Dao Ancestor Hongjun

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Dao Ancestor Hongjun (鸿钧道祖)
Alias(es)	Ancestor Hongjun; Heavenly Dao Spokesperson; Dao Ancestor
Species/Race	Innate Demon God
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Heavenly Dao; Zixiao Palace
Occupation/Role	Heavenly Dao’s chosen spokesperson; Dao preacher; master of Zixiao Palace
Status	Active; his Primordial Spirit was preserved after defeat and later refined a youthful new body 312 313 355 356
First Appearance	Chapter 22

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Golden Immortal of the Origin	22	Matched Qing Tian’s realm when both sought the Jade Butterfly of Creation at Buzhou Mountain.
Golden Immortal of the Origin, Great Perfection	23	Considered himself invincible in an era without a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin.
Sub-Saint Realm	46	Identified by Shen Ni while offering him a promised Saint Position.
Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal	54	Temporarily ascended after calling upon the Heavenly Dao for aid; this power was later revealed to be borrowed.
Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin, Great Perfection	59	The Heavenly Dao possessed Hongjun and raised his strength through successive breakthroughs.
Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal, Great Perfection	69	Had reached this realm through prolonged Heavenly Dao-assisted cultivation.
Sage	78	Attained Sagehood and announced his first sermon at Purple Cloud Palace.
First Level of Chaos Heavenly Venerate	144	Began moving openly against the Dragon Clan after believing Qing Tian absent or dead.
Seventh Level of the Great Dao	191	Reached the peak of his cultivation after ten thousand years within the Four Immortal Slaying Formations.
Late Stage of Grand Perfection, Great Dao Realm	291, 299	Cultivated by absorbing black energy from the Jade Butterfly of Creation, though his progress later stagnated.

Background / History

Hongjun cultivated on Yujing Mountain before a mysterious force pulled him to Buzhou Mountain, where he encountered Qing Tian beneath the Jade Butterfly of Creation. Both were Innate Demon Gods at the Golden Immortal of the Origin realm, and neither would yield the artifact. The Heavenly Dao selected Hongjun as its spokesperson and promised him the Jade Butterfly, giving him the prospect of ruling the Primordial Wilderness. Qing Tian nevertheless wounded him severely with an axe strike and forced him to retreat with the Heavenly Dao’s assistance. 22 23 24

During the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation, Hongjun used his connection to the Heavenly Dao and the Jade Plate of Creation to manipulate the major powers. He persuaded Ancestor Dragon, Phoenix Ancestor, and Shi Qilin to oppose Qing Tian, while deceiving Shen Ni with a false promise of a Saint Position. He could invoke Heavenly Dao oaths without karmic consequence, making his deception appear credible. 44 46

Hongjun later led a coalition against Qing Tian and Luohu in the Chaos World. When Qing Tian’s Thirty-Six-Grade Lotus Platform frustrated the coalition, Hongjun sacrificed Old Ancestor Yin Yang and the Yin-Yang Two Qi Profound Pearls to destroy it. He borrowed Heavenly Dao power to enter the Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, but Qing Tian’s Pangu Axe repeatedly shattered his body and exposed the borrowed nature of his power. 53 54 55

The Heavenly Dao repeatedly prevented Qing Tian from killing Hongjun, including by manifesting the Seven-Colored Radiance and eventually possessing Hongjun directly. During this possession, Hongjun’s eyes turned entirely white and he spoke as the Heavenly Dao itself. 58 59

After attaining Sagehood, Hongjun established Purple Cloud Palace as the center of his teachings. He preached the Great Dao, accepted disciples, distributed Primordial Violet Qi, and helped shape the Saint system of the Primordial World. 78 84 86 121 123

His later pursuit of power through the Four Immortal Slaying Formations and the Jade Butterfly’s black energy transformed his temperament. He became ruthless toward disciples and rivals, recruited Fierce Beasts into Zixiao Palace, and was increasingly plagued by inner demons. 166 190 191 202 299 300

Qing Tian ultimately defeated Hongjun after a battle involving the Heaven-Opening Axe and Hongjun’s merged Immortal Slaying Divine Sword. Hongjun’s Primordial Spirit survived, expressed remorse, and accepted Qing Tian’s offer to reform a body in Bihua Cave. 311 312 313

Appearance

Hongjun initially appears as an elderly Daoist with a composed but imposing presence. His presentation changes after reforming his physical body.

• Initially wore a purple Daoist robe and carried a whisk. 22
• Later appeared in white Daoist robes when meeting Ancestor Dragon. 44
• Presented himself at Purple Cloud Palace as an ordinary old man seated beneath an auspicious cloud. 84 121
• After reforming his body, appeared as a handsome young man around twenty years old. 355
• His possessed state was marked by completely white eyes devoid of color. 59

Personality

Hongjun is ambitious, calculating, and willing to use allies as expendable pieces in pursuit of control over the Primordial World. He sought the Jade Butterfly of Creation not merely for enlightenment, but as a path to govern the world through the Heavenly Dao. 22 23

He is adept at deception. He persuaded the Three Races to join his plans by framing their choices as necessary for survival, and he used a fraudulent Saint Position and a Heavenly Dao oath to recruit Shen Ni against Qing Tian. 44 46

His ruthlessness became particularly clear when he sacrificed Old Ancestor Yin Yang to break Qing Tian’s defense, despite Yin Yang having answered his call for aid. 54

After cultivating within the Four Immortal Slaying Formations and absorbing the Jade Butterfly’s dark energy, Hongjun grew unstable, harsh, and increasingly dominated by demonic impulses. His disciples came to fear his unpredictable punishments and question whether he remained the same master they once knew. 190 191 202 299 300

Abilities & Skills

Heavenly Dao Authority

As the Heavenly Dao’s selected spokesperson, Hongjun can draw upon its protection and authority.

• Was chosen as the Heavenly Dao’s spokesperson and promised the position of supreme ruler of the Primordial Wilderness. 22 23
• Can communicate with the Heavenly Dao and manifest its Eye to intimidate or persuade others. 46
• Used Heavenly Dao power to temporarily reach the Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. 54
• Was directly possessed by the Heavenly Dao when Qing Tian attempted to kill him. 59
• Can confer or arrange Saint Positions through Primordial Violet Qi. 121 122 123

Deduction, Concealment, and Spatial Arts

Hongjun’s Jade Plate of Creation grants him extensive control over heavenly secrets and movement.

• Obscures heavenly secrets and prevents others from calculating or scheming against him. 44 45
• Concealed his and Shen Ni’s qi signatures from Qing Tian. 46
• Can silently project his voice across vast distances and appear without detectable primal-energy fluctuations. 44
• Used the escape art of Sitting Still Traveling Myriad Miles to flee Qing Tian. 46
• Employed Three Corpses and the Jade Plate of Creation to survive the destruction of a newly born world. 58

Dao Preaching and Saint Bestowal

Hongjun is one of the Primordial World’s foremost Dao teachers.

• Preached three sermons at Purple Cloud Palace, each intended to last three thousand years. 84
• Revealed the Quasi-Saint realm and answered questions concerning paths to the Dao. 86
• Explained the methods of becoming a Saint, including cultivation, severing the Three Corpses, and merit. 121
• Accepted the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti as disciples. 121 122
• Distributed Primordial Violet Qi to create or designate Saint candidates. 122 123

Sword Arts and Chaos Combat

Hongjun is an exceptionally dangerous combatant even against Saints.

• Killed Candle Dragon with a single sword strike, though Candle Dragon resurrected because his soul was entrusted to the Heavenly Dao. 114
• Uses the Pangu Banner to unleash Chaos Sword Qi and return surrounding matter toward primal chaos. 48 51 53
• Acquired and cultivated within the Four Immortal Slaying Formations. 165 166 190
• Can combine the Four Immortal Swords into an Immortal Slaying Divine Sword for direct battle against Qing Tian. 311

Demonic Energy Absorption

Hongjun later cultivated using the corruptive energy hidden in the Jade Butterfly of Creation.

• Rapidly absorbed and converted the artifact’s black energy into cultivation. 299
• Developed inner demons that manifested as voices and encouraged further ruthless cultivation. 300
• His demonic corruption contributed to his eventual defeat and loss of his physical body. 311 312

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Jade Plate of Creation / Jade Butterfly of Creation — Artifact used to obscure heavenly secrets, deduce changes in heaven and earth, defend against attacks, and cultivate through its hidden dark energy. 22 44 48 299
• Pangu Banner — Innate Supreme Treasure capable of unleashing Chaos Sword Qi and reducing the world toward earth, water, fire, and wind. 22 48 51
• Whisk — Daoist implement used to casually disperse Shen Ni’s pressure. 46
• Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud — Primordial treasure displayed beneath him during his Purple Cloud Palace sermon. 84
• Four Immortal Slaying Swords — Ancient divine swords obtained through the Four Immortal Slaying Formations and later merged into a massive Immortal Slaying Divine Sword. 190 202 311
• Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit — Formerly in Hongjun’s possession before Qing Tian took it as ransom for Hongjun’s life. 48

Relationships

• Heavenly Dao — Chose Hongjun as its spokesperson, protected him from Qing Tian, and at one point possessed his body directly; later warned him not to provoke Qing Tian again. 22 58 59 116
• Dao Venerable Qing Tian — Primary enemy and rival for the Jade Butterfly of Creation. Qing Tian repeatedly defeated, wounded, and eventually spared Hongjun’s Primordial Spirit. 22 24 55 115 312 313
• Old Ancestor Yin Yang — Ally whom Hongjun sacrificed to destroy Qing Tian’s Thirty-Six-Grade Lotus Platform. 54
• Shen Ni — Recruited through a false promise of a Saint Position and a Heavenly Dao oath to oppose Qing Tian. 46
• Ancestor Dragon, Phoenix Ancestor, and Shi Qilin — Manipulated into joining his anti-@@REF_ENTITY_6565727@@ coalition during the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation. 44 46 51
• Candle Dragon — Long-standing enemy of the Dragon Clan; Hongjun killed him once, though Candle Dragon resurrected as a Saint. 78 114 144
• Laozi, Yuanshi, Tongtian, and Nuwa — Core disciples who received teachings and major treasures from Hongjun; their loyalty later weakened as his behavior became increasingly cruel. 121 139 191 222
• Jieyin and Zhunti — Nominal disciples who received treasures and Saint Positions, but later feared Hongjun’s demonic deterioration. 122 202 299
• Fuxi — Disciple who eventually defected to Qing Tian, provoking Hongjun’s failed attempt to retrieve him. 300

Story Role / Major Arcs

Jade Butterfly Conflict

Hongjun’s first encounter with Qing Tian begins as a struggle over the Jade Butterfly of Creation. The conflict establishes Qing Tian as the one opponent Hongjun cannot easily dominate and begins their enduring hostility. 22 23 24

Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation

Hongjun manipulates the Three Races, Shen Ni, Di Tian, and other Great Powers into a campaign against Qing Tian and Luohu. His strategy succeeds in expanding the conflict but costs him allies and exposes his willingness to sacrifice them. 44 46 51 54

Establishment of Purple Cloud Palace

After attaining Sagehood, Hongjun opens Purple Cloud Palace, preaches the Great Dao, establishes disciples, assigns Saint Positions, and becomes a central authority in the Primordial World. 78 84 86 121 123

Rule Through Zixiao Palace

Hongjun uses Zixiao Palace and his overwhelming cultivation to pressure the Dragon Clan, Demon Court, Witch Clan, and dissident disciples. His hostility toward Qing Tian prevents him from eliminating those factions outright. 144 158 205 236

Demonic Corruption and Defeat

Hongjun enters the Four Immortal Slaying Formations, absorbs dark energy from the Jade Butterfly of Creation, and becomes progressively demonized. His conflict with Qing Tian ends with his physical body destroyed and his Primordial Spirit spared. 166 191 299 300 311 312

Reformation and Return

Qing Tian places Hongjun in Bihua Cave to reshape his body. Hongjun later returns in a youthful vessel and seeks an audience with Nuwa and his former disciples to discuss the third Dragon-Han Tribulation. 313 353 355 356

Notable Quotes

“I am the Heavenly Dao Spokesperson, the destined Saint. How could the matter of a Saint Position be false?” 46

“I am Dao Ancestor Hongjun. Today, I have attained the supreme Sagehood. Upholding the Heavenly Dao's will to enlighten all, a hundred years from now, I shall expound the Great Dao at the Purple Cloud Palace in the chaos.” 78

Trivia

• Hongjun initially hid his possession of the Pangu Banner so completely that Qing Tian’s knowledge of it stunned him. 22
• He retained only his Primordial Spirit after Qing Tian defeated him, making his later youthful appearance the result of a reformed body rather than a return to his original form. 312 313 355
• Saints created through Primordial Violet Qi are immortal within the Primordial World so long as their connection to the Heavenly Dao remains intact. 114