Dao Ancestor Hongjun

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Dao Ancestor Hongjun (鸿钧道祖)
Alias(es)	Daoist Hongjun; Spokesperson of the Heavenly Dao; Master of the Saints
Species/Race	Earth Dragon in true form; he also describes himself as a consciousness originating outside the Great Dao domain 183 223
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Heavenly Dao; Zixiao Palace
Occupation/Role	Dao Ancestor; teacher of the Saints; guardian and spokesperson of the Primordial World's Heavenly Dao 86 143
First Appearance	Ch. 32

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Heavenly Dao Grand Unity Golden Immortal, Third Heaven	145	Identified as the only known cultivator in the Primordial World to have entered the Heavenly Dao Realm at this point.
Heavenly Dao Grand Unity Golden Immortal, Seventh Heaven	184	Tongtian judges that Hongjun has reached the seventh heaven after his cultivation rises beyond its former level.
Peak True Self Saint Venerable	475	Described as having reached the highest realm then attainable in the Primordial World; the relation of this later power system to his former Heavenly Dao realm is not stated.

Background & History

Hongjun is associated with the earliest age of the Primordial World. A common account holds that he condensed from the first wisp of innate primordial energy in Chaos, found the Jade Disk of Creation, comprehended the Three Thousand Great Daos, and later merged with the Heavenly Dao to mend a flaw left after the world's creation. This merger made him the Heavenly Dao's spokesperson, but also exposed his will to assimilation by the Heavenly Dao itself. 32 150 151

He taught at Zixiao Palace and bestowed six strands of Primordial Violet Qi, from which the six innate Saints arose. Later accounts identify Hongyun as Tongtian's junior brother and describe him as an additional direct disciple from that era. 86 402 403

Hongjun's stated origin conflicts with his later private revelation to Haotian: he claims to be a consciousness from outside the Great Dao domain, one the Great Dao sought to destroy before it could take form. His Dharma body's destruction subsequently exposes an enormous, blood-red-scaled Earth Dragon as his true form. 183 223

Appearance

Hongjun commonly appears as a majestic, robust Daoist with a saintly body and an imposing presence. In later appearances, Tongtian notices signs of his age and decline. 32 304

• His true form is a colossal Earth Dragon. 183
• The dragon's body is covered in sharp, blood-red scales. 183
• His divine manifestations are accompanied by radiant clouds, multicolored phenomena, and overwhelming pressure. 185

Personality

Hongjun is usually composed, restrained, and distant. He frames his decisions around the stability of the Heavenly Dao and the completion of major tribulations rather than the personal grievances of his disciples. He refuses to openly intervene where Heavenly Dao rules prevent it, instead strengthening allies or providing treasures indirectly. 90 101 143

This detachment extends to ordinary cultivators and even his disciples' followers. During the Investiture of the Gods conflict, he treats the lives needed to fill the divine positions as expendable; his indiscriminate attacks kill large numbers of Three Religions disciples. 90 183

His conduct also reveals a calculating and ruthless side. He deploys world-threatening techniques against Tongtian, distributes Saint Fruits on a massive scale despite the resulting resource crisis, and erases the memories of the Primordial World's inhabitants after the Saint Fruit incident. 159 185 193

Despite this, Hongjun can show personal warmth toward Tongtian. He receives him respectfully at Zixiao Palace, gives gifts to Tongtian's disciple Su Ji, provides a Creation Green Lotus seed upon request, and later shares wine with Tongtian while admitting his own decline. 291 303 304

Abilities & Skills

Heavenly Dao Integration

Hongjun has harmonized with the Heavenly Dao and acts as its spokesperson.

• His cultivation and partial command of Heavenly Dao power place him far above ordinary Saints. 32
• He cannot fully control the Heavenly Dao, whose will continually attempts to assimilate him. 32
• He can invoke the Eye of Heavenly Punishment with a declaration. 182
• He can unleash Heavenly Dao Tribulation against opponents. 160

Great Dao Power and Dao's Suppression

Hongjun can wield power beyond the Heavenly Dao.

• Dao's Suppression indiscriminately annihilates targets within the Primordial World, regardless of allegiance. 159
• Origin Power of the Great Dao is presented as a higher-order force than Heavenly Dao Origin Power. 158
• He uses Great Dao power to shatter the defenses of the Myriad Immortals Great Formation. 183

Creation, Sealing, and Confinement

Hongjun employs high-level creation arts and restraints.

• He uses the Supreme Art of Creation to imprison Sun Wukong/Tongtian's Saint Body and Primordial Spirit beneath Five Finger Mountain. 475 495
• When Tongtian begins loosening this confinement, Hongjun reinforces it with a different and more profound power system. 495
• He is capable of reviving and elevating Haotian, who returns as a Dao Lord after having been destroyed. 223

Memory Manipulation

Hongjun can alter memories on a planetary scale.

• A cold light cast by Hongjun spreads through the entire Primordial World and erases the memories of those affected by the Saint Fruit incident. 185
• Hongyun later reveals that Hongjun had also altered Tongtian's memories, concealing events from the period before the Zixiao Palace sermon. 551

Deduction

As one with the Heavenly Dao, Hongjun can perceive shifts in tribulations and identify destined figures.

• He notices that Jiang Ziya's discipleship under Tongtian has thrown the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation off its expected course. 93
• Even with Heavenly Dao power, he cannot deduce the cause or outcome once heavenly secrets become chaotic. 93
• He recognizes Jiang Ziya as the tribulation's destined person and suspects Tongtian knowingly recruited him to control the tribulation. 99

Equipment / Treasures

• Jade Disk of Creation — Said to have enabled Hongjun's comprehension of the Three Thousand Great Daos. 151
• Dao Annihilation Banner — A curse banner that can annihilate targets under the Heavenly Dao; it requires the combined power of four Saints to activate. Hongjun gives it to Taishang, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti. 143
• Investiture of the Gods and God-Beating Whip — Entrusted to Tongtian for Jiang Ziya, the destined person of the tribulation. 100
• Gourd of Creation — A creation-condensed gourd given to Su Ji for her own study. 291
• Creation Green Lotus Seed — Given to Tongtian when he seeks it for a plan involving the White Emperor. 303
• Spiritual Elixir and ladder — Offered to Tongtian as compensation after their standoff; the elixir restores the injured and revives the dead when placed in water. 160

Relationships

• Tongtian — Direct disciple, once Hongjun's most favored pupil. Their relationship deteriorates into a prolonged rivalry over the Intercepting Sect, the Investiture of the Gods, and control of the Primordial World; despite this, they retain moments of courtesy and mutual recognition. 90 158 303 495
• Taishang and Yuanshi — Direct disciples who repeatedly seek Hongjun's intervention against Tongtian. Hongjun repairs their foundations, strengthens them with treasures, and gives their alliance the Dao Annihilation Banner. 86 91 143
• Jieyin and Zhunti — Direct disciples and members of the anti-Tongtian alliance whom Hongjun indirectly supports during the Investiture of the Gods conflict. 143
• Houtu — Opponent in the conflict between the Heavenly Dao and Earthly Dao. Hongjun fails to stop her advancement and ultimately retreats when neither side can overpower the other. 32 34 35
• Haotian — Attendant and disciple whom Hongjun revives and elevates. Hongjun reveals that Haotian is Father Pangu and that Pangu's recovered head contains his past memories and primal power. 223
• Hongyun Old Ancestor — A former direct disciple according to later accounts. Hongyun claims Hongjun sealed and imprisoned him after a misunderstanding concerning sainthood. 403 551
• Su Ji — Tongtian's disciple, who addresses Hongjun as Ancestral Master; Hongjun presents her with the Gourd of Creation. 291
• Black-Clad True Man — A former disciple whose master-disciple bond with Hongjun is formally ended when Hongjun rejects the Black Tower's invitation. 292

Story Role / Major Arcs

1. Heavenly Dao–Earthly Dao conflict — Hongjun confronts Houtu in the Underworld, rescues Yuanshi from Houtu's retaliation, and is forced to acknowledge that the Heavenly Dao can no longer suppress the liberated Earthly Dao. 32 33 35

2. Investiture of the Gods mediation — He attempts to stop Tongtian from killing Yuanshi and Taishang, then manages the tribulation through indirect support, treasures, and directives rather than direct intervention. 86 90 100

3. War against Tongtian — Hongjun escalates from mediation to direct combat, deploying Dao's Suppression, Great Dao Origin Power, Heavenly Dao Tribulation, and later the Light of Heavenly Punishment. Tongtian repeatedly withstands or counters these methods. 158 159 160 183

4. Saint Fruit scheme — After Hongjun's blood becomes Saint Fruits, he allows their distribution to create large numbers of powerful cultivators, then wipes the world's memories of the event. Tongtian concludes that this risks exhausting the Primordial World's spiritual resources. 184 185 193

5. Later Zixiao Palace period — Hongjun distances himself from the Black Tower, attributes involvement in the Heaven-Stealing Plan to an incarnation, and assists Tongtian with the Creation Green Lotus seed. 292 303

6. Five Finger Mountain suppression — Hongjun overpowers Tongtian while he is acting as Great Sage Sun and begins his tribulation beneath Five Finger Mountain. He later reinforces the confinement after discovering Tongtian has partially broken free. 475 495

7. Infinite Primordial Alliance crisis — Hongjun calls an emergency alliance meeting over a claimed Foreign Realm threat, only for Saint Tianhai to reveal that the invasion was already resolved and redirect attention to the Spiritual Qi crisis. 626

Notable Quotes

“My existence seems to be incompatible with the Great Dao of this Great Dao domain.” 223

“The Investiture of the Gods ... evolved from the Heavenly Dao!” 159