Zhao Manyan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhao Manyan (赵满延)
Alias(es)	Old Zhao; “Turtle Shell Mage”; Number-One Turtle Shell Mage
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zhao Family; Pearl Academy; China National Academy Team 73 347
Occupation/Role	Mage; defensive specialist
Status	Active 485
First Appearance	Chapter 60

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
High Mage	378	Broke through after using three Star River Veins.
Earth Element awakened	407	His third element; completes a Light–Water–Earth defensive lineup. Lin Lan gives him an earth-element essence crystal to refine into a soul seed.
Super Rank	484	By this point, he has broken through to the Super Rank and earned the Thousand-Year Old Turtle’s recognition through his Totem-related journeys.

Background / History

Zhao Manyan first meets Mo Fan and Lin Lan at Pearl Academy’s Beast-Fighting Competition. A Light Element mage and Mo Fan’s dormmate, he quickly seeks friendship after learning of Mo Fan’s Ghost Wolf Beast, offering help if Mo Fan encounters trouble. Lin Lan encourages Mo Fan to accept the friendship, noting that Zhao may someday provide protection or help acquire resources 60.

He becomes a regular companion of Mo Fan and Lin Lan at Pearl Academy. Zhao helps during the Scale-Skin Demon Mother incident and is later formally included among those to be commended for the school’s safety 72. His Zhao Family background also gives the group access to appraisers, auctions, and other costly resources 73.

Before the World School Tournament, Zhao undergoes special training rather than relying solely on his family’s support to secure a place on the National Academy Team 298 347. He later becomes the team’s most reliable defensive mage, using layered Light, Water, and Earth magic to protect allies during overseas operations 409 412.

During the World School Tournament, Zhao survives an assassination attempt after Baxia intervenes to save him 454. He subsequently continues following the Totem path, eventually gaining the Thousand-Year Old Turtle’s recognition and reaching the Super Rank 484.

Appearance

Zhao Manyan is a handsome blond young man with a polished, pretty-boy appearance. He is notably conscious of his attractiveness and compares himself favorably to other handsome men 60.

• Blond hair and an eye-catching Light Element presence 409
• Rosy complexion under normal circumstances; his pallor during Miyata’s curse alarms the team 353
• Often presents himself with expensive equipment and conspicuous confidence, including a golden Wing Demon Tool 421

Personality

Zhao is flamboyant, vain, and highly flirtatious. He frequently pursues women even during dangerous missions, from changing girlfriends regularly at Pearl Academy to seducing Oni before discovering that she is tied to the Crimson Ornament Guild 73 421 422. His behavior regularly earns exasperation from Mo Fan, Lin Lan, and their teammates.

Beneath his playboy persona, Zhao is self-aware about the advantages granted by the Zhao Family and openly admits that family support contributed heavily to his achievements 347. He also struggles with envy when comparing his cultivation to Lin Lan and Mo Fan, particularly after witnessing their Space Element abilities and rapid breakthroughs 260 378.

He is nevertheless loyal and generous toward his friends. Zhao attempts to obtain an extra Star River Vein for Mo Fan, risks his family standing in the process, and is consistently willing to place himself between his companions and enemy attacks 378 412.

Abilities & Skills

Defensive Magic

Zhao specializes in layered protection, earning the “Turtle Shell Mage” nickname for his defensive Light, Water, and Earth elements 407.

• Can stack several defensive spells over himself and allies, including Light Blessing, Water Guard, and Light Scale Armor 409 412.
• His defenses can withstand High Mage spells; opponents consider attacking him directly a futile use of Intermediate Magic 424.
• Uses Light Falling Manjushaka unconventionally, shaping its falling light into a suit of Golden Holy Armor rather than an offensive barrage 422.
• Shields Lin Lan and Mo Fan during large-scale combat, allowing them to focus on destructive magic 412.

Light Element

Zhao is introduced as a Light Element mage and retains Light magic as a central part of his combat style 60.

• Uses Light Shine to cleanse Sea Monkey Monster debris and stench after protecting himself and Mo Fan with Water Guard 351.
• Produces a light sword capable of purifying large numbers of Magic Leeches and damaging Qiu Chi’s armored hide 478.
• His Light Element and blond hair make him a natural target when enemies need to be provoked or drawn away from the group 409.

Water and Earth Elements

Zhao’s Water and Earth elements reinforce his role as the party’s designated defender.

• Water Guard can envelop both Zhao and an ally without blind spots 351.
• Rock Barrier absorbs most of a High Mage wind attack during his clash with Oni 422.
• After awakening Earth as his third element, he receives an earth-element essence crystal from Lin Lan to support future soul-seed refinement 407.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Golden Wing Demon Tool — Mechanical golden wings used for high-speed flight and transporting passengers 421.
• Ancient Wooden Fish — A patterned item Zhao keeps on his person; its markings turn blue when handled after learning of Mo Fan’s progress 407.
• Defensive Magic Tools — Zhao carries extensive protective equipment in addition to his defensive spell repertoire 424.

Relationships

• Mo Fan — Dormmate, close friend, and frequent expedition partner. Zhao attempts to secure additional cultivation resources for Mo Fan and regularly relies on him in combat 60 378 351.
• Lin Lan — Friend and fellow Pearl Academy alumnus. Zhao admires Lin Lan’s strength, provides defensive support for him, and receives an earth-element essence crystal from him in repayment for the Star Sea Vein favor 95 407.
• Baxia — Saves Zhao from an assassination attempt following China’s World School Tournament victory 454.
• Oni — Zhao briefly seduces the pirate leader while unknowingly delaying her response to the Crimson Ornament Guild crisis; she attacks him once she learns the truth 421 422.
• Thousand-Year Old Turtle — Recognizes Zhao during his Totem-related travels, accompanying his later rise to the Super Rank 484.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Pearl Academy — Befriends Mo Fan and Lin Lan, participates in the Beast-Fighting Competition period, and assists in the Scale-Skin Demon Mother incident 60 72.
• Lightning Institute and training period — Watches Lin Lan’s Lightning Ranking battles, begins more serious training, and prepares to obtain a National Academy Team position 178 298.
• Vampire incident — Accompanies Mo Fan and Lin Lan at North Country Club, where his Light Element is intended to expose a suspected vampire 258 260.
• Japan expedition — Escapes Crimson Ling Demons with Mo Fan, then becomes the victim of Miyata’s soul-hooking curse after Mo Fan gives Zhao’s name to the ghost 351 353.
• National Academy Team — Serves as the team’s defensive anchor through foreign training missions and resource expeditions 347 409 412.
• Crimson Ornament Guild conflict — Becomes entangled with Oni before helping confront the pirate organization; his defenses withstand the guild’s High Mage attacks 421 424.
• World School Tournament — Takes part in China’s championship campaign, survives an assassination attempt, and continues onward with the group afterward 454.
• Totem journey — Pursues Totem-related opportunities, gains the Thousand-Year Old Turtle’s recognition, and reaches the Super Rank 484.

Trivia

• Zhao once lied to his father about needing three Star River Veins for his High Mage breakthrough in hopes of secretly obtaining a fourth for Mo Fan. The Zhao Family board discovered the scheme and considered removing him from the family registry for wasting resources 378.
• His father reportedly promised him half of the Zhao Family fortune if he awakened the Space Element, a prospect Zhao often regrets missing after seeing Lin Lan and Mo Fan use Spatial Magic 260.
• The “Turtle Shell Mage” title originated during his time with the National Academy Team 347.