Zheng Qingqing

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zheng Qingqing (郑青青)
Alias(es)	Eldest Miss Zheng; Young Miss; Old Ancestor Zheng
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Zheng Family
Occupation/Role	Zheng Family Foundation Establishment Seed; former manager of Clear River Market; later Zheng Family Old Ancestor and Golden Core True Person
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Late Qi Refining	55	Already regarded as the Zheng Family’s Foundation Establishment Seed, with strength sufficient to support that status.
Ninth Layer of Qi Refining	100	Reveals her full Qi Refining cultivation during Cao Shaolin’s puppet ambush; her fire-aligned whip attacks rapidly break the Five Elements puppet formation.
Foundation Establishment	121	Passes the physical, mana-liquefaction, and Divine Barriers in Yellow Crane Immortal City, becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Mid Foundation Establishment	205	Breaks through after cultivating the Myriad Fires Burning Heaven Art, which suits her exceptionally well.
Late Foundation Establishment	241	Returns from the Western Region Cultivation World after acquiring several Heavenly Flames.
Golden Core	329	Forms her core at Azure Mountain with Li Chang'an’s assistance and becomes a Golden Core True Person.

Appearance

Zheng Qingqing is repeatedly described in green or cyan-green robes, with refined features and a composed bearing. Her combat attire and techniques emphasize fire: when fighting at full strength, her green dress transforms crimson, matching her blazing mana and weapons. 20 100

• Wears green, cyan-green, or emerald-green gowns in daily life. 20 30 205
• Adopts crimson or fiery-red attire when fighting or after major breakthroughs. 100 121 145 329
• Has long hair and a graceful, light gait. 20 100
• Her manner becomes notably more dignified after Foundation Establishment. 122

Personality

Zheng Qingqing is kind, principled, and unusually approachable for a scion of a Foundation Establishment family. She honors her promises to Li Chang'an, rewards service to her family, and treats rogue cultivators with courtesy rather than aristocratic contempt. 2 8

She is also shrewd and politically resilient. After losing control of Clear River Market, she protects Li Chang'an’s identity during the Zheng Yang affair despite pressure from her own branch, then regains much of her authority after Zheng Yang is exposed. 58 85 86

Her composure masks long-standing pressure from the Zheng Family’s expectations. Although she accepts responsibility for the clan’s future, she grows weary of its internal struggles and seeks a more independent path after Foundation Establishment. 55 122 190

Abilities & Skills

Fire-Aligned Cultivation

Zheng Qingqing’s combat style centers on scorching fire mana and overwhelming direct offense.

• At the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, she destroys Cao Shaolin’s First-tier Peak puppets and disrupts their formation with her whip. 100 101
• Her fire mana is vulnerable to Water-element opposition; she is seriously injured while pursued by a stronger Water-aligned Qingyun Sect cultivator. 180 181
• The Myriad Fires Burning Heaven Art greatly accelerates her cultivation after Foundation Establishment. 205
• She acquires several Heavenly Flames in the Western Region Cultivation World, contributing to her advance to late Foundation Establishment. 241

Alchemy

Alchemy is central to the Zheng Family’s inheritance, and Zheng Qingqing develops sufficient skill to refine major cultivation pills.

• She possesses a personal High-grade First-tier alchemy inheritance, which she gives to Li Chang'an when she cannot provide the Zheng Family’s protected legacy. 86
• She later provides Li Chang'an with a Second-tier Mid-grade alchemy legacy. 181
• After recovering from her pursuit in Black Dragon Mountain Range, she refines Foundation Establishment Pills for Li Chang'an using materials he gathered. 181
• She explains the exotic-fire requirements for refining the One Heart Pill. 470

Aura Detection

Zheng Qingqing owns an Ancient Treasure capable of probing a cultivator’s aura.

• Uses it to recognize Li Chang'an despite his concealed identity and identify the strength he has hidden behind his puppet. 51
• Its existence allows her to see through some of Li Chang'an’s disguises, though she remains unable to fully understand the extent of his hidden resources. 51

Leadership and Strategy

As a Zheng Family leader, Zheng Qingqing balances clan interests, cultivation resources, and dangerous factional conflicts.

• Organizes a stable supply agreement for Li Chang'an’s mid-grade talismans rather than forcing him into the Zheng Family. 47
• Acts decisively against the traitor Zheng Yang after receiving Li Chang'an’s warning. 84 85
• Leads the campaign to eliminate the Wu Family and later coordinates with Li Chang'an against the Cao Family. 163 207
• Becomes the Zheng Family’s Old Ancestor as its Foundation Establishment cultivators increase in number. 207

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ancient aura-probing treasure — Detects concealed auras and exposes Li Chang'an’s hidden identity and puppet strength. 51
• Scarlet long whip — Her primary weapon during the Treasure Distribution Tower battle; channels explosive fire mana. 100 101
• Transforming battle robe — A green robe that turns crimson when she fights at full strength; identified as an artifact. 100
• Fire Lotus Spirit Artifact — A defensive artifact that produces protective flaming petals; it is shattered during her battle with Miao Qianshui. 180 181
• Heavenly Flames — Several flames acquired during her Western Region journey to support her fire cultivation. 241

Background / History

Clear River Market

Li Chang'an first earns Zheng Qingqing’s goodwill by returning her missing jade pendant. She fulfills her promise to resolve his mining-work problem, leading Zheng Jinbao to double Li’s Spirit Stones and exempt him from five years of mining labor. 2

Recognizing Li Chang'an’s talent for talismans, she repeatedly attempts to bring him into the Zheng Family through marriage. She first asks whether he has someone he favors, then introduces her cousin Zheng Ling'er as a potential match; Li politely refuses both proposals because he wishes to remain independent and focus on cultivation. 20 24 48

As Li’s talisman skills improve, Zheng Qingqing offers him a guest elder position with access to Wood-attribute cultivation methods. He declines the position but accepts a monthly talisman-supply arrangement, creating a profitable working alliance between him and the Zheng Family. 46 47

Internal Zheng Family Struggles

Zheng Qingqing is a direct descendant of Zheng Yuandao and is considered a Foundation Establishment Seed. She is assigned to Clear River Market partly to temper her character rather than remaining protected at the clan grounds. 55

Following the rogue cultivator unrest, the Zheng Family strips her of her market-manager role and installs Zheng Lingfeng in her place. The decision reflects competition between branches supported by different Foundation Establishment Ancestors, rather than a straightforward failure of management. 58

When Li Chang'an warns her that Zheng Yang has betrayed the family, Zheng Qingqing immediately brings the matter to Zheng Yuandao. She refuses to expose Li as her source despite intense internal pressure, and Zheng Yang is ultimately revealed as a traitor. 84 85

Foundation Establishment

Zheng Qingqing reveals Ninth Layer Qi Refining cultivation when Cao Shaolin traps the Zheng Family at the Treasure Distribution Tower. Her strength overwhelms his puppets, and she breaks the Black Cloud Sealing Heaven Formation after the battle. 100 102

She travels with Li Chang'an to Yellow Crane Immortal City to prepare for Foundation Establishment. Although she had only one usable Foundation Establishment Pill after the Zheng Family’s alchemy attempt failed to produce additional pills, she succeeds in her breakthrough. 109 121 149

Rather than hold her Foundation Establishment ceremony at the Zheng clan grounds, she chooses Yellow Crane Immortal City. The decision reflects both her growing independence and exhaustion with the family’s burdens. 122

Rescue, Alliance, and Independence

While hunting in Black Dragon Mountain Range, Zheng Qingqing is pursued by Miao Qianshui, a Water-aligned Foundation Establishment cultivator acting for Cao Shaolong. Exhausted and severely injured, she is rescued by Li Chang'an, who kills her pursuer and erases evidence of their involvement. 180 181

After recovering, Zheng Qingqing refines Foundation Establishment Pills for Li Chang'an and protects him during his breakthrough. Their mutual reliance deepens substantially through these events. 181

She later reveals that Zheng Feihong had disclosed her plan to travel to Yellow Crane Immortal City, enabling the earlier attempt on her life. After Zheng Shouchang establishes his foundation and takes responsibility for Clear River Market, Zheng Qingqing gains greater freedom from the position that had tied her to the clan. 189 190

Golden Core Era

After Li Chang'an returns to Clear River Market as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Zheng Qingqing begins an intimate but deliberately unbinding relationship with him. She chooses to accompany him without requiring marriage or binding him to the Zheng Family. 190 191

She advances to mid Foundation Establishment through the Myriad Fires Burning Heaven Art, then later travels to the Western Region in search of Heavenly Flames. 205 241

With Li Chang'an’s aid, Zheng Qingqing successfully forms her Golden Core at Azure Mountain. She subsequently returns with him to Clear River Market and reports her achievement at Zheng Yuandao’s grave. 329

Relationships

• Li Chang'an — Initially a rogue cultivator who returns her missing jade pendant; later her trusted ally, alchemy partner, rescuer, and intimate cultivation companion. Their relationship remains deliberately informal rather than a formal marriage alliance. 2 181 190 191
• Zheng Ling'er — Her cousin. Zheng Qingqing attempts to introduce Ling'er to Li Chang'an as part of a marriage alliance, but the match does not proceed. 23 24
• Zheng Yuandao — Her ancestor and political supporter within the Zheng Family. He backs her during the Zheng Yang confrontation and helps restore her standing. 55 85
• Zheng Lingfeng — A rival within the Zheng Family who replaces her as Clear River Market’s manager and conspires against Li Chang'an. 58 61 75
• Zheng Feihong — A Zheng Family Foundation Establishment cultivator who reveals her travel plans to the Cao Family, contributing to the ambush intended to kill her. 189
• Cao Shaolin — Enemy and Cao Family “Kirin Son.” He attacks her at the Treasure Distribution Tower and repeatedly seeks to seize or humiliate her. 57 100 102
• Cao Zhengxiong — Cao Family Old Ancestor who proposes that she become Cao Shaolin’s concubine, provoking the Zheng Family’s outrage. 57
• Miao Qianshui — Qingyun Sect Foundation Establishment cultivator who pursues Zheng Qingqing on Cao Shaolong’s behalf; killed by Li Chang'an during the pursuit. 180 181

Notable Quotes

“Chang'an, with the relationship between you and me, why still call me Young Miss? Just call me Qingqing.” 191