Yu Ziqing

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yu Ziqing (余子清)
Alias(es)	Qing Ziyu; Emperor Dui; King of Hungry Ghosts; Founder of the Path of the Hungry Ghost; Heretical Path Lord 197 529
Species/Race	Human; a transmigrator 8
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Jinlan Mountain; Great Dui Divine Dynasty; the hungry ghost community 197 212
Occupation/Role	Emperor of Great Dui; cultivator; founder of a human path for cultivating the Path of the Hungry Ghost 197 514
Status	Active 533
First Appearance	Chapter 2: “Without Worldly Desires”

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Awakened Blood Essence	2	His Blood Essence erupts in battle, enabling him to kill four evil strongmen and resist the cold. 2
Blood Essence Realm — first Body Refining stage	23	After seven days of cultivation, he circulates Blood Essence through his limbs and torso. 23
Second Body Refining stage	23	Reaches the second stage despite initially lagging behind the Village Chief and Er Han. 23
Early Body Refining completed	28	Spirit Refining power allows him to complete this phase and open all of his acupoints. 28
Yin God — fourth-tier Spirit Refining	81	His Yin God bears the manifestation of a hungry ghost; he is also recognized as a fourth-tier Body Cultivator. 81
Body Transformation Realm — fifth-tier Body Refining	130	His five-element Body Refining methods differentiate, then complete a cycle as he enters Body Transformation. 130
Fifth-tier Spirit Refining and Body Refining	193	Both paths approach the sixth tier after he gains and refines external power. 193
Supernatural Realm — sixth-tier Body Refining	208	Light of creation, tribulation power, and Dilu Paste temper his body and awaken an innate supernatural ability. 208
Three Souls Realm — sixth-tier Spirit Refining	197	Digests the Heretical Path Lord and advances in Spirit Refining. 197
Immaculate Realm — seventh-tier Body Refining	310	His clear aura and vigorous Blood Essence identify him as a seventh-tier Body Cultivator. 310
Seventh-tier Spirit Refining	278	Awakens a supernatural ability connected to moonlight, the Great Evolution First Chapter, and a prior magic treasure. 278
Great Evolution First Chapter — twenty-fourth layer	252	Gains new insights after ten years in a daze and reaches the twenty-fourth layer. 252
Eighth tier — Spirit Refining, Body Refining, and Dao Court Casting	404	His Yang Spirit and Blood Essence advance together after crossing the White Bone Divine Bridge, establishing the foundation of his Dao Court. 404
Temporary peak ninth tier / approach to the Tenth Order	415	By borrowing and transferring power through the Bridge of the Immortal Realm, he briefly exceeds the ninth-tier limit. 415
Ninth tier — Spirit Refining and Body Refining	514	Uses a heavenly tribulation to reach the ninth tier in both paths and forges the Path of the Hungry Ghost. 514
Tenth Order	532	His Dao Court absorbs the power of the Kun character, evolves, and carries him into the Tenth Order. 532

Background / History

Yu Ziqing arrived in the Wasteland as a severely malnourished transmigrator who could neither properly speak nor read. Old Yang taught him language, writing, survival knowledge, and cultivation fundamentals, while Yu Ziqing gradually recovered from less than ninety jin to roughly one hundred thirty through Jinlan Mushrooms. 8 23

His first known display of power came when his awakened Blood Essence allowed him to kill four evil strongmen. He burned their bodies afterward to prevent them from becoming Fierce Ghosts or evil spirits. 2

At Jinlan Mine, he encountered Cècè, a woman trapped in an illusion of despair. Rather than abandon her, he offered her food and carved grave markers for her and her child, beginning a lasting connection with the Abyss of Despair. 3

Although Old Yang preferred that he first become a Dao Practitioner and later enter Qi Refining, Yu Ziqing rejected that route. He chose the basic Blood Essence Body Refining method because it was stable, adaptable, and suited to Jinlan Mountain’s resources. 22

Appearance

Following his advancement to the Body Transformation Realm, Yu Ziqing develops a balanced physique, smooth muscle lines, nearly poreless skin, and dense new hair with a divine sheen. 130

• His refined control can conceal his Blood Essence and make him appear like an ordinary, scholarly weakling. 463
• He can physically alter his facial muscles and bone structure with the Jinlan Mountain Disguise Technique. 180
• His early disguises were deliberately grotesque because he could not yet produce a convincing ordinary face. 180
• During demonic transformation, his skin turns gray-black and becomes covered in demonic patterns. 102

Personality

Yu Ziqing is compassionate without being naïve. He aids Cècè, feeds hungry ghosts without demanding repayment, protects hungry ghosts from exploitation, and repeatedly takes responsibility for people or beings others would discard. 3 8 53

He is also cautious, investigative, and highly suspicious of incomplete information. He prefers to reconstruct events through ordinary questioning, records, physical clues, and cross-checking rather than relying solely on secret techniques. 64 182

When danger threatens Jinlan Mountain or those under his protection, his restraint gives way to extreme resolve. Old Yang considers him quiet and studious in peaceful times, but more ferocious than anyone when cornered. 68

As Emperor Dui, he recognizes his own limits in administration and leaves detailed governance to capable officials. His priorities are stability, food security, public welfare, and laying foundations that can endure for generations. 197 294 218

Abilities & Skills

Judgment and Sword Draw

Yu Ziqing possesses a judgment-based ability that assesses targets from accumulated information. A sufficiently complete assessment lets him draw his sword and borrow power far beyond his normal realm. 11 26 196

• Requires detailed knowledge such as identity, origin, cultivation method, secret techniques, treasures, and history. 11 26
• A true name alone is not enough to complete a judgment. 521
• The quality of information determines the scale and profundity of power he can obtain. 196
• He can use judgment together with the Mountain Lord Sword to strike enemies on a world-spanning scale. 521

Path of the Hungry Ghost

Yu Ziqing cultivates the Path of the Hungry Ghost in human form, an unprecedented route that he develops alongside Spirit Refining. 51 76

• His Yin God manifests as a hungry ghost. 81
• He can summon and command immense numbers of hungry ghosts, including millions during the Sorrowful Grotto-Heaven incident. 102
• Hungry ghosts are naturally subject to his sword and do not require the usual information-gathering process for him to kill. 212
• He established a path that allows starving ghosts to become hungry ghosts and escape endless hunger. 98
• After reaching the ninth tier, he gains the insight necessary to create a scripture for others to cultivate the path. 514

Body Refining and Five-Element Cultivation

Yu Ziqing’s Body Refining began with the balanced Blood Essence method before evolving into a more individualized five-element system. 22 130

• Golden Water Yin Escape strengthens Blood Essence, defense, damage reduction, physical strength, and stealth. 106
• Black Heaven Demonic God Qi uses kidney-water essence to form a Black Heaven Demonic Dharma Aspect within the kidneys. 113
• His methods eventually differentiate through yin and yang before circulating as ten streams of power throughout his body. 130
• He can enter demonic transformation, rapidly regenerate damaged flesh, and use brute force to shatter weapons. 102

Dao Court Casting

Yu Ziqing forges the Dao Court as an independent third foundation connecting, but not subordinating, Spirit Refining and Body Refining. 404

• The White Bone Divine Bridge allows his Spirit Refining and Body Refining to advance together. 404
• His Dao Court incorporates Five Elements circulation and the power of the Kun character. 464 509
• He gathers Kun-character power through contact with land, using his body as a medium to transfer it into the Dao Court. 524
• The completed evolution of this path carries him to the Tenth Order. 532

Bridge of the Immortal Realm

This supernatural ability acts as a medium between Yu Ziqing’s Spirit Refining and Body Refining powers. 408

• Prevents the two cultivation paths from hindering one another. 408
• Temporarily amplifies one path with the power of the other. 408
• Allows him to briefly cross beyond the peak of the ninth tier. 415

Mobility Techniques

Yu Ziqing combines Body Refining, movement arts, and technical study to achieve exceptional mobility. 210 463

• Step Leap enables long-distance instantaneous movement. 210
• Mud Head Chariot turns a Step Leap into a devastating high-speed collision, though recoil can damage his own body. 210
• Shrinking the Ground to an Inch combines learned movement techniques with Step Leap, allowing him to cross nearly two hundred li in one step. 463

Perception and Name Ghost

Yu Ziqing develops several perception-based abilities through his cultivation and absorbed powers.

• He can sense intense emotional fluctuations in nearby people. 510
• Name Ghost lets him glimpse true names; using the Cliff God King’s true name weakens it. 521
• His Yin God can perceive details obscured from ordinary sight, including hidden forms and high-level cultivators’ outlines. 159
• His Great Evolution First Chapter improves his memory, comprehension, analogy-making, and sense of fortune and misfortune. 428

Immortality

His ninth-tier Body Refining supernatural ability is called Immortality. 517

• It is a passive ability related to Blood Rebirth. 517
• Its full limits remain unclear to Yu Ziqing at the time of awakening. 517

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Rusted short sword — A seemingly ordinary weapon that can transform into a long sword carrying the power of the Path of the Hungry Ghost. 65
• Mountain Lord Sword — Used with his judgment ability against the Cliff God King. 521
• Great Dui Imperial Seal — Confirms his authority as Great Dui’s monarch and can be entrusted to the Village Chief for emergencies. 197 222
• Seventh Floor Ring — A ring-holder intelligence network through which he trades information and contacts other holders. 85 93
• Book of Anshi — An avatar of Great Dui’s national destiny that records unsettled disasters and lets Yu Ziqing enter seals to resolve them. 162 222
• Sixty-four-faced polyhedron crystal — An “ultimate encrypted key” capable of activating and influencing Kun-character power. 511
• Source of Earth Deities stone tablet — Used by his hungry ghost form while exercising authority over land and Earth Deity power. 412
• Soul-Shattering Blade — Used to dissect divine souls and extract hidden imprints without necessarily killing the host. 326

Relationships

• Old Yang — Mentor, adviser, and longtime Jinlan Mountain ally; taught Yu Ziqing language, cultivation knowledge, formations, medicine, and research methods. 8 22
• Village Chief / You Zhen — Mentor, sparring partner, protector, and later one of Jinlan Mountain’s strongest defenders; Yu Ziqing repeatedly helps him stabilize his cultivation. 68 129 168
• Cècè — Yu Ziqing first frees her from a despair loop and later works with her through the Abyss of Despair; she assists him against enemies and safeguards dangerous items. 3 28 67
• Lou Huai — Human demon subordinate and cultivation partner who provides demonic inheritances, tracks unusual auras, and assists in investigations. 113 130
• Su Li — Shadow Division agent and friend; Yu Ziqing offers cooperation, relies on his intelligence work, and seeks revenge against those who harm him. 46 64 74
• Prince Xiang — Great Zhen prince and reliable political ally; he aids Yu Ziqing’s investigations and later addresses him as “Uncle” in private. 130 383
• Zhang Quli — Great Dui’s Chief Grand Secretary; manages state affairs and supports Yu Ziqing’s policies and public image. 218 294
• Zhong Shouzheng — Nascent Soul cultivator, informant, and collaborator in researching souls, ancient secrets, and the Cliff God King. 229 361
• Mountain Lord — Powerful elder ally who trusts Yu Ziqing’s plans, lends him power, and becomes the sword used to kill the Cliff God King. 521 533
• Ruan Renwang — Ancient zombie cultivator whom Yu Ziqing brings under Jinlan Mountain’s protection; later treated as family. 285 428
• Hungry ghosts — Yu Ziqing’s central community and responsibility; he protects them from exploitation, gives them purpose, and commands their collective power. 53 212
• The Great Demons — Initially trapped in the turbid world mud sea; they gradually come to trust Yu Ziqing as he works to rescue them. 415

Story Role / Major Arcs

Jinlan Mountain and the White Sun Conflict

Yu Ziqing establishes himself at Jinlan Mountain, chooses Body Refining over the Dao Practitioner route, and begins cultivating the Path of the Hungry Ghost in human form. 22 51

He investigates the White Sun cult, protects hungry ghosts from the White Sun Holy Mother’s incense-harvesting scheme, defeats the Holy Mother, and later survives its possession attempt through extensive layered defenses. 53 65 81

Sorrowful Grotto-Heaven and the Sealed Legacies

Yu Ziqing investigates Sorrowful Grotto-Heaven, aids Lei Yu’s expedition, discovers ancient relics, and encounters the Heavenly Demon Zizaitian. 93 94 97

He returns the remains of ancient sealers to the Feng Family, investigates the Yin Family’s disappearance, and becomes deeply involved with the Feng and Yin families’ sealed inheritances. 102 130 144

Rise of Great Dui

After Emperor Dui’s death, the Great Dui Imperial Seal acknowledges Yu Ziqing as the new monarch. He forms a temporary cabinet and prioritizes preventing starvation rather than pursuing immediate expansion or revenge. 197

Over the following years, he governs through broad policy direction, public infrastructure, agricultural development, filth buckets, jade tablets, and direct observation of ordinary people’s lives. 218 294 295

Research, Inheritance, and Dao Court

Yu Ziqing turns Jinlan Mountain and Great Dui into centers for practical research. He funds scholars, recruits experts, develops Spirit Transformation Arrays, and treats seemingly minor technologies as tools for improving common life. 267 294 435

He studies the Great Evolution First Chapter, ritual methods, true names, divine souls, cultivation systems, and the nature of his own judgment ability. 231 295 355

Conflict with Ancient Gods

Yu Ziqing identifies the threat posed by the Cliff God King and the Deep Sea Ancient God. He uses intelligence, true names, Dao Court power, alliances among the Divine Dynasties, and the Mountain Lord’s strength to oppose them. 361 521 528

After using Name Ghost to weaken the Cliff God King, Yu Ziqing wields the Mountain Lord Sword in the battle that ends the Age of Gods. 521

Tenth-Order Advancement and the Great Impact

Yu Ziqing gathers Kun-character power across the world, expands his Dao Court, and advances to the Tenth Order amid the chaos caused by the Deep Sea Ancient God’s manipulation of time and history. 524 529 532

When the resulting great impact threatens world order, he unites the Mountain Lord, the Three Emperors, Old Emperor Li, and Heavenly Monarch Luoge behind a contingency plan. 532 533