King Cui

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	King Cui
Alias(es)	King Cuibai; Great King of Cuibai Way
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hu Clan; Prince's Estate; Cuibai Way; Yunzhou's Thirty-Six Kings
Occupation/Role	Feudal king of Cuibai Way; military and political leader
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 313

Background / History

King Cui is the Hu Clan ruler enfeoffed over Cuibai Way, one of Yunzhou's Thirty-Six Kings. By imperial rule, he and the Hu Clan were required to remain active within their fief rather than the Imperial City. He governs a southern Yunzhou border territory that was historically constrained by the Longevity Su Clan's influence. 435

The Su Clan reviewed the Prince's Estate's annual accounts and appropriated part of its resources under a long-standing agreement. King Cui regarded the arrangement as exploitation that had drained Cuibai Way for centuries and obstructed its development. After succeeding to the throne, he increasingly clashed with the clan and became the Su Family's most openly defiant royal adversary. 432

He first personally intervened in Song Changming's affairs when a Day Heavenly Master-level Great Demon appeared, sending it flying with a single palm strike. This was Song Changming's first encounter with the king. 313

Personality

King Cui is stern, politically astute, and unwilling to allow aristocratic power to override royal authority. During the Su Family–Fox Mountain confrontation, he prioritized preventing a Grandmaster-and-Great-Demon war from destroying Cuibai Main City, warning both sides not to force his hand. 412

Though he can be sharp-tempered—particularly where King Rui or the Su Family are concerned—he can restrain himself when escalation would be strategically harmful. He also uses humor and calculated provocation, notably mocking King Rui with the same patronizing gestures King Rui had previously used against him. 434 442

He values talent and merit. He repeatedly supported Song Changming, recognized that Cuibai Way could not indefinitely contain his potential, and stated he would support Song should he choose to leave for greater opportunities. 418 553

Abilities & Skills

Late Realm Grandmaster Cultivation

King Cui possesses Late Realm Grandmaster cultivation and ranks among the stronger members of Yunzhou's Thirty-Six Kings. 480 495 647

• Sent a Day Heavenly Master-level Great Demon flying with one palm. 313
• Overwhelmed Su Gongming with Grandmaster power before Su Gongming could activate his protective tools or talisman artifacts. 445
• Fought Su Dongdan away from Cuibai Main City during the war against the Longevity Su Clan. 446
• Remained a formidable combatant despite injuries during the Red Soil Continent campaign. 452
• His presence alone deterred fire monsters during the demon invasion of Cuibai Way. 647

Governance and Political Strategy

King Cui rebuilt order in Cuibai Way after the demon race invasion, achieving development strong enough to earn direct recognition from the Cloud Emperor. 437

• Received 300 Imperial City craftsmen and rare Imperial City materials as rewards for Cuibai Way's reconstruction. 437
• Recognized the political value of Song Changming's intervention in preventing a complete rupture with Fox Mountain. 413
• Ordered Hu Zhong to take full authority over the Zhao Clan crisis after Zhao Wenruo's death. 418
• Opened formal ties with Fox Mountain after the Su Clan's fall, declaring its people honored guests in Cuibai Way. 466
• Was willing to seek assistance from noble families when Cuibai Way's defense against the demon race required it. 568

Story Role / Major Arcs

Protection of Song Changming

King Cui became Song Changming's principal political patron in Cuibai Way. He had personally met Song several times on Hu Zhong's recommendation and was impressed by Song's physical strength and combat power beyond his realm. 412

When Song Changming confronted the Su Family over Su Qingqing, King Cui refused to punish him, concluded that Song's intervention had helped preserve relations with Fox Mountain, and promised to mediate so that the Su Clan would not continue targeting him. 413

After Song killed Zhao Wenruo, King Cui recognized his exceptional potential, authorized action against the Zhao Clan, and considered bringing Song to Shangli Way to demonstrate Cuibai Way's ability to cultivate talent. 418

Conflict with the Longevity Su Clan

King Cui's lifelong ambition was to remove the Su Family's hold over Cuibai Way. Through Hu Zhong, he conveyed the intent that the Su Clan would fall once the time was right. 422

Following the death of First Army commander Hu Donghuo during the Black Soul Nether Bull incident, King Cui suspected Su Family involvement and moved toward open war. 444

• He directly attacked Su Gongming after confronting him over Hu Donghuo's death. 445
• He fought Su Dongdan away from Cuibai Main City while Hu Zhong and Song Changming faced the Su Family's Grandmasters. 446
• He allied with Hu Zhong and Xi Yanxue's Fox Mountain forces against the Su Clan on the Red Soil Continent. 452 453
• The Su Clan's destruction freed Cuibai Way from a centuries-old burden, but provoked pressure from Longevity Clans across Yunzhou and beyond. 466 470
• The Cloud Emperor refused to surrender King Cui to appease the Longevity Clans, allowing him to remain King of Cuibai Way. 470

Emperor's Feast and Cloud Battle

King Cui selected Song Changming as his representative for the Cloud Battle, judging that Song's combat strength gave him a better chance to dominate the Innate stage than Hu Donghuo had against Grandmaster opponents. 435

Song's victories brought King Cui public prestige among the feudal kings. King Cui was confident in Song's Crimson Cloud Saber Art and corrected King Xia's claim that he had merely “found” Song by saying he had “cultivated a prodigy.” 439

When King Rui's Grandmaster attendant Gao Qiuchi challenged Song, King Cui allowed Song to decide whether to fight. After Song prevailed, King Cui openly taunted King Rui in retaliation for prior slights. 440 442

King Cui also received Imperial rewards for Cuibai Way's successful reconstruction, narrowing the perceived gap between his territory and stronger fiefs such as Zixia Way. 437

Appointment of Song Changming as Grand Marshal

After the war with the Su Clan, King Cui offered Song Changming the position of Grand Marshal of the Army. Song accepted, and the appointment was formalized a month later. 466

The offer reflected King Cui's effort to secure Song Changming as an ally and strengthen Cuibai Way's military leadership after the conflict. 466

Later Demon Wars

King Cui continued to cooperate with Song Changming and allied powers against demon threats.

• He traveled with Song Changming and King Xia to assist Fox Mountain against a demon race attack. 479
• He acknowledged that Song's timely breakthrough during the Su Clan war had likely saved his life. 480
• He killed the surviving fire monster Great Demon after Song Changming annihilated its retreating demon army outside Cuibai Way. 650
• He remained a major deterrent during the wider demon invasion, while coordinating Cuibai Way's defenses. 647

Relationships

• Song Changming — Patron, commander, and later political ally. King Cui protected Song from the Su Family, selected him for the Cloud Battle, and appointed him Grand Marshal of the Army. 413 435 466
• Hu Zhong — Grand Marshal and trusted subordinate. They coordinated military and political action against the Zhao and Su Families; Hu Zhong later yielded the Grand Marshal position to Song Changming. 418 466
• Hu Donghuo — First Army commander and member of King Cui's circle. His death at the hands of a Great Demon intensified King Cui's conflict with the Su Family. 444 445
• Xi Yanxue — Fox Mountain Great Demon and wartime ally. Their alliance against the Su Clan led to formal friendly relations between Fox Mountain and Cuibai Way. 466
• King Xia (Li Xuan) — Friend and fellow feudal king. They share friendly rivalry, attended the Emperor's Feast together, and later jointly aided Fox Mountain. 436 437 479
• King Rui — Rival feudal king with a history of conflicts against King Cui. Their hostility played out through their attendants during the Cloud Battle. 434 440
• Su Dongdan — Su Family Ancestor and major enemy. King Cui fought him during the war that destroyed the Longevity Su Clan. 446 452

Trivia

• King Cui is one of Yunzhou's Thirty-Six Kings. 412
• Cuibai Way rose from a territory viewed as desolate under Su Clan exploitation to an upper-middle-tier fief under King Cui's governance. 437
• Despite his authority, King Cui stated that Song Changming had already surpassed him in personal strength after the Heavenly Ruins Realm expedition. 553