Li Zhi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Zhi (李治)
Alias(es)	Senior Brother Li 7
Gender	Male
Age	Eight during the Unified Examination 23
Affiliation	Four Saints Academy (designated entrant); Yellow Team commander during the Martial Assessment 10 16
Occupation/Role	Unified Examination candidate; military-formational leader 7 16
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Background / History

Li Zhi is the eldest son of the Duke of Grace of Southern Qi. Though he appears closer in age to an eleven- or twelve-year-old by Ye County standards, he is only eight during the examination. He travels to Fengyuan Commandery to take the Unified Examination, with a place at the Four Saints Academy already intended for him. 7 10 23

Before the Martial Assessment, Li Zhi approaches other candidates to construct a team. He explains that the assessment rewards the ability to gather and lead people rather than victory alone, promising benefits such as a third-class Blessed Land position to those who follow him. Wei Yuan refuses both to disclose his name and to join, recognizing that Li Zhi's status lets him disregard rules that would disqualify an ordinary candidate. 7

Li Zhi receives a Heavenly Grade A evaluation and thirty-eight points in the Dao Assessment. His root bone and fortune are both rated among the highest grade, and his nearly ten-foot golden fortune pillar manifests a small cauldron as an auspicious sign. 10

During the Martial Assessment, Li Zhi organizes 120 Yellow Team examinees into a four-part military formation. He establishes authority through execution, concentrates the entire force's pills among thirty elite guards, and sends Wang Fang's vanguard to test Bao Yun's defenses. His strategy fails when Bao Yun's forces eliminate the vanguard and wear down his flanks. 16 18 19

Unwilling to risk a decisive battle while Bao Yun's main force remains unaccounted for, Li Zhi preserves his central army and waits for a favorable opening. Wei Yuan's destruction of Bao Yun's force instead leaves Li Zhi facing an unexpected assault; his own troops abandon him, and Wei Yuan breaks Li Zhi's Xing Li Chapter before defeating him. 21 22

After the assessment, Li Zhi confronts Wei Yuan, learns his name, and vows to reclaim his humiliation in the future. His final Martial Assessment score is adjusted to twenty-two points. 23

Appearance

Li Zhi is a clear-featured youth with the polished bearing expected of a high-ranking noble. He wears an ornate blue robe when first meeting Wei Yuan. 7

• Only slightly shorter than the unusually tall Wei Yuan. 7
• Appears significantly older than his actual age of eight. 7 23
• Wears armor and carries a sword as Yellow Team commander in the Illusion Realm. 16

Personality

Li Zhi is charismatic, ambitious, and politically aware. He understands how rank, reputation, and prior alliances shape the Unified Examination, and he uses promises, polished manners, and noble authority to gather followers. 7 16

His leadership is also ruthless. He treats unrecruited examinees as expendable defenders, confiscates pills from ordinary troops to strengthen his elite guard, and executes an examinee who challenges his authority. 16 18

Although confident in his own planning, Li Zhi is cautious when the possibility of a disastrous loss threatens his score and standing. His refusal to commit the central army against Bao Yun reflects his concern with avoiding an embarrassing defeat rather than simply pursuing victory. 21 22

Li Zhi retains his pride after losing. He accepts that he lost the immediate contest but frames the defeat as temporary, declaring that he will eventually defeat Wei Yuan in return. 23

Abilities & Skills

Unified Examination Aptitude

Assessment	Result	Notes
Root bone	Just over eight feet	Appeared as an azure light pillar. 10
Fortune	Nearly ten feet	Manifested as a golden pillar containing a small cauldron. 10
Talent evaluation	Heavenly Grade A	Received thirty-eight points under the new scoring system. 10
Intended cultivation path	Imperial Way of the Human Realm	A path that prioritizes fortune over foundation. 10

Military Command

Li Zhi displays strong organizational ability in the Martial Assessment, rapidly turning a large group of children into a structured force. 16

• Recruited candidates before the assessment and emphasized the “way of gathering people.” 7 15
• Organized 120 examinees into front, center, left, and right formations. 16
• Assigned Wang Fang and thirty men to probe Bao Yun's central defenses. 18
• Concentrated the team’s pills among thirty personal guards to create a durable elite force. 17 18
• His strategy depends on obedience and formation discipline; his troops desert him once Wei Yuan’s overwhelming charge exposes their lack of loyalty. 22

Xing Li Chapter

Li Zhi activates the Xing Li Chapter when facing Wei Yuan, causing a golden pillar of light to rise around him. 20 22

• Its activation is tied to Li Zhi's noble family access to fortune secret techniques. 20 22
• The golden pillar is shattered by Wei Yuan's spear strike. 22

Equipment / Items

• Sword — carried as Yellow Team commander in the Martial Assessment. 16 22
• Armor — worn while leading the Yellow Team formation. 16
• Pills — gathers the issued pills from ordinary examinees and distributes them to his thirty elite guards. 17 18

Relationships

• Wei Yuan — Li Zhi attempts to recruit him before the Martial Assessment, then becomes his defeated rival and swears future revenge against him. 7 22 23
• Bao Yun — competing commander whose superior preparation and potential ambush heavily influence Li Zhi's decisions during the Martial Assessment. 18 21 22
• Duke of Grace of Southern Qi — Li Zhi's father; Li Zhi's status and examination prospects are closely tied to his family position. 7 10
• Wang Fang — subordinate assigned to lead Li Zhi's thirty-man vanguard; the unit is eliminated after entering Bao Yun's ambush. 18 19
• Liu Sigu — Four Saints Academy evaluator who favors Li Zhi's standing and argues for crediting him with Yellow Team accomplishments. 10 23

Notable Quotes

“Rules are chains for ordinary people, but whips for us to drive with.” 7

“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river! You wait for me, one day, I'll win back exactly how I lost!” 23