Zhou Qi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhou Qi (周齐)
Alias(es)	Zhou Yi (used in the Hidden-Heaven Realm) 375
Species/Race	Human cultivator 399
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Heavenly Sword Peak, Primordial Immortal Sect; formerly the Yang Residence and Yao Residence 4 78 238
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; personal disciple of Fu Linyuan 238
Status	Active 438
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Qi Refining Third Layer Peak	1	Perfected the introductory Qi-Nourishing Formula, but could not progress without its intermediate chapter.
Qi Refining Sixth Layer Peak	4	Spent stored proficiency on the intermediate chapter, then cultivated the remaining 160 points to completion.
Qi Refining Ninth Layer Peak	9	Applied 14,800 proficiency to the Qi-Nourishing Art: Lower Volume, then cultivated for four further days.
Foundation Establishment Second Layer, Late Stage	43	Purged the Soul-Splitting Pill's worms with its antidote and cultivated the Foundation Establishment Method: Part One.
Foundation Establishment Third Layer Peak	51	Perfected both Foundation Establishment Method: Part One and the Mountains and Rivers Sword Seal fragment.
Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer Peak	63	Mastered the Foundation Establishment Method: Middle Volume with stored proficiency.
Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer Peak	78	Received the later volume from Yao Jingyi and entered month-long seclusion to cultivate it.
Golden Core First Layer, Complete	106	Reached completion of Golden Core First Layer after a month devoted to cultivation.
Golden Core Third Layer Peak	121	Accumulated more than 500,000 proficiency points during two years of daily seclusion.
Golden Core Fifth Layer, Mid Stage	128	Used proficiency after receiving the middle and later volumes of the Golden Core Technique from Emperor Lin.
Golden Core Fifth Layer, Late Stage	155	Continued cultivating the Golden Core Technique: Middle Volume in the Nine-Layer Golden Pagoda.
Golden Core Sixth Layer Peak	163	Cultivated in the Gold Element Tower while comprehending Dao-Slaying: Metal Aspect.
Golden Core Eighth Layer, Late Stage	180	Cleared the Water and Earth Element Towers, comprehending Tidal Escape Art: Water Aspect and Mountain Suppression: Earth Aspect.
Nascent Soul Second Layer, Mid Stage	243	Advanced rapidly after entering Heavenly Sword Peak and cultivating with enhanced efficiency.
Nascent Soul Third Layer, Mid Stage	248	Accidentally crossed the threshold while trying to round off his cultivation-technique proficiency.
Nascent Soul Great Perfection	276	Spent ten months in secluded cultivation, balancing his Earth- and Water-element methods.
Spirit Transformation Fourth Layer, Early Stage	353	Reached the realm after three days of cultivation supported by 3,660 Mental Power.
Spirit Transformation Fifth Layer	375	Continued cultivating despite the Hidden-Heaven Realm's lack of spiritual qi.
Body Integration Realm	385	Broke through after six days of cultivation while evading the Heaven-Escaping Pavilion.
Body Integration Fifth Layer	399	Reached the fifth layer after three months of seclusion in Auspicious Village.
Body Integration Seventh Layer	404	Used two months of preparation before entering the Ancient Fallen Pill Realm.
Body Integration Eighth Layer	433	Advanced after three months of seclusion following his battle with Rainbow Daoist.
Body Integration Grand Completion	434	Broke through in a single surge after months of accumulated cultivation.

Background / History

Yang Residence

Zhou Qi transmigrated into a cultivation world only to become a servant of the Yang Residence. He secretly cultivated before and after his duties, using a system that converted training time into proficiency. His first major obstacle was the introductory Qi-Nourishing Formula's hard limit at Qi Refining Third Layer; servants were not permitted to access the higher volumes. 1

He exposed his cultivation after volunteering to fight Iron Ox, a servant of the Wang Family. By inspecting Iron Ox's injured knees through his system, Zhou Qi exploited the weakness with his perfected Mountain-Splitting Fist and won. Yang Mingyuan rewarded him with the Qi-Nourishing Formula's intermediate chapter, while the Wang Family marked him for retaliation. 2 3

After rapidly reaching Qi Refining Sixth Layer Peak, Zhou Qi became Yang Mingyuan's trusted attendant and was ordered to win the four-family sparring competition. Yang Mingyuan's favor was inseparable from threats: victory would earn the Yang Family shops, while defeat would cost Zhou Qi his life. 4

Zhou Qi later attempted to steal the lower volume of the Nourishing Qi Scripture. Yang Zhenshan caught him, discovered his exceptional rate of progress, and forced him into service through the Soul-Splitting Pill. Zhou Qi nevertheless used the lower volume and stored proficiency to reach Qi Refining Ninth Layer Peak before the tournament. 7 8 9

When the Yang Family collapsed, Yang Zhenshan offered Zhou Qi the Mountains and Rivers Sword Seal and Foundation Establishment Method: Part One in exchange for a promise to kill Jin Tie. Zhou Qi accepted, left the Yang Residence, and began traveling north. 42

Yao Residence and Great Yong

In Yongjing, Zhou Qi became associated with Yao Qing and helped him reclaim influence within the Yao Residence. He exposed irregularities in the Treasure Pavilion, pressured Shi Donglai, and advised Yao Qing to publicly implicate Yao Ke in Liu Wenyuan's death. 70 73 86

Yao Jingyi supplied Zhou Qi with the Foundation Establishment Method: Later Volume and asked him to watch over Yao Qing in the coming political turmoil. Zhou Qi declined direct service to Yao Jingyi, maintaining that his loyalty was to Yao Qing. 78

Yao Qing later equipped him with the Dark Moon Saber, Wind-Thunder Saber Technique, and Nine-Heavens Step. These resources replaced Zhou Qi's increasingly inadequate Cold-Iron Saber and expanded his options in high-level Foundation Establishment combat. 86

Ascendant Path and Immortal Sect

Though he had secretly reached Golden Core Third Layer Peak after two years of seclusion, Zhou Qi registered for the Ascension Selection Grand Ceremony as a Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer cultivator. When tested, he openly revealed his actual strength, drew the attention of Emperor Xianwu, and received cultivation manuals and an Imperial City token. 121 122 128

Within the Immortal Path Minor World, Zhou Qi became a leading contender by killing Wang Ding of Primordial Hall and taking first place in the rankings. He used the Five Elements Pagodas to cultivate rather than simply hunt for points, comprehending heaven-tier martial skills and rising to Late Golden Core Eighth Layer. 148 163 180

After defeating the Great Sun Dynasty and Primordial Hall forces, Zhou Qi amassed 23,560 points—far beyond the other contestants. Meng Rou ultimately negotiated with him instead of attacking, offering him a route into Heavenly Sword Peak through her master's connection. 199 200

Heavenly Sword Peak

Zhou Qi entered Heavenly Sword Peak as Fu Linyuan's personal disciple. His status earned him protection, resentment from other disciples, and scrutiny from Elder Chen Kun. He openly defied Chen Kun's faction when they attempted to divide his monthly cultivation resources. 238 240 243

He trained in the Sword Intent Pool, refined Jingzhe Twelve Slashes, and defeated Liu Ying—a Nascent Soul Third Layer cultivator—in three moves. His cultivation speed alarmed Fu Linyuan, who warned him to stabilize his foundation after he rose from Golden Core Eighth Layer to Nascent Soul Third Layer in only two and a half months. 247 248

Chen Kun later arranged dangerous mine missions intended to hinder or eliminate him. Zhou Qi survived the ambush, broke the Ten Kill Formation, killed the overseers involved, and pursued Zhang Zhengyi despite the latter's use of a Blood Escape Talisman. 250 258 264

Hidden-Heaven Realm

After entering the Hidden-Heaven Realm, Zhou Qi concealed his identity as a local martial artist and briefly used the name Zhou Yi. He rapidly mastered local Primordial Qi cultivation methods, reaching the equivalent of Soul Realm Great Perfection in only days. 368 371 373 379

He revealed his extraterrestrial Origin-Spirit Power while fighting Red Matchmaker, overcoming the realm's restrictions and killing her with Dao-Slaying: Metal Aspect. Her final act placed the Soul-Locking Curse upon him, drawing the Heaven-Escaping Pavilion's pursuit. 381

While fleeing toward Xihe Imperial Capital, Zhou Qi killed an Integration Realm pursuer despite being separated by multiple realms, having learned to predict and counter short-range spatial displacement. He then broke through to Body Integration and continued strengthening himself against the pavilion's escalating threats. 384 385

Appearance

Zhou Qi is commonly seen in plain gray or azure robes, with dark hair tied back and a saber at his side. Following prolonged combat in the Immortal Path Minor World, his robes were stained with blood and the lingering baleful aura around him made him appear as though he had emerged from a battlefield. 200

• Usually maintains a restrained aura, allowing him to pass for an ordinary cultivator or mortal. 86
• Often carries a dark saber, particularly after receiving the Dark Moon Saber. 86
• His expression is generally calm and unreadable even when facing stronger opponents. 104 384

Personality

Zhou Qi is defined by obsessive diligence. He treats idle time as wasted cultivation time, routinely training while traveling, waiting, recovering, or hiding. His system rewards this mindset, but his willingness to spend months or years in seclusion is entirely his own. 1 121 184

He is cautious around stronger opponents and political powers, frequently suppressing his realm or concealing his aura to avoid becoming a target. At the same time, he refuses humiliation once confrontation becomes unavoidable. His response to threats is often blunt, strategic, and final. 86 98 248

Zhou Qi is ruthless toward enemies who threaten him or exploit others, particularly when leaving them alive would create future danger. However, he is not indiscriminately cruel: he heals and equips allies, gives Hu Qingshan opportunities to earn selection points, and offered the demons of Zhongnan Mountain a chance to stop eating humans before killing them. 184 398

Abilities & Skills

Proficiency System

Zhou Qi possesses a “golden finger” system that records cultivation methods and martial skills as proficiency values.

• Converts cultivation time into proficiency; he can spend stored proficiency on compatible manuals to skip large portions of ordinary training. 3 4
• Reveals a target's name, realm, techniques, weaknesses, and other useful information when he focuses on them. 2
• Can appraise items, including their grade and combat effects. 86 98
• Tracks Mental Power, which directly improves his cultivation efficiency. 1 135
• Lets him rapidly comprehend unfamiliar cultivation systems, allowing him to master Hidden-Heaven Realm methods that other outsiders struggle to learn. 373 379

Divine Sense and Mental Power

Zhou Qi's Mental Power and divine sense consistently exceed what his cultivation realm would suggest.

• Detects surveillance, distant disturbances, and concealed threats. 97 184
• Uses divine sense to locate individuals over vast distances. 333
• His Body Integration-level Mental Power incapacitated an entire bandit group at once. 338
• His superior perception allows him to anticipate spatial displacement techniques used by Integration Realm cultivators. 384

Saber Arts

Zhou Qi favors direct, lethal saber combat and continually upgrades both his weapons and techniques.

• Jingzhe Twelve Slashes — Earth Grade High Rank saber technique gifted by Black Crane; reached minor mastery after training in the Sword Intent Pool. 237 247
• Twelve Startling Insect Slashes — Peak Upper Earth Grade killing martial art used in conjunction with Origin-Spirit Power against Red Matchmaker and later opponents. 381 384
• Dao-Slaying: Metal Aspect — High-grade Heaven-tier martial skill comprehended in the Gold Element Tower; later reached Minor Accomplishment on Heavenly Sword Peak. 163 239
  • Produces extremely condensed metal-aspect saber radiance.
  • Used to kill fleeing Nascent Soul cultivators and an Integration Realm pursuer. 296 384

Elemental Martial Skills

The Five Elements Pagodas gave Zhou Qi access to multiple heaven-tier arts.

• Tidal Escape Art: Water Aspect — High-grade Heaven-tier movement and water-aspect technique; enables extreme speed and evasive, water-like movement. 180 188
• Mountain Suppression: Earth Aspect — High-grade Heaven-tier earth-aspect martial skill acquired from the Earth Element Tower. 180
• Dao-Slaying: Metal Aspect — His principal offensive element, focused on sharpness, cutting force, and saber intent. 163 239

Movement and Concealment

• Cloud-Wandering Step — Early movement technique cultivated to Great Perfection; grants a substantial speed increase. 5
• Nine-Heavens Step — Upper Profound Grade movement technique that improves speed and evasion and can permit brief air-walking at perfection. 86
• Threefold Insight Art — Secret technique cultivated to Great Perfection; conceals his actual cultivation. 274
• Hidden-Heaven Dao Pearl — Allows him to suppress his displayed realm, though its concealment has limits against opponents more than three minor realms above him. 353 354

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Dark Moon Saber — Middle Profound Grade saber provided by Yao Qing; grants sharpness, armor penetration, spiritual-power conduction, and a slight Gang-breaking effect. 86
• Startled Swan — Lower Earth-rank treasured saber gifted by Emperor Xianwu before the journey to Primordial Mountain. 135
• Curved saber — Later refined by Wen Ruhe to upper Earth-tier quality. 433
• Dark Nether Soft Armor — Lower Profound Grade armor that reduces damage from Foundation Establishment Late Stage attacks by 30%. 98
• Spatial pendant — Commissioned from Wen Ruhe using five top-grade Void-Pattern Mystic Crystals. 276
• Void-Containing Soft Armor — Armor designed to resist chaotic spatial currents during inter-realm travel. 391 392
• Soul-Suppressing Jade Lock — Used to suppress the baleful effects of Red Matchmaker's Soul-Locking Curse. 382

Relationships

• Yang Mingyuan — Former young master. Zhou Qi served as his attendant after defeating Iron Ox, but Yang Mingyuan treated him as a disposable tool and threatened him into entering the family tournament. 3 4
• Yang Zhenshan — Former Yang Family head and coercive patron. He controlled Zhou Qi through the Soul-Splitting Pill, later entrusted him with the Mountains and Rivers Sword Seal and a vengeance mission against Jin Tie. 8 42
• Yao Qing — Ally and employer within the Yao Residence. Zhou Qi advises him politically, supports his struggle against Yao Ke, and receives weapons and techniques in return. 78 86 97
• Yao Jingyi — Yao Qing's father and political patron. He supplied Zhou Qi with the Foundation Establishment Method: Later Volume in exchange for protection of Yao Qing. 78
• Fu Linyuan — Master and Peak Master of Heavenly Sword Peak. Fu Linyuan accepted Zhou Qi as a personal disciple, taught him Sword Dao principles, and remained wary of his extraordinary cultivation speed. 237 248
• Black Crane — Senior who gifted Zhou Qi Jingzhe Twelve Slashes and cautioned him against becoming overly combative. 237
• Meng Rou — Ascendant Path rival turned ally. She negotiated with Zhou Qi after his rise to first place and arranged his path to Heavenly Sword Peak. 200 217
• Li Han — Rival from Primordial Hall and later a transactional contact. Zhou Qi fought his faction during the Ascendant Path, then traded resources for a complete Spirit Transformation cultivation method. 167 279
• Xiao Huo — Fellow Great Yong contestant and “child of destiny.” Zhou Qi recognizes his exceptional fortune but does not envy him; their relationship remains competitive and uncertain. 121 143
• Chen Kun — Elder of Heavenly Sword Peak and persistent antagonist. Chen Kun supported Liu Ying's schemes, attempted to restrict Zhou Qi's resources, and later used sect missions to disrupt his cultivation. 243 276

Notable Quotes

“Rules are made for the weak!!” 70

“Who else?” 13

“I have no interest in being friends with anyone.” 178

Trivia

• Zhou Qi's cultivation system initially granted one proficiency point per minute; by the time his Mental Power reached 25.2, that interval had fallen to roughly twenty-four seconds. 1 135
• He registered for the Ascension Selection Grand Ceremony as Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer despite secretly possessing Golden Core Third Layer Peak cultivation. 121
• His system identifies Xiao Huo as a person “blessed with immense fortune” and a “child of destiny.” 121
• He has repeatedly been mistaken for a lower-realm cultivator because of his concealment techniques and habit of suppressing his aura. 98 150 353