Zheng Que

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zheng Que (郑确)
Alias(es)	Master of the Underworld; “Young Master” (used by his Ghost Servants); Li Li'an (disguise) 13 105
Species/Race	Human Race 37
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Daoist Qu's disciple; Imperial Court cultivator; founder and master of Zheng Clan Market 23 407 541
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, Ghost Controller, Underworld authority, Immortal Examination examinee 33 417 553
Status	Alive; frequently operates through Ghost Servants and soul puppets while concealing his true body 582 612 619
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Qi Refining Realm, First Layer	4	Entered the Dao through the Life Planting Technique after his Qi Sea opened. His strengthened body could crater bluestone with a punch.
Qi Refining Realm, Second Layer	37	Broke through after an intensive cultivation session aided by Medicine Whiskers.
Qi Refining Realm, Third Layer	61	Advanced while cultivating in the Bronze Tripod and immediately prepared to strengthen Qing Li and Ku Lan.
Qi Refining Realm, Fourth Layer	105	His cultivation aura is exposed when Xiao Yiyang breaks his disguises.
Qi Refining Realm, Eighth Layer	279	Recovered Spirit Power through cultivation with Ku Lan and advanced.
Qi Refining Realm, Ninth Layer	362	Reached the realm's peak after cultivating the Yin-Yang Joyous Union Secret Record with Ku Lan.
Foundation Establishment Realm	392 400	Used the Dust-Shedding Scripture and ghost-core Yin Energy to establish his foundation; later refined the Soul-Calling Banner completely. His Dao Foundation is described as heavenly-grade. 407 585

Background / History

Zheng Que entered the Dao by cultivating the Life Planting Technique. During the breakthrough, he first encountered the ruined Wide Hall and the Life and Death Book, which absorbed Yin Energy from his body. The book soon revealed that he was fated to die at the Hai Hour, making survival and cultivation immediately inseparable goals for him. 4 5 37

Daoist Qu briefly accepted Zheng Que as a disciple and taught him Daoist arts, but departed after forty-nine hours. Before leaving, Daoist Qu advised him that, at his level, a Ghost Servant would be more useful than a weapon. 23

Zheng Que obtained Qing Li as his first Ghost Servant and gradually uncovered his authority over the Underworld. By issuing Imperial Conferments through the Life and Death Book, he made Qing Li an Yin Messenger and gained the ability to summon and dispatch her through the Underworld. 10 33

His power and retinue expanded through the Shu Family Fort incident, where he employed disguises, escaped an Anomaly, and fought alongside Qing Li, Ku Lan, and Nian Nu. He later used Spirit Descent with all four Ghost Servants to defeat Chen Zhentao, though Chen's death was followed by the erasure of his remains. 107 108 270 276

At Myriad Goodness Abbey, Zheng Que repeatedly became trapped in illusions built around romance, cultivation, and life-and-death opportunities. He recognized the pattern before accepting an illusory Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment opportunity, then later achieved Foundation Establishment in reality. 290 294 392 400

During the Immortal Examination, Zheng Que established Zheng Clan Market at Blood Pass. He used Ghost Servants, Evil Shadow Play, and controlled former opponents to secure and develop the stronghold, while continuing to pursue a Dao Heart and stronger Ghost Controlling arts. 536 537 562

Appearance

Zheng Que's ordinary appearance is not described in the provided material. His most distinctive forms occur while using the Spirit Descent Technique.

• Qing Li possession — black-and-white rootlike patterns cover his body, while Qing Li's pale, ligature-marked head emerges from his neck. 24
• Ku Lan possession — red-and-black patterns spread over his body, and Ku Lan's cloud-haired head appears beside his own; the transformed aura obscures his normal cultivation level. 83
• Four-ghost possession — Qing Li, Nian Nu, Ku Lan, and Shu Yunying manifest as four additional heads, while black, white, red, silver, pink, and yellow patterns cover his body. 270
• Foundation-enhanced Golden Cicada Armor — his body and clothing can become entirely ink-black under the Dao Foundation-enhanced defense. 478

Personality

Zheng Que is consistently calm under immediate danger. He continues assessing an opponent's abilities even while trapped, injured, or outnumbered, as shown during the Shu Family Fort escape, his battle against Chen Zhentao, and his clashes with Liao Zhanbo. 107 271 503

He is pragmatic and highly controlling in his dealings with Ghost Servants and enemies. Zheng Que issues orders through the Life and Death Book, uses Ghost Controlling Technique and Imperial Conferments to bind subordinates, and readily turns defeated opponents into resources or assets for Zheng Clan Market. 33 140 536 537

Despite this ruthlessness, he prioritizes the survival and recovery of his Ghost Servants in combat. When Zheng Clan Market comes under attack, he chooses to reinforce his Ghost Servants before addressing other threats. 276 604

Abilities & Skills

Underworld Authority and the Life and Death Book

Zheng Que can enter the ruined Wide Hall within the Underworld, where the Life and Death Book records lifespans, identities, Yin Professions, and changes to his Ghost Servants.

• The book revealed Zheng Que's predicted death at the Hai Hour. 5
• It records Ghost Servants and allows their status to change after Imperial Conferment. 33 279
• Zheng Que can use Imperial Edicts to confer Yin Professions and issue commands to ghosts. 33 319
• His authority has limits; he could not confer an Imperial Edict upon the entire Yuwen Market Anomaly. 511

Ghost Controlling Technique

Zheng Que controls, suppresses, and commands ghosts through a technique linked to his Underworld authority.

• He can apply Blood Seals to subdue ghosts, including nine layers of seals against the High-bun Maiden. 140
• He can use an Yin Messenger's authority to disable a ghost ability, such as neutralizing a Hair Binding Ghost's restraints. 40
• Yin Energy from ghosts he personally kills can be distributed among his Ghost Servants. 61
• Each Ghost Servant has an absorption limit, and post-Conferment advancement requires increasingly large amounts of Yin Energy. 61
• Ghost Servants can inherit one technique from a slain ghost; the inherited technique's strength depends on how many living beings that ghost killed. 61

Spirit Descent Technique

Spirit Descent merges Zheng Que with one or more Ghost Servants, combining his Spirit Power with their Yin Energy and granting him access to their abilities.

• Possession greatly increases his physical strength and strengthens most of his techniques. 24
• Yin Gathering Technique more than doubled in effective range during Qing Li's possession. 24
• He can use a possessing Ghost Servant's racial talents, ghost skills, and Yin arts, though his execution is initially less refined than the ghost's own. 24
• He can merge with multiple Ghost Servants at once; four-ghost possession gave him access to all four servants' abilities. 270
• The technique risks backlash from the possessing Ghost Servant and does not enhance Spirit Eye Technique or Ghost Controlling Technique. 24

Yin Gathering Technique

Zheng Que gathers ambient Yin Energy into a cloud or field for recovery and empowerment.

• It accelerated Qing Li's recovery after a difficult battle. 34
• It becomes substantially stronger during Spirit Descent. 24
• He uses it to replenish Ghost Servants' Yin Energy after combat. 108

Pure Yang Technique and Blood Qi Technique

These complementary arts reinforce Zheng Que's physical body and sustain him through prolonged combat.

• Pure Yang Technique strengthens his body, blood, bones, and Yang Energy; its heat can force weaker ghosts back. 56 107
• Blood Qi Technique converts blood and qi into Spirit Power and protective qi armor. 56
• Wounds can strengthen the Blood Qi Technique's armor and increase Zheng Que's combat output, at the cost of blood and qi. 107

Yin Spirit Devours Resentment

This technique allows Zheng Que to draw on a Belly Specter's power alongside his own True Essence.

• He used it to effortlessly kill a Scissor Hell ghost. 570
• It provides more controlled enhancement than Spirit Descent, rather than merely combining powers in a crude fashion. 570
• The Belly Specter remains dangerous and adaptive: it can parasitize a Ghost Servant host and turn Zheng Que's own reserve assets against him. 612 614

United Heart Ghost Hand

United Heart Ghost Hand forms a bond with Ghost Servants and empowers Zheng Que's strikes with their strength.

• It allowed him to fight an Iron Tree Hell Belly Specter directly. 612
• Zheng Que can create five independent gray ghost hands for faster, surprise-oriented attacks and restraints. 608 614
• Its effectiveness depends heavily on the strength of the Ghost Servants linked to it. 606

Soul Puppetry and Remote Operations

Zheng Que can operate through Ghost Servant-based substitutes rather than exposing his true body.

• Blood-Peering Art links his vision to a Ghost Servant's sight. 582
• Demon Soul Substitute Puppet transforms a Ghost Servant into a duplicate of Zheng Que, matching his appearance, Yang Energy, temperament, and apparent cultivation aura. 582
• The puppet can use Zheng Que's spells and divine abilities. 582
• His apparent death against the Belly Specter left only ghostly remains; observers later suspected his true body had never been present. 612 613

Combat Arts and Defensive Techniques

• Golden Cicada Armor — a defensive divine ability enhanced dramatically by his Dao Foundation; it withstood attacks from Foundation Establishment and Iron Tree Hell opponents. 414 435 614
• Phantom Escape Technique — a rapid movement art that allowed Zheng Que to defeat four Foundation Establishment cultivators without using Ghost Servants or the Soul-Calling Banner. 274 399
• Heavenly Wheel Mystic Fire Art — a Xuanyuan Pavilion fire art cultivated to multiple wheels of Mystic Fire; Zheng Que used six fire wheels against a Golden Core cultivator. 410 598
• Blood Skull Technique — Zheng Que refined nine Blood Skulls for combat. 410
• Soul Explosion Technique — one of his decisive offensive arts, used in the battle that defeated Chen Zhentao. 271 276
• Netherworld Finger — an art learned from Shu Yunying. 417
• Vital Essence Withering-Prospering Art — a forbidden technique that temporarily raises his combat power into the Golden Core Realm by burning soul essence, lifespan, Yang Energy, foundation, and potential. 289 613

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Life and Death Book — Underworld record book that absorbs black qi, records identities and lifespans, and supports Zheng Que's Imperial Conferments. 5 33
• Imperial Edicts — confer Yin Professions and expand his authority over ghosts. 33 319
• Soul-Calling Banner — stores and summons Ghost Servants and captured ghosts; Zheng Que gained complete control over it after reaching Foundation Establishment. 175 400
• Soul-Nurturing Bag — carries Ghost Servants, including Nian Nu during the Shu Family Fort escape. 107
• Storage Bags — Zheng Que uses several storage artifacts for talismans, ghost-related items, and seized resources. 175 350
• Three Talents Storage Bag — Chen Zhentao's restricted storage artifact, which Zheng Que sought to unlock through the Elegant Gathering Anomaly. 300
• Fire Tongue Talismans — used to create an opening through a ghost encirclement. 107
• Bamboo fortune stick — taken from Chen Zhentao after his defeat; it gave Zheng Que a sense of certainty and joy. 276

Relationships

• Daoist Qu — Zheng Que's master, who taught him Daoist arts for forty-nine hours before leaving Changfu Town; Daoist Qu's advice led Zheng Que to rely on Ghost Servants rather than conventional weapons. 23 503
• Qing Li — first Ghost Servant and Female Hanging Ghost. Initially defiant and stronger than Zheng Que, she becomes an Yin Messenger and one of his foremost combat partners. 13 24 33
• Ku Lan — Umbrella Girl Ghost Servant. She can possess Zheng Que through Spirit Descent and materially improves his cultivation speed, though she has also harbored treacherous intentions. 61 83 279
• Nian Nu — Ghost Servant with Yin Messenger abilities and possession-related skills. Zheng Que later orders her to possess Linghu Yuniang. 197 276
• Shu Yunying — Ghost Servant from Shu Family Fort. Zheng Que teaches her Soul Search and Concealment techniques, then learns Netherworld Finger from her. 417
• Mu Xiangu — Painted Skin and Yin Messenger. Their relationship is tense and mutually useful: Zheng Que relies on her abilities, while she complies partly out of fear of Underworld consequences. 279 300
• Ghost Bride — powerful ghost who protected Zheng Que during the Myriad Goodness Abbey illusion crisis and later fought alongside Mu Xiangu against an Iron Tree Hell Tricky Specter. 290 330
• Xue Shuangzi — Rouge Baleful Intent Ghost Servant recruited during the Immortal Examination. She can join Zheng Que in Spirit Descent and fights beside him in major conflicts. 436 472 474
• Evil Shadow Play — Iron Tree Hell entity used by Zheng Que as a powerful enforcer and market guard; their association is pragmatic and mutually beneficial. 537 599
• Xiao Yiyang — Heavenly Artifact Sect disciple who initially cooperates with Zheng Que at Shu Family Fort, then exposes him to save himself. 102 108
• Chen Zhentao — Xuanyuan Pavilion disciple and major rival. Zheng Que defeated him using the Soul-Calling Banner, Imperial Edicts, and Soul Explosion Technique. 270 276
• Yan Bingyi — teaches Zheng Que Ghost Controlling spells and explains United Heart Ghost Hand, but only if Yin Congyi is kept unaware. 562 606
• Luo Fuyu — leader of the Ghost Wedding Procession. Zheng Que lets her avoid immediate punishment in exchange for scouting rival examinee strongholds. 537

Story Role / Major Arcs

Entry into the Dao

Zheng Que begins as a low-level human cultivator in Changfu Town. His first breakthrough gives him abnormal physical strength, access to the Underworld, and a death prophecy from the Life and Death Book. 4 5

Establishing Underworld Authority

After acquiring Qing Li, Zheng Que learns to command Ghost Servants, use Yin Gathering Technique, and perform Spirit Descent. Qing Li's Imperial Conferment as an Yin Messenger establishes his ability to deploy Ghost Servants through the Underworld. 24 33

Shu Family Fort

Zheng Que enters the Shu Family Fort Anomaly under a false identity, survives betrayal by Xiao Yiyang, gathers additional Ghost Servants, and escapes through his Yin Messenger authority. 102 107 108 128

Myriad Goodness Abbey

At Myriad Goodness Abbey, Zheng Que faces layered illusions, Chen Zhentao's attack, and the dangerous “life and death” lot. The arc culminates in Chen Zhentao's defeat and Zheng Que's pursuit of Foundation Establishment. 270 276 294

Foundation Establishment and the Immortal Examination

Zheng Que achieves Foundation Establishment, refines the Soul-Calling Banner, develops his Law and Fate Threads, and becomes a prominent Immortal Examination contender. His strength draws attention from sect disciples, examiners, and Golden Core cultivators. 400 407 417 436

Zheng Clan Market

Zheng Que turns a captured examination stronghold into Zheng Clan Market. He controls Shi Qi Patriarch and Jing Zhengjie through Evil Shadow Play, expands his resources, and uses Ghost Servants to defend the market from hostile examinees. 536 537 604

Iron Tree Hell Battles

During the later examination battles, Zheng Que demonstrates the ability to fight Iron Tree Hell entities and Golden Core-level opponents through soul puppets, United Heart Ghost Hand, Golden Cicada Armor, and Vital Essence Withering-Prospering Art. 611 612 613 614 619

Notable Quotes

“You have slaughtered the innocent and harmed living beings; this is your first crime!” 142

“However, I am a merciful official, and I can give you all a chance to turn over a new leaf.” 142