Zhu Zhuqing

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhu Zhuqing (朱竹清)
Alias(es)	Spirit Cat; Xiao Lingmao
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Yunlai Tavern; Years Manor; Heaven Dou Royal Academy; Imperial Dou Team One; formerly Shrek Academy
Occupation/Role	Soul Master; Xiao Yun's disciple and maid; Imperial Dou Team One member
Status	Active
First Appearance	2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Martial Soul evolution: Hell Spirit Cat → Night King Cat	39	Her Martial Soul evolves after receiving pure energy. Xiao Yun seals its outward appearance so it can continue to resemble the Hell Spirit Cat except in a true crisis.
Soul Grand Master	100	Identified as a Soul Grand Master while fleeing Heaven Dou City.
Rank 30	183	After a later Martial Soul evolution, her Soul Power is reset to level 30 alongside Dugu Yan.
Rank 36	190	A Body-Fortifying Pill raises her Soul Power from level 30 through six ranks.
Rank 43	199	Reaches level 43 after absorbing a Soul Bone and gaining Shadow Control.
Four-ring Soul Ancestor	227	Aunt Lin identifies her as a four-ring Soul Ancestor at age fourteen.
Rank 50	340	Reaches the peak of the Soul Ancestor realm and requires a suitable fifth Soul Ring to advance.
Five-ring Soul King	443 448 595	Obtains her fifth Soul Ring and is stated to have reached level 52; she subsequently reveals five Soul Rings, including two Ten Thousand Year rings, while an academy match describes her as level 51.
Rank 65 / Six-ring Soul Emperor	903	After continued cultivation at Years Manor, she reaches level 65 and becomes a Soul Emperor. She has also completed the opening of her Twelve Main Meridians and circulation of the Lesser Heavenly Cycle.

Background / History

Zhu Zhuqing was born into the Star Luo Empire's Zhu Family, where the family’s daughters were tied to the Dai royal family through political marriages and the imperial succession struggle. She was engaged to Dai Mubai, but the arrangement offered her little agency and left her vulnerable to the brutal consequences of failure. At twelve, she fled the Star Luo capital alone, evaded pursuers, and traveled to Suotuo City. 159 554 868

She initially attended Shrek Academy, though her bond with Dai Mubai was not yet deep. Her desire to gain enough strength to control her own future made her a target for recruitment away from Shrek. 16 After Dai Mubai's identity was exposed and their circumstances changed, she was expelled from Shrek Academy and left without a place to go. 135

After her Hell Spirit Cat evolved, she requested that Xiao Yun become her master. He refused the formal title at first, instead asking her to help watch over Yunlai Tavern; she also chose to keep the evolution secret. 39 During the later chaos in Heaven Dou City, Dai Mubai's side used her as bait to escape Dugu Bo. Wounded, hunted as a supposed Star Luo spy, and cornered by city guards, she was rescued by Xiao Yun in disguise. He directed her to Yunlai Tavern, offering a path to strength and freedom if she could reach it herself. 101 102

Zhu Zhuqing escaped Heaven Dou City using Shadow Stealth and rejected Dai Mubai's invitation to flee with him. At Yunlai Tavern, she signed a contract to work for Xiao Yun; after unsuccessfully attacking him with her Soul Skills, she accepted his protection and instruction. 129 135 136

Under Xiao Yun, she began meridian cultivation and trained in the Spirit Cat Six Arts. This training transformed her from a fugitive dependent on raw speed into a highly technical stealth and assassination specialist. 137 138 153 162

She later entered Heaven Dou Royal Academy as a substitute under the registered Martial Soul name Night Dragon Cat, eventually joining Imperial Dou Team One. 238 595 After her public victory over Dai Mubai, the Heaven Dou Empire revoked its wanted notices and arrest orders against her, allowing her to reclaim the name Zhu Zhuqing openly. 448 472

During her fourth-ring hunt, Zhu Zhuqing awakened the dragon bloodline within her evolved Martial Soul by absorbing a Shadow Dragon Lizard Soul Ring. She subsequently accepted a compatible Head Soul Bone from Xiao Yun in exchange for extending her service to him by another ten years. 198 199

Appearance

Zhu Zhuqing is a young woman with long black hair, sharp cat-like eyes, and a notably mature figure for her age. Her usual combat attire is a fitted black outfit designed for mobility; while hiding her identity, she commonly wears a veil and a black-and-white cat-girl maid uniform. 2 135 155

• Dark hair, sometimes tied in a high ponytail for combat. 135 155
• Cool, keen, cat-like eyes; after awakening her dragon bloodline, her pupils become dark-golden vertical slits. 135 198
• Can manifest phantom cat ears and a Soul Power tail during combat. 135
• Her evolved Martial Soul manifests as an obsidian-black feline with purple netherflame-clad claws and a tail that can divide into nine shadow-like whips. 39
• Wears a maid outfit with a concealment effect that causes others to subconsciously regard her as an ordinary maid. 158
• At formal events, wears an elegant black evening dress and a White Jade Spirit Cat hairpin. 872

Personality

Initially cold, guarded, and intensely self-reliant, Zhu Zhuqing learned early not to expect rescue from her family, Dai Mubai, or the Star Luo system. Her pursuit of power is rooted in a desire to choose her own life rather than serve as a political pawn. 102 554

She is disciplined, practical, and unusually willing to endure hardship. Although born into nobility, she adapts to tavern work, cooking, cleaning, disguises, and life as a fugitive without complaint. 135 155 159

Zhu Zhuqing is highly focused in cultivation and does not allow herself to become distracted by an excessive number of techniques. She prefers to master the Spirit Cat Six Arts thoroughly rather than collect additional Martial Skills. 365

As her trust in Xiao Yun grows, her reserved demeanor softens. She becomes more openly cheerful during successful training, readily assists him in daily life, and increasingly considers Years Manor and Bai Lu Courtyard her true home rather than the Zhu Family castle. 153 238 539 863 870

Following her return to Star Luo territory, seeing the Zhu Family's circumstances and Dai Xiaozhao's rapid progress gives her a renewed sense of urgency. She becomes the first among her companions to volunteer for prolonged cultivation in Pagoda Space. 880

Abilities & Skills

Meridian Cultivation

Xiao Yun personally guides Zhu Zhuqing through her first inner vision and teaches her a cultivation system based on the dantian, Twelve Main Meridians, and Eight Extraordinary Meridians. 138

• Dark Spirit Cat Art — Her core cultivation method, tailored to her physique and Martial Soul. It greatly improves her Soul Power absorption and provides substantial body-strengthening effects. 138 139
• Her cultivation later reaches the stage of opening all Twelve Main Meridians and circulating the Lesser Heavenly Cycle. 903
• Her meridian cultivation allows her to support the Spirit Cat Six Arts with refined Soul Power control rather than relying solely on Martial Soul Possession. 138 870

Night Dragon Cat Martial Soul

Her original Hell Spirit Cat evolves through multiple awakenings into the Night Dragon Cat, also described at earlier points as the Night King Cat and Night Dragon Cat Emperor. It is a shadow- and dragon-attributed agility-type Martial Soul specializing in stealth, speed, perception, and assassination. 39 195 595 812

• Its evolution is initially sealed to preserve the appearance of the Hell Spirit Cat. 39
• Its dragon bloodline is awakened through absorption of a Shadow Lizard Soul Ring. 198
• Enhances her speed, agility, darkness affinity, stealth, and lethal close-range attacks. 595 812
• Grants strong shadow perception; she describes shadows as if they are “calling” to her. 198
• During Martial Soul Possession, fine black dragon scales emerge over her body, further reinforcing her speed, resilience, and close-quarters power. 448

Shadow Transformation / Shadow Stealth

Zhu Zhuqing can merge with shadows through her Martial Soul to conceal herself and scout dangerous terrain. 129 167

• Escaped Heaven Dou City without being captured by the Royal Guard. 129
• Scouted a one-kilometer area of Sunset Forest while blended into its shadows. 167
• Best suited to darkness, reconnaissance, infiltration, and surprise attacks. 153 812

Spirit Cat Six Arts

Xiao Yun teaches her the Spirit Cat Six Arts through meridian cultivation. The system improves her control, perception, movement, and unarmed combat beyond conventional Soul Skills. 138 162

• Spirit Cat Steps / Spirit Cat Movement Technique — Her first level, Silent Landing, enables soundless landings and extremely quiet movement. 153
• The movement technique has four stages: Silent Landing, Grass-Flying Skill, Water-Flying, and Air-Stepping Flight. 138
• Phantom Movement Technique — Creates sustained afterimages; its first layer leaves an afterimage for several breaths and can ultimately produce up to seven phantoms. 138 162
• Nether Claw Technique — Focuses Soul Power into claw-shaped strikes that disable joints and vital points. Its four levels progressively increase striking speed and reinforce the hands. 138 162 870
• Wind Chasing Leg Technique — Complements her footwork with sweeping, side, spinning, and specialized kicks. 138 162 870
• Tread Snow Without Trace — The third level of her movement technique; lets her cross snow while leaving almost no footprints. 553
• She favors mastering these arts deeply rather than collecting additional martial skills. 365

Night Spirit Eyes

A cultivation technique, also rendered as Dark Spirit Eyes, that develops specialized vision. 138 156 474

• Its five stages grant night vision, thermal vision, Dynamic Vision, soul vision, and spirit vision. 138
• Its third layer, Dynamic Vision, allows her to simulate, capture, and analyze extremely fast trajectories. 474
• Complements the Night Dragon Cat’s speed and reaction ability. 474

Shadow Dragon Clone

Her Fourth Soul Skill, obtained from a Shadow Lizard Soul Ring, creates tangible shadow clones. 198

• Initially produces four clones/afterimages in combat. 198 611
• Each clone can permanently inherit 80% of her strength. 198
• The number of clones can increase as her level rises. 198
• Initially, the clones can remain active for approximately ten minutes. 198
• Used to confuse enemies, multiply attack angles, and safely test dangerous targets. 198 227 870
• Clones can be destroyed by powerful area effects, as seen against the Martial Soul Fusion Skill Bewitching. 611

Shadow Domination / Shadow Control

A Head Soul Bone supplements Shadow Dragon Clone with a passive ability called Shadow Control or Shadow Domination. 198 199

• Greatly improves control over shadows and extends the effective duration of Shadow Dragon Clone. 198 199
• Requires careful mental control; improperly handled Shadow Power can be dangerous even in simple forms. 206
• Xiao Yun teaches her that sufficiently controlled Shadow Power can form weapons, armor, and other constructs. 206
• Xiao Yun also provides her with the Primordial Spirit Purple Lotus visualization method, intended to protect her against mental attacks and permit the safe creation of additional clones. 215

Soul Skills

• Hell Stab / Night Shadow Strike — First Spirit Skill; used as a rapid offensive strike. 447 611
• Claw Shadows — Second Spirit Skill; releases numerous claw-shaped attacks over a wide area. 135
• Hell White Claw — Second Spirit Skill name used during the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament. 609
• Shadow Dragon Clone / Dark Night Clone — Fourth Soul Skill; creates clones and can mark opponents with black dragon patterns. 198 449
• Dragon Mark Blast — Detonates accumulated black dragon marks on a target; severely injured Dai Mubai. 449
• Dark Night Dragon Stripe Strike — Fifth Soul Skill; launches or applies hidden black dragon-pattern marks that can trigger a chain-corroding effect. Its repeated precision use places major strain on her Soul Power and Spiritual Power. 443 613 614

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Head Soul Bone — Grants Shadow Domination/Shadow Control and reinforces her clone-based abilities. 198 199
• Immortal Spiritual Power protection mark — A faint silver-white mark over her heart left by Xiao Yun to protect her. 275
• Black-and-white cat-girl maid outfit — Conceals her identity by making observers assume she is merely a maid. 155 158
• Mask and veil — Used while she remains a fugitive and conceals her identity. 155 162
• Flower of the Dark Night — A black jade crescent-moon necklace that enhances a dark-attributed Soul Master's nighttime perception and conceals her aura. 548
• Short sword — Used for close-range assassination and rooftop combat. 796 863
• Shadow Soul Power ore — Intended to be forged into one long dagger and one short dagger with shadow attributes. 812

Relationships

• Xiao Yun — Rescuer, protector, teacher, and employer. He guides her meridian cultivation, shields her from pursuit, supports her choices against the Zhu and Dai families, and becomes the person she trusts most. 102 136 138 868
• Dai Mubai — Former fiancé. She rejects his attempts to reclaim her and decisively defeats him in public, finally severing her attachment to their past. 129 447 449
• Zhu Debiao — Father and head of the Zhu Family. Their reunion is tense, but he ultimately accepts her decision to remain with Xiao Yun and acknowledges her growth. 868 870 872
• Zhu Zhuyun — Elder sister. Zhu Zhuqing remembers her as caring in childhood, but their relationship became strained under the Star Luo succession system. Their reunion remains formal and emotionally distant. 554 864 869
• Zhu Zhuyan — A hostile cousin from the Zhu Family's second branch. Zhu Zhuyan attempts to attack Xiao Yun and frame Zhu Zhuqing as an intruder, but Zhu Zhuqing defeats her and twelve guards without using her Martial Soul. 869 870
• Dugu Yan — Companion and fellow beneficiary of Martial Soul evolution. They train, travel, and fight together, later bonding over their shared dragon bloodline. 172 196 611
• Ning Rongrong — Former Shrek classmate and confidante who agrees to keep Zhu Zhuqing’s first Martial Soul evolution secret. 39
• Xiao Wu — Former Shrek classmate who is also entrusted with keeping the Martial Soul evolution secret. 39
• Aunt Lin — Protected Zhu Zhuqing while she was controlled by an Evil Spirit Master; Zhu Zhuqing later apologizes and thanks her. 225 227
• Liu Erlong — Supportive confidante who listens to Zhu Zhuqing’s history and encourages her growth. 553 554

Story Role / Major Arcs

Escape from Heaven Dou City

After being abandoned as bait during Dai Mubai's escape, Zhu Zhuqing is wounded, hunted by Heaven Dou guards, and rescued by Xiao Yun. She escapes the city alone and resolves to seek strength outside her family’s control. 101 102 129

Yunlai Tavern and Meridian Training

Zhu Zhuqing reaches Yunlai Tavern, signs on under Xiao Yun, and begins learning meridian cultivation and the Spirit Cat Six Arts. Her initial defiance evolves into loyalty and a teacher-student bond. 135 138

Sunset Forest Evolution

She accompanies Xiao Yun, Dugu Bo, and Dugu Yan into Sunset Forest. After gaining dragon attributes and advancing through pills and cultivation, she absorbs a Shadow Lizard Soul Ring, awakens her Night Dragon Cat bloodline, obtains Shadow Dragon Clone, and later gains a Head Soul Bone. 172 183 190 196 199

Evil Spirit Master Incident

Zhu Zhuqing falls under an external influence and attacks Aunt Lin in a savage, irrational state. After Xiao Yun intervenes, she recovers and later uses a Shadow Clone to safely investigate the Evil Spirit Master's corpse, learning the importance of caution against their hidden methods. 225 227

Breaking with Dai Mubai

Disguised as Xiao Lingmao, Zhu Zhuqing confronts Dai Mubai when he provokes Imperial Dou Team One. She reveals her five-ring strength, overwhelms him using Phantom Movement, and defeats him with Dragon Mark Blast, freeing herself from her former engagement and fears. 447 449

Restoration of Her Identity

Zhu Zhuqing's tournament performance reveals her identity and extraordinary growth to the Heaven Dou Empire. In recognition of her value to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Emperor Xue Ye revokes the wanted orders against her, allowing her to resume living openly as Zhu Zhuqing. 448 472

Imperial Dou Team One

Zhu Zhuqing competes as a Soul King of Imperial Dou Team One. Her Night Dragon Cat’s public appearance shocks both Heaven Dou and Star Luo observers, while her combat skills become pivotal in tournament battles. 595 610 614 621

Return to the Zhu Family

Years after fleeing, Zhu Zhuqing returns to Spirit Cat Castle with Xiao Yun. Before reaching Star Luo City, she and Xiao Yun survive an ambush by Zhu Family branch death warriors sent to capture or kill her. 863 Though anxious before facing her family, she defeats Zhu Zhuyan and twelve guards without summoning her Martial Soul. Her father accepts her growth, but Zhu Zhuqing concludes that the castle is no longer her home. 864 868 870

Zhu Debiao's recognition of the Martial Skills behind her growth leads him to negotiate with Xiao Yun for their cultivation methods, offering rare spiritual herbs in exchange. 873

Trivia

• Zhu Zhuqing addresses Xiao Yun as “Brother Xiao,” “Young Master,” “Shopkeeper,” and later “Teacher Xiao” at different points in their relationship. 153 167 227 870
• Her maid disguise is effective enough that Heaven Dou Soul Masters fail to recognize her as a wanted fugitive. 158
• She learned simple cooking while traveling alone after leaving the Star Luo Empire and later uses Shadow Clones to help prepare meals. 159 238
• She is the first to volunteer for extended cultivation in Pagoda Space during the journey through Star Luo territory. 880
• Her home is Years Manor and Bai Lu Courtyard rather than the Zhu Family's Spirit Cat Castle. 863 870