Hongyun

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Hongyun (红云)
Alias(es)	Old Ancestor Hongyun 7
Species/Race	The first crimson cloud between Heaven and Earth to attain the Dao 7
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Wuzhuang Temple; independent cultivator 125
Occupation/Role	Great power and cultivator of the Four Symbols Dao 124
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Late-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal	20	Heavenly Dao Merit from restoring the Western Earth Veins deepened his understanding of the Four Symbols Dao and carried his cultivation through its bottleneck.
Early-stage Quasi-Saint	106	Severed his Good Corpse with the Purple-Gold Gourd; later merit stabilized this newly attained realm.

Background / History

Hongyun was formed from the first crimson cloud between Heaven and Earth to attain the Dao. A longtime resident of Wuzhuang Temple, he is Zhenyuanzi's closest friend and shares the temple's secluded, independent way of life. His cultivation centers on the Four Symbols—earth, water, wind, and fire—and on bringing their transformations into balance. 7 124 125

When Xuande, Jieyin, and Zhunti sought assistance repairing the devastated Western Earth Veins, Hongyun immediately supported the undertaking. He argued that the suffering beings of the West should not be abandoned when aid was possible, then joined Zhenyuanzi in surveying the region. During the survey, he recorded changes in the Qi of the Four Directions while Zhenyuanzi traced the Earth Veins with the Earth Scroll. 9 10

Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi assumed responsibility for the most severely damaged Earth Vein structures. Zhenyuanzi reshaped broken nodes and restored the main channels, while Hongyun harmonized the disordered earth, water, wind, and fire Qi, soothing conflicts that could destabilize the repairs. Their work continued through the final restoration of the Western Earth Vein system, earning them Heavenly Dao Merit and advancing Hongyun to the late-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm. 12 19 20

He travelled with Xuande, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Zhenyuanzi to Purple Cloud Palace to hear Hongjun's lectures. Although initially restless in the directionless Chaos, he endured the journey and became one of the first listeners to arrive. During the lecture, the Primordial Violet Qi unexpectedly chose him, embedding itself in his Primordial Spirit and making him the focus of widespread envy. 32 54

After leaving Purple Cloud Palace, Hongyun came to understand that the Violet Qi made him vulnerable to theft and schemes. He remained at Wuzhuang Temple while his friends prepared to protect him, then entered seclusion to comprehend the Qi and his treasures. He later selected the Purple-Gold, Azure-Blue, and Silver-White Gourds from the Innate Gourd Vine, eventually using the Purple-Gold Gourd to sever his Good Corpse and enter the Quasi-Saint realm. 59 70 106

Hongyun continued aiding the West's development after his breakthrough. He helped transplant the Four Symbols Banana Tree to Mount Sumeru, received Xuande's Innate Four Symbols Grand Formation, and used it to support the placement of the Three Immortal Islands around Mount Sumeru. He also spent thousands of years nourishing the fused branch that became the twin-born Spiritual Root of the Yellow Center Plum and Ginseng Fruit Tree. 85 88 106 111

When Kunpeng invited Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi to join the Demon Clan, both declined. They chose to remain at Wuzhuang Temple, preferring their free and peaceful cultivation over involvement in factional conflict. 125

Appearance

Hongyun appears as a Daoist in red robes, with red hair, a kindly face, and a warm smile. 7

• Red clothing and red hair. 7
• A notably friendly, open expression. 7
• Four-colored radiance manifests around him when he employs the power of earth, water, wind, and fire. 19 85
• His hair and beard bristle when he exerts himself to regulate unstable Four Symbols Qi. 19

Personality

Hongyun is forthright, warm-hearted, and highly sociable. He readily speaks with guests, tells stories from his travels, and brings an energetic, playful tone to formal gatherings. His enthusiasm extends to rare spiritual fruits and treasures, though he is content with modest gains when others pursue greater prizes. 8 56

His easygoing manner does not prevent him from taking serious responsibilities seriously. During the repair of the Western Earth Veins, he set aside his humor to focus completely on maintaining the balance of the Four Directions' Qi. His compassion is practical: he believes that cultivators who can relieve suffering have an obligation to act. 9 12 19

Hongyun is also honest and trusting, traits that leave him vulnerable to the ambitions of other great powers after he obtains the Primordial Violet Qi. Zhenyuanzi specifically worries that Hongyun's straightforward nature makes him susceptible to hidden schemes. 54 59

Abilities & Skills

Four Symbols Dao

Hongyun cultivates the transformations of earth, water, wind, and fire. His specialty is regulating conflicting energies and restoring them to a stable cycle. 7 9

• Recorded disturbances in the Four Directions' Qi during the Western Earth Vein survey. 10
• Pacified water, wind, and fire Qi while Zhenyuanzi repaired fractured Earth Veins. 19
• Guided the roots of the Four Symbols Banana Tree into Mount Sumeru's Earth Veins. 85
• Nourished the fused twin-born Spiritual Root with Four Symbols power for thousands of years. 109 111

Earth Vein Restoration

Hongyun complements Zhenyuanzi's Earth Dao by supplying the “Qi and blood” of restored terrain: harmonizing ambient energies, awakening dormant vitality, and preventing elemental clashes during major repairs. 12

• Worked on the West's most dangerous and structurally damaged Earth Vein regions alongside Zhenyuanzi. 13 19
• Helped complete the restoration of the Western Earth Vein system and received Heavenly Dao Merit for the deed. 19 20
• Assisted in stabilizing Mount Sumeru's Earth Veins during the settlement of the Three Immortal Islands. 106

Innate Four Symbols Grand Formation

Xuande passed the Innate Four Symbols Grand Formation to Hongyun because of its natural compatibility with his Dao. 88

• Invokes the powers of earth, water, wind, and fire and can evolve myriad phenomena. 88
• Its full deployment can make escape difficult even for a Quasi-Saint. 88
• Served as the supporting foundation for the Three Talents Formation surrounding Mount Sumeru and the Three Immortal Islands. 106

Formation and Spiritual-Root Support

Hongyun can use Four Symbols power to refine and regulate Spiritual Energy within large formations. 109 111

• Took the Position of Heaven in the Innate Three Talents Grand Formation with Xuande and Zhenyuanzi. 109 111
• Helped maintain the balance between the Yellow Center Plum and Ginseng Fruit Tree branches during their fusion. 109 110
• Perceived that the awakened fused tree transformed surrounding Spiritual Energy into a purer form. 111

Equipment / Treasures / Items

• Primordial Violet Qi — Chosen by the Qi at Purple Cloud Palace and absorbed into Hongyun's Primordial Spirit; grants the possibility of sainthood but attracts hostile attention. 54 55
• Purple-Gold Gourd — One of the Innate Gourds; used by Hongyun to sever his Good Corpse. 70 106
• Azure-Blue and Silver-White Gourds — Two additional Innate Gourds that resonated with Hongyun when he selected his treasures from the gourd vine. 70
• Innate Four Symbols Grand Formation — A formation Xuande gifted to Hongyun for its exceptional compatibility with the Four Symbols Dao. 88
• Three Light Divine Water — Kept in a jade bottle and contributed to the attempt to fuse the Yellow Center Plum and Ginseng Fruit Tree branches. 109

Relationships

• Zhenyuanzi — Closest friend and fellow Wuzhuang Temple cultivator; their Earth Dao and Four Symbols Dao form a natural partnership in Earth Vein restoration and spiritual-root cultivation. 7 12 19 111
• Xuande — Friend and collaborator in restoring the West. Xuande resolved to protect Hongyun after the latter received the Primordial Violet Qi and later gifted him the Innate Four Symbols Grand Formation. 55 88
• Jieyin — Ally in the restoration of the West and companion on the journey to Purple Cloud Palace. 9 32
• Zhunti — Ally and frequent conversational companion; Zhunti supported Hongyun after the Violet Qi chose him. 54 57
• Nuwa and Fuxi — Fellow cultivators who collaborated with Hongyun in awakening the twin-born Spiritual Root. 111
• Northern Mystery — An ancient late-stage Quasi-Saint whom Hongyun met at Mount Sumeru; Hongyun deeply respected its serenity and steadfastness. 106
• Kunpeng — Visited Wuzhuang Temple to recruit Hongyun for the Demon Clan; Hongyun refused and remained independent. 125

Notable Quotes

“The beings of the West are also living creatures. If they suffer and we have the power to help, how can we stand by and do nothing?” 9

“This tree... this tree was practically born for me!” 85