Zhao Cheng

Biodata

Name	Zhao Cheng (赵成)
Gender	Male
Age	23, during his preparation to enter Anhe Martial Arts School 46
Affiliation	Anyang Martial Arts School; later an official disciple of Anhe Martial Arts School 5 53
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; Lu Feng's disciple; Shi Yi's senior brother and early martial instructor 5 6
Relatives	Town Clerk Zhao (father) 31
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Flesh and Blood Realm Martial Student	29	His cultivation had slowed after reaching this realm; he sought Oddity essence and blood as a means to progress further. 29
Stone Skin Realm	49 50	Completed the Stone Skin Inscription and became qualified to pursue further study at Anhe Martial Arts School. He then began preparing for Copper Skin and eventual Muscle Refinement. 49 50

Background

Zhao Cheng grew up in Anyuan Town and became a disciple of Anyang Martial Arts School's School Master, Lu Feng. His father, Town Clerk Zhao, is both a local official and a Martial Warrior, giving Zhao Cheng an awareness of the connections between his family and the martial arts school. He routinely reports major events in town to Lu Feng at his father's direction. 29 31 43

When Shi Yi arrived at Anyang Martial Arts School, Zhao Cheng received him at the gate, brought him before Lu Feng, and was assigned to personally teach him the Blood Essence chapter of the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Strength Training Fist. 4 5

Personality

Zhao Cheng is patient and conscientious as an instructor. He corrects Shi Yi's movements in detail, sets limits on overtraining, and emphasizes that martial practice must be supported by food, medicine, and recovery. 6

He is helpful without being transactional: he obtains Shi Yi's travel permit, finds him a residence near the school, assists with his household-registration transfer, and introduces him to Lou Xuanming for literacy lessons. 8 9 21 25

Although ambitious enough to seek the Bone-Refining Martial Master realm, Zhao Cheng is realistic about his own talent and later accepts that his cultivation may not advance as quickly as Shi Yi's. 49 121

Abilities & Skills

Martial Path Cultivation

Zhao Cheng is a Martial Student who progressed from the Flesh and Blood Realm to the Stone Skin Realm.

• His cultivation had already reached the Flesh and Blood Realm before the search of Mount Jiuhua. 29
• He completed his Stone Skin Inscription with assistance from Silver Wolf Spirit flesh and blood. 49 50
• He was preparing to complete the Copper Skin Inscription before attempting Muscle Refinement and becoming a Martial Warrior. 50
• His long-term goal is to surpass both his father and Lu Feng by becoming a Bone-Refining Martial Master. 49
• His Blood Essence accumulation later stagnates relative to Shi Yi's, making a breakthrough to Martial Warrior before age thirty unlikely. 121

Instruction in the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Strength Training Fist

Zhao Cheng served as Shi Yi's first martial instructor at Anyang Martial Arts School. 5 6

• Demonstrates the three opening Blood Essence techniques: Four Levels Body Solidifying Stance, Jiazi Tianchen, and Ruowang Suitian. 5
• Explains how stable posture, correct alignment, and the absorption of red energy nourish Blood Essence. 6
• Corrects Shi Yi's form immediately and monitors his practice until no errors remain. 6
• Warns beginners not to train continuously for more than an hour and to replenish themselves with food and medicine. 6

Local Knowledge and Practical Support

Zhao Cheng is familiar with Anyuan Town, its local factions, and the practical requirements for living and cultivating there.

• Secures Shi Yi's Anyuan Town travel permit and helps arrange a residence roughly one hundred meters from the martial arts school. 8 9
• Helps Shi Yi transfer his household registration to Anyuan Town. 21
• Introduces Shi Yi to Lou Xuanming, enabling him to begin learning Great Zhou literacy. 25
• Understands the importance of observing official protocol when cooperating with the Divine Constable Bureau, partly because of his father's position. 27

Equipment / Cultivation Items

• Weapon carried during the Buddhist Treasure search — Zhao Cheng brought a weapon for the Mount Jiuhua operation, though its type is not specified. 30
• Silver Wolf Spirit flesh and blood — Received from Lu Feng as a reward for participating in the Buddhist Treasure mission; the resource contributed to his accelerated Stone Skin breakthrough. 38 50

Relationships

• Shi Yi — Junior brother, student, and friend. Zhao Cheng teaches Shi Yi the fundamentals of martial cultivation, assists with his residence and documents, and protects him from the Five Tigers Gang's recruitment attempt. 5 6 9 21 31
• Lu Feng — Master and School Master of Anyang Martial Arts School. Lu Feng entrusts Zhao Cheng with Shi Yi's early instruction and later recommends both disciples to Anhe Martial Arts School. 5 50
• Town Clerk Zhao — Father. His official position and Martial Warrior cultivation give Zhao Cheng political awareness and deter figures such as Jiao Darong from openly provoking him. 27 31
• Lou Xuanming — Acquaintance of the Zhao family. Zhao Cheng introduces Shi Yi to him for literacy instruction. 25
• Wei Shan — Senior brother from Anyang Martial Arts School who had previously transferred to Anhe Martial Arts School; Zhao Cheng reconnects with him after arriving in Ninghe County. 54
• Jiao Darong — Hostile contact from the Five Tigers Gang. Zhao Cheng directly warns him to stay away from Shi Yi. 31

Story Role / Major Arcs

Shi Yi's Entry into Anyang Martial Arts School

Zhao Cheng is Shi Yi's first contact at Anyang Martial Arts School. He escorts Shi Yi to Lu Feng, teaches him the Blood Essence chapter, and helps him adapt to life in Anyuan Town through practical assistance and cultivation advice. 4 5 6 8 9

Buddhist Treasure Search

Assigned alongside Shi Yi to assist the yamen and Divine Constable Bureau, Zhao Cheng instructs his junior brother to prioritize safety and follow official arrangements. During the Mount Jiuhua search, he expresses a strong interest in obtaining Oddity flesh and blood to break through his own cultivation limits. 27 29

Conflict with the Five Tigers Gang

When Jiao Darong attempts to recruit Shi Yi, Zhao Cheng intervenes and invokes both Lu Feng's authority and his father's position to protect his junior brother. He later informs Shi Yi of the Five Tigers Gang's annihilation, taking particular satisfaction in Jiao Darong's downfall because of the gang's past hostility toward the martial arts school. 31 43

Transfer to Anhe Martial Arts School

After completing the Stone Skin Inscription, Zhao Cheng leaves Anyuan Town to pursue higher cultivation at Anhe Martial Arts School in Ninghe County. He and Shi Yi pass the admission assessment and become official disciples. 49 50 53

Later Cultivation

At Anhe Martial Arts School, Zhao Cheng remains behind Shi Yi in Blood Essence accumulation and recognizes the limitations imposed by his bone structure and comprehension. Rather than forcing himself into an unsustainable pursuit, he accepts a simpler path after achieving his goal of reaching the county school. 83 121

Trivia

• Zhao Cheng initially predicted that Shi Yi would need up to a month to reach the Blood Essence Realm, only for Shi Yi to break through after eleven days of cultivation at Anyang Martial Arts School. 6 21
• He considers beef the most effective ordinary meat available in Anyuan Town for nourishing Blood Essence. 9 13
• Zhao Cheng's excitement over the Silver Wolf Spirit flesh and blood reflects a long-standing desire to obtain Oddity-derived cultivation resources. 38