Mr. Zhou

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Mr. Zhou (周先生)
Alias(es)	Teacher (as addressed by Chen Xu) 21 22
Gender	Male
Occupation/Role	Celebrated scholar; arranger of the Star Array; Chen Xu's informal mentor 14 22
First Appearance	Chapter 21

Background / History

Mr. Zhou returned to Yunjiang and established a Star Array near Jichuan County. Though outsiders believed he was selecting talented young people from his hometown to mentor, he later revealed that he had traveled north and south and set the formation chiefly to avoid an approaching calamity. He did not respond to Cui Yunqi's attempt to invoke his family's former connection to gain an audience, maintaining the array's impartiality. 14 22

After Chen Xu solved the Star Array's final problem, he was brought to Little Peak Mountain to meet Mr. Zhou. Chen Xu's reflection that he now saw “mountains that are not mountains, water that is not water” greatly aided Mr. Zhou's own understanding; Mr. Zhou admitted that he had long been stalled at this stage and could not cross its final barrier. 21

Mr. Zhou repaid Chen Xu by broadening his understanding of the world's dangers, cultivation, and the limits of longevity. When Chen Xu described Lin Qi's head-swapping attempt, Mr. Zhou explained the dangers and weaknesses of evil soul arts, then taught him a method to break them and several basic means of survival against ghosts and other evil techniques. 22 23

Before parting, Mr. Zhou gave Chen Xu a drop of Grand Unity Spring Dew to treat his severely injured leg. He asked Chen Xu to visit him again should Chen Xu one day gain the strength to help him endure the chaos ahead. 23

Appearance

Mr. Zhou has a withered face and initially cloudy-looking eyes. When Chen Xu's words give him insight, those eyes briefly shine with a divine radiance that Chen Xu compares to a boundless sun. 21 22

• His frail appearance results from an extreme imbalance in cultivation: his Spirit became too powerful while his Essence, Vitality, and blood were depleted. 22
• Despite this condition, he can stop Chen Xu from kneeling with a gentle force and produce Grand Unity Spring Dew from thin air. 22 23

Personality

Mr. Zhou is composed, perceptive, and patient. He hears Chen Xu's account of head-swapping, soul-devouring silkworms, and spirit-mud avatars without surprise, reflecting broad experience with strange and dangerous phenomena. 22

He is generous with knowledge but does not formally accept Chen Xu as a disciple. Instead, he accepts Chen Xu's tea as recognition of their connection and offers instruction without demanding kowtowing. 22

Although he is concealing himself from calamity, Mr. Zhou encourages Chen Xu to remain spirited and fearless. His teachings emphasize caution rather than recklessness, balance rather than excessive pursuit of a single strength, and personally traversing the world rather than relying only on another's explanations. 22 23

Abilities & Knowledge

Star Array

Mr. Zhou's Bamboo Grove Star Array serves as a demanding test for scholars seeking an audience with him.

• It assesses memory, literary ability, couplets, numerology, topology, and comprehension of Yin and Yang principles. 15 19 20
• Those unable to meet its standard may be expelled without finding the entrance, while even successful challengers can suffer severe mental consequences. 14 24
• Solving the final Yin Yang Twin Pendants problem permits an audience with Mr. Zhou. 20

Cultivation Insight

Mr. Zhou possesses exceptional spiritual cultivation and deep knowledge of the Three Essences.

• He teaches that Spirit, Qi, and Body must be developed together to achieve a balanced foundation and return to simplicity and perfection. 23
• He warns that excessive Spirit without sufficient Essence and Vitality can damage both the body and lifespan—a condition he personally suffers from. 22
• He recognizes Chen Xu's abundant Vitality and complete Spirit despite Chen Xu concealing the true source of his growth. 22

Evil-Art Countermeasures

Mr. Zhou provides Chen Xu with practical methods for confronting supernatural threats.

• He explains that failed head-swapping and soul-devouring arts can cause backlash, including mental collapse or shortened lifespan. 22
• He teaches Chen Xu how to use the connection left by Lin Qi's destroyed avatar to eliminate Lin Qi from afar. 22 26
• He teaches a broadly accessible method for dispelling evil soul arts. 22
• He explains that minor ghosts can be weakened by blood from biting one's tongue; beast-making arts can be broken by making the victim drink a large quantity of water within a day; and skin-drawing ghosts fear fire. 22

Equipment / Items

• Moonlight Nectar Spirit Immortal Tea — Served to Chen Xu during their discussions on Little Peak Mountain. 22 23
• Grand Unity Spring Dew — A shimmering green drop given to Chen Xu to heal his injured right leg. 23

Relationships

• Chen Xu — Informal student and beneficiary of Mr. Zhou's guidance. Chen Xu's insight into “seeing mountains” helps Mr. Zhou, who repays him with teachings, protective methods, and Grand Unity Spring Dew. 21 22 23
• Cui Yunqi — A prospective visitor who claims that his father and family know Mr. Zhou. Mr. Zhou gives no response to Cui Yunqi's appeal and leaves him to face the Star Array on equal terms. 14
• Ugly Monkey — A monkey familiar enough to perch on Mr. Zhou's shoulder and speak freely in his presence; Mr. Zhou rebukes it for speaking rashly to Chen Xu. 23

Notable Quotes

“Young people should be spirited and fearless. However, some hardships are best avoided if possible.” 22

“The true nature of this world cannot be fully described in a few words from me. You must tread steadily and measure it yourself.” 23