The Ministry of War Vice Minister's Daughter

There were only a handful of Xiantian Supreme Grandmasters in the entire Great Feng Dynasty.

One was stationed within the Great Feng Imperial Palace.

Sun Moon Sword Sect, Shaolin Temple, and Ten Thousand Stars Sect each had one.

The Mongol Kingdom's Imperial Preceptor had also only broken through to the Xiantian Tenth-Level Peak half a year ago.

Only five in total!

Yet Qin Hu, his guard before him, said that he could break through to the Xiantian Tenth-Level Peak.

Seeing that Zhou Cheng remained silent and merely stared at him, Qin Meng grew nervous. "Rest assured, Young Master. Although this subordinate's cultivation speed is not fast, I will certainly cultivate diligently and strive to break through to the Xiantian Tenth-Level Peak within a year."

Breaking through to the Xiantian Tenth-Level Peak within a year, and that was considered not fast?

How were the experts of The World supposed to live with that?

Zhou Cheng said to Qin Meng, "From now on, don't call me Master. Call me Young Master instead." After all, the other man was now a Xiantian Seventh-Level grandmaster. Being called Master by him made Zhou Cheng feel somewhat awkward.

"Yes, Young Master," Qin Meng replied respectfully.

He obeyed Zhou Cheng's orders two hundred percent.

Zhou Cheng looked at the Demon God Garment in his hand. Since Qin Meng was a Xiantian Seventh-Level grandmaster, this Demon God Garment was probably no ordinary item either.

With a thought, the Demon God Garment automatically clothed his body, fitting him perfectly.

"Like the Earth Cauldron and the God-Slaying Saber, the Demon God Garment is a Low-Grade Spirit Artifact. It possesses many functions: it can render one invisible, conceal one's aura, activate the Demon God Array within it, and transform one into a Demon God."

"The Demon God Garment can likewise cultivate automatically and raise its own grade."

"The more enemy blood it devours, the faster its grade rises."

It could rapidly raise its grade by devouring the blood of enemies?

It truly was the garment of a Demon God.

Zhou Cheng tried activating the Demon God Array within the Demon God Garment. At once, surging demonic qi enveloped his entire body, yet the garment he wore strangely emanated an aura of divinity.

Within the shroud of demonic qi, others could only vaguely see Zhou Cheng's silhouette, but could not make out his features.

With this Demon God Garment, he would no longer need to worry about exposing his identity when killing people and looting their goods in the future.

Just then, someone suddenly knocked on the courtyard gate.

"Cheng'er, are you all right?" Luo Shui called from outside.

Clearly, when Zhou Cheng had tested the power of the Indestructible Vajra Divine Technique on that stone pedestal earlier, the commotion had been rather loud.

Zhou Cheng opened the courtyard gate. Luo Shui was standing outside, her face full of concern.

"Cheng'er, Chang Qing told me there was a loud noise from your courtyard." Luo Shui walked in and looked Zhou Cheng up and down, checking whether he had been injured anywhere.

Zhou Cheng smiled. "Mother, I'm fine." Then he pointed at Qin Meng and said, "This is the new guard I took in. He accidentally shattered the stone pedestal in the courtyard just now."

Luo Shui looked at Qin Meng, who stood over six feet tall with a burly frame and a rugged face, her expression puzzled. When had Cheng'er taken in this guard?

Qin Meng cupped his fists and respectfully said to Luo Shui, "Qin Meng greets Madam."

Luo Shui nodded, then walked into the courtyard.

Her gaze swept across the area and landed on the stone pedestal, blasted into several large chunks. Looking more closely, she discovered a huge fist imprint at the point where it had shattered.

She was astonished.

Qin Meng's fleshly body was actually so fierce and powerful that his bare fist had smashed the stone pedestal into such a state.

Luo Shui looked around once more. Only after finding no traces of a fight did she finally relax.

Luo Shui entered Zhou Cheng's study and sat down. Seeing the Martial Classics on the desk, she smiled. "Cheng'er, are you reading the Martial Classics?"

Zhou Cheng smiled. "Yes. When I have nothing to do these past few days, I occasionally read the Martial Classics." He sat down as well.

Luo Shui chatted with Zhou Cheng about family matters for a while, then said worriedly, "Ever since your father set out on this journey, I've been unable to settle my mind. I always feel that something will happen."

Zhou Cheng was startled. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Mother, rest assured. This time, the court sent three Xiantian Realm grandmasters along with Father. Nothing will happen."

Thinking of the three Xiantian First-Level and Second-Level grandmasters accompanying him, Luo Shui felt somewhat reassured. She changed the subject and smiled. "Let's not talk about your father. Let's talk about you."

After a pause, she asked, "Cheng'er, you'll soon be fourteen. Is there someone you like?"

She smiled. "I think the third daughter of the Ministry of War Vice Minister is quite good. She is about your age, well-read and courteous, and has decent martial talent. More importantly, she is a little beauty. The Ministry of War Vice Minister was also your father's subordinate back then, and the two share a good friendship. If our families become in-laws, it will be kinship upon kinship."

The Ministry of War Vice Minister was Subordinate Second Rank, equivalent to a deputy minister of defense, holding an important post. Though he could not compare to Zhou Wei, the General of the Nation, the two families were still well matched.

Moreover, the Ministry of War Vice Minister's main branch was the Chen Family of Central Province.

The Chen Family was one of the Great Feng Dynasty's distinguished noble lineages.

Zhou Cheng gave a wry smile. "Mother, I'm still young. I'm only thirteen now."

"What's wrong with thirteen?" Luo Shui said irritably. "Many lineage disciples have their marriages arranged at twelve or thirteen. You can settle it first, then marry when you come of age at seventeen."

Without waiting for Zhou Cheng to speak, she added, "When your father returns at the end of the year, we'll go to Vice Minister Chen's residence and propose the matter for you."

Hearing Luo Shui say they would wait until the end of the year before approaching Vice Minister Chen's family, Zhou Cheng inwardly relaxed. There was still half a year until then, so they could discuss it when the time came.

A while later, Luo Shui left the courtyard.

Zhou Cheng returned to his study and recalled the information regarding the Ministry of War Vice Minister's third daughter. Her name was Chen Yuan. Like him, she was thirteen years old and already at the Body Refining Sixth Level. She possessed considerable poetic talent and was quite pretty. Though she could not compare to heavenly favored daughters like Princess Zixue and Zhu Tingting, she still had quite a reputation among the circles of the Dafeng Capital.

Then Zhou Cheng recalled Luo Shui's worries about his father Zhou Wei. After thinking it over, he decided to have Qin Meng follow along and take a look.

Zhou Wei had left the Capital City in the morning. Given Qin Meng's speed, he should be able to catch up with Zhou Wei before nightfall.

Qin Meng respectfully acknowledged the order and turned to leave the General's Mansion.

Before Qin Meng departed, however, Zhou Cheng instructed him to act carefully and not let anyone recognize him.

After Qin Meng left, Zhou Cheng began practicing martial skills in the courtyard.

The Roaming Dragon White Tiger Fist had already broken through to the Mastery Realm. He needed to strive for the Wind-Facing Willow Steps and Demon-Subduing Saber Technique to break through to the Mastery Realm as soon as possible as well.

For the same martial skill, the difference in power between the entry realm and the Mastery Realm was immense. If his Wind-Facing Willow Steps and Demon-Subduing Saber Technique both broke through to the Mastery Realm, his combat strength would rise greatly.

Under Zhou Cheng's training, the progress of the Wind-Facing Willow Steps and Demon-Subduing Saber Technique gradually increased.

Zhou Cheng was drenched in sweat.

At dinner, Zhou Cheng ate with his mother, Luo Shui. Afterward, he returned to his study, read for a while, and continued cultivating.

Night began to descend.

The heat of the scorching earth gradually faded.

The night breeze rustled softly.

A silver moon hung high in the sky.

At this time, Zhou Wei and the soldiers under his command arrived at a stretch of desolate mountains and wilderness.

"My lord, Ghost Mound lies ahead." One of the generals under Zhou Wei pointed toward the mountain before them, shrouded in black mist. Faintly, mournful gusts of yin wind could be heard, like evil ghosts traveling by night.

Ghost Mound had once been an ancient burial ground, thick with yin qi. Evil ghosts appeared there at night.

"Have the army set up camp here and rest for the night. We'll continue our journey tomorrow," Zhou Wei said after considering the matter.

Not long after Zhou Wei's army set up camp where they stood, four figures wreathed in demonic qi emerged from the dense night. They were the Demonic Cult's Four Great Dharma Kings.

Only four people from the Demonic Cult had come this time.

They had not come to clash head-on with Zhou Wei's army, but merely to assassinate Zhou Wei. Too many people would only make things inconvenient.

Dharma King Yindu, leader of the Four Great Dharma Kings, coldly stared at Zhou Wei's tent and said, "You three deal with the guards around Zhou Wei. I will deal with Zhou Wei!"