Zhang Fan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhang Fan (张凡)
Alias(es)	Lord of the Celestial Beings; Leader of the Benevolent Faction; First Sword Under Heaven; True Demon Lord; “Grandpa Zhang”
Species/Race	Celestial Being; originally an ordinary person from another universe 1748
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Benevolent Faction; formerly the Celestial Beings’ founder and lord 1486 1589
Occupation/Role	Founder and former leader of the Celestial Beings; swordsman; Liang Fan’s mentor and architect of his creation 1455 1746
Status	Active; frequently appears as an orange cat after suffering devastating losses, while retaining immense power 1679 1750

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Prime Celestial Lord	1351 1484	A powerhouse beyond the Thirty-three Heavens who could suppress the Sword Emperor; described as one of the strongest beings in the universe.
Disembodied mentor	1351 1395	Weakened after an ambush and existing within Liang Fan, yet still able to possess him and manifest overwhelming swordsmanship.
Body inherited by Liang Fan	1484 1485	Gives Liang Fan his original body to prevent Liang Fan’s collapse; the body contains immeasurable power and countless sword techniques.
Restored personal power	1555	Takes control after Liang Fan is captured by Hook, regains his own appearance and power, and kills more than ten thousand experts with a single sword strike.
Orange-cat incarnation	1679 1725	His spirit is badly damaged and his motivation collapses; after temporary peak-power combat, he reverts to cat form.
Power recovered in cat form	1750	Though he remains a cat and has ceded some power to Liang Fan, most of his strength remains astonishing.

Background / History

Zhang Fan was originally an ordinary student from another universe. After his class encountered an immortal Spirit Grudge, he survived successive calamities and grew stronger. When his universe faced the Immeasurable Tribulation of Gods and Demons, he led surviving companions out of it; these refugees later established themselves as the Celestial Beings in another universe. 1748

He became the Lord of the Celestial Beings and led their Benevolent Faction against the King Faction. During his prime, he stood above the Sword Emperor in swordsmanship and was regarded as the First Sword Under Heaven. His conflict with the Celestial Beings ultimately ended in betrayal, an ambush, and the loss of much of his power. 1351 1484 1572

After becoming a disembodied consciousness, Zhang Fan resided within Liang Fan and acted as his guide. He trained Liang Fan in forbidden techniques, protected him during critical battles, and eventually gave him his own body when Liang Fan’s original body began to fail. In exchange, Liang Fan inherited Zhang Fan’s destiny, enemies, and unfinished obligations. 1408 1484

Zhang Fan’s long-term objective was to oppose the Master of the Hooks. He and others created Liang Fan using the Hook Master’s bloodline, intending to produce a being capable of matching and defeating the Hook Master. 1746

Appearance

Zhang Fan’s current incarnation is an orange cat, often found sleeping, eating, or resting on Liang Fan’s shoulder. His recovered humanoid appearance is described as having a simple, unadorned face. 1555 1679

• Orange fur in his cat form 1679
• Often lazy, bruised, or bandaged after his diminished cat body is harmed 1679
• When manifesting his former power, wears black armor and a black cape 1395
• His presence in battle is compared to a Demon God or an invincible monarch 1395 1483

Personality

Zhang Fan is blunt, contemptuous of empty titles, and deeply skeptical of shortcuts to power. He repeatedly teaches Liang Fan that borrowed strength creates dependence, while willpower and self-cultivated strength are enduring. 1367 1485

His harshness is tempered by loyalty. He risks himself to protect Liang Fan, threatens White Fox City to ensure Bai Xue’s safety, and seeks help from old comrades despite his pride. 1482 1555 1702

Centuries of betrayal, loss, and pursuit leave him exhausted and detached. In his cat form, he abandons many former ambitions in favor of food, sleep, and a life free of responsibility, though he still acts when his allies or plans are threatened. 1679 1727 1729

Abilities & Skills

Supreme Swordsmanship

Zhang Fan is considered the First Sword Under Heaven and claims that no swordsman in the world can compare with him. His swordsmanship surpassed the Sword Emperor’s and became the foundation of Liang Fan’s later path. 1455 1725

• Activates the Primordial Sword World, a Sword Realm that turns surrounding enemies to ash and can bury great foes. 1396
• Uses basic sword swings with devastating efficiency, cutting through demons and Demon Generals with ease. 1395 1396
• Can teach forbidden sword techniques capable of executing Gods and Buddhas. 1408 1409
• Killed more than ten thousand experts, each at least at the Twenty Heavens, with one sword strike. 1555

Rule and Time Swordsmanship

Zhang Fan’s strongest sword techniques operate through rules rather than simple force.

• His rule-based sword strikes can become impossible to dodge. 1722
• A time-based sword can drastically reduce an opponent’s power and potentially regress even an ancient powerhouse into an infant. 1722
• Summons the River of Time to merge with time itself and raise his speed beyond ordinary perception. 1721
• Even Li the God of Slaughter could not treat his restored peak combat power lightly. 1720 1722

Possession and Incarnation

Zhang Fan can act through other bodies and forms despite losing his original body.

• Takes control of Liang Fan’s body when Liang Fan yields consciousness. 1395 1462
• Temporarily manifests his former appearance and power while occupying Liang Fan’s inherited body. 1555
• Continues to exist after his body is surrendered, later appearing as an orange cat. 1484 1679
• His cat form is physically vulnerable compared with his prime, forcing him to rely on allies or temporary power restoration. 1725

True Demon Power

Zhang Fan can transform into a True Demon and wield demonic power against the Demon Race.

• His True Demon form gives him explosive physical force and allows him to overwhelm Demon Generals. 1395
• He identifies himself as a demon while fighting Demon Gods and can annihilate them with the Eight Tribulation Sword. 1396
• His authority is sufficient to force Karus to kneel against his will. 1397

Knowledge and Mentorship

Zhang Fan possesses extensive knowledge of the Celestial Beings, demons, forbidden lands, cultivation, and the hidden history of the universe.

• Warns Liang Fan that the Demon Race is naturally resistant to Spiritual Energy. 1395
• Explains that external powers and Dao-defying shortcuts can turn cultivators into puppets. 1367
• Recognizes the Time Tomb, the Celestial Beings’ ultimate weapons, and the threat posed by the Master of the Hooks. 1696 1709 1746
• Serves as Liang Fan’s de facto master, though neither formally relies on the title. 1455

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Annihilation Sword — Used against the Sword Saint; Zhang Fan combines its power with an absorbing vortex to trap and defeat his opponent. 1462 1463
• Eight Tribulation Sword — Wielded while possessing Liang Fan during the battle against the Demon Race. 1395 1396
• Absolute Sword — Zhang Fan’s sword, inherited by Liang Fan alongside Zhang Fan’s body. 1485

Relationships

• Liang Fan — Disciple, vessel, successor, and the central piece of Zhang Fan’s plan against the Master of the Hooks. Zhang Fan mentors him, gives him his body, and entrusts him with his destiny. 1484 1534 1746
• Sima Yi — Former close friend. Zhang Fan condemns Sima Yi’s neutrality but persuades him to help Liang Fan survive. 1482 1485
• Zhang Wei — Fellow leader from the same generation whom Zhang Fan calls his brother. Zhang Wei protects him from Li the God of Slaughter. 1725
• Li Taiyi — Ancient comrade resurrected by Zhang Fan in the Time Tomb when Zhang Fan needs help against his pursuers. 1701 1702
• Li the God of Slaughter — Rival Celestial leader with a shared history; their conflict reaches a battle beyond the God Above God realm. 1721 1725
• Bai Xue — Liang Fan’s wife. Zhang Fan threatens the Lord of the White Foxes to protect her while Liang Fan is absent. 1555
• Master of the Hooks — Zhang Fan’s greatest enemy and the target of his long-term plan; Zhang Fan’s losses and Liang Fan’s creation are both tied to opposing him. 1679 1746

Notable Quotes

“Only the power of will is eternal.”
— Zhang Fan 1485

“What you gain, you must lose. If you cannot lose anything, you will gain nothing.”
— Zhang Fan 1367

“With one sword from me, heaven and earth will be annihilated!”
— Zhang Fan 1721

Trivia

• Zhang Fan’s first name is deliberately simple enough to surprise Liang Fan, who expected a Celestial Being to have a more grandiose name. 1351
• Liang Fan’s name and Zhang Fan’s name share the same given name, “Fan.” 1351
• Despite once being the Lord of the Celestial Beings, Zhang Fan eventually considers being a cat more satisfying than being human. 1729
• He retains enough vanity in cat form to order Liang Fan’s companions to serve him and to proclaim that he will return to the peak of swordsmanship. 1679