Zhao Xiaojie

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhao Xiaojie (赵孝杰)
Alias(es)	Little Zhao
Gender	Male; eunuch
Affiliation	Zhang Family; Baishi Village
Occupation/Role	Trusted aide, military commander, strategist, Head Instructor, and special-operations leader
Status	Alive; later stepped back from formal family posts to teach and cultivate in Baishi Village 625 665
First Appearance	6 (as Little Zhao)

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Third-stage Martial Artist — Meridian Circulation and Qi Condensation Realm	70	Had already reached the third Martial Dao stage while serving Baishi Town.
Contracted Demonic Spirit: White-Robed Scholar	84	Gained a Demonic Spirit suited to command and group combat, including control, weakening, and team-powered abilities.
Fifth-stage Martial Artist — Hua Jin Gui Yuan Realm	184	Was stated to possess fifth-stage Martial Dao cultivation, command an army independently, and govern a town.
White-Robed Strategist	272	His Demonic Spirit evolved, unlocking the basis for the Thirty-Six Stratagems ability.
Martial-to-spell secret technique	294	Created the technique “Sunflower Faces the Sun, Breaking Darkness and Light” during battle against the ghost face.
Fifth-Order Martial Artist — Hua Jin Gui Yuan Realm	364	Completed a described breakthrough by transforming Internal Power into vital energy and forming a Dantian sea of qi through the Kuiyang Nine Forging Scripture.
New White-Robed Scholar and Black-Robed Strategist	497	A modification changed both Demonic Spirits; the latter perfected the tactical applications of the Thirty-Six Stratagems but weakened its loyalty-based power.
Late Hua Jin Gui Yuan Realm	621	At age fifty, he remained stalled at the late stage of the realm.

Background / History

Palace upbringing

Zhao Xiaojie was selected by Old Zhao from many young eunuchs for his talent, luck, intelligence, resilience, and aptitude for Martial Dao. He survived the Cold Palace and trained under Old Zhao’s protection. 6 306

He was secretly trained by the Zhao Clan and sent into the Imperial Palace to gather intelligence, deliver messages, and perform tasks the clan considered unsavory. His original surname is unknown; he later adopted the surname Zhao from Old Zhao. 185

Journey to Baishi Village

After leaving the palace with Old Zhao and Zhang Mingshu, Zhao Xiaojie came to understand why Old Zhao regarded the Imperial City as a cage rather than a place worth remaining in. He eventually chose the Zhang Family and Baishi Village as his home over searching for his biological origins. 185 306 307

He renamed himself Zhao Xiaojie roughly ten years before Chapter 184. By then, he had become a fifth-stage Martial Artist, an independent army commander, and the governor of a town. 184

Service to the Zhang Family

As Little Zhao, he handled Baishi Town’s outside affairs, negotiated with officials, represented Zhang Mingshu, and taught martial arts to the town’s youths. Zhao Siqi also consulted him on important arrangements. 65 70

Zhang Mingshu entrusted him with major responsibilities, including garrisoning Lan Mountain Town, commanding forces independently, and participating in internal decisions on a level comparable to Zhao Siqi’s. 185

Appearance

In later years, Zhao Xiaojie is described as fair-skinned and beardless, with an increasingly cold temperament despite his refined exterior. 495 621

• Often carries a folding fan. 621
• Wears a pure-white cloak while traveling. 621
• Presents an elegant, scholarly appearance that can conceal his battlefield ferocity. 621
• Wields the Azure Edge Sword in combat. 308 378

Personality

Zhao Xiaojie is cautious, pragmatic, and decisive under pressure. His years of palace survival gave him calm judgment during life-or-death situations, and he earned Zhang Mingshu’s trust by making few mistakes in crucial decisions. 185

He prioritizes reconnaissance, preparation, and coordinated action over reckless heroics. When confronting unknown dangers, he investigates through intelligence networks, seeks assistance from reliable allies, and avoids committing his forces without understanding the situation. 282 283 304 313

His strongest motivation is protecting the home and family he found after the Cold Palace. He rejected Yu Ouyang’s offer to restore his body and give him descendants, deciding that Old Zhao and Zhang Mingshu were already his family. 306 307

Abilities & Skills

Martial Dao

Zhao Xiaojie is a high-level Martial Artist who combines swordsmanship, body refinement, and battlefield experience.

• Practices the Sunflower Body Refining Art, which rapidly improves strength but consumes lifespan. 70 84
• Later cultivated the Kuiyang Nine Forging Scripture to strengthen his body and support his Hua Jin Gui Yuan breakthrough. 363 364
• Created the secret technique “Sunflower Faces the Sun, Breaking Darkness and Light,” converting Martial Dao true qi into a spell-like sword attack. 294
• Can remain dangerous even while limiting true qi use, relying on physical strength, combat technique, and body refinement. 525

Demonic Spirits

Zhao Xiaojie possesses two Demonic Spirits, a combination that significantly strengthens his combat capability and command utility. 260 364

• White-Robed Scholar / White-Robed Strategist
  • Word Spirit: “Offer a Pledge of Allegiance” — Confuses or controls targets; weak-willed enemies may attack their allies. 84
  • Envy of Talent — Weakens opponents while increasing Zhao Xiaojie’s defense. 84
  • Gather Righteousness — Converts the presence of allies into usable power in place of true qi or internal energy. 84
  • Shield of Righteousness — Produces a stronger defensive shield when more teammates are nearby. 525
• Thirty-Six Stratagems
  • The evolved Strategist spirit gained an advanced tactical ability based on the Thirty-Six Stratagems. 272
  • Zhang Mingshu divided it into thirty-six one-use minor skills through the Fate Book; Zhao Xiaojie must return to Zhang Mingshu to replenish each use. 272
• New White-Robed Scholar / Black-Robed Strategist
  • The New White-Robed Scholar gained abilities associated with the Jinshi Realm. 497
  • The Black-Robed Strategist improved the Thirty-Six Stratagems but weakened the loyalty-based power Zhao Xiaojie had relied upon. 497
  • The Demonic Spirits’ erosion increasingly affected his will and consciousness, at times making him feel unable to control his own body. 652

Command and Battle Formations

Zhao Xiaojie specializes in leading teams through dangerous, chaotic engagements.

• Directs scouts, vanguards, rear guards, and defensive formations according to changing battlefield conditions. 257 260 261
• Uses battle formations effectively enough to impress Hundred Herbs Garden disciples and other cultivators. 304
• Commanded the defense of the Hundred Herbs Garden after Lu Benxun temporarily entrusted him with authority. 308
• Led the Star Moon Squad against nine cultivators, coordinating a formation that helped defeat two Core Formation Realm opponents. 378

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Azure Edge Sword — High-grade Magic Tool chosen from the Sword Forging Furnace; resonated with Zhao Xiaojie’s bloodline and recognized him as its wielder. 308
• Kuiyang Nine Forging Scripture — Body-refining cultivation scripture received from the Valley Master of the Hundred Herbs Garden. 300 324 364
• Secret Technique Spirit Beads — Used alongside the Azure Edge Sword to unleash a powerful anti-evil sword technique. 317
• Folding fan and white cloak — Part of his refined traveling attire in later life. 621

Relationships

• Zhang Mingshu — Family Head, sworn family, and most trusted partner. Zhang Mingshu treated Zhao Xiaojie as a brother and entrusted him with military, administrative, and intelligence responsibilities. 185 307 365
• Old Zhao — Godfather and Martial Dao mentor who selected Zhao Xiaojie, protected him in the Cold Palace, and gave him a path beyond dying anonymously in the palace. 6 306
• Zhao Siqi — Zhang Mingshu’s wife and a senior figure within the family; Zhao Xiaojie held enough authority that she consulted him on arrangements during Zhang Mingshu’s seclusion. 185
• Xiao Lingying — Allied County Princess whom Zhao Xiaojie approached for help protecting Zhao Siqi; she agreed to support Zhao Siqi and Zhao Xiaojie’s forces. 475
• Ma Wenyuan — Intelligence chief who assisted Zhao Xiaojie’s investigation of Duobaozhai in Jiujiang Prefecture. 282 283
• Wu Zixuan — Operational partner during the raid on the Shen Family residence and the Death Gate God incident. 624
• Wu Yunjia — Intelligence operative and junior family member whose growth Zhao Xiaojie acknowledged upon returning to Baishi Village. 624
• Zhang Yanyu — Zhao Xiaojie escorted him south to the Hundred Herbs Garden to study pill-making techniques. 637

Story Role / Major Arcs

Liangshan Marsh and the Special Operations Department

Zhao Xiaojie led teams through the Liangshan Marsh training crisis, organizing defensive positions against undead and Beast Spirits, locating teleportation arrays, and confronting the Greedy Demon of Filthy Thoughts. 260 261 266 269 271

After returning to Baishi Village, he helped establish the Special Operations Department to handle Cultivator incidents, Demonic Spirits, and other abnormal threats. 275

Jiujiang Prefecture and Mount Lu Secret Realm

In Jiujiang Prefecture, Zhao Xiaojie noticed the suspicious antique shop Duobaozhai and used Ma Wenyuan’s intelligence network and Earl Ying Li Mingying’s resources to investigate it. 282 283

He subsequently joined the Mount Lu Secret Realm campaign against the Netherworld Cult. He passed the Samadhi Study’s Questioning Dao and Questioning the Heart trials, chose the Azure Edge Sword, led combined forces, and took command during the defense of the Hundred Herbs Garden. 305 306 308

Head Instructor and Star Moon Squad

After reaching the Hua Jin Gui Yuan Realm, Zhao Xiaojie became the Zhang Family’s Head Instructor. He was tasked with improving the family’s Martial Dao strength and selecting personnel for an expanded special-operations force. 364 365

During the Ancient Yan Kingdom Secret Realm conflict, he led the Star Moon Squad in battle against cultivators. He exploited Zhang Mingshu’s control over an enemy Core Formation cultivator to deliver a fatal strike with the Azure Edge Sword. 378

Later campaigns and retirement

Zhao Xiaojie returned to Donghai Prefecture to support Zhang Mingshu against the Netherworld Cult and Evil Fang organization, then promoted younger leaders during the Guanyun County campaign. 475 478

At age fifty, he investigated the Death Gate God in Shuyang City and led a Demon Hunter raid on the Shen Family residence, where the Demonic Spirit’s host died and its power was sealed. 621 624

After witnessing the scale of the demonic-beast war at Five Lotus County, he resigned from his family positions. He chose to return to Baishi Village, cultivate Martial Dao, and pass his experience to the next generation. 625

Notable Quotes

“I seek to find my roots, yet I don't want to find my real parents. They abandoned me, leaving me a rootless wanderer. I wish for a warm home. Old Zhao and Zhang Mingshu are my closest family.” 306

“I used to feel inferior, thinking I was beneath others. But the Family Head never made me feel base, crude, or incomplete.” 307

Trivia

• Zhao Xiaojie cannot have descendants because he is a eunuch, but he has no desire to establish a bloodline of his own. 185 307
• The White-Robed Scholar was described as a Demonic Spirit tailor-made for him. 84
• His ability to convert gathered loyalty into power was severely weakened after the modification of his Demonic Spirits. 497
• He considers the old locust tree in his Baishi Village residence a witness to the Zhang Family’s rise and fall. 624