Zhen Yuanzi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhen Yuanzi (镇元子)
Alias(es)	Ancestor of Earth Immortals
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Wuzhuang Temple, Longevity Mountain
Occupation/Role	Master of Wuzhuang Temple; protector of earth immortals and the Primordial Era's earth veins
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 10

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal	11	Identified as the strongest member of Lu Chen's group during the Three Clans' false Primordial Violet Qi ambush; uses the Earth Book to protect the group against Kunpeng.
Peak Quasi-Saint	71	Revealed to possess peak Quasi-Saint cultivation when he formally allies with Lu Chen and prepares an earth-vein formation for the Northern Darkness Sea rescue.

Appearance

Zhen Yuanzi appears as a white-haired elder with an immortal bearing. His composed appearance contrasts with his decisive protection of Wuzhuang Temple and Hongyun. 10

• White hair.
• Elderly, immortal-like demeanor.
• Commonly associated with the Earth Book and the Ginseng Fruit Tree of Wuzhuang Temple. 10 12 18

Personality

Zhen Yuanzi is cautious, measured, and difficult to provoke into rash action. When Lu Chen asks to cross Chaos with Hongyun and the Queen Mother of the West, Zhen Yuanzi initially objects because Lu Chen's cultivation is too low for the journey. He also warns Lu Chen not to publicly repeat Ancestor Qiankun's criticism that Hongjun's Dao is not the only path. 10

His defining trait is loyalty to Hongyun. He repeatedly risks himself to shield Hongyun from enemies, tends to his injuries, and refuses to abandon him even when facing powerful opponents or the pressure of the Six Saints. 11 12 33 42

Despite his restraint, Zhen Yuanzi is willing to support Lu Chen's dangerous schemes when they protect his allies or counter greater threats. He assists with the Witch-Slaying Sword sabotage, the Ullambana Festival plan, the Northern Darkness Sea rescue, and the replacement of the Investiture of the Gods List. 45 68 71 87

Abilities & Skills

Earth Book

Zhen Yuanzi wields the Earth Book, an Innate treasure tied to earth, space, protection, and deduction.

• Stabilizes space while travelling through Chaos. 10
• Shields Lu Chen from Kunpeng's attack during the false Primordial Violet Qi trap, though the impact injures Zhen Yuanzi. 11
• Creates a thousand-mile landscape manifestation to protect Hongyun from Di Jun, Taiyi, Minghe, and Kunpeng. 12
• Supports Wuzhuang Temple's defensive formations against Taiyi's demon army and the Six Saints' avatars. 20 42
• Can project Primordial mountain-and-river phenomena and simulate part of the Heavenly Dao's trajectory for a brief period. 87

Earth-Vein Divine Ability

Zhen Yuanzi can mobilize earth veins to establish large-scale formations.

• Plans to use an earth-vein formation to cut off Kunpeng and his allies' retreat in the Northern Darkness Sea. 71
• Helps seal a Saint-level demon formed from Luohu's remains during the rescue of Hongyun's reincarnated soul. 72
• Refines the Tribulation Substitution Talisman from earth-vein essence, allowing Lu Chen to deflect a Saint phantom's fatal strike. 75

Heavenly-Secret Deduction

Zhen Yuanzi uses his treasures and Daoist methods to investigate hidden threats, though Chaos interference can obscure his calculations.

• Detects the danger surrounding Hongyun's reincarnation through a shattered jade talisman and the Earth Fetal Membrane. 70 71
• Investigates the Northern Darkness Sea plot through informants and an Imprint Stone. 71
• Attempts to deduce the incident involving the Ginseng Fruit Tree, but finds the heavenly secrets obscured by Lu Chen's Chaos methods. 117

Equipment / Treasures

• Earth Book — His primary treasure, used for spatial stabilization, defense, earth-vein formations, and heavenly-secret deduction. 10 11 12 42
• Earth Fetal Membrane — An Innate Supreme Treasure connected to earth-vein power and heavenly-secret disruption. 71 87
• Ginseng Fruit Tree — The Chaos Spiritual Root of Wuzhuang Temple, which produces Ginseng Fruits once every nine thousand years. 18 117

History

Journey to Purple Heaven Palace

Zhen Yuanzi first meets Lu Chen while travelling with Hongyun and the Queen Mother of the West toward Purple Heaven Palace. Though he is wary of bringing a lower-cultivation traveller into Chaos, he permits Lu Chen to join after learning of his supposed connection to Ancestor Qiankun. During the journey, Zhen Yuanzi stabilizes the surrounding space with the Earth Book. 10

The group is drawn into a trap built around false Primordial Violet Qi. Zhen Yuanzi identifies the Three Clans' seal within the bait and later protects Lu Chen from Kunpeng's attack while Lu Chen removes the seal. He also diagnoses Hongyun's poisoning, explaining that the Ginseng Fruit can only temporarily relieve it. 11

When Di Jun, Taiyi, Minghe, and Kunpeng pursue Hongyun, Zhen Yuanzi openly confronts them and protects his friend with the Earth Book. 12

Wuzhuang Temple and the Kirin Eggs

After the first Purple Heaven Palace sermon, Lu Chen entrusts three Kirin Eggs to Zhen Yuanzi. Zhen Yuanzi accepts responsibility for preserving the last bloodline of the Kirin Clan and intends for the hatchlings to become mountain-guarding spirit beasts after they emerge. 13

Wuzhuang Temple becomes a refuge for Lu Chen after the Demon Clan issues a wanted order against him. Zhen Yuanzi offers the temple's Innate Earth Element Great Array and the Earth Book's protection, stating that only a Saint could force entry. He later shares a ripe Ginseng Fruit with Lu Chen and Hongyun. 18

Hongyun's Repeated Crises

Zhen Yuanzi supports Hongyun after the latter's Saint path is ruined by Luohu's Demonic Seed. He returns with Hongyun to Wuzhuang Temple, tends to his damaged foundation, and remains beside him when the Six Saints descend to seize the remnants of Hongyun's violet qi. 33 34 42

When the remaining Demonic Seed erupts again, Zhen Yuanzi attempts to stabilize Hongyun until Lu Chen removes it through the Law of Time and the Chaos Brick. Zhen Yuanzi then agrees to Lu Chen's plan to have Hongyun share in Zhuanxu's human destiny through reincarnation. 62 65

After Zhuanxu is captured in the Northern Darkness Sea, Zhen Yuanzi formally forms an alliance with Lu Chen. He uses an earth-vein formation to assist the rescue, after which he preserves Hongyun's remaining True Spirit with the Earth Fetal Membrane and the vitality of the Ginseng Fruit Tree. 71 72

Alliance with Lu Chen

Zhen Yuanzi becomes one of Lu Chen's most dependable allies. He offers advice on Lu Chen's actions against the Demon Clan, assists in tampering with the Witch-Slaying Sword, and joins Lu Chen at the Ullambana Festival to confront Jieyin and Zhunti. 45 68

He later helps Lu Chen create a temporary substitute body for Bo Yikao, using a Ginseng Fruit as the base and Earth Immortal methods to imitate the target's appearance and aura. 80

During the Investiture of the Gods period, Zhen Yuanzi agrees to use the Earth Book and Earth Fetal Membrane to obscure heavenly secrets long enough for Lu Chen's plan involving the Investiture of the Gods List. 87

Journey to the West

When Xuanzang's party reaches Wuzhuang Temple, Zhen Yuanzi is away at Shangqing Heaven. His attendants provide the pilgrims with two Ginseng Fruits according to his instructions. 117

After returning to find the Ginseng Fruit Tree apparently destroyed, Zhen Yuanzi confronts the group. Lu Chen, disguised as Daoist Qingfeng, creates the illusion of restoring the tree with Three Lights Divine Water. Though suspicious, Zhen Yuanzi chooses to let the matter go and privately reaches an understanding with Lu Chen. 117

Before Lu Chen departs into Chaos at the end of the novel, Zhen Yuanzi gives him nine seeds from the Ginseng Fruit Tree for use in a future world. 135

Relationships

• Hongyun — Closest friend and fellow resident of Wuzhuang Temple. Zhen Yuanzi repeatedly protects him, treats his injuries, and helps preserve his True Spirit after the Northern Darkness Sea incident. 12 33 42 72
• Lu Chen — Trusted ally and frequent guest of Wuzhuang Temple. Zhen Yuanzi shelters him, advises him, supports several of his schemes, and formally allies Wuzhuang Temple with the Sky-Supporting Pillar. 18 45 68 71
• Queen Mother of the West — Fellow traveller to Purple Heaven Palace with Hongyun and Lu Chen; both assist the group during the Chaos trap. 10 11
• Qingfeng and Mingyue — His attendants at Wuzhuang Temple, responsible for tending the Ginseng Fruit Tree and receiving guests. 18 117
• Jieyin and Zhunti — Opponents whose pressure on Hongyun and repeated schemes against Lu Chen draw Zhen Yuanzi into direct conflict with the Western Teachings. 42 68 75
• Sun Wukong — Meets indirectly through the Journey to the West party's visit to Wuzhuang Temple; allows the Ginseng Fruit Tree incident to pass after Lu Chen resolves it. 117

Notable Quotes

“Hongyun is my dearest friend. Anyone who dares to harm him is declaring an endless feud with my Wuzhuang Temple!” 12

“The demonic path is treacherous, do not lose your original heart.” 16