No wonder the head of the Shaolin Martial Monk Courtyard and the others were stunned.
Who was their abbot? A grandmaster at Xiantian Level Ten! He was the head of Shaolin Temple, one of the Great Feng Dynasty's ten strongest experts, and yet he was actually begging this slender young man to accept him as a disciple.
Zhou Cheng looked at the old monk before him. Judging by his clothes, he was probably from Shaolin Temple.
"Little benefactor, I am Huineng, the abbot of Shaolin," Huineng introduced himself.
Zhou Cheng was astonished. He hadn't expected the old monk before him to be the abbot of Shaolin Temple.
"So you're Abbot Huineng." Zhou Cheng cupped his fists.
Huineng held his palms together, his expression kindly. "May I ask what you've decided, young benefactor?"
Zhou Cheng shook his head. "I appreciate your kind offer, Master."
Huineng was taken aback. "Benefactor, won't you consider it again?"
Zhou Cheng shook his head. "Master, you are a man of great virtue and prestige, and I've always admired you. It's just that I would find it difficult to abide by your temple's rules."
Shaolin Temple had many rules. For starters, Zhou Cheng couldn't abide by the ban on drinking alcohol and eating meat. He was a meat lover.
Besides, he had the Cultivation System now. By the end of the year, he would be able to break through to Xiantian and perhaps even reach greater heights. There was no need for him to take Huineng as his master.
Zhou Cheng cupped his fists toward Huineng, then left with Qin Meng and the other two.
Huineng stood rooted to the spot, watching Zhou Cheng walk away.
"Abbot, if the young man isn't willing, then let it go," the head of the Martial Monk Hall said as he stepped forward.
Huineng shook his head. "The strange phenomenon with the prayer beads just now was caused by that young man."
The head of the Martial Monk Hall and the others were astonished.
Huineng then ordered one of his men to follow Zhou Cheng and find out which family he belonged to.
A short while later, the Shaolin expert returned and reported to Abbot Huineng.
"The Grand General of the State Mansion." Abbot Huineng smiled when he heard this. "So he's Zhou Zhi's grandson."
By then, Zhou Cheng had returned to the Grand General's Mansion. As he headed toward the main hall, he saw his father, Zhou Wei, and his mother, Luo Shui, talking.
"I just went to Vice Minister Chen's residence at the Ministry of War and spoke with his wife, Yu Rong, about the betrothal," Luo Shui said, her voice somewhat heavy. "But Yu Rong said Chen Yuan wasn't considering marriage for the time being and only wanted to focus on martial arts."
She'd rejected them? Zhou Wei furrowed his brow. Saying she wasn't considering marriage and only wanted to focus on martial arts was just an excuse.
Luo Shui continued, "Yu Rong also said we shouldn't bring up her daughter Chen Yuan and our Cheng'er again. Her daughter is still an unmarried young woman, and she doesn't want anything to harm her reputation."
At this, Luo Shui's expression darkened.
Zhou Wei's face turned grim.
More than a day had passed since he was injured the night before last. Many of his former subordinates and friends had come to visit him, yet Vice Minister Chen had still not shown up. He hadn't even sent anyone with a gift or a word of concern.
Back then, Vice Minister Chen had served under him. If Zhou Wei hadn't promoted him, where would he be today?
Luo Shui said, "People outside are saying that His Majesty will strip you of your title as General of the Nation and appoint the General of Cavalry to take your place."
She added, "Yesterday, Vice Minister Chen went to the residence of Song Xiu, the General of Cavalry."
Zhou Wei let out a cold laugh.
Outside the hall, Zhou Cheng had heard everything. His eyes turned icy.
Zhou Cheng didn't enter the main hall. He returned to his own courtyard and had a large stack of books on artifact refining brought to him.
Both artifact refining and alchemy could improve the grade of the Earth Cauldron. But alchemy ingredients were too expensive, while materials for artifact refining were much cheaper. So Zhou Cheng planned to buy some materials and start with artifact refining.
After taking the Marrow-Cleansing Pill and improving his aptitude, Zhou Cheng's memory had become excellent. He could remember almost anything after seeing it once.
He spent the entire afternoon reading.
Zhou Cheng gained a clear and comprehensive understanding of artifact refining.
At around five in the afternoon, Zhou Cheng went out with Qin Meng and the other two to buy materials for artifact refining.
Since he would need a large quantity of materials to raise the Earth Cauldron to a mid-grade spiritual artifact, Zhou Cheng spent nearly a hundred taels of silver to buy a ton of iron ore.
After storing all the iron ore in the Earth Cauldron, Zhou Cheng passed the Four Seasons Apothecary. He thought for a moment, then went inside.
When Chen Zhiqu, the manager of the Four Seasons Apothecary, saw Zhou Cheng, his eyes lit up. He greeted him with exceptional enthusiasm. "Young Master, you're finally here! I've been waiting for you these past few days, day and night."
Zhou Cheng rather liked Chen Zhiqu, the manager of the Four Seasons Apothecary. But was waiting day and night just one of his favorite expressions?
"What are you waiting for me for?" Zhou Cheng asked with a smile. "I never said I was coming to buy medicinal ingredients, did I?"
Chen Zhiqu suddenly led Zhou Cheng to a corner and lowered his voice, speaking in a secretive tone. "Young Master, do you have any more of that Body-Refining Pill you brought last time?"
Zhou Cheng's heart skipped a beat. Had the other man recognized it as an Ancient Body Refining Pill?
Chen Zhiqu added, "Our Fourth Miss took that Body-Refining Pill to help with her cultivation. She said it was extremely effective."
Then he said, "If you have any more, we're willing to pay twice what we paid last time."
Zhou Cheng glanced at him and shook his head. "I only had that one Body-Refining Pill." He had decided to keep the Ancient Body Refining Pill for his own use. Besides, who knew if they intended to buy it for research?
Chen Zhiqu looked deeply disappointed.
After that, Zhou Cheng spent nearly fifteen hundred taels on twenty sets of ingredients for medicinal baths and Ancient Body Refining Pills.
He was already at Body Refining Level Seven. He would certainly break through to the Qi Refining Realm within twenty days, and by then, he wouldn't need medicinal baths or Body-Refining Pills anymore.
In the Qi Refining Realm, he would need pills that increased his inner energy.
Just as Zhou Cheng and the others were heading back to the Grand General's Mansion, more than a dozen unexpected guests arrived there.
"What? Abbot Huineng of Shaolin is here to see me?" In the main hall, Zhou Wei thought he'd misheard the steward's report.
"Yes, my lord. Besides Abbot Huineng, the head of the Shaolin Martial Monk Courtyard and more than a dozen other senior monks are here as well," the steward quickly replied.
Zhou Wei jumped to his feet in alarm. "Quick, hurry and welcome Abbot Huineng!"
Given Abbot Huineng's status, even if he visited the Imperial Palace in person, Emperor Zhu Xuan of Great Feng wouldn't dare slight him.
After speaking, Zhou Wei immediately strode out of the hall toward the mansion's main gate.
When he reached the gate, Zhou Wei saw Huineng and more than ten others standing outside. His heart tightened, and he quickened his pace. Arriving before Huineng, he cupped his fists and greeted them. "Zhou Wei pays his respects to Abbot Huineng and the venerable masters."
Huineng and the head of the Martial Monk Hall returned his greeting. Abbot Huineng wore a broad smile and was extremely courteous. Pressing his palms together, he said, "Amitabha. Lord Zhou, please forgive us for calling on you without notice."
Zhou Wei hurriedly replied, "Abbot Huineng, you're too kind. Your arrival brings honor to my humble home." Then he welcomed Huineng and the others into the main hall.
When Luo Shui heard the news, she came out and joined Zhou Wei in receiving Huineng and the others.
Huineng accepted the tea a servant of the Grand General's Mansion brought him and took a sip. "To be frank with you, Lord Zhou and Madam Zhou, I've come to your residence today for your son."
Your son?
Zhou Wei and Luo Shui exchanged a glance.
"Does Abbot Huineng mean Li'er? Has Li'er offended your temple?" Zhou Wei asked.
Clearly, he and Luo Shui thought Huineng had come because of their eldest son, Zhou Li.
Abbot Huineng smiled and waved his hand. "No, no. I've come because of your second son, Zhou Cheng."
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