Zhao Gongming

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhao Gongming (赵公明)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Sect of Interception
Occupation/Role	Outer disciple; later inner disciple and the sixth personal disciple of Sect Master Tongtian 17 347
First Appearance	Chapter 4, “The Damned Sect Master Tongtian!” 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Grand Unity Golden Immortal	46	Recognized as a Grand Unity Golden Immortal while guarding Lin Chuan’s cultivation site against gathered disciples. 46
Eight-Nine Profound Art — mastery	93	Enters an epiphanic state and comprehends the top-tier technique in seconds. 93
Eight-Nine Profound Art — initial entry and minor accomplishment	94	Absorbs Primordial Violet Qi produced by Lin Chuan’s cultivation, advancing his comprehension of the art. 94
Nine Revolutions Profound Art — near entry	167–168	Receives Lin Chuan’s instruction, undergoes tempering, and rapidly approaches the method’s entry threshold. 167 168
Early-stage Quasi-Saint	269	Reaches this realm after gaining insight in the Jade Purity Palace’s welcoming hall with Lin Chuan’s help. 269
Mid-stage Quasi-Saint	347	Breaks through during seclusion and further stabilizes his cultivation afterward. 347

Background

Zhao Gongming spent millions of years in the Sect of Interception’s outer sect, making contributions while remaining unable to gain promotion. Lin Chuan’s sudden elevation from an unknown outer disciple to personal disciple provoked Zhao’s resentment; he regarded Lin as unworthy and publicly challenged him. 4 6 13

He fought Lin Chuan with his golden whip and all twenty-four Sea Calming Divine Pearls, but could not injure him. Realizing the gap between them, Zhao Gongming apologized and offered the pearls as compensation. 10 12 16 17

Sect Master Tongtian subsequently recognized Zhao Gongming’s accumulated contributions through Duobao’s decree, promoting him to the inner sect. Zhao believed that Lin Chuan had created the opportunity for this recognition, then publicly swore to follow him without complaint. 17 18

Personality

Zhao Gongming initially possesses great pride in his own achievements and strength. His frustration is rooted less in simple hostility than in the belief that his long service had been ignored while an unknown disciple received the position he wanted. 4 6

His defeat changes that pride into intense admiration. He repeatedly interprets Lin Chuan’s apparent sleeping and laziness as a deliberate disguise for secret cultivation, becoming convinced that he alone understands his senior brother’s hidden diligence. 22 71

He is loyal, direct, and strongly motivated by gratitude. Lin Chuan considers him one of the Sect of Interception’s most righteous members, while Zhao’s established reputation within the sect is “Righteousness Reaching the Heavens.” 269 348

After confronting the Chan Sect, he develops a battle-driven approach to cultivation. He believes genuine life-and-death combat advances him faster than secluded training and actively seeks stronger opponents to test himself. 147 157

Abilities & Skills

Eight-Nine Profound Art

Lin Chuan personally teaches Zhao Gongming the Eight-Nine Profound Art, a top-tier cultivation method. Zhao cultivates it diligently, later gaining a sudden epiphany that allows him to master it rapidly. 28 30 93

• Its activation manifests an imposing dharma image associated with his admiration for Lin Chuan. 154
• The technique doubles his strength during his battle against Daoist Huang Long. 154 155
• Combat against Huang Long deepens Zhao Gongming’s understanding of the method and brings him closer to minor accomplishment. 157

Nine Revolutions Profound Art

Lin Chuan later instructs Zhao Gongming in the Nine Revolutions Profound Art, emphasizing that advancement requires harsh trials and exceptional perseverance. 167

• Zhao reaches the method’s entry threshold far faster under Lin Chuan’s direct guidance than he believes possible through solitary cultivation. 167 168
• The method is treated as an ancient, exceptionally demanding body-refining art. 167

Combat Prowess

Zhao Gongming is a formidable frontline fighter whose strength exceeds the expected level of an outer disciple and later allows him to contend with Quasi-Saint opponents. 11 352

• Deflects Daoist Huang Long’s energy beads and repeatedly pressures him into losing composure. 151 152
• Captures Daoist Huang Long alive after turning the Dragon Binding Rope into a massive cage. 155
• Fights Ksitigarbha at a clear advantage without initially using weapons, treasures, or major divine abilities. 441 460
• Maintains a calm outward demeanor when Ksitigarbha deploys a formation, despite privately worrying about his lack of formation knowledge. 439

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Golden Whip — His primary weapon during the challenge against Lin Chuan and later duels; it is used in his fight with Lu Yue. 8 10 353
• Dragon Binding Rope — A powerful magical treasure used to deflect Daoist Huang Long’s attacks and bind him alive. 151 155
• Twenty-Four Sea Calming Divine Pearls — His former top-grade innate spiritual treasure. Zhao used them against Lin Chuan, then relinquished them as an apology; Lin Chuan later keeps them in system space. 10 16 269 525
• Sea-Suppressing Divine Whip — Named as Zhao Gongming’s divine weapon, though he does not deploy it during his fight against Ksitigarbha. 460

Relationships

• Lin Chuan — Senior brother, benefactor, mentor, and the person Zhao publicly swears to follow after his inner-sect promotion. Lin later teaches him multiple top-tier cultivation methods and guides his improvement. 18 28 165 167
• Sect Master Tongtian — Sect master and later Zhao Gongming’s master as his sixth personal disciple. Tongtian recognizes Zhao’s progress after his mid-stage Quasi-Saint breakthrough. 17 347
• Duobao Tathagata — Fellow disciple who announces Zhao Gongming’s elevation to the inner sect and later fights alongside him against Ksitigarbha. 17 439
• Sanxiao Sisters — Zhao Gongming’s sworn sisters, including Yunxiao; the four share a notably close relationship. 269
• Yin Jiao — Disciple. Zhao accepts Yin Jiao as an apprentice and later provides martial instruction and treasures through the Sect of Interception. 710 737
• Lu Yue — Fellow disciple and rival. Lu Yue challenges Zhao over the deputy sect leader position despite the difference in their realms. 351 353
• Daoist Huang Long — Chan Sect opponent whom Zhao defeats and captures during the confrontation on Golden Ao Island. 149 155
• Wen Zhong — Zhao Gongming is assigned to protect him when the Primordial Great World’s battle escalates. 818

Story Role / Major Arcs

Challenge for the Personal Disciple Position

Zhao Gongming challenges Lin Chuan to prove that Lin is undeserving of personal-disciple status. His full-strength assault fails completely, forcing him to reassess Lin’s ability and leading to a sincere apology. 4 10 12 16

Inner-Sect Promotion and Allegiance

After becoming an inner disciple, Zhao Gongming attributes the opportunity to Lin Chuan and becomes Lin’s publicly acknowledged follower. His devotion turns him into Lin’s guard, informant, and most fervent supporter within the sect. 18 19 33 46

Battle Against the Chan Sect

Seeking rapid improvement through real combat, Zhao Gongming answers the Chan Sect’s provocation. He battles Daoist Huang Long, unleashes a top-tier cultivation method, captures his opponent, and gains a lasting fighting spirit from the encounter. 147 157

Lin Chuan later intervenes when Juliusun escalates the conflict. Zhao apologizes for requiring assistance and vows to defeat the Twelve Golden Immortals himself in the future. 160 164

Curse Removal and Personal-Disciple Appointment

While Zhao Gongming cultivates in seclusion, Lin Chuan detects cursed Law Power spread throughout his body. Lin extracts the curse, after which Zhao breaks through to mid-stage Quasi-Saint and is named Tongtian’s sixth personal disciple. 343 347

Investiture of the Gods Period

Zhao Gongming supports Lin Chuan’s plan to delay the Investiture of the Gods and keep the Sect of Interception from being drawn into the Great Tribulation. 656

He later accepts Yin Jiao as a disciple, extending the Sect of Interception’s influence into the Shang royal family. 710

Notable Quotes

“Junior Brother swears here today to follow Senior Brother. No matter what Senior Brother wants me to do, I will never complain.” 18

“I will no longer cultivate step by step... Your appearance has shown me the path I need to take.” 147

“Only through real combat can one achieve significant breakthroughs and improvements.” 157

Trivia

• Zhao Gongming’s insistence that Lin Chuan is secretly cultivating while asleep becomes a recurring source of misunderstanding; Lin Chuan is actually trying to slack off. 22
• He gave away the twenty-four Sea Calming Divine Pearls despite their exceptional value, an act that shocks Duobao and the other disciples. 16 17
• At mid-stage Quasi-Saint, Zhao Gongming and Duobao are identified as the Sect of Interception’s two strongest non-Saint combatants. 487