Zhou You

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhou You (周游)
Species/Race	Human (Half-Dragon) 470
Gender	Male 470
Age	23 at first appearance; 24 by the Myriad Abysses period 470
Affiliation	Cloudview Sect disciple; founding patriarch of the Shangqing Sect; White Gate senior direct disciple; posthumously appointed guest elder of Mount Mao 470
Occupation/Role	Black Book player; cultivator; swordsman
First Appearance	Black Book 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Black Book player	1	Accepts the Black Book’s scenario after learning that clearing it may extend his remaining lifespan; his first attempt to leave Building No. 4 results in instant death. 1
Basic Acting — green temporary talent	20	Gains a talent that forcibly conceals emotional fluctuations during interactions, helping prevent others from recognizing deception. 20
Eye of Insight — green talent	40	The Protection of the Sanzhi Xiumo Mantra mutates his Keen Observation talent into Eye of Insight, which can occasionally identify item attributes or reveal a contact’s past under specific conditions. 40
Night Watchman scenario rewards	44	Clears the scenario and gains Guyu Qing, the Three Incense Sticks of Buddha’s Birthday, and the broken divine ability Death Curse Sanskrit Sound. 44
Yunjing Sect initiate / Grub Transformation	52	Drinks Corpse Worm Blood Bait Soup, gaining faster wound recovery and resistance to some items at the cost of the Grub Transformation curse. 52
Xuanyuan Daoist’s Dharma Body	98	Temporarily receives Xuanyuan Daoist’s attributes, including Jingshen Bait Chant at Mastery, Sumeru Sword Technique, Reverse Microcosmic Death Formation, and alchemical knowledge. 98
Six Paths of Reincarnation Art	150	Uses the art to bind and control skeletal monsters. He later considers obtaining Zhengde’s technique permanently but sets it aside because its prohibition against killing would be impractical in scripts. 150 232 233
Jingshen Bait Chant mutation	232	Gains an additional trait after bathing in Duoluoshiqi’s blood essence; the chant later develops into part of his Heavenly Dragon Bloodline. 232 470
Heaven-Shaking Arrow and reward exchanges	233	Obtains the reusable red-quality Heaven-Shaking Arrow and exchanges for the Moonbreaking Bow, Heavenly Eye Insight, Baduoluo’s Gift, and Wine Immortal Gourd. 233
Eye of Insight activation	259	The previously acquired talent activates when he recovers a faintly glowing blue stone from a slain regenerative monster. 40 259
Dragon Body	260	The blue stone reveals fragments of past lives, enhances his attributes, and unlocks the Jingshen Bait Chant’s Dragon Body trait. 260
Nameless Sword Technique	461	Refines his swordsmanship by discarding borrowed forms and returning to basic cuts, producing a personal technique defined by speed and relentless resolve. 461 470
Grandmaster-level cultivation	462	His cultivation surpasses its former level and reaches the level of grandmasters during the Water Heaven Buddha incident. 462
Additional Daoist inheritances	470	Possesses the entry-level White Gate Formula, Nine Palaces Dragon-Subduing Script, Yin-Yang Reconciliation, and Big Dipper Celestial Star Artifact-Tempering Method. 470
Five Aggregates Temple rewards	598	Receives substantial Soul Stone rewards for changing the temple’s fate, saving Wang Chongming and Lin Yunshao, and killing the last fallen fragment of Wood Virtue Star Lord. The Moonbreaking Bow gains enhancements that reduce its dependence on nighttime and prepared arrows. 598
Primal Force / Heaven-Splitting	790	After practicing the fist art’s earlier forms, uses its fourth form, Heaven-Splitting, for the first time against Paradise’s King. The source-striking blow severely strains his body. 790
Universal Mastery and The Final Game	796	Acquires a cursed chessboard that provides a refuge and can deploy chess-piece soldiers, plus Universal Mastery for quick equipment switching, weapon proficiency, and practical skills. Also obtains the Terminator handgun and temporary combat summons. 796
Return to One legacy quest	886	Learns that Myriad Fathoms and Jingyang were once one weapon; reuniting them promises a weapon of at least gold quality. He later obtains a fragment of Jingyang’s hilt. 886 889
Thunderclap Army deployment	915	Summons thunder-arts constructs against the Bone Profound Sect’s corpse puppets, then sacrifices the summons to produce a massive lightning strike. 915

Background / History

Zhou You was raised single-handedly by his grandfather, Old Zhou. At Old Zhou’s funeral, he remained courteous toward the mourners despite knowing that his own incurable illness left him with only two months to live. He found the Black Book among his grandfather’s possessions and accepted its invitation to enter a scenario, treating its promised lifespan extension as a chance at survival. 1

His early experiences in the Black Book established his approach to its worlds: observe their rules, gather information before acting, and use whatever advantage is available. In the Night Watchman scenario, he questioned a ghostly stall owner strategically, traced the supernatural disturbances to Liu Shang, resisted the Gui Bodhisattva’s hallucination, and completed the scenario. 18 23 31 44

In a later Yunjing Sect script, Zhou You submitted to the Old Daoist’s grotesque cultivation methods in order to survive. He subsequently learned that the Old Daoist had never been real, and Daoist Xuanyuan—Yunjing Sect’s headless sect leader—recognized Zhou You as a disciple because of the Gluttony head possessing him. 52 96

Zhou You continued to move between scripts and the modern world, gaining a reputation as an exceptionally capable demon slayer and swordsman. He protected civilians, confronted cultists and corrupted cultivators, and repeatedly uncovered hidden histories surrounding the Yin Road, ancient seals, demonic corruption, and the Black Book’s scripts. 127 182 309 470

After the Paradise scenario, Zhou You used rewards from the Black Book to prepare for threats in both scripts and reality. His activities abroad against the Big Tycoon Group led to his arrest over an expired visa and suspected involvement in several deaths; Uncle Zhao arranged his release through contacts connected to Master Wen. Zhou You declined compensation and returned home. 796 823

Personality

Zhou You is composed, observant, and unusually capable of regulating fear. Even when the Gui Bodhisattva’s presence reduces him to near-instinctive terror, he stabilizes himself, adjusts his breathing, and resumes investigating the scene. 23

He is practical rather than conventionally heroic. Zhou You readily lies, adopts disguises, uses psychological pressure, and tortures enemies when information is necessary. He can be ruthless toward hostile or dangerous opponents, particularly when they threaten others or obstruct his objectives. 31 71 525 661

At the same time, he consistently distinguishes between enemies and victims. He heals Wu Wenqing, protects his wife, saves Luo Liangde from sacrifice, helps villagers threatened by a Sinister Object, and shows concern for vulnerable people caught in supernatural events. 85 487 540 633

His combat philosophy increasingly centers on the sword. Although he possesses many techniques, artifacts, and supernatural methods, he considers swordsmanship his most personal skill and prefers decisive action over prolonged explanation. 461 470

Zhou You is wary of political flattery and uncomfortable with the influence others attribute to him. Even after his tournament victories draw offers from numerous sects, he needs Lin Yunshao’s advice to understand why they are courting him and restrains his impulse to drive them away. 823 918

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship

Zhou You is an elite swordsman whose style emphasizes speed, precision, pressure on vital points, and adaptability against unfamiliar opponents. His personal sword art is the Nameless Sword Technique.

• Uses the speed of the Sumeru Sword Technique while incorporating his own willingness to gamble with money, life, and death. 470
• Can rapidly identify an opponent’s weaknesses and prioritize the most dangerous target in a group. 406
• Defeats powerful ghosts, corpse demons, demons, and cultivators through swordsmanship supported by baleful energy. 137 255 309
• His swordsmanship has touched a corner of the Innate Realm, but he is not independently capable of slaying fully empowered gods or Buddhas. 470
• Can direct Duanxie as a flying sword while wielding another blade. Against Paradise’s King, he encounters an opponent capable of rivaling his swordsmanship at its peak. 734 788
• Recognizes the rigid, predictable movements of corpse puppets and exploits their lack of independent judgment. 913

Jingshen Bait Chant

A Cloudview Sect inheritance that strengthens Zhou You through Bait Consumption and devouring demons.

• Increases spiritual power through consumption and devouring demons. 470
• Temporarily heightens the five senses and helps him perceive concealed information or hostile presences. 266 399 470
• Can neutralize toxins and resist certain corruptive effects. 668
• Mutated after exposure to Heavenly Dragon blood and later revealed the Dragon Body trait. 232 260

Heavenly Dragon Bloodline

A partial bloodline acquired after helping Duoluoshiqi attain release and bathing in its blood.

• Changes Zhou You’s race to half-dragon. 470
• Grants immunity to panic, enhanced base attributes, and an intimidating aura. 470
• Provides two Life-Protecting Dragon Scales in every script, capable of blocking attacks. 470
• Can resist mental influence and supernatural contamination, as when it dispels the king-role’s influence during the Paradise play. 704
• Allows him to simulate suspended animation, helping him evade Paradise’s conventional detection systems. 743
• Helps him resist soul-draining attacks and the erosion of an imposed script identity. 556 913

Talisman Arts

Zhou You employs talismans as versatile support for combat, exorcism, infiltration, and investigation.

• Uses fire talismans to destroy hostile entities and exploit their vulnerabilities. 353 664
• Can create mirrors and conduct rituals with blood as a catalyst. 532
• Practices the Nine Heavens Mysterious Light Talisman Script, though only at a beginner level due to inconsistent study. 470
• Combines talismans with swordplay and arrows rather than relying on them as his primary offense. 570 708
• Uses Evil-Banishing talismans against Charles’s corrupted earth constructs. 762

Death Curse Sanskrit Sound

A broken divine ability obtained after clearing the Night Watchman scenario.

• Allows Zhou You to chant a mantra capable of producing varied supernatural effects. 44
• Can briefly freeze or restrain opponents, creating openings for sword attacks. 150
• Consumes an enormous amount of strength with each use. 44

Perception and Mental Defense

Zhou You has several methods for identifying hidden threats and preserving his mind.

• Wuwo Ruding stabilizes his Sanity Value and counters hallucinations. Its sensory-deprivation state also suppresses fear and sanity loss for its duration. 9 23
• Basic Acting hides emotional fluctuations from others. 20
• Eye of Insight, mutated from Keen Observation, can occasionally reveal item attributes or glimpses of a contact’s past under specific conditions. 40 259
• Uses Double Pupils and Spirit Passage to track supernatural traces and investigate souls. 486

Six Paths of Reincarnation Art

A powerful Buddhist-derived technique associated with Zhengde. Zhou You has used the art, but declined to obtain it as a permanent reward because its precepts would conflict with the lethal encounters common in scripts. 150 232 233

• Can bind and control hostile entities through its paths, including skeletal monsters. 150
• Includes the versatile Hell Path, which Zhou You specifically values. 232
• Carries severe restrictions, including a prohibition against killing that makes it difficult to use in monster-filled scripts. 232

Primal Force

A fist art associated with Chen Luo that Zhou You practices alongside his swordsmanship. Its six forms are Initial Origin, Sinking Origin, Heaven-Shaking, Heaven-Splitting, Heavenbreaker, and As One. 790

• Uses Sinking Origin to strike a target’s soul directly. 664
• First brings out Heaven-Splitting against Paradise’s King. From the fourth form onward, the art strikes at a being’s source, though using this form places severe strain on Zhou You’s body. 790
• Later uses Heaven-Splitting to rupture Chen Shuo’s golden-thread defenses and Golden Armored Guards at their essence. 851
• Employs the stance against Bone Profound Sect puppets, drawing a shocked reaction from Chen Luo. 913 914

Universal Mastery

An uncursed ability obtained after the Paradise scenario. 796

• Quick Switch lets Zhou You instantly change to equipment he possesses once every three minutes. 796
• Removes proficiency penalties for unfamiliar weapons and improves his proficiency with weapons he already knows. 796
• Grants proficiency options for stealing, persuasion, intimidation, deception, stealth, and imitation. 796

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Duanxie — Zhou You’s principal sword; frequently used to dispel Yin energy, cut through illusions, and slay supernatural enemies. It can also fight as a flying sword. 114 127 470 734
• Myriad Fathoms — longsword used alongside Duanxie in close combat. It is incomplete: it and Jingyang were once a single weapon. 183 470 886
• Jingyang sword-hilt fragment — fragment of Myriad Fathoms’ missing counterpart; holding it reduces sanity loss from terrifying sights and protects against external demons. 886 889
• Moonbreaking Bow — powerful bow capable of forming moonlight arrows; later paired with the Heaven-Shaking Arrow. Subsequent enhancements make it less dependent on nighttime and prepared arrows. 232 483 470 598
• Heaven-Shaking Arrow — reusable red-quality arrow with extraordinary destructive power; when charged, it can annihilate laws. 233
• Guyu Qing — purple-tier item that suppresses sinister and flesh-based entities and can convert an area to daytime. 44
• Three Incense Sticks of Buddha’s Birthday — three incense sticks with unexpectedly useful effects; Zhou You uses them up before selecting later rewards. 44 233
• Cang Ring — storage treasure containing weapons, talismans, forged documents, and miscellaneous tools. 470 555
• Illusory Light Relic — treasure with nearly one-third of its spiritual light consumed. 470
• Wine Immortal Gourd — stored treasure. 470
• Primal Chaos Coin — nearly depleted treasure. 470
• Dragon-Pattern Twin-Ring Jade Pendant — stored treasure. 470
• Skin Sect Mask — disguise item. 470
• Substitute paper effigy — protective substitute item. 470
• The Final Game — cursed chessboard that offers a persistent refuge and turns chess pieces into soldiers. It must be fed equipment; Zhou You has deployed its stone constructs in reality. 796 812 827
• Terminator — single-shot handgun whose bullets inflict karmic fire. 796
• Thunderclap Army, Imperial Guard, and Parker — costly, limited-use temporary summons selected as rewards. Zhou You has deployed the Imperial Guard against an armed squad and the Thunderclap Army against corpse puppets. 796 812 915

Relationships

• Old Zhou — Grandfather and sole guardian; Old Zhou’s death and Zhou You’s terminal illness lead directly to Zhou You opening the Black Book. 1
• Old Daoist — Initial Yunjing Sect master figure who teaches Zhou You its grotesque cultivation methods; later revealed to have been only a hollow skull rather than a real person. 52 96
• Daoist Xuanyuan — True Yunjing Sect leader who recognizes Zhou You as a disciple, offers to lift his curses, and provides access to his Dharma Body and techniques. 96 98
• Wu Wenqing — Ally Zhou You saves alongside Wu’s wife; Wu later invites him to join the Zhenxie Division. 85 93
• Zhengde — Zen master and cautious ally whose Six Paths of Reincarnation Art becomes one of Zhou You’s most coveted techniques. 204 232
• Lu Ping — Lu Xiuyuan’s nephew, who pursues Zhou You as a master after seeing him slay demons. Zhou You later agrees to visit his grave with Uncle Zhao. 139 152 823
• Cai Yuankui / White Horse — Ally who shares his infiltration plans with Zhou You; Zhou You later obtains the Moonbreaking Bow and Heaven-Shaking Arrow through rewards associated with him. 198 232 233
• Shan Qianlin — Revolutionary figure whom Zhou You protects against Yu Three Fingers and other pursuers; Zhou You later invokes Shan’s reputation to rally sect leaders. 396 433
• Chen Xun — Comrade during the conflict surrounding Shan Qianlin; the two cooperate against infiltrators, shadow puppets, and assassins. 396 397
• Old Li — Zhou You’s White Gate master; supports Zhou You during his rise as an alliance leader. 433 470
• Hanlu — Foxkin ally who fights beside Zhou You during the Myriad Abysses conflict. 416 470
• Tao Le'an — Ally and source of Zhou You’s Nine Heavens Mysterious Light Talisman Script. 470
• Lin Yunshao — Junior sister with whom Zhou You shares a close sibling-like bond; she remains loyal to him amid the Five Aggregates Temple conflict. She later advises him on sect politics and travels with him to the Immortal Palace conference. 505 574 904 918
• Wang Chongming — Ally whose survival Zhou You secures during the Five Aggregates Temple scenario; later helps manage visitors seeking Zhou You’s favor. 593 598 918
• Master Chenghua — Five Aggregates Temple grandmaster whose help Zhou You seeks to repay. Zhou You’s tournament victories lead others to regard him as Chenghua’s possible heir. 895 913 918
• Master Chongxu — Manipulative master who seeks to sacrifice Zhou You for a grand ritual and later attempts to kill him because of his status as a Fated One. Zhou You ultimately kills him. 574 593 598
• Sansan — Zhou You’s younger sister in Paradise; Zhou You works to protect her and supports the possibility of her becoming Paradise’s new King. She later worries about whether he will remain with her after the scenario. 735 748 768
• Luo Liangde — Survivor Zhou You saves in the Wasteland District; becomes his sole subordinate despite repeatedly causing trouble. Even after Luo is manipulated into betraying him, Zhou You continues to regard him as a brother. 633 718 719
• Xia’er — Leader of the touring troupe that takes Zhou You in; she helps him reach Paradise and agrees to assist his search for Sansan. 700 719
• Chen Ye — Leader of the World-Purifying Army; forms an alliance with Zhou You and Sansan against Paradise’s ruling order. 748 760
• Charles — Earth-element Daoist and recurring opponent in Paradise who becomes increasingly dependent on the Blood Moon’s power. 708 762
• Huo En — Cloudview Sect classmate later found corrupted and serving a mysterious entity. 462
• Uncle Zhao — Mount Mao elder who recognizes Zhou You and later mobilizes contacts to secure his release from foreign police custody. 696 823
• Eight-Treasure Arhat — Cautious companion who guides Zhou You to an underground market despite its connection to dangerous, potentially inhuman goods. 886
• Shengyuan — Source of strategic advice before Zhou You’s tournament matches; Zhou You conceals Shengyuan’s identity and listens to warnings about powerful rival sects. 904
• Li Zhengfa / Qing Xuan — Green Palace member who asks Zhou You for help escaping what he believes is the world’s predetermined order. He claims to know Zhou You’s true purpose in the world. 920

Story Role / Major Arcs

Black Book and the Night Watchman

Zhou You enters the Black Book to escape his terminal prognosis. After surviving the rules of Building No. 4 and investigating the divided day-and-night world, he exposes parts of Liu Shang’s scheme, resists the Gui Bodhisattva, and clears the Night Watchman scenario. 1 18 23 31 44

Yunjing Sect and Tai Sui

While navigating the Yunjing Sect scenario, Zhou You undergoes its grotesque cultivation process, investigates Tai Sui’s influence, kills Magistrate Shi, and prevents a dangerous descent. His actions unlock an additional system shop containing inheritances and items tied to Xuanyuan Daoist and Poison Heart. 52 93 105

Jianghu and Revolutionary Conflict

Zhou You becomes involved with cultivators, escort agencies, outlaws, and revolutionary forces. He earns authority through combat, protects Shan Qianlin against Yu Three Fingers, becomes an alliance leader, and ultimately refines his own sword path rather than continuing to imitate inherited techniques. 193 396 433 461

Myriad Abysses

Zhou You and his allies enter the Myriad Abysses, a graveyard of failed scripts. There he confronts remnants of prior eras, learns more about the scripts’ role in maintaining the world, and helps drive back the Great Emperor of the Yellow Heaven True Saint with the Heaven-Shaking Arrow. Its ritual was incomplete, and Zhou You’s decisive strike depended on his allies and earlier sacrifices rather than his ability to defeat a fully empowered god alone. 470

Five Aggregates Temple

Under a heavily assimilated script identity, Zhou You enters a sect ruled by Master Chongxu. He uncovers the abuse of “lucky offerings,” clashes with Xuancheng, resists Chongxu’s attempts to use him in a grand sacrifice, and turns Chongxu’s assumptions against him. Zhou You kills Chongxu, helps save Lin Yunshao and Wang Chongming, and changes the temple’s predetermined fate. 496 519 525 574 593 598

Blood Moon and Paradise

Zhou You enters a post-Blood Moon world with much of his power sealed and initially lacks memory of his identity. He survives the Wasteland District, protects survivors, reconnects with Sansan, and becomes involved in Paradise’s struggle against the Four Great Families, Duke Wenton, Charles, and the Blood Moon’s influence. 625 633 648 708 748 761

During the King Selection, he confronts Paradise’s King, whose swordsmanship rivals his own. Zhou You uses Heaven-Splitting against him, then invests the scenario’s rewards in new equipment, skills, and temporary allies for future conflicts. 788 790 796

Immortal Palace Conference

In a later scenario, Zhou You travels with Lin Yunshao and other companions, battles forces corrupted by the Six Desires Demon Lord, and kills Chen Shuo’s body with swordsmanship and Heaven-Splitting. Because Chen Shuo’s existence has merged with the Demon Lord, Zhou You retreats rather than mistake the bodily victory for an end to the threat. 847 851

While preparing for the Immortal Palace conference, Zhou You discovers that Myriad Fathoms and Jingyang are fragments of one weapon and obtains part of Jingyang. At the tournament, he defeats the Bone Profound Sect’s corpse puppets, counters Young Master You’s deathly-aura trap with the Thunderclap Army, extracts information about an unknown patron targeting a Green Palace figure’s allies, and kills Young Master You. His victories bring invitations from sects interested in his potential as Master Chenghua’s heir. Li Zhengfa subsequently seeks his help with a plan to defy what he believes is a predetermined fate. 886 889 913 914 915 918 920

Trivia

• Zhou You’s original Chinese name is 周游.
• He was initially an unemployed college student despite later developing into a formidable cultivator and swordsman. 53 244
• His extensive collection of techniques and artifacts has led others to characterize him as a “general store,” though he ultimately considers swordsmanship his defining specialty. 461
• Zhou You’s swordsmanship is strong enough to make witnesses repeatedly mistake him for a reclusive master or major sect expert. 139 322
• His character card lists his alignment as Chaotic Good. 470