Zhang Yunji

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhang Yunji (张云机)
Species/Race	Human cultivator
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Mysterious Bookstore / Divine Bookstore; formerly a student of Vast Academy
Occupation/Role	Bookstore employee; cultivator; later a staff member involved in bookstore events and examinations
First Appearance	Chapter 54

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Spirit King	54	Had remained at this realm for several years, becoming anxious over his inability to advance toward Transcendent to Saint.
Peak Spirit King, Stage Eight	67	His cultivation had reached the peak of the eighth Spirit King stage; he was regarded as a prominent cultivator of his generation and had studied at Vast Academy.
Spirit Venerable	354	Had newly entered the realm and used spiritual power to fly out of a pit.
Spirit Venerable, Stage Six	517	His recorded cultivation before receiving Tai Xuan Jing and its Book Spirit.
Spirit Saint	517	Absorbed the Yin-Yang fish formed by the Yin Yang Two Forms Diagram, skipping the entire Spirit Emperor major realm and becoming Transcendent to Saint.

Background

Zhang Yunji was a cultivator from the Zhang family who had studied at Vast Academy. He was known in Great Chu for reaching the peak of Spirit King Stage Eight at a relatively young age and was considered the foremost figure of the generation twenty years before Xiaoyaozi's rise. Despite this reputation, he remained stuck at the Spirit King realm for years and worried that his dream of becoming Transcendent to Saint would never be realized 54 67.

He is the disciple and son-in-law of Chang Kong. Zhang Yunji married Chang Kong's daughter, Baili Chuxue, despite opposition from Baili Chuxue's mother, Baili Hongzhu, who initially resented both Chang Kong and Zhang Yunji 136 139 648. His younger sister is Zhang Liu Ying, whose Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart is known as the Blessing of the Immortal 160 161.

Personality

Zhang Yunji is respectful toward superiors and deeply conscious of his standing before powerful figures. After his early setbacks at the Mysterious Bookstore, his former confidence gave way to nervousness and self-doubt, particularly when his repeated reading produced no immediate insight 54 56 63.

He is diligent and loyal once employed by the bookstore. Ma Feifei described him as meticulous and willing to rush to complete work, while Zhang Yunji regarded the bookstore's assistance as nurturing grace comparable to being reborn 517. He is also protective of his companions: during the Flame Emperor incident, he urged Gongsun Qiong and Zhao Xiaodao to flee while preparing to remain behind alone 134.

His enthusiasm can make him tactless or overly eager. He shouted after comprehending a martial skill in the bookstore, drew Yun Qingyang's displeasure, and later created and distributed a simulated examination paper despite initially fearing Ma Feifei's disapproval 76 276.

Abilities & Skills

Book Comprehension

Zhang Yunji's cultivation advancement is closely connected to reading and comprehending books from the Mysterious Bookstore.

• Initially struggled to gain insight despite repeatedly reading a book for an entire day 54.
• Comprehended a high-ranking martial skill from The Legend of the Condor Heroes after being granted the book as a distinguished customer 63 76.
• Received the yellow-quality Tai Xuan Jing, which manifested the Yin Yang Two Forms Diagram Book Spirit 516.
• Used the Book Spirit's Yin-Yang fish to advance from Spirit Venerable Stage Six directly to Spirit Saint 517.

Martial Skill from *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*

After comprehending the book, Zhang Yunji gained an unnamed martial skill described as one of its top-tier techniques.

• Its exact rank was unknown.
• It was believed to be comparable to Yang Chengzhi's Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.
• Observers estimated that it was at least a seventh-tier martial skill 76.

Yin Yang Two Forms Diagram

The Book Spirit produced from Tai Xuan Jing manifested as a black-and-white Yin-Yang diagram behind Zhang Yunji.

• Drew Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy into Zhang Yunji's body.
• Withstood repeated lightning strikes during his breakthrough.
• Produced a black Yin-Yang fish and a white Yin-Yang fish, which entered his body and completed his ascension 516 517.

Equipment

• Purple long saber — A seventh-tier spiritual artifact with sentience, used when Zhang Yunji confronted the Nine-tailed Silver Fox 71.
• The Legend of the Condor Heroes — Given to him by Ma Feifei as his personal book and the source of his first documented martial-skill comprehension 63 76.
• Tai Xuan Jing — Yellow-quality book that produced the Yin Yang Two Forms Diagram Book Spirit 516.

Relationships

• Ma Feifei — Employer, benefactor, and bookstore owner. Ma Feifei made Zhang Yunji a distinguished customer, later recruited him as the bookstore's second employee, and oversaw his rise to Spirit Saint 63 137 517.
• Yun Qingyang — Coworker at the Mysterious Bookstore. Her blunt remarks initially worsened his anxiety over his lack of insight, but she later worked alongside him as a bookstore employee 54 388.
• Chang Kong — Master and father-in-law. Chang Kong reprimanded Zhang Yunji for leaving his family without notice, but remained invested in his safety and progress 136 139.
• Baili Chuxue — Wife. Their marriage was initially opposed by her mother, Baili Hongzhu; Zhang Yunji remains considerate and affectionate toward her 216 648.
• Zhang Liu Ying — Younger sister. Zhang Yunji revealed that her Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart can expose all illusions, and he attempts to reconcile with her when she is angered by his actions 160 161 223.
• Gongsun Qiong and Zhao Xiaodao — Companions during the attempt to capture the Flame Emperor. They refused to abandon Zhang Yunji when he was cornered 134.
• Baili Hongzhu — Mother-in-law. Though initially hostile to his relationship with Baili Chuxue, she later relied on him to pursue matters concerning the bookstore library 648.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Mysterious Bookstore Customer

Zhang Yunji entered the Mysterious Bookstore while stalled at the Spirit King realm. He repeatedly failed to gain insight, became discouraged by the apparent good fortune of others, and eventually received The Legend of the Condor Heroes as a distinguished customer 54 56 63.

His persistence paid off when he comprehended a powerful martial skill from the book. The breakthrough restored his confidence and elevated his standing among the bookstore's readers 76.

Flame Emperor Incident and Employment

Zhang Yunji joined Gongsun Qiong and Zhao Xiaodao in attempting to capture the Sacred Beast Flame Emperor. When the group was cornered, he tried to hold the beast back so his companions could escape 134.

Unable to afford the Sacred Beast he sought, Zhang Yunji was offered a position at the Mysterious Bookstore in exchange for it. He subsequently became the bookstore's second employee 137.

Confucian Studies and Bookstore Events

Zhang Yunji copied the Analects alongside Chang Kong, Liu Ying, and Baili Chuxue. His impatience contrasted with his wife's calm speed and Liu Ying's exceptional understanding 215.

During Ma Feifei's lesson on the Analects, Zhang Yunji offered hesitant interpretations that Liu Ying corrected. He gradually gained confidence through the discussion 217. Later, he created a fifty-question simulated quiz paper to help cultivators prepare for the Divine Bookstore's feedback event 276.

Transcendent to Saint

Zhang Yunji received the yellow-quality Tai Xuan Jing, whose Book Spirit evolved into the Yin Yang Two Forms Diagram. Amid lightning and a heavenly anomaly, he absorbed the Yin-Yang fish and ascended directly from Spirit Venerable Stage Six to the Spirit Saint realm 516 517.

Afterward, he thanked Ma Feifei and reaffirmed his commitment to working diligently for the Mysterious Bookstore 517.

Later Service

As the bookstore's reputation expanded, Zhang Yunji became a source of sought-after information for cultivators and influential visitors. He remained loyal to his post during major events, though Ma Feifei later punished him after he allowed a disguised stranger into the bookstore in violation of its rules 276 492 794.

Trivia

• Zhang Yunji once joked that he wished he had been born a woman after observing Ma Feifei's attention toward Zhou Zhuling 59.
• He was so excited after comprehending his martial skill that his shout caused Yun Qingyang's Spirit Sword to fall from a bookshelf 76.
• His residence in Dubian Town is Number Eighty-Eight 215 318.
• Despite becoming a Spirit Saint, he remained humble toward Ma Feifei and Chang Kong 517.