Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

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Gu Chen stood at the entrance, looking at the gilded plaque on the gate not far away, inscribed with two large, dragon-and-phoenix-dancing characters: Zhou Mansion.

This was one of the busiest streets within the inner city of Tiandu, and those who lived here were mostly people with real power in Da Xia.

He took out the letter given to him by Zhou Rang, compared it for confirmation, and after ensuring there were no mistakes, he approached the gate, where the guards immediately stopped him.

There were two guards at the entrance. Gu Chen observed their aura and, if he wasn't mistaken, both guards should possess a cultivation not less than the Gang Qi Stage.

Although the Gang Qi Stage is only the fourth stage of martial arts, the martial path is incredibly arduous. Just to establish a foundation requires over a decade of time; most warriors in the Jianghu remained within the first three stages of martial arts.

Even Gu Chen, without panel support, would have needed several years of hard cultivation to possibly reach the Gang Qi Stage.

A martial artist in the Gang Qi Stage could at least hold a position of a seventh rank official in Da Xia, and those with stronger talents and abilities could suffice to hold the position of Metropolitan Procurator in the Jing Tian Department.

Yet at this moment, these two warriors of the Gang Qi Stage could only stand guard. This meant that, compared to Gu Chen's level, coming to the Zhou Mansion, he was at the same level as Uncle Zhang, the gatekeeper of the Gu Mansion.

This difference showed the staggering disparity in status between the two.

If not for the letter from Zhou Rang, Gu Chen would have had no chance to stand here.

Soon after, Gu Chen took out the letter and handed it to the guard, saying, "Please announce that there is a letter from Lord Zhou."

"Please wait."

After glancing at the letter, the guard took it and pushed open the big gate to go in; the other guard stayed to watch over Gu Chen.

It didn't take long for the guard to return and say to Gu Chen, "Please follow me."

"Alright."

Gu Chen nodded and followed the guard into the Zhou Mansion.

Once inside, the estate seemed even more spacious than it had looked from the outside, with an expansive view. The courtyard was filled with pavilions, towers, rockeries, and waterside pavilions, lush greenery, and thick vegetation, much like the scenery of a royal garden.

The Gu Mansion, although also a residence with three entries, paled in comparison to this place—it was like comparing a cesspool to a villa.

In the inner city, every inch of land is worth its weight in gold, and property prices are much more expensive than in the outer city. This street is one of the busiest in the inner city. To own such a large estate here, merely having money is useless; what is most important is power.

"This is truly bustling," Gu Chen couldn't help but inwardly sigh at the sight before him, knowing that with his current salary, even if he added Gu Chengfeng's, it would take ten lifetimes to afford such a residence.

The estate was vast, and under the guidance of the guard, they zigzagged through several corridors to arrive at the main hall of the mansion.

Sitting in the main seat within the hall was a stern-faced, tall, black-haired man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, who was looking down at the letter Gu Chen had brought.

The guard silently withdrew after bringing Gu Chen here.

Gu Chen stood inside the hall, discreetly observing the middle-aged man sitting on the main seat. He was dressed in an official robe, embroidered with a mirror on the chest, edged with pale golden patterns—this was the uniform of a first-tier examiner of the Mingjing Department.

A second-tier examiner would have a silver-edged mirror, and a third-tier examiner a bronze-edged one.

The middle-aged man before him was Zhou Rang's eldest son, named Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing had inherited some of Zhou Rang's character. He was known for his integrity and uprightness, forthright in his dealings, and possessed a strong disposition. He loathed corruption, and officials who flouted the law would meet a grim fate if they ever fell into his hands.

In Zhou Qing's eyes, royal nobles or powerful ministers alike, anyone who violated Da Xia's laws would be treated the same, and he would not hesitate to throw them directly into the dungeons of the Mingjing Department.

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Having held high positions for a long time, Zhou Qing naturally developed an air of superiority. Moreover, being a martial artist of the seventh realm, the Gang Qi Stage, he had considerable mastery. Even though he intentionally concealed his aura, he still exerted a heavy pressure on others, like a mountain pressing down, making it difficult for them to breathe.

Many officials, when interrogated by Zhou Qing, would confess simply because they couldn't withstand this pressure, often without the need for him to use any special techniques.

"Gu Chen?"

Zhou Qing slightly lifted his head, his majestic eyes looking down at Gu Chen with a cold and hard demeanor, his facial features sharp and distinct, void of any hint of a smile.

"Indeed, it is this officer."

Gu Chen bowed with his fist in his palm, speaking respectfully. The difference in their status was too great; Zhou Qing was the equivalent of a commander in the Jing Tian Department, someone Gu Chen ordinarily wouldn't even have the chance to meet, let alone speak with.

In Da Xia, Zhou Qing was definitely considered a top figure.

Even if they were not in the same system, Zhou Qing could find a hundred ways to deal with Gu Chen in an instant.

Zhou Qing silently observed Gu Chen below him, uttering not a word. He knew his father's character well, and he understood why he had sent Gu Chen with the message — it was to give him an opportunity to take Gu Chen under his wing.

But from Zhou Qing's lofty position, Gu Chen was simply too insignificant. Da Xia was broad and rich, the number one power among the nine provinces, with Tiandu teeming with talented individuals. Countless young talents emerged every year. Yet, over the years, very few had made any significant achievements or caught his eye.

He knew Zhou Rang intended for him to take Gu Chen under his wing, but to Zhou Qing, not everyone deserved such attention, and those who did had to be special — he was not one to foster just anyone.

At the very least, what Gu Chen had done thus far was far from sufficient.

It wasn't that Zhou Qing looked down on Gu Chen; it was simply the reality.

Without a word from Zhou Qing, Gu Chen naturally didn't dare to speak either. He remained standing with his head lowered, his muscles tensed, skin beneath his clothes starting to prickle with goosebumps due to the growing pressure from Zhou Qing — as if a great mountain was approaching and pressing down on him.

The gap in strength between the two was huge. In the path of martial arts, the further one advanced, the greater the disparity. For a master of the seventh realm like Zhou Qing, he didn't even need to make a move to crush Gu Chen; his mere presence was overwhelming.

Gu Chen also understood that Zhou Qing was intentionally testing him. Only by passing this test would he earn the right to converse with Zhou Qing.

Time seemed to stretch indefinitely until, just as sweat was about to break out on Gu Chen's forehead, Zhou Qing finally spoke.

"I have read the contents of the letter, and I understand my father's intentions. You saved Ning City, which is tantamount to saving my father's life. I'm not one to remain indebted to others. State your needs openly if you have any. Of course, you must have heard of my personality. If you come bearing expectations of gratitude or hopes of 'Ascending to Heaven' in one step, you can forget it.

Go back where you came from."

As Zhou Qing spoke, the pressure on Gu Chen dissipated in an instant, and he felt significantly more relaxed. Gu Chen looked up at Zhou Qing, who sat at the head of the room, his eyes clear and neither servile nor overbearing, and said, "Lord Zhou, I have no such desires. It was just that Uncle Zhang entrusted me to deliver a letter to you.

Now that my task is done, I shall take my leave if there's nothing else."

Gu Chen was not foolish; he could see that Zhou Qing had little regard for him. Of course, he also understood that he might have responded the same way if their positions were reversed — how could a dragon concern itself with an ant?

Moreover, Gu Chen had never thought of using this opportunity to bond with Zhou Qing and 'Ascend to Heaven'. He believed in his potential, confident that one day he could reach, or even surpass, Zhou Qing's level.

What he lacked now was only time.

Of course, Gu Chen appreciated Zhou Rang's kind offer, which was why he had accepted the errand in the first place.

Hearing Gu Chen's response, Zhou Qing remained as still as a serene lake, his face expressionless. "If that's the case, then you may leave," he said.

Whether Gu Chen had any requests or not meant little to Zhou Qing; Gu Chen's answer did not change the way Zhou Qing viewed him.

"Yes."

Gu Chen nodded, then turned and left.

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