Zhou Yuanfeng

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhou Yuanfeng (周元风)
Alias(es)	Lord Zhou; Brother Zhou
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Evil Extermination Division; disciple of Situ Shen
Occupation/Role	Golden Prefecture General; former Mountain Patrol Bronze General
First Appearance	Chapter 317

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Outer Core Realm	By Ch. 317	Entered the realm using a Supreme True Elixir foundation, but an old injury from his time as a Mountain Patrol Bronze General left him unable to advance further for years. 317 339
Inner God Realm — Minor Accomplishment	434	Qin An refined the Heavenly Profound Elixir to heal Zhou's old injuries. Once his bottleneck was removed, Zhou broke through to the Inner God Realm and immediately advanced to Minor Accomplishment. 434

Background / History

Zhou Yuanfeng was formerly a Mountain Patrol Bronze General. Despite establishing an Outer Core Realm foundation with a Supreme True Elixir, he suffered an injury during his service that permanently halted his cultivation for a time. His experience made him deeply wary of the Mountain Patrol's high casualty rate and shaped his later concern for promising newcomers. 339 392

He is one of the disciples of the Mountain Patrol Golden General Situ Shen, alongside Tang Zizhen and Zhao Wuhuan. Situ Shen's faction holds considerable influence within Xunyang Prefecture due to the number and quality of his disciples. 480 532

Personality

Zhou is usually frosty, restrained, and direct. He initially treats Qin An coldly, partly because of his dissatisfaction with the behavior of his fellow disciples, but changes his assessment as Qin repeatedly proves his ability. 317 338 373

His central priority is protecting cultivators and civilians from avoidable harm. He condemns Xu Qingfeng's willingness to sacrifice commoners for convenience and reacts with fury upon discovering Xu's collusion with demonic creatures. 432 438

Zhou's protectiveness can become overbearing. Haunted by his own injury and lost prospects, he repeatedly tries to keep Qin An out of the Mountain Patrol, fearing that Qin will suffer the same fate. Even so, he ultimately accepts that Qin must choose his own path. 339 349 374

“It's not about fighting for him, but about protecting him.” 339

Abilities & Skills

Cultivation

Zhou possesses an Outer Core Realm foundation forged with the Supreme True Elixir, giving him exceptional combat power even before his recovery. His old injury prevented further progress until Qin An's Heavenly Profound Elixir restored him. 332 434

• Broke through from the Outer Core Realm to the Inner God Realm after his injuries were healed. 434
• Advanced directly to Minor Accomplishment in the Inner God Realm after his breakthrough. 434
• Was promoted to Golden Prefecture General following his advancement. 435

Palm Techniques

Zhou fights primarily with his hands and palms, combining them with secret techniques.

• His palm strikes carry wind-and-thunder force and can be empowered with secret techniques. 336
• Repelled two attacking Outer Core Realm Dragon Generals with successive palm strikes. 387
• Fought the Outer Core Realm demonic creature Zhu Lie bare-handed, receiving its mountain-like attacks with overlapping palms. 334

Command and Strategy

As a Prefecture General, Zhou directs coordinated operations against powerful demonic threats.

• Ordered Bronze Prefecture Generals to seal the battlefield while the Silver Prefecture Generals engaged the Poison Pill Master. 336
• Conceived the plan to use the captured Flood Dragon Jiao Yue as an infiltrator within Flood Dragon Hall. 365
• Arranged for Qin An to pursue Jiao Yue publicly, giving Flood Dragon Hall a believable reason to intercept them and recover its agent. 373

Relationships

• Qin An — Initially his subordinate and later a trusted ally. Zhou begins with a cold attitude, but Qin's repeated accomplishments earn his respect; Zhou attempts to protect him from the dangers of the Mountain Patrol and later receives life-changing help from him. 317 339 431 434
• Tang Zizhen — Senior Sister and fellow disciple of Situ Shen. They frequently discuss Qin An, argue over his potential, and cooperate in handling Xu Qingfeng's betrayal. 392 435 438
• Zhao Wuhuan — Junior Brother and fellow disciple. Zhao opposes Zhou's attempts to decide Qin An's future, insisting that Qin should choose his own path. 339 374
• Situ Shen — Their teacher, a highly influential Mountain Patrol Golden General with numerous disciples. 480 532
• Xu Qingfeng — Fellow disciple whose disregard for civilian lives Zhou openly condemns. Zhou later helps conceal the political fallout of Xu's betrayal while insisting that he be killed. 432 438 440
• Jiao Yue — Captured Flood Dragon used by Zhou as an undercover asset against Flood Dragon Hall. 365 373

Story Role / Major Arcs

First Mission in Xunyang Prefecture

As a Silver Prefecture General, Zhou assigns Qin An and Zheng Yu to investigate the disappearance of children from a nearby village, suspecting the involvement of false gods. His cold reception reflects his initial low opinion of Qin. 317

Hunter Cultivation Tournament and Poison Pill Master

Zhou leads Silver Prefecture Generals against the Poison Pill Master and orders the surrounding forces to secure the battlefield. When Qin An pursues the fleeing enemy alone, Zhou organizes a pursuit out of concern for Qin's safety, only to discover that Qin has already killed the Poison Pill Master. 336 337 338

Opposition to Qin An Joining the Mountain Patrol

Zhou privately urges Qin not to enter the Mountain Patrol. He reveals that his own service and injury ended his prospects of advancing beyond the Outer Core Realm, making him fearful that Qin's exceptional potential will be wasted in the same way. 339 349

Flood Dragon Hall Operation

Zhou oversees the interrogation and recruitment of Jiao Yue, turning the tortured Flood Dragon into an informant. He then coordinates the deception in which Qin pursues Jiao Yue to draw Flood Dragon Hall's forces into the open. 365 373 377

During the assault on Flood Dragon Hall, Zhou fights Dragon Generals and witnesses Qin's strength surpass his expectations. He later reports Qin's three dragon-slaying saber strikes to Tang Zizhen. 387 390 392

Recovery and Promotion

After Qin offers to repay Zhou's past support, Zhou provides the ingredients for the Heavenly Profound Elixir. The elixir heals his old injuries, allows him to reach the Inner God Realm, and leads to his promotion as a Golden Prefecture General. 431 432 434 435

Mount Xiaoyao Crisis

When Mount Xiaoyao's Fox Demons massacre villages to lure Qin An out, Zhou joins Tang Zizhen in warning Qin and investigating a possible internal informant. He supports Qin's plan to confront the threat and agrees to help suppress the demonic disturbances. 436 437 438

Trivia

• Zhou initially believed Qin An had entered Xunyang Prefecture through connections rather than ability; Qin's rapid progression repeatedly overturned this judgment. 373
• After reaching the Inner God Realm, Zhou openly celebrates Qin An's promotion to Mountain Patrol Silver General by taunting Tang Zizhen over her past misjudgment. 478
• Zhou considers Qin's potential valuable enough to defend even when doing so puts him at odds with his teacher's faction. 509