"Thank you, senior, for saving my life," Huangfu Shanhe said, quickly kneeling and bowing to Zhou Hong.
"You're welcome."
Huangfu Shanhe was deeply shocked. He never imagined that the reclusive master who had become a sensation online last time was actually Zhou Hong in disguise.
However, Huangfu Shanhe naturally wouldn't expose him.
At this moment, many onlookers around, including the media reporters, all knelt and bowed to Zhou Hong, shouting praises to the senior. They seemed overjoyed to have witnessed the reclusive master with their own eyes.
Not only that, but Qiao Wei from the Qiao family, along with the elders, and Zhou Hong's father, Qiao Zhenhua, all kowtowed with looks of adoration.
Zhou Hong scanned the crowd and felt a sense of exasperation.
After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Hong decided to let it go. He had originally planned to reveal his true identity.
But then, he suddenly changed his mind.
Zhou Hong felt that if he revealed himself as the reclusive master now, it might lead to a lot of unnecessary trouble, so he decided to wait a little longer.
Without further ado, Zhou Hong quickly departed.
However, his brief appearance of a few minutes was destined to cause another sensation across the nation.
After Zhou Hong left, he changed back to his true appearance in the shadows, and then headed to Liu Zhenfeixu's home.
"Zhou Hong, why are you here again? Did you see the news broadcast just now?" Liu Zhenfeixu asked excitedly when she opened the door to welcome Zhou Hong into her home.
"Uh, what news broadcast?" Zhou Hong feigned ignorance.
"Just now, that reclusive master appeared again, and he's even more powerful than we imagined. He kicked a roof tile and defeated the Six Doors! Oh my god, how can anyone be this strong?" Liu Zhenfeixu was extremely agitated. It seemed that just thinking about the scene made her incredibly admire the reclusive master.
Zhou Hong couldn't help but roll his eyes, wondering if he should tell Liu Zhenfeixu that it was him.
Just then, Qin Mengxue also came out. She seemed to have watched the news broadcast as well and had a look of worship on her face.
"This reclusive master is an absolute invincible genius. I wonder what kind of woman is worthy of him," Qin Mengxue said with adoration in her eyes.
"That goes without saying, it must be the most outstanding woman in China."
"Mmm-hmm."
Qin Mengxue and Liu Zhenfeixu, completely ignoring Zhou Hong, eagerly discussed the details of the reclusive master's appearance, so excited that they wished they could meet him. Little did they know, the reclusive master was listening right beside them.
"Heh!" Zhou Hong chuckled and shook his head wryly.
Meanwhile, at Changsun Qinghe's home, Changsun Qinghe and her sister had also seen the news broadcast.
They already knew that Zhou Hong was the reclusive master.
The two sisters were still in shock after seeing how easily Zhou Hong had defeated the leader of the Six Doors.
"Sister, are we really not dreaming? A man this outstanding, and we've slept with him," Changsun Ruoyan said blankly. Her mind flashed back to the hotel, to Zhou Hong's powerful presence, and she couldn't believe it.
"Heh, I also find it hard to believe it's real. The leader of the Six Doors, he was already the strongest existence in China's secular martial arts world, yet he was no match for Zhou Hong."
"Mmm-hmm, Zhou Hong's strength, even if placed among those ancient sects, would definitely rank in the upper-middle tier," Changsun Ruoyan said confidently.
Thus, several days passed in the blink of an eye.
During these days, there was only one topic in major news outlets across the country: the reclusive master's reappearance and his defeat of the Six Doors leader with a single move. The entire secular martial arts world in China was filled with admiration and reverence.
Meanwhile, Zhou Hong was hiding in Liu Zhenfeixu's home, oblivious to the outside world.
After stepping into the lowest realm of cultivators last time, Zhou Hong needed to stabilize his cultivation. Once he was stable, he would return to the deep pit he had visited before to hunt monsters and continue his push towards the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.
During these few days spent at Liu Zhenfeixu's, Zhou Hong had managed to stabilize his early Foundation Establishment realm.
Now, Zhou Hong could go hunt monsters again and collect their beast cores.
However, a few days later, just as Zhou Hong was preparing to set out again, a major event occurred in China. A powerful individual from some sect, upon hearing about the sensationally popular reclusive master, publicly challenged the master through television. Consequently, all news channels across the country were replaying this announcement.
Unfortunately, the reclusive master had yet to respond.
Zhou Hong walked out of his room.
"Zhou Hong, are you done cultivating?" Liu Zhenfeixu, who was watching television in the living room, quickly greeted him.
"Yes, I'm about to leave. I've troubled you again these past few days," Zhou Hong nodded.
"What are you talking about? Oh, you probably don't know yet."
"What?" Zhou Hong frowned slightly.
"A chief disciple from the Kongtong Sect heard about the reclusive master and decided to challenge him. The news is all over the country now."
Zhou Hong was slightly taken aback. Someone wanted to challenge him. Fortunately, Zhou Hong hadn't revealed his true identity last time. Otherwise, the challenge wouldn't be through the news, but directly at his family.
It seemed that his decision to keep his identity secret for now was wise.
"Kongtong Sect? What kind of sect is that? Is it very powerful?" Zhou Hong asked with a snort.
"It's an ancient sect in China. These ancient sects are the true cultivators. Our secular cultivators can't even compare. The person challenging the reclusive master is, according to the news, the chief disciple of the Kongtong Sect. He's also under 30 years old, similar to the reclusive master. I wonder who will be stronger between them," Liu Zhenfeixu said with anticipation.
"Heh." Zhou Hong smirked, a hint of disdain on his face. A mere chief disciple, he wouldn't even spare him a second glance.
"Alright, I have something to attend to and need to leave now." Zhou Hong ignored the news. He was now heading to the underground pit from last time to hunt the monsters there, and then continue his cultivation to break through to the middle, or even late, stages of Foundation Establishment.
Only by becoming stronger in the realm of cultivators would Zhou Hong have a chance to pass through that connecting passage to another world.
As for trivial challenges from nobodies, he would pretend not to know. At least, Zhou Hong wasn't in the mood for them now.
Soon, Zhou Hong left Liu Zhenfeixu's home and went alone to the underground pit from last time.