Zhao Manyan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhao Manyan (赵满延)
Alias(es)	Old Zhao; Second Young Master Zhao; the Zhao Clan’s “turtle-shell Mage” 137 180 402
Gender	Male 107 629
Affiliation	Zhao Family; Pearl Academy’s Light Institute; Huaxia National Government Team 107 137 257
Occupation/Role	Defensive mage; initially the Zhao Family’s second young master, later its head 137 180 718
Status	Alive at the end of the novel 718
First Appearance	Meets Xu Fang at the Light Institute’s freshman meeting 107

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Light Element mage	107 123	Introduced as a Light Institute freshman; his Light Element is subsequently stated explicitly.
Intermediate-level Light and Water magic demonstrated	180	Layers Water Guard · Cycle, a defensive Magic Tool, and Light Blessing · Sacred Shield against Xu Fang. His breakthrough date is not given.
Wooden Fish defensive enhancement	269	Gains a defensive boost after the Yanming Temple incident; even Ai Jiangtu cannot quickly break through his defenses.
Wooden Fish enhancement quantified	301	Its yellow ancient script doubles the strength of his defensive magic, allowing him to withstand some High-level spells lacking direct destructive power.
High-level breakthrough confirmed retrospectively	518	Mu Bai refers to the Star River Vein Zhao Manyan wasted while breaking through to High level. The passage does not establish the breakthrough’s exact date.

Background / History

Pearl Academy

Zhao Manyan meets Xu Fang before their Light Institute freshman meeting. Initially proud of his blond hair and handsome appearance, he feels outshone by Xu Fang and decides to dye his hair brown. By the following chapter, he has done so and is also shown sharing a dormitory with Mo Fan 107 108.

He recognizes Xu Fang’s potential and hopes to recruit him into the Zhao Clan. After Mo Fan cedes the credit for the Scale Skin Demon Mother incident to him, Zhao Manyan receives substantially more cultivation resources from his family. He later proposes an assessment team built around his defense, Mo Fan’s offense, and Xu Fang’s control, though Xu Fang declines 109 123 137.

During the Light Institute rankings, Zhao Manyan holds 100th place. He withstands Xu Fang’s initial attacks through successive defensive layers, but immediately surrenders when Xu Fang prepares Meteor Sun, a giant fist with power comparable to ordinary Advanced Magic. He subsequently approaches Xu Fang about joining the Zhao Clan under his family’s instructions 180 181.

National Government Team

Zhao Manyan joins the Huaxia National Government Team, whose comfortable travel arrangements benefit from substantial Zhao Family funding. During the voyage to Japan, Chiling Demons seize control of his Raging Waves and turn them back on the team; Xu Fang rescues him and converts the waves into an attack using Sound magic 257 260 277.

At Yanming Temple, he falls unconscious after Mo Fan gives his name to the mysterious Miyata. The investigation uncovers a Wooden Fish artifact associated with Totem Baxia. Its subsequent defensive enhancement helps Zhao Manyan win against Japan’s guardians and later avoid elimination from the team 265 266 269 292.

His defensive role remains important during the expedition through the lightning forbidden barrier, where he shelters the group from sustained wind and lightning attacks. Although he originally viewed the international journey as an opportunity for romantic adventures, he later reflects that he became a serious competitor and helped bring Huaxia first place 293 402.

Family Conflict and Totem Expeditions

Zhao Manyan’s conflict with his brother, Zhao Yougan, forces him to flee pursuit around the world and leaves his bank accounts frozen. After wandering for years, he returns to Magic City to see his father one last time. He refuses Mo Fan’s offer to help seek revenge, fearing that further pressure on Zhao Yougan would endanger his mother 402 411.

Reunited with Mo Fan and Xu Fang, he resolves to concentrate on improving his strength and joins their search for a Totem Beast in Yantai. He willingly lends Xu Fang the Wooden Fish for comparison with the Tuo Long Wine Pot, though the artifacts do not resonate 402.

He continues traveling with his friends through Alps Academy, Egypt, and Athens. When Xu Fang’s cultivation progress spurs the group into action, Zhao Manyan joins Mo Fan, Mu Bai, and Heidi in hunting demons. During their Medusa investigation, he supplies his bank card to purchase further intelligence 508 531 533 553.

By Zhang Xiaohou’s wedding preparations, his feud with Zhao Yougan remains irreconcilable, but Baxia’s presence gives him confidence that he can appear publicly. At the novel’s end, he is identified as the new head of the Zhao Family 629 718.

Appearance

• Original hairstyle: Slightly permed, shoulder-length blond curls 107.
• Face: Described as having the standard handsome face of a fairy-tale prince 107.
• Initial clothing: Simple, all-white sportswear 107.
• Later hairstyle: Dyes his hair brown after comparing himself unfavorably with Xu Fang 107 108.

Personality

Zhao Manyan is pleasure-loving, flirtatious, and outspoken about his interest in women. He enjoys luxurious travel and readily spends money on comfort, equipment, and companionship. Early on, he regards expensive magical resources as a natural part of the world and privately questions Xu Fang’s desire to make affordable alternatives available to everyone 108 109 264.

His pride does not override his survival instinct. He asks Xu Fang to spare him embarrassment in front of his girlfriend, but abandons the match as soon as victory becomes impossible. His own assessment is straightforward: he loves beautiful women, but loves his life more 180 554.

Beneath his joking manner, he is loyal and generous toward his friends. He challenges Imperial Capital Academy’s attempt to distance itself from Lu Zhenghe’s betrayal, calls for help when Mo Fan is in danger, and finances urgent intelligence gathering. His family crisis also reveals restraint: concern for his mother takes precedence over immediate revenge 160 305 402 533.

Abilities & Skills

Layered Defense

• Rapidly stacks Water Guard · Cycle, defensive Magic Tools, and Light Blessing · Sacred Shield, forcing opponents to break through successive barriers 180.
• Uses Magic Potions during combat to support his defensive endurance 180.
• Proposes a clear support role within a three-person team: he defends while Mo Fan attacks and Xu Fang controls opponents 137.
• Cannot withstand every attack; Xu Fang’s Meteor Sun prompts an immediate surrender despite his earlier confidence 180.

Light Element

• Light Blessing · Sacred Shield: Adds a Light barrier after his Water Guards and defensive tool have been engaged 180.
• Light Fall Vast Measure: His defensive release method is effective enough for Xu Fang to copy exactly when blocking poisonous mist 454.
• His Light magic is predominantly defensive, contrasting with Xu Fang’s unusually destructive use of the same element 537.

Water Element

• Water Guard: Maintains his breathing and protects him from wave impacts while submerged behind the team’s yacht 264.
• Raging Waves: Identified as his only offensive skill at that point in the story 260.
• Nearby water removes the need to condense the element and at least doubles his Raging Waves’ power during the island battle 260.
• Water-controlling Chiling Demons can suppress and reverse his waves, making the attack dangerous against that particular enemy 260.

Totem-Enhanced Protection

• The Wooden Fish artifact strengthens his defensive magic through yellow ancient script, doubling its power 301.
• Shields companions from continuous attacks equivalent to Intermediate Magic during the lightning-barrier expedition 293.
• Its defensive boost is decisive in keeping him on the National Government Team 292.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Wooden Fish artifact — Totem artifact associated with Baxia; doubles his defensive magic through its yellow ancient script 266 301 402.
• Full Magic Tool set — Possesses Footwear, Shield, Armor, Demon Slaying, and Wing Magic Tools by the World University Championship 330.
• Wing Magic Tool — Uses it to leave the seawater and return to the yacht’s deck during Water Guard training 264.
• Magic Potions — Drinks one while maintaining his defenses against Xu Fang 180.

Relationships

• Xu Fang — Fellow Light Institute student, friend, and frequent traveling companion. Zhao Manyan attempts to recruit him for the Zhao Clan and later relies on his help in dangerous encounters 107 181 305.
• Mo Fan — Dormmate and close friend. Mo Fan gives him credit for the Scale Skin Demon Mother incident and offers assistance against Zhao Yougan 108 123 402.
• Mu Bai — Traveling companion and frequent target of teasing; also openly criticizes Zhao Manyan’s reliance on family-funded resources 518 629.
• Zhao Yougan — Brother and bitter rival. Their conflict leads to worldwide pursuit and frozen accounts 402 411 629.
• Father — Zhao Manyan returns to Magic City specifically to see him one last time 402.
• Mother — Her safety is his stated reason for postponing revenge against Zhao Yougan 402.
• Totem Baxia — Totem companion whose presence reassures him that Zhao Yougan’s followers cannot safely attack him 376 629.
• Chen Ying — Cousin; accompanies the Yantai-related family and Totem storyline 585.
• Jiang Feng / Flame Witch — Aunt, identified by Zhao Manyan during the visit to Lü Yi 405.
• Zhang Xiaohou — Friend whose wedding he promises to attend despite the danger posed by his family feud 629.

Notable Quotes

“I'll defend, Mo Fan will output, and you control. A solid iron triangle!” 137

“Although I, Zhao Manyan, love beautiful women, I love my life more. I don’t want to die in my twenties.” 554