Miao Zhen

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Miao Zhen (妙真)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Mount Sanqing; formerly a student at Mount Longhu Academy 399 138
Occupation/Role	Daoist cultivator, diviner, formation practitioner, and celestial observer 798 1038
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 45

Background / History

Miao Zhen grew up on Mount Sanqing alongside Miao He. Her master, Yin Song, arranged her studies and guided her remotely even after she began attending Mount Longhu Academy early. By the age of eight, she had already completed one volume of the Dao Fa Hui Yuan. 112 185

Under Xuan Miao's instruction, she learned the basic Qi Gazing Technique. Her first reading of Pan Yun's merit qi mistook it for noble qi, an error Xuan Miao corrected. 102 She later joined Pan Yun and Miao He at Mount Longhu Academy, where she placed third in one examination category. 138

Miao Zhen became one of Pan Yun's closest travelling companions. She accompanied her in investigations, academic assignments, commercial ventures, and the campaign against Japanese pirates. During the fighting, she used a knife to force Matsuura Hideno to silence his men and was credited with personally stabbing thirteen of their twenty-nine enemies while under the effect of Miao He's medicine. 174 251

She expanded her studies into divination and celestial phenomena. After returning from Japan, Yin Song instructed her to study divination; she learned the Great Evolution Divination Method and used it to identify clues in Xiao Hong's corpse-bone case. 798 Her observations of seasonal shifts, river freezing, and palace ice consumption later led her to warn Pan Yun that the climate and dynasty could be changing. 1038

During Pan Yun's absence in the grasslands, Miao Zhen worked with her to improve geological methods and locate coal and iron deposits. She also negotiated with the Oirat royal court to secure conditions allowing Miao He and Tao Yanbai to practice medicine while serving as translators. 1072 1073 1074

When Pan Yun's soul left her body and her heartbeat ceased, Miao Zhen immediately coordinated with Miao He and Tao Yanbai to revive her body. She later exhausted herself searching southward for Pan Yun's soul with a compass and divination, before returning to the capital to seek help from Mount Sanqing. 1089

Personality

Miao Zhen is studious, observant, and notably mature for her age. She takes her studies seriously, from Daoist classics and almanacs to divination, formations, and celestial phenomena. 112 205 798 1038

She is practical and blunt when necessary. She cautioned armed escorts against rushing into vengeful fog, arguing that a bewitched martial artist would endanger everyone rather than save them. 239 She also expects Pan Yun to earn the trust she asks for, distinguishing concern over Pan Yun's tendency to cause trouble from simple distrust. 309

Although usually composed, Miao Zhen is deeply loyal to her companions. She supports Pan Yun's plans without hesitation, works closely with Miao He, and pushed herself through an urgent multi-day journey when Pan Yun's life was in danger. 214 537 1089

Abilities & Skills

Qi Gazing and Physiognomy

Miao Zhen learned Daoist qi-gazing under Xuan Miao and later applied her perception to fortune-telling and reading changes in a person's prospects.

• Initially identified Pan Yun's merit qi as noble qi before being corrected. 102
• Perceived Liu Hei's fortune rising after Pan Yun encouraged him to challenge his predetermined future. 269
• Performed a facial-feature reading for Zhuo Cheng, predicting an advantageous marriage and improved status through his future in-laws. 443

Divination

Miao Zhen practices divination through yarrow stalks and a compass.

• Learned the Great Evolution Divination Method after Yin Song directed her to study divination. 798
• Used divination to infer that someone involved in Xiao Hong's case understood the Spirit Ghost Way and intended to bind her permanently. 798
• Used a compass and strands of Pan Hong's hair to search for Pan Yun, though Pan Yun's strength limited the result to a general southern direction. 1089

Formations and Talismans

Miao Zhen studies formations, carries talismans, and can coordinate spells with her companions.

• Helped create the illusion of a fiery red dragon around Pan Yun during the Huang Manor deception. 214
• Participated in talisman-and-weapon combinations, throwing a saber through Pan Yun's fire and lightning talismans to create a skyward display. 246
• Studied talisman formations diligently, though she struggled with maintaining uninterrupted vital-energy flow at complex turns. 654

Celestial Observation

Miao Zhen studies celestial phenomena and environmental patterns.

• Examined the formation and celestial phenomena at Ping'an Inn with Pan Yun. 223
• Recorded changes in insect activity, winter freezing, summer heat, and palace ice use to identify a developing climatic anomaly. 1038

Negotiation and Trade

Miao Zhen is capable in commercial and diplomatic negotiations.

• Negotiated with the Oirat First Prince on behalf of Miao He and Tao Yanbai, linking their translation work to medical practice and cultural exchange. 1073 1074
• Planned to profit from goods scarce in the grasslands by transporting supplies between regions. 1061

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Saber — used alongside Pan Yun's talismans and carried during combat. 246 251
• Compass — used for tracking and divination. 211 1089
• Yarrow stalks — used for the Great Evolution Divination Method. 798
• Talismans — carried for protection and field work. 176
• Spatial storage item — used to carry a mountain god statue, talisman paper, incense, and candles while searching for Pan Yun. 1089
• Yellow talisman booklet — used to communicate with Miao He during her search for Pan Yun. 1089

Relationships

• Pan Yun — Junior Martial Uncle and closest companion. Miao Zhen travels, studies, fights, and conducts investigations with her; she also risked exhaustion while trying to locate Pan Yun after her soul left her body. 214 251 1089
• Miao He — Junior martial sister and longtime companion. The two cooperate in disguises, defensive displays, healing, and travel. 214 537 1074
• Yin Song — Master. He planned Miao Zhen's cultivation path, prepared her practice books, and later directed her to study divination. 185 798
• Xuan Miao — Fourth Martial Aunt and instructor. Xuan Miao taught her Qi Gazing and acknowledged her philosophical insight regarding the Heavenly Way. 102 281
• Tao Yanbai — Senior martial brother and colleague. They worked together in the grasslands, where Miao Zhen negotiated terms supporting his and Miao He's medical work. 1073 1074
• Hong Yan — Three-tailed fox companion. Hong Yan chose to share Miao Zhen's room after arriving at Mount Sanqing. 288
• Xiao Hong — Ghost companion. Miao Zhen helped investigate the circumstances surrounding Xiao Hong's bound corpse bones. 798

Notable Quotes

“Then you have to be reliable when you do things, Junior Martial Uncle. Martial Uncle and the others investigate because they're not distrusting you, but they're afraid you'll cause trouble.” 309

“The essence of divination is numbers, which is used to resolve doubts.” 798

Trivia

• Miao Zhen once proposed that Pan Yun refine her into a puppet after her death, believing she could retain her memories even in a puppet body. 198
• She was part of Mount Sanqing's “Three Heroes” alongside Pan Yun and Miao He. 175
• Miao Zhen is older than Miao He and is regarded by others as an older-sister figure. 399