Zhao Gongming

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhao Gongming (赵公明)
Alias(es)	God of Wealth; Golden Dragon Ruyi Zhengyi Dragon-Tiger Altar True Lord
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Intercepting Sect (Jiejiao)
Occupation/Role	Eldest outer disciple of the Intercepting Sect; later a divine official governing the world's wealth
Status	Active; previously killed and enfeoffed within the Investiture of the Gods 31 32 102 116
First Appearance	Chapter 15

Background / History

Defender of Nine Dragon Island

Zhao Gongming was the Intercepting Sect's eldest outer disciple and a renowned, righteous cultivator. Shen Zhaochi sent him a Heavenly Secrets warning when Guangchengzi threatened Wang Mo, Gao Yougan, Li Xingba, and Yang Sen on Nine Dragon Island; Zhao immediately rode from Mount Emei's Luofu Cave to protect them. 15

He restrained Guangchengzi's Sky-Turning Seal with the Dragon Binding Rope, then used the Twenty-Four Sea Calming Divine Beads to oppose it. Guangchengzi subsequently died when his own treasure turned against him, and Zhao took possession of the Sky-Turning Seal. 15 16

Victories over the Sect of Explanation

Following a premonition, Zhao traveled to Fire Dragon Island to refine the Sky-Turning Seal. He survived Chijingzi's ambush through vigilance and combat experience, broke Chijingzi's Yin-Yang defensive bridge, and killed him. 16 17 18

Daoist Randeng later confronted Zhao under the pretense of seeking revenge. Randeng deliberately left the Qiankun Ruler behind, allowing Zhao to believe he had defeated a Quasi-Saint and acquired another top-grade treasure. 19

Zhao's victories over Guangchengzi and Chijingzi, along with his apparent rout of Randeng, made him a celebrated figure on Golden Ao Island. Intercepting Sect disciples hailed him as their foremost God of War and “the number one person below a Saint.” 20 27

Downfall and Godhood

His fame fed an increasing confidence in his own strength. Yun Xiao cautioned that his victories were suspiciously convenient and could invite retaliation, but Zhao dismissed her concerns. 27

While seeking a secluded location to refine the Sea Calming Divine Beads and Qiankun Ruler, Zhao was approached by Saint Zhunti. Zhunti offered him a place in the Western Teachings and the prospect of sainthood; Zhao refused outright rather than betray the Intercepting Sect. 28

Zhunti captured and severely wounded him. During the confrontation, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao's Treasure Dropping Golden Coin disarmed both sides, allowing Randeng to seize the Sea Calming Divine Beads and Qiankun Ruler. The badly injured Zhao was then killed by Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao. 30 31

His True Spirit entered the Investiture of the Gods, where Shen Zhaochi enfeoffed him as the Golden Dragon Ruyi Zhengyi Dragon-Tiger Altar True Lord, a God of Wealth responsible for the world's wealth and offerings. Zhao accepted the office and resolved to cultivate peacefully within the divine realm. 32

Return to the Xi Qi Conflict

Zhao's death drove Yun Xiao, Qiong Xiao, and Bi Xiao to seek vengeance against Randeng, Zhunti, and the Heavenly Origin Sect. 34 37 38

In later events, Zhao again appears as an active Intercepting Sect cultivator. He requested Sanxiao's aid against the Heavenly Origin Sect, received Yun Xiao's Dragon Binding Rope, and descended to Xi Qi to challenge Randeng and the Golden Immortals. 102 103

He initially overwhelmed the enemy with the Twenty-Four Sea Calming Divine Beads, but Randeng arranged for Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao to use the Treasure Dropping Golden Coin against him. After losing his key treasures and suffering injuries in the ensuing siege, Zhao followed Mister Shen's instructions and retreated to Three Immortals Island. 103 104 105

Zhao presented his injuries and losses to Sanxiao as an outrage committed by Randeng and the Heavenly Origin Sect, helping provoke the deployment of the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation. 108 He later returned to Golden Ao Island alongside Sect Master Tongtian and Sanxiao after the Intercepting Sect's victory and Randeng's capture. 116

Appearance

Zhao Gongming is commonly depicted in a daoist robe with long black hair, riding a Black Tiger and carrying his Sea Calming Divine Beads. 15 27

After receiving his divine office, he manifests a markedly different godly form. 32

• Golden divine robe and purple-gold divine crown.
• Majestic bearing surrounded by golden fortune light.
• Carries a divine seal representing his divine office. 32

Personality

Zhao Gongming is fiercely loyal to the Intercepting Sect and protective of its members. He rushed to Nine Dragon Island to defend Wang Mo and his companions, and he refused Zhunti's offer even when threatened with death and forced conversion. 15 28 30

He is battle-hardened, direct, and proud of his strength. His battlefield discipline let him counter Chijingzi's ambush, but his repeated successes also made him dismiss Yun Xiao's warnings and underestimate Randeng's schemes. 17 27 103

His later conduct at Three Immortals Island shows a more calculating side: he exaggerated the circumstances of his defeat to inflame his sisters' desire for vengeance against the Heavenly Origin Sect. 108

Abilities & Skills

Cultivation and Combat Experience

Zhao is regarded as one of the Intercepting Sect's most formidable outer disciples. He is described as possessing a Quasi-Saint aura after his early victories, while later accounts identify him as a peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal. 20 103

• Remained alert to his surroundings even while refining the Sky-Turning Seal, allowing him to block Chijingzi's assassination attempt. 17
• Fought Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, Randeng, and the Heavenly Origin Sect's Golden Immortals. 15 17 19 103
• Briefly resisted Zhunti's Saint-level palm strike by combining the power of the Twenty-Four Sea Calming Divine Beads. 29
• His effectiveness falls sharply when opponents remove or suppress his magical treasures. 104 105

Twenty-Four Sea Calming Divine Beads

Zhao's principal treasure is a set of twenty-four top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures with immense offensive and defensive power. 15 103

• Collided directly with Guangchengzi's Sky-Turning Seal and overwhelmed Chijingzi's defenses. 15 17
• Can manifest the pressure of twenty-four minor worlds and crush opponents with five-colored divine light. 29 103
• Allowed Zhao to confront Zhunti temporarily despite the gulf between a Quasi-Saint and a Saint. 29
• Can be neutralized by the Treasure Dropping Golden Coin, which severed Zhao's connection to the beads and caused them to fall. 104

Divine Office of Wealth

Following his enfeoffment, Zhao acquired a divine body and authority distinct from immortal cultivation. 32

• Holds the title Golden Dragon Ruyi Zhengyi Dragon-Tiger Altar True Lord.
• Governs the world's wealth and receives offerings and incense from living beings. 32
• Is connected to the laws of fortune throughout the Primordial Era. 32
• Possesses a divine seal and a stable divine position tied to the continuing need for wealth among living beings. 32

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Twenty-Four Sea Calming Divine Beads — Zhao's signature treasures; capable of carrying the force of twenty-four minor worlds. 15 29 103
• Dragon Binding Rope — Used to restrain opponents and magical treasures, including the Sky-Turning Seal; later lent to him by Yun Xiao. 15 102 104
• Golden Flood Dragon Scissors — A lethal paired treasure used after the Sea Calming Divine Beads were dropped. 104
• Sky-Turning Seal — Taken after Guangchengzi's death and brought to Fire Dragon Island for refinement. 15 17
• Yin Yang Mirror — Collected after Chijingzi's death. 19
• Qiankun Ruler — Acquired when Randeng intentionally abandoned it; later sought by Randeng and lost during Zhao's downfall. 19 30 105
• Divine Seal — Symbol of his office as the God of Wealth. 32
• Black Tiger — His usual mount. 15 17 28

Relationships

• Shen Zhaochi / Mister Shen — Shen initially warned Zhao of Wang Mo's danger, but also secretly engineered the chain of events leading to Zhao's first death. Zhao later follows Mister Shen's instructions during his retreat from Xi Qi. 15 31 39 105
• Yun Xiao — Elder sister who warns him against arrogance, lends him the Dragon Binding Rope, and leads Sanxiao's vengeance after his apparent death. 27 32 102 108
• Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao — His sisters; both are devastated by his death and support Yun Xiao's retaliation against Randeng and the Heavenly Origin Sect. 32 34 108
• Sect Master Tongtian — Leader of the Intercepting Sect; takes pride in Zhao's early victories and later returns with him to Golden Ao Island. 20 116
• Wang Mo, Gao Yougan, Li Xingba, and Yang Sen — Fellow Intercepting Sect cultivators whom Zhao rescued from Guangchengzi on Nine Dragon Island. 15
• Guangchengzi — Sect of Explanation opponent whose Sky-Turning Seal Zhao countered and later claimed. 15
• Chijingzi — Ambushed Zhao on Fire Dragon Island and was killed in their duel. 17 18
• Daoist Randeng — Rival whose staged defeat fed Zhao's pride; later orchestrated the seizure of Zhao's treasures. 19 30 103 105
• Zhunti — Western Teachings Saint who attempted to recruit Zhao, then captured and gravely wounded him after his refusal. 28 30
• Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao — Rogue cultivators whose Treasure Dropping Golden Coin repeatedly stripped Zhao of his treasures; they killed him during his first downfall. 31 104

Notable Quotes

“You want to kill my friends from the Intercepting Sect? Did you even ask me first?” 15

“If you're done, then get... Lost!” 28

“You think I, Zhao Gongming, would betray my sect and be your dog? Dream on!” 30