, a small expenditure of divine sense. A few moments of meditation, and I can recover somewhat.”
“But for him, it was his life.”
“To save or not save—for me, it is a matter of cost.”
“For him, it is life or death.”
The little orb fell silent again.
It remembered that grand gathering of countless cultivators bathed in radiant light.
—The Sword Venerable whom the world once looked up to from below, now with shattered meridians, his cultivation plummeted, yet still choosing to act for a female he had never met.
He had never stood above all beings.
He had always stood among them.
He was simply too strong—so others looked up.
“…You are truly foolish,” it murmured softly, voice tinged with something almost aching.
Gu Qing only smiled faintly, his gaze deep and tranquil.
“The spiritual energy here is too thin. At this rate, I can release my divine sense only a few more times.”
“That will not do!” The little orb instantly flared. “We will go seize, dig, steal energy stones! Recover as much as possible! Once you regain even ten percent of your cultivation, let us see who dares block you!”
Gu Qing rose and looked out the window. Night had fallen. The lights of the military headquarters shimmered like scattered stars.
“It is time for us to act,” he said quietly, firmly.
“We start with energy stones.”
The little orb brightened at once, as if ignited. “Good! This time I will help you dig the entire military headquarters upside down!”
—
Elsewhere in the military headquarters, the night was far from over.
Near midnight, an encrypted line from the highest level of command flickered to life. Milton raised a brow and accepted the call. A holographic projection appeared—a tall military female standing with arms crossed, posture relaxed, lips curved in a faint smile.
—The Marshal of the military, Aklan Hubert.
“I hear a certain Supreme Commander has been rather active lately,” Aklan said lazily. “Personally applying to take a male under guardianship. Even paying visits. And now that male has entered the headquarters and seems glued to your side. The spiritual sea purification today… that was his doing?”
Milton’s expression was cold and composed. “It was a necessary crisis response. That male is temporarily useful. Nothing more.”
“Nothing more?” The Marshal arched a brow. His smile was unreadable. “You were never interested in such matters before. Visiting civilian residences yourself? Since when did you become so enthusiastic about charity?”
“That was observation.” Milton enunciated clearly. “His reactions are abnormal. Too calm. His actions precise. His adaptability far beyond ordinary insects. Those responses… should not appear in a male.”
Aklan gave a thoughtful hum. “So you suspect him?”
“It is not suspicion. I am certain he is hiding something,” Milton replied coldly. “He simply conceals it too well for most to detect any flaw.”
The Marshal lifted a hand, idly brushing his chin. His tone was teasing. “Yet you seem rather invested.”
Milton’s eyes darkened. His voice was as cold as snow. “I am fulfilling my duty.”
“Is that so?” Aklan’s smile deepened, amusement flashing in his eyes. “I thought perhaps you were being led around in circles by that male. Remembering every word he said, to whom, and when. Such memory—truly moving.”
Milton retorted sharply, “I am not being played. He does not have that capability.”
Aklan stared at him for several seconds, then suddenly laughed, as though at some private joke. “Very well, very well. If you say so. Just a reminder—be careful that little white flower does not suddenly bloom into a man-eating plant.”
Milton gave a cold laugh. “If he dares bare fangs, I will be the first to uproot him.”
Aklan clapped lightly, the meaning in his gaze deepening. “Excellent. Interesting. I will keep an eye on the two of you. You keep your eyes on him. If anything happens, report to me immediately.”