Zhao Zhengrong

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhao Zhengrong (赵峥嵘)
Alias(es)	Newcomer Crusher; Emperor of Reflection; Boss Zhao (role) 5 33
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Blue Star Federation; Food Group — Minister of the Combat Department; Endless warship 238 239
Occupation/Role	Subconscious Actor; Blue Star Federation general; Magic Fighter; third-generation magical mechanical modifier 21 238
First Appearance	As Boss Zhao in Endless Food Bag 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Acting Skill 1 → 2	21	Spent a Usable Ability Point on his primary profession. The upgrade grants refined facial-muscle control, more responsive limbs, and acting knowledge equivalent to decades of study. 21
Imperial Body Forging Technique 6 → 7	172	Reached the second level after surpassing the Sixty Year Foundation Establishment threshold. The “Nourish” method strengthened his kidneys and substantially improved endurance. 172

Background

Zhao Zhengrong is a veteran Subconscious Actor known as the Newcomer Crusher. He shared the title Emperor of Reflection with Zhu Nanhua and was regarded by many directors as an underestimated veteran actor. Despite his intimidating image, he devoted at least ninety percent of his earnings to the Radiation Sickness Relief Association and lived an ascetic life after the deaths of his wife and child. 33 65 172

He first appeared in Endless Food Bag as Boss Zhao, the ruthless first-generation leader of Changhe Survivor Camp. His role was weakened by the director to prevent his exceptional physique from overwhelming the film’s conflict, but even in that state he incapacitated Zhang Guangmu with a single punch. Zhang later succeeded him as Changhe Camp’s second-generation ruler. 2 9 19

After Endless Food Bag, Zhao took an interest in Zhang Guangmu’s potential and offered him help. Their subsequent collaborations made Zhao more expressive and sociable than he had been for years, while Zhang came to regard him as an exceptionally dependable elder brother. 19 92 97

Appearance

Zhao Zhengrong is a bald, heavily muscled man whose physique is repeatedly compared to steel armor or a humanoid war machine. His build is powerful without appearing cumbersome, combining mass with speed, flexibility, and biomechanical efficiency. 19 83

• Massive bald head and no visible eyebrows. 19 236
• Sharp, angular facial features and a fierce resting expression. 82
• Dense, bulging musculature developed through long-term high-intensity training. 19
• Commonly wears practical dark clothing, including a black Tang suit and a charcoal-gray combat uniform. 19 238

Personality

Zhao is a man of few words who prefers decisive action to lengthy discussion. He is reserved around unfamiliar people and unaccustomed to overt friendliness, yet he is sincere, direct, and unwavering once he gives his word. 2 92 239

His moral judgment is straightforward but deeply held. He values peace, protects weaker people, and assesses others by their actions rather than their status. Before joining the Food Group, he intended to determine whether Zhang Guangmu was a dangerous ambitious figure; after observing him, Zhao concluded that Zhang and his companions were genuinely kind-hearted. 236 238

Although he recognizes Zhang Guangmu’s growing superiority in combat, Zhao remains a steady source of caution and practical advice. He warns against reckless power use, urges preparation before major risks, and considers the consequences of Supernatural Erosion on an actor’s performance. 170 643

Abilities & Skills

Imperial Body Forging Technique

Zhao’s physical cultivation underpins his extraordinary strength, speed, stamina, pain tolerance, and body control. He is an all-round martial artist rather than a pure strength specialist. 83 172 479

• Possesses no apparent weakness in strength, speed, agility, flexibility, endurance, or close-quarters technique. 83 85
• Can move explosively despite his size; in Mysterious Assignment, he crossed a battlefield with thunderous speed and continued fighting while embedded with shrapnel. 82
• His level 7 cultivation improved his internal condition and endurance, but did not fundamentally alter his already formidable unarmed combat style. 172
• Zhang Guangmu initially considered Zhao an exception rather than a normal benchmark for the technique’s combat potential. 105

Acting Skill

Zhao considers acting his professional foundation and prioritized improving it immediately upon becoming a one-star Subconscious Actor. 21

• Acting Skill 2 grants precise control of facial expressions and limbs. 21
• Is capable of instantly producing convincing emotional performances, including believable crying. 21
• His established screen image and imposing presence made him famous despite frequently portraying intimidating roles. 5 65

Magic Fighter and Mechanical Modification

During the Two Realms storyline, Zhao is identified as a Magic Fighter and a third-generation magical mechanical modifier serving as a Blue Star Federation general. 238

• His combat ability was considered too valuable for the Federation to risk in the Grand Conference of Transcendent Beings from Two Realms. 237
• He states that, at the cost of his own life, he could theoretically release destructive force greater than the Tsar Bomba and erase a city. 238
• Later served the Food Group as its Minister of the Combat Department. 239

Seed of the Strange Demon · Strength

In the Taichu Star scenario, Zhao gained abnormal power after being infected while mutually destroying a powerful Strange Demon eight months earlier. 853

• Can reinforce his body with golden light and twist a steel bar into a bow tie by hand. 853
• Uses of abnormal power consume lifespan; Zhao’s restraint delayed the visible effects, but he was ultimately estimated to have fewer than three months left. 857
• He passed the Seed’s inheritance on to Zhang Guangmu, allowing Zhang to obtain the same foundational power. 853
• Zhang later restored and extended Zhao’s depleted lifespan through a lifespan exchange. 857

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Stone Spirit Sword — Zhao’s weapon as the Dao Sect Sword Emperor. It was badly cracked during his final battle with Lin An; Zhao gave it to Zhang Guangmu before dying, allowing its pure Spirit Sword Power to flow into Zhang. 706
• Abyssal Fiend Seed · Strength — Abnormal-power seed acquired through near-death parasitism; grants immense physical strength at the cost of lifespan. 853 857

Relationships

• Zhang Guangmu — Fellow actor, recurring collaborator, and trusted younger companion. Zhao recognized Zhang’s potential early, supported him publicly, assessed his character in person, and ultimately joined the Food Group under his leadership. 19 98 238 239
• Zhao’s wife and child — Deceased family members whose loss left Zhao emotionally withdrawn for years. 172
• Cao Guan — Fellow industry figure who deeply respects Zhao’s character, charitable work, and overlooked ability as a Subconscious Actor. 65
• Chu Fan and Li Xiaoxiao — Members of Zhao and Zhang’s wider Endless circle; they helped arrange Zhao’s first meeting with Zhang in the Two Realms storyline. 238
• Tang Lanshan and Luo Zhuan — Food Group colleagues who helped handle Zhao’s smooth integration into the organization. 239
• Lin An — Zhao’s opponent in the Wudang Mountain conflict. Zhao resisted him to the end and used his final moments to pass vital intelligence to Zhang Guangmu. 706

Story Role / Major Arcs

*Endless Food Bag*

As Boss Zhao, Zhao leads Changhe Survivor Camp with ruthless efficiency. He orders his men to beat Zhang Guangmu, acknowledges Zhang’s courage and skill after Zhang defeats three underlings, then personally overwhelms him with one punch. 2

*Mysterious Assignment*

Zhao and Zhang Guangmu form a temporary team in the film’s combat phase. Other contestants view Zhao as the greatest threat in direct combat because of his complete physicality, resolve, and lack of exploitable weaknesses. 83 85

Food Group Recruitment

As a Blue Star Federation general, Zhao seeks a personal audience with Zhang Guangmu to assess whether he is a threat. Zhang offers him the post of Combat Department Minister; Zhao initially refuses due to his Federation obligations, but accepts after recognizing the Food Group’s pursuit of peace between the two realms. 238 239

*Martial Way Diary*

Zhao portrays Steel Fist Zhao Zhengrong, the adoptive father of Young Master Mu. He teaches Zhang Guangmu the Four Great Realms of the Martial Way and takes pride in Zhang’s record-breaking entry into cultivation. 399

Later, as the Dao Sect Sword Emperor, Zhao makes his last stand against Lin An at Wudang’s Golden Summit. Mortally wounded, he reveals the history and danger of the Soul-Confining Sword Sheath, hands his Spirit Sword to Zhang Guangmu, and dies smiling. 706

Taichu Star Scenario

Known as the Dean of Orphans, Zhao supports survivors despite scarce supplies and uses his abnormal strength to defend them. He teaches Zhang Guangmu about the three major realms of abnormal power, gives him the Seed of the Strange Demon · Strength, and later becomes the Long River Dynasty’s Benevolent Marquis. 851 853 854 879

During Kamiza Arata Mirai’s assault on Long River City, Zhao is among the first elite defenders attacked and loses an arm in the confrontation. 874

Notable Quotes

“I think... Zhang Guangmu is a good kid.” 236

“You are just as I initially thought, a good kid in the truest sense of the word.” 238

“Your strength has far surpassed mine.” 639

Trivia

• Zhao’s intimidating reputation contrasts sharply with his support for Zhang Guangmu; he is one of the first prominent veterans to openly endorse Zhang’s rise among the Seven Stars. 98
• Despite being called the Newcomer Crusher, he was personally supportive toward Zhang Guangmu from their first real-world meeting. 19
• Zhao’s role as Steel Fist Zhao Zhengrong differs visually from his usual appearance by giving him a thick beard. 398