Hong Yi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Hong Yi (洪易)
Alias(es)	Xiao Yi
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Yunlan Sect; Great Chu Empire
Occupation/Role	Xiao Xian's disciple; Great Chu Crown Prince; later the second Emperor of Great Chu
Status	Alive; Sagehood/Child of Change; designated successor to Xiao Xian
First Appearance	Chapter 116

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Ordinary scholar	117	Frail and without martial strength; sought to pass the imperial examinations and clear his mother's name.
Foundation Establishment	123	Mastered the essentials of Raging Bull Strength Fist under Xiao Xian's instruction.
Skin Refining Warrior / Soul Projection	142	After half a month of training, reached Skin Refining in Martial Dao and the second soul-cultivation level, Soul Projection.
Martial Saint / First Thunder Tribulation	170	Rose rapidly through military experience; his divine soul passed the First Thunder Tribulation.
Human Immortal / Third Thunder Tribulation	181	His body entered the Human Immortal realm; his divine soul reached the third level of Thunder Tribulation, pending its baptism.
High-level Human Immortal / Fourth Thunder Tribulation	208	Reached a high-level Human Immortal state and passed the Fourth Thunder Tribulation in a little over a year.
One Aperture Opens to a Hundred Apertures / Sixth Thunder Tribulation	209	Opened a Great Acupoint and passed two additional Thunder Tribulations after a year of cultivation.
Refining Soul to God / Creator path	210	Completing the Book of Changes led to comprehension of the Creator path and two successive Thunder Tribulations.
Thousand Transformations / Ninth Thunder Tribulation	212	Reached Thousand Transformations in Martial Dao and passed the Ninth Thunder Tribulation.
Sagehood / Child of Change	210	Heaven and earth responded to the completion of the Book of Changes, recognizing him as a Sage.

Background

Hong Yi was the illegitimate son of Hong Xuanji, Marquis Wuwen and Grand Tutor of Great Qian. Within the Hong Residence, his status was comparable to that of a servant, far below that of his favored half-sister Hong Xuejiao. He grew up under rigid hierarchy and bullying, while his mother Meng Bingyun's death remained an unresolved grievance. 116 123

Before entering cultivation, Hong Yi was a scholar whose principal ambition was to pass the imperial examinations, gain standing, and clear his mother's name. His survival in the Hong Residence depended on caution, restraint, and carefully judging danger. 117 120

Appearance

Hong Yi initially appeared frail enough to seem as though a gust of wind could knock him down. 117

• Wore a snow-white fur coat and leather boots when traveling to West Mountain in winter. 120
• Later developed vigorous qi and blood through martial training, markedly changing how others perceived him. 124

Personality

Hong Yi is cautious, observant, and difficult to manipulate. Though immediately tempted by Xiao Xian's offer of discipleship, he withheld his answer until he had weighed the danger and opportunity; he also refused to have Hong Xuejiao and Prince Cheng's Heir killed, recognizing that Xiao Xian could bear the consequences while he could not. 117 120

His early restraint gives way to confidence once he gains strength and protection. He confronts Granny Zeng, challenges Hong Xuanji over Meng Bingyun's death, and ultimately severs himself from the Hong family. 124 130 131

Despite his rise in power, Hong Yi remains devoted to scholarship and his ideal of becoming a Sage. He prefers studying the classics and developing a new school of thought to pursuing rulership for its own sake. 209

Abilities & Skills

Martial Dao Cultivation

Hong Yi trained first in foundational body cultivation and later advanced through Martial Saint, Human Immortal, One Aperture Opens to a Hundred Apertures, and Thousand Transformations. 123 170 209 212

• Raging Bull Strength Fist — A foundational Great Chan Temple martial art that tempers all 206 bones and 639 muscles, forging a body comparable to refined steel. 123
• Bull Demon Great Strength Technique — A martial arts manual gifted by Bai Ziyue, which Hong Yi chose to cultivate after leaving Fox Valley. 119
• His Martial Saint-level qi and blood could threaten Yin-type soul cultivators and intimidate Granny Zeng. 124 170

Divine Soul Cultivation

Hong Yi developed his divine soul alongside his body cultivation, eventually surviving all nine Thunder Tribulations. 142 212

• Reached Soul Projection after half a month of focused cultivation. 142
• Possessed the Past Amitabha Sutra, later receiving the complementary Present Tathagata Sutra from Xiao Xian. 141 142
• His completion of the Book of Changes brought him to Refining Soul to God and the Creator path. 210

Scholarship and Sagehood

Hong Yi is an exceptional scholar with extraordinary comprehension. He led scholars in studying the classics of the Hundred Schools and spent years composing the Book of Changes. 209 210

• The completed Book of Changes was widely published and celebrated. 210
• Its creation earned him Sagehood and the title Child of Change. 210
• His work helped Xiao Xian approach the Yang God threshold. 210

Leadership and Command

Hong Yi built influence through the imperial examinations, military service, alliances, and Great Chu's expansion. 147 170

• Sought battlefield merit to obtain an imperial decree vindicating his mother. 147 170
• Led Great Chu's campaign against the Overseas Hundred Kingdoms as Crown Prince. 209
• Led scholars after the overseas territories were absorbed and contributed to Great Chu's rapid development. 210
• Called upon the people of Great Chu to pray and lend faith to Xiao Xian during the Origin Land crisis. 218

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Protective Power Bead — A crystal bead placed in his brow by Xiao Xian; contained immense energy and a trace of Xiao Xian's Divine Sense, protecting Hong Yi and allowing Xiao Xian to observe threats against him. 123 125
• Past Amitabha Sutra — Great Chan Temple treasure in Hong Yi's possession; he offered it to Xiao Xian out of gratitude. 123 141
• Present Tathagata Sutra — Given by Xiao Xian to complement the Past Amitabha Sutra. 142
• Soul Splitting Puppet — Peach God Sect treasure granted by Xiao Xian for the Spring Examination. 142
• Peach God Yin-Yang Sword — Peach God Sect treasure granted by Xiao Xian. 142

Relationships

• Xiao Xian — Master and benefactor. Xiao Xian recognized Hong Yi's fortune, accepted him as a disciple, protected him from the Hong family, and later made him Crown Prince before secretly passing him the throne. Hong Yi regards him as a father figure. 120 123 143 209 213
• Hong Xuanji — Father and eventual enemy. Hong Yi confronted him over Meng Bingyun's death, was disowned, and abandoned the Hong surname. 130 131
• Meng Bingyun — Mother. Her death and the desire to restore her name drive Hong Yi's early ambitions. 123 131 147
• Madam Zhao — Hong Xuanji's first wife; responsible for ordering Meng Bingyun's poisoning. 122 131
• Hong Xuejiao — Half-sister. She initially regarded Hong Yi as beneath her, then feared his connection to Xiao Xian. 116 117 130
• Bai Ziyue — Demon Immortal who advised Hong Yi to consider Xiao Xian's offer and gave him the Bull Demon Great Strength Technique. 118 119
• Chan Yinsha — Princess of Chu Yun Country and later Hong Yi's Dao Companion. Their mutual affection developed into a formal union after Hong Yi confessed. 170 208 209

Story Role / Major Arcs

West Mountain and Apprenticeship

While hiding with foxes from a hunting party, Hong Yi encountered Xiao Xian. Xiao Xian offered to take him as a disciple and gave him time to decide; after two days of deliberation, Hong Yi traveled to West Mountain Desolate Temple and accepted. 116 117 120

Xiao Xian revealed that Hong Yi possessed great fortune and was destined to replace Hong Xuanji and Yang Pan as the world's central figure. This revelation overwhelmed Hong Yi, whose ambitions had previously been limited to restoring his mother’s reputation. 120 121

Break with the Hong Residence

Hong Yi returned home despite knowing that his unauthorized apprenticeship violated Hong Xuanji's rules. He stood up to Granny Zeng, endured house arrest, and burned scriptures to avoid exposing his cultivation. 123 124

After Xiao Xian publicly defeated Hong Xuanji and declared Hong Yi his disciple, Hong Yi confronted his father about Meng Bingyun's death. Learning that Madam Zhao had ordered the poisoning, he assaulted Hong Xuanji, was disowned, and renamed himself Xiao Yi. 129 131

Yunlan Sect and Independent Growth

Hong Yi left the Hong Residence for Yunlan Sect on Dragon Slaying Mountain, committing himself to Xiao Xian's path. He witnessed Xiao Xian's overwhelming strength against Hong Xuanji and Meng Shenji, then offered the Past Amitabha Sutra to his master. 135 141

With the Present Tathagata Sutra and Peach God Sect artifacts, Hong Yi rapidly established both martial and soul cultivation before leaving to pursue his own opportunities. 142

Rise in Great Chu

After passing the imperial examination, Hong Yi entered the military to earn merit and seek redress for Meng Bingyun. His military success, growing cultivation, and alliance with Chan Yinsha expanded his influence. 147 170

Following Great Chu's rise, he became Crown Prince, married Chan Yinsha as his Dao Companion, and led the campaign that absorbed the Overseas Hundred Kingdoms. 209 210

Child of Change and Imperial Succession

After the overseas war, Hong Yi led the study of the Hundred Schools’ classics and spent five years completing the Book of Changes. Its birth made him the Child of Change and a Sage. 210

Xiao Xian later secretly passed the Great Chu throne to Hong Yi, affirming him as the future Yang God. After Xiao Xian's return, he publicly named Hong Yi the second Emperor of Great Chu and imparted his Martial Dao experience to him. 213 220

Trivia

• Hong Yi often introduces himself as Xiao Yi after abandoning the Hong surname, although many still call him Hong Yi. 201
• He initially resisted becoming Crown Prince because he preferred scholarship to ruling. 209
• Xiao Xian considered Hong Yi a rare good person in a world full of immoral people. 161