Western Prince

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Western Prince
Original Name	西皇子
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zhao State
Occupation/Role	Zhao State prince; commander of expeditions and political patron of the Blazing Gold Ore operation
Status	Active; continues overseeing the Blazing Gold Ore operation through Eunuch Xu 274
First Appearance	120

Background

The Western Prince displayed exceptional martial talent from childhood. At age 22, he had already reached the Upper Seventh Rank. He entered the Water Qilin Cave intending to personally obtain Water Bodhi and Qilin Scale Armor as birthday gifts for the Zhao Emperor. 120

Tong Yi identifies him as a cultivator of the Imperial Profound Heaven Scripture, claiming that he has reached its Third Layer. 166

Appearance

The Western Prince is a young nobleman who wears fine clothing when receiving guests and a cloak while commanding forces in the Ice and Snow Wilderness. 124 165

• Carries a long sword. 145
• Keeps the Divine Machine Crossbow available as a concealed deterrent. 148 170
• Travels with a protected retinue of Iron Clothes Department experts. 143 165

Personality

The Western Prince is composed, politically astute, and willing to negotiate when direct conflict would endanger Zhao State's objectives. At Calamity Valley, he proposed that Zhao State and Rong Tribe forces temporarily set aside their hostilities, recognizing that a prolonged battle could awaken the Water Qilin and doom both sides. 166

He is also generous toward useful subordinates. He distributed Water Repelling Pills to the Seventh-Rank talents, permitted them to gather nearby rare herbs, and rewarded Yang Ling with the three-hundred-year-old Frost Spirit Ganoderma after the battle with the Heavenly Wolf Guard. 141 145 150

However, his concern for Zhao State can override concern for individuals. He accepted Yang Ling's plan to retrieve Water Bodhi with Li Huaiyi serving as bait for the Cold Pond monster, despite the severe danger to Li Huaiyi. 175

Abilities & Skills

Martial Cultivation

The Western Prince is an Upper Seventh-Rank expert and is regarded by Yang Ling as the strongest member of the expedition's Seventh-Rank group. Yang Ling also suspects that he conceals part of his true strength and may be close to the Lower Sixth Rank. 120 170

• Possesses First-class internal and martial skills according to Yang Ling's assessment. 146
• Has 50 Mental Power, which Yang Ling considers lower than his own but still formidable for a prince of the same rank. 146
• Wields the Imperial Profound Heaven Scripture, reportedly at its Third Layer. 166
• Demonstrates sufficient confidence to lead the initial charge into Calamity Valley himself. 170

Leadership and Intelligence

The Western Prince directs his forces through preparation, information gathering, and decisive commands.

• Knows routes, prior Water Bodhi locations, local monsters, and environmental threats within the Water Qilin Cave region. 145 147 148
• Warned the expedition that Snowfield Carnivorous Worms carry Cold Poison and use the snow to ambush prey. 145
• Learned the Heavenly Wolf Guard had infiltrated through a submerged route and used Cao Gang contacts to leave tracking marks. 151
• Ordered the arrest of surviving Rong Tribe spies after escaping the Water Qilin Cave. 185
• Maintains intelligence networks capable of identifying members of Tong Yi's Tong Generation among the Heavenly Wolf Guard. 165

Diplomacy

The Western Prince can balance hostility and cooperation when necessary.

• Negotiated a temporary non-aggression arrangement with Tong Yi before entering Calamity Valley. 166
• Established a “whoever is faster gets it” policy for gathering rare herbs, allowing his escorts to prioritize their own gains rather than solely guarding him. 170
• Agreed to divide the Water Bodhi equally between Zhao State and the Western Sect to preserve unity during the retreat. 179

Equipment / Items

• Divine Machine Crossbow — A powerful crossbow capable of threatening or killing Fifth-Rank experts; used to deter Nangong Yue and the Heavenly Wolf Guard. 148
• Long sword — Drawn while preparing to face Snowfield Carnivorous Worms. 145
• Water Repelling Pills — Distributed two each to the Seventh-Rank talents before entering the Water Qilin Cave. 141
• Seven Inch Sword — A Second-rate Martial Skill that condenses Qi and Blood into a seven-inch sword; offered as the prize for the arena challenge and bestowed upon Yang Ling. 127 142
• Frost Spirit Ganoderma — A three-hundred-year-old medicinal herb awarded to Yang Ling for his contribution against the Rong Tribe spies. 150

Relationships

• Yang Ling — Iron Clothes Department constable assigned to protect him. The Western Prince recognizes Yang Ling's combat value, gives him the Seven Inch Sword and Water Repelling Pills, entrusts him with retrieving Water Bodhi, and rewards him with Frost Spirit Ganoderma. 127 141 150 174 175
• Yun Ruo — Senior Iron Clothes Department escort who remains close to the Western Prince during the expedition and instinctively shields him when Yang Ling suddenly attacks a Snowfield Carnivorous Worm near him. 143 145
• Lu Yunchen — Iron Clothes Department official who organizes the Western Prince's escort force and accepts his proposal to hold an arena competition. 124 127
• Tong Yi — Heavenly Wolf Guard leader and political rival. The two engage in repeated negotiations, provocations, and standoffs during the Calamity Valley expedition. 165 166 170 178
• Nangong Yue — Rong Tribe Heavenly Wolf Guard operative confronted by the Western Prince in Water Qilin Cave; the Prince uses the Divine Machine Crossbow to overturn Nangong Yue's numerical advantage. 148
• Xu Wuji — Fifth-Rank expert of the Directorate of Ceremonial who serves as a powerful representative of the Western Prince's interests in the Blazing Gold Ore operation. 141 259

Story Role / Major Arcs

Water Qilin Cave Expedition

The Western Prince's planned expedition brings together thirty Seventh-Rank Iron Clothes Department experts, who are told that their assessment is to ensure his safe return from Water Qilin Cave. 124

He gathers martial artists at the Imperial Palace, funds an arena competition to compare the Iron Clothes Department's young talent against disciples of the major sects, and provides the Seven Inch Sword as the premier prize. 124 127

During the expedition, he leads the party across the Ice and Snow Wilderness, identifies threats such as Snowfield Carnivorous Worms and Frost Power Bears, and directs the group toward known Water Bodhi locations. 145 147 148

Conflict with the Heavenly Wolf Guard

When Nangong Yue's group corners the Zhao State party in Water Qilin Cave, the Western Prince reveals the Divine Machine Crossbow and prevents an immediate attack. 148

He commands the Iron Clothes Department to capitalize on Yang Ling's Heavenly Will Divine Saber barrage, turning a numerical disadvantage into a counterattack against the Rong Tribe spies. 149

After the cave's sudden freeze forces an escape, he orders the pursuit and arrest of remaining Rong Tribe spies while holding the Iron Clothes Department accountable for its infiltration problem. 185

Calamity Valley and Blazing Gold Ore

At Calamity Valley, the Western Prince leads Zhao State's side against Tong Yi's Heavenly Wolf Guard while pursuing rare flowers, herbs, Water Bodhi, and intelligence concerning a suspected Rong Tribe Second-Rank Human Immortal. 165 175 178

He later places the newly discovered Blazing Gold Ore under his political influence. Eunuch Xu acts in his name at the mine and states that the operation will fall under the Western Prince's command if it succeeds. 256 259

Notable Quotes

“You don't need to protect me at that time. Take as much as you can.” 170

“How about this, let's all mind our own business. We'll enter Calamity Valley together when the time comes, take what we can, and leave.” 166