"Gu Zheng... I remember he’s from Nanyun Prefecture in Fengzhou. What’s wrong?"

Huang Hongyuan didn’t understand.

"Old Fu, do you know him?" Huang Hongyuan asked curiously.

"I don’t."

Director Fu realized he had acted strangely and sat back down with a light laugh. "A junior in my family knows this Gu Zheng, and they get along quite well."

"Is that so."

Huang Hongyuan didn’t give it much thought and continued, "Gu Zheng is the one who clashed with Luo Cheng this time. To be precise, Luo Cheng started it. He mistook Gu Zheng, who was cultivating by drawing down lightning, for an Electric Spirit Monster and launched a ferocious, relentless assault. If I hadn’t been on patrol and happened to pass by, Gu Zheng would have been furious. He isn’t enraged now, but Luo Cheng definitely lit his fuse."

"Old Fu, you weren’t there. You don’t know how awful Luo Cheng was. That bastard was clearly in the wrong, but he didn’t say a word. No apology—he just turned around and left. He lacks the most basic decency!"

"With his personality, he’s going to cause a major incident sooner or later. When that happens, not even Commander Jin will be able to protect him."

"...It probably won’t come to that." Director Fu smiled reassuringly. "With Luo Cheng’s talent and strength, the further he progresses, the fewer people will be able to handle him."

"Forget it. Let’s not talk about him."

Seeing Huang Hongyuan’s face was still dark, Director Fu changed the subject. "News came from the Capital City. The Third Prince’s wedding is imminent, and all sorts of powerful figures are flocking there. They need manpower to maintain stability, so they’re asking me to go back. I’ll have to trouble you with things here, Old Huang."

"What? They’re transferring you at a time like this?" Huang Hongyuan frowned. "For the Third Prince’s wedding, isn’t the entire Dragon Guard Bureau already mobilized? That’s not enough?"

"Well, the Dragon Guard Bureau doesn’t have many at the Heroic Body Realm."

Director Fu spread his hands. "But the major Noble Families and several other organizations have quite a few Heroic Body Realm experts. Without an equal force, if someone causes trouble, we won’t be able to stop them."

"I..." Huang Hongyuan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words died on his lips. He sighed. "Fine. Leave soon and come back soon."

"Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, either."

Director Fu smiled. "Isn’t Gu Zheng in the mountains right now? If the situation at the pass becomes critical, you can ask him for help."

"I’ve already thought of that." A smile appeared on Huang Hongyuan’s face. "Lord Gu is very easy to talk to. As long as we ask for help, he can come over anytime."

"Compared to Luo Cheng... no, Luo Cheng can’t even begin to compare to him!"

"You..." Director Fu pointed at Huang Hongyuan and gave a helpless smile.

But inwardly, his mind was racing.

’Should I tell His Highness?’

...

...

KRAK~!

"RUMBLE~"

Rolling thunder shook the heavens and earth.

A thick bolt of lightning split from the heavy clouds, erupting in a blinding flash as it descended upon Gu Zheng’s head.

Gu Zheng raised his arms high, welcoming the lightning, absorbing it and converting it into energy to strengthen his physique.

On his status panel, the total number of Demon Points required to break through to the next stage continued to decrease.

Forty-one thousand...

Forty thousand five hundred...

Forty thousand!

...

After changing locations again, the energy he absorbed from the lightning had reduced the requirement to break through to Heroic Body: Melting Furnace to just forty thousand Demon Points.

This meant the power absorbed from the lightning was equivalent to ten thousand Demon Points.

The Thunder Storage Ability was truly astonishing.

However, Gu Zheng’s constant relocation to absorb lightning finally attracted the attention of a group of Demon Fiends.

Electric Spirit Monsters!

One after another, Demon Fiends emerged from all sides of the valley, slowly closing in on Gu Zheng. They were about 1.7 or 1.8 meters tall, with a humanoid shape from a distance. They had all four limbs, but their bodies were silver-black, their skin was wrinkled, and they were hairless. Their arms were like scythes, and their eyes were inverted triangles.

"CRACKLE~"

BOOM!

A timely bolt of lightning struck down, its flash illuminating the entire valley.

The forms of over a hundred Electric Spirit Monsters were instantly revealed.

"GAAAA~"

With a piercing shriek, the Electric Spirit Monsters suddenly charged, pouncing ferociously toward Gu Zheng under the flash of lightning.

Having absorbed the lightning, Gu Zheng drew his blade.

SWISH!

CHICHICHI~

A line of Sword Gang formed a circle, sweeping out in all directions.

It struck the charging Electric Spirit Monsters mid-stride. The sharp aura easily sliced through them, cutting their bodies in two.

With a single slash, the ground was littered with the corpses of Electric Spirit Monsters.

Spirit Capturing!

[Demon Points +6]

[Demon Points +9]

...

A decent haul, but the dead Electric Spirit Monsters were all only first-tier.

Even less than the lightning gave him.

"How can an Electric Spirit Monster not discharge electricity?"

If the Electric Spirit Monsters had attacked him with electric currents, Gu Zheng guaranteed he wouldn’t have even drawn his blade; he would have let them have their way.

What a pity...

Glancing at the corpses littering the ground, Gu Zheng sheathed his blade. He looked up at the dark clouds overhead, which had stopped thundering. He immediately leaped into the air and sped toward the next lightning strike point.

BZZZT~

On the way, the Demon-Slaying General Seal in his robes suddenly began to vibrate.

He stopped in mid-air and took it out. It was indeed the Grand General Seal, trembling as it received a message.

After Gu Zheng finished reading it, his sharp brows rose. He immediately turned and sped towards the Dahuashan pass.

Huang Hongyuan had sent an urgent call for rescue. Two third-tier Demon Fiends had emerged from the Dahuashan pass.

Luo Cheng was no match for them!

...

「Dahuashan Pass.」

RUMBLE~

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Muffled thunder and colossal bangs filled the air.

Two Electric Giant Pythons, each over a hundred meters long, slithered and roared. Their tails swept out, sending trees and giant boulders flying and blasting craters into the mountain path.

The lightning they released transformed into electric serpents that weaved through the crowd, roasting Demon Suppression Guards into cooked meat or blowing them apart into minced flesh.

"Retreat! Everyone else, retreat!"

Huang Hongyuan shouted, his Battle Blade in hand, as he tied up one of the Electric Giant Pythons.

He didn’t dare to face the lightning surrounding the Electric Giant Python head-on. He could only weave and harry it.

Luo Cheng, on the other hand, was fearless, but he wasn’t faring well either. His icy face was covered with a frosty expression.

There were two third-tier Electric Giant Pythons. The original plan was for Huang Hongyuan and Luo Cheng to each take one, but they hadn’t expected the pythons to be so powerful. Luo Cheng was completely outmatched.

As for Director Fu, he had just left when the Electric Giant Pythons emerged from the pass.

The situation was a total mess.

"CRACKLE~"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Flashes of electricity bloomed, the explosions shaking the forest.

The remaining Demon Suppression Guards scrambled to retreat, fleeing the battle zone.

Huang Hongyuan kept his Electric Giant Python occupied in a circling battle; neither could gain the upper hand.

Luo Cheng, unable to handle the other Electric Giant Python, was being chased all over the mountain.

BOOM!

BOOM~ BOOM~

One after another, arcs and balls of electricity exploded in the forest and the riverbed, kicking up clouds of dust and countless splashes of water.

A terrifying aura of destruction filled the air.

When Gu Zheng arrived, he saw Luo Cheng thrust his spear. It shot out a beam of light that struck the Electric Giant Python, but it failed to even pierce its scales, leaving only a scratch. The sting enraged the third-tier Demon Fiend, which instantly shot out a blinding ball of lightning.

"BOOM~!"

A violent explosion shook the mountains.

The point of impact where the lightning struck became a massive crater seven or eight meters deep. At the same time, a figure was sent flying backward at high speed, spewing blood and reeking of burnt flesh. He crashed through several large trees before slamming into a dried-up riverbed, burying himself in the ground and leaving only a hole behind.

"HISSS~"

BOOM! BOOM!

The Electric Giant Python, wreathed in arcs of electricity, raised the upper half of its body high. The eyes on its triangular head glowed as it scanned the fleeing Demon Suppression Guards on the mountain path. With a roar, it broke through the air and lunged toward them.

WHOOSH~!

A thick, foul wind instantly swept through the forest, causing the leaves to rustle loudly.

"It’s over!"

The running Demon Suppression Guards felt the terrifying aura descend upon them, and looks of despair crossed their faces.

But just then...

SWISH!!

A flash of blade light, like a bolt of silk, suddenly erupted. It tore through the dim sky, streaked through the void over everyone’s heads, and seemed to slice space itself before it slammed into the Electric Giant Python with a deafening "BOOM".

The tyrannical force sent the Electric Giant Python reeling backward. Its massive body crashed down with a rumble, crushing a dozen trees as it fell onto the mountain path, sending scales flying everywhere.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Lines of Sword Gang descended from the sky, relentlessly submerging the Electric Giant Python before it could recover. While the beast was still dazed, a terrifying, shredding force was unleashed upon it.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

SHINK~ SHINK~ SHINK~

The sound of metal striking metal, the sight of scales flying through the air, and the enraged hisses of the Electric Giant Python all merged into a chaotic symphony.

"CRACKLE~!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The Electric Giant Python, under the onslaught of the shredding force, unleashed the arcs of electricity around its body. They coalesced, shooting ball after ball of lightning that swarmed toward Gu Zheng.

Their speed was incredible, and their power was immense.

In an instant, the energy released from the explosions caused ripples in the void, locking down the space around him and making it impossible to dodge.

But Gu Zheng didn’t need to dodge!

He spread his arms wide, meeting the lightning head-on. A tingling, numbing sensation accompanied by a sharp pain washed over him as he rapidly absorbed it, converting it into energy to strengthen his physique.

In a single moment, the Demon Points required for his breakthrough decreased by two hundred.

"More!"

Gu Zheng roared with excitement. Gripping the Celestial Frost Blade, he charged in close to the Electric Giant Python and engaged it in fierce combat.

SWISH SWISH SWISH~

Blade light flashed, creating ripples in the air.

SHINK SHINK SHINK!

With his Eyes of Golden Flame, he guided his blade, empowered by immense force, to slice precisely into the gaps between the Electric Giant Python’s scales and deep into its flesh.

Amidst the brilliant flashes of electricity, streams of blood began to spurt out.

"HISSS~"

"ROAR!!"

The Electric Giant Python thrashed its body, the sharp pain driving it into a frenzy. It spat poisonous gas, coiled its body, and swept its massive tail, destroying swathes of the forest and leaving behind massive craters.

The dancing electric serpents became even denser, surging out madly.

However, while these electric serpents were a deadly weapon to others...

...to Gu Zheng, they were a powerful tonic.

Gu Zheng, who had long since removed his shirt and left his Exotic Insect on a distant mountain peak, was bare-chested. He held his breath, protected by the Sword Gang covering his body, and greedily absorbed the lightning. Meanwhile, the Celestial Frost Blade in his hand continued to inflict wound after wound on the Electric Giant Python.

SHINK... RRRIP~!

With a sound like tearing cloth, Gu Zheng carved a neat, five-meter-long gash into the Electric Giant Python’s body.

The Electric Giant Python roared in agony. Its vicious triangular head whipped around to bite at Gu Zheng.

BZZZM~

Demon Technique, Spear of the Soul!

An invisible Spiritual Attack was abruptly unleashed.

Without any warning, the Electric Giant Python was hit. Its body froze as a searing pain assaulted its soul.

RRRIP!

Seizing the opportunity, Gu Zheng abruptly put more force into his strike. The Celestial Frost Blade pierced deep into the Electric Giant Python’s body, churning within it before forcefully digging out a gallbladder-like object shimmering with lightning.

A Demon Pill!