Old Man Zhao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Old Man Zhao (赵老头)
Alias(es)	Great Wheel Bright Venerable; Venerable Ming
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Wheel Ming Palace
Occupation/Role	Lu Ming's mentor-like protector; senior cultivator of the Great Wheel Ming Palace
Status	Alive; remains behind to guard the Nine Provinces World 595
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Background

Old Man Zhao initially lived beside Lu Ming's rented courtyard in Shuofeng City, presenting himself as an elderly former scribe of the City Lord's Mansion. He possessed a substantial private study and offered to teach the illiterate Lu Ming to read and write, later allowing him access to his books 6 8.

Despite his leisurely habit of sunbathing in his courtyard, Zhao was a hidden martial expert. He helped Lu Ming carry water, observed his Baji Quan practice, and recognized his cultivation progress with unusual precision 7 9. He advised Lu Ming on choosing a sect and explained the relative standing of the Nine Heavens Sect, Jade Luo Sect, and Wuji Sect 22.

Zhao taught Lu Ming the Human-grade Mid-tier Soaring Dragon Palm in repayment for a meal. The technique's three killing moves can release layered Hidden Strength after making contact 18. He later treated Lu Ming's internal injuries after his battle with Li Chonghu 20.

After Lu Ming began developing Saber Intent, Zhao departed Shuofeng City, stating that it was time for him to return. From afar, he continued watching Lu Ming's development and recognized the difficulty of Lu Ming's simultaneous saber-and-sword path 21 164.

Appearance

Old Man Zhao is an elderly man with white hair and a white beard. In Shuofeng City, he commonly rested on a lounge chair in the sun and maintained a lazy, unhurried demeanor 6 9.

• Dresses simply despite his overwhelming status 168.
• Carries himself with a vigorous, divine presence when he reveals his power 168.
• His true form can appear directly in person, while his Martial Dao Primordial Spirit can manifest independently 230 315.

Personality

Zhao is relaxed, teasing, and informal with Lu Ming. He frequently calls him “brat” or “kid,” discourages excessive formality, and treats his aid as natural rather than something Lu Ming must repay 18 168.

He is perceptive and patient as a mentor. Rather than forcing Lu Ming to abandon his difficult dual saber-and-sword path, Zhao believes a genuine powerhouse must forge his own road 164. He takes clear pride in Lu Ming's talent, though he often disguises it with casual understatement 308 551.

Beneath his easygoing manner, Zhao is fiercely protective. He responds decisively when stronger cultivators threaten Lu Ming through status or force, warning them that ordinary duels are acceptable but bullying will bring his personal intervention 230.

Abilities & Skills

Venerable-tier Cultivation

Zhao is a Venerable-tier Heavenly Human expert, a level far beyond ordinary Sea Transformation Realm cultivators. His presence alone compelled the Zhu family to withdraw from confrontation 168.

• Can collapse space through his arrival and travel by tearing through it 168.
• Was recognized by the Myriad Sword Palace's Grand Elder as “Senior Mingzun” 230.
• Later possessed strength described as peak False Supreme, though he could not resist Lu Ming after Lu Ming entered the Supreme Realm 592.

Martial Dao Primordial Spirit

Zhao can separate a Martial Dao Primordial Spirit from his true body and place it within a jade slip for Lu Ming's protection 168.

• The Primordial Spirit's power is approximately equivalent to the Lower Heavenly Human Realm 168.
• Its activation alerts Zhao, allowing his true body to tear through space and arrive 168.
• The projection independently confronted and killed the Eight Gates Iron Fan, a Mid Sea Transformation Realm expert, with one finger 230.
• It later manifested as a Nascent Soul Body to protect Lu Ming on the Phoenix Continent 308.

Power of Light

Zhao wields the Power of Light, a purifying force capable of suppressing and disintegrating dark or death-aligned power 308.

• His golden light illuminated vast distances and penetrated clouds and space 308.
• The light purified the Geek Tower Master's Death Profound Meaning until the latter disintegrated 308.
• He employed the Aurora Realm against Blood Sun Evil Venerable and another attacking force during the war against the Evil Race 566.

Instruction and Insight

Zhao is an experienced teacher with broad knowledge of martial arts, cultivation realms, sects, and high-level inheritances 8 13 22.

• Taught Lu Ming literacy and supplied him with access to his book collection 8.
• Taught Soaring Dragon Palm, including its circulation routes and Hidden Strength principle 18.
• Identified the significance of Lu Ming's inheritances, including the Xuan Kong Sword Technique and Kunpeng Swallows Stars Technique 315 316.
• Explained that the Nine Provinces World's historical ceiling was the Supreme Realm, divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper levels 467.

Equipment / Items

• Martial Dao Primordial Spirit jade slip — Given to Lu Ming as a life-saving measure; contains Zhao's projected spirit 168.
• Personal library — A large study in his Shuofeng City residence, used to teach Lu Ming literacy and expand his knowledge 8.

Relationships

• Lu Ming — Mentor-like protector and self-described ancestor. Zhao taught him literacy and martial arts, watched over his growth, repeatedly protected him from overwhelming foes, and openly takes pride in his achievements 8 18 168 308 315.
• Nie Yunyou — Disciple and Lu Ming's senior sister at the Great Wheel Ming Palace. She addresses Zhao as her master and assists in palace affairs 423 511.
• Qianyuan Sage Venerable — Old acquaintance and fellow powerhouse. They joined forces to investigate the backing behind the Geek Tower Master and later fought alongside one another against the Evil Race 308 578.
• Zhu Ningyun — Lu Ming's partner. Zhao assessed her aptitude during his intervention at the Wuji Sect and encouraged her cultivation 168.
• Myriad Sword Palace Grand Elder — A cultivator who recognized Zhao's identity and received a warning after the Eight Gates Iron Fan targeted Lu Ming 230.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Shuofeng City Mentor

Zhao meets Lu Ming after he rents a neighboring courtyard. He quietly assists the impoverished newcomer, teaches him literacy, introduces him to cultivation-world knowledge, and gives him the foundational support needed to enter the Wuji Sect 6 8 22.

Hidden Protector

After leaving Shuofeng City, Zhao continues monitoring Lu Ming from afar. He observes Lu Ming's success in the Heavenly Pride Ranking, recognizes his dual Destruction Sword Intent and saber path, and waits until the appropriate time to reveal himself 164.

Great Wheel Bright Venerable Reveal

Zhao openly appears when the Zhu family attempts to pressure Lu Ming over Zhu Ningyun. His Venerable-tier strength ends the confrontation immediately, and he gives Lu Ming a jade slip containing a Martial Dao Primordial Spirit for future emergencies 168.

Intervention Beyond the Nine Provinces

Zhao's Primordial Spirit manifests at Stone Grinding Cliff to kill the Eight Gates Iron Fan and deter the Myriad Sword Palace from exploiting Lu Ming's enemies 230. He later manifests again on the Phoenix Continent, purifies the Geek Tower Master with the Power of Light, and works with Qianyuan Sage Venerable to investigate the threat behind him 308.

Great Wheel Ming Palace

Lu Ming eventually joins Zhao at the Great Wheel Ming Palace, where Zhao's existing disciples recognize Lu Ming as their junior brother. Zhao continues evaluating Lu Ming's progress and provides a place for him to cultivate after his removal from the Martial God Space 467 471.

Defense of the Nine Provinces World

During the Evil Race war, Zhao fights at the front lines against multiple Evil Venerables, using a life-burning secret technique to keep fighting despite accumulating severe injuries 566 587. After the war, he declines Lu Ming's invitation to leave the world, choosing instead to remain and guard the Nine Provinces World 595.

Trivia

• Zhao initially claimed that he could only remember having served as a City Lord's Mansion scribe for roughly the previous decade 8.
• He first taught Lu Ming because he found him likable and was bored, not because Lu Ming formally became his disciple 8.
• Zhao considers Lu Ming's growth rate extraordinary even by Heavenly Human standards 164 315.