White Crane Hermit

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhao He (赵鹤) 17
Alias(es)	White Crane Hermit; Old Dean; Elder Crane 17 63
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Black Stone Town Adventurer Academy; Miracle City 17 46
Occupation/Role	Former top adventurer of Black Stone Town; dean of the Black Stone Town Adventurer Academy; Contract Adventurer of Miracle City 17 46
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 17

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Near Fourth Rank Peak	17	Reached Fourth Rank in his prime and was among Black Stone Town's strongest adventurers.
First Order	17, 85	Lost his cultivation when his contracted dungeon was destroyed ten years earlier; began re-cultivating after joining Miracle City. His Tank Zombie Natal Soul reached nearly 40% Fusion Degree during Ashina Country challenges.
Second Rank	107	Completed fusion ahead of expectations and contracted the Red Ogre as his Second Order Life Soul.
Third Rank	192, 237	Reached 94% Second Rank Soul Spirit Cultivation and was expected to break through imminently; later fought as a Third Order adventurer against Evilwood City's forces.
Fifth Rank	314	Surpassed his former Fourth Rank Peak and became a Fifth Rank adventurer despite his advanced age.

Background / History

Zhao He was Black Stone Town's foremost adventurer during his prime. He reached Fourth Rank and came close to Fourth Rank Peak, a level matched by only a handful of the town's adventurers. 17 314

Ten years before Miracle City's rise, the dungeon to which he was contracted was defeated by the Dark Race. The disaster destroyed decades of work, stripped contracted adventurers of cultivation, and severely reduced their lifespans. Zhao He retired in despair, becoming the dean of Black Stone Town Adventurer Academy instead. 17

As dean, he personally trained thousands of young adventurers and became Black Stone Town's leading secret-realm strategy expert. His ability to crack dungeon designs earned him the hostility of numerous dungeon lords. 17

His granddaughter, Bright Moon Reflecting Snow, contracted Miracle City partly because she believed its secret realms could give him a chance to re-cultivate before his worsening health made recovery impossible. Initially furious at her decision, he personally entered Miracle City to investigate. 33

Appearance

White Crane Hermit is an elderly man with white hair and a frail, ancient bearing, visibly weathered by the loss of his cultivation and years away from adventuring. 17 63

• His beard bristles when angered, reinforcing his intimidating presence as the Old Dean. 33
• When activating Soul Essence power, he can assume a lean, sharp-featured middle-aged form wielding a tachi and cross spear. 237

Personality

White Crane Hermit is stern, proud, and demanding, particularly toward younger adventurers. His strict teaching style and overwhelming presence initially make even experienced students reluctant to challenge him. 17 33

Beneath that severity, he is deeply invested in his students' futures. His anger at Bright Moon Reflecting Snow's Miracle City contract stems from fear that she has gambled away her cultivation path, not simple opposition to her independence. 33

He is exceptionally stubborn in pursuit of self-improvement. He repeatedly challenged Ashina Genichiro for days, refusing to advance the main storyline until he had personally overcome the duel's challenge. 96 105 He also freely shares his hard-won combat analysis with other adventurers, turning his Secret Realm Crystal into an informal classroom. 85 115

Abilities & Skills

Master Adventurer Combat Technique

White Crane Hermit's experience, terrain use, timing, and tactical awareness remain formidable even after his cultivation loss.

• Cleared Doomsday Frenzy's beginner checkpoint with a Fire Axe alone, killing large groups of zombies without using his pistol. 34
• Cleared the official level of Doomsday Frenzy solo and later helped defeat the Tracker with Sleeping in the Wind. 41 44
• Defeated three Tank Zombies in succession and received an A- rating. 55
• Nearly cleared the third act of the Star Sea Secret Realm in one life after defeating Ken En. 171

Role-Playing Mastery

He quickly recognized that Story Mode requires complete identification with the assigned character rather than simple combat competence.

• Immersed himself in Wolf's identity and mission to protect the Divine Child, greatly improving his performance in Ashina Country. 81
• Demonstrated flawless parries, counters, stealth kills, and use of Wolf's Shinobi Execution Tactics. 81 82 106
• Cleared the Ashina Country prologue and obtained the Skill Stone: Ninja Wolf Style Swordsmanship. 85
• Unlocked the Thunder Reversal Secret Swordsmanship skill stone after clearing Ashina Country's main story. 115

Tactical Analysis and Instruction

His greatest contribution to Miracle City's adventurers is not only his own performance, but his ability to explain difficult mechanics and develop strategies.

• Taught adventurers how to use Wolf's parry mechanic and why Ashina Country's combat experience benefits real cultivation. 81
• Analyzed enemy placements around Ashina Genichiro and eliminated Messenger Troop ambushers before beginning the duel. 105 106
• Provided counterplay advice against the Senpou High Monk and Owl. 117 132
• Persuaded Wangchuan Sanren to experience Miracle City's secret realms personally rather than forcibly remove Sleeping in the Wind. 63

Essence Soul Combat System

White Crane Hermit develops a broad Soul Essence build rather than relying on a single source of power.

• First Order Natal Soul: Tank Zombie — provides Tank Power and physical enhancement. 85 237
• Second Order Life Soul: Red Ogre — enhances his body with Red Oni traits. 107 237
• Planned auxiliary contracts include G1, Witch Zombie, Ashina Troop Headman, and Charger Zombie Essence Souls. 107
• Obtained the Named Sword Saint Isshin: Isshin Ashina Essence Soul through a Second Playthrough of Ashina Country. 192
• Later possessed the Essence Souls of Godfrey, First King and Radahn, King of Contracts, raising his combat power to the peak of the Calamity Army. 319

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• M16 Rifle — dropped after his three-Tank-Zombie run; the first equipment drop from the Raging Tide Secret Realm. 55
• Mystic Medicine Gourd — Gray Top Grade Treasure Equipment; restores 3 Energy Points once per day, with recovery increasing by 1 per cultivation realm. 106
• Kusabimaru — Wolf's blade in Ashina Country; used for parries, counters, and stealth kills. 81 106
• Mourne's Lament Tomb — Third Order rare greatsword found in Mourne Castle. 257
• Sword of Night and Flame — carries the self-buffing skill Vengeful Vow, temporarily raising his combat performance close to Third Order. 257 269
• Tachi and cross spear — weapons used in his transformed Soul Essence combat state. 237

Relationships

• Bright Moon Reflecting Snow — granddaughter and student. He initially opposes her Miracle City contract, but later adventures alongside her and secures priority access to a Second Rank Essence Soul for her. 33 43 46
• Qi Ji — Lord of Miracle City. White Crane Hermit became one of Qi Ji's Contract Adventurers and voluntarily turned over the Fire-Spraying Tracker Essence Soul to support the territory. 46
• San Zhu — close old friend and former president of the Adventurer Association. San Zhu frequently challenges the Hermit's stubbornness, while the Hermit draws him back into adventuring through Miracle City. 88 96
• Other Shore Flower — fellow elite adventurer and occasional rival. They cooperate in major challenges and both eventually reach Fifth Rank. 110 257 314
• Sleeping in the Wind — former student and fellow Miracle City adventurer. White Crane Hermit helped persuade Wangchuan Sanren to let him remain in Miracle City. 63
• Ashina Genichiro — a Secret Realm opponent whom White Crane Hermit came to respect, viewing him as a man acting from sincere conviction to protect Ashina. 106

Story Role / Major Arcs

Return to Adventuring

White Crane Hermit entered Miracle City intending to investigate its influence on his students. The excitement of Doomsday Frenzy reignited his long-dormant desire for adventure, and his skill immediately established him as a central figure among Miracle City's adventurers. 32 34

Doomsday Frenzy Pioneer

He set records in solo play, guided teams through difficult content, helped defeat the Tracker, and obtained Miracle City's first M16 Rifle drop. His performance demonstrated the value that a top-tier adventurer could bring to the territory. 43 44 55 56

Miracle City Contract Adventurer

After witnessing Miracle City's potential, he voluntarily exchanged the Fire-Spraying Tracker Essence Soul and formally contracted with the city. His request included future priority for Bright Moon Reflecting Snow's Second Rank Essence Soul. 46

Ashina Country Mentor and Challenger

White Crane Hermit became the foremost early practitioner of deep Role-Playing in Ashina Country. He taught Wolf's combat methods, cleared the prologue, and repeatedly challenged Ashina Genichiro until uncovering the boss's hidden Tomoe Lightning phase. 81 85 105 106

Veteran Adventurer Leader

He brought senior adventurers to Miracle City, helped revive their enthusiasm for exploration, and led the Old Folks Fun Squad to victory over Other Shore Flower's team in Arena Mode. 87 110

Re-Cultivation and Later Campaigns

Miracle City's secret realms enabled White Crane Hermit to regain lost ranks at extraordinary speed. He fought in the battle against Evilwood City, challenged the Lands Between alongside Other Shore Flower and Meng Bai, and ultimately surpassed his former peak by advancing to Fifth Rank. 237 257 314

Notable Quotes

“Miracle City, then let this old man see just what you're made of!”
— White Crane Hermit 34

“Other Shore Flower's victory is her own achievement. I haven't beaten Ashina Genichiro yet, and I won't enter the main storyline until I do.”
— White Crane Hermit 96

“This old man feels the same!”
— White Crane Hermit, choosing immersive story adventures over Arena Mode 110

Trivia

• White Crane Hermit was ninety-one years old when first introduced. 17
• His former peak was near Fourth Rank Peak, but his re-cultivation through Miracle City eventually carried him beyond it to Fifth Rank. 314
• He prefers immersive, role-playing-focused Secret Realms to fast-paced competitive Arena Mode. 110
• The Mystic Medicine Gourd effectively grants him three additional adventure opportunities each day. 106