Zhao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhao Yan (赵炎)
Alias(es)	Chief Staff Officer Zhao; Captain Zhao; “Grandpa Zhao”
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Huaxia military; formerly Huaxia Second Base, [Iron Wall] Squad, and [Sharp Blade] Squad
Occupation/Role	Former Chief Staff Officer of Huaxia Second Base; former captain of the reorganized [Sharp Blade] Squad
Status	Retired from military service following the global red warrant incident involving Zhang Lingqi 353
First Appearance	Chapter 23
Age	58 146
Physical Fitness	S+ 146
Supernatural Ability	S-class [Unyielding] 146

Background / History

Zhao Yan entered Huaxia First Base's third-generation [Sharp Blade] Squad at age thirty. By forty-three, he had become deputy captain of the fourth-generation squad and earned considerable battle merit. At fifty-three, the fourth-generation [Iron Wall] Squad was devastated by the Gambler in Twilight Forest; Zhao Yan left [Sharp Blade], rebuilt [Iron Wall] as its fifth generation, and became its captain. Severe injuries sustained during the Destruction Five Days campaign later forced him into a less active role as Chief Staff Officer of Huaxia Second Base 146.

During the early Barbaric Realm crisis, Zhao Yan and Wan Changzheng monitored the Novice Rankings and placed great hope in the unidentified Huaxia contender known as “No Need to Say More.” He reacted with despair when the contender temporarily vanished from the rankings, then became deeply concerned that public kill broadcasts would expose the youth to foreign assassination attempts 23 24. He subsequently helped analyze Jiangnan’s combat recordings, judging from his stance and composure against an S-class monster that he could not be an ordinary student 25.

Zhao Yan also participated in Huaxia’s effort to locate and protect prospective Transcendents. He reviewed the 2027 National Bloodline Gene Testing Report and helped assess the implications of a subject possessing a 99.9% Dragon Race bloodline concentration, believing such an individual might awaken a Sequence-level ability or even Divine Authority 53 54. He later observed the dangerous initial testing of Shen Lian’s Dragon God Imperial Armor and supported the researchers after Qin Ying lost control during activation 66.

Huaxia command formally recalled Zhao Yan to active duty, appointing him captain of a newly reorganized [Sharp Blade] Squad and assigning him to lead a top-secret mission on Weird Island 161. His first major command challenge came at Soul Return Town, where Yue Tian reprimanded his hesitation and forced him to reclaim responsibility as captain. Zhao Yan ultimately ordered the squad’s mobile fortress sacrificed as a shield and diversion, allowing the team to break through the attacking graves and enter the town 167 168.

In Soul Return Town, Zhao Yan pursued intelligence, searched for Yue Tian, and attempted to recover Tang Sirui and the spatial ring containing much of Huaxia Second Base’s armory. He entered the Groom Selection Tournament chiefly to obtain the Phoenix Emperor’s spirit artifacts, placing twelfth and using his reward voucher to bring his allies into Second Ring Town 169 191 196.

Zhao Yan later learned that Jiangnan was the reincarnated Dragon God after the memories altered during a trial were restored. He immediately recognized the importance of protecting Jiangnan and the people connected to him 223. He continued supporting efforts to establish Huaxia’s presence in Soul Return Town and to aid the Dragon God against threats on Weird Island 273 325.

Personality

Zhao Yan is a blunt, hot-blooded soldier whose first instinct is to protect Huaxia’s people and punish perceived threats. He is quick to anger at recklessness, secrecy, or disrespect, but his harsh manner is often paired with practical concern for those under his command. His reactions to Tang Sirui’s disappearance, the loss of ranking participants, and the presumed death of the Dragon God show that he takes the deaths and safety of comrades personally 23 168 349.

Although experienced in battle, Zhao Yan spent much of his career as a deputy or staff officer and initially struggles to trust his own authority as [Sharp Blade] captain. Yue Tian identifies his hesitation as a battlefield liability; Zhao Yan accepts the criticism and chooses decisive action rather than retreating into a supporting role 167.

He is skeptical of ostentatious powers and foreign military posturing. When Eagle Country’s “God” uses [Imperial Edict] against him, Zhao Yan dismisses the ability as “flashy bullshit” and refuses to obey anyone except his own commander 144.

Abilities & Skills

Unyielding

Zhao Yan possesses the S-class Supernatural Ability [Unyielding], granting absolute immunity to negative abnormal statuses as well as mental- and rule-based control effects 146.

• Negated the [Imperial Edict] command issued by Eagle Country’s Chosen of God during the Wheat Field trial 144.
• Passively resisted the oppressive mental aura produced by the confrontation between Jiangnan and Phoenix Emperor 220.
• Allows him to remain operational against control-oriented opponents who would incapacitate most combatants 146.

S+-Class Physical Fitness

Zhao Yan’s overall physical fitness is rated S+, complementing his close-quarters combat style and allowing him to overpower other high-level Transcendents directly 146.

• Kicked Eagle Country captain Andrei aside in a single exchange despite Andrei possessing S-class physical fitness 147.
• Fought at the front line against the Watcher Scarecrow with a saber 150.
• Continued moving and issuing orders during the Soul Return Town breakthrough despite the graveyard’s escalating threat 167 168.

Military Command and Tactical Judgment

A veteran squad leader and former chief staff officer, Zhao Yan is trained in battlefield coordination, risk assessment, and command under pressure.

• Insisted that [Iron Wall] and Eagle Country’s [White Eagle] Squad remain together rather than split up in the Wheat Field, prioritizing survival over political discomfort 147.
• Coordinated [Iron Wall] members’ complementary abilities during the battle with the Watcher Scarecrow 150 151.
• Ordered the mobile fortress’s self-destruction to create a route into Soul Return Town 168.
• Identified the strategic necessity of using Huaxia’s military power to assist the Dragon God against the Prayer Deep Pool sea monster 325.

Equipment

• Alloy battle saber — A saber Zhao Yan keeps at hand and uses in close combat against monsters such as the Watcher Scarecrow 23 150.
• Mobile fortress — Squad transport and defensive asset used under Zhao Yan’s command; he ordered it sacrificed to cover [Sharp Blade]’s entry into Soul Return Town 167 168.
• S-class equipment scroll — Awarded upon his return as captain of the reorganized [Sharp Blade] Squad 161.

Relationships

• Wan Changzheng — Superior, longtime colleague, and frequent bantering partner. Wan Changzheng repeatedly reins in Zhao Yan’s impulsiveness while trusting him with major military responsibilities 23 54 161.
• Shen Lian — Fellow Huaxia official and chief engineer. Their professional relationship includes constant sharp-tongued arguments, especially over Shen Lian’s assessments of Zhao Yan’s suitability as a staff officer 23 25.
• Xin An — Subordinate and trusted reconnaissance specialist. Zhao Yan protects Xin An’s political future and urges him to limit private contact with Eagle Country personnel due to the strategic importance of [Complete Map Analysis] 147.
• Yue Tian — Elder and mentor figure who pushes Zhao Yan to embrace decisive leadership as [Sharp Blade] captain 167.
• Tang Sirui — Former [Iron Wall] firepower specialist personally trained by Zhao Yan. Zhao Yan treats him with exasperated concern, especially after Tang Sirui absconds with the Second Base armory 168 169.
• Shadow — [Sharp Blade] teammate and dependable partner during investigations in Soul Return Town, including the wedding procession assignment and search for Tang Sirui 174 182.
• Qin Jiudao — Initially an intimidating Dragon King, later recognized by Zhao Yan as a comrade-in-arms after they pursue Jiangnan together 218.
• Jiangnan / Dragon God — Initially investigated as the mysterious “No Need to Say More.” Zhao Yan later learns Jiangnan’s identity as the Dragon God and commits military resources toward protecting and assisting him 25 223 325.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Novice Rankings and “No Need to Say More”

Zhao Yan serves as one of Huaxia’s principal observers of the Novice Rankings. He fears for Jiangnan’s safety after the public broadcast of his combat record and advocates treating the unknown powerhouse as a potential ally rather than an enemy 24 32.

Dragon Bloodline Research

Alongside Wan Changzheng and Shen Lian, Zhao Yan analyzes Huaxia’s bloodline data and supports research into the Dragon God Imperial Armor. These efforts are part of Huaxia’s broader preparation to cultivate powerful Transcendents and survive the Barbaric Realm 54 66.

Wheat Field Trial

Zhao Yan joins [Iron Wall] in the Death Wheat Field, where his [Unyielding] neutralizes [Imperial Edict]. He forces an alliance with [White Eagle] Squad, commands the battle against the Watcher Scarecrow, and relies on Mai Zijian’s [Damage Transfer] to return to peak condition after being injured 144 147 151.

Return to [Sharp Blade]

Huaxia command recalls Zhao Yan from staff duty and appoints him captain of the newly reorganized [Sharp Blade] Squad. The assignment sends him to Weird Island to establish a foothold, search for Dragon Xia Imperial City, and recover Tang Sirui 161 164 167.

Soul Return Town

Zhao Yan leads [Sharp Blade] into Soul Return Town, participates in its occupation-based performance competition, investigates the town’s rules, and uses his tournament reward to gain access to Second Ring Town in the search for Yue Tian 167 170 174 196.

Retirement

Following Zhang Lingqi’s possession-related attack and the resulting highest-level global red warrant, Zhao Yan is retired alongside other Huaxia officials held accountable for the security failure 353.

Trivia

• Zhao Yan’s codename is listed as “Unnamed” in his classified record 146.
• He refers to himself as a lifelong specialist in “curing flashy bullshit,” reflecting his disdain for theatrical rule-based abilities 144.
• Despite his stern image, he is easily flustered by Soul Return Town’s more absurd situations, including Aeria’s identity and the scandalous painting of Liu Ruyan as Jiangnan’s mount 174 196.
• He was deeply moved by the presumed death of the Dragon God and promised Huaxia’s highest-level posthumous protection to Jiangnan’s associates, unaware that Jiangnan was still alive 349.