Hogg

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Hogg Baruch (霍格) 2 44
Gender	Male 44
Species/Race	Human; awakened Dragonblood Warrior 45 46
Affiliation	Baruch clan; Ultimate Empire 2 80 95
Occupation/Role	Noble and lord of Wushan Town; leader in the campaign against the Radiant Church; co-founder of the Ultimate Empire 13 74 80
Family	Father of Linley Baruch and Wharton; husband of a deceased wife whose fate is connected to the Radiant Church 2 71
First Appearance	Meeting Zhao Nan at Baruch Mansion 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Sixth-rank warrior; inactive Dragonblood bloodline	2 46	His pre-awakening strength is retrospectively identified as sixth rank. Without awakening his bloodline, he cannot cultivate the family's Dragonblood battle qi 35 46.
Dragonblood Warrior awakening	44 45	Consumes Sathius's fresh dragon blood with Blue Heart Grass, then cultivates the Dragonblood Secret Codex. The first transformation remolds his body and leaves him unconscious 45.
Seventh-rank warrior in human form	46	Zhao Nan assesses his strength after the awakening through attacks performed at Wushan Town's back mountain.
At least eighth-rank offensive power with partial transformation	47	Transforms his hands into dragon claws. Zhao Nan estimates that a full transformation would grant eighth-rank strength, with speed exceeding that strength level.
Weight as Light as a Feather	65	Reaches the weapon-handling realm recorded in the Dragonblood Secret Codex, wielding his massive axe with precise, effortless movements.
Ninth-rank standing; Saint-level combat power when transformed	76	During the group's strategy discussion, Hogg and the Bark brothers are described as ninth-rank Ultimate Warriors who require transformation to wield Saint-level combat power.
Saint-level in human form; peak Saint-level when transformed	79	Buen identifies Hogg and Bark as Saint-level experts whose transformations reach the Saint-level peak.
Peak Saint-level	95	Hogg and all five Bark brothers are subsequently described as having reached the Saint-level peak.

Background / History

Decline of the Baruch Clan

Hogg holds Wushan Town as his fief despite the Baruch clan's decline. The family sells heirlooms to meet its expenses; although he could improve his finances by raising taxes, he refuses to burden his subjects excessively 2 12 13.

His inability to awaken the Dragonblood Warrior bloodline leaves him ashamed of failing his family's legacy. He also carries a blood feud, but his limited strength and responsibility for his two sons prevent him from pursuing revenge 4.

Zhao Nan's Arrival and Bloodline Awakening

When Zhao Nan asks to teach Linley, Hogg first questions his strength. After witnessing the seventh-rank spell Flight and learning that Zhao Nan is an eighteen-year-old seventh-rank mage and warrior, he entrusts Linley to him and offers him lodging at the family residence 2.

Zhao Nan explains that Blue Heart Grass can temper the violent energy of fresh dragon blood. Hogg recognizes that the Dragonblood Secret Codex is missing crucial instructions: it mentions drinking dragon blood, but several ancestors died attempting it without a safe method 4. He later lends Zhao Nan the codex without hesitation, explaining that those without the bloodline cannot cultivate its techniques 35.

With Zhao Nan's help, Hogg and Linley consume Sathius's blood and awaken their Dragonblood Warrior bloodlines. The painful transformation produces black scales, back spikes, and claws before both lose consciousness 44 45. After recovering, Hogg discovers that his human-form strength has risen to seventh rank 46.

Training and a New Goal

Zhao Nan advises Hogg to delay revenge until he reaches ninth rank in human form, which would allow him to become Saint-level through transformation. He also reveals that sufficiently powerful individuals can rescue deceased loved ones from the Netherworld. This possibility gives Hogg hope beyond revenge and helps restore his gentler temperament 47.

Hogg leaves Wushan Town with Wharton and the five Bark brothers under Zhao Nan's protection, settling in Misty Canyon to train 48. There, he fights magical beasts and develops his axe technique; watching him kill five Velociraptors inspires Zhao Nan to create Zhan Tiangang 52. After several years, Hogg demonstrates Weight as Light as a Feather while sparring with Bark 65.

Having confirmed that Wharton's bloodline concentration qualifies for Dragonblood cultivation, Hogg plans to take him to the O'Brien Empire for schooling 66. This decision unexpectedly triggers Zhao Nan's enlightenment concerning fate 67.

Campaign Against the Radiant Church

After becoming a god, Zhao Nan reveals the Radiant Church's connection to Hogg's wife's fate and promises to support him against it 71. Hogg subsequently shares the family's grievance against both the Church and the Fenlai royal family with Linley 72.

Hogg and the Bark brothers eradicate the Church's strongholds in the O'Brien Empire. Recognizing that Zhao Nan's backing made those operations possible, Hogg proposes a more sustainable strategy elsewhere: occupy territory, shelter displaced people, and deprive the Church of believers and their power of faith 74.

Establishing the Ultimate Empire

In the Chaotic Territory, Hogg favors gradual expansion over rapid conquest because he does not want commoners to die for his personal vengeance. Following Zhao Nan's advice about establishing a base near the Forest of Darkness and a magic stone mine, the group selects Black Earth City 76.

Hogg chooses Gates to seize the city. As their holdings grow, he authorizes further expansion despite his misgivings about war 77. Within half a year, the group controls seven cities, commands 300,000 troops, and governs a population numbering in the tens of millions 79.

Hogg initially proposes naming their nation the Zhao Nan Empire. When Zhao Nan refuses the use of his name, Hogg suggests Ultimate Empire, honoring the Four Ultimate Warriors and expressing their ambition to become the continent's strongest empire 80.

To address their shortage of administrators, Hogg returns to Wushan Town to recruit its residents. Everyone agrees to follow him. He leads the villagers, Linley, and Linley's companions on a year-long journey to the Chaotic Territory, where the younger generation receives governing and military appointments 80 81.

Appearance

• Usual bearing: Elegant and courteous, with the aristocratic manner that makes his massive-axe fighting style especially surprising to Linley 2 52.
• Dragon transformation: Black scales cover his body, differing from the cyan scales described in the family codex 45.
• Distinguishing transformed features: Spikes along his back and sharp claws on his fingers and toes 45.
• Partial transformation: Can transform his hands into dragon claws without displaying a full-body transformation 47.

Personality

Hogg is proud of his lineage but does not place noble dignity above his family's needs. He initially refuses Zhao Nan's gift of a magic core before accepting it after persuasion, yet readily shares the family codex when it can help Linley 3 35. His hospitality includes preserving Zhao Nan's room throughout his absence 35.

His benevolence persists beneath his hatred. He refuses excessive taxation in Wushan Town and later rejects a conquest strategy that would sacrifice commoners for his revenge 13 76. As a leader, he consults the Bark brothers rather than assuming that every decision is his alone 75 76.

Family tragedy drastically changes his originally gentle temperament. Hope of recovering deceased loved ones helps him regain that gentleness, although learning the Church's role briefly brings him close to reckless self-sacrifice again 47 71. He is also stubbornly grateful: after Zhao Nan arranges his awakening, Hogg insists on pledging his service despite Zhao Nan's objections 44.

Abilities & Skills

Dragonblood Battle Qi and Transformation

Hogg cultivates the Dragonblood Secret Codex after awakening his inherited bloodline 44 45.

• The first transformation strengthens and remolds his entire body; later transformations are stated to be painless 45 46.
• Partial transformation grants his hands dragon claws capable of at least eighth-rank offensive power immediately after awakening 47.
• Zhao Nan attributes Hogg's exceptional transformed speed and considerable defense to the blood used in his awakening 47.
• During the initial strength test, Hogg chooses partial transformation rather than a full transformation after seeing Linley's clothes destroyed 46.
• By the empire-planning meeting, transformation raises him from human-form Saint-level strength to the Saint-level peak 79.

Axe Combat — *Weight as Light as a Feather*

Hogg develops the weapon-handling realm recorded in his family's secret manual 65.

• Wields a giant axe as lightly as a straw, stopping each attack precisely where intended 65.
• Can penetrate Bark's defense during their untransformed sparring, but acknowledges that he cannot break through Bark's transformed defense 65.
• Kills five Velociraptors in a single extended battle in Misty Canyon 52.
• His combat style provides the inspiration for Zhao Nan's Zhan Tiangang technique; the supplied passages do not establish that Hogg himself learns it 52.

Leadership and Strategy

• Targets the Radiant Church's territorial and religious foundations rather than relying solely on attacks against individual strongholds 74.
• Consults his companions about food supplies, expansion methods, and the choice of their first city 75 76.
• Favors stable, gradual expansion that can win popular support 76.
• Recognizes his limits in administration and accepts Black Shark's suggestion to recruit capable people from Wushan Town and Linley's circle 80.

Cultural Knowledge

• Reads widely and discusses history, local customs, stone carving, art, literature, and music with Zhao Nan 3.
• Recognizes Flight as a seventh-rank spell despite not being a mage himself 2.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Massive axe — His principal documented weapon in magical-beast battles and sparring 52 65.
• Dragonblood Secret Codex — The Baruch clan's inherited cultivation manual; Hogg lends it to Zhao Nan to assist Linley's awakening 4 35.
• Blue Heart Grass — Supplied by Zhao Nan to temper the energy of fresh dragon blood during awakening 4 44.
• Sathius's dragon blood — Used to activate Hogg's dormant Dragonblood Warrior bloodline 44 45.

Relationships

• Linley Baruch — Elder son. Hogg approves his apprenticeship under Zhao Nan, awakens alongside him, and later explains their family's vendetta to him 2 44 45 72.
• Wharton — Younger son. Hogg tests his bloodline concentration, arranges his schooling in the O'Brien Empire, and secures Joanne's protection for him before departing 66 71 74.
• Unnamed wife — Her tragic fate drives his hatred of the Fenlai royal family and the Radiant Church. The possibility of retrieving deceased loved ones from the Netherworld gives him renewed hope 47 71 72.
• Zhao Nan — Linley's teacher, Hogg's benefactor, and the protector of the empire he helps establish. Hogg pledges service to him in gratitude for enabling his awakening 44 71 80.
• Bark and the five Bark brothers — Training companions, military allies, and partners in establishing the Ultimate Empire. Bark also spars with him in Misty Canyon 48 65 74 80.
• Hillman and Hilly — Long-serving retainers. They help him reassure Wushan Town's residents after a magical-beast threat and later assist in recruiting the town for migration 38 80.
• Sathius — Zhao Nan's magical-beast disciple, whose blood enables Hogg and Linley to awaken 44 45.
• Radiant Church and Fenlai royal family — Targets of his family vendetta. Hogg leads operations against the Church with Zhao Nan's support 71 72 74.

Notable Quotes

“Mr. Zhao Nan, great kindness cannot be repaid with words. In the future, whatever you command, I, Hogg Baruch, swear by my family name that I will certainly accomplish it for you.” 44

“By encroaching on their territory and gathering the displaced people, we can strike a heavy blow against the Radiant Church.” 74