Zhou Peng

Zhou Peng is the Xuan Dao Sect's head disciple and reputed foremost young genius in Zhao. His attempt to humiliate Heng Yue ends in three defeats by Wang Lin; after he later targets Wang's family through a subordinate, Wang captures and refines him into a puppet used to eliminate further threats. (Chapters 51–55 and 67–71)

Biography

Xuan Dao Sect's hidden ace

Zhou Peng enters the sect exchange as Xuan Dao's head disciple and challenges every Heng Yue inner disciple at once. A talisman conceals his true cultivation while he identifies Zhang Kuang's hidden eighth layer and defeats him through the suction of a giant python. Xuan Dao's elders reveal that Zhou is their secret ace at the thirteenth layer of Qi Condensation and is considered Zhao's number-one genius. (Chapter 51–52)

He dismisses Wang Lin as a third-layer disciple and tries to knock him down with one breath. Wang's attraction technique and a foul-smelling explosive instead throw him from the stage. Zhou attributes the loss to surprise, returns twice, removes the concealing talisman, and still cannot complete an attack before Wang sends him flying. Shame and chaotic spiritual energy leave him unconscious, while his defeat reverses the morale of both sects. (Chapters 52–55)

Retaliation and transformation

Zhou later forces Zhang Kuang to locate Wang's family, creating a threat Wang cannot ignore. After Wang kills Zhang, Zhou flees toward Xuan Dao Sect and releases his python while ringing a blood-formed bell to strengthen it. Situ Nan lends Wang one teleportation and freezes both cultivator and beast through the Underworld Ascension Method. (Chapters 67–69)

Wang takes the nearly dead Zhou into a cave and refines him for three days under Situ Nan's instructions. The resulting puppet retains the appearance of obedience but no longer acts independently. Wang sends it back to Xuan Dao Sect to kill disciples with hostile intentions and protect his parents. The puppet operates undetected for at least a year because Zhou's senior-disciple status discourages scrutiny and Situ Nan's essence masks the transformation from casual Nascent Soul inspection. (Chapters 69–71)

Appearance and personality

The corpus provides no detailed physical portrait before his transformation. Zhou is arrogant, status-conscious, and unable to accept an unexpected loss; repeated defeat makes him angrier rather than more cautious. When Wang later pursues him, that confidence becomes panic and he relies on reaching sect protection. After refinement his eyes are misty and his behavior is controlled by Wang rather than expressive of his former personality. (Chapters 51–53 and 67–70)

Abilities and cultivation

• Thirteenth-layer Qi Condensation: Zhou's true realm is hidden during the exchange, and he is described as Xuan Dao's greatest young talent. Even after removing the concealment, he cannot withstand Wang's attraction technique; the mismatch shows that nominal layer comparisons do not account for Wang's unusual spiritual energy. (Chapters 51–54)
• Giant python: A black snake expands into a huge python whose inhalation selectively drags one target toward Zhou. Later, Zhou spits out green light to manifest it and uses blood to form a bell that enlarges and strengthens it. Its connection to Zhou causes him to cough blood when Situ Nan freezes the beast. Whether it is a spell, spirit beast, or treasure manifestation is not explicitly resolved. (Chapters 51, 53, and 69)
• Cultivation concealment: A yellow talisman suppresses the apparent realm seen by observers, allowing Zhou to pass as weaker until he removes it. The talisman provides concealment rather than attack or defense. (Chapters 51–53)
• Puppet state: Wang's refinement removes Zhou's independent agency and lets commands direct his actions at a distance. Situ Nan adds essence that conceals the alteration from ordinary inspection. These functions belong to the imposed puppet technique, not to Zhou's original cultivation. (Chapters 69–71)

Relationships

• Wang Lin: Zhou repeatedly underestimates Wang, then threatens his family through Zhang Kuang. Wang captures him and converts him into a puppet protector and assassin. (Chapters 51–55 and 67–71)

Items

• Cultivation-concealing talisman: Hides Zhou's true Qi Condensation level until removed. (Chapters 51–53)
• Flying sword: Used during his attempted escape toward Xuan Dao Sect; later custody is unstated. (Chapters 67–69)