Zi Di

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zi Di (紫蒂)
Alias(es)	Mage Yao Ma; Mage Gui Teng 592 838
Species/Race	Human; later an undead Ghost 213
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Purple Vine Merchant Guild; Dragon Lion Mercenary Group 188 673
Occupation/Role	Head of the Purple Vine Merchant Guild; alchemist; Undead Mage; business strategist 188 258 673
Status	Active; died from blood loss and persists as a Ghost 213
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Iron-level Mage (living)	71	Her original cultivation potential was considered exhausted at Black Iron-level because of her low-grade bloodline. 71
Undead Mage	258	Meditated through a dangerous illusion, established a new mana pool, and learned to convert negative energy into undead mana. 258
Bronze-level Undead Mage	319	Could control the Silver-level Netherghost Lan Lu only with difficulty due to the gap in their levels. 319
Iron-level Undead Mage	673	Advanced after rebuilding her cultivation as a Ghost; her enlarged mana pool reduced the strain of maintaining a false Silver-level identity. 673

Background

Zi Di was born into the Purple Vine Merchant Guild. Her mother raised her with the story of a princess, demon, and knight before dying of illness; the story shaped Zi Di's early hopes of love and rescue. A noble suitor later mocked those hopes behind her back, leaving her distrustful of courtship and acutely aware of her limited cultivation potential. 184

Her father, the guild master, was loving but increasingly absorbed by the guild's expansion. After entering the academy, Zi Di refused to rely on his money, rejected necromancy despite being offered the Soul Devouring Art, and supported herself through small businesses, commissions, and a personal network. She saved a drowning barbarian at a fish market and received rare potion formulas in return. 186 187

Following her father's death, Zi Di inherited the Purple Vine Merchant Guild amid pressure from its elders and hostile outside interests. She asserted control by offering emergency loans at high interest and demanding collateral, while privately resolving to avenge her father. 188

She had originally rejected a marriage alliance with the Hundred Needles Family. With the Purple Vine Merchant Guild weakened and threats gathering around her, she ultimately accepted an engagement to Zhen Jin as protection, a political alliance, and a path toward revenge. 190

Appearance

Zi Di is described as a young woman with black hair, wheat-colored skin, and amethyst-like eyes. After becoming a Ghost, she can appear living by possessing her preserved body, though the soul-and-body conflict limits how long she can sustain this state. 4 177 603

• Black hair that reflects a halo in firelight. 4
• Wheat-colored skin and a youthful appearance. 4
• Amethyst-like eyes. 177
• Her Ghost form is sustained by negative energy and suffers from erosion and hunger. 258
• Uses the Soul Possession Art to inhabit her own preserved body and maintain a living appearance. 603

Personality

Zi Di is calculating, observant, and commercially minded. Her experience in the marketplace taught her to judge people through interests, incentives, and likely betrayals; she favors preparation, leverage, and durable alliances over sentiment alone. 219 264

She is also intensely ambitious. The destruction of the Purple Vine Merchant Guild, her low original aptitude, and her desire for revenge fuel her refusal to settle for safety or modest gains. She is willing to take severe risks for opportunities that could fundamentally change her and her companions' futures. 430 1001

Despite this ruthlessness, Zi Di values the survivors' potential and loyalty. Because she knows the Bloodcore and Bloodline Purification Array can transform aptitude, she sees comrades as long-term assets rather than expendable subordinates. 849

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy and Potioncraft

Zi Di is an accomplished alchemist who develops remedies, conducts bloodline research, modifies arrays, and plans industrial-scale potion production.

• Created a remedy, Iced Red Wine, to counter the effects of Beautiful Future on Zong Ge. 942
• Used Magic Potion blood tests to identify Blood Meridian grades, elemental tendencies, and probable bloodline types among the survivors. 449 450 451
• Identified her own Blood Meridian as the Gunpowder Flower Bloodline, a Gold-level bloodline suited to potion-making and especially gunpowder refinement. 517
• Designed the commercial rollout of Dragon Strength Ride Potion and sought to dominate regional mount-potion markets. 524 654
• Planned to establish an Alchemy Laboratory, then a workshop, and eventually an Alchemical Factory. 913

Undead Magic

After dying, Zi Di rebuilt herself as an Undead Mage and learned to manage the dangers of her Ghost form.

• Converts negative energy into undead mana through meditation. 258
• Uses Burden Reduction Art to lessen the mental load of controlling Netherghosts. 544
• Uses Karma Reduction Art to reduce negative-energy erosion on herself. 544
• Can use Soul Possession Art to inhabit her own body, though prolonged use damages both body and soul due to their mutual rejection. 603
• Cannot absorb all negative energy without destroying her Ghost life form. 258

Ghost and Undead Servant Control

Zi Di commands undead constructs and Netherghosts, using them for combat, infiltration, and reconnaissance.

• Regained authority over the Central Tower, halted its lightning, and directed Artificial Magical Beasts. 213
• Controlled the Silver-level Netherghost Lan Lu, though doing so overtaxed her at Bronze-level. 319
• Recovered twelve Silver-level Ice Statue Ghosts and one incomplete Gold-level Ice Statue Ghost from Jia Bing's interlayer laboratory. 714
• Can coordinate multiple Silver-level Ice Statue Ghosts in battle; controlling six at once sharply increases her mental expenditure. 736
• Uses Snake Shadow Ghosts and Rat Eye Ghosts primarily for reconnaissance rather than direct combat. 952

Bloodline Purification Research

Zi Di was central to the development and operation of the Bloodline Purification Array.

• Worked with Cang Xu to determine that Bloodcore Magic Energy could be stored externally and used to activate the array without extracting the Bloodcore from the Dragonman Youth. 244
• Helped construct and validate the Bloodline Purification Array through repeated experiments. 601
• Used the array on her preserved body, purifying its Gunpowder Flower Bloodline to 100% concentration at Gold-level. 602
• Kept the array secret due to the danger of others coveting its ability to improve aptitude. 602

Strategy, Trade, and Negotiation

Zi Di applies merchant instincts to the Dragon Lion Mercenary Group's expansion, supply chains, and political positioning.

• Negotiated resources and Magic Potions from the Bang Bu Merchant Guild for the Bloodline Purification Array project. 273
• Used auction wealth to secure armor, healing potions, rare metals, and alchemical resources. 352 356 362 363
• Planned commercial nodes and reliable personnel along the route to the Ice Sculpture Kingdom, beginning with Blood Kin City. 673
• Recognized the need for an intelligence department alongside the group's military and economic development. 673
• Proposed using a gambling agreement to reclaim benefits from the Alchemy Guild. 877

Equipment and Assets

• Teng Fire Staff — Used alongside flight magic and summoned Ice Statue Ghosts during her training duel with Zong Ge. 736
• Fire Magic Rings — Four rings personally imbued with the Deception Disguise Art. 319
• Gold-level Storage Belt — Used to transport the incomplete Gold-level Ice Statue Ghost and other spoils. 714
• Silver-level Ice Statue Ghosts — Twelve distinct combat constructs recovered from Jia Bing's laboratory. 714 736
• Incomplete Gold-level Ice Statue Ghost — Powerful but not yet completed; Zi Di considers it a potential solution to her limited direct combat strength. 714 952
• Soul Crystals — Used to strengthen her soul foundation and mental strength; supplies are scarce and cannot be consumed excessively. 544 674
• Pearl Foam and Deception Disguise Array — Used to conceal identities and impersonate Dragon Garment when necessary. 939

Relationships

• Dragonman Youth / Substitute Body — Her closest partner and beloved. Their bond grew from shared survival on Bewildering Monster Island into mutual trust, strategic partnership, and open affection. 198 236 955
• Zhen Jin — Her former fiancé through a strict magical marriage contract; their engagement began as an alliance between the Purple Vine Merchant Guild and the Hundred Needles Family. 13 180
• Cang Xu — Fellow Undead Mage and alchemical collaborator. They jointly researched the Bloodcore, planned the Bloodline Purification Array, and coordinate their secretive operations. 213 244 273
• Zong Ge — A powerful ally with whom she frequently disagrees over risk, loyalty, and strategy. Their long cooperation developed into mutual respect and concern. 696 736 871 955
• Fei She — Elder of the Purple Vine Merchant Guild and a loyal supporter who knew Zi Di from childhood. He remains devoted to her even after her death and transformation into an undead. 188 430 850
• Zi Di's father — Former guild master. His death and the guild's destruction drive Zi Di's determination to seek revenge; she later learns that he was proud of her. 187 430
• War Merchant — Her former clandestine partner. He offered protection and shared plans to control the Hundred Needles Family, but Zi Di recognized that cooperating with him was dangerous. 190

Story Role / Major Arcs

Purple Vine Merchant Guild Succession

After her father's death, Zi Di becomes the guild's new head and confronts elders seeking rescue from the failing organization. Her hardline loan terms establish her willingness to wield economic power rather than rely on inherited loyalty. 188

Bewildering Monster Island

Zi Di is shipwrecked with Zhen Jin's party on Bewildering Monster Island. She acts as medic, alchemist, adviser, and political partner while concealing her dealings with the War Merchant and navigating the conflict between Zhen Jin and his Substitute Body. 13 180 205

Death and Undead Rebirth

Zi Di dies from blood loss, becomes a Ghost, and later meditates her way into becoming an Undead Mage. Rather than abandoning the survivors, she uses her new existence to reclaim Central Tower authority and pursue their escape. 213 258

Bloodcore and Bloodline Purification

After the group's escape, Zi Di joins Cang Xu and the Dragonman Youth in investigating the Bloodcore. She helps establish that it absorbs life information, supports the construction of the Bloodline Purification Array, and uses the completed array to elevate her physical bloodline. 244 245 601 602

Dragon Lion Mercenary Group Expansion

Zi Di drives the group's commercial development through auctions, potion sales, material acquisition, and regional business networks. Her long-term plan links wealth, intelligence gathering, alchemical production, and military power. 352 654 673 913

Ice Sculpture Kingdom Operations

Operating under disguises, Zi Di supports Zong Ge, investigates hostile forces, recovers alchemical resources, and manages the mercenary group's position in the Ice Sculpture Royal Capital. She repeatedly uses alchemy and deception to preserve the group while its leadership is threatened. 714 838 939 952

Notable Quotes

“The Bloodcore must be preserved! Its value is the highest, and it can bring us a new destiny beyond imagination.” 219

“Life is like a gamble. Many high-level gambling tables can only be accessed and participated in with a rare opportunity.” 1001