Zhou Jingfeng

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhou Jingfeng (周璟峰)
Alias(es)	Hall Master Zhou; Master Zhou
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Iron Mountain Martial Hall
Occupation/Role	Hall Master; martial artist and instructor
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 23
Cultivation	Bone Forging Realm 28

Background / History

Zhou Jingfeng is the hall master of Iron Mountain Martial Hall, a low-key but highly respected martial institution in Hepu County. Though the hall has few disciples, several of Zhou's earlier students achieved success elsewhere, including service to major prefectural families; this gives the hall influence among the county's major families and authorities. 26

He first notices Chen Yue during the County Examination, where Yu Kan and Ma Jun stand respectfully behind him. After seeing Chen Yue use Iron Mountain Hall's basic fist and movement arts with unexpected precision, Zhou learns that Chen Yue had received only a single demonstration less than a month earlier. Chen Yue's background as a Pearl Diver makes this progress even more astonishing to him. 23 25 26

When Chen Yue reveals that the Sea Shark Gang may target his parents, Zhou sends Yu Kan to declare that Chen Yue is a valued junior of Iron Mountain Hall and offers to mediate. Privately, he orders Ma Jun to investigate Chen Yue's family, conduct, and conflict with the gang, considering whether to accept him as a true inheriting disciple. 27

After Chen Yue protects his parents from Sea Shark Gang members, Zhou formally offers him discipleship. He accepts Chen Yue as his seventh personal disciple, both recognizing his exceptional talent and placing Iron Mountain Hall's protection behind him. 31 32

Appearance

Zhou Jingfeng is a composed middle-aged man of roughly forty whose calm bearing and extraordinary presence immediately distinguish him from the other spectators at the County Examination. 23

• Usually stands with his hands behind his back. 23 31
• Has a short beard, which he often strokes while observing Chen Yue's cultivation. 41 44
• Maintains a steady, mountain-like stance when testing Chen Yue. 33
• Later appears carrying a bloodstained longsword after suffering severe injuries during the Five-Color Mountain conflict. 77

Personality

Zhou is discerning and decisive. Chen Yue's rapid mastery of three basic techniques convinces him that he has found an unprecedented talent, and he moves quickly to investigate the youth, mediate his crisis, and offer him formal discipleship. 26 27 31

He is deeply protective of his disciples and their families. He uses his standing to deter the Sea Shark Gang, arranges safety for Chen Yue's parents, personally invests in Chen Yue's medicinal cultivation, and is prepared to intervene if Chen faces mortal danger in the Life-Death Arena. 27 35 40 49

As a teacher, Zhou encourages independent understanding rather than blind obedience. He praises Chen Yue's unconventional insights, permits him to study multiple advanced techniques at once, and stresses that a master can only show the door while the disciple must find his own path. 34 35 36

He is pragmatic in dealing with conflict. Although he does not fear the Sea Shark Gang, he accepts Tang Qizheng's public proposal to end their feud after Xiong Wu's death, while remaining vigilant due to Iron Mountain Hall's limited manpower and the families under its protection. 50

Abilities & Skills

Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist

Zhou is a Bone Forging Realm expert regarded as one of Hepu County's foremost martial artists. His reputation is sufficient to make the Sea Shark Gang reluctant to provoke him without cause. 28 39

• Personally assesses Chen Yue's energy circulation, blood and qi, physique, and combat reactions through sparring. 33
• Deflects Chen Yue's full-force attacks with controlled, precise movements rather than overpowering him outright. 33
• Retains enough battlefield presence to deter three Flesh Refining Realm bandit leaders despite suffering severe injuries. 77
• Fights with a longsword during the Five-Color Mountain battle and presses three bandit leaders with storm-like attacks. 77 80

Martial Arts Instructor

Zhou possesses broad knowledge of internal and external cultivation methods and personally tailors instruction to each disciple's foundation.

• Confirms that Chen Yue has mastered the essence of Iron Mountain Fist, Iron Mountain Saber, and Roaming Mountains and Rivers before advancing his training. 35
• Offers Chen Yue Mountain Crushing Fist, Gale Saber Technique, and Eight-Step Cicada Chase. 36
• Explains that Mountain Crushing Fist integrates fist techniques with an inner-breath circulation method and can support a Bone Forging Realm breakthrough when mastered. 36
• Teaches the Dragon Roar Shirt's blood-and-qi circulation, meridian nourishment, fascia vibration, and acupoint stimulation methods. 58

Dragon Roar Shirt

Zhou possesses the first three levels of the Dragon Roar Shirt, a difficult body-tempering art that can lead toward the Xiantian realm. 57 58

• Has only barely entered its second level after years of cultivation. 57
• The activated art enhances his strength and physical defense; ordinary blades and swords struggle to harm him, while some ordinary inner energy can be partially neutralized. 57
• Requires abundant blood and qi, strong comprehension, resilient meridians, and a sufficient foundational realm. 58
• Shares a transcript of its first three levels, including his personal annotations and cultivation insights, with Yu Kan, Ma Jun, and Chen Yue. 58

Influence and Mediation

Zhou's standing extends beyond his martial hall due to his skill, former disciples, and connections among Hepu's influential groups. 26 28

• Sends Yu Kan to warn the Sea Shark Gang that Chen Yue is under Iron Mountain Hall's protection. 27
• Uses his connections to consider changing the Chen family's Pearl Diver registry, but rejects an illegal shortcut that could later endanger Chen Yue's pursuit of official status. 35
• Arranges for Chen Yue's parents to stay at the Su Family estate for safety and supervision. 35
• Maintains a longstanding, informal friendship with Nantong Martial Hall master Gu Huaizhang. 51

Resources

• Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder — Zhou supplies this medicine for Chen Yue's medicinal baths before the Life-Death Arena and advises using it every four days to avoid overreliance on external medicine. 40 41
• Red sandalwood medicine case — Holds the medicinal powder prepared for Chen Yue's cultivation. 40
• Dragon Roar Shirt transcript — A booklet containing the first three levels of the art and Zhou's annotations. 58
• One thousand taels of silver — Winnings from his wager on Chen Yue's Life-Death Arena victory; Zhou initially intends to give the entire sum to Chen Yue for future cultivation. 46 52
• Longsword — Used while fighting during the Five-Color Mountain rescue. 77

Relationships

• Chen Yue — Seventh personal disciple. Zhou recognizes Chen Yue's extraordinary talent, protects his family, provides cultivation resources, and treats the disciple's advancement as a long-term priority. 31 32 40 52
• Yu Kan — Personal disciple and senior brother to Chen Yue. Zhou entrusts him with mediation, demonstrations, and care of the hall while Zhou handles Zhou Family affairs. 27 36 42
• Ma Jun — Personal disciple. Zhou tasks him with investigating Chen Yue's background, preparing medicinal baths, filing the Life-Death Contract, and improving his own deficient cultivation. 27 39 41 53
• Gu Huaizhang — Hall master of Nantong Martial Hall and a longstanding friend. They exchange familiar teasing after Chen Yue's victory and later cooperate during the Five-Color Mountain rescue. 51 73 81
• Tang Qizheng — Leader of the Sea Shark Gang. Their relationship becomes openly tense over Chen Yue, though they publicly agree to end the conflict after Xiong Wu's death. 45 49 50
• Father Chen and Mother Chen — Parents of Zhou's disciple. Zhou treats them courteously, provides protection, and arranges a safe refuge for them. 31 35

Story Role / Major Arcs

County Examination

Zhou observes Chen Yue's effortless victory over Zhao Kui and investigates how a Pearl Diver could master Iron Mountain Hall's techniques so quickly. His interest shifts from surprise to the determination to recruit Chen Yue. 25 26

Sea Shark Gang Conflict

He shields Chen Yue from the Sea Shark Gang's retaliation, accepts him as a personal disciple, and makes Iron Mountain Hall responsible for the resulting dispute. 27 31 32 38

Life-Death Arena

Zhou initially opposes Chen Yue's decision to fight Xiong Wu but ultimately respects his disciple's resolve. He supplies medicine, oversees Chen Yue's preparation, wagers one thousand taels on his victory, confronts Tang Qizheng over suspected forbidden drugs, and accepts the gang's public settlement afterward. 39 40 46 49 50

Cultivation and Prefectural Examination Preparation

After the duel, Zhou distributes cultivation funds among his disciples, helps Chen Yue's family find a nearby residence, and teaches the Dragon Roar Shirt before an anticipated danger. 53 57 58

Five-Color Mountain Rescue

Zhou becomes the target of a bandit assault, prompting Chen Yue, Yu Kan, and Ma Jun to organize a rescue. Though badly injured, Zhou rejoins the battle, helps turn the tide against the bandit leaders, rescues stranded Zhou Family members from Sea Tooth Rock, and returns to the county town with the survivors. 61 73 77 80 81

Notable Quotes

“From today on, you are my seventh personal disciple!” 32

“The master shows the door, but practice is up to the individual.” 35

“Chen Yue has formally entered my tutelage. From this moment on, he is a man of my Iron Mountain Hall!” 38