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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.
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.