Xiao Ziji

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Ziji (萧罪己)
Alias(es)	Pot-Carrier Hero; Shield-Carrier Hero
Gender	Male
Age	17 at the Qingyang County Sect Competition 62
Affiliation	Iron Bone Unyielding Sect; later Eternal Sect
Occupation/Role	Core disciple; frontline tank and defensive specialist; operator of the Forging Pavilion 194 963
Status	Alive; killed protecting Ye Xingchen, then resurrected through Lingyan Pavilion 1971 1975
First Appearance	Chapter 40

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Top-grade Spirit Root; Twelve Meridians opened	41	As a child, he was a once-in-a-millennium genius who opened all twelve meridians by age twelve.
Low-grade Spirit Root; cultivation lost	41	His Spirit Root and cultivation regressed five years before joining the sect; the Xiao Family expelled him.
Physical strength: 100 catties	60	Increased from roughly 20–30 catties to 100 after three days in the Muscle Sculpting Room.
Physical strength: 5,000 jin	100	Reached strength comparable to a Third-grade Martial Apprentice without Pulse Opening.
Fourth-stage Pulse Opening; Mortal-grade Spirit Root	107	Aptitude Modification Fluid detoxified him, upgraded his Spirit Root from Low-grade to Mortal-grade, and opened four meridians.
Fifth-stage Pulse Opening	118	Advanced while training in the wilderness with Ye Xingchen.
Ninth-stage Meridian Opening	143	His physical output neared 10,000 jin despite being below the Martial Apprentice realm.
Eleventh-stage Meridian Opening; High-grade Spirit Root	144	A further Spirit Root upgrade raised his cultivation to the eleventh stage.
Eighth-grade Martial Apprentice; Top-grade Spirit Root	197	Top-grade Aptitude Modification Fluid restored his Top-grade Spirit Root and raised him from Sixth-grade to Eighth-grade Martial Apprentice.
Fifth-grade Martial Master	277	Recorded among the sect’s leading disciples, with an 83,000-jin punch.
Sixth-grade Martial Master	376	Used a Strength Amplification Talisman and Mountain Splitting Palm to produce 200,000 jin of force against Wan Xiuxian.
Martial Grandmaster	467	Broke through after intensive Spiritual Energy refinement on the Trial Tower’s third floor.
Seventh-grade Martial Grandmaster	492	Advanced alongside the sect’s rapid cultivation growth.
Eighth-grade Martial Grandmaster	552	Continued body tempering, striking the Testing Machine with roughly 450,000 jin.
Martial King	652	Revealed King Rank cultivation during his three-year-pact duel with Murong Xin.
First-rank Martial Emperor	907	Advanced alongside several Eternal Sect core disciples.
Second-grade Martial Emperor	972	His cultivation during the Battlefield Phantom battle; his divine weapon’s Ultimate Skill greatly amplified his physical capabilities.
First-turn Core Transformation Realm	1411	Advanced after five months of training with the sect’s new high-grade cultivation facilities.
Heavenly Mystery Realm	1975	Reached the realm immediately upon resurrection through Lingyan Pavilion.

Background

Xiao Ziji was born a direct descendant of the Xiao Family in Liyang City and was once celebrated across Qingyang County as a genius with a Top-grade Spirit Root. He opened all twelve meridians at twelve years old, but his Spirit Root and cultivation later regressed. His fiancée, Murong Xin, annulled their engagement during his downfall, and the Xiao Family expelled him. Reduced to a beggar, he spent years carrying the stigma of being “trash” 41.

After seeing Jun Changxiao at the Hundred Sects Recruitment, Xiao Ziji sought entry into the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect. Believing his lack of cultivation would disqualify him, he unsuccessfully attempted to steal pills that could temporarily raise his realm; the Ai Family caught and badly beat him. Jun Changxiao’s intervention restored his resolve, and Xiao Ziji entered the sect determined to regain the dignity he had lost 40 41.

His initial inability to gather Spiritual Energy forced him onto a path of extreme physical training. He endured long sessions in the Muscle Sculpting Room, practiced the Yi Jin Jing during the punishment-like process, and became the sect’s foremost body-tempering disciple 60 61.

Appearance

Xiao Ziji has a heavily tempered, muscular physique that he often exposes in battle. His build and endurance are the visible result of prolonged body sculpting and physical training.

• Often fights bare-chested to avoid restricting his movements.
• Develops rock-like muscles during combat and defensive techniques 152.
• His Hero Hidden, Incarnation form gives him dark-gold skin, flowing dark-gold hair, dark-gold pupils, and the character “Hero” on his forehead 972.
• His Lingyan Pavilion transformation equips him with a mecha-like suit of armor and a high-penetration sniper rifle 1391.

Personality

Xiao Ziji was initially deeply self-deprecating, believing the loss of his cultivation had made him worthless. Jun Changxiao’s harsh encouragement rekindled his determination, replacing that despair with an intense need to become stronger and reclaim his dignity 41.

He is humble in daily life; shortly after joining, he accepted a manure-carrying sect mission without complaint. However, in training, he is relentless and willingly endures brutal body tempering for longer than most disciples can bear 42 60.

As he matures, his goal shifts beyond personal revenge. He becomes a steadfast protector of the Eternal Sect, viewing his role as taking attacks meant for his fellow disciples. His willingness to sacrifice himself for Ye Xingchen reflects both his loyalty and his belief that a tank’s responsibility is to shield others 194 1971.

Abilities & Skills

Extreme Physical Tempering

Xiao Ziji specializes in strengthening his body to an abnormal degree, allowing him to contest cultivators with higher realms through raw durability and force.

• Withstood the combined force of two Great Spirit Gathering Seals, totaling 300,000 jin, and forced them away barehanded 289.
• Took nine water pillars from Murong Xin’s Saint-grade water attribute without moving a single step 653.
• Can endure sustained attacks while acting as the party’s frontline tank against powerful Fierce Beasts and enemy cultivators 194 684.
• His defense can be overwhelmed by prolonged attacks carrying corrosive Devilish Qi 684.

Fire Element Control

Xiao Ziji is a Fire Element martial cultivator whose comprehension and control can overcome unfavorable elemental matchups.

• His fire attacks suppressed Murong Xin’s Water Element despite water naturally countering fire 652.
• Uses Fire Element power to reinforce offensive strikes and pressure opponents with intense heat.
• His fire techniques complement his close-range, high-impact fighting style.

Martial Techniques

Xiao Ziji combines physical power with straightforward, high-output martial skills.

• Yi Jin Jing — foundational cultivation method used during body tempering and Spiritual Energy cultivation 59 108.
• Explosive Fist — a close-range power technique used in sustained assaults 288.
• Mountain Splitting Palm — a palm technique capable of producing massive force; reached 200,000 jin with talisman enhancement 376.
• My Slash — Spirit Power-based attack that releases crescent-shaped energy strikes; can be fired repeatedly in quick succession 376.
• Crimson Firmament Blazing Slash — Divine-grade intermediate fire technique used to defeat Murong Xin and later in high-level duels 654 720.
• Spirit Armor and Seal Barrier — defensive techniques used to augment his already formidable durability 455 683.

Sniping and Heavy Weapons

Trained by Jun Changxiao, Xiao Ziji became an adaptable firearm user and battlefield marksman.

• Uses the Type 88 Sniper Rifle to ambush and eliminate assassins from concealment 128.
• Can use recoil for rapid repositioning after firing 128.
• Tested the divine-refined AWM Sniper Rifle, whose recoil initially injured him but whose blast destroyed a small peak 387 388.
• Operates artillery and other heavy weapons, including field cannons and a Divine Modification RPG Rocket Launcher 732 1543.
• His firearms require careful recoil management and are less useful against sufficiently powerful martial experts 130.

Great Wilderness Body

Xiao Ziji inherited the Great Wilderness Body from the Ten Directions Desperate Tower, further strengthening his defensive path.

• Enhances his physical defense through the materialization of Great Wilderness power within his Dantian 802 854.
• Allows him to create powerful Earth Element defenses, including walls that blocked a massive arrow barrage 1055.
• Supports his role as an immovable defensive anchor.

Lingyan Pavilion: “Shield” Transformation

As a resident of Lingyan Pavilion, Xiao Ziji bears the character “Shield.”

• His transformed state manifests a mecha-like armor suit and a sniper rifle with extreme penetration 1391.
• The form is built around defense, ranged support, and protecting his team during high-risk engagements.
• The transformation leaves him severely weakened after prolonged use 1391.

Equipment

• Cloud Boat Hidden Hero — originally an unusual pot-shaped exclusive Divine Weapon; its Ultimate Skill, Hero Hidden, Incarnation, transforms Xiao Ziji into a dark-gold defensive powerhouse 972.
• Modified Cloud Boat Hidden Hero — Fan Yezi reshaped the pot into a gold-trimmed shield with substantially improved defensive capabilities 1189.
• Spirit Desolation Shield — defensive shield awarded by Jun Changxiao before he received his exclusive divine weapon 938.
• Mysterious Iron Shield — used with Spirit Armor, Earth Element power, and a defensive barrier to form his strongest early defense 683.
• Type 88 Sniper Rifle — his primary early firearm and assassination weapon 128.
• AWM Sniper Rifle — powerful but punishing weapon with extreme recoil 387 388.
• True Sun Set — four-piece equipment set that enhances speed, defense, and strength when fully equipped 880.
• Cloud-Stepping Boots — increase running speed and movement-technique speed 427.

Relationships

• Jun Changxiao — Sect Master and mentor. Jun restored Xiao Ziji’s confidence, supplied the resources that restored his Spirit Root, and consistently protected him from the Xiao Family and other enemies 41 107 623.
• Ye Xingchen — fellow core disciple and close brother-in-arms. Xiao Ziji trained alongside him early on and later sacrificed himself to protect Ye Xingchen from the Demon Emperor’s forces 118 1971.
• Li Qingyang — senior fellow disciple and ally. Li Qingyang supported Xiao Ziji’s recruitment and frequently fights beside him in defensive formations 40 41 194.
• Murong Xin — former fiancée. Her annulment of their engagement during his fall became the source of his Three-Year Pact; Xiao Ziji defeated her, settled their grievance, and later saved her without seeking reconciliation 106 654 1778 1779.
• Xiao Family — former clan. The family expelled him after his regression and repeatedly targeted him; Xiao Ziji ultimately burned Qingya Residence to sever his ties with them 41 164.
• Su Xiaomo — senior fellow disciple who defended Xiao Ziji from public insults and later accompanied him during missions 65 1778.
• Li Luoqiu — ally in the campaign against the Xiao Family’s assassin network. They jointly eliminated Qingya Residence 161 164.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Fallen Genius and Sect Recruitment

Xiao Ziji arrives at the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect as an injured, broken former genius. Jun Changxiao pushes him to confront his self-loathing, leading him to kneel and request admission so he can restart his martial path 40 41.

Qingyang County Sect Competition

Unable to use Spiritual Energy at first, Xiao Ziji shocks the competition through body tempering alone. He defeats opponents far above his apparent level, overcomes Bei Jian and Xiao Linye, and wins the championship, humiliating the Xiao Family that had discarded him 69 72 76.

Recovery of Talent

Jun Changxiao’s Aptitude Modification Fluids reopen Xiao Ziji’s meridians, restore his ability to cultivate, and eventually return his Spirit Root to Top-grade. This marks the true return of the former once-in-a-millennium genius 107 197.

Three-Year Pact

After Murong Xin visits the sect, Xiao Ziji vows to visit the Hundred-Union Holy Sect within three years and reclaim his dignity. He fulfills the pact by defeating Murong Xin as a Martial King, then declares their grievances settled 106 652 654.

Eternal Sect Defensive Specialist

Xiao Ziji becomes the sect’s principal tank, protecting fellow disciples against Fierce Beasts, evil sect experts, battlefield phantoms, and large-scale military attacks. His defensive specialization earns him the “Shield” designation in Lingyan Pavilion 194 683 1391 1977.

Sacrifice and Resurrection

During the battle against the Demon Emperor’s army, Xiao Ziji sacrifices himself to save Ye Xingchen. The Eternal Sect mourns him, but Jun Changxiao activates Lingyan Pavilion’s resurrection function using the other stationed disciples’ accumulated Contribution Points. Xiao Ziji returns alive and immediately enters the Heavenly Mystery Realm 1971 1975.

Notable Quotes

“Sect Leader Jun, I want to join the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect. I want to become stronger, and I want to reclaim everything I have lost!” 41

“I will cultivate hard, not to prove I am better than others, but because the things I lost must be taken back with my own hands!” 107

“The grievances between us were settled long ago. You didn't wrong me, and I didn't wrong you.” 1779