Zhang Yang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhang Yang (张扬)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Taichu Sect; Gu Yun Hall 6
Occupation/Role	Gu Yunzi's disciple; Gray Immortal Seed disciple 5 6
Status	Active 46
First Appearance	3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Gray Immortal Seed	5 6	The Clear Mirror Immortal Eye identifies him as a rare Gray Seed. Multiple hall masters compete for him before Gu Yunzi secures him for Gu Yun Hall.
Immortal Seed broken / spiritual energy guided	9	Successfully guides spiritual energy into his body and breaks open his Immortal Seed during introductory training.
Rooted Immortal Seed	28	Roots his Immortal Seed after Gu Yunzi's personal guidance and consumption of a Myriad Spirit Pill, placing him ahead of Li Jing and Xu Yu at that point.

Background

Zhang Yang originates from Datian Town, where he was Zhang Kuang's cousin, subordinate, and fellow member of his circle. He passed the sect's initial selection alongside Zhang Kuang and Qin Haoxuan, presenting himself as simple and honest despite maintaining an outward façade. 3

His standing changes dramatically when the Taichu Sect identifies him as a Gray Immortal Seed. Gu Yunzi spends rare alchemical materials to persuade Sect Master Huang Long to assign Zhang Yang to Gu Yun Hall, making him Gu Yunzi's disciple. The attention immediately makes Zhang Yang smug; he imagines using his future cultivation to retaliate against Qin Haoxuan and surpass Zhang Kuang. 5 6

Personality

Zhang Yang is highly ambitious and status-conscious. The distinction of being a Gray Seed quickly becomes the basis of his self-importance, and his rapid rooting—achieved through Gu Yunzi's exceptional resources—convinces him that he can compete with the Purple Seed disciples for the future sect mastership. 6 28 29

He is also resentful and manipulative. Qin Haoxuan's strength becomes a persistent “heart ailment” for him, leading Zhang Yang to seek Gu Yunzi's intervention. Rather than confronting Qin directly, he repeatedly provokes Gu Xiaoyun with distortions and fabricated claims, hoping to use the senior disciple's strength and connections against Qin. 30 38 44 45

Abilities & Skills

Gray Immortal Seed Aptitude

Zhang Yang possesses a Gray Immortal Seed, an aptitude rare enough to provoke competition among Taichu's hall masters. 5

• His cultivation progress and senses after rooting draw Elder Chu's attention. 33
• Gu Yunzi considers him capable of competing with Purple Seed disciples if given sufficient resources. 28
• His aptitude remains below that of Purple Seeds in the sect's hierarchy. 6 28

Qi Guiding and Rooting

Zhang Yang can guide spiritual energy into his body and establish an Immortal Root. 9 28

• Gu Yunzi secretly brings him to Gu Yun Hall for daily instruction before the introductory training period ends. 27
• His master supplements his cultivation with pills, true qi body cleansing, and bone strengthening. 27
• He completes rooting after taking a Myriad Spirit Pill, whose gentle but immense spiritual power greatly amplifies his Qi Guiding Technique. 27 28

Political Manipulation

Zhang Yang is adept at exploiting resentment and factional disputes.

• He instigates Gu Xiaoyun by claiming Qin Haoxuan's refusal to exchange Spirit Land constitutes disrespect toward Gu Yun Hall and Gu Yunzi. 38
• He later fabricates claims that Qin seeks the sect master position and has insulted Gu Xiaoyun, encouraging retaliation against Qin's Spirit Spring land. 44 45
• He publicly reframes Gu Xiaoyun's coercion as Qin's ingratitude toward Gu Yunzi. 45

Cultivation Resources

• Myriad Spirit Pill — A high-value pill acquired by Gu Yunzi; Zhang Yang consumes it to complete his rooting. 27 28
• Gu Yunzi's true qi and pills — Used for regular body cleansing, bone strengthening, and accelerated cultivation. 27
• Gu Yun Hall instruction — Private guidance that allows him to progress far faster than his ordinary training conditions would suggest. 27 30

Relationships

• Gu Yunzi — Master and Gu Yun Hall's master. Gu Yunzi secretly accelerates Zhang Yang's cultivation, but also considers refining Qin Haoxuan into a corpse soldier to eliminate Zhang Yang's perceived obstacle. 6 27 30 31
• Zhang Kuang — Cousin, former leader, and eventual rival. Zhang Yang breaks from Zhang Kuang after rooting, establishes his own faction, and declares his intention to compete for the sect master position. 3 28
• Qin Haoxuan — Fellow townsman and principal target of Zhang Yang's resentment. Zhang Yang regards Qin's strength as a threat and repeatedly schemes against him through Gu Yunzi and Gu Xiaoyun. 6 30 38 45
• Gu Xiaoyun — Senior disciple and Gu Yunzi's nephew whom Zhang Yang attempts to weaponize against Qin Haoxuan. Gu Xiaoyun recognizes Zhang Yang's initial provocation but later cooperates with the dispute over Qin's Spirit Spring land. 38 39 44 45
• Li Jing — Purple Seed disciple who considers Zhang Yang beneath serious competition and treats his sect master ambitions with disdain. 28

Story Role / Major Arcs

Gu Yun Hall Recruitment

Zhang Yang's Gray Seed result makes him one of the most contested recruits of his generation. Gu Yunzi obtains him for Gu Yun Hall through an exchange of rare alchemical materials with Sect Master Huang Long, establishing the patronage that defines Zhang Yang's early progress. 5 6

Break with Zhang Kuang

After receiving secret instruction and rooting successfully, Zhang Yang returns to Spirit Field Valley with enough confidence to abandon Zhang Kuang's faction. He recruits followers of his own and openly challenges Zhang Kuang's courage, leadership, and claim to the sect master position. 27 28

Qin Haoxuan as a Heart Ailment

Zhang Yang confides to Gu Yunzi that Qin Haoxuan's unusual physical strength weighs on his mind. Gu Yunzi responds by considering Qin an ideal material for the Heavenly Corpse Sect's Corpse Refining Great Method, intending to create a corpse soldier that could support Zhang Yang's ambitions. 30 31

Schemes Against Qin Haoxuan

Unable to confront Qin directly, Zhang Yang seeks to turn Gu Xiaoyun against him. He inflames Gu Xiaoyun's anger over Qin's Spirit Spring land, encourages the destruction of Qin's corn seedlings, and calls for Qin to receive a harsher sentence after Qin retaliates against Gu Xiaoyun. 38 44 45 46

Notable Quotes

“Brother Kuang, from today onwards, I, your humble brother, am establishing my own faction. I will no longer bother you by following in your footsteps. I also intend to contend for the Sect Master position of Taichu in the future.” 28

“This is the benefit of resources!” 29